The night was deep. In the study of the Changshan County Government Office, candlelight danced, casting the two men’s shadows long against the wall.

Things had come to this point; there was no longer any need for pretense.

Chen Sheng frankly stated his objective: military authority over the entire county.

His implication was also clear—he wanted the position of Grand Commander of the Changshan Martial Preparation Camp.

Wu Kuang listened, his expression showing no surprise. From the moment Chen Sheng had stepped into this study carrying the bandit chief’s head and frankly admitted to killing Chuyue Mountain, he knew this young man was aiming for the position of Grand Commander.

Logically, he should have been pleased.

After all, Chen Sheng was a confidant he had personally promoted. They had established initial trust back in the Mountain Camp, and Chen Sheng’s performance since arriving in Changshan County had been nothing short of outstanding. Wu Kuang had even hinted long ago that the position of Grand Commander was being saved for him.

However, this sudden development came too quickly, making it difficult for him to fully accept at a moment’s notice.

It wasn’t that he disbelieved in Chen Sheng’s abilities. Rather, he suddenly felt the unease of events slipping from his control, and even a hint of indescribable wariness was quietly stirring in his heart.

But the feeling came as quickly as it went.

Wu Kuang had always had a clear-eyed view of power and beauty. After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision.

"Do you remember what I said when you first took office here?" Wu Kuang asked, staring intently at Chen Sheng.

"That night, you said, ’If you do not fail me, I will not fail you,’" Chen Sheng replied, his voice grave and his gaze firm.

"If you do not fail me, I will not fail you."

Wu Kuang walked up to Chen Sheng and pulled a prepared document from his sleeve. "I’ve misjudged many people in my life, but this time, I was not wrong."

The document was a letter of recommendation to the Prefecture City, proposing Chen Sheng for the position of Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp.

Chen Sheng quickly scanned it, his expression serious.

"If not for your promotion back then, County Captain, I might have been sent to guard the border. I would never have achieved today’s glory. I will forever remember your kindness."

This was him speaking from the heart, but more importantly, it was a declaration of his stance.

From the moment Chen Sheng broke through to the Marrow Transformation Realm and was about to take command of the military, their relationship had quietly changed. In these turbulent times, military power was paramount.

He would now possess the power to threaten Wu Kuang, so he had to make a promise to set the other man’s mind at ease.

"From this day forward, you are the acting Grand Commander of the Changshan County Military Preparation Camp, in command of all its troops."

Wu Kuang clapped Chen Sheng heavily on the shoulder. "Once the official document arrives from the Prefecture City, you can drop the ’acting’ from your title. From now on, we share in fortune and glory."

"My deepest thanks, County Captain."

Chen Sheng said with a solemn expression.

"Now that Chuyue Mountain is dead, we need to speed up our plans."

Wu Kuang produced another thick list. "This is my investigation into the backgrounds of everyone in the Military Preparation Camp at the rank of Squad Leader and above. The people marked on this list have deep ties to the great families. Since you’re the acting Grand Commander, conduct a thorough purge. After that, we’ll make our move on the three great families!"

Previously, he lacked the confidence to make a move. First, the Military Preparation Camp was not under his control; from Grand Commander Chuyue Mountain down to the other three commanders besides Chen Sheng, none of them were his men.

Second, the three great families had formidable resources. If they decided to resist to the death, he feared unforeseen complications might arise.

That was why he had previously considered requesting a Marrow Transformation expert from the Prefecture City.

But things were different now. Not only had Chen Sheng broken through, but he also had a poison-wielding Marrow Transformation Realm expert by his side. Once they consolidated control over the entire Military Preparation Camp and gathered the county’s full military might, there would be nothing left to fear.

Chen Sheng took the list and examined it closely. As expected, it was far more detailed than the one Chuyue Mountain had provided. It clearly marked each person’s background and the depth of their relationship with the various families.

"The matter of exterminating the bandits is concluded. Although I’ve locked down the news, there’s no guarantee the three great families won’t notice something is amiss. Therefore, I plan to carry out the purge as soon as possible. I will strike tomorrow morning and annihilate the entire Gao Clan."

His tone was calm, but his words were suffused with a thick killing intent.

Since the beginning of his tenure, the Gao Family had repeatedly targeted him, forcing him to ’endure it for a while’. But now, having broken through to the Marrow Transformation Realm and obtained the protection of the Blood Evil Demon Talisman, it was time to settle the score.

The reason he had come to see Wu Kuang first was twofold: one, to show his stance and strength to obtain the authority of Grand Commander, and two, for this very list. On his way back to the city, his Celestial Book had once again displayed a [Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil] warning:

[My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read these words, I am filled with endless regret... With the old grudge of my father’s murder and the repeated conflicts since, I became fully determined to eradicate the Gao Family. However, I ultimately underestimated the influence of the three great families in Changshan County. Before I was even ready to make my move, someone in the army tipped them off. In the end, when I finally struck, the key members of the Gao Family had already received the news and fled Changshan City with the clan’s treasures and direct lineage disciples. If I had known, I would have first obtained the detailed list from Wu Kuang and conducted the purge. Had I done so, I might have even acquired the Gao Family’s Body Refining Treasure, the ’Golden Jade Ointment’. It is a secret treasure of the Buddhist Sect with miraculous effects for Body Refining, and it is exceptionally compatible with Buddhist Cultivation Techniques. If I had obtained it, my Cultivation would have surely soared once more. Unfortunately, in this world.....]

Wu Kuang mulled it over for a moment, then nodded heavily.

"Indeed. It’s time for a reckoning. Let the Gao Clan be the first to fall!"

"Yes, sir."

Chen Sheng bowed and took his leave, his figure quickly melting into the night. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Wu Kuang stared in the direction he’d gone, his gaze heavy. He remained silent for a long time. ’The young man who once needed my patronage has well and truly grown up. And now, I’ll have to find a new way to deal with him.’

...

Inside the Military Preparation Camp, the grounds were brightly lit.

"Is everyone settled in?" Chen Sheng asked, summoning Vice Commander Cheng the moment he returned to camp.

"Reporting to you, sir, everyone is settled in. Most of them are already asleep," Cheng Yanhua replied in a low voice.

"During that time, did anyone try to sneak out of the camp?" Chen Sheng pressed.

After returning from exterminating the bandits at the Black Snake Water Stronghold, to prevent any news from leaking, not only had the boats not docked at the pier, but even the two hundred-plus soldiers he brought back had been taken directly to the Military Preparation Camp to rest.

The reason he gave was "to make it convenient to award merits tomorrow," and he issued a strict order: "Anyone who leaves the camp without reason will be stripped of their merits."

Although the soldiers were exhausted and full of complaints, no one dared to disobey a direct military order. After a fierce battle and a long journey, everyone quickly returned to their barracks to rest.

Just as Cheng Yanhua was about to answer, Li Huai Sheng, who was standing at attention nearby, cut in with a low voice, "Reporting, sir. Two men tried to climb the wall to leave the camp. I executed them on the spot."

Chen Sheng nodded slightly. "Very good."

’Actually, my original intention was to move against the Gao Family tonight,’ he thought. ’But considering the soldiers are exhausted and need rest, I have no choice but to postpone the operation slightly.’

Hearing this, Cheng Yanhua’s eyes widened.

’Executed on the spot without even asking why, just for trying to climb the wall?’

At that moment, alarm bells shrieked in his mind as a terrifying guess began to take shape.

’Tomorrow morning... it’s probably not going to be as simple as just awarding merits.’

----