Chapter Seventeen: Establishing Authority

As the main gate on one side of the courtyard was just pushed open, Cheng Fangchao and Yan Min entered, both wearing cheerful faces and chatting merrily. Yet before their feet could even cross the threshold, a man tumbled right in front of them.

At first, they couldn’t make out who it was. But once they recognized the person, Cheng Fangchao’s expression darkened instantly, while Yan Min’s eyes flashed, and he froze in place.

“Zhu Rongyao, what’s going on here? Has someone broken in?” Cheng Fangchao was the first to speak, stepping forward to help Zhu Rongyao up.

Before he could reach out, Yang Ze’s voice interrupted him. “This must be Cheng Fangchao, the manager, and beside you is Yan Min, the shopkeeper, yes?”

“I am Cheng Fangchao. Who are you, and why are you here?” Cheng Fangchao scanned the courtyard and only now noticed the crowd of unfamiliar faces. He announced his name, wary.

“My name’s Yang Ze. I’ve come to take up the post of chief steward. By the way, I’d advise you not to touch this man. This Zhu Rongyao fellow harbors ill intent, using your names to commit misdeeds here. I was just about to teach him a lesson,” Yang Ze replied nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Zhu Rongyao struggled to his feet, wailing, “Elder Cheng, you must stand up for me! The moment this boy arrived, he attacked me, showing no respect for either of you. He’s outrageously arrogant!”

Yang Ze hadn’t actually used much force; though Zhu Rongyao looked badly beaten, his injuries weren’t too severe for someone at the initial stage of Qi induction. Seeing Cheng Fangchao and Yan Min return, his spirits revived, and he made his appeal.

But before Cheng Fangchao could say a word, Yang Ze’s ire flared.

“How bold! With the manager present, you still dare spout such nonsense? I thought to spare you, but since you insist on lying, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

With that, Yang Ze lunged forward, throwing a punch straight at Zhu Rongyao.

Zhu Rongyao blocked the blow, but the impact sent him reeling back several steps. Yang Ze pressed the attack, darting in and swinging a right fist toward Zhu Rongyao’s forehead. Zhu Rongyao, already outmatched and wounded, reacted too slowly and could only raise his right fist in defense.

The moment their fists collided, a sickening crack rang out. Zhu Rongyao screamed in agony as several bones in his hand snapped.

Yet Yang Ze showed no mercy. His left knee drove forward, slamming into Zhu Rongyao’s abdomen.

The force of the blow crushed his internal organs. Zhu Rongyao collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

With a single decisive strike, Yang Ze had killed Zhu Rongyao. It was only after the dust settled that Cheng Fangchao processed what had happened.

But it was too late—Zhu Rongyao had been beaten to death right before his eyes.

Fury blazed in Cheng Fangchao’s chest. Zhu Rongyao was one of his men. To have him killed so brazenly was a direct slap in the face.

Consumed by anger, he forgot everything Yan Min had warned him and roared, “Outrageous! Zhu Rongyao was personally appointed by the family head on my recommendation as deputy steward. How dare you kill him in cold blood!”

“Manager Cheng? Did I hear you right? I just explained that this man abused your and Shopkeeper Yan’s names to do evil here, so I cleaned house. Are you really going to defend him?”

“No matter what, I am the manager. He was my appointee, and this should have been my matter to settle, not yours—”

“Enough, enough, everyone heard that, didn’t they? I am the chief steward here, yet Cheng Fangchao claims I have no right to act. I think Cheng Fangchao must have his own agenda. Seize him!” Yang Ze cut him off without letting him finish.

Lao Xie, obeying the order, lunged first to seize Cheng Fangchao, while the others blocked every exit from the courtyard, making sure no one could escape.

Cheng Fangchao wasn’t about to give in without a fight and immediately resisted.

“So you dare resist? Clearly you’re hiding something. Now that your scheme’s exposed, don’t bother holding back, Lao Xie—kill him!” Without hesitation, Yang Ze slapped a charge on him. For a man like Cheng Fangchao, whom he couldn’t control, elimination was the simplest solution.

With all pretense cast aside, Cheng Fangchao and Lao Xie fought fiercely—both were mid-stage Qi induction martial artists, so none dared approach.

In the end, Lao Xie prevailed, defeating Cheng Fangchao and silencing him with a palm to the throat. Only then did he return to Yang Ze’s side.

With two corpses lying on the ground, the rest of the courtyard fell silent. Yan Min didn’t even dare move, sweat trickling down his back.

Yang Ze strode toward Yan Min, chuckling at his obvious anxiety. “Shopkeeper Yan, were you particularly close to those two?”

“No, not at all. I only happened to run into Elder Cheng—no, Cheng Fangchao—today, and we came in together by chance. I truly have no idea what they were up to—none of this has anything to do with me!” In such a situation, to admit otherwise would be fatal; Yan Min dared not confess to anything.

“Good. Though I did hear from others that you’re the real boss here at the money house, that your word is law. Is that true?” Yang Ze asked carelessly.

“That was before. Now that Chief Steward has arrived, you are in charge,” Yan Min replied obsequiously, not daring to cross Yang Ze in the slightest.

“Excellent. No need to be so nervous—I’m not a monster, am I?”

Yan Min shook his head vigorously. The confidence he’d shown at the Crescent Moon Tavern was gone.

“Everyone, today I killed these two traitors for defying authority and committing misdeeds. As long as the rest of you don’t make the same mistakes, I won’t trouble you—on the contrary, I’ll offer you better treatment.

But from now on, this North City stronghold will heed only one voice—mine. My orders are the highest law here!

And anyone, whoever it may be, who dares to harm the interests of the North City stronghold, will learn exactly what fate awaits them! Is that clear?”

Yang Ze’s voice wasn’t loud, but it rang clearly in every ear. With the corpses of Cheng Fangchao and Zhu Rongyao still lying there, who would dare object?

“Understood, Chief Steward!” Yan Min responded first, leading the others in a loud chorus.

Having established control, Yang Ze entered the council hall—naturally, the disposal of the corpses was beneath him.

In this world, those who walked the martial path had to be ready to face death. It was the most ordinary thing. Just bury them somewhere and be done with it.

Yang Ze’s use of such forceful methods on his very first day was no accident. If he truly wanted control, he had to ensure his martial prowess could suppress all others.

Cheng Fangchao and Yan Min’s little drama had simply arrived at his door at the perfect moment. It was the ideal opportunity to eliminate them both.

With those two gone, only he and Lao Xie remained as the strongest fighters in the Yang family’s stronghold. If he offered the others a few perks, none would be able to stir up much trouble.

The only remaining concern was Yan Min. That one clearly had his own designs—but at present, Yang Yuan Zhen hadn’t found a suitable replacement for the money house, and since Yan Min hadn’t even reached the Qi induction realm, Yang Ze was confident he could keep him in check for now. There was no rush to deal with him.

When the time was right, he would handle Yan Min as well.

For now, today’s display of strength was more than sufficient. The rest were ordinary folk, dependent on this place for their livelihood. What Yang Ze had done was enough to cow them all.

In the council hall, Yang Ze sat at the head of the table, Lao Xie at his side. Eight Qi induction stage martial artists lined up in two rows, with the rest forming a square formation.

At the front of the formation, one man stood alone—Yan Min.

Seeing this display, Yan Min was thoroughly unnerved. The faction he’d painstakingly built had crumbled in an instant, and the grisly deaths of Cheng Fangchao and Zhu Rongyao were still vivid in his mind. He feared he’d be next.

Yet, when Yang Ze summoned him to discuss business, he dared not refuse. Now, in this situation, the pressure was overwhelming—he couldn’t even speak.

Yang Ze said nothing at first, just tapping the table with his right hand. Each tap made sweat bead more heavily on Yan Min’s face.

At last, seeing the effect was enough, Yang Ze spoke. “Shopkeeper Yan, I’d like to see the storeroom and the account books. Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all! I’ll fetch them for you right away,” Yan Min answered hastily.

“No need to hurry. First, I have an announcement: our North City stronghold currently lacks a steward. I hereby appoint Lao Xie to that position. If I’m not present, he will handle all affairs. Any objections?”

No one dared object. Only Lao Xie looked surprised—he hadn’t expected Yang Ze to announce this.

“Chief Steward, please don’t! I’m not worthy of such a responsibility!” Lao Xie protested.

“Lao Xie, there’s no need for such talk between us. To be steward requires strength, and yours is the greatest here. Since no one objects, the matter is settled!” Yang Ze cut him off, leaving no room for refusal.

Lao Xie had no choice but to accept.

Yang Ze then issued a series of orders, placing his own people in the money house, finally securing his grip on the entire establishment.