As Ma Changhai hung his head in defeat and the members of the Seven Star Gang cast aside their weapons to surrender, the fierce battle that had swept through the main headquarters of the Seven Star Gang finally settled.
Under Chen Sheng's orders, large numbers of soldiers began methodically counting and confiscating the gold, silver, and valuables accumulated by the Seven Star Gang—all of them spoils of war.
Ma Changhai was personally escorted into the inner hall by Chen Sheng, with Yang Hu following closely behind.
At this moment, Yang Hu no longer had any reservations. His gaze, brimming with hatred, pinned Ma Changhai like a tangible force. That look caused Ma Changhai, amid his shock and anger, to feel a trace of bewilderment—clearly Yang Hu had stabbed him in the back, so why did it seem as though he himself was the one who owed him?
"Commander Chen," Ma Changhai forced his weakened body upright, his voice hoarse, "The disturbances in the northern city were not my true intention; they were all instigated by the Gao Family. If you seek revenge, you should look for the Gao Family. Why use my family to threaten me?"
"The Gao Family—I will deal with them in due time."
Chen Sheng looked down at him from above. "Now, I will give you an opportunity."
"What opportunity?" Ma Changhai asked instinctively.
"Hand over the treasure that Chen Xingzhou left behind, and I'll grant you a clean death. Your family—I can guarantee their safety." Chen Sheng spoke word by word, his eyes blazing like torches. The Chen Xingzhou he spoke of was precisely the father of his original body.
"Chen Xingzhou!"
Hearing this familiar name, Ma Changhai's pupils contracted sharply. He sized up Chen Sheng with a look of shock and suspicion. "Who... who exactly are you? How do you know about this?"
The existence of that treasure was known to very few. Even within the Seven Star Gang, only a handful were aware of it, yet Chen Sheng had exposed it in a single sentence.
An unbelievable thought rapidly formed in his heart, and as it emerged, the more he looked at Chen Sheng's face, the more familiar it seemed.
"How I know is not important."
Chen Sheng sat upright on the large redwood chair, his tone indifferent. "What matters is whether you are willing to be honest."
"You... you're the son that Gang Leader Chen kept outside, aren't you?"
Though Ma Changhai phrased it as a question, he was already seventy to eighty percent certain in his heart—the same surname, knowledge of the treasure, eyebrows and eyes that faintly resembled Chen Xingzhou's... all the clues pointed to this answer.
Chen Sheng responded with silence, neither admitting nor denying it.
Ma Changhai hastily defended himself:
"Commander Chen, see clearly! The old gang leader was truly not killed by me; it was the Gao Family who struck. I only learned of the news afterward. That treasure was also found in a secret compartment in his room, but the mechanisms upon it are profoundly mysterious. To this day, I have been unable to open it..."
Only at this moment did he suddenly realize—why Chen Sheng had targeted the Seven Star Gang directly, why so many within the gang had defected at the critical moment. It turned out everything was because Chen Sheng, the bloodline of the old gang leader, had returned.
Those former subordinates who had received kindness from Chen Xingzhou were naturally willing to risk their lives to repay the debt.
"Where is the item?" Chen Sheng asked again, his tone brooking no doubt.
"I... if I tell you, can it be exchanged for my life? There is no deep hatred between us. This position of gang leader was originally yours; I can return it all to you. Going forward, I am willing to assist you with all my heart..."
Ma Changhai begged piteously.
"You and your wife and children—only one side can live."
The corner of Chen Sheng's mouth rose slightly, revealing an icy smile. "This is the price you must pay."
Yang Hu, who was at the side, changed expression drastically upon hearing these words and looked at Chen Sheng with deep worry, but saw the other party give him a reassuring look.
"I..."
Ma Changhai's face showed struggle, but in the end he hardened his heart. "I... I want to live."
"Very well, I promise you." Chen Sheng's expression was calm.
"The item... it's hidden in the secret compartment at the head of my bed in my bedchamber..."
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, gesturing for Yang Hu to go retrieve it.
After Yang Hu departed, he looked at Ma Changhai again and asked in a deep voice, "Now, tell me the cause of my father's death. Why did the Gao Family move against him?"
Ma Changhai hung his head, his face showing difficulty:
"The specific reasons I am not entirely clear on. This matter was told to me by Third Master Gao. He only said that the old gang leader... harbored ill intentions, that these past years he had planted confidants within the gang and cultivated his own wings, intending to break free from the Gao Family's control. That is why..."
Seeing Chen Sheng's disappointed expression, Ma Changhai hurriedly added, "However... later I once heard my wife mention in passing that the old gang leader had stumbled upon something he shouldn't have known. That is what invited the fatal calamity."
"How would your wife know these things?" Chen Sheng's brows furrowed slightly; he did not entirely believe it.
Ma Changhai's expression turned awkward. "What I mean is the legitimate daughter the Gao Family sent to marry me as my second wife. Ever since the old gang leader's incident, the Gao Family was no longer at ease with the gang, which is why they married off a legitimate daughter to me. It's just that recently, due to Gao Qiheng's funeral affairs, she has remained at the Gao Family residence and is not in the gang."
"Young Master, the item has been found." Yang Hu walked in quickly, cradling a strangely shaped wooden box.
"This is..." Chen Sheng's gaze fell upon the wooden box.
"This object is called the 'Celestial Mechanism Box.' It is a treasure that the old gang leader specially sought from the prefectural city." Ma Changhai hurriedly explained, doing his utmost to demonstrate his value. "It contains multiple layers of mechanisms inside. If one forcefully opens it without the designated key, the mechanisms will instantly destroy the contents within."
Chen Sheng took the wooden box and ordered Yang Hu to watch over Ma Changhai, then went alone into a side room to carefully examine it.
Sure enough, he discovered a recess somewhere on the box's body. With a slight shift in his thoughts, he took out the warm jade from his bosom and gently inserted it—a perfect fit.
As he gently pressed, the Celestial Mechanism Box unfolded layer by layer, and the warm jade was quietly enveloped by the mechanism. A moment later, the box lid slowly opened, revealing a jade bottle the size of a thumb.
Earth Core Spiritual Milk!
Chen Sheng pulled out the stopper, and an elegant, refreshing fragrance wafted out. Inside the bottle was precisely that thick, lard-like white spiritual milk.
...
"What else do you know? Tell me everything."
Chen Sheng returned to the inner hall, not saying a single word about what had just happened.
Naturally, Yang Hu and Ma Changhai did not dare to ask.
To demonstrate his value, Ma Changhai proceeded to divulge many secret affairs of the Gao Family, but unfortunately most of them were not of great use to Chen Sheng.
"Commander, large numbers of Western City soldiers have arrived outside, and there seem to be people from the Gao Family as well. They are currently confronting our brothers!" Yan Ming rushed in to report.
Chen Sheng nodded slightly and rose to leave.
"Young Master, how should this person be dealt with?"
Seeing Chen Sheng was about to leave, Yang Hu couldn't help but ask urgently. Though Ma Changhai was not the murderer of Chen Sheng's father, he was the target of Yang Hu's blood feud; his own father had been driven to death by Ma Changhai.
Chen Sheng's footsteps paused. He walked up to Yang Hu and looked at him meaningfully. "I have always kept my word. Since I said I would not kill him, I absolutely will not lay a hand on him."
As his words fell, Chen Sheng turned and left.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ma Changhai's eyes shifted slightly, and he quickly voiced his thanks:
"Many thanks, Young Master."
But he failed to notice that Yang Hu at his side had already gripped the long blade in his hand with a blank expression and was slowly walking toward Ma Changhai.
"W-what are you doing?"
Ma Changhai was greatly alarmed and hurriedly brought up Chen Sheng to warn him.
But faced with Ma Changhai's warning, Yang Hu raised the long blade in his hand and spoke word by word:
"My father was Yang Kaisu, whom you forced to death. Ma Changhai, when you get down there, remember to say hello for me."
"Pfft!"
—
Vote for monthly and recommendation tickets.