The Gao clan, ancestral hall.
The air seemed to have congealed, filled with a suffocating deathly silence and oppression.
All the core clansmen of the Changshan Gao clan had gathered here; in total, there were nearly thirty people.
To be listed among the Gao clan’s core members, the foremost condition was that one had to step into the realm of Aperture-Opening Foundation Establishment—which meant that at this moment, gathered within the hall were nearly thirty Foundation Establishment martial masters!
Even if most of them were only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, this force was enough to make others take notice. It could be called a power in Changshan County that could not be underestimated.
At this moment, everyone’s eyes were fixed on a corpse on the ground covered by a white cloth, their gazes suppressing blazing anger and humiliation.
This had been “delivered” back by the authorities not long ago. After Clan Head Gao Yuanfeng received the body, he immediately rang the bell for an emergency council.
How many years had it been…
Since the rise of the Gao clan, since they had entered the ranks of Changshan’s top powers, when had they ever suffered such a monstrous humiliation?
A dignified core clansman, a child the family had spared no effort in supporting, had actually been cut down with a single saber strike in the military camp before everyone’s eyes! In the end, he had even been saddled with the charge of “insubordination, deserving of death”!
Once this matter spread completely, the Gao clan would surely lose all face and suffer a great blow to their prestige.
Even more terrifying was that it might very well trigger a series of chain reactions. The position of a top power was not unshakable. The Gao family controlled many interests, and had long since drawn the envy of others.
Even the Huang and Yang families, who maintained harmony with them on the surface, had they not been constantly competing and nibbling away in secret? Once the Gao family showed signs of decline, they would surely face a situation where wolves circled on all sides.
Although for now, the likelihood of this was still low, they had no choice but to guard against it, no choice but to remain vigilant!
Seated at the very center of the head seats, the eldest Fourth Granduncle, whose beard and hair were all white, slowly swept his turbid yet sharp gaze across the hall. The ebony cane in his hand struck the ground heavily, producing a dull thud that drew everyone’s attention to him.
“It seems… this may be that County Commandant Wu’s final answer to us.” Fourth Granduncle’s voice was aged, yet carried an unquestionable weight. “What have the Huang clan and the Yang clan said?”
The current clan head, Gao Yuanfeng, replied in a deep voice:
“Fourth Granduncle, the Huang clan and Yang clan have expressed that they will pressure the authorities together with us. They suggest that we give Wu Kuang a real ‘show of force,’ so that he thoroughly understands who truly has the final say in Changshan County!”
“That’s right! That’s exactly what we should do! We must make that Wu fellow, and that madman called Chen Sheng, pay the price!”
“A man of our Gao family cannot die for nothing!”
Several young and hot-blooded core clansmen immediately echoed in agitation, their faces filled with indignation.
“All of you, shut up!”
Fourth Granduncle’s voice sank slightly, and his cane struck the ground once more, producing an even louder sound. Only after the great hall returned to silence did he slowly continue:
“Those two families are playing a fine game, inciting us to charge at the very front… The authorities, in the end, are still the authorities. If matters truly reach the point of being impossible to resolve, afterward… I’m afraid it will be difficult to clean up.”
“Fourth Granduncle, rest assured. Your grandnephew understands the gravity of this matter.”
Gao Yuanfeng hurriedly bowed and said in a low voice, “This time, the Huang clan and Yang clan are willing to cede a portion of their interests afterward as compensation. Moreover, I have no intention of completely falling out with Wu Kuang directly.
Since this storm was stirred up by North City Commander Chen Sheng, then we shall first aim at him. We can also use this chance to see Wu Kuang’s reaction and bottom line, then decide how to respond afterward. In your view… would this be considered prudent?”
Fourth Granduncle was silent for a moment. No joy or anger could be read from his wrinkled face. In the end, he merely said slowly:
“You are the clan head. You may decide this matter yourself. But remember, do not stake everything on one throw. The Gao family is no longer what it was in its former days. With hundreds of clansmen, a single move affects the whole body.
In all things, weigh the gains and losses. Think one step further, and consider the consequences if matters grow too large.”
After giving this reminder, he said no more. Leaning on his cane, supported by a household servant, he slowly left.
Only after the figure of this stabilizing pillar within the clan disappeared did the suffocating oppressive atmosphere in the great hall ease slightly. Several young clansmen once again looked toward the clan head, their eyes still carrying indignation and the desire to request battle.
Gao Yuanfeng swept his gaze across everyone, his expression recovering the steadiness and indifference of a family head.
“Third.”
“Elder Brother, I’m here.”
At the side, a capable-looking middle-aged man immediately rose and answered. He was Gao Yuanfeng’s third younger brother, Gao Yuanhe, and also one of Gao Yuanfeng’s important aides.
“Go tell Ma Changhai,” Gao Yuanfeng said calmly, yet with a command that brooked no doubt. “Have the Seven Stars Gang ‘move around’ more in the north of the city. Doesn’t the government value the word ‘stability’ most of all?
Then let North City fall into a bit of chaos first. I’d like to see just what methods that Chen Sheng has to deal with unrest in his jurisdiction!”
“Yes, Elder Brother. I’ll go handle it right away!”
A fierce light flashed in Gao Yuanhe’s eyes, and he hurriedly bowed to receive the order.
Gao Yuanfeng watched his third brother’s departing back and sighed inwardly.
In truth, when he had first met that calm and capable young commander Chen Sheng that day at Juxian Tower, he had had quite a favorable impression of him. He had even considered tying him over through marriage.
Unfortunately, the affairs of the world were hard to predict. In the blink of an eye, they had reached the point of meeting with blades drawn and standing in direct opposition.
Now, he only hoped that Wu Kuang would understand the situation, retreat in the face of difficulty, and not escalate the confrontation.
Otherwise, once all pretense was torn away, what came afterward would likely be difficult to bring to an end. He clearly remembered that the previous county commandant had ultimately left in dejection under the joint targeting of several major powers.
Though that matter had once allowed the local aristocratic families to hold their heads high, according to what he had discovered, it had also provoked the displeasure of certain important figures in the prefectural city.
If this time they made too great a commotion again, and thoroughly angered the prefectural city… then even if the Gao family’s foundations in Changshan were deep and they had some backing behind them, they absolutely did not have the confidence to confront the entire government head-on.
…
North City Martial Camp, within the yamen office.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged, the qi and blood around his body circulating slowly like a stream as his mind sank into cultivation.
[Basic Saber Art, Perfection (45/2000)]
[Golden Bell Body-Tempering Method, Great Accomplishment (15/1000)]
[Toad-Fishing Force Secret Art, Minor Accomplishment (4/500)]
[Demon-Subduing Three Ultimates Saber, Minor Accomplishment (50/500)]
With Gao Qiheng dead, the hidden troublemakers within North City Martial Camp indeed became as silent as cicadas in winter. No one dared to easily stick their head out again.
Chen Sheng was thus able to calmly make arrangements and begin rectifying camp affairs according to his own will. His “throwing stones to test the road” had already been completed. Next, the center of pressure would shift to Wu Kuang and the prefectural city.
Although, based on his analysis and the information previously revealed by the [Seek Fortune and Avoid Calamity] Heavenly Book, the prefectural city’s stance should lean toward supporting the rectification of local powers, Wu Kuang had, after all, only just arrived and had not yet established firm roots. It was inevitable that he would feel uneasy, fearing that he might become a chess piece abandoned by his superiors.
While the situation remained unclear, the only thing Chen Sheng could do was continue lying low and cultivating with single-minded focus, constantly improving his own strength.
A cultivation at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, the Bone-Tempering Realm, could be called an expert in Changshan County, but it was still far from the point of being able to act without restraint.
Even with soaring ambitions, before the true storm arrived, he could only be like a hidden dragon in the abyss—enduring, accumulating.
Just as his mind was immersed in the circulation of his internal breath, within his sea of consciousness, the page of the [Seek Fortune and Avoid Calamity] Heavenly Book that had always hung silently there suddenly trembled without warning, emitting streams of gentle yet clear golden radiance!
Chen Sheng’s heart stirred, and he immediately focused his mind to look within.
He saw that on the Heavenly Book, the originally stable handwriting was slowly fading, while new, even more scrawled words gradually emerged:
[My name is Chen Sheng. When you see these words, I am filled with endless regret… Because I executed Gao Qiheng, the Gao clan was enraged. However, intimidated by Wu Kuang and after weighing many factors, they did not dare to completely tear off all pretense with him. Instead, they turned their spearhead toward me.
They instructed the Seven Stars Gang to create all sorts of chaos in North City, leaving me exhausted from running about and forcing me into a passive position. Later… because of a moment of impulse, I acted aggressively and made a grave mistake.
Though County Commandant Wu did all he could to protect me, the prefectural city’s reply had yet to arrive, causing me to be reprimanded in court by County Magistrate Lin Shou for “ineffective handling of affairs.” I nearly ended up being transferred away from North City Martial Camp! Also because of this turmoil, a portion of my background was secretly investigated and discovered, causing Ma Changhai to grow alert and afraid. In the end… he actually chose to offer the secret treasure left behind by my father to the Gao clan.
Only later did I learn… that the precious treasure my father left behind was no ordinary object. It was an extremely rare drop of Earthcore Spirit Milk. If I had been able to temporarily endure my anger at that time, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Whenever I think of this, I feel deep regret.]