96: The assassination of the sixteenth prince

Early the next morning, Chen Heng, who was still comfortably snuggled in his quilt, was woken up by a large hand patting him.

"Who?"

Chen Heng sprang up with a carp jump.

The touch of those hands wasn't right; it wasn't Xiao He's soft little hands, nor was it Chen Fugui's plump hand.

"Me! Who else could it be!"

Qi Longhu looked at Chen Heng exasperatedly.

"Didn't I tell you yesterday that today is the big assembly, and you needed to get up early?"

"Ah?"

Chen Heng was stunned for a moment, remembering that he had important matters to attend to today.

Hundred Flowers's technique was truly too good, making Chen Heng feel as if he was floating.

Moreover, Hundred Flowers, for some unknown reason, had acquired a pair of fine steel gloves this time, making the massage even more delightful.

Chen Heng, utterly delighted, slept like a dead pig as soon as he got home.

He didn't even Cultivate the Nine Revolutions Longevity Art.

"I really did forget about that."

Scratching his messy, bird's nest-like hair, Chen Heng put on his outer clothes and followed Qi Longhu out.

"Oh, right, a big shot from the court arrived today; try not to provoke him."

As the two sat in the carriage, Qi Longhu poured Chen Heng a cup of morning wine.

"Who is it?"

Chen Heng drained the fine wine in his cup, asking with some curiosity.

"The court sent someone, saying The Sixteenth Prince was beaten to death near Qiyang City."

"I don't know what's been happening in Qiyang City lately; someone actually managed to beat a member of the imperial family to death."

"You should know that the imperial family is the ancestor of all Noble and powerful clans."

"Their strange abilities are impossible to guard against."

"What, is the imperial family very powerful?" Chen Heng asked calmly, pouring himself another cup of wine.

"Of course, without the imperial family and Noble and powerful clans, the evil cults of Jade Fan Kingdom and the Chengtian Empire would have already invaded."

"There's also the Yao Race, who still occasionally send some mad Yao to disgust us."

Qi Longhu also poured himself a glass of wine, taking a delightful sip.

"I understand." Chen Heng nodded, remembering Qi Longhu's instructions.

He wondered what method the imperial family used to learn of Helian Xuning's death.

In any case, it was best to be careful.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the Headquarters's entrance.

Chen Heng and Qi Longhu got out of the carriage and slowly walked into the deliberation hall.

Gou Longxun, with a ruddy complexion, sat in the main seat, with a middle-aged man standing beside him.

This man was Gou Longquan.

"Vice Envoy Chen has arrived, please, quickly take a seat."

Gou Longxun quickly ordered Gou Longquan to bring a chair.

Chen Heng didn't stand on ceremony, plopping down onto it.

"I am Gou Longquan, Hall Master of the Qilin Enforcement Hall."

Gou Longquan did not leave but stood before Chen Heng, cupping his fists in a salute.

"Thanks to Vice Envoy Chen's Medicinal Pill, I was able to save my life."

"Don't thank me; if you want to thank someone, thank your father."

Chen Heng waved his hand; he had exchanged three Medicinal Pills for a lot of resources, so overall, he had profited.

Besides, that spirit recovery pill was originally an Optimization of a Medicinal Pill from Gou Longxun's treasury.

Chen Heng's cost was merely one Optimization opportunity.

"No, no, no, Vice Envoy Chen can say that, but I cannot do so."

Gou Longquan shook his head repeatedly, bending deeply in a bow.

"My father's gratitude is my father's gratitude."

"And my gratitude is my own."

"Moreover, if you hadn't come to save our father and son that day, the Five Spirits Gang would probably have fallen into..."

"Alright, that topic ends here." Chen Heng stopped Gou Longquan from continuing.

"I am also a member of the Five Spirits Gang; this was merely fulfilling my duty."

"No need to dwell on it."

"I understand." Seeing that Chen Heng did not wish to continue the topic, Gou Longquan nodded and said no more.

"Then I still ask Vice Envoy Chen to do me the honor of letting me treat you to a drink after the grand assembly."

"Sounds good." Chen Heng did not refuse this time, guessing that this young man still had something he wanted to discuss with him privately.

"Alright, alright, since all the main characters are here, let's begin the assembly."

Gou Longxun, seeing that the two had settled, clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention.

All the high-ranking members of the Five Spirits Gang were gathered here.

Qi Longhu, Xu Lieying, Wu Tianba, Gou Longquan.

The remaining four Hall Masters were all present.

Also present were their Outer Deacons and vice envoys.

"The first matter I want to discuss today."

Gou Longxun paused, turning his gaze to Chen Heng.

"A few days ago, this old man was ambushed by his own flesh and blood, causing my Innate path to be completely shattered."

"Fortunately, with Vice Envoy Chen, otherwise, this old man might really have had to abdicate and yield his position."

"Moreover, thanks to Vice Envoy Chen, this old man was able to return to the Innate realm."

"Therefore, today, the Five Spirits Gang will have an additional vice gang leader, and that is Chen Heng!"

Aside from Qi Longhu and Gou Longquan, who had already known the news, everyone else was utterly bewildered.

They had all been waiting for Gou Longxun to choose the next gang leader, so how did he suddenly get better?

And return to the Innate realm?

And there was an additional vice gang leader, and it was Chen Heng, who had only joined the gang recently?

The impact of all this was truly significant, and the people below were momentarily at a loss.

"Vice Gang Leader Chen, please."

Gou Longxun took out a golden gang leader token, waiting for Chen Heng.

"This humble one, Chen Heng, thanks the Gang Leader."

Chen Heng cupped his hands and took the gang leader token from Gou Longxun.

"From today onwards, no one in the entire Five Spirits Gang, except for me, can give orders to Chen Heng."

"All halls must respect Vice Gang Leader Chen as they would me."

"Any order from Vice Gang Leader Chen is the same as mine; you must obey!"

"Why aren't you greeting Vice Gang Leader Chen!"

Everyone below shuddered, and except for the four Hall Masters, all knelt on one knee.

"Greetings, Vice Gang Leader Chen!"

Even Qi Longhu and the other three cupped their fists in salute.

"I ask for everyone's continued help and guidance in the future!"

Chen Heng also cupped his fists in return.

Just as everyone was waiting for Chen Heng to give a speech, he, under everyone's bewildered gazes, returned to his seat.

"Doesn't Vice Gang Leader Chen have something to say?"

Gou Longxun was also thrown off by Chen Heng's unexpected move.

Normally, shouldn't he establish his authority or something?

Why did he just go back like that?

"No, Gang Leader, you continue."

Chen Heng waved his hand, continuing to fiddle with the gang leader token made of gold.

Good heavens, this seemed to be a solid piece of gold.

Although its purity was not as high as the pure gold of his previous life, its sheer size made up for it.

It was like a small gold brick.

There was no helping it; as a inheritor of the Huaxia Bloodline, his love for gold was ingrained in his bones.

For Chen Heng, no gems or diamonds had the same allure as gold.

"Ahem, since Vice Gang Leader Chen doesn't wish to say more, let's continue."

Gou Longxun cleared his throat and resumed the grand assembly.

"And the second matter is to ask everyone to help out."

With that, Gou Longxun took out a portrait, which depicted Helian Xuning.

"For the specific details, I'll ask Inspector Zou to explain."

As soon as he finished speaking, a stout man in a bright red official's robe walked in.

"This time, regarding the assassination of The Sixteenth Prince, I ask for everyone's assistance."

"However, I truly didn't expect such a behemoth to be entrenched in Qiyang City."

"But why is City Lord Jin not present?"