CHAPTER 503: CHAPTER 503. I OWN THE GAO CLAN

Amon didn’t encounter any more trouble during his journey from Fort Fresh Maw to Golden Stone City. He used stealth and sneaked his way throughout his journey, which made the travel much slower, but it didn’t seem like Prince Huang Zhan was targeting him again.

He slightly relaxed after entering the capital, but he kept his guard up.

Today was also the day the army that raided the rebel hideouts arrived. The battle puppets remained outside the capital while the soldiers entered the city. They were hailed as heroes by the citizens. The surviving rebel leaders were paraded on the streets as they marched toward the Grand Barrack, where these captives would be held until their execution day.

Amon didn’t join the festivities. He went to visit Gao Lan in their hideout before departing for Gao Clan’s Estate with her. For a prominent clan in the capital, their estate was no less large and luxurious than the Yan Clan in Qishurg City. However, as Amon and Gao Lan were ushered by a servant through the estate, he could see things didn’t look so well. Not many activities were taking place inside, and every clan member he passed by displayed a somber expression.

He didn’t find this strange. The Gao Clan was indeed undergoing a recession, thanks to his ploy in framing them for the underworld mess.

They were brought to a large building surrounded by spacious courtyards. The entire building housed a large open hall. This looked like a gathering hall where the Gao Clan hosted important events or festivals. Currently, the hall was empty and somber.

The usher pointed them at one corner, where they saw a small table with two chairs. One of the chairs was occupied. The man sitting on it was drinking from a cup on the table. A maid was on standby behind him. Amon and Gao Lan walked toward the man.

The person on the chair was a man who looked to be in his fifties. He had trimmed white beards and appeared scholarly. He looked composed, but his eyes showed weariness. Those two tired eyes observed Amon and Gao Lan as they approached.

"This is Gao Dingbu, the Gao Clan’s clan master," Gao Lan introduced.

"Gao Lan... It has been some time," Gao Dingbu said. His voice was raspy. "You look well. It seems time has been good for you. The same cannot be said about our clan."

"You still look healthy, Uncle Dingbu. That’s what’s important," Gao Lan replied. She gestured at Amon, "This is Amon, a colonel of the kingdom army and the owner of the Lin Hei Sect."

"And the secret leader of the Demon Gang, I presume," Gao Dingbu added.

Amon made a saluting gesture. When he was about to speak, a loud voice interrupted him.

"You, fiends! How dare you two show yourself here!"

Amon and Gao Lan turned to the speaker. A young woman was running toward them. A servant man was chasing her from behind.

The young woman revealed a slim sword. She leaped forward with her sword thrusting forward.

"Yimin...," Gao Dingbu uttered softly. He extended his hand in Gao Yimin’s direction. Gao Yimin suddenly found herself very heavy. She slowed down and exhibited difficulty in walking.

’Earth-element arcane art that manipulates gravity,’ Amon thought after sensing the energy released by Gao Dingbu. The clan master was at the Peak Spirit Stage. His power had no trouble overpowering Gao Yimin, who was at the Beginning Mystic Stage.

"Father! How can you stand them? They are the ones who killed Brother Feng and Brother Fongze!" Gao Yimin exclaimed.

"Your brothers tried to kill me and the other clan members. I acted out of self-defense," Gao Lan stated.

"That is a lie! Brother Fongze never plans to kill anyone!" Gao Yimin yelled.

"The fact is he did. What do you expect me to do? Let him butcher me?"

"Yes, you should have let him! You, lying bitch!"

"Enough!!" Gao Dingbu exclaimed while standing up. A strong wave radiated from him and pushed Gao Yimin away. The servant man, who stood behind, caught her before she fell.

"Liu Xun! Take her out!" Gao Dingbu commanded.

"Yes, master," Liu Xun replied. He started dragging Gao Yimin away. This feat showed that he had a higher cultivation than her. Gao Yimin struggled to free herself but to no avail. All she could do was yell and curse at Amon and Gao Lan as she was brought away.

"Sigh... I’m sorry you must witness that," Gao Dingbu said. He gestured for Amon to sit in the chair opposite him before telling the maid to take another chair for Gao Lan.

"That’s fine, I will stand," Gao Lan said.

"I’m sorry. I thought Colonel Amon came alone," Gao Dingbu uttered. He gestured for the maid to pour tea for their guests. As she did, he resumed speaking, "So, Colonel. I’m honestly surprised by your visit. Our organization has been at odds for a while. You are the last person I expect to host. Even so, the enmity between our organizations doesn’t mean we can’t be civilized. Tell me, to what purpose do I owe this visit?"

"Thank you for agreeing to meet me, clan master," Amon replied. "You are a busy man, as am I. So, I will get to the point. Your clan is failing. It is plain for everyone to see. I can offer you a way out."

"Oh? What kind of way is that?" Gao Dingbu asked.

"Submit to the Lin Hei Sect. Become a subsidiary clan of my organization. We can protect all your businesses and ensure a smooth distribution of all your products."

"Hm...," Gao Dingbu nodded his head absently. It was not a gesture of affirmation but a sign of contemplation. It didn’t last long, though. It was as if he had expected this offer. "Colonel, let us be clear. As I mentioned, our two organizations were never friendly to one another. I know my son Gao Fongze’s endeavor in the underworld. I told him to be careful, but I also knew his temperament. He was not nicknamed the Mad Dog for nothing. I know sooner or later, he would step into a hole deeper than he expected. Still, as a father who instilled ambition in his son, what can I do? Restrain him? That is out of the question. Still, I didn’t expect the hole he stepped into would immediately claim his life..."

Gao Dingbu paused for a while as he shut his eyes. He took a deep breath before resuming, "What happened to my sons might be a mistake of their own doing. Their ambitions might have gotten the better of them, but don’t take me for a child, Colonel. Even if their undoing is their fault, I know you are partly at fault. Otherwise, how can the Demon Gang subjugate the underworld coalition in such a short time? You benefited from the coalition my son built and then shifted all the heat to my clan. If there is a party responsible for my clan’s faltering, it is your organization. Now, you want me to submit? Over my dead body!!"

Gao Dingbu smashed the table beside them, and it crumbled to dust.

Amon wasn’t upset by this refusal. He was holding his cup when Gao Dingbu destroyed the table. He continued to drink from the cup as if nothing had happened. After he was done, he said, "I respect Master Dingbu’s honesty. If you want to blame me for your clan’s downfall, that is your right. However, dwelling in the past will solve nothing. What’s important is the future. Right now, do you see any way out for your clan? Are you going to let your clan lose everything out of pride? Even when a chance to save it has appeared?"

"Hmph! You should leave before I do something we both regret," Gao Dingbu uttered. He closed his eyes, a signal that he would entertain no more argument.

Amon smiled. He stood and said, "Master Dingbu, before I leave, I have something I want to show you. However, it is for your eyes only. Can you send your maid away?"

Gao Dingbu opened his eyes. His face displayed a curiosity to Amon’s words. After pondering a while, he turned back and gestured for the maid to leave the hall.

After the maid was gone, Amon said, "You must have known about the First Demon Legion arriving in the capital today after exterminating the rebels."

"That is your achievement. Is there a point for you to gloat about it?" Gao Dingbu asked.

"I didn’t mean to gloat," Amon replied with a smile. "I mentioned this because I believe you should also have heard about how an unknown party attempted to rescue a rebel elder and almost foiled our operation."

Gao Dingbu frowned. This news was not yet public knowledge, but he did know about it thanks to his wide connections. What concerned him was why Amon mentioned this to him.

"Thankfully, they failed," Amon continued. "We managed to slay the rebel elder and his rescuers. I am the one who slayed this party, and I am now on my way to hand over their corpses to the kingdom."

Gao Dingbu could finally not hold his curiosity. He asked, "Colonel, what does this have to do with me?"

Instead of answering, Amon took out a pile of corpses from his black space ring and placed them on the floor. Gao Dingbu was at first bewildered by Amon’s action until he recognized one of the faces among the corpses.

"No... It... It can’t be...," Gao Dingbu stammered.

"Do you understand what this means? Master Dingbu?" Amon asked.

Gao Dingbu turned to Amon with wide eyes.

"This means I own the Gao Clan now," Amon answered his own question.