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"General, you’ve finally arrived, please, have a seat..."

The Observing Stars Tower in Lyuzhou occupied the prime location, with many rooms allocated to military families, but there were still a few available for businesses—the top floor being the most expensive.

It was snagged by the wealthiest chambers of commerce, turned into the priciest tavern in Lyuzhou City.

This place boasted the best view, overlooking the entire city of Lyuzhou, with a vast sky that made one sink into drunken songs, an experience even the Imperial City could not offer, attracting many wealthy individuals to visit.

Today a few old subordinates had a rare chance to relax during the New Year, so naturally, the brothers wanted to have a big drinking session.

"Ah, since we arrived in Jiangnan, how long has it been since we’ve all gathered like this?" One of the burly men’s face was flushed with red, evidently having sneaked some Ginseng Blood Wine, very much in high spirits.

Tian Heng looked at the man with amusement.

The speaker was Meng Sheng, one of the veteran soldiers who had followed the Tian Family from the beginning, and had been most opposed to coming to Jiangnan.

But, after several years here, he had thrived the most. Tasked with managing maritime trade, he had not been remiss in securing good items for both his family and his brothers.

Saying that the Western Sea Army was rolling in wealth referred precisely to his soldiers—businesses everywhere gave them face.

These past few years had been nothing but triumphs for him.

Wherever he went, people would salute him as General Meng.

Even the prominent families in the Capital City tried to curry favor with him to facilitate maritime trade.

This fellow hadn’t achieved much, for after becoming Transcendent, he started living a life of drunken bliss, according to his own words, living too long seemed pointless. Once he had earned enough capital for his descendants, he would be ready to reincarnate and start a new life...

His old comrades had often scorned him for this attitude.

"You’re quite the idle one..." Many old comrades rolled their eyes at him: "We are working ourselves to death."

"Isn’t that because you aim too high?" Meng Sheng chuckled smugly: "This maritime trade job wasn’t something I pursued; it was the leftover you didn’t want. Complaining now is a little late, ha."

As he spoke with self-satisfaction, for some reason, when Meng Sheng said they aimed too high, there was a strange and fierce glint in the eyes of several men. But then, it immediately returned to normal.

Tian Heng saw this and his expression became complicated.

If all his brothers were content with their lot like Meng Sheng, perhaps he wouldn’t have had to go this far, would he?

When the brothers first arrived in Jiangnan, many were dissatisfied. But after half a year, everyone was ardently enthusiastic and incredibly content, for their power was visibly growing. That’s when he began to see the risks.

That was because his brothers had no small ambitions!

The reason was simple—during the assignment of duties, no one chose the more lucrative maritime trade defenders, preferring instead the pioneering tasks on the desolate islands.

Why?

Because developing those islands provided significant autonomous military power.

And given that those islands were far from Jiangnan, controlling the military there meant they could claim sovereignty at any moment should Jiangnan’s central power wane, which is why many military generals preferred to be appointed lords in distant domains.

As Jiangnan developed and the power of the Western Sea Army surged, the ambitions of the brothers inflated even more.

Especially in comparison to the Warrior Army.

In Jiangnan, everyone aspired to join the Warrior Army.

Being outdone by those country bumpkins left many discontented.

Thus, Chen Qing made amends, adding the West Sea Aquatic Tribe to their forces and assigning them rescue missions in the Southeast. Tian Heng acknowledged that Chen Qing had not wronged him, being quite generous even as thoughts of rebellion surfaced.

But... having come this far, who wouldn’t want to go further?

Did Xuu Hu really not desire it?

He just feigned simplicity.

In history, when a lord was strong, everyone was loyal, but who was ever a paragon of loyalty?

The founding emperor of the previous dynasty had been a head of the Imperial Guards—trusted by the king. And, what happened? The moment the king ran into trouble, he donned the yellow robe, oppressed the vulnerable, and changed the course of the empire!

It’s unlikely that the founding emperor harbored such ambition from the beginning, but faced with opportunity, how many can withstand the temptation?

This was the perfect opportunity!

Chen Qing was trapped in Yundu, and given what had been revealed of the plans against him, there was practically no chance he would return alive.

Ninety percent of his own deputies had been seduced by that person. If he didn’t agree, there was only one path left to him—to kill all these old comrades.

But then, even if he proved his loyalty, what standing would he have left in the Western Sea?

Having done so, who would be willing to follow him thereafter?

Even if he did prove himself in this way, would Chen Qing ever trust him completely?

It’s impossible to predict the human heart. From Chen Qing’s perspective, he had chosen loyalty in a spur of the moment, but what if he came to regret that decision later? If given a second chance, would he make the same choice?

Wouldn’t he be suspicious? After choosing to be absolutely loyal, could he really expect a peaceful end?

No one can say for sure...

Tian Heng quietly drank his wine.

"Old Meng, you’re really easygoing, no worries." One of the burly men said as he drank. "No matter what happens in the future, the brothers will definitely ensure your wealth and status!"

"Tian Ye!" Tian Heng immediately glared at the other, "What nonsense are you talking about? Does the lord need your protection when he knows people and assigns them well?"

"Uh... hahaha, yes, yes, yes..." The big man was startled, then immediately raised his cup, saying, "My mistake, I’ll punish myself with three cups!"

Meng Sheng was also startled, then soon laughed along, "Your mouth will get you into trouble sooner or later; three cups isn’t enough, at least start with ten!"

"You, Old Meng, what kind of grudge is this?" The man immediately rolled his eyes, "Seizing the chance to hit me hard, are you?"

The group burst into laughter, and although the scene appeared harmonious, Meng Sheng’s heart had lost its earlier warmth and now felt a chill for some unknown reason.

He knew these old brothers too well...

He always remembered... In the past, when the brothers followed the King of Qin, they too were thriving, their days getting better and better, rising from a second-tier family to a major clan that no one dared to underestimate. The King of Qin had been tremendously gracious to the Tian Family.

Back then, he was doing well and was extremely grateful to the King of Qin.

But one day... the brothers’ attitudes began to turn ambiguous and strange, and he had started to feel uneasy. Eventually, that unease became reality.

The Tian Family had participated in the siege against the King of Qin, and his former comrades of the Qin army were ruthlessly slaughtered by their blades.

He always remembered those events, especially one brother who was a member of the Qin army.

When he was surrounded and defeated, he had pleaded with Meng Sheng to spare his family.

Meng Sheng had agreed at the time, but in the end, he couldn’t save anyone.

The other brothers, citing the need to obliterate the roots, slaughtered the entire family and kin of the opposition, and their womenfolk were abused by the soldiers turned into beasts.

As a result, for many years afterwards, he would dream of that brother’s face filled with resentment...

He really didn’t want to go through that kind of scene again, but it seemed like his brothers didn’t feel the same way.

After so many years with these people, many could tell what he was thinking just by looking at him. He knew... they were about to make a move again.

But why?

Meng Sheng didn’t understand. Jiangnan was thriving; the lower-ranking brothers all lived well.

He had never had such a comfortable life in all these years, not just because his position was lucrative, but also because of the gentle and hopeful atmosphere of Jiangnan.

Under his witness, each day was better than the last, a feeling unlike any other time before.

Such good days, such a prosperous Jiangnan, and yet they couldn’t curb the brothers’ ambition?

Meng Sheng drank his wine, a trace of desolation flickering in the depths of his eyes.

Humans... are truly terrifying creatures.

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"General... Old Meng has become aware of it. We can’t afford mistakes now. Should we..."

"Shut up!" Tian Heng’s face turned ashen. "Have you all forgotten who you are? If one day the opportunity arises, would you even kill me?"

"It’s not the same... How could it be the same?" Several lieutenants frowned and quickly the atmosphere grew cold.

"We didn’t mean anything else. We just meant to take care of Old Meng, that’s all. Killing someone now is sure to alarm the underworld... We don’t want to startle the snake in the grass, right?" One of the burly men quickly tried to smooth things over.

At these words, Tian Heng’s expression softened slightly, and he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let me think, let me think..."

The lieutenants exchanged glances upon hearing this.

Their leader, Tian Heng, was loyal to his brothers, but his drawback was his indecision.

If it hadn’t been for their decisive action in cutting off his retreat back when the King of Qin made his move, who knows if he would still be wavering even at the last moment.

Throughout history, what good end has come to those who waver?

It seemed that this time, they would have to step in to help their tender-hearted leader make a decision!