Profit Moves People's Hearts

To the west of Niu Family Village stood Baixi Mountain, while the other three sides opened into vast, boundless plains. There were villages in every direction, including the Lin family's maiden home, Lin Family Village, to the east-though it was unknown how many people there were still alive.

Zhou Minghu led a large group of nearly a hundred people heading east, while Zhou Changxi and Zhou Xuanya each led seventy to eighty people, one heading south and the other north.

This arrangement was a precaution; if anything happened, Zhou Minghu would have enough time to come to their aid.

The Zhou family did not intend to occupy much territory this time; seizing a dozen or so villages would be sufficient. First, biting off more than one could chew would make too large a territory difficult to govern. Second, the strange and evil entities were not easy to deal with. The family's current strength was weak, making steady and solid progress the sensible course. A snake trying to swallow an elephant out of greed would only bring ruin to the family.

After all, if evil entities wreaked havoc and the family lacked the power to suppress them, resulting in too many mortal casualties, the imperial court would hold them accountable.

The imperial court permitted these Qi Condensation cultivators to establish clans precisely because they were expected to protect a region. If they couldn't even accomplish that, it would be a joke.

Zhou Changxi, heroic and spirited, shouted toward Zhou Changhe, "Brother, I'm setting off first!"

Then, without looking back, he strode off into the distance.

"Be careful in everything. Remember, occupying three villages is enough," Zhou Changhe called out worriedly. He even grabbed Sun Mingcheng's hand. "No matter what, you must protect Changxi's safety."

"Rest assured, Changhe," Sun Mingcheng laughed, patting his chest. "With me here, nothing will go wrong."

His daughter was Zhou Changhe's primary wife, making Zhou Changxi a relative of his own family. With the Zhou family's current soaring momentum, as long as his family held on tightly, why worry about lacking wealth and honor?

"Mm, go early and return soon." Zhou Changhe nodded, watching the three groups depart.

Only when their figures disappeared from sight did he turn to Zhou Shi beside him. "Do not let the people of Niu Family Village sit idle. Have them dig ditches and repair houses."

A full stomach breeds restless desires, and idle people develop thoughts they shouldn't have. Even if these Niu Family Village people currently submitted to the family, it was better to take precautions to avoid any incidents.

"This lowly one will handle it right away." Zhou Shi bowed and nodded, then ran toward the scattered crowd, shouting for them to start rebuilding their homes.

Meanwhile, on another front.

Because of his formidable strength, Zhou Minghu led the largest group. Not long after setting out, he summoned Wang Feng and Niu Zhou over.

Strangely enough, although Wang Feng was now in his fifties, his physique looked sturdier than that of an average man.

"Each of you dispatch a team of men to trail my younger brother and Brother Changxi. If anything happens, report back to me immediately."

"Understood, understood," Niu Zhou said with a fawning smile. He had managed to find out that the man before him was an Immortal Master, and moreover, the eldest son of the Zhou family's foundational Immortal Master. If he could forge a connection with him, wouldn't his future soar?

Promptly, each side sent out a team of several men to shadow the other two groups.

...

On a main road, Zhou Xuanya's group was slowly advancing. The road had long been churned into a quagmire by the rain, making their progress extremely arduous.

"Uncle Hui, how much farther to the next village?" Zhou Xuanya asked, looking back.

"Only two or three Li left. It is called Zhang Family Village," Wang Hui replied. "It used to have three or four hundred people, but looking at the current situation, it is hard to say if anyone is still alive."

The closer they approached the heart of Qingshui County, the more severe the disaster became. Beyond the natural struggle to survive, roaming refugees and bandits pillaged and plundered, making life even more impossible.

Zhou Xuanya nodded, then turned to Qian Fangsu. "Brother Su, send some men ahead to scout. We must avoid being ambushed by bandits."

"I will arrange it right away," Qian Fangsu agreed, immediately dispatching scouts forward.

Although Zhou Xuanya was young, his mind was far from naive. He had always been the most obedient and steady among the third generation.

While he too wished to perform well and earn more of his father's attention, Zhou Minghu had cautioned him to hold his position after occupying three villages. He naturally kept this firmly in mind.

...

Zhou Changxi had chosen the north. Because it bordered the Darong Mountain Range, the terrain was higher than the other two directions, making the journey far easier for his group.

"Uncle Cheng, how much farther?" Zhou Changxi walked at the front, holding a longsword. The Zhou family guards formed a tight protective circle around him, their eyes constantly sweeping over the Baixi Village commoners and the Sun family members.

"Almost there, almost there. If I remember correctly, Zhao Family Village is up ahead. I've even met the village elder, Old Man Zhao," Sun Mingcheng said with a grin.

Before the Zhou family rose as an immortal clan, Old Man Zhao had hosted a wedding banquet. As the designated young patriarch of the Sun family, Sun Mingcheng had naturally attended.

Zhou Changxi thought for a moment, then shouted, "Ma Datou."

Instantly, a sturdy man dashed out from among the Baixi Village commoners and trotted to Zhou Changxi's side.

"Second Young Master, this lowly one is here."

Although the Sun family were his brother's in-laws, Zhou Changxi knew better than to let one family dominate. This Ma Datou was someone he had singled out from the Baixi Village commoners for showing a bit of spirit.

"Take some men up ahead. Observe Zhao Family Village from a distance and see if anything is amiss."

"I will go right away."

Ma Datou swiftly backed away and led a group of Baixi Village commoners creeping forward to scout.

Born to a lowly household, he naturally yearned for the prestige of the great families. Now that he had finally caught the eye of the Zhou family, he had to perform exceptionally well. Perhaps he would be entrusted with heavy responsibilities in the future.

"Brother Ma, you're amazing."

A man walking behind Ma Datou spoke with envy as they navigated the rugged mountain path with a dozen commoners.

"Of course," Ma Datou replied smugly.

Another man, named Wu Siliu, chimed in, "Brother Ma, us brothers will follow your lead from now on. When you strike it rich, don't forget about us."

"For sure, for sure. When I make my fortune, I definitely won't forget you."

Ma Datou couldn't stop grinning. He was just an ordinary peasant, but now, finding sudden favor, he was riding high on success. His mind was filled with fantasies of the day he might establish his own household.

Before long, he reached Zhao Family Village, scouted the area, and returned to report to Zhou Changxi.

"Second Young Master, Zhao Family Village seems deserted. There's only movement inside a large, tightly shut compound."

Zhou Changxi pondered for a moment, then shouted to those behind him, "Zhao Family Village is just ahead. Break down their gates, and all the treasures inside belong to you! I only want the grain!"

He knew this eastern march was to secure benefits for his own clan. Only major surnames like the Wang, Sun, and Niu families could truly see the long-term prospects. As for these commoners, many didn't even know what this march was really about.

Just like an army-the generals knew the objective of the campaign, but the foot soldiers marched in a daze.

This lack of purpose only resulted in low morale among the commoners. If they encountered bandits and suffered casualties, it could easily turn into a rout. Unable to think of a proper way to boost morale on the spot, yet desperate to prove his worth, he resorted to the most primal method: driving men with profit.

The commoners had been listless, but upon hearing Zhou Changxi's words, their eyes instantly shone with a golden light of greed. They might not gain anything from conquering villages and claiming land, but any gold and silver they snatched would go straight into their own pockets. How could they not be tempted!

In an instant, this loose, disorganized procession transformed into a pack of ravenous wolves, surging rapidly toward Zhao Family Village.

Sun Mingcheng frowned slightly. Zhou Changxi's actions ran entirely counter to the principles of long-term prosperity and stability. Although he did not know how to lead troops, he knew how to govern a family and a clan. If the members of a clan grew lazy and decadent, each craving unearned gains and shortcuts to massive profits, the entire clan would rot from its roots.

Fortunately, it was only three villages. Even if they were allowed to pillage a little, it shouldn't spiral out of control.

He could only comfort himself with this thought. Gathering some of his own clansmen, he issued a stern warning, then secretly dispatched two of them back to report to Zhou Changhe.

Wu Siliu, observing from a distance, naturally noticed this. He quietly gathered a few men and tailed them.

On a narrow path, they finally caught up to the two messengers.

Wu Siliu shouted, "Sun Chuan, where are you off to?"

Sun Chuan and his companion stopped. Seeing it was Wu Siliu, they relaxed. Sun Chuan smiled bitterly, "Sigh, it's our clan head. He wants us to go tell the Eldest Young Master that the Second Young Master is making us plunder and pillage."

Coming from the same village, they were naturally somewhat familiar with one another.

"You aren't really planning to tell the Eldest Young Master, are you?" Wu Siliu asked with a faint smile. "If you go tell him now, we won't get to keep any money. Wouldn't you regret that?"

"Ugh, tell me about it," Sun Chuan sighed. "We finally get a chance to make some real money, and the clan head wants us to snitch to the Eldest Young Master. What if the Eldest Young Master forbids it?"

"Exactly! The Second Young Master already gave us the go-ahead to plunder, so why do we have to tell the Eldest Young Master?" the man beside him agreed indignantly.

"Then why bother telling him? It's only three villages anyway; it'll be over in the blink of an eye. If you go looking for the Eldest Young Master now, you'll end up empty-handed," Wu Siliu pointed out.

Sun Chuan and his companion immediately began to waver. Although they were members of the Sun family, their pockets were just as empty. If they went to report to the Eldest Young Master now, by the time they rushed back, there would be nothing left to grab. Naturally, they felt a pang of unwillingness and resentment.

Why should everyone else get to plunder Zhao Family Village while the two of them toiled and ran errands for absolutely nothing?

"Old Wu, what do you think we should do?" Sun Chuan asked. In truth, his mind was already made up; he just wanted to hear the validation from Wu Siliu's mouth.

Wu Siliu smirked. He had intercepted them precisely to stop them from reporting, ensuring they could plunder more freely. Now that Sun Chuan was on board, it was absolutely perfect.

"I say, just don't tell the Eldest Young Master. It's only three villages anyway, how much can we really plunder? Better to let everyone grab what they can. If you delay any longer, there won't be a scrap left for you."

Sun Chuan nodded, then turned back alongside Wu Siliu and the others.

However, knowing they couldn't let Sun Mingcheng spot them, they trailed at the rear of the procession, planning to show their faces later.

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