Chapter 205: Chapter 134: The Makings of a Ten Hero, and Another Marriage Contract

Chen Sheng slowly lowered his hand, the calm yet undeniable gesture immediately silencing the crowd’s frenzied cheers and adulation.

His gaze then turned to the tea stall owner, huddled and trembling in a corner of the ruins, too frightened to lift his head.

The brief but intense melee had already wrecked the humble tea stall, leaving shattered tables and chairs, and cookware scattered across the ground.

The poor owner was scared witless, his face ashen. He lay prostrate on the ground, barely daring to breathe.

"Get up and speak, sir."

Chen Sheng’s voice was calm as he ordered his men to help the owner to his feet.

Though he acted ruthlessly, showing no mercy to his enemies and often wiping out entire clans, he had his own code. He would never needlessly oppress commoners who were just struggling to get by.

"How much is your stall worth? I will compensate you in full for any damages caused by the fight."

"No... I-I can’t... I can’t take your money, sir... This old man... this old man is fine..." The tea stall owner’s voice trembled as he frantically waved his hands, terrified that the slightest misstep would anger these terrifying men and get him killed.

Upon seeing this, Chen Sheng paused thoughtfully before glancing at Xu Shenzhi, Zhao Changqiu, and the others beside him, giving them a meaningful look.

They were all sharp-witted men and understood immediately.

’This is a great chance to impress the Captain.’

Xu Shenzhi was the quickest to react. He darted forward, pulled a hefty ingot of silver from his robes, and pressed it into the owner’s hand. His tone was gentle, yet it brooked no refusal:

"Sir, take this. It’s compensation for your losses and a little extra for the fright you’ve had. You must accept it. Otherwise, our Captain won’t be able to rest easy."

Zhao Changqiu, Lu Cheng, and the others were a step behind. They could only watch as Xu Shenzhi seized the opportunity, a flicker of annoyance crossing their faces.

"Get it?"

Li Huai Sheng gently nudged Yan Ming beside him with his elbow and whispered.

Yan Ming looked a bit lost. After a moment’s thought, he nodded.

"I get it. Once someone pays, no one else gets the chance."

Li Huai Sheng paused, momentarily speechless.

"What nonsense are you spouting? I’m telling you, that kid Xu Shenzhi is getting sharper and more competent. If you don’t start being more astute and trying to climb the ladder, you’ll find there’s no room left for you by the Captain’s side one day."

...

After successfully eliminating Gao Yuanzhao and the experts from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, Chen Sheng had achieved his primary goal. However, he didn’t return to the Jingwu Bureau immediately. Instead, he proceeded to the Xu Family estate on Yuquan Mountain as planned.

Of course, he had already given orders for the bodies of Gao Yuanzhao, Elder Liu, and the others to be dealt with properly. Men were sent ahead to transport them back to the Jingwu Bureau to be officially recorded.

These were all his merits.

Along the way, Xu Shenzhi replayed the thrilling scene in his mind, mulling over Chen Sheng’s unbelievable power. A thought suddenly struck him, and he couldn’t resist spurring his horse closer to ask in a low voice:

"Captain, you... did you already anticipate that someone would come to ambush you today? Is that why you specifically stopped at that tea stall?"

He couldn’t be blamed for such a suspicion; Chen Sheng’s reaction in the face of crisis had been far too composed, as if everything were unfolding according to his plan.

Furthermore, choosing to rest at a tea stall still some distance from the Xu Family estate might have been a deliberate choice to avoid drawing the conflict to their doorstep.

Chen Sheng glanced at him, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint, unreadable smile. He said nonchalantly:

"I’m no fortune-telling immortal; how could I predict the future? I simply figured that even if there were an ambush, it would be nothing more than a few weaklings, unable to withstand a single strike."

"You’re right, Captain. I was overthinking things."

Xu Shenzhi quickly followed up with another compliment:

"Your divine abilities are unparalleled, Captain. To succeed at Condensing Evil and break through to the Earth Fiend realm in just a few short months... Once this news gets out, it’s sure to cause a massive uproar in Ning’an Prefecture. With the power you’ve displayed, claiming a spot among the Ning’an Ten Heroes should be a simple matter."

At the same time, he couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

’When I first met Chen Sheng, he was strong, yes, but still in the Chaoyuan realm. But how much time has passed since then? In less than half a year, he’s crossed that great chasm to become an Earth Fiend Martial Master. The implications were staggering. An Earth Fiend Martial Master is powerful enough to establish their own sect in the Prefecture City and build a lasting legacy. The Xu Family itself only remains standing because of our own Earth Fiend ancestor.’

"Shen Zhi, you’re beating around the bush. What is it you really want to say?"

Chen Sheng watched him with that unreadable smile, cutting straight to the point.

Seeing his intentions laid bare, Xu Shenzhi gave a sheepish chuckle and dropped the pretense. He continued smoothly:

"Your insight is sharp as ever, Captain. I was just wondering if you remember my mentioning Wang Zilan to you before? With your current status as an Earth Fiend master, surely the chances are high now of subduing that woman and making her obediently offer up her Profound Yin Qi?"

His eyes glittered with anticipation, his thirst for revenge practically spilling out. Having witnessed Chen Sheng’s power to utterly crush an Earth Fiend, Xu Shenzhi’s hopes had soared to their zenith.

"What’s the rush? The time isn’t right."

Chen Sheng just smiled, nudged his horse’s flanks, and urged it into a slightly faster pace.

He naturally coveted the Profound Yin Qi that Wang Zilan possessed.

’But a woman from a major clan like that wasn’t so easy to deal with. The Wang Clan had plenty of Mystic Realm experts among their ranks. Using force would be a last resort, one that would lead to endless repercussions.’

’He preferred to act when the situation was favorable, to wait for—or create—the right opportunity. If a good opportunity presented itself, he would seize it. If not, he wouldn’t force the issue and invite unnecessary trouble.’

"It’s not that I’m rushing, Captain. It’s that I’m worried."

Xu Shenzhi spurred his horse to catch up, sighing softly.

"Worried about what?" Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow.