Chapter 1293: First Battle Defeat

Pagyi Gesang's words made Zhang Yi glance sideways at him.

He had just remembered that Pagyi Gesang was only playing the nice old man in front of him, appearing harmless and inoffensive.

But someone who could become a regional overlord in the Southwest Region—how could they possibly be soft-hearted and merciful?

"As you wish. I'm just reminding you, cultivating a superhuman like Chodak isn't easy."

Zhang Yi couldn't be bothered to meddle in other people's business. Since Pagyi Gesang didn't care about his subordinate's life or death, Zhang Yi cared even less.

Pagyi Gesang had his own calculations in mind.

Cultivating Chodak had indeed cost him a massive amount of resources.

But if they lost this battle, the consequences were something he absolutely could not bear.

However, suddenly, a thought occurred to Pagyi Gesang.

He had been so flustered by his concern for victory that he had momentarily forgotten: if they lost this time, Zhang Yi's side wouldn't fare well either.

Therefore, Zhang Yi must have had absolute confidence to say what he did.

If that was the case...

Pagyi Gesang's eyeballs rolled, and he suddenly let out a sigh.

"You are right. I cannot be so selfish. Chodak is my precious subordinate. I must preserve his life!"

On the battlefield, Chodak and Gele were already fighting with bloodshot eyes, both nearing exhaustion, just one step away from death.

At that very moment, Pagyi Gesang suddenly used a loudspeaker to shout loudly:

"Stop! Both of you, stop! Stop fighting!"

"This match, we of the Pagyi Family concede defeat!"

These words spread across the entire battlefield, startling everyone.

They never expected Pagyi Gesang would openly admit defeat before the outcome was decided.

Deji and the others wore expressions of astonishment. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Has Pagyi Gesang gone mad? He's actually handing victory over to the other side?"

They could not understand Pagyi Gesang's actions.

Not just them, even the two on the battlefield couldn't understand.

Though surprised in his heart, Gele also breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately retreated, no longer fighting desperately.

The outcome was decided. He wanted to preserve his strength. If possible, if his master ordered him to withdraw, he could still keep his life.

Not fearing death did not mean he liked seeking it.

Chodak stood dumbfounded on the spot, two streams of hot tears flowing from the corners of his eyes.

He turned his head and roared furiously in the direction of Pagyi Gesang, "No! Family Head, I can die in battle, but we absolutely cannot admit defeat!"

Pagyi Gesang said loudly, "Chodak, you did not lose. But I, Pagyi Gesang, will not sacrifice my most loyal right-hand man just for the sake of a single victory!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they gave Chodak ample face.

He knew that for a man of the Snowy Region, he could die, but he could not become a laughingstock.

Sure enough, Chodak's resolve softened somewhat.

What followed was boundless gratitude.

"For a person like me, you should not have done this!"

Chodak wept bitterly, falling to his knees on the ground. His scalding tears melted the ice and snow beneath him.

Pagyi Gesang had someone go over to treat Chodak immediately and comforted him properly.

However, he still cautiously said to Zhang Yi, "Sir, we lost the very first battle. The upcoming fights..."

Zhang Yi shot him a glance. "Just rest your heart easy in your stomach! We won't lose."

Of course they wouldn't lose. Zhang Yi had a surefire method to win.

Only then did Pagyi Gesang relax.

Though he didn't know where Zhang Yi's confidence came from, presumably Zhang Yi would send out powerful subordinates to fight.

The first round ended with Pagyi Gesang's concession.

From the camp of the three allied families came a wave of extremely excited cheers.

This greatly boosted their morale.

On the Pagyi Family's side, however, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Pagyi Gesang looked at his Personal Guard, Suolang Deji.

This was the Pagyi Family's foremost warrior, their strongest combatant. He was almost inseparable from Pagyi Gesang.

Even when sleeping, he slept in the room next to Pagyi Gesang's.

"Suolang Deji, it's your turn to take the stage!"

Pagyi Gesang glanced at Zhang Yi and said to him as well, "Do your best. If you truly cannot match the opponent, then surrender. We have a distinguished person backing us up."

Suolang Deji hesitated for a moment.

He did not wish to become a joke, and would rather die in battle.

However, he was extremely important to the Pagyi Family. If a superhuman like him died in battle, it would be a heavy blow to the Pagyi Family.

For the greater good, he also could not die.

As Pagyi Gesang's Personal Guard, Suolang Deji was not a reckless man; he was very thoughtful.

So he nodded. "Yes, Family Head. I will remember your instructions!"

On the other side, after Gele's victory, he turned his head to look into the distance.

He was looking at his own family head, La Min Ouzhu.

Winning this battle had been exceptionally difficult for him. Now, he was almost at the end of his rope. If he continued fighting, there would definitely be no chance of survival.

La Min Ouzhu looked at Deji beside her.

"Khenpo, my man has already won one round. Shouldn't we change fighters now?"

"Change fighters? Head of La Min, don't you understand the rules of a battle of attrition?"

Before Deji could speak, Xia Zha Gyatso on the other side sneered coldly.

"In a battle to the death, only cowards leave the battlefield. True warriors consider fighting to the very end an honor!"

"Now that the La Min Family is led by a woman, have the sons of the La Min Family also become cowards?"

Xia Zha Gyatso certainly did not want Gele to withdraw.

Because the next one to take the stage would be from their Xia Zha Family.

He would rather have Gele die, but before his death, force the opponent's warrior to reveal some of his methods, and preferably inflict serious damage!

"Nonsense! Xia Zha Gyatso, you had better take back those words!"

La Min Ouzhu glared viciously at Xia Zha Gyatso.

But Xia Zha Gyatso didn't care in the slightest, sneering coldly. "Those who take the stage must fight to the death to the very end! They cannot withdraw midway!"

He looked at Deji. "Otherwise, if we lose this battle, how can the face of our three families, and the face of Sangha Monastery, be preserved?"

Deji glanced faintly at La Min Ouzhu, his eyes carrying an unyielding expression.

"Head of La Min, let that warrior fight to the end like a man!"

La Min Ouzhu forcibly suppressed the anger in her heart, clenching her fists tightly.

But in the end, she could only helplessly grit her teeth and say, "Fine!"

Gele did not receive the order to withdraw.

Although he had known in his heart that this would be the outcome, he had still held a sliver of hope.

Faced with this result, he too felt helpless.

"To die, then so be it!"

Gele slowly closed his eyes, placed his palms together before his chest, and prayed to the Buddha, hoping that after his death, he could enter the Western Pure Land.

Then, he opened his eyes, revealing a resolute look within them.

Soon, Suolang Deji stepped onto the battlefield.

In his hand, he held a Vajra Dharma Rod, nearly as tall as a person, bronze-colored, shaped like a long staff, but with a sharp conical tip at the end.

Suolang Deji walked onto the battlefield, looking at Gele, who wore the expression of a man resolved to die. Slowly and firmly, he raised his left palm and held it upright before his chest.

"Gele, I have come to send you on your final journey!"

Author's Note