143: Dog bites dog (third update, please give me a monthly ticket)

The three of them were almost fuming with rage, cursing inwardly.

Alright, alright, so this is how we're playing, huh?

Fortunately, they had brought heavy gifts, which gave them some comfort.

However, upon entering, they saw the large table in the front hall shimmering with precious light and fragrant Spiritual Qi, nearly blinding them.

There was a Millennium Ganoderma, which was priceless in the market.

A Warm Sun Jade that could calm one's mind and purify the six senses.

A fist-sized piece of precious meat, radiating with fiery brilliance.

There was even Thunderfire Gold used to forge Dao weapons at the Fourth Heavenly Gate.

At this, their faces completely darkened.

They suddenly realized that those who came here earlier likely had 'higher awareness'.

They were willing to sacrifice their fortunes to save their lives.

Coincidentally, as the three entered, the eyes of the others followed, all filled with hostility.

Because, it was a simple truth: the more people who came here, the less safe it was for themselves!

Because no one had a clean slate!

A 'familiar face' raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"I didn't expect Master Tong, Guild Leader Xia, and the Hong family to also come; what a coincidence."

Saying that, he bowed his hands upwards, his expression respectful.

"Chen Yuan's status is noble; you all seem to have arrived a bit late. How could you be so neglectful? The rest of us have been waiting here for an hour."

"We all admire Chen Yuan and have prepared some humble gifts. I wonder what you all have brought?"

His words were barbed, and his voice was deliberately raised.

In the hall, some people echoed his sentiments.

Although Chen Yuan was not present, it was always right to show enough respect and deference. Moreover, it was very possible that Chen Yuan was secretly observing their behavior at that moment.

Master Tong and the other two's expressions instantly changed. Then, they glared fiercely at the 'familiar face' who had spoken, as if they wanted to drink his blood and devour his flesh.

Damn him to hell!

Under everyone's gaze, the three of them sheepishly took out the humble gifts they had prepared.

A Profound Opening Pill effective for the Divine Ability realm, capable of helping one open their mysterious orifices.

A five-hundred-year-old ginseng, as thick as a child's arm.

A Mohist mechanical Puppet sphere comparable to a Qi Perfection cultivator.

These items were worth a fortune outside, but at this moment, compared to the treasures offered by others, they seemed a bit inferior.

So, after the three revealed their gifts, they stood in a corner of the hall with ugly expressions, under the mocking gazes of some people.

Then, the atmosphere in the hall returned to silence. No one spoke again. Everyone waited quietly, not daring to show the slightest impatience.

Soon, the sun gradually set, and the sky slowly darkened.

During this time, three more groups of people arrived.

Upon seeing the scene in the hall, these people's expressions became very ugly, almost identical to Master Tong and the other two.

Some people hadn't even prepared gifts and were instantly scared pale.

As the waiting time grew longer, Chen Yuan still did not appear. The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly heavy, and many people finally couldn't hold back, their brows revealing signs of apprehension.

They were speculating about Chen Yuan's thoughts!

When the moonlight rose, a group of soldiers suddenly rushed in, startling everyone in the hall, and exclamations arose.

The soldiers entered and lined up on both sides. Then, the leading Lang Jiang, Liu Qing, walked in. His eyes under his armor swept over everyone, gleaming with a chilling light, and he said indifferently:

"The deadline given by General Chen has arrived!"

"Those who haven't come will only face one outcome!"

Upon hearing this, everyone shivered. Although the Lang Jiang didn't explicitly say it, his grim tone made it very clear.

At the same time, a sense of relief welled up in their hearts. Fortunately, they were sensible and came to pay their respects to General Chen in time; otherwise, they shuddered to think what fate awaited them.

"As for you all?" At this moment, Lang Jiang Liu Qing swept his gaze over everyone and continued, then shouted, "Men, bring paper and pens!"

"Write down what you need to confess, and General Chen will decide!"

As he finished speaking, soldiers brought in writing tools and distributed them to these people.

"Lang Jiang, this... could we see General Chen?" Someone asked tentatively, feeling awkward.

This felt strange, like they were being asked to write confessions.

Liu Qing glanced at the person with a cold glint and said coldly:

"What is your status?"

"Are you writing or not?"

The person was startled and quickly nodded.

"Writing, writing!"

Then, he hurriedly grabbed a pen and paper and ran to a corner to start writing.

Seeing this, the others no longer hesitated, each grabbing a pen and paper and looking for a place.

Some leaned against the wall, writing a word or two, then looking back nervously from time to time, feeling somewhat guilty.

Some leaned over chairs to write, covering themselves with half their bodies, 'writing furiously.' They already had a draft in mind, but it was originally meant for 'arguing' with Chen Yuan. Now, it was just a change of method.

Others, unable to find a place, spread their paper on the ground, kneeling with their backs arched and bodies bent.

...

For a time, various unsightly behaviors were fully displayed in the hall.

In a corner, Master Tong and the other two, holding pens and paper, communicated with each other via telepathy. Then, they simultaneously looked at a fellow across from them who was sprawled on a chair, their faces revealing a ruthless expression.

It was the 'familiar face' who had just backstabbed them and made sarcastic remarks!

Since you start with the first, we'll finish with the fifteenth.

Then, the three of them began to write on the paper.

"To General Chen, your humble servant, Tong Tiansheng, the shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, once had ties with the Li family, which was truly unfortunate. The people of the Li family were arrogant and overbearing, once forcefully demanding that this humble old man sell some of their Medicinal Pills and weapons. However, this humble old man discovered that these might have come from illicit sources, but this humble old man was weak... However, this humble old man once carefully observed these armors and blades and speculated that they might have come from the Duanbing Shop. The valley master of this weapon shop..."

As he wrote this, the shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion coldly glanced at the person in the distance.

No one was going to have an easy time!

Just like that, only the rustling sound of paper remained in the hall.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, everyone finished writing.

Liu Qing ordered his armored soldiers to collect them one by one, then said:

"You all may leave now!"

"Men, escort them out of the city!"

Everyone felt uneasy and uncertain, but they dared not raise any objections. They exchanged glances, their eyes somewhat guilty, and could only feign composure, letting out a cold snort as they followed the soldiers out of the city.

Not long after these people left, a figure appeared in the front hall with his back turned, and the door closed by itself without wind.

"General Chen!"

Liu Qing bowed deeply, more respectfully than ever before.

And Chen Yuan, who had appeared, now ran his fingers over the Spiritual Qi-filled treasures on the table, then turned around and chuckled softly.

"These people are truly interesting!"

Saying that,

"Let me see what they wrote."

Liu Qing quickly stepped forward and handed over the stack of 'confessions' with both hands.

Chen Yuan took them, his gaze quickly scanning, and the smile on his face grew wider.

The content written by these people was nothing more than dissociating themselves from the three families, or claiming to have been forced, or misled, expressing regret and pain. They wrote with great literary flair, of course, most of them then shifted the blame, directly pointing fingers at certain individuals or forces connected to the three families, hoping to gain credit for reporting them.

"Dog eat dog, all with dirty mouths, and none with clean slates!"

He sneered, as they mutually bit at each other, none of them clean.

However, it saved him a lot of trouble.

In fact, this method was something he came up with based on a interrogation theory from his previous life: gathering these people together to write confessions.

It worked!

He handed the papers back to Liu Qing.

Liu Qing's eyes flickered, and he said:

"General Chen, should we... deal with these people?"

Saying that, he made a gesture of drawing a hand across his neck.

Chen Yuan smiled and looked at him:

"No need."

"Give these things to Zhonglang General Wei. If our Ninth Mountain takes all the benefits, what will others think?"

"Zhonglang General Wei is, after all, the local Zhonglang General. Although I am acting on the Fushi's orders, I cannot overstep my bounds. Let him handle these matters!"

"This subordinate understands!"

Liu Qing respectfully assented, then retreated a dozen steps and turned to leave the hall.