1232 A Born Commander (1/2)

Tang Xiu calmly observed the pale and extremely fragile-looking boy on the bed. The boy's face was red and green veins were protruding on his forehead, while his hair was drenched wet with his own sweat. However, his eyes were very particular and extraordinarily tranquil like a pool of still water that wouldn't ripple even though it was swept over by the gales.

Is it because of his intelligence?

Tang Xiu took out a cigarette. The clicking sound of a lighter was heard as he lit it up, causing Ah Lang to shift his attention to him. Under Tang Xiu's gaze, the boy was briefly startled and hesitated, before he sat on the bed with difficulty with Wang Hu's help. After sitting on the edge of the bed and fixing his clothes, he put on the slippers and paced a few steps towards Tang Xiu.

”Should I address you as Divine Doctor Tang or Boss Tang?”

A smile crept up on Tang Xiu's face and he asked him, ”Which one do you choose to address me, then?”

Ah Lang thought for a short while and then answered, ”For me, the most appropriate address to call you is Divine Doctor Tang, whereas it would be appropriate for my brothers to address you as Boss Tang.”

”Care sharing me about the reason?” The smile on Tang Xiu's face was getting thicker.

Ah Lang raised his hand to cover his mouth before he coughed again. Then, he slowly explained, ”I'm ill while you're the famous Divine Doctor of Chinese medicine. You can cure my illness, so the most appropriate for me to address you is Divine Doctor Tang. But my pitiful brothers have been living miserable lives. For the time being, shelter, food, and clothes wouldn't be a problem, but their future will be greatly affected due to the delays in their studies. You're the Big Boss of Magnificent Tang Corporation. With you extending a hand to help them, they will have a bright future, so the most appropriate address for my brothers to call you is Boss Tang.”

Tang Xiu nodded calmly in response and said, ”What do you choose to address me, then?”

Ah Lang thought for a moment and then answered, ”Divine Doctor Tang.”

The smile on Tang Xiu's face was getting thicker. The question he just gave Ah Lang was about these two addresses. If this boy addressed him as Divine Doctor Tang, it meant that he respected him highly, whereas addressing him as Boss Tang meant that he valued his brothers.

However, there was also an implicit meaning of exceptions here.

Tang Xiu puffed out a ring of smoke and asked again, ”Elaborate.”

”I have no fears of troubles in the rear if my brothers have died. But I could die any time now, and leaving them behind will make me face death in regret and unwillingness. On the other hand, I'm confident I can give my brothers a bright future if you can cure me. It's much better to have them under me than giving them to others.”

Tang Xiu took out a cigarette from the cigarette box and flicked it to Ah Lang's hand. Then, he asked again, ”The last question. If you can answer it and your answer is to my satisfaction, I can treat you for free. I'll also give you and those little brothers of yours a huge opportunity.”

Ah Lang's expression shifted ever so slightly. ”Please say it, Divine Doctor Tang.”

”Let's say that you've become an official in a state department where you wield such a high position and powerful authority that your decision can decide the lives and deaths of countless people,” Tang Xiu began speaking. ”On one hand, your country is being invaded by enemies, whereas your brothers who've been with you through fire and water are being hunted endlessly and may meet their demise at any time. Under such a situation, will you keep defending your country against those foreign enemies, or are you going to save your brothers?”

Ah Lang's brows scrunched up tightly. It was a problem he never thought before and now he was suddenly faced with a choice. He needed to think about it seriously.

Time fleeted by and more than 20 minutes had passed. Different thoughts kept clashing inside his head during these 20 minutes. He kept thinking and struggling. He would, without a doubt, choose his brothers if he was in the current situation since they were his closest people in the world. However, when he put himself in the shoes of the figure depicted in the world Tang Xiu just mentioned, the clashes between choices he would make inside his heart became more intense.

Puah…

The temperature of Ah Lang's body kept rising and he finally spurted out a mouthful of blood. If it wasn't for Wang Hu's quick response in catching him, he would have fallen to the floor.

Tang Xiu himself was unfazed and he kept observing the increasingly unsightly expression on Ah Lang's face. Then, he spoke lightly, ”I'm still waiting for your answer.”

Ah Lang tilted up his head with difficulty. His eyes fixedly stared at Tang Xiu, then he spoke with a hoarse voice, ”If one is in that position, what he must seek is his country. Since it is my duty to protect the country, then I must protect the lives of countless people living in it. I want to save my brothers since they are in danger, but I'll never ruin the fate of the country just for the sake of brotherhood out of my own selfishness. If my brothers were to die in battle, I'd shoulder the revenge on my own and visit their graves to apologize. I believe they will understand me even if they have died!”

A beaming smile appeared on Tang Xiu's handsome face. He paced forward and supported Ah Lang's body with his fingers grasped on his wrist to sense his internal condition. Then, he smilingly said, ”Clean up and pack your things. You're leaving with me! It's easy to get thousands of troops, but they will never become tough lions without a leader to lead them. Tang Xiu needs someone like you.”