"Earthheart Spirit Milk..."
Gazing at the scrawled characters slowly emerging on the Heaven-Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity, Chen Sheng's gaze abruptly turned as sharp as a blade, and even his breathing paused slightly for a moment.
This thing was no ordinary treasure.
Even if its age was meager, for a martial artist at the Foundation Establishment realm, it was still a precious opportunity that one could hope for but hardly ever encounter!
The pure vital essence contained within could be directly refined and absorbed by a martial artist, converted into the most fundamental true qi and internal breath, enough to cause one's cultivation to surge in a short span of time.
"This thing—I must get my hands on it!"
Chen Sheng thought to himself. An opportunity like this, one that could spare him from arduous cultivation and even directly boost his cultivation, was extremely important to him at this moment. He absolutely could not afford to miss it!
His eyes flickered as his mind rapidly ran through various possibilities.
The Heaven-Book had already given its warning. If things followed their original course, he would act on impulse and fall into the other party's scheme, ruining everything, and the treasure would ultimately be presented to the Gao family by Ma Changhai. But now that he had foreseen the future, he absolutely could not allow such a regrettable outcome to come to pass.
He had to plan carefully before acting. Not only did he need to deal with the provocation that the Gao family and the Seven Stars Gang were about to launch, he also had to seize the opportunity to reclaim this inheritance that rightfully belonged to him.
At this thought, Chen Sheng took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the restlessness in his heart. His gaze gradually became profound and calm, and a preliminary plan had already formed in his mind.
...
Meanwhile.
Gao Yuanhe, the third master of the Gao family, had already clearly conveyed the family's will to Ma Changhai, the current gang leader of the Seven Stars Gang.
The order was simple, yet vicious enough—immediately create chaos in the northern district of the city, targeting the North City Martial Camp. It was both a probe against the government and a retaliation against Chen Sheng.
After hearing this, Ma Changhai could not help but break out in a cold sweat.
He knew exactly how he had obtained his position as gang leader, and he knew even more clearly that just as the Gao family had lifted him to power, they could just as easily pull him down—or even make him follow in the footsteps of the previous gang leader.
Defying the Gao family? He did not even dare to think of it at present.
Even though he knew full well that a direct confrontation with the government carried enormous risk, where the slightest misstep could bring utter disaster, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and do it.
After seeing Gao Yuanhe off, he immediately summoned all the senior hall masters of the gang and, with a grim expression, announced two orders:
First, the core members of the Seven Stars Gang were to mobilize, driving the gang's subordinate forces as well, and from this day forward frequently "operate" within the northern district—gathering crowds to stir up trouble, harassing merchants, or manufacturing conflicts. They were to muddy the waters and make the chaos as big as possible. Beyond that, they were to set a trap for this man.
Second, spare no expense and fully investigate the background of Chen Sheng, the new commander of the North City, especially his true cultivation level, martial arts techniques, character weaknesses, and his specific service record in the military.
In truth, ever since Chen Sheng had slain Gao Qiheng with a single blade stroke, nearly every ambitious power in Changshan County had been investigating him, all in unspoken accord.
A military rising star so young, with such ruthless and merciless methods—they could not afford not to take him seriously. In particular, the strength Chen Sheng had displayed filled people with dread.
Gao Qiheng's strength was universally acknowledged as outstanding among the younger generation of Changshan County, and after his breakthrough to the Bone Forging realm, the Gao family had placed great hopes on him.
Yet such a figure had been cut down by Chen Sheng as easily as slicing melons and vegetables. Just how formidable was Chen Sheng's true combat power?
This point was especially important to Ma Changhai.
He feared that if Chen Sheng turned out to be a ruthless character who feared nothing and chose to recklessly clash head-on with the Seven Stars Gang, then he and the entire gang would very likely become sacrificial pawns in the power struggle between the Gao family and the government—dying for nothing.
Below, the hall masters of the Seven Stars Gang all voiced their agreement, each with varying expressions—some eager to try, others showing worry on their faces.
Only Yang Hu, seated at the very end, flashed a barely perceptible oddity across his face when he heard the name "Chen Sheng."
Chen Sheng?
Commander of the North City Martial Camp?
Slew Gao Qiheng in one suppressing strike?
Could it be... the young master Chen Sheng that he knew?
Yang Hu's heart wavered uncertainly, feeling that this coincidence was far too astonishing.
The young master had only just sneaked back into Changshan County not long ago, and here appeared a military commander with the same name, the same age, and similarly forceful methods? But on second thought, he secretly shook his head, feeling that he was overthinking it.
He knew the young master's background all too well.
Before leaving home, he had clearly been a frail scholar who could not even complete the Aperture Opening and Foundation Establishment, a scholar so weak he was incapable of binding a chicken. How much time had passed since then? At most, less than half a year. How could he possibly transform overnight into a military expert capable of easily slaying a Bone Forging realm martial artist?
"It must be someone with the same name, or I'm just imagining things..."
Yang Hu denied his own speculation in his heart, but a seed of doubt had already been planted.
He secretly resolved that if the chance arose, he would definitely go see this "Commander Chen" with his own eyes. Only by confirming it personally could he completely dispel this absurd notion.
"Hall Master Yang!"
Ma Changhai's low voice pulled Yang Hu back from his thoughts.
"Gang Leader!" Yang Hu's spirit tensed, and he hurriedly composed his expression, sitting up straight and proper.
"Did you hear the orders just now?" Ma Changhai's gaze blazed like torches as it swept across his face.
"I heard them clearly. I understand!" Yang Hu replied in a deep voice.
Ma Changhai gave him one long, deep look before shifting his gaze away and sternly addressing everyone:
"Listen carefully, all of you. This matter concerns the very survival and prosperity of our Seven Stars Gang. No one may slack off! Go make arrangements at once. Within three days, I want to see the northern district in chaos!"
"Yes, Gang Leader!" the crowd chorused in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles.
...
After leaving the Seven Stars Gang's main hall, Yang Hu's thoughts were in disarray. As if guided by some unseen force, he returned to that familiar old residence.
Although he often sent people to clean it, keeping it as immaculate as ever, he himself did not actually come back to stay very often.
Only when his heart was restless, or when he needed to think alone and weigh his options, would he return to this place steeped in past memories, seeking a measure of peace for his soul. It was also a form of vigilance—a reminder to himself never to forget his blood feud, to always watch his words and conduct, and to avoid exposing his tracks through a moment's carelessness, which would cause the great plan of revenge to fall short at the final step.
On this return, what lingered in his mind was still that name—"Chen Sheng"—and that mysterious, unfathomable commander of the North City.
As for the "great treasure" the old gang leader might have left behind, he in truth craved it deeply, so much so that he was determined to obtain it.
He considered his martial talent not poor. With diligent study and hard training, given time, breaking through to the Bone Forging realm was not impossible. But what he lacked most was time!
He feared that delays breed misfortune.
What if, after Ma Changhai completely took control of the Seven Stars Gang and his power grew ever more secure, he obtained the treasure the old gang leader had left behind first, and used it to further refine his strength... Then the hope of Yang Hu's revenge would become even more remote.
At that point, what choice would he have but to continue lying low and enduring indefinitely?
Just as his brows were knotted tight and he was immersed in his tangled thoughts, his ear twitched slightly, keenly catching a faint, almost imperceptible strange sound coming from the inner courtyard!
"Someone?!"
Yang Hu was instantly alert. The muscles of his whole body abruptly tensed, his right hand unconsciously gripping backward onto the hilt of the large saber on his back, his eyes sharp as a falcon's. He held his breath, his footsteps growing extremely light, and like a prowling leopard, he carefully crept toward the direction the sound had come from, moving step by careful step.
When he silently crossed the threshold of the inner courtyard and clearly saw that figure standing with hands clasped behind its back in the courtyard, he felt as though struck by lightning. His gaze froze abruptly, and his face was filled with incredulous shock.
The person in the courtyard wore a crisp dark-blue official robe, a pitch-black long saber hanging at the waist—who else could it be but the young master, Chen Sheng?
Only, unlike the commoner's casual clothes he had worn at their last meeting, Chen Sheng at this moment was enveloped from head to toe in an unquestionable air of official authority. He was watching Yang Hu with a look that was half smile, half not, those deep eyes seeming to have already seen through everything, holding a trace of a deeper meaning that sent a chill through Yang Hu's heart.
In an instant, all the threads in Yang Hu's mind connected at once, and everything became clear.
The "Chen Sheng, commander of the North City" that Ma Changhai spoke of... the fierce military general who had slain Gao Qiheng with a single stroke... most likely... was truly his own former master, that frail young man he had always believed needed his protection!
An indescribably complex emotion surged up in Yang Hu's heart—shock and wild joy that Chen Sheng possessed such terrifying strength, as well as the loss and inner conflict of finding himself left far behind the moment the young master returned, and even a sense of bewilderment in the face of this sudden reversal of identity and power.
That frail, sickly youth from his memory had, upon returning, been utterly reborn, becoming a figure whom even the Gao family had to treat with gravity—indeed, a figure whose retaliation the Gao family had ordered the Seven Stars Gang to carry out.
Chen Sheng was in no hurry to speak. He simply quietly watched the remarkable parade of expressions shifting across Yang Hu's face.
He knew that Yang Hu must surely have heard the various rumors about "Commander Chen of the North City." This meeting was precisely the moment to lift the veil on the mystery. He was also waiting—waiting for Yang Hu to digest this fact, and to see clearly what attitude he would take next.
Yang Hu's throat felt a little dry. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, slowly loosened the hand gripping the saber hilt, and steadily returned the large saber to its sheath on his back.
He strode quickly up to Chen Sheng. No longer was it the casual manner tinged with a protector's mentality from that day; instead, with an extremely formal posture—even tinged with a degree of reverence—he bowed deeply and cupped his fists in salute:
"Young Master!"
A satisfied smile appeared on Chen Sheng's face, a smile carrying the composure of one who held everything within his grasp.
"Ahu, sit."
He gestured toward the stone bench in the courtyard, his tone calm, yet carrying an air of authority that brooked no dispute.
Yang Hu sat down as instructed, his hands resting somewhat awkwardly on his knees. For a moment, he did not know where to begin, and the atmosphere fell into a silence.
Chen Sheng did not give him much time to collect himself, cutting straight to the point. His gaze burned intensely as he fixed it on Yang Hu's eyes, and word by word, with perfect clarity, he said:
"Ahu, the time has come. The day to avenge our hatred is near."
He leaned forward slightly. His voice was not loud, yet it carried a strange, bewitching force and a meaning that admitted no refusal:
"Are you willing to lend me your strength?"