Dominating Martial King
Chapter 283 - 283 203 Overwhelming by Threat Alone Please Subscribe_3

283: Chapter 203: Overwhelming by Threat Alone (Please Subscribe)_3 283: Chapter 203: Overwhelming by Threat Alone (Please Subscribe)_3 After the Wen Family was ruined, their legitimate son had no value left at all.

Dan Chiling smiled bitterly, his demeanor humble and respectful.

He cupped his fist and bowed, “Master Chu might think I am cruel and cold-hearted, but I know better that if I don’t do this, both my Dan Family and this child’s lives won’t be preserved.

I have connections in the county, and I know that Master Chu has already obtained the documents to confiscate the Dan Family’s property and arrest all the male members.

Now, the rise and fall of my family lie within a single thought of the Master.

The country folk of the Dan Family didn’t recognize the true person before and were unaware of the Heavenly Might of West Mountain Hall.

Now, we sincerely repent, and I beseech Master Chu for forgiveness!”

Chu Xisheng’s gaze flickered as he fell into thought.

The gains from eradicating the Dan Family would certainly exceed the compensation of ten thousand Demon Silver and fifty thousand stones of rice paid by Dan Chiling.

And this man, Dan Chiling, he did not trust at all.

It reminded him of Shangguan Shen Hao.

The problem was that this man had already done things like offering his apology with humbleness, even resorting to cutting off his own adopted son’s hands and feet.

If he persisted in being unrelenting and insisted on flattening the Dan Family, he would be criticized by countless Jianghu people in East State, who would accuse him of being spineless.

In Jianghu, one must be ruthless, but cannot just be ruthless; a good reputation is also needed.

Unless one could be like the Blood Vengeance Blade Lord, who with a single blade could suppress the world, otherwise, one cannot ignore public sentiment.

Chu Xisheng was weighing whether it was more profitable to eliminate the Dan Family as a threat now, or to do it gradually over time.

Chu Yunyun, however, was squinting her eyes, transmitting her voice to him, “This person has the cultivation of Fifth Grade, deeply hidden and not revealed.

Lu Luanti may not be his match now.

Among those people behind him, there are four of Sixth Grade, one of Fifth Grade Upper, all of whom are highly skilled in Martial Arts.

The hidden strength of the Dan Family far exceeds that of the Wen Family by ten times.

Besides—”

Chu Yunyun’s voice became solemn, “I also smell the aura of the demon clan; they are most likely half-demons.”

Chu Xisheng was startled by her words.

He was surprised that with such strength, the Dan Family still needed to bow to him and beg for forgiveness.

Then he realized that the people of the Dan Family probably also couldn’t afford to expose their abilities.

Their identity and origin must have some problems, just like him and his sister, doomed when exposed.

And most likely, this had something to do with their half-demon bloodline.

Chu Xisheng’s mind spun for a moment, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

He then looked down at Dan Chiling from his horse, his tone cold, “One hundred thousand is too little.

Destroying the Dan Family, West Mountain Hall would gain far more than that.

I give you one day to bring one hundred and thirty thousand Demon Silver to West Mountain Hall.”

Chu Yunyun was capable of killing Dan Chiling and that Fifth Grade Upper Martial Cultivator with a single punch, but it would leave quite a mess.

Attacking the Dan Family head-on now would inevitably result in significant casualties, which was unnecessary.

His cultivation was growing by the day, and entering the Hero List was a matter of the next couple of years.

In just another year and a half, West Mountain Hall would have the power to suppress the Dan Family.

If Dan Chiling dared to revolt, he could wipe them out with just a wave of his hand.

So it might be better to agree now, to observe the conduct of the Dan Family.

If they show indecision or even plot treacherously, it will not be too late to exterminate them then.

Dan Chiling’s brows furrowed slightly.

One hundred and thirty thousand?

His heart ached with the thought, but still, he clenched his teeth and said, “I accept the punishment!”

Chu Xisheng nodded slightly, appearing satisfied, “In addition, would Mr.

Dan be willing to take up a position as an altar master in my house?

If you agree, the Dan Family will henceforth be part of West Mountain Hall, and today’s matter will be considered resolved.”

Dan Chiling’s face darkened, knowing full well that Chu Xisheng was establishing a de facto master-servant relationship.

He was utterly reluctant, but noticed that Chu Xisheng was resting his hand on the hilt of his waist blade.

Dan Chiling secretly cursed at his misfortune.

Considering the overall strength of the Dan Family, they actually didn’t fear West Mountain Hall.

However, once a fight broke out, their family’s foundation would definitely be exposed to the eyes of the county government and the Police Pool of Blood.

That was a price they couldn’t afford to pay.

The key issue was that Dan Chiling didn’t dare to gamble.

The young man before him was in his vigorous prime, having just annihilated West Mountain Hall with his forces at their sharpest, dismissive of everything else.

If he refused, Chu Xisheng would certainly turn hostile.

If a fight ensued, the foundation they had built over hundreds of years in West Mountain would be ruined overnight.

Dan Chiling couldn’t help but silently sigh, wondering what kind of situation this was.

Originally, he thought that Shangguan Shen Hao and the others had planned thoroughly and considered deeply.

They mobilized forces from all sides, sparing no effort to crush their enemies, which seemed foolproof.

West Mountain Hall only had two Seventh Ranks, plus a Sixth Grade Qingyun like Chu Xisheng—how could they withstand the pressure of several families’ Taishan-like stance?

The canal shares promised by the Shangguan and Sheen Families were also tempting.

Thus, he feigned ignorance, letting his unruly son do as he pleased.

Who could have expected West Mountain Hall to raze Wen Family Castle to the ground in just two minutes?

Now, by catching the hot soup in their mouths, the Dan Family had placed themselves in an extremely awkward position.

If he had known this would happen, he definitely wouldn’t have let the Dan Family get involved.

Dan Chiling hesitated for a moment, then with a resigned expression said, “I am willing.”

For today, he’d just go along with it, agreeing on the surface while planning to extricate himself later.

“Good!” Chu Xisheng let out a hearty laugh, thinking to himself that he had gained yet another snitch deeply hidden within his own ranks.

He’d need to look into the origin of the Dan Family and their backers, to achieve the goal of knowing both his enemies and himself.

“Dan Altar Master, you will dispatch another six hundred troops to help me later in battle,” Chu Xisheng continued as if Dan Chiling was already under his command, turning his head to Lu Pingyuan, “Where have those bandits from Jiudao Dock and White Cloud Village reached by now?”

“Twenty-seven miles west of the town,” Lu Pingyuan bowed respectfully, his admiration growing, “They should have already heard about the Hall Master wiping out Wen Family Castle and defeating the West Mountain County Army by now.

They’ve stopped advancing and are looting the villages and large estates in the area.

As of half a moment ago, they have breached one of the landlord’s homes, and the entire family perished.”

Chu Xisheng couldn’t help but let out a contemptuous chuckle.

He considered these West Mountain Country Landlords as bringing wolves into their own house.

However, as the village chief of West Mountain Town, he couldn’t sit idly by.

The landlords deserved their fate, but the local commoners were innocent.

“Issue the order—all brothers advance west at full speed.

Also, dispatch some roving cavalry and order all large estates and local tyrants along the way to conscript men and join the fight to expel those West Mountain bandits.

This isn’t just my family’s affair—all families must contribute.” Chu Xisheng ordered and then sneered, “Ruoxi, take all the men from the Wen and Yien families back with you and hang them at the West City Gate for public display.

Also, notify all landlords in town owning over five hundred acres of land to bring this year’s full taxes along with an additional thirty percent late payment penalty to West Mountain Town before the sunset today.

Tell them if they’re not here before sunset, they needn’t bother coming at all.”

Liu Ruoxi actually preferred to follow Chu Xisheng into battle.

But her reverence for Chu Xisheng was so profound that she immediately agreed without hesitation.

Just as Chu Xisheng was ready to wipe out the West Mountain bandits in one fell swoop, the Tingxiang Pavilion in the Shangguan family’s backyard was enveloped in an eerie silence.