Becoming a god by following the natural order and seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.

Chapter 104 The End is in the End
"Master, great news! The opportunity has arrived!"

Inside the Hall of Righteous Gathering at Green Wolf Stronghold, Vice Leader Li Qianlang, beaming with excitement, strode in, his voice brimming with barely suppressed elation.

Upon receiving the secret report, he couldn't wait to rush over to claim credit from the helmsman, Yu Qiantong.

Upon hearing this, Yu Qiantong calmly pushed aside the two beautiful women serving her, turned to look at Li Qianlang, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes:
"Oh? Chen Sheng, that big fish, has finally been caught?"

"It's true."

Li Qianlang nodded emphatically, his face full of a fawning smile, and quickly explained in detail: "These past few days, I have strictly followed the plan, ordering my brothers to target the Yang family's merchant ships and plunder them one after another, forcing the Yang family to be uneasy and send people to negotiate many times."

But they didn't give them a chance to negotiate at all; they just kicked them out.

Li Qianlang became increasingly pleased with himself, and continued to describe the scene vividly:
"Rumors are already rampant in Changshan County, and all sides are watching to see if Commander Chen will stand up for the Yang family. Sure enough, the Yang family couldn't hold back any longer."

According to reliable sources, the Yang family patriarch, Yang Huizi, will personally come to "negotiate" tomorrow, and Chen Sheng is hiding in his entourage. Hmph, he's probably planning to catch us off guard by capturing the leader first."

Li Qianlang has been racking his brains these past few days to deal with Chen Sheng.

Because he knew perfectly well that only by eliminating Chen Sheng, this major threat, would the current envoy Yu be able to retire successfully and leave Changshan.

Only when Yu Shangshi leaves can Li Qianlang truly sit on the throne of the Changshan branch leader.

“What a pity.”

Li Qianlang suddenly smiled sinisterly: "Chen Sheng probably never dreamed that all of this was within our calculations. If he knows what's good for him and cooperates obediently when we meet, he might still be spared."

If he doesn't know what's good for him, then I'll have to trouble you, Master, to personally send him on his way.

Although Li Qianlang had never personally witnessed Chen Sheng make a move, the title of "Changshan Demon God" was by no means undeserved.

He knew he wasn't confident he could handle such a formidable opponent, so he wouldn't risk his life. The safest and most effortless way was to ask a leader at the Innate Realm to crush him with overwhelming force.

"Well done."

After listening to the report, Yu Qiantong nodded in satisfaction.

Since arriving at Qinglang Village on orders from the alliance to establish the Changshan branch, he has left all the trivial matters to Li Qianlang, while indulging in wine, women, and pleasure all day long.

After all, dealing with a Foundation Establishment martial artist from a mere county was not worth him expending too much energy on.

Fortunately, Li Qianlang was quite capable in his work.

"Once I return to the main headquarters after my mission is accomplished, I will definitely recommend you for the position of leader of the Changshan branch," Yu Qiantong laughed and made a promise.

Upon hearing this, Li Qianlang was overjoyed and immediately bowed, his voice filled with excitement:
"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will never forget your kindness. I will be ready to go through fire and water for you in the future!"

"Really?"

Yu Qiantong narrowed his eyes, understanding the deeper meaning in Li Qianlang's words. This meant that Li Qianlang intended to completely submit to him, and even if he left Changshan in the future, Li Qianlang would still follow his lead.

This is naturally a good thing for him.

After all, even innate experts cannot cultivate without the support of massive resources. If they could control the Changshan branch as a source of wealth, they would undoubtedly have a substantial additional income.

"Yes, I swear I have not uttered a single falsehood," Li Qianlang immediately assured him firmly.

"very good."

Yu Qiantong's smile widened: "Then you should do your job well. In the future, I will support you in this Changshan region."

"Thank you, Master."

Li Qianlang bowed deeply again, then changed the subject, revealing a knowing smile that any man would understand:

"Master, I have completed the task you instructed me to undertake a few days ago. I have specially found you a woman... well, she has an exceptionally robust and muscular physique, and her body odor is quite unique. I wonder when you would be so inclined as to 'give her some pointers'?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Qiantong's eyes lit up, and he said with great interest:
"Now that you've found it, why don't you bring it here quickly?"

Compared to those delicate and beautiful women, he preferred to conquer these strong women full of wild power, which had a unique and indescribable 'flavor'.

"I will take her to the captain's room right away."

Li Qianlang understood and immediately bowed and withdrew to make the arrangements.

……

The next day, on the Qinglin River

On the shimmering river, a merchant ship flying the Yang family flag is cutting through the waves.

Inside the cabin, Chen Sheng sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, his aura calm and focused, as he engaged in his daily cultivation.

In order to make this 'play' realistic enough and avoid arousing suspicion from the Green Wolf Village, Chen Sheng put a lot of thought into it.

He not only allowed various forces in Changshan County to speculate wildly, but also created enough 'public opinion' within the Yang family.

As for the news that he was hiding on the Yang family's merchant ship, he instructed Yang Yi to leak it "inadvertently" so that the opponent could prepare "as scheduled" and save him from having to go through any more trouble.

The news that he has broken through to the Innate Realm is still strictly kept under wraps.

Throughout Changshan County, only a handful of people knew about this matter; even Yang Yi was kept in the dark.

This is why Yang Yi was so worried when discussing this operation, and repeatedly tried to persuade Chen Sheng to abandon this risky plan, but Chen Sheng was determined.

"My lord, Chief Yang requests an audience."

Outside the cabin, Yan Ming's calm and steady voice came from reporting.

"Let him in." Chen Sheng slowly finished his practice, opened his eyes, and his gaze sharpened.

The hatch was pushed open, and Yang Yi strode in, his face filled with deep worry.
"Commander Chen, the ship will reach the waters of Qinglang Village in another quarter of an hour. I am really on tenterhooks. Qinglang Village's actions are too abnormal. There must be a trap involved."

In my humble opinion, we should proceed with caution and plan carefully.

Yang Yi has repeatedly expressed his concerns about the possibility that Qinglang Village might have set a trap, but Chen Sheng remains unmoved.

He knew that Chen Sheng was young and ambitious, and highly skilled, but he couldn't underestimate his enemy because of that.

Moreover, Chen Sheng is no longer just himself; he is also responsible for whether the Yang family can seize the opportunity to rise to power.

Without Chen Sheng, this formidable figure, to oversee things, the Yang family alone would have been powerless to suppress the covetous forces within Changshan County and monopolize the enormous profits left behind by the downfall of the Gao and Huang families.

"Chief Yang is overthinking it."

Chen Sheng's gaze swept calmly over him:

"The Green Wolf Stronghold is nothing but a rabble. I intend to take this opportunity to uproot them completely and eliminate any future troubles. Besides, the ship is already on its last legs. Talking about retreating now would only make us a laughingstock. You just need to do your job."

"But."

Yang Yi wanted to say something more, but seeing Chen Sheng's unwavering gaze, he could only swallow his words, letting out a helpless sigh, and cupping his hands in a gesture of respect:

"Yes, I understand."

Yang Yi could only silently comfort himself.

He had a general idea of ​​the strength of the bandits around Changshan County.

There are at most three martial artists at the Marrow Transformation Realm. This time, the Yang family has sent out two elders at the Marrow Transformation Realm, along with the unfathomable Chen Sheng and Li Huaisheng, as well as dozens of elites carefully selected from the Yang family and the military camp. As long as there are no major accidents, the chances of winning should be quite high.

But for some reason, the ominous premonition in his heart lingered. The merchant ship sailed on for several more miles.

In the distance, a similar-looking boat, also flying the Yang family flag, was seen sailing towards them.

Upon seeing this, the Yang family members were filled with righteous indignation—because it was the very merchant ship that had been hijacked a few days ago, and the people on board were undoubtedly the bandits of the Green Wolf Stronghold.

"All on alert."

An elder of the Yang family, his hair and beard bristling, shouted sternly.

In an instant, the Yang family members and soldiers on the ship drew their swords and nocked their bows, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"Friends on the opposite ship, hold your fire."

Just then, a shout came from the opposite ship.

On the bow of the ship, a middle-aged man dressed in brown close-fitting clothes stood with his hands behind his back, his sharp eyes scanning the Yang family's merchant ship. Yang Yi's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately recognized the man as Li Qianlang, the leader of the Green Wolf Village.

He subconsciously turned to look at Chen Sheng, only to see Chen Sheng still sitting calmly in the armchair, his posture languid, his face showing no sign of tension, as if the person who had come was just an insignificant nobody.

"Commander Chen, we..."

"Not urgent."

Chen Sheng waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "Let's hear what he has to say."

Then he gave Yan Ming a wink, and the other man immediately understood and closed the cabin door.

Seeing this, Yang Yi had no choice but to suppress his unease and nod in agreement.

The two ships slowly approached each other and stopped when they were less than ten feet apart.

Li Qianlang stood at the bow of the boat, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Yang Yi, and said loudly:

"Brother Yang, how have you been?"

"Master Li."

Yang Yi's face was gloomy, and he replied in a cold voice: "My Yang family and your Green Wolf Village have always kept to ourselves. Why have you been repeatedly robbing my merchant ships recently? Now that I have come in person, shouldn't Chief Li give an explanation?"

"Hahaha."

Li Qianlang burst into laughter, calm and composed: "Brother Yang, why be angry? May I board your ship for a chat? I will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation then."

He dared to board the ship because he was fearless.

The envoy, Yu Qiantong, was currently sitting in the cabin behind him, and with this innate expert as his backing, he dared to venture into even the most dangerous places.

However, before completely breaking off relations, he still wanted to see Chen Sheng first and try to have one last conversation.

Ideally, the problem should be solved without bloodshed.

If the other party remains obstinate, it's not too late to take action and eliminate them.

"Since Master Li is willing to discuss this, then please board the ship," Yang Yi said in a deep voice.

"Brother Yang is straightforward."

Li Qianlang praised it, then kicked his foot, sending a long bamboo pole flying through the air and firmly planting it in the water.

He leaped up, lightly tapping his toes on the bamboo pole a few times. His clothes fluttered, and in a few leaps, he landed steadily on the deck of the Yang family's merchant ship, displaying remarkable agility.

"Master Li, can you give me an explanation now?" Yang Yi stepped forward and stared intently at Li Qianlang as he asked.

Li Qianlang calmly straightened his robes and smiled serenely:
“This matter is not urgent. I have heard that Commander Chen Sheng of the Armed Forces is on the ship. I am eager to meet him. I wonder if I could ask Commander Chen to show himself? I have important matters to discuss with him.”

Yang Yi's expression changed slightly as he feigned shock and anger at having his scheme exposed.

Li Qianlang's confident smile deepened, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed main cabin door, as if he could see through the wooden planks to the people inside.

"You wish to see me? What brings you here?"

As soon as Li Qianlang finished speaking, a cold voice came from inside the main cabin.

Immediately, the cabin door was pushed open from the inside by two soldiers, revealing a young figure sitting upright in a grand chair.

The man was dressed in the robes of an eighth-rank military officer, with a stern face. Although he did not stand up, an invisible sense of authority and oppressive pressure emanated from him.

"You must be the recently renowned Lord Chen Sheng?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Qianlang's eyes, as if he hadn't expected Chen Sheng to be so young, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed respectfully.

Chen Sheng did not reply, but instead scrutinized him with his deep, cold eyes, as if he were looking at an inanimate object.

Li Qianlang felt a little uncomfortable under their gaze, but forced himself to say:
"Commander Chen, may I speak with you in private?"

"Speak your mind right here."

Chen Sheng finally spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion. He even shifted his gaze away from Li Qianlang, lowering his head to gently stroke the scabbard of the Cold-Slaying Blade resting across his lap.
"Everyone here is a trusted confidant of mine, so there is no need to hide anything."

Such an arrogant attitude secretly annoyed Li Qianlang.

But bearing the orders of the envoy, he could only suppress his anger, his gaze sweeping over Yan Ming, Li Huaisheng, and the others. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Commander Chen, although I am a member of the Jianghu, I have long admired your extraordinary abilities. However, your recent actions have been too domineering, cutting off the lifeline of many of our brothers."

We were forced into this desperate measure, plundering the Yang family's merchant ships, hoping to create an opportunity to speak with Commander Chen in person.

After a pause, Li Qianlang observed Chen Sheng's reaction and continued:

"As long as Commander Chen promises that the government will turn a blind eye to the affairs of the Changshan waters in the future and allow us to live a carefree life here, I, Li, am willing to swear this oath on behalf of all my comrades in the Changshan waters."

"Immediately return all goods and ships belonging to the Yang family, and from this day forward, never again plunder merchant ships, and coexist peacefully with all parties."

"Furthermore, during holidays and festivals, we will also present you with a token of our appreciation, which we guarantee will satisfy Commander Chen. Wouldn't it be better if we could all get along harmoniously and each get what we need? Why must we fight and kill each other, resulting in mutual destruction?"

"Bribing me?"

Chen Sheng slowly raised his head, a half-smile curving his lips, but his eyes were as cold as knives. "It sounds good, but what if I don't agree?"

Li Qianlang's expression darkened, and his tone became firm:
"If Commander Chen insists on not giving us a way out, then it will be a fight to the death. Also, Commander Chen may want to consider that since I knew you had set up an ambush here, I still dared to board the ship alone. I must have something to rely on."

Commander Chen is so young, yet he has already achieved such cultivation and status; his future is limitless. If he were to ruin this promising future here because of a moment of impulsiveness, wouldn't that be a great pity?

"Ah"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng let out a contemptuous sneer, his gaze fixed on a clown:
"You? You dare threaten me?"

Before Li Qianlang could even utter the word "I," a sudden change occurred.

Li Huaisheng, who was standing beside Chen Sheng, and Xu Shenzhi, who had just joined the army and was eager to make a name for himself, attacked without hesitation almost the instant Chen Sheng finished speaking.

Two sharp gusts of wind rushed towards Li Qianlang, especially Xu Shenzhi, whose sword light was like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, ruthless and cunning, aiming straight for his throat.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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