Chapter 123: Chapter 99: Innate Might (Part 2)
"Show mercy?"
Chen Sheng snorted, his tone turning severe. "The Huang Family conspired with water bandits. The evidence is irrefutable, making it tantamount to rebellion. Your worthless son, Xu Shenzhi, assaulted me—an official—in public. According to the law, he can be charged with the same crime as the Huang Family.
Patriarch Xu, do you think you can make me release him with just a few careless words? Or do you believe this Changshan County Government Office is your Xu Family’s private court?"
Xu Yuanhai knew he wouldn’t get away without making a significant sacrifice. He quickly said:
"Commander Chen, please see reason. My son was surely deceived by the Huang Family; he had no intention of colluding with rebels. Before I came, I explained the situation to several officials at the Prefecture Government Office, and they too are aware that this may be a misunderstanding."
As he spoke, he watched Chen Sheng’s expression, his gaze subtly flicking toward Wu Kuang and Lin Shou at the side.
"Furthermore, I am well aware of the trouble my son has caused you, Commander Chen. I am deeply anxious and have prepared a humble gift to express my apologies. I hope Commander Chen will..."
His meaning was clear: he hoped to negotiate the terms with Chen Sheng in private.
But Chen Sheng waved his hand dismissively. "County Magistrate Lin and County Captain Wu are my colleagues, not outsiders. Patriarch Xu, whatever ’humble gift’ you have, feel free to present it."
He deliberately put a slight emphasis on the words "humble gift."
He wasn’t surprised that the Xu Family could pull strings in the Prefecture City, but the Prefecture Government Office couldn’t just force him to release someone.
If this ’gift’ was substantial enough, he could naturally ’perceive the subtle truth’ of the matter. But if the other party thought they could fob him off, he wouldn’t mind pinning the crime of ’bribing a court official’ on the Xu Family.
The corner of Xu Yuanhai’s eye twitched upon hearing this. After a moment’s hesitation, he took a palm-sized box of mutton-fat jade from his sleeve, placed it carefully on the table, and gently opened it.
The moment the lid was opened, a crisp, exotic fragrance faintly wafted out.
Inside the jade box lay a strange, entirely milky-white flower shaped like a snow lotus, its petals marked with natural ice-crackle patterns. Looking at the flower, an unconcealable flash of pain crossed Xu Yuanhai’s eyes.
"This is called a ’Snow Lake Flower.’ It grows at the bottom of extremely cold snow lakes. This particular one is thirty years old."
Xu Yuanhai’s voice was low. "It can be used in Alchemy or consumed and refined directly. It has... it has the effect of advancing one’s Cultivation and nourishing one’s Innate Spirit Seed."
This Snow Lake Flower was a precious resource he had originally prepared to curry favor with an Alchemy Elder from the Iron Sword Sect.
Before coming here, he had never imagined he would need to use it. His original plan was to use his influence to pressure them if possible, or failing that, to bribe them with gold and silver.
But the revelation of Chen Sheng’s Innate Cultivation had completely disrupted his plans. Seeing Chen Sheng’s overbearing attitude, he knew that if he had offered ordinary gold and silver, not only would he fail to save his son, but he would likely have enraged the man, leading to unpredictable consequences.
"A Snow Lake Flower?"
Chen Sheng’s gaze flickered.
Yan Ming, who was standing by, immediately understood. He stepped forward, took the jade box, and respectfully presented it to Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng looked at the milky-white spirit flower in the box, which was brimming with Spiritual Qi. Sensing the pure energy it contained, he nodded slightly.
’Patriarch Xu knows the rules, at least. He didn’t try to insult me with common things like gold and silver.’
Just as Chen Sheng was about to speak and agree to release the prisoners, Li Huai Sheng hurried into the main hall, bowed, and reported:
"Sir, there are two young women outside the Government Office asking for an audience. They claim to be from the Ning’an Wang Clan, and one is the legitimate daughter of the Wang Family. They wish to see County Magistrate Lin and County Captain Wu."
"The Ning’an Wang Clan?"
At these words, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed slightly.
In Ning’an Prefecture, there were many Noble Families with the surname Wang, but the only one that could use ’Ning’an’ as a prefix was that top-tier Noble Family that had been entrenched in the Prefecture City for centuries, with an unfathomably deep foundation... the Wang Family.
A worried look appeared on Lin Shou’s face. He seemed to want to speak but held back, desperate to remind Chen Sheng that the Xu Family and the Wang Family were not on the same level at all. Incurring the wrath of the Wang Family would have unimaginable consequences.
Xu Yuanhai, however, was first shocked, then filled with regret.
He was shocked because the Han Family had previously said they had entrusted this matter to Wang Zilan, the legitimate daughter of the Wang Family. At the time, he had dismissed it as a mere excuse, never expecting her to actually come in person.
He regretted giving away the Snow Lake Flower too soon. If Wang Zilan could have used the Wang Family’s might to subdue Chen Sheng, he might not have had to pay such a heavy price.
However, the gift had been given, and it was like spilled water, impossible to take back. Regretting it now was useless.
"Show this Miss Wang in."
In contrast to the tension of everyone else in the hall, Chen Sheng’s expression remained placid as he gave the order.
"Yes, sir." Li Huai Sheng accepted the order and withdrew.
A moment later, two graceful figures appeared at the entrance of the main hall.
The one in the lead wore an aqua-colored ruqun. She was pretty and lively and held an exquisite wooden box. Judging by her attire, she was likely a personal maid.
The woman half a step behind her was dressed in an elegant, moon-white long dress, her figure slender and graceful.
She looked to be about sixteen, with skin fairer than snow and features as if painted. Her willow-leaf eyes, in particular, possessed a natural, gentle grace, yet also held a coldness that made it difficult for others to meet her gaze directly.
’This woman of extraordinary bearing must be the legitimate daughter of the Wang Family, Wang Zilan.’
Wang Zilan stepped into the hall. Her cold gaze swept across everyone’s faces before finally settling on the young man in official robes seated at the head of the hall.
When she sensed the unconcealed Innate aura emanating from him, an imperceptible trace of shock and solemnity flickered in her placid eyes.
’There’s actually an Innate Powerhouse presiding over the Changshan County Government Office? And he’s so young!’
Though shocked, Wang Zilan’s expression remained unchanged. She gave a slight curtsy and said softly, "This humble one, Wang Zilan, greets County Magistrate Lin and County Captain Wu..."
Her gaze then turned to Chen Sheng, a perfectly measured look of inquiry in her eyes. Before arriving, she had not expected the one in charge of Changshan County to be such a young Innate Expert.
She hesitated for a moment.
"Miss Wang, this is the Grand Commander of the Changshan County Military Preparation Camp, Commander Chen Sheng," Xu Yuanhai hurriedly stepped forward and introduced him in a polite tone.
A glint flashed in Wang Zilan’s eyes. She curtsied to Chen Sheng once more.
"Greetings, Commander Chen."
"Miss Wang, there is no need for such formalities."
Chen Sheng raised his hand slightly, gesturing for her to be seated. "To what do I owe the pleasure of Miss Wang’s visit today?"
Wang Zilan sat down as instructed, her posture elegant.
Her eyes quickly assessed the situation in the hall. Seeing Xu Yuanhai’s subdued demeanor and how both Wu Kuang and Lin Shou deferred to Chen Sheng, she immediately understood that the true authority in the Changshan County Government Office was this young Commander before her—one who appeared to have a rather uncompromising style.
Her thoughts raced, and she decided to get straight to the point.
"Zhilan has come today on behalf of my friend, Han Ling’Er. I heard that she accompanied Young Master Xu to Changshan and, in her youth and ignorance, offended the laws of the Government Office. I was entrusted by her family to come and apologize on her behalf."
Her tone was neither servile nor overbearing, stating her purpose while also highlighting her personal friendship with Han Ling’Er.
As she spoke, she gave a look to her maid, Hong Xiu.
Hong Xiu understood, took a step forward, and respectfully offered up the wooden box she was holding.
The wooden box opened to reveal five Elemental Crystals, neatly arranged inside, emitting a soft, cyan glow and fluctuations of pure Primordial Qi.
Seeing this, the corner of Xu Yuanhai’s eye twitched violently again, and the shock in his heart grew even stronger.
’Even the legitimate daughter of the Wang Family has to ’give a gift’ to this Chen Sheng? Could it be that Chen Sheng has some earth-shattering background that even the Wang Family has to be wary of?’
At this thought, Xu Yuanhai felt a chill run down his spine. He felt increasingly fortunate that he hadn’t acted rashly earlier.
Otherwise, he feared things would not have ended well.
What Xu Yuanhai didn’t know, however, was that Wang Zilan simply didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. While it would have been easy to use her family’s status to pressure Chen Sheng, it would have created endless enmity and brought disaster upon her clan.
Of course, Chen Sheng’s demonstrated Innate Cultivation had also earned him a certain degree of her respect, making her attitude all the more polite and cautious.
Chen Sheng’s gaze swept over the five gleaming cyan Elemental Crystals, and he was quite satisfied.
’These scions of Noble Families aren’t all just bullies who throw their weight around. At least they understand basic rules and etiquette.’
"Yan Ming."
Chen Sheng said no more, directly issuing an order, "Go to the Military Preparation Camp and bring Xu Shenzhi and Han Ling’Er to the County Government Office."
"Yes, your subordinate obeys!" Yan Ming accepted the command and quickly departed.
Watching this unexpected turn of events, Lin Shou was filled with amazement, and his reverence for Chen Sheng deepened.
Meanwhile, Wu Kuang watched everything unfold in silence, filled with a myriad of emotions.
’The prestige that comes with the Innate Realm truly is extraordinary. It can make a top-tier Noble Family from the Prefecture City treat you with courtesy, and it can also make the furious Patriarch of the Xu Family calm down.’
