Chapter 348 - 191: You Knelt Before I Even Made a Move?
HISS...
Someone sucked in a sharp breath.
The entire hall fell deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The expression on Zhan Fusheng’s face instantly froze, twisting into one of utter disbelief as his pupils abruptly contracted.
The Captains and Deputy Captains who, just moments before, had been clamoring to put their new superior in his place, were now utterly silent. The color drained from their faces, leaving only stark terror and bewilderment.
Chen Sheng?
It was Chen Sheng!!!
This was the Chen Sheng who fought seven opponents at once on Wushan Mountain and won, who outshone all his peers, who was highly regarded by Envoy Nie and Vice Envoy Sun, and who was hailed as the future pillar of the Ning’an Prefecture’s Jingwu Bureau!
’Wasn’t he supposed to be in the Prefecture City, cultivating in peace and under strict protection?’
’How could he... How could he have come to this dangerous front line, and even become their direct superior?’
Amidst the deathly silence.
Chen Sheng’s gaze, as calm as still water, slowly swept across the varied expressions in the hall.
But his gaze didn’t linger on anyone. Without breaking stride, he walked straight toward the head seat at the far end of the hall.
WHOOSH!
Wan Chong Peak, seated first on the left, shot to his feet.
The movement was so abrupt that his chair scraped backward an inch with a harsh screech.
Everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats, their eyes fixed on Wan Chong Peak.
Panic filled some of their eyes, and they looked as if they wanted to cry out and stop him. Others simply froze, their minds going blank.
’Is... is Wan Chong Peak actually going to defy him?’
But then, Wan Chong Peak took a deep breath, cupped his fist, and bowed. His voice, loud and reverent, echoed clearly through the hall:
"Wan Chong Peak, Captain of Jing’an of A Camp, greets City Lord Chen!"
His actions jolted everyone else back to their senses, and they scrambled to their feet to offer their own salutes.
"Liu Yuan, Captain of B Camp, greets City Lord Chen!"
"Ma Daxuan, Deputy Captain of C Camp, greets City Lord Chen!"
"D Camp..."
One after another, they scrambled to their feet, cupping their fists in salute. Their voices overlapped, filled with unmistakable reverence and submission.
The defiant atmosphere from moments before—the united front, the plan to put their new superior in his place—had vanished without a trace.
The reason was simple.
Strength was the ultimate credential.
And a track record was the most compelling argument.
Chen Sheng might share their rank, but his power, his reputation, his backing, and his all-but-guaranteed brilliant future... placed him far beyond their league.
’Offend him?’
’Provoke him?’
’You’d have to have your brain addled by the waters of Yunze to even think about it!’
Watched by a crowd with gazes ranging from reverent to conflicted to fawning, Chen Sheng ascended the dais with steady steps. He turned, swept the hem of his official robes aside, and settled firmly into the master’s seat.
Leaning back slightly, Chen Sheng’s gaze swept over the subordinates standing at attention below. The corners of his lips slowly curled into an ambiguous smile. His voice was not loud, yet it reached every person’s ears clearly:
"I was just outside the door, and I believe I overheard... that someone had some reservations about my appointment?"
"Step forward. I’ll give you your chance."
Below the dais, a fine, cold sweat instantly beaded on Wan Chong Peak’s forehead. He bowed even lower and hastily explained:
"We wouldn’t dare, Captain! Before... that was just our foolishness. We didn’t realize it was you, Captain Chen, arriving in person, and so we had some doubts. But now that we have witnessed your commanding presence, we are completely and wholeheartedly convinced!
We harbor absolutely no disrespect! We ask for the City Lord’s clear judgment!"
"We ask for the City Lord’s clear judgment!"
The crowd echoed him in unison, their voices perfectly aligned, their postures deferential.
Chen Sheng looked down at the group of subordinates who had become so instantly tame and compliant, and a flicker of barely perceptible disappointment crossed his eyes.
’Tsk...’
’He’d thought he might get to stretch his limbs today, make an example of someone to establish his authority.’
’He didn’t expect this bunch... to bend the knee so quickly.’
’This was rather unexpected.’
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Don’t wait up for the next Chapter. I’ve only just started writing it, so it’ll probably be out very late. Best to check for it tomorrow morning.
My apologies...