Amidst the respectful welcome of several key members of the Zhao Household and a host of clansmen, Chen Shuangbai was escorted out of the mansion.
The Zhao Household offered a generous apology, which conveniently resolved the current predicament of the Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy, and they were also willing to cooperate with Chen Shuangbai in guarding the temple.
This left many bystanders who wanted to see a conflict between the Zhao Household and Chen Shuangbai somewhat disappointed and puzzled.
Zhao Yongnian watched Chen Shuangbai leave before his ingratiating smile faded, and he turned back into the mansion.
His second and third brothers were punished with one hundred strokes of the cane each by Chen Shuangbai for offending the garrison commander.
One hundred blows would kill a mortal on the spot.
However, both Zhao Yongkuan and Zhao Yongkun are Third Layer of Qi Refinement cultivators, with physiques far exceeding those of ordinary people. They were only half-dead after being beaten, and after a year or two of recuperation, they should be able to recover.
Zhao Yongnian returned to the mansion, went to the main hall, and dismissed the servants and clansmen.
Not long after.
A woman came out from a side hall, walked up to him, and began to massage his waist and shoulders.
This woman was not Zhao Yongnian's legal wife, but his concubine.
This concubine was beautiful, with a unique charm in every smile and frown, like a passionate serpent demon, with a supple body and graceful waist, exuding a gentle tenderness like water.
"Master, does this mean our Zhao Household will have to live at the mercy of this brat from now on?"
"Second Master and Third Master are your own brothers, born of the same mother."
Zhao Yongnian closed his eyes, letting those soft, boneless hands knead his tense shoulders and neck with a gentle, warm touch.
He reached out a hand and slipped it into the concubine's slightly loose collar.
He bought this concubine for a high price at an underground market auction. She had learned a few secret techniques for pleasing men, and was also knowledgeable, understanding, and considerate. She was a "confidante" he relied on quite a bit in private.
For Zhao Yongnian, many things that were inconvenient to discuss with his brothers and clansmen could be talked about with her.
"This is just a stopgap measure."
Zhao Yongnian closed his eyes and said, "This kid is quite assertive, a troublemaker... but that doesn't matter."
"It's not just our four families who have ulterior motives in Wind Howling Ford. If we temporarily back down, the troublemakers from the other three families will emerge."
"Let them fight to the death, then we'll step in and reap the benefits."
"As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. Today's humiliation and loss may well be repaid in the future!"
"My son is at a crucial stage in the Profound Firmament Sect, and as his father, I absolutely cannot hold him back!"
Upon hearing this, the charming concubine's eyes seemed to flicker with a strange light, but she didn't ask any more questions. Before long, a series of seductive sounds could be heard.
The county seat, the garrison headquarters.
Bi Sheng frowned and said, "Uncle-Master, Zhao Yongnian is truly decisive. He's actually willing to cut such a large piece of his own flesh to quell your anger."
Chen Shuangbai shook his head and said, "It's not my anger, but the anger of the sect behind us."
"But it must be admitted that the head of the Zhao Household family is indeed a remarkable person."
Chen Shuangbai had considered eliminating the Zhao Household altogether.
However, the four Lineage are numerous, and their influence and connections extend to every aspect of Wind Howling County, like tree roots. Although they appear small on the surface, their true power lies underground.
This is something that could have far-reaching consequences, and Chen Shuangbai shouldn't do it before she has absolute certainty.
He currently needs four more entities to support the livelihoods of people in Wind Howling Ford and promote the development of Wind Howling Ford trade routes.
Not long after.
The other three families also learned about what had happened to the Zhao Household, and they were all on edge, not daring to make any rash moves.
They even sent a lot of congratulatory gifts under the pretext of congratulating Chen Shuangbai, the new garrison commander, probably because they were afraid that Chen Shuangbai would take action against them.
Chen Shuangbai simply accepted all comers.
Of those items, those that could be used for cultivation were kept, while those that could not were left to the Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy.
Supporting local lineages and enhancing the reputation of the Jade Spring Sect is also one of the evaluation criteria for the garrison commander.
After sorting through the items sent by the four families, Chen Shuangbai held the golden seal, gazing at the winding water and wood patterns on it. He poured his Law Power into it and began to refine it.
This Golden Seal of Guardianship symbolizes the position of the garrison commander. Now that Chen Shuangbai has the seal in hand, he finally has a legitimate reason to act.
Moreover, this golden seal itself is a mid-grade magic Law Artifact, and it is connected to the earth energy of Wind Howling County. Therefore, with this golden seal in hand, as long as it is not Great Perfection of Qi Refining or the Upper Foundation Establishment who makes a move, Chen Shuangbai is almost in no danger of losing his life.
Watching Chen Shuangbai examine the golden seal, Bi Sheng hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself.
Say what you want to say.
Bi Sheng then spoke, " Martial Uncle Chen, that mother and son are indeed despicable, but they are, after all, my master's widow and his remaining bloodline. If possible, I beg you, Uncle-Master, to spare their lives and simply drive them out of Fengming County."
Chen Shuangbai waved her hand dismissively.
"You don't need to ask me about this; you can decide for yourself."
The mother and child were Tian Guanyu's widow and orphan, not Chen Shuangbai's.
Once they have the golden seal, they naturally become worthless.
Chen Shuangbai had no interest in dealing with the two, so she let Bi Sheng do as he pleased.
Over the next few days.
With the four families yielding, the county government regained control. Leveraging the prestige established by Chen Shuangbai and the power of the Jade Spring Sect, Chang Yuan began to implement sweeping reforms in Wind Howling Ford.
As for the Azure Flood Dragon Society and the Rosy Clouds Abode Alliance, they were also wary of Chen Shuangbai's current power, so they kept their distance, neither obstructing the county government's work nor contacting it.
Chen Shuangbai left Bi Sheng to oversee the government office while he returned to the Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy to cultivate.
Don't be fooled by his current prestige; it's all just a facade, built on the backs of others.
True strength comes only when you become strong yourself.
He returned to the Listening to the Waves Pavilion and began his cultivation.
He has no shortage of resources for cultivation now, the only thing he lacks is time. Therefore, not only do they want a period of peace, Chen Shuangbai also wants a period of peace.
After returning to the Listening to the Waves Pavilion, he began his secluded cultivation.
This bamboo forest is a feng shui formation that gathers wind and energy, and it is also rich in water and wood energy. In addition, the Six Directions Primordial Light Formation set up by Chen Shuangbai also has the effect of gathering Spiritual Qi, but it still cannot compare with the abundant spiritual energy inside the Jade Spring Sect's mountain gate.
Chen Shuangbai sat cross-legged in the small building, took out the bottle of Cold Spring Pill from her Storage Bag, and swallowed one.
The moment the pill entered my mouth, it felt like drinking a mouthful of cold spring water, chilling me from my throat to my lungs. But as the Cultivation Method circulated and the pill was refined, a pure water-elemental energy nourished my limbs and bones.
While circulating his Cultivation Method to refine the pill, Chen Shuangbai took out over a hundred Lower-Grade Spirit Stone and ten Water Jade Crystal that had absorbed the moon's essence from his Storage Bag and piled them up beside him.
With a thought, the First Month Divine Manifestation appeared.
With a flick of his blue jade tablet, the Moon Lord, who had a dragon's head and a human body, turned Spirit Stone stones and Water Jade Crystal into powder.
The Spiritual Qi, primordial energy, and inspiration contained within transformed into wisps of smoke, which entered Chen Shuangbai's body, nourishing his physique and propelling his cultivation.