Chapter 577 279: Fists Hard Enough
Mao Yong and the others were secretly horrified. 'Is wiping out the Wang Family not enough for Chen Cheng? Is he going to seize this opportunity to make a move and eliminate both the Jiang and Qin families in one fell swoop?'
Seeing the strange looks on their faces, Chen Cheng thought for a moment before changing his approach. "The Wang Family colluded with the Black Lotus Sect to bring disaster to the people. Wang Xuanjiu cultivated a Demon Sect Evil Technique. I fear the entire Wang Family is nothing but remnants of the Demon Sect.
Venerable Patriarchs, what is your opinion on how they should be handled?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
Jiang Huaijin said, "The members of the Wang Family colluded with the Demon Sect and practiced their Cultivation Techniques. This is an offense against both heaven and reason.
As the Vice Director of the Demon Suppression Department, Lord Chen is responsible for suppressing demons and slaying monsters. We must trouble Lord Chen to personally oversee this matter. The Jiang Family will naturally obey your commands."
Qin Hongbin chimed in, "The Qin Family is also willing to obey Lord Chen's commands."
"In that case, I shall make some simple arrangements in accordance with the Great Yu Law."
Chen Cheng gave a slight nod, then looked toward the two men standing beside Mao Yong and said:
"Director Jiang Botao, Director Qin Qihong, the two of you will lead your men to assist Director Shen Mingyuan in dealing with the remnants of the Wang Family."
Jiang Botao was the Director of the Music Department, and Qin Qihong was the Director of the Finance and Households Department. In the absence of the Jiang and Qin Patriarchs, these two were the second-generation leaders of their respective families.
"Yes." Jiang Botao and Qin Qihong bowed respectfully and led their men away.
"Venerable Patriarchs, Director Mao, the three of you will accompany me to collect evidence of the Wang Family's crimes."
Chen Cheng addressed the three of them, then turned and headed deeper into the forbidden grounds.
Jiang Huaijin and the other two exchanged a look before following.
Arriving at a cliff face near Short Mountain, Chen Cheng stopped and scanned the area.
He walked directly to a massive boulder and began running his hands over its surface, but after feeling around for a good while, he came up with nothing.
Wang Tinghuan had revealed that there was a secret chamber within Short Mountain in the Wang Family's forbidden grounds. He didn't know the location of the entrance but had guessed it might be near this cliff face.
"There should be a secret chamber in Wang Xuanjiu's forbidden grounds. The entrance must be somewhere nearby. Why don't the three of you help me search?"
Chen Cheng said, seeing the three of them looking at him with confusion.
Only then did the three of them act as if they understood.
"This is simple." Jiang Huaijin nodded. He walked to the edge of the cliff and held out his hand. Sharp ripples of energy suddenly surged from his palm—it was the unmistakable aura of the Second Layer of the Five Elements Geng Metal Realm.
However, as this aura surged forth, Chen Cheng suddenly felt a light tug, a faint force pulling him toward Jiang Huaijin. He quickly activated his Great Power Realm to steady himself.
Jiang Huaijin murmured in surprise and glanced at Chen Cheng, confused. He had clearly sensed an incredibly dense Five Elements Geng Metal aura coming from him.
"My Inner Armor is quite heavy," Chen Cheng said with a shrug.
He was carrying several thousand pounds of Black Gold from the Wang Family's main hall treasury, so of course the Five Elements Geng Metal aura around him was incredibly dense.
"Ah," Jiang Huaijin said. "Young friend, please stand back a little.
If there is a mechanism in this cliff, it must be forged from metal. My Five Elements Geng Metal Realm can easily sense it."
Chen Cheng quickly took several steps back.
Jiang Huaijin channeled the aura of his Five Elements Geng Metal Realm again, carefully scanning the cliff face. He soon made a discovery.
"The mechanism is here."
As Jiang Huaijin channeled his energy and pressed, a section of the stone wall slowly slid aside, revealing a passageway about ten feet high.
A thick stench of blood immediately assaulted them. Fearing danger, Jiang Huaijin instinctively took a few steps back and turned to look at Chen Cheng.
Qin Hongbin tightened his grip on his long spear and also looked at Chen Cheng, showing no intention of taking the lead.
It was obvious that these two men, who had lived for nearly a hundred years, were a pair of wily old foxes. Neither was willing to be the first to enter.
Mao Yong remained silent, evidently planning to hang back and just follow along as well.
The atmosphere instantly grew awkward.
Chen Cheng had witnessed firsthand how deadly the mechanisms in the Demon Suppression Tower could be, so he wasn't about to rush in recklessly either. After a moment's thought, he looked at Mao Yong.
'Someone has to be the one to charge in, test the waters, and act as cannon fodder!'
'Mao Yong is the weakest, so he's the natural choice!'
'After all, the weak must yield to the strong. Mao Yong surely won't object!'
Mao Yong was perceptive and understood the situation perfectly. He sighed to himself. 'When you're outmatched, what choice do you have?' He then volunteered, "Lord Chen, I'll scout ahead."
"Alright." Chen Cheng gave a slight nod.
Mao Yong drew his longsword, condensed his Five Elements Geng Metal Sword Intent, and took the lead into the passageway.
Chen Cheng then looked from Jiang Huaijin to Qin Hongbin.
His meaning was clear: might makes right. Chen Cheng's "fist" was the hardest, so he would naturally enter last. The only question was, between Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin, whose was harder?
Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin exchanged a glance, each seeing the resignation in the other's eyes.
In the end, Jiang Huaijin circulated his Primordial Gang True Force to protect himself, summoned the Second Layer of his Five Elements Geng Metal Sword Intent around his longsword, and followed.
Qin Hongbin followed after, gripping his long spear.
Chen Cheng waited outside the passageway for a moment. Hearing no commotion, he finally ambled inside.
Once inside, he detected no killing intent. Only then did Chen Cheng pick up his pace, his figure blurring like the wind.
He passed through the tunnel and descended a spiral stone staircase at its end, arriving in a massive square chamber, over a hundred feet on each side, deep within the mountain.
Braziers burning around the chamber cast a shimmering, jade-green light. Jiang Huaijin and the other two were staring in horror at a high platform in the center of the room.
More than a dozen people were lying sprawled across the platform. Their breathing was faint, their eyes vacant. A small, precise cut had been made on each of their wrists.
Crimson blood welled from the wounds, dripping into porcelain jars below with a soft sound. DRIP... DRIP...
Even Chen Cheng was taken aback by the sight.
"Ghh... ghhh..."
The people were clearly still alive, letting out weak, gurgling moans, their eyes filled with desperation.