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

Chapter 85 Deterring Changshan!

With the heads of Gao Yuanfeng and a group of Gao family remnants hanging high on the gate tower of Changshan County, this bloody and shocking news was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves once again.

It quickly swept through every corner of the county, causing quite a stir.

The matter was the talk of the town, in every street corner, teahouse, and tavern.

The air seemed to be filled with a mixture of fear, awe, and an indescribable excitement.

Previously, Chen Sheng's swift and decisive annihilation of the Gao family had already terrified all forces in Changshan County, causing them to act with extreme caution and restraint, fearing that a single misstep could bring about their own destruction.

Now, Gao Yuanfeng, the once high and mighty patriarch, along with the last hope of the Gao family bloodline, has been uprooted and his head displayed to the public. This is undoubtedly another heavy blow to everyone's hearts.

"Not only did they wipe out the entire family, but they also wiped out the entire lineage... Commander Chen truly lives up to his word, ruthless and decisive!" someone exclaimed in a low voice, their tone filled with barely concealed fear.

"The Gao family... a century-old legacy, just vanished into thin air like this?"

Many others felt a sense of disorientation and chill, realizing for the first time how fragile the foundations of so-called powerful families were in the face of absolute force and iron fist.

Chen Sheng used the most direct and cruel method to declare to everyone that his will was not to be defied and that his revenge would be carried out to the end.

At this moment, all forces within Changshan County truly felt a chill from the bottom of their hearts.

No one dared to take any chances anymore.

Immediately, many forces racked their brains and devised various ways to try to establish a relationship with the newly appointed commander of the armed forces.

I dare not hope to receive much favor; I only ask that I not offend the other party over trivial matters and bring unnecessary disaster upon myself.

At the same time, an even more startling yet seemingly unbelievable rumor began to circulate quietly in the shadows.

Rumor has it that not only was Gao Yuanfeng, the head of the Gao family, killed last night, but a powerful expert at the innate level also perished, and Chen Sheng personally killed him with a single blow!

However, compared to the bloody, visible heads on the city wall, most people were still skeptical of the news about the fall of a Xiantian expert, and doubters even dominated the majority.

"A Xiantian expert? Those are beings who can fly and whose bodies are protected by true qi. No matter how powerful Commander Chen is, he's only a Foundation Establishment Martial Master, right? How could he possibly kill a Xiantian expert?"

"Perhaps it's an exaggeration, just to create momentum for the government."

"It can't be baseless, otherwise how could Gao Yuanfeng have suffered such a complete defeat?"

In a place like Changshan County, the existence of beings at the Innate Realm is practically legendary. The news of their demise is truly shocking and far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Therefore, most people believe that this matter is most likely false and is a fake news released by the government.

Below the city gate, amidst the bustling crowd, Yang Hu, the current leader of the Seven Star Gang, stopped and looked up. His gaze was complicated as he stared at the once familiar but now terrifying head of Gao Yuanfeng. He let out a long sigh, which was then replaced by an indescribable heaviness.

He was the one who personally led the men to wipe out the remnants of the Gao family, and he understood better than anyone Chen Sheng's determination to eliminate them completely.

But he never expected that even Gao Yuanfeng, who had gone into hiding, would follow in his footsteps so quickly.

The young scholar he had grown up with, who had once been powerless, now displayed methods and a mindset that made him feel utterly unfamiliar, and even... a faint sense of fear.

Because of this unfamiliarity and fear, when Chen Sheng's power grew increasingly overwhelming, he did not immediately join the military camp as others expected, but instead chose to remain in the Seven Star Gang.

On the one hand, Chen Sheng had promised to let him take charge of the Seven Stars Gang; on the other hand, he also keenly sensed that the young master did not seem to rely on him much, and that it was more of a arrangement based on old friendship.

He had considered taking the initiative to show his loyalty. His family, the Yang family, had followed Master Chen since his father's generation, and could be considered hereditary servants.

But the power and wealth of the Seven Star Gang, and the feeling of controlling a region, made it hard for him to give up, and he was unwilling to go back to the army and start as an ordinary soldier.

Yang Hu took one last deep look at the severed head on the city wall, sighed inwardly, and ultimately could not bring himself to change the situation.

"Perhaps... it's fine to maintain this way. Besides, I've always been carrying out the young master's orders."

Yang Hu could only console himself with this thought, forcibly suppressing those complex emotions.
-
Inside the Yang family mansion.

After learning of Gao Yuanfeng's execution and the complete extinction of the Gao family line, Yang Yi, the head of the family, remained silent in his study for a long time.

He and Gao Yuanfeng have known each other for decades, sometimes openly and sometimes secretly, sometimes drinking and laughing together. Although they have different positions, they can still be considered friends.

Now, witnessing the tragic end of an old friend and the annihilation of his family, a sense of shared sorrow arises within me.

"Ten years... or even less than ten years. How many people in Changshan County will still remember the Gao family?"

He muttered to himself, a strong sense of relief welling up inside him.

Fortunately, he made the right choice at the crucial moment, completely severing ties with the Huang family and siding with Chen Sheng. Otherwise, Yang Yi would probably be the one in the study today, feeling extremely anxious and restless.

However, along with the relief, a deeper anxiety also emerged.

The relationship between his sister and Chen Sheng was more of a combination of interests and a little affection, and it was not very solid.

He knew very well that no matter how outstanding his sister's appearance and figure were, the fact that she had been married before could not be changed.

Given Chen Sheng's current potential and power, there is absolutely no way he would formally marry such a woman.

At most, their interactions can only be conducted in secret.

"But that's not enough, far from enough!"

A glint of light flashed in Yang Yi's eyes.

What he wanted was a truly stable alliance through marriage. According to his investigation, Chen Sheng was at most twenty-five years old. Such a young expert at the Marrow Transformation Realm had a great chance of breaking through to the Innate Realm in the future.

This is a marriage partner with unlimited potential!

"If only I had done it back then... sigh!"

He even felt a little regretful. If he hadn't stood with the Gao and Huang families in the first place, perhaps Chen Sheng would have already become the son-in-law of the Yang family.

At this moment, he even began to consider whether he could create another opportunity to facilitate the marriage between Chen Sheng and Yang Xueyao.

As for ethical considerations such as aunt and niece sharing a husband, they are utterly insignificant in the face of family survival and interests. He has seen far more despicable things within the deep mansions of powerful families.

The words are divided into two parts.

Unlike the Yang family's secret joy and calculations, the Huang family's mansion was now shrouded in gloom, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The family head Huang Dongchun, elder Huang Ke, and the family's pillar of strength, the Huang family's great-uncle, gathered together once again.

This time, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was almost suffocating, and a sense of impending crisis, like a storm brewing and a building about to collapse, lingered in everyone's mind.

Although they hadn't held out much hope for Gao Yuanfeng's revenge, a sliver of wishful thinking still lingered deep in their hearts.

But now, that last glimmer of hope has been shattered with the death of Gao Yuanfeng. The Gao family is finished.

Who's next?
The answer is self-evident—the Huang family!
"Grand Uncle... what should we do next?"

Huang Dongchun's voice was hoarse, and he didn't even have the strength to curse Gao Yuanfeng's incompetence in his heart.

As the head of the family, he had to face reality and seek a way out for the family. However, the immense pressure left him in a state of turmoil. For the first time in his life, he felt a strong sense of regret for his past entanglement with the Spirit Essence Gu and for failing to bow down like the Yang family in time.

The withered fingers of Huang's great-uncle slowly tapped the sandalwood armrest, his expression more solemn than ever before.
"This time... we're in big trouble."

He paused, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy old eyes: "According to rumors, it's likely that more than one Gao Yuanfeng died in the military camp last night... possibly, another innate level expert was also killed in the encirclement!"

"This is impossible……"

Huang Dongchun instinctively retorted, but when he saw his uncle's serious expression and thought of all the "impossibilities" Chen Sheng had created in the past, he swallowed his words back.

He didn't want to, and dared not, make any more hasty judgments.

I'm afraid of being proven wrong again.

Huang Ke, who was standing to the side, chimed in, his voice hesitant: "Grand Uncle, is the news accurate? Could it be... that Gao Yuanzhao from the Gao family in the prefectural city has returned?"

Huang's great-uncle slowly shook his head:

"The news has not yet been confirmed. It is widely circulated but difficult to verify. Perhaps... it is a smokescreen deliberately released by Chen Sheng to intimidate us. But in any case, one thing is certain."

His gaze swept over Huang Dongchun and Huang Ke, and his tone was heavy: "The Huang family is now in dire straits!"

He changed the subject and looked at Huang Ke: "Several days have passed, what exactly did the Xu family in Fucheng say?"

The Huang family and the Xu family of Fucheng are related by marriage, and the Huang family is their greatest hope now.

Huang Ke looked troubled and carefully chose his words:
"The Xu family replied... only saying that we don't need to worry too much, so I think... there should be no problem."

This statement was vague, and it's clear that no substantial promises were made.

The Huang family's grand-uncle remained silent for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, and said in a deep voice:
"In that case, let's wait a little longer. But remember, when the Xu family arrives, we're not going to use this opportunity to retaliate, but rather... to bow down and submit to Chen Sheng."

"The Xu family has sent people; are we still going to bow down?"

Huang Dongchun was somewhat taken aback, clearly unwilling to accept it.

"Confused!"

The Huang family's grand-uncle rebuked sternly, "No matter how powerful the Xu family is, their roots are in the prefectural city. Distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. Do you think you can subdue Chen Sheng with the Xu family's name alone? With this boy's audacious and vindictive nature, even if we endure it for now, what if he makes a rash move once the Xu family leaves? What will my Huang family use to stop him then?!"

He stared intently at Huang Dongchun: "Dongchun, you are the head of the family. You must always remember that the foundation of the family's survival lies not in fighting for a moment's pride, nor in being brave and fierce, but in the word 'survival'."

"Enduring this temporary humiliation will give our family a chance to recover. Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang can't stay in Changshan County forever. As long as we hold out until they're transferred, the future of Changshan County will still be in our hands. If we act rashly and follow in the footsteps of the Gao family, it will be too late for regrets!"

Huang Dongchun's face turned pale and then red after being scolded by his uncle. He pondered for a long time before finally letting out a sigh of exhaustion, as if all his strength had been drained away.
"Uncle's meaning... Dongchun understands."

"besides."

Huang's great-uncle turned his sharp gaze to Huang Ke: "Before the Xu family arrives, the entire family must not provoke Chen Sheng and the government again. Avoid any friction if possible, and endure it if possible."

“But… what if the government takes the initiative to be aggressive and comes knocking on our door?” Huang Ke asked, frowning.

The Huang family's great-uncle closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, only a cold, resolute look remained in his eyes:

"As long as they don't immediately wipe out my entire Huang family... then I'll endure it. Preserving the family is the highest principle!"

Huang Ke and Huang Dongchun exchanged a glance, both seeing deep frustration and helplessness in each other's eyes. But circumstances forced them to bow in unison and reply in hoarse voices:

"Yes, Grand Uncle, we understand."

Lin Mansion, study.

County Magistrate Lin Shou sat alone behind his desk, his face ashen, his fingers trembling slightly as he pressed the two letters laid out in front of him, his eyes filled with disbelief and a mixture of shock and anger.

The first letter was an official document from the Ning'an Prefectural Government.

The entire document is filled with harsh rebukes, accusing him of being incompetent and negligent since taking office as the magistrate of Changshan County, allowing local powerful figures and river bandits to grow in power, which led to the death of the previous county lieutenant in the fight against the bandits. He is to blame for this.

County Lieutenant Wu Kuang and Military Battalion Commander Chen Sheng were ambitious and made great contributions. Their actions were all in accordance with the tacit approval of the prefectural government. The official document clearly ordered him to fully cooperate with Wu and Chen. If he dared to impeach them again and obstruct local peace and stability, he would be transferred back to the prefectural city and given a sinecure.

The second letter was a private message from his powerful backer, Deputy General Hao.

Compared to the severity of the official document, this private letter was a scathing rebuke, accusing him of being out of touch with reality, failing to grasp the political climate in the prefecture, and being foolish for impeaching Wu Kuang and Chen Sheng at this critical juncture.

The letter also clearly told him that if he hadn't tried his best to mediate based on their past relationship, his impeachment memorial alone could have easily caused him to lose his post.

Finally, Deputy General Hao's tone was almost an ultimatum, warning him not to be so clever as to cause trouble, or he would have to bear all the consequences himself.

These two letters were like two resounding slaps to Lin Shou's face, shattering all his reliance and illusions.

He originally thought that with his position as county magistrate and the background of Deputy General Hao, suppressing Wu Kuang and preventing Chen Sheng from smoothly taking the position of Grand Commander should be a sure thing.

But to his utter surprise, what awaited him was a reprimand from his superiors and abandonment by his backer. Instead, he was strictly ordered to cooperate with the two men.

For a moment, Lin Shou was filled with shock and anger.

He was shocked by the prefectural government's attitude and angry about his future situation.

It is foreseeable that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will inevitably be controlled by Chen and Wu in the future, and his position as county magistrate may even become a mere figurehead.

How can I get him to accept this?

When the three major families were powerful, he was somewhat restrained, but Gao Yuanfeng and others still held him in some awe and fear. However, thinking of Chen Sheng's arrogant attitude before, they were still wary.

It is clear that the other party will become even more arrogant in the future, and may even completely disregard him.

Thinking of this, Lin Shou felt even more unwilling.

After much deliberation, he decided to tell Deputy General Hao about Madam Yang. Originally, Madam Yang was a surprise he had prepared for Hao in order to regain his trust.

But now it seems he can't hide it any longer; if he does, he'll really have no chance at all.

He believed that Commander Hao, who was skilled in the art of Yin and Yang, would definitely be interested in Madam Yang's three Yin constitution, and perhaps, in his delight, would continue to support him.

He no longer aspires to subdue Chen and Wu, but at least he wants to be treated as an equal and have them respect him.

(End of this chapter)