22: Send away the plague god

As Shen Yuanmo finished speaking, Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao stood frozen in place, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, unable to recover for a long while.

They stared blankly at Zhao Wuji on the ground, who was curled into a ball, his aura so withered that it was inferior even to that of a Mortal.

Then, they looked at Shen Yuanmo before them, whose expression was calm, as if he had only performed a trivial task, and a monstrous storm surged in their hearts.

Crippling a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

And then proactively reporting it to the prefecture city, transforming himself from an aggressor into someone with merit?

This series of actions was smooth and flowing, flawless; the courage and cunning involved far exceeded their imagination.

Especially Shen Qiming; as he looked at his son, a sense of unfamiliarity welled up within him.

Was this still the son who needed his protection, the one with a firm character but who was still slightly immature?

In just half a year, not only had his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, but his Heart-Nature and methods made it seem as if he were a completely different person.

"Yuan Mo... you..." Shen Qiming's lips trembled, his throat dry; he wanted to say something but didn't know what to say.

It was Shen Zongdao who, having lived for over a hundred years and possessing a more composed Heart-Nature, was the first to react, a brilliant light erupting from his cloudy eyes.

"Good! A truly brilliant move to turn passive into active! Brilliant! Truly brilliant!" Shen Zongdao's voice carried a trace of irrepressible excitement.

"If we kill Zhao Wuji, our Shen Family will have to face the wrath of the Immortal Dynasty, leading to endless trouble. Releasing him would be akin to harboring a tiger. But now, crippling his cultivation and proactively reporting it—this move is absolutely marvelous!"

The way he looked at Shen Yuanmo was no longer that of looking at a junior, but rather like looking at a peer who could stand on equal footing with him, or perhaps even surpass him.

Shen Yuanmo bowed slightly to the Old Ancestor and his father, speaking gently.

"Father, Old Ancestor, this matter should be dealt with sooner rather than later. The faster we react, the more credible our story will be to the prefecture city. Right now, Linjiang City is without a leader, which is the perfect opportunity for our Shen Family to stabilize the situation and take the initiative."

"I understand!" Shen Qiming took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

He knew that now was not the time for sentimentality.

His son had already provided the plan, and as the Family head, he had to execute it perfectly.

He immediately turned around and gave a stern command to the several Elders behind him, who were also in a state of stupor.

"Shen Qishan, Shen Qiyue!"

"Here!" The two burly Elders shuddered and hurriedly stepped forward.

"The two of you, personally take four of the most reliable clansmen and 'escort' this 'former' City Lord back to the Prefectural Governors Mansion 'unharmed', and 'look after' him well. While he is suffering from Qi Deviation and is delirious, do not let him harm himself."

Shen Qiming deliberately emphasized certain words.

"Yes! Family head!" The two Elders understood, a look of satisfaction appearing on their faces.

They stepped forward, one on each side, and hoisted the limp Zhao Wuji up like a dead dog.

"My cultivation... my Dao platform... all gone..." Zhao Wuji's eyes were hollow, and he muttered unconsciously.

As they passed by Shen Yuanmo, he struggled violently.

"Devil! You are a devil!"

"Also!" Shen Qiming continued to issue orders.

"Shen Qifa!"

"This old one is here!" Shen Qifa Shen Qifa hurried forward.

"Immediately select the fastest Wind-Chasing Horse, order the cleverest disciple in the Family to take my personal letter, set off immediately, travel through the night, and ensure that this matter is reported to the Lord Prefectural Governor of Baiyue Prefecture within three days!"

"Understood!"

One order after another was issued methodically, and the massive machine that was the Shen Family, after a brief pause, began to operate efficiently once again.

Watching the backs of the two Elders as they escorted Zhao Wuji away, Shen Qiming turned around and looked at his son with a complex expression.

"Yuan Mo, will the Prefectural Governors Mansion... really believe us? A Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator suffering from Qi Deviation—wouldn't this excuse be too far-fetched?"

He was still somewhat anxious in his heart; that was the Prefectural Governors Mansion, the immediate superior of Linjiang City, holding the power of life and death over dozens of counties in Baiyue Prefecture.

"Father, you are overthinking it. Whether they believe it or not is actually not important." Shen Yuanmo shook his head, a faint, calm smile appearing on his face.

"Oh? How so?" Shen Zongdao was also interested.

"What is important is that we have given the Prefectural Governors Mansion a way out, the easiest path and one that best aligns with their interests." Shen Yuanmo explained patiently.

"If Zhao Wuji dies, they need to send people to investigate the cause of death and track down the murderer, which is very troublesome. If Zhao Wuji escapes, they are in even more trouble; a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who harbors a grudge against the Immortal Dynasty—heaven knows what kind of chaos he would cause."

"But now, Zhao Wuji has simply 'suffered from Qi Deviation, his cultivation completely destroyed', and has become a harmless cripple. For the Prefectural Governors Mansion, this is undoubtedly the best outcome. They only need to follow the reason we provided, issue a document, and send a new City Lord over, and the matter is resolved, clean and simple."

"As for the truth... who would offend an emerging Family on the rise, one that possesses Peak Foundation Establishment combat power, for the sake of a cripple who no longer has any value? Furthermore, this Family has proactively 'reported' it, showing sufficient 'submission'."

After hearing Shen Yuanmo's analysis, Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao looked at each other, both seeing sudden realization and admiration in the other's eyes.

So that was it! Previously, they had only seen the risks, but they hadn't seen the grasp of human nature behind those risks.

"Yuan Mo, you... have grown up." Shen Qiming sighed with genuine emotion, his heart filled with endless pride.

Having resolved the greatest external threat, Shen Yuanmo turned his gaze toward the interior of the Family.

After this battle, although the Shen Family had won a great victory, many problems had also been exposed.

The strength of the clansmen was uneven, and their high-end combat power consisted only of him and the Old Ancestor; when facing truly powerful enemies, they still appeared stretched thin.

"Father, Old Ancestor, with the external threats temporarily removed, we must improve our strength as quickly as possible." Shen Yuanmo's expression became serious.

"Well said!" Shen Zongdao nodded in agreement.

"Now that we have annexed the Lin Family and are about to take over the power vacuum left behind by the City Lords Mansion, this is the best time for development! Yuan Mo, if you have any ideas, feel free to speak them; we old fellows will all listen to you!"

Shen Yuanmo's prestige within the Family had long since surpassed that of the Family head and the Old Ancestor; what he said was absolute authority.

"Very well." Shen Yuanmo did not stand on ceremony.

"To improve our strength, it comes down to Cultivation Technique, Medicinal Pill, Magical Artifact, and Formation. For Cultivation Technique, we have the Crimson Sun Glazed Scripture. In terms of Medicinal Pill, the Shen Qifa can already refine top-grade Medicinal Pills, which is sufficient for the time being. The most critical thing now is resources!"