Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chapter 81: Chapter 78: One Cut _2

From a distance, people whispered while looking towards the direction of Heavenly Arrival Restaurant.

“Hush, I heard that it was the Prefecture Chief who called for them, wanting to discuss matters.”

“No wonder then. Apart from the Prefecture Chief, probably no one else could have such clout.”

Upon hearing this, some revealed a look of sudden understanding.

Although Chen Mu had only been assigned to the Wutong Grove District for a few months as Prefecture Chief, his prestige had already deeply entered the hearts of the people, even surpassing the former Prefecture Chief, Xu Feng.

Not only did he eradicate the Zheng Family within his first few days, but his actions during the time of the cold disaster also marked him not as a corrupt official who only cared about hoarding Silver, but rather as a government officer who was a rare figure willing to do work. In private, people from other areas even envied the residents of Wutong Grove District for their luck in getting a good Prefecture Chief.

“Look, the Prefecture Chief, Lord Chen, has arrived.”

Suddenly someone spoke in a low voice.

Not far down the street, Chen Mu, dressed in dark green official attire, appeared, only bringing along Shang Qinglai, the Head Constable, as they made their way through.

“Prefecture Chief!”

Along the way, many greeted Chen Mu carefully and respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

Chen Mu did not respond much, walking directly towards Heavenly Arrival Restaurant with a calm expression, accompanied by Shang Qinglai.

Even before entering the restaurant, the gazes from the crowded factions outside and from the first floor of the restaurant had already converged upon them fiercely.

However, the oppressive presence of the numerous and powerful figures seemed to mean nothing to Chen Mu; without so much as a glance, he entered the restaurant directly.

“Prefecture Chief, you’ve arrived. The others are waiting for you on the second floor…”

The Shopkeeper of the restaurant came out to greet him, carefully staying by his side, also looking somewhat nervous.

Heavenly Arrival Restaurant, as the largest restaurant in Wutong Grove District, actually belonged to the Nan Family, a Nan Family enterprise, which on regular days feared no troublemakers. But the problem was that the people who came this time were too influential.

Just look at who had arrived?

The Gang Leader of the Sand Gang, Sha Xiangtian!

Shen Qi from the Thieves Gang!

The Gang Leader of the Crocodile Gang, Ren Naifei!

…

And now, here was the new Prefecture Chief of Wutong Grove District, Chen Mu!

Which one of them wasn’t someone whose stamp of the foot could shake the entire Wutong Grove District? Even the Nan Family would need to handle them with care. It would be manageable if it was just one family, but now six families had arrived all at once.

The Nan Family had long been aware of the situation here, and their instructions to the Shopkeeper were to serve them cautiously. The slightest mistake could cost him his own head.

Naturally, the Shopkeeper was nervous.

“Your business is done here; you may go.”

Chen Mu did not trouble the Shopkeeper, and after reaching the second floor, he waved his hand, indicating for the Shopkeeper to leave, then entered the central private room on the second floor.

As soon as he walked in, six pairs of eyes converged upon him.

In the few months since Chen Mu’s arrival at Wutong Grove District, he had actually only met face to face with Sha Xiangtian of the Sand Gang and Shen Qi of the Thieves Gang among the six gangs. He had yet to meet face to face with the others.

“Lord Chen.”

“Prefecture Chief.”

Besides Sha Xiangtian and Shen Qi, the rest eyed Chen Mu before each greeted him in turn.

Chen Mu, composed and at ease, walked forward directly to the only vacant seat of honor and sat down. Then, he glanced at everyone in the room and said indifferently, “I think we can forgo the introductions; you all recognize me, and I can identify each one of you. I’ve called you here today as there is a matter we need to discuss.”

“The Prefecture Chief is too polite. We’re all good citizens of Wutong Grove District. Of course, we are here to listen to your command,” said Shen Qi of the Thieves Gang, smiling heartily.

The others did not reply, and Sha Xiangtian, sitting to Chen Mu’s right, silently sipped his tea and said, “We’re all crude men, Lord Chen. Just speak plainly.”

Chen Mu’s gaze swept over the six people present, he picked up the teapot on the table, and poured tea with a light hand, meanwhile stating in an even tone, “This year is a disaster year. Last night’s wind and snow were severe, damaging many homes. To provide relief, we need all families to unite and overcome this difficulty.”

“Each of your families will contribute a thousand taels of Silver and a hundred or so able-bodied men. In the next few days, work together with the City Defense Division to construct temporary shelters. I believe this shouldn’t be difficult for you.”

After finishing his speech,

the teacup was just perfectly filled.

Chen Mu set down the teapot and looked over the crowd again, “I’ve finished speaking. Who’s in favor, and who’s against?”

The private room fell silent.

The leaders of the Black Water Gang and the Crocodile Gang, among others, all squinted their eyes.

One thousand taels!

Such an enormous appetite!

They didn’t believe any of this talk about disaster relief for snow, regarding it as nothing more than an excuse to extort money from them. Demanding a thousand taels from each family, this new Prefecture Chief really had the nerve to ask.

The gangs and noble families ultimately differ. The Zheng Family, when raided, could yield several ten thousand taels, but even stripping a gang bare wouldn’t necessarily produce a few thousand, as a gang with that kind of money wouldn’t be a messy amalgamation of fish and dragons but a noble family.

“Lord Chen, don’t treat us like we’re the Zheng Family.”

In the midst of silence, Sha Xiangtian, the leader of the Sands Gang, spoke up with an unfriendly and icy tone, “If it’s manpower you want, that’s no issue. But silver, that we don’t have.”

Chen Mu looked at Sha Xiangtian indifferently, “So, Gang Leader Sha is opposing?”

Sha Xiangtian looked at Shen Qi and the others, seeing the displeased expressions on the faces of the leaders from the other five gangs, he felt bolstered and replied coldly,

“Completely out of the question!”

“Alright.”

Chen Mu nodded slightly and took a sip from the teacup on the table.

Then,

Whoosh!

A flash of knife light blazed like sudden thunder, slashing straight at Sha Xiangtian’s head.

Sha Xiangtian was alarmed, never expecting Chen Mu to be so bold and impetuous, to attack so suddenly in the presence of the six gangs. Fortunately, he had been on guard all along and drew his knife at the first instance to meet the attack.

At the same time,

Shen Qi, Gang Leader Ren Naifei of the Crocodile Gang, and others also changed color, having not anticipated Chen Mu to act so suddenly.

Everyone knew that the elites of the six families were almost all gathered here, and aside from a Head Constable, Chen Mu had not brought anyone else. To act in such a manner under these circumstances, did he truly disregard all the families present?

But in the next instant, everyone’s actions came to an abrupt halt as if a pause button had been pressed.

Clang!

A sound like metal tearing rang out.

Chen Mu calmly sat back down and placed the Servant’s Knife back on the table.

Next to him, the Sands Gang Leader, Sha Xiangtian, was frozen in his defensive stance, his face, etched with a vicious scar, now devoid of ferocity. Instead, there was only shock and disbelief.

Clang!

The knife in Sha Xiangtian’s hand broke in two, with half of the blade falling to the floor.

Simultaneously, a line of blood spread from between his brows all the way down.

His body swayed and eventually, he crashed down with a thud, as blood quickly spread along the floor.

One knife.

Sha Xiangtian was dead on the spot!

Shen Qi, Ren Naifei, and the other leaders, upon witnessing this scene, were rooted to the spot, feeling a chill rising up their spines, taking a sharp intake of breath, their eyes filled with shock.

Chen Mu calmly picked up the two halves of Sha Xiangtian’s broad knife, examined the broken edge, and then rubbed his hands together, the grating sound ensuing as the sharp edge was roughly ground to a curled blade, the broken knife was ultimately twisted into an iron ball.

“The Sands Gang has had a hard time, so add two thousand taels; the rest still pay one thousand taels each,”

Chen Mu looked at the other five people in the room, “Any objections?”

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