Chapter 108: Chapter 93: Annihilation, Gains
But this was the Pledge of Loyalty the Yang Family had no choice but to offer.
At this moment, Yang Yi knew with utter clarity that the very survival of the Yang Family now rested entirely on Chen Sheng’s whim.
With the successive annihilation of the Gao and Huang Families, the Yang Family had completely lost any means to resist. Their only hope was that Chen Sheng would honor his previous promise.
"Issue my commands."
Chen Sheng’s voice was steady and his orders clear. "First, inventory all of the Huang Family’s assets. Catalogue them and transport them under guard to the Military Preparation Camp’s storehouses. No soldier is permitted to hide any of it for themselves. Violators will be dealt with according to military law, with no exceptions."
"Second, immediately assess the merits of all soldiers who participated in this battle. Ensure the process is fair and accurate. All rewards must be distributed within three days, with no delays."
"Third, take Xu Shenzhi and Han Ling’Er back to the Military Preparation Camp. Imprison them separately in the dungeons under heavy guard."
"Fourth, hang the heads of the primary leaders, Huang Dongchun and Huang Ke, from the city gate tower and issue a proclamation to the entire county!"
"Yes, sir! Your subordinate obeys!"
Li Huai Sheng acknowledged the order with a solemn expression, bowed, and quickly withdrew to make the arrangements.
After Li Huai Sheng left, only Yang Yi remained on the scene, his heart filled with apprehension.
"Clan Leader Yang," Chen Sheng’s voice suddenly rang out.
Yang Yi’s heart jumped. He quickly took a step forward and replied respectfully,
"What are your orders, Sir?"
"The Gao and Huang Families have been annihilated one after the other. I wonder, Clan Leader Yang... what are your thoughts on the matter?" Chen Sheng’s gaze slowly shifted to him. His tone was level, but it carried an invisible pressure.
Yang Yi’s scalp tingled with fear. Without a moment’s hesitation, he stated decisively,
"Those two clans colluded with the water bandits and plotted rebellion. Their crimes were heinous, and this outcome is what they deserved. Their deaths are nothing to be mourned!"
"Heh, no wonder County Captain Wu often praises Clan Leader Yang as a smart man."
A faint smile appeared on Chen Sheng’s face before his tone suddenly shifted. "As for the Yang Family’s prior conspiracy with the Gao and Huang Families, I can overlook it on account of you seeing the error of your ways and atoning for your crimes."
Yang Yi had just begun to breathe a sigh of relief when Chen Sheng’s next words made his heart clench.
"However, while the death penalty may be waived, you cannot escape punishment entirely. As a price, the Yang Family must offer up all the ’Elemental Crystals’ in its possession to atone for its previous transgressions."
Ordinary gold, silver, and riches no longer held any appeal for Chen Sheng.
After annihilating several families and seizing their assets—especially the centuries of accumulated wealth from the Gao and Huang Families, on top of his previous shares—he had already become exceedingly rich. But what he truly pursued was a higher realm of the Martial Dao: the Innate Realm.
And Elemental Crystals were precious resources required for an Innate Martial Artist’s cultivation, their value far beyond what worldly gold and silver could compare to.
This was what he urgently needed right now.
Hearing Chen Sheng demand the Elemental Crystals, Yang Yi’s heart ached as if it were being sliced, but a greater part of him felt the relief of having survived a catastrophe.
The Elemental Crystals were certainly precious, but he knew what mattered more when weighed against the survival of his entire family. For Chen Sheng to only demand Elemental Crystals as punishment was already an act of extraordinary mercy.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Commander Chen! I... am endlessly grateful!" Yang Yi said with heartfelt sincerity, giving a deep bow.
Chen Sheng walked over and patted Yang Yi’s shoulder, a detached smile on his face that spoke of someone in complete control.
"With the Gao and Huang Families gone, the Yang Family is now the only notable Noble Family in the Changshan County Region. Manage your affairs well, and the Yang Family of the future may become even more prosperous than it is today."
His tone paused slightly, and his gaze deepened.
"But Clan Leader Yang, you must always remember what you should do... and what you shouldn’t. If you make another misstep, then even if I wanted to protect you, I’m afraid... I would be powerless to do so."
"Rest assured, Commander Chen!"
Yang Yi immediately straightened his back. His voice was firm and his gaze resolute. "From this day forward, the Yang Clan will follow your lead, Commander Chen. Whatever you command, we will obey without question!"
Just as Chen Sheng had said, the old three-way balance of power had been shattered. The Gao and Huang Families had vanished into thin air. If the sole surviving Yang Family could seize this opportunity, the benefits they could reap would far exceed anything from before.
At this thought, the pain of losing the Elemental Crystals seemed to lessen considerably.
Chen Sheng laughed heartily and said no more. He surveyed the scene of broken ruins and rivers of blood before him, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
The Noble Families within the Changshan County Region had been all but swept clean. The remaining gang-like factions were but a minor nuisance, nothing to worry about.
Now, the only remaining external threat was the water bandits entrenched along the Qinglin River and its tributaries.
However, Chen Sheng was in no hurry to deal with them at the moment.
He had already obtained the Innate Spiritual Qi, and he also had the Golden Jade Ointment to aid his cultivation.
’Right now, the most important thing is to assimilate these hard-won resources, solidify my foundation, and even... attempt to break through to the Innate Realm that countless Martial Artists dream of.’
’Once I succeed, sweeping away those water bandits will be as easy as crushing dry weeds.’
News of the Huang Family’s annihilation once again grew wings, spreading rapidly to every corner of Changshan County.
Although many factions had anticipated this and were not as surprised as they had been by the great uproar caused by the Gao Family’s destruction, the shock of this event still sent tremendous waves through the county.
After all, this was the Huang Family.
Their roots in Changshan ran the deepest, and their foundation was so profound they were considered the foremost of the three great families—a truly old and established power in Changshan County. Yet, even this deep-rooted family, despite having taken precautions, was still uprooted so cleanly and decisively that they failed to even cause a ripple.
What terrifying, crushing power was this?
What terrifying, iron-fisted methods were these?
With the complete annihilation of the Huang Family, Chen Sheng’s fearsome reputation reached an unprecedented peak.
