Hiss—hiss!
The entire hall, and even the entire Zhou Family, fell into a deathly silence.
A group of local overlords, who originally came to watch Chen Yang's disgrace, were collectively stunned, their faces filled with disbelief, and some even began to retreat.
Strictly speaking, tonight's event, with Zhou Qingyang's birthday feast merely as a prelude, revolved around Princess Ling'er's appearance and the judgment on Chen Yang.
They were simply here to flatter, but in the end...
Moreover, Ling'er didn't come; what's the attitude of this elder before them?
Mr. Chen, the princess invites you, shall we move?
This!
After all, it's someone from the City Lord's Mansion; is there a need to be this polite?
The most crucial thing is, it's well-known that Chen Yang killed a squad of Silver Armored Guards.
And the psychological impact was greatest on Zhou Qingyang, the Family Head of the Zhou Family, who, from the start, believed his family would rise to prominence and continually fantasized about the possibilities after meeting Princess Ling'er.
Yet…
This scene before him deviated completely from the script, and the elder's disregard nearly drove him to collapse.
Zhou Qingyang's face changed rapidly from green to pale, a spectacular mix of unwillingness and humiliation intertwined and erupted within him, leading him to crawl on his knees before the elder, again pointing at Chen Yang:
"Master, defiance against the supreme authority of the City Lord's Mansion, methods monstrously cruel, the criminal who killed a Silver Armored Guards squad, it is him!"
"I worked painstakingly to bring him to my family to hand him over to Princess Ling'er for punishment."
At this point, Zhou Qingyang had not given up hope, trying everything to gain the elder's attention. Of course, if he could receive some rewards, that would be better.
This is exactly like a barking dog, trying to earn its master's reward.
"I know."
The elder, whose real name was Mu Gang, slightly tilted his head, glancing at Zhou Qingyang at his feet, "In fact, it was the Commander of the Silver Armored Guards who was envious of Mr. Chen's remaining map and acted privately, intending to kill and seize the treasure."
"Even if Mr. Chen didn't kill them, I would have eliminated them."
Zhou Qingyang: "..."
"Furthermore, this concerns my City Lord's Mansion; when did it require you to meddle here?"
Zhou Qingyang: "..."
"Going by your implication, should I thank you?" Mu Gang squinted his eyes, questioning leisurely.
Buzz.
Straight away, Zhou Qingyang was struck as if by lightning, his thoughts scattered, hurriedly waving his hands, "No, I dare not, I was just thinking..."
Bang!
The elder swayed his sleeve, Zhou Qingyang was hammered as if with a blow, thrown into the air, and slammed hard onto the floor.
"What are you thinking? Hmm?!" Mu Gang asked.
Beside, Chen Yang's gaze narrowed slightly.
He had a feeling; this old man should be the strongest person he'd seen so far.
"Hehe..."
Mu Gang looked back at Chen Yang, a deep smile unfolded instantly on his face, contrasting sharply with his previous coldness and harshness, almost like two different people.
"Mr. Chen, shall we go?" Mu Gang said with a smile.
Chen Yang remained silent.
He was puzzled; since they'd found him, they should have acted decisively and thunderously to uphold the face of the princess and the entire City Lord's Mansion.
Yet, they were polite, asking if the princess invited him?
Truthfully, Chen Yang was completely confused, utterly unable to guess what the other side was up to.
In fact, Mu Gang's mood right now was identical to Chen Yang's.
Before setting out, the instruction he received was to capture, but just now, upon reaching the Zhou Family's gate, Mu Ling'er called, asking him to be courteous to Chen Yang, ideally inviting him to a restaurant.
Finally, she reminded him that under no circumstances should force be used.
Mu Gang hadn't even had a chance to ask why, and the call was hung up.
Seeing Chen Yang silent at this point, Mu Gang didn't urge, quietly waited with full smile.
"This..."
Originally ready for a death match, Shen Shaotian was completely dumbfounded, instinctively looking at Liu Qingmei.
Liu Qingmei was equally confused.
The two exchanged bewildered glances.
"Do you think, this old guy might have taken the wrong medicine?" Shen Shaotian muttered, "Or perhaps Princess Ling'er has fallen for this goof?"
Liu Qingmei rolled her eyes, ignoring him.
A moment later, Chen Yang said, "Sorry, I have something else tonight."
He wasn't avoiding, nor making excuses; Gu Zhiqing was still alone in the room, he had to bring some food back.
"Alright, I'll come next time." Mu Gang said straightforwardly.
Chen Yang: "..."
That straightforward?
"By the way, this Zhou Family intends to step on Mr. Chen to elevate, truly unaware of death."
At this, Mu Gang raised his hand, giving the order, "Leave no one behind."
"Yes!!"
Dozens of Silver Armored Guards responded in unison.
Then, spears were drawn, under the moonlight, sharply cold.
Zhou Qingyang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Until death, Zhou Qingyang couldn't understand how things developed to this point.
The anticipated rapid rise and prosperous wealth, not only missed, but led to the annihilation of the entire Zhou Family.
Hehe…
How absurd and ridiculous is this?
…
Xianlai Restaurant.
After annihilating the Zhou Family, Mu Gang, hurriedly returning, immediately went to Mu Ling'er's room, directly inquiring, "Miss, I don't understand."
"See for yourself."
Mu Ling'er, holding a candy stick, pointed to a stack of documents on the table, saying with a smiling face.
Confused, Mu Gang picked up the documents and began to flip through them, "Oh? This kid actually comes from the secular world, is even a soldier? Commands millions, the War God of the State?"
"That title, is indeed rather intimidating."
Mu Gang chuckled, not taking it seriously. After all, in the secular world, no matter the accomplishments, it couldn't catch his attention.
As he continued reading, this top powerhouse of the City Lord's Mansion, the disdain and indifference on his face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of admiration.
"Unexpectedly, this guy is a figure of some merit."
After reading about Chen Yang's actions and achievements in the secular world, Mu Gang sighed long, "To produce such a person in the secular world is indeed a blessing of the times for them."
"Do you still remember the Changsheng Sect?" Mu Ling'er, with a candy stick, sitting on a chair, her legs swinging eagerly, asked with a chuckle.
"Changsheng Sect?"
Mu Gang certainly knew, fifty years ago, he witnessed the rise and fall of the Changsheng Sect.
Fifty years ago.
The Changsheng Sect produced a peerless prodigy, entering Divine Conquest at age twenty-eight, and by thirty-five, nearly undefeated across Yuning Mountain, truly leading an era.
Crushing contemporaries under his feet.
At that time, a saying was prevalent, it was better to offend the ten kings of hell than to provoke the human Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng was the symbol of that era.
Sadly, this genuine favored child, perhaps disgusted with the original order of Yuning Mountain, determined to carve out his path of glory.
The final result was, the Three Valleys, Six Courts, and Ten Sects, forcibly deducted by one sect, became today's Nine Sects.
Some said, Chen Changsheng died in battle, and the Changsheng Sect was totally eradicated.
Others said, Chen Changsheng led the remaining members of the Changsheng Sect into hiding in a certain mountainous area.
"Miss, do you mean?"
At this point, Mu Gang could naturally infer Mu Ling'er's meaning, his expression changing several times, "Indeed, the master admired Chen Changsheng, and respected his character, but how could this Chen Yang be compared to Chen Changsheng?"
"Indeed, he can't."
Mu Ling'er, with sparkling eyes, squinting into slits, laughs, "But I believe, my grandfather would like this kind of person."
"Moreover, my grandfather personally said, if I could find someone better than that guy surnamed Ning, he would respect my mind."
Mu Gang: "..."
"..."