The Seven Stars Gang had been entrenched in North City for years. Though they were annually required to hand over the majority of their earnings to the Gao Clan, the wealth they had accumulated was still substantial.

Under Chen Sheng’s command, the soldiers searched house by house, registering and cataloging everything. They were busy for a full two hours before they had a preliminary tally of the gang’s assets.

The cash silver in the storehouse alone amounted to over 2,300 taels, all sealed in wooden chests, its shimmering light dazzling the eyes.

This didn’t even include the portable wealth discovered elsewhere, such as gold and silver vessels, jewelry, and jade artifacts. If these were all converted to cash, the total value would likely increase by a considerable percentage.

Furthermore, they found numerous land deeds, property deeds, and business documents—all properties the Seven Stars Gang had acquired over the years.

Looking at the preliminary list in his hand, Chen Sheng couldn’t help but feel grateful once again for his choice to transfer back from the Border Army.

’If I were still on the bitter, cold front lines of the Northern Territory, even if I earned military honors, how could I have amassed such a fortune so quickly?’

On the border, every gain had to be won with blood and life. But here in Changshan County, beneath the seemingly calm surface of the quagmire, lurked more turbulent—and more "convenient"—opportunities.

Of course, he knew full well that all of this was predicated on Wu Kuang’s tacit approval and support.

Chen Sheng had no intention of deciding how to distribute these spoils on his own.

Wu Kuang was a man of considerable ability and means. His only vice, perhaps, was his greed.

And at times, that greed actually made him easier to deal with.

What Chen Sheng needed most right now was protection from this direct superior and the time to grow securely. For that, he was more than willing to part with the majority of the profits.

Thus, after completely securing the Seven Stars Gang headquarters and having all the assets and evidence of their crimes boxed up and sealed, Chen Sheng rushed to the county government office to see Wu Kuang without a moment’s delay.

The lamps were burning brightly in a side hall of the county government office.

Wu Kuang sat at the head of the table, carefully poring over the list of assets and the various deeds Chen Sheng had presented.

When he saw the entry for over two thousand taels of cash silver and the deeds to several prime storefronts, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes. He tapped the list twice with his fingertips.

"Nicely done."

Wu Kuang set down the documents. His tone was flat, yet tinged with satisfaction.

He didn’t ask for the details of the operation. For him, it was enough that a subordinate was capable and knew to present the fruits of his labor.

"It was all thanks to your brilliant strategy, My Lord, which kept the Gao Family and County Magistrate Lin occupied. I was merely following orders. It was a minor contribution; I dare not claim any credit," Chen Sheng said with a sincere, cupped-hand salute.

"You... you’re good at everything, except you’re far too modest."

A more genuine smile appeared on Wu Kuang’s face. He then asked, as if casually, "It was quite a haul. Did you... happen to keep any for yourself?"

"The distribution is entirely at Your Lordship’s discretion. I have no objections," Chen Sheng replied without the slightest hesitation.

The admiration in Wu Kuang’s eyes deepened, but a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. ’This young man isn’t greedy for money or lustful for women. He’s decisive and knows when to advance and retreat. What is he truly after?’

But the thought was fleeting. He wasn’t a petty man; in his view, having a capable and principled subordinate was no bad thing.

After a moment of contemplation, Wu Kuang tore the page detailing the cash silver from the list and pushed it toward Chen Sheng.

"I’ll take these property and land deeds. As for the two-thousand-odd taels of cash silver, you take it."

Before Chen Sheng could object, he continued.

"I won’t ask how you distribute it. You’ve earned it. And while you’re a sensible man, we should establish some ground rules to avoid future complications. Henceforth, for any similar spoils, I will take forty percent, you will personally take thirty percent, and the remaining thirty will be divided as a reward among the men who did the work. If we expect them to risk their lives, we can’t afford to chill their hearts."

"My Lord, isn’t thirty percent too much? I..."

Wu Kuang cut him off with a raised hand.

"You’re still young. Perhaps you haven’t yet truly grasped the importance of money. In this world, while silver and gold aren’t everything, without them to pave the way, everything becomes difficult.

Your Cultivation has reached the Bone Forging realm, so you should know that every step forward will require immense resources. A single high-grade Tiger Bone Pill costs no less than thirty taels of Patterned Silver on the market. Without enough wealth, advancing on the Martial Dao is as difficult as scaling the heavens."

He paused, leaning forward slightly as his tone turned grave.

"What’s more, the situation in Changshan County is now clear. My decisive action has brought the conflict out into the open. The Gao Family, the Huang Family, the Yang Family, and the other local magnates will not just sit back and await their doom.

If they want to strike back, they may not have the courage or the confidence to come after me directly. But as my confidant, you will be their primary target. This is your life’s-blood money, and the foundation of your future security. Don’t refuse it."

Although Wu Kuang was greedy, he was never stingy, especially toward subordinates he considered worthy investments.

Chen Sheng had proven his value and loyalty through his actions, so Wu Kuang naturally didn’t mind giving him a fitting reward. He wasn’t worried that Chen Sheng might one day surpass him; on the contrary, he believed that cultivating a powerful right-hand man would do him more good than harm in the long run.

From his observations of previous events, he judged Chen Sheng to be a man who valued loyalty and honor. Even if the student were to one day surpass the master, it was highly unlikely he would commit an act of betrayal.

"I... thank you for your great favor, My Lord!"

At these words, Chen Sheng dropped any pretense and bowed solemnly. Wu Kuang’s speech had been remarkably candid, both laying out the stark reality of the situation and offering tangible support.

"Mm."

Wu Kuang nodded in satisfaction. "Also," he added, "some truly precious Cultivation Resources are often available but not for sale on the open market; money alone can’t buy them. In the future, if you need to procure such items, I may be able to introduce you to some channels and help arrange it."

"My Lord, you mean...?" Chen Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

Wu Kuang smiled faintly, his tone laced with meaning. "Since my superiors sent me to clean up this mess in Changshan, they naturally granted me certain... conveniences. I have priority access to some of the special resources available through official channels in Ning’an Prefecture City. Helping you is a simple matter."

Chen Sheng was, of course, delighted to hear this.

Money was important, but access to a channel for high-level resources was worth more than gold or silver.

Take the Tiger Bone Pill Wu Kuang had just mentioned. It had a miraculous effect on tempering the bones and solidifying the foundation of a Martial Artist in the Bone Forging realm. In a place like Changshan County, such a pill was nearly impossible to buy, even if one had the money. Typically, one could only find far less effective alternatives like the Bone Nourishing Pill or the Muscle Protecting Pill.

He immediately seized the opportunity to ask Wu Kuang to help him procure a batch of Tiger Bone Pills.

After they finished discussing the distribution of resources and cultivation matters, Wu Kuang steered the conversation back to the current situation in Changshan County.

"Uprooting the Seven Stars Gang was gratifying, to be sure, but it was also like kicking a hornet’s nest."

Wu Kuang tapped his fingers on the table. "Your success this time was due not only to your excellent planning but also because those local kingpins didn’t take us seriously at first. They thought a few threats and bribes would be enough to make us yield. Gao Qiheng’s provocation that day was one such test."

He snorted. "They were reluctant to start an open conflict because they thought the price was too high. Unfortunately for them, it seems my stance was much firmer than they expected.

Now that they’ve realized their mistake, they’re sure to join forces and strike back. These families have been entrenched here for years; they are deeply rooted and their resources are not to be underestimated. With only our current strength, a direct confrontation will be a struggle."

Wu Kuang was now pondering how to divide and dismantle this temporary alliance, but he couldn’t find a suitable opening. This in-depth conversation with Chen Sheng was partly an opportunity to discuss this very issue.

Chen Sheng’s expression turned pensive upon hearing this.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and decided to reveal a part of the truth. ’When cooperating with a superior, a measure of honesty can sometimes earn more trust than blind deference.’

"My Lord, my insistence on moving against the Seven Stars Gang wasn’t just for official business. I had a personal reason as well."

"Oh?"

Wu Kuang looked up at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "What kind of personal reason?"

Chen Sheng’s gaze was steady. He enunciated each word clearly, "Ma Changhai, the former Gang Leader of the Seven Stars Gang, is the man who killed my father. My father... was the gang’s previous leader, Chen Xingzhou."

"What?!"

Wu Kuang was genuinely stunned. He sat up straighter, his body reacting unconsciously. He had never imagined that such a mortal feud existed between Chen Sheng and the Seven Stars Gang.

—