Start with a red name

Just then, a procession of nearly a thousand Xuanyou cavalry galloped across a wide open space in front of the altar, stopping only at the steps.

Fang Jintang, Qi Mingcheng, and the others quickly went up the steps to greet Geng Xuan.

"Gang leader!"

"Gang leader!"

"..."

Geng Xuan nodded to them and then repeated the terms he had just agreed upon with Xue Zhiheng and the others to Fang Jintang.

"...That's the situation. You'll be responsible for handing over the more specific details to them," Geng Xuan said.

"Yes."

Fang Jintang responded and quickly went to discuss more specific details with Xue Zhiheng, the two elders of the Xu family, and others, or rather, matters involving more specific interests such as "people," "finances," and "materials."

Geng Xuan finally looked directly at the group of people kneeling on the ground beside him.

From beginning to end, this farce unfolded entirely under his nose.

He was also very clear about the situation of these people.

Geng Xuan looked at the first person to kneel down and chuckled:

"You're quite clever."

The man smiled cautiously and said:

"It's not that I'm quick to seize an opportunity, but rather that your majesty, Boss, is simply too awe-inspiring."

The moment I saw you, Boss, I knew that no amount of cleverness would work in your presence.

"So you're still playing this game with me now?" Geng Xuan retorted.

The man fell silent, his expression becoming even more tense.

He opened his mouth several times, but didn't know how to speak.

He had realized that he was running out of opportunities to speak in front of such a person.

Before you can ascertain the other person's true feelings, it's best to say more rather than make a mistake.

Those seemingly clever and eloquent words, if repeated too often, may actually have the opposite effect of what the speaker expects.

In this situation, he really didn't know how to respond.

Seeing that the man had finally returned to "normal," Geng Xuan asked, "What's your name?"

"I am Yu Liang," the man quickly replied.

What exactly is your situation?

As he spoke, Geng Xuan kindly reminded him, "You only get one chance. If you keep messing around, then don't say anything more."

Upon hearing this, the man named Yu Liang's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed hard before carefully and quickly giving a brief account of his situation.

This man was a wandering swordsman from a market town north of Cenling. He had previously had many interactions and a deep friendship with a formal member of the Giant Bear Gang.

He was quickly persuaded and agreed to participate in the operation to wipe out the remnants of the Sanssouci Palace as a temporary member of the Giant Bear Gang.

The action itself is fine.

However, after paying a considerable price to eliminate the stronghold of Sanssouci Palace there.

While everyone searched for any remaining escapees, he and another companion, who had only become temporary members of the Giant Bear Gang before the operation, falsely accused a cultivator who had a grudge against them and was stronger than them, of being a remnant of the Worry-Free Palace.

In the end, this "remnant of Sanssouci Palace" didn't even know what had happened, and was killed by everyone's combined efforts, becoming a confused ghost.

He and another "accomplice" not only settled their personal score but also gained extra credit.

Although the matter is now impossible to verify due to the death of the perpetrators, no third party knew about it except for the two accomplices who participated in the operation.

Before entering the hall to receive their rewards, Luo Qing, at Geng Xuan's request, "sneered" once again confirmed everyone's contributions.

His "accomplice" was thinking about this matter.

Upon entering the hall, they were immediately exposed to Geng Xuan's eyes, extremely conspicuous.

"..."

After hearing Yu Liang explain the whole story, Geng Xuan was somewhat surprised, but also sighed, "It's not surprising that this kind of thing happened."

The moment he used the "Lucky Charity" as bait to lavishly distribute it among his official followers, it was already destined that such an operation, which would affect the entire Yuanzhou, would inevitably involve many innocent cultivators.

It's either here or there.

This is inevitable.

Are the actions of Yu Liang and his accomplices merely isolated cases?

Their real mistake was simply mixing this "personal grudge and revenge" into their record of achievements.

In a similar situation, Geng Xuan quickly came up with a more appropriate solution.

Not only will they be able to live and receive his good fortune, but they will also be able to settle their personal scores.

He demanded that official members of the Giant Bear Gang avenge him as a condition of the deal.

—If you help me kill one or two people, I'll help you kill people in return.

Even if the matter were laid bare before Geng Xuan, he would have no reason to punish him.

Even now, despite his sighs, he had no intention of seeking justice for the innocent victim.

If he uses this reason to deal with Yu Liang, what will happen if similar situations come to light later? Will he just kill them all?
Therefore, the crux of the matter is still their "exaggerated credit".

To elaborate further, it means that deceiving Heaven and blaspheming the ancient sages could easily crush them into dust.

Geng Xuan did not kill them directly, but instead said to Luo Qing:

"Question them carefully."

"Yes."

Luo Qing quickly replied.

Then, he paused, looked at the dozens of people piled up haphazardly in a corner of the hall, and asked, "Where are they?"

"They were just unlucky. Let's deal with them directly." Geng Xuan said calmly, putting an end to the fate of the fifty-three people in the hall.

"Yes."

Luo Qing responded and led a group of people into the hall, dragging the fifty-three people out of the hall one after another.

These people were all unable to move or speak; only their eyes could fully express the despair and resentment in their hearts.

The feeling of despair is easy to understand.

They already knew their fate.

The resentment was directed at Yu Liang and the others kneeling outside the palace gate.

Yu Liang saw that the unfortunate "accomplice" kept his eyes glued to him from before he was dragged out of the hall until after he was out.

If given a chance to speak, he would definitely shout that it was unfair.

This person and Yu Liang actually had a very good personal relationship; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to join forces to do such a thing.

Although he was very tactful, at this moment, under the gaze of those eyes, he couldn't help but look away.

When he came to his senses again, the fifty-three people had already been escorted to the edge of the stone square.

They were forced to kneel on the stone slabs, their kneeling bodies leaning slightly forward, their heads facing a patch of soft, loose soil.

The next moment, fifty-three streaks of cold light flashed across their heads almost simultaneously.

The next moment, the fifty-three heads were propelled away by the surging hot blood within their bodies, landing far away on the soft, muddy ground. The fifty-three headless bodies, still spewing out hot blood, collapsed forward, the blood continuously flowing into the soil.

The newly paved stone plaza is spotless and untouched by any pollution.

Although they had expected it, the fact that such a swift and decisive action was taken right before their eyes still terrified Yu Liang and the others.

Geng Xuan said:
"You won't get a share this time, but considering that you did make contributions, this time it will be considered that your merits and demerits cancel each other out."

...From now on, you will work here. Make sure you explain yourself properly and follow instructions.

As long as you are diligent, hardworking, and down-to-earth, you will receive everything you are entitled to.

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Thank you for sparing my life, Master!"

"Thank you for sparing my life, Chief!"

"..."

They passed the test so easily that the group was so excited they were practically bubbling with snot.

They missed the miraculous blessing ceremony, which was privately referred to as the "blessing of the sages." Although it was regrettable, they had no time to think about it at that moment.

Compared to those fifty-three unfortunate souls, being alive is an immense blessing.

After handing these people over to Luo Qing, Geng Xuan looked at Fang Jintang, Xue Zhiheng, and the others.

Just now, Tang Caizhu, Granny Xu, Xue Zhiheng, Xu Ziming, Xu Qiwen and three hundred others officially joined the Giant Bear Gang under the auspices of Fang Jintang and witnessed by a group of high-ranking members of the gang, including himself, the gang leader.

Originally, among the official members of the Giant Bear Gang, those in the late stage of Marrow Refinement were the strongest, and even including Han Jian, who had only officially joined not long before he went north to Xuanzhou, there were only four of them.

Now, with the formal addition of these three hundred people, the standard for the strongest member of the gang has soared to "Perfect Realm One".

In addition, four more people have been added to the peak of the Marrow Refinement stage.

In the later stages of Marrow Refinement, ten more were added directly.

Although the number of participants was small, their quality was exceptionally high.

It brought Geng Xuan thirty-six points of luck.

“Those gang members sent abroad are likely to be in trouble.”

Upon seeing the newly added thirty-six points of White Luck, Geng Xuan immediately had this thought in his mind.

According to the pattern of calamities, those gang members who were sent out and scattered throughout Yuanzhou and have not yet returned—including both formal and temporary members—are bound to be the easiest point of attack for the current calamity.

Fang Jintang led Tang Caizhu, Xue Zhiheng, and others closer and reported to Geng Xuan:

"Boss, everything has been taken care of."

Geng Xuan nodded and said:

"In that case, let's all enter the hall."

With that, he turned around and walked into the hall.

Soon, a new round of "blessings from the sages" began.

It took nearly an hour for Geng Xuan to bring together Xue Zhiheng and the others who had come from Yuanjing, as well as the gang members that Fang Jintang, Qi Mingcheng and others had brought from the lower reaches of the ancient Zhushui River, and Luo Qing, Ji Cong, Guo Zian, Jiang Yizhi, Su Mingxu and others who had been overlooked earlier.

They also bestowed upon them good fortune, which they called "the blessings of the ancient saints."

It is evident that after visiting the Baidi Temple, the previously chaotic and turbulent hearts of people underwent a dramatic transformation.

At this moment, everyone seemed to have become the most devout and fervent believers in the ancient sage, the White Emperor.

Even Geng Xuan couldn't see any flaws.

Because this was a reward with a strong sense of "year-end bonus," the Giant Bear Gang and all cultivators related to the project were gathered here.

This is actually very unsafe.

After the most important "reward" had been obtained, under the arrangement of Fang Jintang, the deputy leader, and Luo Qing, Ji Cong, Guo Zi'an, and other project managers.

The nearly ten thousand cultivators who had gathered around the altar quickly dispersed and returned to their homes.

Only the most senior executives stayed by Geng Xuan's side.

Only then did Geng Xuan have the time to gain a more systematic understanding of the other aspects of the situation.

After assigning a group of people to guard the Baidi Temple, the group returned to their camp.

Geng Xuan and the others were already starving, so they all had a hearty meal before the formal conversation.

After Geng Xuan had eaten about 70-80% of his fill, he stopped eating, picked up a cup of warm tea and sipped it slowly. Only then did the others begin to report the various situations to him.

After listening, Geng Xuan's response to Fang Jintang's most important reform of gang affairs and Luo Qing, Ji Cong and others' most important project was very brief.

He smiled and nodded, praising:
"Excellent, you have all done a great job. I am very reassured to entrust the affairs and engineering matters to you."

Now, you are all on the right track.

As long as we maintain this momentum and don't lose heart, things won't get much worse.

His answer reassured everyone, but also inexplicably made them feel somewhat discouraged.

From Geng Xuan's words, they gleaned this meaning—

From now on, unless something happens that is too difficult for them to handle, he, as the gang leader, will not pay much attention to anything related to it, let alone be able to get involved in it deeply.

In a normal power structure, such treatment would be ecstatic.

This means wielding absolute power and abusing one's authority.

But the Giant Bear Gang is clearly abnormal.

This is a rapidly rising force, still in its "early stages".

The sheer amount of attention that Geng Xuan, this key figure, receives has already revealed far too much information.

His laissez-faire attitude towards these two areas, leaving them entirely to their own devices, meant only one possibility to them.

That is, he, as the gang leader, shifted his focus elsewhere, and the Giant Bear Gang, which he personally led to its current state, and this project, have basically completed the "climbing" stage.

In the future, it will be difficult to see a situation like the past, where every day is filled with expansion and dramatic changes.

Sensing the change in everyone's emotions, Geng Xuan paid little attention and looked at Xue Zhiheng and the others.

"...So, the famine-stricken exodus that has spread throughout Yuanzhou is already beginning to take shape?"
"And after the initial blind chaos, they all converged here with a clear goal?" Geng Xuan asked.

Xue Zhiheng nodded and said, "Yes."

He paused, then said solemnly:

"The time when this wave of famine refugees occurred was slightly earlier than we originally estimated."

In addition, we and our followers who had scattered to various places also contributed to guiding these refugees from famine.

However, even with these driving forces, the changes could not have been as rapid and consistent as they are now.

Therefore, we speculate that there is another force quietly pushing this forward.

This accelerated the formation of the famine-stricken escape wave, and immediately directed them to this direction with a clear objective.

Geng Xuan nodded, agreeing with Xue Zhiheng's assessment.

The purpose of doing so is not hard to guess.

Just like in military campaigns, when it comes to the brutal siege warfare, one of the most common tactics used by the attacking side is to recruit a large number of people from the surrounding areas and force them to be the vanguard to launch the first attack on the city.

He asked Xue Zhiheng, "Who do you think was behind this?" (End of Chapter)