Beast Taming Star Journey

Chapter 350 On the Path of the Shakers

The deafening shouts of battle grew closer, and the ground trembled more violently, as if the entire hall were about to collapse. Panic spread like wildfire, and fear and despair were etched on everyone's face. The Beastmaster of Jinxi slumped to the ground, muttering to himself, "It's over, everything is over."

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. This wasn't the time to panic; I had to find a way to stabilize the situation. My gaze fell on Elder Jinhei again. He still kept his head down, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

“Elder Jinhei,” I walked up to him and said in a deep voice, “you are a titan in the world of beast taming, and a pillar of strength for all of us. At this time, we need your wisdom and strength!”

Elder Jinhei slowly raised his head, his cloudy eyes revealing no emotion. He remained silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, "Nong Yu, I am old and powerless to change anything."

"No, Elder, you can't give up!" I said urgently. "As long as we unite as one, we will surely defeat the forces of darkness!"

I gently placed my hand on his shoulder, activating my beast-taming ability, and a warm power slowly flowed into his body. At the same time, an image appeared in my mind of an eagle imprisoned in a cage, desperately flapping its wings, yearning for the free sky. I transmitted this yearning for freedom to Elder Jinhei.

"Elder, can you feel it? This is the beasts' yearning for freedom. They long to soar freely between heaven and earth, rather than be enslaved by the forces of darkness! We beast tamers, who live alongside and befriend beasts, should understand the preciousness of freedom even more!"

Elder Jinhei's body trembled slightly, a glint of light seeming to flash in his eyes. I continued, "The wealth and glory promised by the Dark Lord are nothing but illusions. Once we submit to him, we will lose not only our freedom, but also our dignity! The dignity of us Beastmasters!"

No sooner had I finished speaking than the boy from Jinmai, who had been standing to the side, suddenly stepped forward and shouted, "Brother Nongyu is right! We cannot bow down to the forces of darkness! We must fight! We must protect our homeland! We must protect our freedom!"

The boy's voice, though still young, was full of power; it was like a spark that ignited hope in everyone's hearts. Some beast tamers who had previously given up hope also stood up, their eyes rekindling their fighting spirit.

Elder Jinhei took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination. He slowly stood up and declared in a booming voice, "Nong Yu is right! We cannot yield! We must fight to the very end!"

Seeing Elder Jinhei's change in attitude, I was secretly pleased. However, at that moment, a cold voice came from the doorway... "Gentlemen, why be so stubborn?" Strategist Jinbo, with a strange smile, slowly walked in.

The appearance of the strategist Jinbo was like cold water poured on a newly lit fire. He approached step by step with a nauseatingly fake smile, as if victory was assured. "Gentlemen," he said, "why are you so stubborn? You know the Dark Lord's generosity. Wealth and glory are within your grasp. Why risk your lives for a mere illusion of 'freedom'?" His gaze swept contemptuously over the crowd, finally settling on Elder Jinhei. "Elder," he continued, "you are a man of high standing, why follow this brat in his foolish ways? If you nod your head, the Dark Lord promises to bestow upon you the title of Supreme Being of the Beast Taming Realm, second only to the Lord!"

His words, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, carried a seductive power, spreading through the crowd. Some beast tamers, whose fighting spirit had been rekindled, began to waver again. The beast tamer Jinxi even stood up abruptly, rubbing his hands together, and looked at Jinbo the strategist with a fawning expression: "Supreme? Second only to the emperor? This…this offer is indeed tempting…"

I inwardly cursed; this strategist from Jinbo was indeed eloquent, turning the tide of the battle with just a few words. I turned to look at Su Yao; she stood in the crowd, her gaze unwavering as she looked at me, the love and trust in her eyes giving me immense encouragement. I took a deep breath, knowing I had to step forward again.

"Strategist Jinbo, your sweet words cannot deceive us!" I said sternly. "The Dark Lord's promises are like the sand on the ground, easily blown away by the wind! Your so-called wealth and glory are nothing but honey coated with poison, which will only lead to our utter destruction in the end!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Strategist Jinbo raised an eyebrow, his face still bearing that repulsive smile. "Nong Yu, you're so young, yet you speak with such arrogance. What makes you think the Dark Lord's promise is false? And what makes you guarantee you can lead everyone to victory?"

Just as I was about to retort, he suddenly raised his voice and said to everyone, "Gentlemen, the Dark Lord said that as long as you surrender now, all your past transgressions will be forgiven! Not only that, but you will also be rewarded according to your strength! High-level Beast Tamers will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and a hundred acres of fertile land! Intermediate Beast Tamers will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and ten acres of fertile land! Even apprentice Beast Tamers will receive ten taels of silver and live a peaceful and prosperous life!"

His words had barely left his lips when a commotion arose in the crowd. A great reward always attracts brave men, especially in this life-or-death moment. Some weaker-willed beast tamers, blinded by the immense temptation, began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Quiet!" I shouted, using all my strength to make my voice reach everyone's ears. "Don't be fooled by him! These are all tricks he's using to demoralize us! Think of your families, think of your loved ones, think of everything you've protected! Are you really going to give it all up for some petty gain?"

My words calmed some people down, but many more remained hesitant. Seeing this, Strategist Jinbo's smile deepened. "Nong Yu, you're still too young. Do you think you can change their minds with just a few words?" he said, turning his gaze to Elder Jinhei. "Elder, you are a titan of the Beast Taming world. You should understand the principle of discretion. The Dark Lord's army is approaching; you have no chance of winning! Rather than making futile resistance, it's better to..."

"Enough!" I interrupted him, walked to the negotiating table, and looked him straight in the eye. "Strategist Jinbo, you don't need to waste any more words. I..."

I paused, then clenched my fist.

"I……"