The moment Chen Zheng and his companions left the Black Dragon Society dojo, Xu Zhongyi, who was already waiting outside, led the officers and soldiers of the Inspectorate forward. They rushed to capture all the martial artists from Da Shang who were still kneeling on the square.

After the arrests were complete, they set fire to the newly constructed Black Dragon Society dojo, which had not yet seen use, burning it to the ground.

The Dahe warriors who had planned to rampage through Da Shang vanished without a trace. Few outsiders were privy to the details, as Xu Zhongyi had issued a gag order on-site.

Even so, news of the Black Dragon Society dojo's destruction and Takeda Masao's death still spread rapidly throughout Da Shang.

The martial artists of Da Shang were shaken to their core. Countless people began seeking information, both openly and in secret.

Meanwhile, the Zhang Family, imprisoned in the Inspectorate's dungeon, still clung to the fantasy of seeing the light of day again.

Zhang Zhishan was tracking the time by the sun's position. "By now, the Black Dragon Society dojo should be reopening," he mused. "The outcome will be decided soon. News of that damned Zhao's death is sure to arrive any moment!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jianguo's family agreed wholeheartedly, growing extremely excited. They were certain they would be released at any moment. Having been confined for several days, their pampered lifestyles had left them completely unable to endure life in prison. Now that they heard their day of release was imminent, how could they not be ecstatic?

Zhang Xiran's eyes were filled with malice, yet his tone held an indescribable worry. "Dad is right. That guy surnamed Zhao is surely a dead man now, a soul for Takeda Masao's sword. But with Takeda Masao having killed Chen Zheng, will Xu Zhongyi actually let us out?"

Matriarch Zhang, locked in the opposite cell, offered a different opinion. "Xu Zhongyi is a clever man. Although he publicly aligns himself with Chen Zheng, once Chen Zheng is dead, he will surely have to consider his own future and make a different choice!"

Zhang Zhishan frowned. "Mom, have you contacted the main family back home?"

"Of course!" Matriarch Zhang replied with confidence. "Although we've taken a serious tumble this time, I've cashed in my reputation. The family won't just ignore us. Making a comeback isn't impossible!"

"Excellent!" Zhang Zhishan clapped his hands in glee. "This time, after we get out, we absolutely cannot spare Zhang Shuting and Zhang Lingxue's family!"

"Of course," a sharp glint flashed in Matriarch Zhang's eyes. "Without Chen Zheng, Zhang Shuting's family is nothing but a declawed rat. Everyone will want a piece of them, and we certainly won't be sparing them!"

Hearing the exchange between Matriarch Zhang and Zhang Zhishan, Zhang Jianguo and the others were ecstatic. They even began to fantasize about all the ways they would humiliate Zhang Shuting's family once they were ruined.

However, just then, a burst of hurried footsteps echoed from the prison's main gate, and everyone's eyes lit up at the sound. Soon, under the hopeful gazes of the Zhang Family, Xu Zhongyi and his men filed in, passing right in front of their cells.

Seeing Xu Zhongyi's expressionless face, Zhang Zhishan felt he understood the situation and scoffed, "Xu Zhongyi, how did it go? Are you back from collecting someone's corpse?"

Xu Zhongyi frowned at his words and stopped, turning to look at Zhang Zhishan and the others with an odd expression on his face.

Zhang Xiran naturally assumed his father's words had hit their mark and grew even more excited. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and let us out!"

"I'm telling you, you'd better not wait for my grandmother's family to step in. When they do, things will get ugly for everyone!"

Zhang Zhishan sneered sinisterly. "Xu Zhongyi, you're a discerning man. Let us out now, and we can let bygones be bygones. Otherwise..."

"Enough. Stop your daydreaming," Xu Zhongyi said, shaking his head. "Mr. Zhao just wiped out the Black Dragon Society dojo. Takeda Masao has already been decapitated."

"I really don't know who gave you the courage to oppose Mr. Zhao. And you're waiting for the Liang family to come save you, right? Good. I'll be waiting. If they don't show up, so be it. But if they do..." Xu Zhongyi trailed off with a sinister chuckle and continued walking. Behind him, the Inspectorate's jailers began dragging the captured martial artists into the cells like dead dogs, leaving Zhang Zhishan, Matriarch Zhang, and the others completely dumbfounded.

Zhang Jianguo stared at the prisoners being dragged in, his eyes filled with panic. That's... from the Qi Family... and the Li Family... Wait, aren't those the martial clans who planned to join the Black Dragon Society? If they've been captured, then doesn't that mean...

At first, they hadn't wanted to believe Xu Zhongyi, but now it was clear he wasn't bluffing. The realization that Chen Zheng had actually slain Takeda Masao hit them hard. With the possibility of their escape dwindling to nothing, the Zhang Family completely fell apart.

Matriarch Zhang was horrified by another thought: if her family, the Liangs, came to rescue them, they would be targeted, perhaps even annihilated, by Chen Zheng and Xu Zhongyi. Overcome by terror and rage, she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, unconscious.

「After the battle at the Black Dragon Society dojo」

A surprising and uniform silence fell over the matter. From Tailong to the regions south and north of the Jiangnan, from the Zhennan Prefecture government to the highest echelons of Da Shang, everyone tacitly consented to Chen Zheng's handling of the Dahe Nation warriors and the martial families of Da Shang.

Subsequent developments then unfolded in a way that shocked everyone. With breathtaking speed, the high command of Da Shang officially exonerated the Zhao Family of Yangcheng, reopening the case files on the old accusations against them.

This decision unleashed a bloody storm in the capital of Da Shang. Nearly half of the martial families and powerful clans were brought down as a result.

Before Chen Zheng even had a chance to act against them himself, the Da Shang high command had already identified and dealt with the culprits behind the slander and annihilation of the Zhao Family. By the time Chen Zheng learned what was happening, the capital had already executed those responsible with such speed that he had no time to intervene.

Clearly, the powers in the capital understood that if the Prince of Changlin personally investigated and handled the matter, the death toll would extend far beyond the current casualties. Rather than be forced into a passive position later, it was better to make a painful sacrifice and execute the guilty parties preemptively.

Many were all too familiar with the principle of sacrificing others to save oneself.

Having his family's great grievance avenged, Chen Zheng felt little emotion. Everything had unfolded as he had anticipated.

With Takeda Masao eliminated and the Black Dragon Society's dojo destroyed, the ranking operative from the Dahe Nation stationed in Da Shang fled back to his country. Subsequently, the Emperor of the Dahe Nation took the initiative to visit Da Shang for urgent negotiations, signing a series of treaties beneficial to Da Shang.

However, only a select few would later learn that the Dahe Emperor had come to sue for peace. He had even brought the antidote for the deadly poison, specifically requesting it be delivered to Chen Zheng. The Emperor's goal was simple: he hoped that in the interest of friendly relations between their nations, Chen Zheng would refrain from seeking revenge in the Dahe Nation.

To save Huo Qingtong, Chen Zheng patiently played along with the Da Shang high command, feigning compliance and accepting their terms.

But as soon as he turned around and confirmed that his aunt was safe, Chen Zheng immediately went to the Dahe Nation. He uprooted the Asura Eight Divisions Shrine, and soon after, the Emperor of the Dahe Nation mysteriously disappeared.

Da Shang, while fully aware that Chen Zheng was responsible, tacitly refrained from any response.

After this, Chen Zheng vanished without a trace from the Jiangnan region. The title "Prince of Changlin" was also heard no more in the northern lands.

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