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

Chapter 27 Lower Your Head!

No one expected that Yang Hu, who was usually quite respectful to the gang leader and capable in handling affairs, would suddenly launch an attack at such a critical moment and ruthlessly betray them.

After a brief silence, gasps erupted from the main hall. Several loyal hall masters and protectors instinctively rushed forward to help the seriously injured Ma Changhai.

"Gang leader!"

"Boss! How are you...?"

"That traitor Yang Hu! I'll kill him!"

"Don't come any closer!!"

Ma Changhai suddenly raised his hand and sternly stopped everyone from approaching. He tightly clutched the bleeding wound in his abdomen with one hand, his face pale from the pain and blood loss, but his eyes were bloodshot, filled with shock and anger, and deeper still, unspeakable vigilance and suspicion.

Yang Hu's betrayal, along with the precise attack on his family and the tragic death of his father, quickly connected in his mind.

All of this was no coincidence. At this moment, he no longer dared to easily trust the seemingly concerned faces around him, fearing that another cold knife might be stabbed in the back at any moment.

"Well done."

Outside the main hall, Chen Sheng sat on horseback, quite pleased with Yang Hu's perfectly timed betrayal.

He had gone to great lengths to achieve this situation. Not only did he have to suppress the Seven Star Gang, but he also had to ensure that he could extract concrete information about "Earth Spirit Milk" from Ma Changhai.

Therefore, he instructed Yang Hu to secretly control Ma Changhai's wife and children as bargaining chips—as for the death of his father, it was Yang Hu's act of taking matters into his own hands to vent his personal anger.

At this moment, Yang Hu firmly held Ma Changhai's weakness.

Admittedly, with Chen Sheng's current Bone Forging Realm cultivation and numerous trump cards, he is confident that his strength is no less than Ma Changhai's, and his chances of winning should be over 70%.

However, he always strives for prudence in his actions, and he is willing to do anything to weaken his opponents in order to increase his chances of winning.

The ten crossbows poised to fire were one; Yang Hu's precise backstab was the second; and his true, hidden strength was the third!

"Charge in! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

Without further hesitation, Chen Sheng flicked his whip forward and gave the order in a cold voice.

"kill--!"

Upon receiving the order, Yan Ming's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He roared and charged ahead, leading his fierce soldiers into the main hall. The deafening shouts of battle instantly engulfed the entire Seven Star Gang headquarters.

Those who surrender will not be killed! Those who lay down their weapons and kneel will be spared!

At the same time, Yang Hu roared and moved like lightning, turning around to attack his former "colleague".

Upon seeing this, several hall masters and leaders who had been in cahoots with him immediately dropped their disguises and slashed their unsuspecting companions with their blades.

A pincer attack from both inside and outside, surrounded and attacked from all sides!
In an instant, the entire Seven Star Gang headquarters descended into utter chaos and infighting. Screams, curses, the clash of weapons, and death wails mingled together, and the stench of blood rapidly filled the air.

Chen Sheng's eyes were sharp, and he had already locked onto the staggering figure in the crowd.

He lightly touched the stirrup with his toes, and his body leaped up like a roc spreading its wings, pouncing into the air towards Ma Changhai, who was trying to organize a resistance!
"You little bastard! I'll kill you!!"

Seeing Chen Sheng coming to kill him, and remembering his father's tragic death and his family's abduction, Ma Changhai's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he completely went mad.

He mustered his inner strength, ignoring the bleeding wound in his abdomen, gripped the nine-ringed broadsword tightly with both hands, and fiercely met the attack. The blade whistled, its force heavy and powerful, carrying a resolute determination to perish together, and slashed straight at Chen Sheng's face.

He still harbored a sliver of hope—if he could take the officer commander hostage, perhaps he would have a chance to survive!
However, he ultimately overestimated his strength under severe injuries and underestimated Chen Sheng's terrifying power!
Faced with this desperate attack that resembled that of a mad tiger, Chen Sheng's expression remained cold and stern, only letting out a disdainful snort.

"Zheng——!"

The "Frost-Slaying" sword at his waist was suddenly drawn, transforming into a cold and dazzling white streak, striking first despite being behind.

"clang!!"

A piercing clang of metal clashing rang out! Sparks flew everywhere!

Chen Sheng merely slumped slightly, then steadily received the powerful blow like a mountain. The immense recoil caused Ma Changhai's wound to reopen, blood spurting out, and his face paled even more.

Before Ma Changhai could change his move, Chen Sheng flicked his wrist, and his sword strikes suddenly became incredibly fierce! He effortlessly unleashed the ruthless moves of the "Three Absolute Swords of Demon Subduing," the sword light flowing like a waterfall, continuous and unending!

"Hey!"

"Qiang!"

In just a few moves, Chen Sheng completely turned the tide, forcing Ma Changhai, who seemed to have the upper hand, into a precarious situation.

While Ma Changhai's serious injuries and mental instability were partly to blame, Chen Sheng's precision, ruthlessness, and formidable strength still sent chills down the spines of everyone who witnessed it.

Ma Changhai was even more horrified, and finally understood that the previous rumors about Chen Sheng killing Gao Qiheng with a single blow were no exaggeration.

The will to survive instantly overwhelmed the fire of revenge. Ma Changhai feinted with his sword, then turned to flee towards the back hall. "Trying to escape? Too late!"

How could Chen Sheng give him a chance? His footwork shifted, closing in instantly like a shadow, and with a flash of light, his blade struck Ma Changhai's wrist.

With a clang, the nine-ringed broadsword fell from his hand and landed on the ground!

Immediately afterwards, Chen Sheng's sharp eyes locked onto the long knife still stuck in Ma Changhai's abdomen, constantly stirring the wound with his movements—that was Yang Hu's "masterpiece".

Because of the excruciating pain and fear, Ma Changhai never dared to pull it out, which became his biggest weakness!

Chen Sheng took a few steps forward, then suddenly leaped into the air, delivering a powerful whip kick that struck the exposed end of the knife hilt like a heavy hammer.

"puff--!"

The excruciating, bone-deep tearing pain caused Ma Changhai to let out a bloodcurdling scream!
The long sword was propelled by this immense force, sending him flying backward with his body. With a loud bang, he was pinned to a heavy wooden door!

"You...cough cough..."

Ma Changhai was in excruciating pain and was about to curse when a chilling blade gently touched his Adam's apple, and a few strands of hair severed by the blade's energy slowly drifted down.

In an instant, Ma Changhai was terrified, his clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and he dared not make the slightest move. He could only stare at Chen Sheng, who was standing close by, with eyes full of resentment and fear.

Chen Sheng lightly patted his pale cheek, pale from blood loss, with the back of his knife, his voice icy, as if from the depths of hell:

"If you want your beautiful wife and young child to live, then you'd better... bow your head obediently to me."

Upon hearing the words "wife and children," Ma Changhai trembled violently, and all the color drained from his face.

He stared intently into Chen Sheng's emotionless eyes, and after only a moment's hesitation, he slumped down, as if all his backbone had been removed.

……

Meanwhile, the battle inside the Seven Star Gang's headquarters was also nearing its end.

With internal defections from "our own people" like Yang Hu, and external encirclement and suppression by well-equipped and menacing government troops, the Seven Stars Gang, already leaderless and demoralized, completely lost their will to resist.

More and more people threw down their weapons, their faces pale, and knelt down to beg for mercy.

……

The earth-shattering commotion at the Seven Star Gang headquarters had already spread like wildfire to all the forces in Changshan County.

The most vehement reaction naturally came from the Gao clan.

The Seven Stars Gang was a "white glove" that the Gao family had painstakingly cultivated over many years with a large amount of resources. It was an important henchman for them to seize profits and exert influence in the north of the city and even the entire Changshan County.

If the Seven Star Gang is completely eradicated, the Gao family will lose not only face, but also substantial profits and a powerful ally.

Directly confronting the government with force is a major taboo. Gao Yuanfeng, the head of the Gao family, urgently contacted the Huang and Yang families, trying to put pressure on the government together. At the same time, he immediately went to the county government office to see Magistrate Lin Shou, hoping to use the authority of this local official to stop the massacre.

At the same time, he ordered his third brother, Gao Yuanhe, to immediately lead the private soldiers and guards raised by the Gao family to rush to the north of the city. No matter what, he had to find a way to protect the core members of the Seven Star Gang, or at least... to save Ma Changhai!
Upon receiving the news, Magistrate Lin Shou was equally shocked.

Under Gao Yuanfeng's repeated urging, he immediately ordered the officers and soldiers of the Western City Martial Camp, who were under his command, to go to the north of the city to "maintain order" in an attempt to intervene. Afterwards, he was to go to the scene with Gao Yuanfeng.

However, just as he stepped out of the second hall of the county government office, a figure calmly blocked his way.

It was Wu Kuang, the county magistrate.

He wore a half-smile on his face, his gaze sweeping over Lin Shou and Gao Yuanfeng, his tone leisurely:

"Magistrate Lin and Clan Chief Gao, they seem to be in a hurry... Where are they headed?"

Lin Shou's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water, and he questioned sharply:

"County Commandant Wu, what exactly is Chen Sheng trying to do? In broad daylight, under the clear sky, he's mobilizing troops and massacring civilians in the city. Does he have no respect for the law?!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Kuang's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling and righteous expression. He let out a cold snort, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:

"Slaughtering the people? Magistrate Lin is mistaken. The Seven Star Gang has committed numerous evils in Changshan for many years, including bullying the market, colluding with river bandits, inciting refugees, and harming the innocent. Their crimes are too numerous to count."

Furthermore, there is conclusive evidence showing that he recently dared to plot a rebellion, wreaking havoc in the countryside. Commander Chen's suppression of the bandits and elimination of evil, thus pacifying the region, is merely the exercise of the duties entrusted to him by the imperial court, ridding the people of a scourge. What wrong has he done?!

"So, Chen Sheng's actions were approved by County Commandant Wu?"

Gao Yuanfeng asked in a deep voice.

Wu Kuang turned his head sharply, his sharp, knife-like gaze piercing Gao Yuanfeng, his tone icy, carrying an undisguised sense of oppression:

"Clan Chief Gao, what's wrong with you? Do you have a problem with this?"

(End of this chapter)