Chapter 483 - 244: Leader of the Righteous Path, Initial Saint Sect

Chapter 483: Chapter 244: Leader of the Righteous Path, Initial Saint Sect

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

At the old site of Golden Spring Temple, the Great Heroic Hall, once thriving on incense offerings, now stood desolate. The Buddha statues had been dismantled, the crimson lacquer was peeling, and the vast, empty space held an air of decay and grimness.

The hall was sparsely furnished, with only a few tables and chairs remaining.

A faint, stale odor, a mixture of blood and incense ash, seemed to linger in the air.

Lu Qingsong, Wangqingshan, and Bai Qing were already waiting there.

They had no mind to inspect the transformed hall. Each sat upright with a grave expression, calculating how to secure the greatest benefit for their own factions in this negotiation that would decide their future.

The Nie Family’s forceful intervention, though vexing, was something they knew they could not prevent.

For now, their bottom line was to protect the share they rightfully deserved.

If Chen Sheng were to burn the bridge after crossing it, they would not take it lying down, even if they didn’t dare to openly rebel.

The atmosphere was heavy.

The three of them sat with eyes lowered, appearing calm, but they were secretly using True Qi to communicate, frequently exchanging thoughts and weighing various possibilities and countermeasures.

Suddenly, the sound of steady footsteps came from outside the hall.

The three of them simultaneously composed themselves and looked up.

A middle-aged man with a dignified air, dressed in a brocade robe of cloud-patterned blue, walked slowly into the hall.

The man in the brocade robe glanced at the three people present, a perfectly measured smile on his face. He cupped his hands and said:

"I am Nie Changming. Greetings, Sect Leader Lu, Clan Leader Wang, and Sect Leader Bai."

"Patriarch Nie, you’re too kind."

"Patriarch Nie."

Bai Qing and the other two immediately rose, returned the gesture with cupped hands, and forced smiles onto their faces.

Although Nie Changming was from a collateral branch of the Yunzhou Nie Family, he was backed by a great power. With Nie Xuanfeng, the Governor, supporting him in Ning’an, his strength and resources could not be underestimated. They dared not be disrespectful.

Nie Changming found a chair and sat down. His gaze swept around the hall as he asked casually:

"Lord Chen... has yet to arrive?"

A flicker in Lu Qingsong’s eyes, and he responded:

"What’s this? Is Nie getting impatient?"

Nie Changming’s expression didn’t change, his smile unwavering:

"Lu jests. Lord Chen oversees all of Ning’an’s Military and Political Affairs and manages a myriad of tasks each day. How could I dare to rush him?

It was merely a casual question. You, on the other hand, Lu... seem quite concerned about it?"

Lu Qingsong said flatly:

"I was also just speaking casually. Why must Nie take it to heart?"

"What is everyone discussing?"

A calm voice, yet one carrying an intangible pressure, suddenly came from the entrance of the hall.

The four in the hall all felt a chill and immediately stood up, their gazes snapping to the entrance in unison.

Chen Sheng was dressed in the official black robes of a supervisory official. His figure was tall and straight as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Sunlight poured in from behind him, tracing his silhouette with a faint golden edge and making him appear even more imposing and profound.

Chu Kuangfeng followed silently half a step behind him, like a bodyguard.

Chen Sheng swept his gaze around the room, then walked straight to the seat of honor at the head of the hall and calmly sat down.

Chu Kuangfeng, for his part, found a seat for himself at a lower position and sat down without a word.

"Greetings, Lord Chen."

"Greetings, my lord."

Lu Qingsong, Wangqingshan, Bai Qing, and Nie Changming all bowed in salute, their posture respectful.

The Chen Sheng of today was no longer the young prodigy who once needed their support or cooperation. He was now the true master of Ning’an, holding the power of life and death, his single word capable of deciding the region’s fate.

Even though they each had their own schemes, they dared not show the slightest disrespect on their faces.

"We are all on the same side. No need for formalities. Sit."

Chen Sheng waved his hand, his tone flat.

The others sat down as instructed, but their eyes were all focused on Chen Sheng.

Chen Sheng leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped on the table. His gaze lingered on the faces of Lu Qingsong and Wangqingshan for a moment before he spoke slowly:

"I heard that some of you wanted to speak with me a few days ago. Well, I am here now. Whatever you want to discuss, speak plainly."

An intangible pressure spread through the room.

Lu Qingsong and Wangqingshan exchanged a glance, then both looked towards Bai Qing.

The three of them had a tacit understanding: it was most appropriate for Bai Qing to speak on this matter, as her relationship with Chen Sheng was relatively closer, and she was a woman.

Bai Qing took a deep breath, a proper smile on her face. Her voice was soft, yet clear:

"Lord Chen, we sought this audience to ask what the Government Office’s plan is for the current chaos in the Ning’an Martial World?

Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple are now things of the past. The order of the Jianghu, the division of benefits...

Shouldn’t there be a clear resolution on these matters?"

"A resolution?"

Chen Sheng’s fingertips tapped lightly on the tabletop, producing a rhythmic sound:

"What kind of resolution are you looking for?"

Wangqingshan couldn’t hold back any longer and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Chen, when we first joined forces, you said we would share in the wealth and glory.

Now that it is done, this wealth and glory... how are we to share it? There ought to be a plan, right? Our three families fought with all our might!"

"Wealth and glory?"

Chen Sheng’s tapping fingers suddenly stopped. He looked up at Wangqingshan, his eyes indifferent:

"After the destruction of Golden Spring Temple and Qingfeng Temple, did your three families not receive a share of the confiscated spoils? Or is Clan Leader Wang suggesting that these... don’t count as wealth and glory?"

Wangqingshan was at a loss for words, his expression changing slightly.

"Chen."

Seeing this, Lu Qingsong took a deep breath. He switched to a slightly more familiar form of address, trying to ease the tension, and said seriously:

"I am a crude man, so I won’t beat around the bush. In the current Ning’an Martial World, Golden Spring Temple, Qingfeng Temple, and Luoyun Manor are all history. The territories, resources, and spheres of influence they left behind must be clearly divided.

The Nie Family contributed this time, so it’s reasonable for them to receive a share. But my Iron Sword Sect, the Danxia Sect, and the Wang Family were the main force in annihilating the two sects. We fought bloody battles on the front lines and suffered considerable losses.

By all rights, shouldn’t we... receive a larger share?"

He believed his words were reasonable and well-founded, and that his posture was sufficiently humble.

However, the last traces of warmth on Chen Sheng’s face vanished in an instant. He leaned back slightly in his chair, and his gaze turned abruptly cold: