At the foot of Shilong Mountain, in the eastern part of Xianlin, Qixia District.
"Damn it, you bastards..."
A bullet pierced his body, and the gang member fell to the ground unwillingly, unable to understand why such a remote place was still subjected to purges by the imperial court and noble families.
"Is that the last one?" Without looking at the corpse on the ground, Cheng Jinyang turned and asked.
"The family's Tianluo is still searching the vicinity," Cheng Huaiyan replied. "But even if there are any left, they won't pose much of a threat."
"Search more thoroughly," Cheng Jinyang instructed. "Don't let any stragglers come out at night and harm our clan members."
"Got it." Cheng Huaiyan turned and left.
"Well, well?" Miss Qingqing teased nearby, "Already so authoritative, are we, my great Clan Leader Cheng?"
"Ahem, don't mention it," Cheng Jinyang said dejectedly. "The family is in decline, and taking over this mess in a crisis has made it so I can't sleep well at night."
"I think you just miss me," Chu Qingqing said in a sugary tone, "Can't sleep without me, can you?"
"That's right!" Cheng Jinyang countered, spreading his arms enthusiastically. "Come on, the position of the main wife of the Cheng clan leader awaits you."
Chu Qingqing: ???
"Uh." She couldn't quite handle it and awkwardly changed the subject, "I heard Yuanzhi called off your engagement?"
"Where did you hear that?" Cheng Jinyang looked a bit annoyed. "It wasn't called off, just temporarily suspended."
"What's the difference?" Chu Qingqing said speechlessly. "Don't you think it's an insult... whatever, it's your business anyway."
"In any case," Cheng Jinyang brought the topic back, "thanks to these refugee gangs, we can at least manage for now."
"Hmph," Chu Qingqing said proudly, "You should thank me for thinking of these refugee gangs. Otherwise, where would you find a place to accommodate so many people?"
During this period, Cheng Jinyang had ordered the family's Tianluo to eliminate more than a dozen refugee gangs around Shilong Mountain and seize their properties and residences.
It sounded like a violent and illegal operation. However, considering that these places were also taken from the local residents by the refugee gangs, Cheng Jinyang had already instructed all clan members to uniformly call it a "righteous purge" when speaking to outsiders.
After all, Xianlin East is really too far from Jiankang city center, so much so that even the Six Doors (government law enforcement agency) are unwilling to come all the way out here to patrol. The area is remote and not profitable, plus it's home to numerous vagrant gangs that engage in endless violent activities, making life miserable for the local residents.
Now, with the Cheng and Xing families joining forces, they have instantly eradicated all the gangs here... no, they should be described as having swept them clean, giving the local residents a peaceful and safe environment.
Of course, to prevent more northern vagrants from arriving and forming violent gangs again, thus disrupting the lives of the local people, the Cheng and Xing families have decided to do a good deed to the end. From now on, they will station themselves here and continue to protect the local residents' well-being.
Hmm, it's truly touching.
"I feel like you're thinking of something self-deceptive," Chu Qingqing remarked, "Otherwise, why would you have such a hypocritical smile on your face?"
"Nonsense," Cheng Jinyang retorted, "The follow-up matters of the family are already giving me enough headaches. Right now, my mind is filled with thoughts on how to maintain our noble status."
"Ah, speaking of which, you no longer have a fifth-grade supernatural in your family," Chu Qingqing said with a frown.
"Right," Cheng Jinyang sighed, "We do have a few sixth-grade supernaturals, so I'm planning to..."
"Wait a minute!" Chu Qingqing suddenly thought of something, and said in horror, "You didn't already... did you?"
"Of course not!" Cheng Jinyang immediately denied, "On the first night, I just used the excuse of not having enough beds and tried to sleep in the same hall with my cousins."
"And then?"
"Nothing happened," Cheng Jinyang said, "I was the only one who went in."
"Hahaha," Chu Qingqing laughed in relief, "See, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can stay by your side."
"I understand what you mean. But first, my cousins are not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry; secondly, your statement has serious ambiguities."
"What ambiguities?" Miss Qingqing pretended not to understand, blinking her eyelashes rapidly, "Explain it to me?"
"Alright, I'm not going to banter with you anymore," Cheng Jinyang naturally wouldn't continue this pointless conversation with her, "I still need to see Her Highness, then go to Taicheng to see His Majesty. My schedule is packed from afternoon to evening."
"Yes, yes, the great Patriarch Cheng is very busy," Miss Qingqing said, "How about I take you there?"
"It would be disrespectful to refuse."
The chauffeur of Miss Qingqing's family car began driving towards Zijin Mountain as soon as they boarded.
Neither spoke during the ride. Cheng Jinyang rested his elbow on the edge of the car window, deep in thought.
Sitting quietly next to him, Chu Qingqing stole glances at his profile out of the corner of her eye.
Since returning to the Yangdi Chu clan's estate, her family had immediately forbidden her from going out, citing concerns over potential unrest following the fall of the Pukou District.
Today was her first opportunity to leave the house and check on Cheng Jinyang's progress. Curiosity was part of the reason, but an unfulfilled inner desire was another.
It was like a gamer who, after playing a AAA military masterpiece, found it impossible to enjoy a simple pixelated 128k butcher game again. She missed the demons in the nightmares.
Taking out her phone, Chu Qingqing silently sent a message to Cheng Jinyang.
His phone vibrated. Cheng Jinyang looked at it and saw a private message from Miss Qingqing:
"Jinyang, can I sleep with you tonight?"
Cheng Jinyang: ......
He quietly replied, and Misd Qingqing glanced at his response:
"Get lost! Do you think you can just have my body?"
Chu Qingqing's expression immediately darkened with a murderous intent.
Then another message came:
"Haha, just kidding. But given the tense situation now, your family definitely won't let you out easily."
Chu Qingqing gritted her teeth and typed back:
"Aren't you the clan leader? No one will care where the Cheng clan's head spends the night now, right? You come to me tonight, and I'll help you sneak into my room."
Cheng Jinyang frowned slightly as he looked at his phone.
"Do you really want this?" he typed.
"Of course!" Miss Qingqing replied angrily, "You have no idea how I've been these past few days without you! I'm afraid I might lose control one night, get up, and randomly kill a few passersby!"
"Is it that serious?" Cheng Jinyang was somewhat startled.
Indeed, for Ah Zhi, Miss Wang, and Xiao Wangshu, hunting demons in dreams was merely a way to enhance their bloodline concentration.
But it was different for Miss Qingqing. She also needed the act of killing demons itself to quell her inner anxiety and hunger.
"Alright," he typed after some hesitation, "It's impossible for me to sneak into your family estate to meet you. Have you thought about my current status? What face will I have if your family catches me?"
"But we can find a hotel near your estate. I'll book a room and wait for you there. How you sneak out of your estate is not my concern; I'll leave after sleeping one night."
"Deal!" Miss Qingqing thought it over and, finding no better solution, agreed. "Book the room tonight and send me the address!"