A Spineless Man

Golden Sand Valley, South Slope. A two-courtyard residence stood here. Though newly built and still unfinished in many places, its materials and workmanship were both first-rate. It was truly quite fine. At present, it was also the only proper residence in Golden Sand Valley; most of the others were single-room wooden-tile houses.

Of course, there were even more shacks. Only people with some standing could live in those wooden-tile houses.

"Chief, Golden Sand Valley has only just been established, and time is truly short. I'm afraid you'll have to put up with some hardship for a while."

Trailing at Jiang Chen's side, bowing and scraping, Qian Wen fawned over him with all his might, every inch the lapdog.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen stood before the courtyard gate and turned to look down, taking all of Golden Sand Valley into his eyes. His view was as broad as could be.

"The location of this residence was chosen well."

After offering that praise, Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze and took the lead into the residence.

At those words, Qian Wen immediately beamed. Skinny Monkey and Xiong Li, standing nearby, could not help but feel a trace of contempt. This man's bones were soft to the extreme; he had not a shred of backbone.

Skinny Monkey was still alright, but Xiong Li was straightforward by nature and showed it outright. Qian Wen, however, seemed completely unaware.

"Stone, from now on, the miscellaneous affairs in the residence will be yours to handle. You may pick a few sharp ones to assist you."

"Skinny Monkey, set up a guard post at the foot of South Slope. Unless it is important, do not disturb my cultivation."

"Xiong Li, from today onward, you will take over the field guard team."

Seated in the place of honor, Jiang Chen issued orders without the slightest hesitation, continuously placing the people he had brought into every aspect of Golden Sand Valley's affairs and beginning to truly seize control of its power.

At these words, the faces of those who had come with Jiang Chen lit up with delight, while Qian Wen remained outwardly calm.

Jiang Chen's grasping of power did not surprise him. At this moment, not only was he not angry, he even felt a faint delight, because Jiang Chen truly matched the information he had gathered before: a martial arts fanatic, devoted wholeheartedly to cultivation.

Just then, Jiang Chen turned his gaze toward him.

"Steward Qian, though this Golden Sand Field was only recently established, it has already been mined for some time. After you return, send over the relevant account books. I need to take a look."

His voice was low, and his face showed no room for doubt.

"Yes, Head Chief."

Their eyes met, and Qian Wen hurriedly bowed in assent.

Jiang Chen nodded at that. A moment later, this brief yet efficient meeting quietly came to an end.

"Head Chief, will Qian Wen really be willing to hand over the account books? Should I keep an eye on him, in case he tampers with them?"

After Qian Wen's group had gone far away, Skinny Monkey looked toward Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen shook his head.

"No need. There will be no problem with those books. Do not forget what kind of person Qian Wen is. Making a set of false accounts is nothing to him. Otherwise, why do you think Zhao Meng put him in his current position? Was it merely because of that younger sister of his who became a concubine?"

"I only asked for the account books so our people can learn from them, and incidentally to put his mind at ease."

With a light laugh, Jiang Chen lifted his tea and took a sip.

Seeming to understand, Skinny Monkey quietly withdrew and began arranging the guard posts, turning all of South Slope into Jiang Chen's private territory.

Meanwhile, after walking down South Slope and standing in the river valley, Qian Wen looked back at the residence atop the slope, his heart bleeding.

Construction on that residence had begun as soon as he arrived in Golden Sand Valley. Every blade of grass within it, even every ornament, had been personally selected by him. He had poured an enormous amount of effort into it, because according to the original plan, Third Chief Zhao Meng would take on the task of guarding Golden Sand Valley.

However, Zhao Meng would not remain in Golden Sand Valley permanently. As his trusted confidant, Qian Wen would become the true man in charge of Golden Sand Valley. This residence had been built for himself, so how could he not put his heart into it? Yet today, it had become another man's wedding dress. He had not even lived in it for a single day. That feeling was truly beyond words.

"Forget it, forget it. It is only a residence."

Pressing a hand to his faintly aching heart, Qian Wen headed toward what had originally been his temporary lodging. For quite some time to come, he would likely have to live there.

From that day onward, subtle changes began to take place within Golden Sand Valley. Some silently waited in anticipation, while others trembled in secret fear. Yet for seven consecutive days, Jiang Chen did not once descend South Slope. The somewhat restless atmosphere in Golden Sand Valley gradually settled again, and quite a few people let out sighs of relief.

"Could it be that this man truly does not intend to interfere in Golden Sand Valley's affairs? No, that should not be."

"The gold sand here dazzles the eye; no one could simply ignore it. Besides, though he comes from Third Chief's camp, if he wants to rise to the position of Fourth Chief, he must draw a line between himself and Third Chief."

"I have never met the First Chief, but I believe he would not want the two chiefs under him to peacefully make fortunes together either. Otherwise, the one sent here should have been Third Chief, not this Head Chief..."

In a corner of the river valley, a middle-aged man gazed toward South Slope, his expression shifting between light and shadow. He wore plain cloth garments, and his features were neat and tidy, making him unlike the vast majority of people in Golden Sand Valley.

Just then, a tall figure called out to him from nearby.

"Old Wang, what are you doing? The chief steward is calling a meeting."

The rough voice rang beside his ears, and Wang Yuan immediately reined in his thoughts.

"I'm coming."

Turning around, the uncertainty on Wang Yuan's face instantly gave way to a warm smile.

He was one of Qian Wen's stewards and, to some extent, also one of Qian Wen's trusted confidants. Back when Qian Wen had gotten into trouble in Qinghe County, Wang Yuan had risked his life to warn him, giving Qian Wen a sliver of hope. The two could be called true friends who had faced life and death together.

Later, after Qian Wen threw in his lot with Zhao Meng and rose to prominence, he brought Wang Yuan along with him. Wang Yuan became a minor steward in Golden Sand Valley, overseeing the kitchens and enjoying no small amount of profit from the post.

Wait a little longer. It would be best to find a way to approach Head Chief Jiang. But he stays on South Slope all day; who knows what he is busy with? I have no chance to go up there at all.

While chatting warmly with the burly man, Wang Yuan calculated his plan. He had originally intended to secretly guide Jiang Chen step by step toward discovering the truth of Qian Wen's devouring of Golden Sand Valley's gold sand, then use Jiang Chen's hand to get rid of Qian Wen and wash away the deep hatred in his heart. Yet Jiang Chen's conduct had completely exceeded his expectations.

When he had first learned that the River-Sweeping Bandits would be dropping a Head Chief into Golden Sand Valley to take command, he had been overjoyed, believing his opportunity had arrived. Now, however, there were still twists and turns ahead.

Jiang Chen paid no heed to any of this. Of course, not paying heed did not mean he knew nothing.

Like a spectator, he stood atop South Slope and took in every change unfolding in Golden Sand Valley. He simply had no plans to deal with them for now, because his own interests did not completely align with those of the River-Sweeping Bandits.

Having been tempered by the apocalypse, he knew clearly that every person had a use. If they did not, it could only mean the right method had not been chosen. Likewise, parasites like Qian Wen had their uses as well, so Jiang Chen was in no hurry to act.