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

Chapter 26 Backstab
Seven Stars Gang, Headquarters.

The hall masters and elders gathered together, creating a lively atmosphere, but the mood was not festive; instead, it was filled with restlessness and unease.

Gang leader Ma Changhai sat at the head of the table, his face ashen. Looking at the chaotic scene below, his anger surged.

In the past few days, the Seven Star Gang, following the instructions of the Gao family, has stirred up trouble in the north of the city, but the result is hard to describe.

Not only did they fail to effectively suppress the arrogance of the new commander, but they also made a series of mistakes. First, they "accidentally" killed a member of the Huang family, and then they provoked the forces in the West City, causing a lot of trouble.

The commotion was indeed quite significant, but trouble followed one after another. It failed to touch the root of Chen Sheng's problems, and the Gao family was already dissatisfied, even suspecting that the news had been leaked.

He urgently summoned everyone today precisely to enforce discipline and thoroughly investigate any internal spies. However, before he could even begin his address—

“Report—!”

A shrill scream suddenly came from outside the hall, accompanied by staggering footsteps. A gang member tumbled in, his face ashen and his eyes filled with terror, as if he had seen a vengeful ghost.

"What's the panic! Is your father dead?!"

Ma Changhai, who was already furious and had nowhere to vent his anger, suddenly slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair and shouted angrily.

The gang member trembled with fear, kneeling on the ground, his voice shaking uncontrollably: "No...it's not my father...it's you, leader...your old master...something has happened to him!"

"What?!" Ma Changhai's pupils constricted, and he abruptly stood up. "What happened to my father? Tell me!"

"When we arrived, the old man... he had already been murdered by the thieves... his body... his body was already cold..." the gang member replied, his voice trembling with sobs.

"boom--!"

These words caused an uproar in the entire hall! The gang leader's father was murdered? This was no ordinary revenge killing; it was clearly a deliberate act targeting the Seven Star Gang and Ma Changhai himself!
"Who is it?! Where is the murderer? Has he been caught?!"

Ma Changhai's eyes were bloodshot. He rushed down the steps, grabbed the messenger by the collar, and lifted him off the ground.

"No...no...when we went there, the mansion was empty..." the gang member replied with difficulty, his face turning purple from being strangled.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

Enraged, Ma Changhai slammed the object to the ground like a broken sack, his mind instantly thrown into chaos.

Although his father was old, he had guards by his side, yet he was secretly infiltrated and murdered.
Just as he was about to lead his men back to the mansion to investigate, another trusted aide stumbled into the main hall, looking extremely flustered:
"Boss! Something terrible has happened!"

Ma Changhai's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition gripped him:

"What...what happened now?!"

"Madam...Madam and Young Master...they...they've disappeared! Everyone left behind in the manor...is dead!"

"impossible!"

Ma Changhai was struck dumb, and roared hoarsely, "The mansion is in a secluded location and heavily guarded, how could they possibly..."

The hiding place of his wife and children was carefully arranged by him after learning from the lessons of his predecessor. Apart from a few close confidants, no one knew the exact location. How could someone have found it so precisely and kidnapped them?
"It's true. A group of extremely skilled and mysterious people suddenly broke in. They were ruthless, and our people couldn't hold them off at all... By the time reinforcements arrived, the mansion was empty, with only bloodstains on the ground..."

"Investigate! Investigate! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find the madam and young master! Tear those bastards to pieces!!"

Ma Changhai was completely panicked. His parents, wife and children had all met with misfortune. This was clearly meant to make him childless and cause his family to be destroyed!

"Yes Yes!"

Several trusted confidants hurriedly accepted the order and rushed out of the main hall. The remaining people looked at each other, speechless with shock at the series of bad news, and a sense of panic filled the main hall.

However, the few trusted followers who rushed out of the main hall were blocked back by another group of even more panicked gang members. A dozen or so people scrambled into the hall, their voices shrill and filled with despair:

"Something terrible has happened! Boss! Something awful has occurred!"

Hearing the familiar yet piercing shout, Ma Changhai felt a wave of dizziness and darkness wash over him. He instinctively reached out to grab a nearby pillar to steady himself.

What else could it be?!
"Soldiers! Soldiers have come to our door!"

"They kill anyone they see! Many brothers are already dead!"

"The main building... the main building is completely surrounded! We can't get out!"

Accompanied by these desperate cries, outside the main hall, the clanging of weapons clashing, the whistling of crossbow bolts piercing the air, and the shrill screams of the gang members before their deaths could be clearly heard!

"what?!"

This time, not only Ma Changhai, but all the high-ranking members of the Seven Star Gang in the entire hall were horrified and stood up abruptly! Government troops dared to directly attack the main hall?!
Inside the main hall, chaos erupted instantly, with shouts, curses, and the clatter of tables and chairs filling the air.

Ma Changhai's face was ashen, his expression terrifyingly ferocious. The tragedy involving his parents, wife, and children, and the siege by government troops, happened almost simultaneously, and he instinctively connected the two events—this was clearly a deadly trap aimed at him and the entire Seven Star Gang!

With a clang, he suddenly drew the heavy nine-ringed broadsword beside him, the rings clashing together with a piercing sound.

"Brothers! The government is leaving us no way out; they've come knocking on our door! We can't worry about anything else now! Everyone, follow me and fight your way out! Hold off the government troops!"

He forced himself to remain calm and tried to reassure everyone, "Don't panic! As long as we hold on, the Gao family's reinforcements will arrive soon! Then, let's see if they still dare to be arrogant!"

Before he finished speaking, Ma Changhai had already taken the lead, drawing his knife and charging towards the entrance of the hall. Seeing this, some of the gang members who had been roused also drew their weapons and followed him, shouting as they went.

Amidst the chaotic crowd, Yang Hu subtly exchanged glances with several other hall masters who had already spoken to each other. He then drew his weapon, put on an indignant expression, and quickly followed, deliberately staying close to Ma Changhai's back, appearing as if he were loyal to his master and would follow him to the death.

Amidst his busy schedule, Ma Changhai glanced back and saw Yang Hu following closely behind, a sense of relief flashing through his heart.

In times of crisis, loyalty and treachery are revealed. This man, after all, was not unworthy of my promotion; he is indeed somewhat loyal.

If we can survive this ordeal, we must give him an important position!
……

Outside the main gate of the Seven Star Gang headquarters.

There were more than a dozen corpses lying haphazardly on the ground, most of them pierced directly by powerful crossbow bolts, their deaths gruesome.

More than a hundred fully armored and disciplined soldiers advanced steadily forward like a moving steel wall.

With flashing blades and whistling crossbow bolts, the Seven Star Gang, though numerous, was mostly a rabble. Under the onslaught of the regular army, they suffered a near-total defeat and heavy casualties.

"Stop it!!"

Ma Changhai rushed to the gate, letting out a fierce roar that shook the surrounding area, attempting to stabilize the rout. He swung his nine-ringed broadsword with a powerful slash, instantly felling a soldier at the forefront to the ground.

However, what answered him was the sound of several cold, vibrating mechanisms!

"Boo! Hah! Hah!"

Several thick, wind-piercing crossbow bolts, carrying the aura of death, shot forth in an instant!

Ma Changhai's expression changed drastically. He reacted extremely quickly, grabbing a gang member who couldn't dodge in time and using him as a shield!
With a few muffled thuds, the unfortunate gang member was instantly riddled with bullets. Using the force of the impact, Ma Changhai retreated awkwardly into the gate, using a doorpost for cover.

Through the crack in the door, his gaze was fixed on the young man in black armor who sat atop a tall horse not far away, his expression cold and stern.

"Chen Sheng!!"

Ma Changhai roared hoarsely, "What do you want to do?! In broad daylight, under the clear sky, can the government just slaughter people with such impunity?!"

Chen Sheng sat upright on his horse, his gaze calmly meeting Ma Changhai's venomous stare, his voice carrying clearly across the battlefield:
"Seven Star Gang Leader Ma Changhai, you have committed treason, colluded with bandits, and oppressed the good. The evidence against you is irrefutable! I am acting on the orders of the County Magistrate to suppress you according to the law and pacify this region. What is wrong with that?!"

He paused, then his voice suddenly turned stern as he shouted at the remaining Seven Stars Gang members inside the gate: "Listen up! If you don't want your entire family to be implicated, lay down your weapons immediately, kneel down and surrender. I might show leniency and only execute the ringleader, Ma Changhai! Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

"Chen Sheng!!"

Ma Changhai nearly ground his teeth to powder, his eyes bloodshot. "I'll only ask you one question! My father, my wife and children... were you the one who poisoned them?!"

Chen Sheng's lips curled into a cold smile, neither confirming nor denying. But in Ma Changhai's eyes, this silent response was the best answer!

"what--!!"

Ma Changhai went completely mad, turning back to his terrified gang members and shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Brothers! Don't believe this corrupt official's nonsense. Surrendering will only lead to death. Follow me and fight our way out! Kill this brat, and as long as we escape, with the Gao family's protection, we can still go to Qinglinjiang and live a carefree life! But if anyone dares to betray the gang, the Gao family will never let them off the hook..."

"Pfft——!"

A dull thud as a sharp blade pierced flesh abruptly interrupted Ma Changhai's desperate roar.

Ma Changhai's body stiffened abruptly. He looked down in disbelief and saw a familiar blade tip protruding from his abdomen! A sharp pain instantly swept through his entire body!
He turned his head with difficulty, and what came into view was Yang Hu's face, which was so close yet so cold and expressionless.

Having landed a successful blow, Yang Hu did not linger in the fight. He immediately released his sword and retreated, his figure as swift as lightning, charging directly towards the soldiers' camp outside the gate, shouting: "Yang Hu, a sinner, has abandoned darkness and embraced light, and is willing to help the lord quell the rebels!"

Outside the door, Chen Sheng slightly raised his hand, and the Wind-Breaking Crossbow, which was about to be activated, instantly stopped.

Inside the main hall, all the Seven Stars Gang members were frozen in place, staring dumbfounded at this sudden and astonishing reversal. For a moment, not one of them could react.

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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