Poison God's Heritage

I smiled, though the weight of the situation was hard to hide behind the gesture. "I really am not trying to exclude anyone. Believe me, I wish I could have all of you there. But let's face it—there's no telling if the First Born might wake up tomorrow and decide to wreak havoc again, forcing us to shift plans."

The Red Sun, never one to mince words, leaned forward, his eyes hard as molten embers. "Regardless," he began, his voice edged with stern practicality, "two Suns and a pseudo-Sun stage, plus you—that's not enough firepower to venture into a world where this thing's mother exists. It's reckless."

Tao Yang, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up, her tone grim. "And that's not even the worst of it," she said, her voice steady, though the tension in her jaw was unmistakable. "This First Born… it's one of three. There should be two more back on my home world." She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle over the room. "So it's worse than you think."

I felt an immediate pang of frustration, though I kept my composure. Should have told us that before! I cursed inwardly, biting back the urge to call her out. This whole expedition was starting to feel more impossible with each revelation.

"Regardless," I interjected quickly, my voice more forceful than I intended. "I'll ask a few of my companions to join us. We'll need all the help we can get, and Master Rain—especially his proficiency in inscriptions—his skills are far superior to mine," I explained, hoping to calm the growing tension with practical solutions.

The Red Sun, never one to let an opportunity for pragmatism slip by, nodded. "Right, and take the Slave Heaven Stage with you. He'll serve you well, especially in situations where brute strength is required." His words were more of an order than a suggestion, a reminder of the gift he had bestowed upon me—a powerful servant bound by oath.

"Sure," I replied, already running through the mental checklist of who to bring. "I'll be taking Zhang Tian and Dao Shen with me too."

A low grumble escaped the Red Sun's throat as he shook his head in disapproval. "They're too young. Too inexperienced, and too weak for something of this scale."

I knew he had a point, but I stood my ground. "They need the opportunity to prove themselves, Red Sun. They won't stay weak forever, and this will push them to grow. We're not just preparing for this fight—we're preparing for all the ones to come."

His eyes flickered with frustration, but before he could argue further, I added, "I'll also have to ask Meng Hao to accompany me. His strength—"

"The Lording Sun won't like that," the Red Sun cut me off, his voice low and warning. "Meng Hao's involvement always brings friction, and you know how the Lording Sun feels about him."

"I know," I admitted, pressing my lips together in thought. "But Meng Hao is indispensable in situations like this. His strength is... unique."

Before the Red Sun could launch into another rebuttal, I continued, "I'm also taking both Liang Yu and YuYu."

"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING, YOU DAMN BRAT?!" the Red Sun roared, his voice reverberating through the room like the crack of a thunderclap. His sudden outburst took me slightly by surprise, but I'd grown used to his temper by now. "You're piling too many responsibilities onto yourself! They can't just 'power up' on a suicide mission, Shen Bao!"

I raised my hands in a placating gesture, meeting his fiery gaze. "I know, but they need the chance to evolve. They can't grow into their potential by sitting idle, and this is the kind of trial that will either make them or break them. If we're going to survive this world and the challenges to come, everyone needs to be stronger than they are now."

"They can do that here, in the safety of controlled environments. Hell, even you—you're far too weak to handle what's waiting for you on that planet. We only agreed to let you go because the Blue Sun is watching your back. But she can't be responsible for all of you at once!" The Red Sun's frustration was palpable, the intensity of his concern pushing through his harsh exterior.

The Dusking Sun, having stayed quiet through most of the debate, finally chimed in. "I'm also there!" she said with a playful smirk, though the seriousness of her tone betrayed any sense of levity.

"Shut up," the Red Sun shot back with exasperation. "You yourself need a damn babysitter. How do you plan to keep everyone alive and handle the mess that planet is going to throw at you?"

Tao Yang, who had remained silent, now spoke up again, her voice calm but firm. "I'm almost healed. My soul is nearly fused, and once we return to my world, I'll regain my full strength. I'll be fine."

The Red Sun could only shake his head in defeat, letting out a heavy sigh. "Just... come back safely. If things get too difficult, abandon the mission. I'd rather none of you die than risk it all on a gamble." His voice softened, a rare moment of genuine concern breaking through the usual wall of gruffness. "We're Sun stages, for heaven's sake.

We'll figure something out with that slimy blob of a creature hovering over the Beyond, goddammit!"

A rare warmth spread through the room, softening the tension. For all his bluster, the Red Sun did care—he just showed it in his own brusque way.

"Good then," I said, my tone resolute, though I couldn't shake the gnawing sense of dread building in my chest. "We'll be off as soon as I notify the rest of the companions."

The Wisest Sun, who had been silently watching the debate from his own position in the corner, gave me a nod, his expression thoughtful. "Godspeed, Shen Bao," he said, his words measured and sincere. I thanked him quietly.

Just as the conversation seemed to be winding down, the Darkest Sun, who had remained silent throughout most of the exchange, suddenly spoke up, his voice a deep rumble that cut through the relative calm. "Take the Fire King with you."

I opened my mouth, then promptly closed it, unsure how to respond. The Fire King? On the same mission as Meng Hao? That was like throwing a match into a barrel of gunpowder. "If they both go with me on the same trip, I can guarantee you one thing—one of them will lose their life."

The Darkest Sun's piercing gaze bore into me. "And it is your job to make sure that doesn't happen."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "I asked you to come to meet me for a reason. The friction between Meng Hao and the Fire King needs to be resolved. Whether you like it or not, you're the one to make that happen."

I stared at him, trying to process the added burden. Managing Meng Hao's temper was one thing, but the Fire King? That was another level of chaos. "I have no idea what you're planning, but if they meet, Meng Hao will jump the Fire King the moment he lays eyes on him," I said, feeling the headache forming behind my eyes.

"Then make sure he doesn't," the Darkest Sun replied simply, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

My thoughts spiraled in frustration. Should I ask Meng Hao not to come? But no, that wasn't an option. I needed him for this. Both of them, despite their hostility toward one another. "Goddammit, why does everything have to be this complicated?" I muttered under my breath.

The Red Sun chuckled darkly. "Welcome to the world of responsibility, Shen Bao. Enjoy your stay."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om