As Ma Changhai slumped in defeat and the members of the Seven Stars Gang dropped their weapons to surrender, the fierce battle that had engulfed the gang’s headquarters finally came to a close.

Under Chen Sheng’s command, a large contingent of soldiers began to methodically inventory and confiscate the gold, silver, and valuables the Seven Stars Gang had amassed. These were the spoils of war.

Chen Sheng personally escorted Ma Changhai into the inner hall, with Yang Hu following close behind.

Yang Hu no longer held back. His hate-filled gaze was so intense it felt tangible, pinning Ma Changhai in place. The look left Ma Changhai not only shocked and enraged but also confused. ’It was clearly Yang Hu who stabbed me in the back, so why does he look at me as if I’m the one who wronged him?’

"Commander Chen," Ma Changhai said, his voice hoarse as he struggled to support his weakened body. "Causing trouble in North City was never my intention. It was all the Gao Family’s doing! If you want revenge, you should be going after them. Why threaten me using my family?"

"I’ll get to the Gao Family."

Chen Sheng looked down on him. "Now, I’ll give you a chance."

"What kind of chance?" Ma Changhai asked instinctively.

"Hand over the treasure Chen Xingzhou left behind. In return, I’ll give you a quick death, and I can guarantee your family’s safety," Chen Sheng said, his gaze as sharp as a blade. The Chen Xingzhou he mentioned was the father of his body’s original owner.

"Chen Xingzhou!"

Hearing the familiar name, Ma Changhai’s pupils shrank. He stared at Chen Sheng, his expression a mixture of shock and suspicion. "Who... Who are you? How could you know about that?"

Very few people knew of the treasure’s existence. Even within the Seven Stars Gang, only a handful were aware, yet Chen Sheng had stated it outright.

An incredible thought began to form in his mind. As it surfaced, he found that the more he looked at Chen Sheng’s face, the more familiar it seemed.

"How I know isn’t important."

Chen Sheng sat tall in the large mahogany chair, his tone detached. "What’s important is whether or not you’re willing to confess."

"You... You’re Boss Chen’s son, the one he raised outside the gang, aren’t you?"

Although Ma Changhai phrased it as a question, he was already almost certain. The same surname, the knowledge of the treasure, the faint resemblance to Chen Xingzhou around the eyes... all the clues pointed to one answer.

Chen Sheng met his question with silence, neither confirming nor denying it.

Ma Changhai scrambled to explain.

"Commander Chen, you must believe me! I really didn’t kill the old Gang Leader. It was the Gao Family! I only found out after it happened. I found the treasure in a hidden compartment in his room, but the mechanism is too ingenious. I still haven’t been able to open it..."

It was only then that he finally understood—why Chen Sheng had come straight for the Seven Stars Gang, and why so many of its members had turned traitor mid-battle. It was all because Chen Sheng, the old Gang Leader’s own flesh and blood, had returned.

Those old subordinates who were indebted to Chen Xingzhou would naturally be willing to risk everything to repay his kindness.

"Where is it?" Chen Sheng asked again, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"If... if I tell you, can you spare my life? There’s no deep-seated hatred between us. The position of Gang Leader was yours to begin with. I can give it all back to you. I’ll even serve you faithfully..."

Ma Changhai pleaded pitifully.

"You or your family. Only one side gets to live."

A cold smile touched Chen Sheng’s lips. "This is the price you must pay."

Yang Hu, who stood at the side, paled. He shot Chen Sheng a worried look, but Chen Sheng returned it with a reassuring glance.

"I..."

Ma Changhai’s expression was fraught with conflict, but he finally steeled himself. "I... I want to live."

"Very well. I promise," Chen Sheng said, his expression serene.

"The item... It’s hidden in a secret compartment in the headboard of my bed..."

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, motioning for Yang Hu to retrieve it.

After Yang Hu had left, he turned back to Ma Changhai and asked in a low voice, "Now, tell me how my father died. Why did the Gao Family target him?"

Ma Changhai kept his head bowed, his expression troubled.

"I’m not entirely clear on the specifics. Third Master Gao was the one who told me. He just said the old Gang Leader... harbored ulterior motives. That for years he had been placing his confidants and building up his own power within the gang, intending to break free from the Gao Family’s control. That’s why..."

Seeing the disappointment on Chen Sheng’s face, Ma Changhai quickly added, "But... later, I heard my wife mention in passing that the old Gang Leader met his end because he stumbled upon something he wasn’t supposed to know."

"How would your wife know that?" Chen Sheng asked, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

Ma Changhai looked uncomfortable. "I’m talking about the legitimate daughter the Gao Family sent to marry me. After the old Gang Leader’s death, the Gao Family grew wary of the gang, so they had one of their own marry me to keep an eye on things. She’s been staying with the Gao Family for Gao Qiheng’s funeral and isn’t at the compound right now."

"Young Master, I found it." Yang Hu strode in, carrying a strangely shaped wooden box.

"This is..." Chen Sheng’s gaze fell upon the box.

"It’s called the Celestial Secret Box. The old Gang Leader went to great lengths to acquire it from the Prefecture City," Ma Changhai explained hastily, eager to prove his worth. "It’s full of hidden mechanisms. If you try to force it open without the dedicated key, the mechanisms will instantly destroy whatever is inside."

Chen Sheng took the wooden box and ordered Yang Hu to guard Ma Changhai. He then went into a side room by himself to examine it.

Sure enough, he found an indentation on its surface. An idea struck him. He took the Warm Jade from his robes and gently pressed it into the slot—it was a perfect fit.

With a gentle press, the Celestial Secret Box unfolded, layer by layer, its mechanisms silently enclosing the Warm Jade. A moment later, the lid slowly opened to reveal a thumb-sized jade vial.

Earth Core Spirit Milk!

Chen Sheng uncorked the vial. A pure, elegant fragrance wafted out. Inside was the viscous, creamy white Spiritual Milk.

...

"What else do you know? Tell me everything."

Chen Sheng returned to the inner hall, saying nothing of what had just transpired.

Neither Yang Hu nor Ma Changhai dared to ask.

To demonstrate his value, Ma Changhai revealed several more secrets about the Gao Family, but most of them were of little use to Chen Sheng.

"Commander, a large group of soldiers from West City has arrived! Looks like some men from the Gao Family are with them. They’re in a standoff with our brothers!" Yan Ming reported, rushing inside. Chen Sheng gave a slight nod and stood up to leave.

"Young Master, what should we do with him?"

Seeing Chen Sheng about to leave, Yang Hu couldn’t help but ask. While Ma Changhai hadn’t killed Chen Sheng’s father, he was Yang Hu’s mortal enemy. Ma Changhai had hounded his father to death.

Chen Sheng stopped, walked over to Yang Hu, and gave him a meaningful look. "I am a man of my word. Since I said I wouldn’’t kill him, my hands will remain clean."

With that, Chen Sheng turned and left.

After a moment’s thought, a flicker of understanding crossed Ma Changhai’s eyes, and he called out his thanks repeatedly.

"Thank you, Young Master."

He failed to notice, however, that Yang Hu, standing nearby, had already tightened his grip on his long saber, his face devoid of expression as he began to walk slowly toward Ma Changhai.

"What... what are you doing?"

Ma Changhai was horrified, and he hastily tried to use Chen Sheng’s promise as a shield.

But in response to Ma Changhai’s warning, Yang Hu simply raised his saber and said, word by deliberate word:

"My father was Yang Kaisu, the man you hounded to death. Ma Changhai... when you get down below, be sure to send him my regards."

SHLICK!

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