Chen Shuangbai's voice wasn't loud, but to the four families, it was as deafening as thunder.
Zhao Yongkun's expression changed drastically, and he took several steps back, cold sweat pouring down his back.
"Commander Chen, how could you say such a thing?!"
"So, upon taking office, you intend to exterminate all four of my families?"
These words were too harsh; they practically condemned the four families as traitors.
Even setting aside the people from the Jade Spring Sect, just the few retainers from the Jing Kingdom's royal family alone would be enough to wipe out all four families, leaving no one alive.
Chen Shuangbai continued to sneer.
"Didn't you force me to say this?"
His cold laugh—he's only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, how dare he push the four families to this point right from the start?
Zhao Yongkun was truly in a difficult situation.
They originally just wanted to give Chen Shuangbai a hard time, to let him know who really called the shots at Wind Howling Ford, and who... was the true master of Wind Howling Ford!
But Chen Shuangbai had no interest in playing these roundabout games with them; she went straight for the big guns.
If this charge is to be substantiated, even if the four families have a hundred mouths and a thousand methods, it will all be in vain.
Zhao Yongkun choked on his words.
Standing to the side, Wang Zheng, the second son of the Wang Household, seeing this situation and glancing at Zhao Yongkun, was speechless. He then said, "I hope that the garrison commander will understand that my Wang Household has absolutely no intention of betraying the country."
That statement excludes their own side from the discussion.
The Li Household immediately echoed, saying it had nothing to do with them.
With just a few words, the four families, who were originally an impregnable fortress, were torn apart, leaving Zhao Yongkun with even more complicated feelings.
He glanced at the two representatives, but they both looked away, not daring to utter a word.
Chen Shuangbai struck while the iron was hot and asked again, "You are so eager. Could it be that the actions of Yuan Jie's dandy are also shared by your Zhao family?"
Zhao Yongkun did not respond immediately.
This whole thing was orchestrated by his Zhao Household.
To avoid directly affecting the Zhao Household, he secretly instigated Yuan Jie to embarrass Chen Shuangbai today, but he did not expect Chen Shuangbai to be so tough.
The moment the Wang and Li families spoke, the whole situation fell apart.
Zhao Yongkun bowed respectfully, "My Zhao Household... would never have such a thought. I beg the garrison commander to understand."
Yuan Chongde watched as the three representatives, who had initially been united in their resistance, crumbled in the blink of an eye, and his heart sank. But when he saw Zhao Yongkun's gloomy eyes, he knew that the Yuan Household would have to bear the consequences today.
Yuan Jie seemed to realize something as well, and he ran outside as fast as he could.
It's strange, really. He said his elder brother, who shared the same mother, was a disciple of the Profound Firmament Sect, which meant he must have Spirit Root to be able to cultivate. But his younger brother had no cultivation at all. Could it be that his elder brother couldn't afford to support him?
Seeing him leave the main hall and flee frantically towards the main gate, Chen Shuangbai remained motionless, only watching Yuan Chongde with a cold smile on her lips.
"If he leaves here today, what will the Yuan Household say?"
Yuan Chongde seemed to recall a similar scene, and with a sudden resolve, he threw out a talisman, immobilizing the frantically fleeing Yuan Jie. He then turned to Chen Shuangbai, knelt down, and said, "This beast has offended the garrison commander; I beg the garrison commander to punish him."
Inside the illusory bronze bell, Yuan Jie unleashed a torrent of vulgarities and obscenities.
Bi Sheng looked at him as if he were a dead man.
So what about the Profound Firmament Sect?
Do the cultivation forces within the Zhao Kingdom dare to extend their reach into the territory of my Jing Kingdom?
hehe!
Do you really think the reputation of my Jade Spring Superior Sect is something that can be cultivated?
As a disciple of the Jade Spring Dharma Lineage, Bi Sheng has a natural admiration and respect for the Jade Spring Sect, while he has a natural contempt for other sects.
Yuan Chongde handed Yuan Jie over to Chen Shuangbai for disposal, while the four families obediently confessed their crimes and dared not utter another word. They even offered up a number of cultivation materials unique to Wind Howling County, several Storage Bag, which made Bi Sheng somewhat tempted.
The Yuan Household, in particular, offered even more spiritual materials for cultivation. However, Chen Shuangbai's ambiguous smile sent a chill down Yuan Chongde's spine.
Yuan Jie was knocked unconscious, then tied up tightly with hemp rope and thrown into a side hall at the back, where he was guarded by the sedan chair bearers who had come with him.
As for the henchmen who did this with him, they were executed on the spot by the Yuan Household.
Chen Shuangbai took her seat at the head of the table, and the banquet finally began.
The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and delicacies were served in a continuous stream, but the atmosphere in the main hall was as oppressive as frozen ice.
Chen Shuangbai seemed completely oblivious. He remained calm, picked up a piece of dried bamboo shoot, chewed it slowly, then picked up his wine cup, took a sip of the spiritual wine, and calmly glanced down below.
The expressions on the faces of the people below varied.
Chang Yuan was the closest, and his expression was the most joyful, almost beaming with delight.
He was appointed here, but the four major families in charge of this place are all cultivation Lineage, while he is just a mortal. Naturally, he is hampered in every way. He can't get his ideas out of the county government, which is why he has the reputation of not being in charge.
But things are different now; the Jade Spring Sect has appointed a new garrison commander.
Moreover, this garrison commander was clearly not someone to be trifled with; he immediately suppressed the four families, which truly allowed him to vent a lot of the pent-up frustration he had suffered over the years.
Of the four families, the Yuan Household was in a somber mood, while the Zhao, Wang, and Li families seemed rather strange, clearly not focused on the fine wine and food.
The Azure Flood Dragon Society and the Rosy Clouds Abode Alliance, on the other hand, seemed to shrink back, not daring to meet Chen Shuangbai's gaze, clearly lost in thought.
"Gentlemen."
Chen Shuangbai put down her wine glass; her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
His words immediately drew everyone's attention, and all eyes turned to him, each with a forced smile on their face, even if they didn't want to.
"Today's banquet was originally intended to celebrate my taking over as garrison commander and my first meeting with you all. However, some people are simply out of touch with reality and lack manners, thus spoiling your enjoyment."
The smiles on the faces of the four families became slightly stiff.
Chen Shuangbai ignored them and continued speaking.
"However, this is also a good opportunity. I, Chen, would like to take this opportunity to say a few words to everyone, and I hope you will listen to them and keep them in mind."
Chen Shuangbai's gaze deepened, and a hint of Sha Qi appeared on his jade-like face. He slowly said, " Wind Howling Ford is Wind Howling Ford of the Jing Kingdom, a place protected by the Jade Spring Sect. Here, one must abide by the rules."
"You must abide by the rules of my Jing Kingdom, and you must also abide by the rules of my Jade Spring Sect."
These words were filled with murderous intent.
Anyone with a modicum of sense knows that Chen Shuangbai will undoubtedly have other methods to deal with this place in the future, and to restore the prestige of the Jade Spring Sect.
But no one dared to underestimate them; everyone quickly stood up and replied in unison, "We understand."