Chapter 352: Chapter 204: Intercept and Repel (Part 2)

’Once I annex the He Family, the Cheng Family will have to pay five times the tribute.’ Cheng Zongyang cracked his neck and casually recalled the Soul Gathering Stele.

He paid no mind to the three He Family members trapped by the Soul Gathering Stele.

He returned to the Celestial Break Gang. Seeing Cheng Zongyang back, Li Lu looked as if his pillar of support had returned. He hurried to ask, "Is everything alright? Did you run into He Shujun?"

Cheng Zongyang said as he walked inside, "I did. I scared him off. He won’t be making a move on West City anytime soon."

In the main hall, Cheng Zongyang paused and turned to Li Lu. "What’s the situation with the Liu Family?"

Li Lu immediately reported, "Zhenwu Hall has captured everyone from the Liu Family. They’re now leading men to patrol South Street."

Cheng Zongyang said without hesitation, "Take the Geomagnetic Stones and the men from Zhenwu Hall to the Liu Family residence. Cripple all their Martial Artists, then send them to Tiantuan Village for imprisonment. Send everyone else from their garrison away tonight as well.

"After you’ve dealt with the Liu Family, seize all their resources and post guards. Then, notify the Ding, Xu, and Qiu families. Ask them who is willing to pay thirty thousand taels of silver in exchange for South East Street."

Li Lu asked, "Thirty thousand taels? Isn’t that a bit low?"

Thirty thousand taels for a large swath of territory was a bargain, indeed.

But Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "It’ll be ours again sooner or later. The price doesn’t matter."

A smile spread across Li Lu’s face. "Got it. I understand."

Neither of them even considered the possibility of being unable to defeat Liu Chengdong; it was as if victory was already in the palm of their hand.

And that was indeed the case. Under the influence of two Geomagnetic Stones, not even a Seventh Grade Martial Artist like Liu Chengdong could stand a chance.

After Li Lu departed, Cheng Zongyang remained. He needed to stay for the time being to review the intelligence gathered by the Earth Demon Hall and formulate a response.

But he also summoned Zhao the Seventh.

"Lord Cheng," Zhao the Seventh said, arriving in the hall and cupping his fist in his palm.

"Who was it that lured the Lu Family to the He Family’s residence tonight?" Cheng Zongyang asked suddenly.

Zhao the Seventh thought for a moment before reporting, "Lord Cheng, you’ll have to ask Li Xian about that. His Xuanwu Hall is in charge of the Gang’s internal affairs and administrative matters. Shall I fetch him?"

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "Bring him here."

"Yes, sir." Zhao the Seventh cupped his fist and departed.

A short while later, Li Xian and Zhao the Seventh arrived in the hall.

Before Li Xian could speak, Cheng Zongyang, who was reading a new intelligence report, spoke first. "Who lured the Lu Family to the He Family’s residence?"

Li Xian was taken aback. "Lord Cheng, it was a child. Has something happened?"

Cheng Zongyang said, "Bring him here. I have a task for him."

In truth, Cheng Zongyang had seen the child himself.

After returning to his study, he hadn’t lingered. He had changed into Night Clothes, left his residence, and observed the situation all over the northern part of the city.

He had taken note of the boy’s performance. Not only was his acting realistic and natural, but he was also very sharp.

"Yes, sir." Li Xian cupped his fist and left, showing no intention of asking further questions.

Cheng Zongyang then turned to Zhao the Seventh. "Send word down later. If our men encounter the enemy’s ordinary guards, as long as they aren’t seriously injured, have them all sent to the dungeons in Tiantuan Village. Don’t kill them. We can exchange them for resources later."

He’d forgotten that Cheng Family Village was short on miners, a problem he could now solve.

He would take a batch back with him later. Although the village had Mole Beasts, they had many other uses and couldn’t be kept in the mines indefinitely.

He’d considered capturing a batch of Martial Artists to work the mines, but they were prone to causing trouble. Therefore, the able-bodied guards from the other families were far more suitable.

Besides, the status of the underground passage connecting Cheng Family Village to Tiantuan Village was still unknown. Once it was cleared, the prisoners could be sent to Cheng Family Village through it.

"Lord Cheng, what about the Martial Artists?" Zhao the Seventh asked.

"Deal with the Martial Artists according to the usual protocol. They can also be exchanged for resources later," Cheng Zongyang said.

With things having developed this far, Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to intervene and change the situation. His ultimate goal was to control the entire County Town without offending the Li Family.

But that was predicated on waiting for these other families to stabilize the County Town and get its development back on track.

Therefore, he had to take the current situation and force it back into alignment with his plan. That meant no Middle Third Grade Family could be allowed to rise in Jade Peak County. If one did, it could only be his Cheng Family!

’If a wolf enters a squabble between sheep and says it comes in peace, will the flock believe it?’

’The only way is for the Cheng Family—a wolf in sheep’s clothing—to quietly kill the other wolf and continue its masquerade among the flock.’

’Before, I lacked the strength, so my plans couldn’t keep up with the changes. It’s different now. The plan has changed? I’ll just force it back on track.’

Soon, Li Xian returned with the boy named Ye Shaoning.

Ye Shaoning stood nervously behind Li Xian.

"Quick, greet Lord Cheng," Li Xian prompted.

"This humble one—"

"That’s not necessary." Seeing Ye Shaoning about to kneel, Cheng Zongyang immediately stopped him with a smile. "What’s your name?"

Seeing Cheng Zongyang’s friendly demeanor, Ye Shaoning relaxed a little and quickly replied, "Lord Cheng, this humble one is called Ye Shaoning. I’m thirteen."

Cheng Zongyang looked at him with some surprise. The boy was only about four and a half feet tall; he looked like he was barely ten.

But seeing his thin clothes and gaunt frame, he understood.

It was a feat to have survived the three-year drought at all.

"I heard about the job you did. It was very well done. Did you receive your reward?"

At the mention of a reward, Ye Shaoning nodded happily. "I did! The Gang Leader gave me ten taels of silver and let me join the Gang to work. He also arranged for a Doctor to treat my parents."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "So, would you like to earn more silver?"

Now more relaxed, Ye Shaoning shook his head. "No, but I want to learn martial arts!"

"That can be arranged," Cheng Zongyang said. "As long as you complete this task for me, earning money and learning martial arts won’t be a problem."

"Okay!" Ye Shaoning agreed at once.

Cheng Zongyang looked at Li Xian and Zhao the Seventh. "Both of you may leave us."

"Yes, Lord Cheng."

Li Xian and Zhao the Seventh promptly excused themselves.

After they had left, Cheng Zongyang asked Ye Shaoning, "Are you familiar with the County Town?"

Ye Shaoning nodded. "Very. I grew up right here in the County Town."

"Excellent. If I were to ask you to gather up the other young beggars and orphans, could you do it? Of course, I’d provide you with food and have people protect you."

Ye Shaoning didn’t quite understand and asked for clarification.

Cheng Zongyang explained his plan in detail.

The Cheng Family needed people, and it also needed information from all over. Ye Shaoning’s performance tonight had sparked the idea of building an intelligence network.

Of course, the boy didn’t understand the full implications yet, but every county town and village had no shortage of orphans and beggars.

A child gathering other children would be far more effective and less conspicuous than an adult trying to do the same.

Seeing Ye Shaoning listening with a serious expression, Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Just start slowly, win them over one by one. Once you’ve become the leader of the children, someone will come and teach you what to do. Don’t tell anyone about this. As for learning martial arts, come find me the night after tomorrow at Number 21, Yunli Ninth Lane."

"Okay!" Ye Shaoning nodded. "I’ll do my best."

Cheng Zongyang then called Li Xian back in, gave him a few simple instructions, and had him escort Ye Shaoning home.

Later, once the County Town stabilized, he planned to have his younger brother, Cheng Zongliang, take charge of this. The number of Elf Birds was still small, and expanding their flock would be a gradual process.

Although Cheng Zongliang hadn’t started his Martial Arts Training yet, he could gradually be given small tasks to handle.

Overnight, events had taken a turn that defied the other families’ expectations.

The He Family had joined forces with the Liu Family to move against the Cheng Family. In the end, all the members from both the He and Liu families who participated were lost in West City.

Afterward, Li Lu of the Celestial Break Gang had led fifty men to the Liu Family residence! With only fifteen Martial Artists, they had captured every last member of the Liu Family.

Even Liu Chengdong himself had his tendons severed after being besieged for only a short time by Li Lu and Xiao Bing.

When this news reached the ears of the Qiu and other families, it was met with utter disbelief.

An Eighth Grade and a Ninth Grade Martial Artist had joined forces and swiftly defeated a Seventh Grade Martial Artist like Liu Chengdong!

No matter how they looked at it, it seemed impossible.

But the area had been locked down by the Celestial Break Gang. Few people witnessed what actually happened, and the various families’ embedded spies had all been captured, leaving them completely in the dark.

Thus, theories abounded, but nearly everyone concluded that some unknown method must have been used.

But these speculations couldn’t change what had already happened. The Liu Family, for daring to move against the Celestial Break Gang, had been annihilated!

This caused the various families’ wariness of the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang to skyrocket. They even began to entertain the idea of forming an alliance.

Otherwise, if they fought alone, they might suffer the same fate as the Liu Family!

They all began to suspect the Cheng Family was actually a Sixth Grade Family!

Otherwise, how could a two-versus-two conflict have ended in such a miserable defeat for the He and Liu families?

Just when everyone assumed the Celestial Break Gang would seize the opportunity to occupy the Liu Family’s territory on South East Street, Li Lu put out the news that it could be bought for thirty thousand taels of silver.