53: Chapter 53 The New King of Luoyun Town

The blood at Wangjiang Tower flowed for an entire night.

When the next day's sun rose again from the horizon, casting its golden brilliance over Luoyun Town, a scent mixed with both blood and power quietly permeated the air.

The Town Mayors Office had changed hands overnight.

This news, like a thunderclap with wings, spread to every corner of the town within a mere hour.

At first, no one dared to believe it.

Not until they saw the formerly arrogant and imperious guards of the Town Mayors Office, now wearing the attire of the Gu Family, respectfully posting "Confessions of Guilt," stamped with the Town Mayor's seal, at every major thoroughfare in town.

The edicts detailed, with the utmost precision, the various crimes committed by Town Mayor Zhao Hong and his son over the years: bullying the locals, oppressing the common people, and even colluding with rogue cultivators in an attempt to harm the "Old Immortal Gu."

The evidence was irrefutable, and the crimes were too numerous to list.

Immediately following this, a second order was issued from within the Town Mayors Office.

The former Town Mayor Zhao Hong, lacking the virtue for his position, was stripped of his title as Town Mayor effective immediately; in consideration of his past contributions, he was demoted to a commoner, confined within the residence, and forbidden from ever leaving for the rest of his life.

His son, the Town Mayors Son, arrogant and despotic, and guilty of heinous crimes, had been brought to justice last night.

The new Town Mayor of Luoyun Town would be temporarily replaced by the highly respected old scholar of the town, Zhang Jingzhi.

These two orders were undoubtedly telling everyone—

The era of the Zhao Family was over.

The entire Luoyun Town fell into a strange, watchful silence.

Everyone knew that the old scholar named Zhang was merely a Puppet placed on the stage.

The one who truly held absolute power in Luoyun Town now was the person who, with the strength of one man, had annihilated both the Black Wind Stronghold and the Town Mayors Office...

The Old Ancestor of the Gu Family, Gu Yan!

He was the new... King of Luoyun Town!

The heads of the few remaining small Families in town were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, each one restless and uneasy.

They did not know how this new King would deal with them, the old retainers.

Would he continue to suppress and divide them like Town Mayor Zhao Hong?

Or... would he use even bloodier methods to uproot them entirely?

After enduring an entire day of anxious torment.

They finally received a summons from the "New King."

...

The main hall of the Town Mayors Office.

The atmosphere was murderous and heavy.

The head of the Zhang Family, the head of the Li Family, the head of the Sun Family...

All the helmsmen of the Families that still held any significance in Luoyun Town were currently standing respectfully below the main hall.

Beads of sweat seeped from their foreheads, and they dared not even breathe loudly.

Because, directly above the main hall, the throne that should have belonged to Town Mayor Zhao Hong was currently empty.

And the legendary "Old Immortal Gu" was simply sitting casually on a rosewood armchair to the side.

He held a cup of steaming fragrant tea in his hand, his posture leisurely, as if he were not conducting a meeting that would determine the future power structure of Luoyun Town, but rather sipping tea and admiring flowers in his own backyard.

The more unconcerned he appeared, the more... terrified the people below felt.

Gu Yan did not speak.

He was waiting.

Waiting for this heavy atmosphere to completely crush their psychological defenses.

After a long while.

Ultimately, the eldest head of the Zhang Family was the first to be unable to withstand the pressure; he stepped forward tremblingly and bowed deeply to Gu Yan.

"This old man... Zhang Wanshan, along with over three hundred members of the Zhang Family, pays respects to... Senior Gu!"

His voice carried an unmistakable tremor.

With the first person taking the lead, the rest dared not hesitate any longer and stepped forward to pay their respects.

"The Li Family pays respects to Senior Gu!"

"The Sun Family..."

For a time, the sounds of swearing allegiance rose one after another within the main hall.

Gu Yan slowly set down his teacup, and as it collided with the table, it made a soft "clack" sound.

The sound was not loud, but it made the hearts of everyone present contract violently.

All sound came to an abrupt halt.

Inside the main hall, one could hear a pin drop.

Gu Yan's gaze slowly swept across everyone's faces.

His gaze was calm, yet carried a sharpness capable of seeing through the human heart.

Everyone swept by his gaze felt their spirits tremble violently and subconsciously lowered their heads even further.

"Everyone here is a pillar of our Luoyun Town."

Gu Yan spoke slowly, his voice neither hurried nor slow.

"Town Mayor Zhao Hong acted perversely, and now that he has reaped the consequences of his own actions, it is the will of Heaven."

"From now on, Luoyun Town needs a new order."

He stood up, walked to the center of the main hall, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the crowd.

"I, Gu Yan, have no interest in this position of Town Mayor."

Upon hearing this, the crowd did not breathe a sigh of relief; instead, their hearts leapt into their throats.

As expected.

They heard Gu Yan continue: "I only hope that my Gu Family can conduct business and flourish in peace here in Luoyun Town."

"Does anyone have any objections?"

"We dare not! We dare not!"

"We have absolutely no objections!"

"Senior Gu, you speak too seriously! It is our great fortune that you can oversee Luoyun Town!"

The crowd hurriedly expressed their stance, fearing that if they spoke too slowly, it would invite disaster.

"Very good." Gu Yan nodded with satisfaction.

This was the effect he wanted.

He needed to control Luoyun Town, but he did not want to be entangled in mundane affairs.

Being an absolute "Supreme Ruler" was far easier than being a Town Mayor who had to handle every little thing personally.

He changed the subject, his tone softening slightly: "Of course, I am not an unreasonable person."

"I have also heard of the suppression you faced from Town Mayor Zhao Hong previously. From today on, it is all wiped clean."

"Not only that, but the farmland and shops that belonged to your respective Families, which were previously encroached upon by the Town Mayors Office, will be returned to their rightful owners within three days."

"I, Gu Yan, only want the share that I deserve. As for the rest, as long as you behave yourselves and attend to your duties diligently, not only will I not touch them, but I will also... ensure your wealth and prosperity, even greater than before!"

Applying both favor and might!

First, using thunderous means to shock their hearts.

Then, using great benefits to buy their loyalty!

After this series of actions, the resentment and unwillingness in the hearts of the Family heads, who had originally harbored ulterior motives, had long since vanished.

Replacing it was a heartfelt... admiration and submission!

Compared to the tyranny of Town Mayor Zhao Hong, who only knew how to take and suppress, the methods of this Senior Gu were simply like a gentle spring breeze!

They knew that following such a "New King" who possessed both strength and understood boundaries, their future days would only be better than before!

"We swear to serve Senior Gu to the death!"

"We are willing to go through fire and water for the Gu Family, and will not refuse!"

This time, their pledge of allegiance was significantly more sincere than before.

Gu Yan looked at the crowd below, who had been completely subdued by him, and felt a sense of calm in his heart.

From this moment on.

The entire power map of Luoyun Town had been completely reshuffled.

And he was the only... King here.