No one expected Yang Hu—usually so respectful toward the Gang Leader and competent in his duties—to suddenly lash out with a vicious backstab at such a critical moment.

After a brief, deathly silence, cries of alarm erupted within the Main Hall. A few loyal Hall Masters and Protectors instinctively rushed forward, wanting to support the heavily injured Ma Changhai.

"Gang Leader!"

"Gang Leader! How are you..."

"Yang Hu, that traitor! I’ll kill him!"

"Stay back, all of you!!"

Ma Changhai threw up a hand, sharply ordering everyone to halt. He clutched the profusely bleeding wound in his abdomen, his face pale from the excruciating pain and blood loss. His eyes, however, were bloodshot, filled with a mixture of shock and fury. Deeper still lay an unspeakable wariness and suspicion.

Yang Hu’s betrayal instantly connected in his mind with the targeted attack on his family and his father’s brutal death.

’This can’t be a coincidence.’ He no longer dared to trust any of the seemingly concerned faces around him, terrified that another cold blade would be thrust into his back at any second.

"Well done."

Outside the Main Hall, Chen Sheng sat calmly atop his horse, quite satisfied with Yang Hu’s perfectly timed backstab.

He had gone to great lengths to orchestrate today’s situation. Not only did he need to suppress the Seven Stars Gang, but he also had to ensure he could pry the exact information about the "Earth Core Spirit Milk" from Ma Changhai’s lips.

To this end, he had instructed Yang Hu to secretly take Ma Changhai’s wife and children as leverage. As for the death of Ma Changhai’s father, that was Yang Hu acting on his own to vent his personal anger.

Now, Ma Changhai’s weakness was held firmly in Yang Hu’s grasp.

Admittedly, with Chen Sheng’s current Bone Forging cultivation and his many hidden cards, he was confident his strength was no less than Ma Changhai’s. His odds of winning were over seventy percent.

But he always strove for absolute certainty in his actions, tolerating no accidents. Weakening his opponent was simply a way to increase his own chances of victory.

The ten poised and ready Wind-Breaking Crossbows were the first measure. Yang Hu’s precise backstab was the second. And his own hidden, true strength was the third!

"Charge! Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

Without further hesitation, Chen Sheng swept his horsewhip forward and gave the cold command.

"KILL—!"

Upon receiving the order, a vicious glint flashed in Yan Ming’s eyes. With a ferocious roar, he took the lead, spearheading the charge as the wolf-like government soldiers stormed through the Main Hall’s gates. In an instant, a deafening battle cry engulfed the entire Seven Stars Gang headquarters.

"Surrender and live! Drop your weapons and kneel, and you will be spared!"

At the same moment, Yang Hu let out a furious roar. His figure moved like lightning as he turned and charged his former "comrades."

Seeing this, the few Hall Masters and leaders who were already in league with him immediately dropped their pretenses. Their blades swung without hesitation at their unprepared companions beside them.

Attacked from within and without, they were assailed from both front and rear!

In a flash, the entire Seven Stars Gang Main Hall descended into utter chaos and internecine slaughter. Screams of pain, furious curses, the clash of weapons, and the wails of the dying wove together into a cacophony as the stench of blood rapidly filled the air.

Chen Sheng’s gaze was like a torch, already locked onto the staggering figure in the crowd.

He tapped his toe lightly on the stirrup, his body leaping up like a great roc spreading its wings. He soared through the air, pouncing on Ma Changhai, who was attempting to organize a resistance!

"You little bastard! I’ll fucking kill you!!"

Seeing Chen Sheng charging at him personally, and remembering his father’s brutal death and his family’s abduction, Ma Changhai’s eyes instantly turned blood-red as he completely succumbed to madness.

He forced a surge of True Qi, ignoring the gushing wound in his abdomen. Gripping his Nine-Ring Saber with both hands, he fearlessly met the charge. The wind howled from his blade, its momentum heavy and fierce, carrying a resolve for mutual destruction as it chopped straight for Chen Sheng’s face.

’If I can just capture this government commander, there might still be a chance to survive!’

However, he had ultimately overestimated his own strength while heavily injured, and even more so, underestimated just how terrifying Chen Sheng was!

Facing this desperate, life-or-death strike from what looked like a mad tiger, Chen Sheng’s expression was grim. He merely let out a disdainful snort.

"SHIIING—!"

The "Shehan" Treasure Saber at his waist was suddenly unsheathed, transforming into a bleakly cold, dazzling white ribbon of light that struck first despite being drawn later.

"CLANG!!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal on metal exploded! Sparks flew everywhere!

Chen Sheng’s body only dipped slightly as he steadily received the heavy, powerful blow like a mountain. The immense rebound force tore Ma Changhai’s wound open, sending blood spurting out and turning his face a few shades paler.

Before Ma Changhai could change his move, Chen Sheng flicked his wrist, and his saber’s momentum suddenly became incomparably sharp! He executed vicious moves from the "Demon-Suppressing Triple Extremes Saber" with ease, the light from his blade like a continuous, unending waterfall! 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"SHLICK!"

"CLANG!"

Within just three to five moves, Chen Sheng completely turned the tables, forcing Ma Changhai, who had seemed to have the upper hand, into a desperate and perilous defense.

Although this was partly because Ma Changhai was heavily injured and his mind was in turmoil, the precision, ruthlessness, and overwhelming power Chen Sheng displayed still made the hearts of all who witnessed it pound with fear.

Ma Changhai was even more horrified. He now fully understood that the rumors about Chen Sheng killing Gao Qiheng with a single slash were no exaggeration.

The will to survive instantly overwhelmed the fires of vengeance. Ma Changhai feinted a slash and turned to flee toward the rear hall.

"Trying to run? Too late!"

How could Chen Sheng give him the chance? His footwork shifted, and he closed the distance in an instant like a clinging shadow. With a flash of his blade, he cleverly jarred Ma Changhai’s wrist.

With a "CLANG," the Nine-Ring Saber fell from his grasp to the ground!

Immediately after, Chen Sheng’s eagle-sharp gaze locked onto the long saber still embedded in Ma Changhai’s abdomen, the one that twisted in his wound with every movement—it was Yang Hu’s "masterpiece."

Out of sheer pain and fear, Ma Changhai had never dared to pull it out. This had become his greatest opening!

Chen Sheng took a few steps forward, then his body suddenly soared into the air. He delivered a vicious whip-kick, smashing like a heavy hammer against the exposed end of the saber’s hilt.

"PUFF—!"

The tearing pain that bored deep into his bones made Ma Changhai let out a choked, wretched scream!

Driven by this immense force, the long saber carried his body flying backward. With a loud "BANG," it pinned him alive to a heavy wooden door!

"You... *cough cough*..."

The agonizing pain was heart-piercing. Just as Ma Changhai was about to curse, the bone-chilling edge of a blade was placed gently against his Adam’s apple. A few strands of hair, severed by the Sword Qi, drifted slowly down.

In an instant, Ma Changhai felt his soul trying to flee his body. Cold sweat soaked through his heavy clothes, and he didn’t dare make the slightest move. He could only glare at the nearby Chen Sheng with eyes full of venomous hatred and terror.

Chen Sheng used the flat of his blade to pat Ma Changhai’s bloodless, pale cheek, neither too lightly nor too heavily. His voice was as cold as if it came from the Nine Nether:

"If you want your precious wife and young son to live, then you will... obediently lower your head for this official."

At the mention of his wife and child, Ma Changhai’s body trembled violently, and all the color drained from his face.

He stared intently at Chen Sheng’s emotionless eyes. After weighing his options for only a moment, he finally, as if his spine had been ripped out, listlessly lowered his once-proud head.

...

「Meanwhile」

The battle inside the Seven Stars Gang’s Main Hall was already nearing its end.

With "their own people" like Yang Hu turning against them from within, and well-equipped, murderous government soldiers surrounding them from without, the leaderless and demoralized members of the Seven Stars Gang completely lost their will to resist.

More and more of them threw down their weapons and knelt to beg for mercy, their faces pale with terror.

...

The earth-shattering commotion at the Seven Stars Gang’s Main Hall had long since grown wings, swiftly reaching the ears of all the major powers in Changshan County.

The most intense reaction, naturally, came from the Gao Clan.

The Seven Stars Gang was the "White Gloves" that the Gao Family had poured vast resources into and painstakingly cultivated for years. They were a crucial tool for seizing profits and exerting influence in North City and even throughout all of Changshan County.

If the Seven Stars Gang were to be uprooted, the Gao Family would lose not just face, but also enormous, tangible profits and a powerful arm.

Directly confronting the Government Office with military force was a grave taboo. On one hand, Gao Clan Patriarch Gao Yuanfeng urgently contacted the Huang and Yang families, attempting to jointly pressure the Government Office. On the other, he immediately rushed to the county yamen himself to request an audience with County Magistrate Lin Shou, hoping to use the magistrate’s authority to halt the slaughter.

At the same time, he ordered his third brother, Gao Yuanhe, to immediately lead the Gao Family’s private soldiers and guards to North City at top speed. No matter what, they had to find a way to preserve the core of the Seven Stars Gang, or at the very least... rescue Ma Changhai!

County Magistrate Lin Shou was also deeply shocked when he received the news.

Under Gao Yuanfeng’s repeated urging, he immediately ordered the deployment of the West City Martial Camp soldiers under his command to "maintain order" in North City in an attempt to intervene. Afterward, he prepared to head to the scene personally with Gao Yuanfeng.

However, just as he stepped out of the county yamen’s second hall, a figure leisurely blocked his path.

It was none other than the County Captain, Wu Kuang.

He had a smirk on his face, his gaze sweeping over Lin Shou and Gao Yuanfeng as he spoke in a relaxed tone:

"County Magistrate Lin, Clan Leader Gao, in such a hurry... Where might you be heading?"

Lin Shou’s face was so grim it looked like water could drip from it. He demanded sharply:

"County Captain Wu, what exactly is that Chen Sheng trying to do? In broad daylight, he’s mobilizing troops within the city and slaughtering the common people! Does he have any respect for the King’s Law at all?!"

Upon hearing this, the smirk on Wu Kuang’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a stern, righteous solemnity. He snorted coldly, his voice suddenly rising:

"Slaughtering the common people? County Magistrate Lin, you are mistaken. For years, the Seven Stars Gang has committed countless evils in Changshan, monopolizing markets, colluding with water bandits, inciting refugees, and harming the innocent. Their crimes are too numerous to list."

"Furthermore, there is conclusive evidence that they recently dared to plot a rebellion and wreak havoc in the countryside! Commander Chen is eliminating bandits and eradicating evil, cleaning up the region. He is merely exercising the duties bestowed upon him by the court to rid the people of a menace. What is wrong with that?!"

"So you’re saying, Commander Chen acted with your approval, County Captain Wu?"

Gao Yuanfeng asked in a heavy voice.

Wu Kuang whipped his head around, his razor-sharp gaze stabbing straight at Gao Yuanfeng. His tone was ice-cold, filled with unconcealed pressure:

"Clan Leader Gao... what of it? Do you have a problem with that?"