Chapter 1868 - 1871: Replacement
After Hong Hu sent people to investigate Liu Fang’s background once again, Liu Fang’s foundation became completely solidified!
Liu Fang didn’t care about this at all, always maintaining a confident demeanor.
No wonder, he believed his brothers would definitely handle everything perfectly!
Of course, when his brothers put a black bag over his head, beat him up, and cursed him for being a bastard who talked nonsense, causing them to waste endless efforts, he was still howling in pain!
His foundation was stable, his background was clean, and the town had returned to peace.
However, no one noticed, or perhaps they noticed but didn’t care, that more and more strangers were starting to flock into the small town.
Some were newly established merchant caravans, some were cultivators from nearby villages, and some were even bandits forming new mountain villages.
To this not-so-big yet bustling town, it didn’t seem too strange!
Not only was it not strange, but even the town’s bigwigs seemed to welcome it gladly.
Because they found Liu Fang was particularly harsh on these people, fiercer than they, the natives, continuously exploiting these outsiders, even erupting into several direct confrontations!
This made the local bigwigs sit back and enjoy the show with relish.
After all, the benefits Liu Fang extorted each time were shared with them, but the resentment was borne by Liu Fang alone.
It even made these money-grubbing folks feel a bit guilty!
However, guilt is worthless, just a fleeting thought, nothing more.
Besides, a few clever guys recruited quite a few people who had conflicts with Liu Fang.
Because they realized these people were not simple.
To clash head-on with Liu Fang, whether in strength or strategy, they were worthy of use!
Although their recruitment of these people led to several conflicts with Liu Fang, it ultimately ended with Liu Fang, the dragon, not being able to overpower the local snake!
And these people’s strategies quickly reaped rewards, as those they brought in were indeed talents, rapidly expanding their forces!
Thus, those who initially didn’t want to get involved began to turn green with envy!
They started recruiting people too!
So much so, that after some time, a Nascent Soul junior leader had three to five Nascent Soul subordinates!
This scene, if seen in the past, would surely be considered insane.
After all, a Nascent Soul was already a formidable, independent existence!
And now, no one thought it was strange!
Because everyone was doing it!
Following the trend and not getting beaten up, they accepted it all with peace of mind!
However, with the rise in power comes the inevitable emergence of ambition!
After all, if you’ve gained strength yet remain with the same little share, it surely breeds dissatisfaction!
So, conflicts naturally erupted!
Such conflicts, though not rare before, now escalated in scale, but no one paid much mind!
However, what they failed to notice was that those who died seemed all to be their old subordinates, not a single newly recruited one.
They didn’t care, even felt glad inside, thinking that the death of those useless ones was of no consequence, as their new subordinates sufficed!
Thus!
The result was that slowly, unknowingly, practically the entire middle-to-high-level leaders of the town were entirely replaced!
The familiar old faces were gradually dwindling!
It wasn’t that no one noticed this phenomenon; some were actively voicing concerns about it!
For instance, Liu Fang!
"Gentlemen! Have you yet not realized this?"
Liu Fang didn’t know how many times he roared in such anger!
However, due to his deliberate guidance, everyone hearing his roar assumed he was simply disgruntled over his diminishing status!
After all, at first, Liu Fang was everybody’s God of Wealth, revered and supported by all, fearing he might hinder their prosperity!
But now, he was no longer needed, and with the advent of their new subordinates, they subtly opposed Liu Fang!
So, every time, they looked at Liu Fang pompously speaking and then retreating in disappointment with mirth!
It almost became their latest form of entertainment, thoroughly enjoying it without end!
They didn’t care, but finally, someone did!
That was none other than the highest leader here—Hong Hu King!
That night, Hong Hu summoned Liu Fang!
By this time, Liu Fang was already thoroughly his confidant, even more so than Li Zhang!
"Liu Fang! Why does it feel increasingly off to me!" Hong Hu King said with worry.
As a leader, he should have had the privilege of watching his Nascent Soul subordinates’ skirmishes!
But now, with each leader having several Nascent Souls under them, it made him inherently feel uneasy!
How could he allow others to snore beside his bed?!
This is the fundamental alertness of every superior!
"Indeed, my lord, I’ve mentioned several times to put a stop to this!"
Liu Fang responded with a tinge of complaint in his voice.
Hearing this, Hong Hu rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Yes, Liu Fang had told him multiple times!
But he thought the growth of the town’s power meant the growth of his power, besides, everyone’s background checked out.
Whether verified by Liu Fang or themselves, nothing seemed amiss.
Under such circumstances, like everyone else, he assumed it was merely Liu Fang’s jealousy at play!
But now, he finally sensed the danger!
This wasn’t entirely Hong Hu’s fault for being slow to realize!
After all, with his enemies colluding with his confidants, one in the open, the other in secret, deceiving him, no one but a genuine deity could have noticed anything!
"So, what should we do now?" Hong Hu asked directly for a solution, bypassing the awkward subject: "I trust you the most now!"
Yes, he trusted Liu Fang the most, not just because Liu Fang kept warning him, but also because Liu Fang hadn’t recruited a single subordinate, still a bachelor one-man show.
With such a person, who else could he trust?!
"My lord, at this point, we can only take drastic measures!"
A hint of killing intent flashed in Liu Fang’s eyes: "Summon the leaders, tell them not to bring their Nascent Soul subordinates. If they come, fine, if not, hah, they must have a guilty conscience!"
Upon hearing this, Hong Hu’s eyes brightened: "Great idea, let’s do just that! If they have no hidden motives, this is just another usual gathering, they certainly won’t refuse!"
Hong Hu was overjoyed, this was truly a great solution!
Did these people think recruiting a few subordinates made them invincible?!
But he had Liu Fang!
Liu Fang left with the order, so Hong Hu didn’t see the cold sneer in Liu Fang’s eyes as he departed—almost there!