This scene was too sudden. It wasn't until Guan Zhengshan was surrounded by a hundred armed men that everyone snapped out of their daze.
These people had actually come for the Guan family—it was simply unbelievable.
Guan Zhengshan was even more terrified. A hundred rifle muzzles were all pointed at him. As the head of the Guan family, when had he ever been threatened with guns?
And now, a hundred guns were aimed at his head.
"Who are you people? Why are you barging into the Guan family?" Guan Zhengshan forced himself to remain calm, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his fear.
At that moment, the leader of the armed men stepped forward, his expression cold. "We received a verified report that the Guan family has been using restricted firearms. The evidence is conclusive—do you still want to deny it? Everyone from the Guan family, come with us."
Everyone's eyes widened in shock. The authorities had dispatched so many heavily armed men not just to take Guan Zhengshan away, but to arrest the entire Guan family. Something huge was happening!
Hearing the leader's words, Guan Zhengshan's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, his face blank with disbelief. "How is this possible?"
A top-tier family like the Guan family had its own security team. For years, nothing like this had ever happened. But today, they were surrounded by so many armed men.
He wasn't stupid—someone was out to destroy the Guan family. After a long pause, Guan Zhengshan finally regained his senses and turned to look at Yang Chen. His face was now filled with exhaustion and despair.
"Just who are you?" Guan Zhengshan asked hopelessly. Even if he was going to die, he wanted to die knowing the truth.
Though he didn't want to believe it, the appearance of these men had to be connected to Yang Chen. The facts were undeniable—he had no choice but to accept it.
But Yang Chen only smiled innocently. "Does it still matter who I am?"
"Spare my family, and from now on, the Guan family will follow your lead," Guan Zhengshan said, quickly regaining his composure.
Yang Chen suddenly laughed. "You don't actually think I called these people here, do you? Even if I said I did, would you believe me?"
Guan Zhengshan froze. It wasn't him?
But if not him, then who?
"Family Head Guan, this is what they call 'the wages of sin.' You'd better cooperate with the investigation. I'm sure if you're innocent, the authorities won't give you trouble. But if you're guilty… well, you'll have to pray for mercy."
Yang Chen smiled, then turned to the leader of the armed men. "Isn't that right, officer?"
"Exactly!"
Being called "officer" by Yang Chen made the leader shudder, but he didn't dare reveal anything. He simply barked, "Take them away!"
Guan Zhengshan and all the core members of the Guan family were dragged off.
The leader then swept his gaze across the room and said coldly, "Everything that happened tonight is classified. We have records of everyone present. If anyone dares to leak what happened to the Guan family, they will be charged with treason."
With that, he turned and left.
In the vast banquet hall, everyone was trembling with fear. Treason was a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire family.
Everyone knew that after tonight, the Guan family would cease to exist in Jiangzhou. How the Guan family fell would become an unsolved mystery in the city.
But one question lingered in everyone's minds: Who had called in those armed men?
Could it have been that young man?
Countless eyes turned to Yang Chen.
Wang Hongye and Wang Jian, father and son, trembled uncontrollably when Yang Chen's gaze landed on them.
*Thud!*
Both men fell to their knees before Yang Chen. Wang Hongye begged, "Mr. Yang, my son offended you earlier. I apologize on his behalf. Please spare our Wang family."
"Mr. Yang, I was wrong! I'll never dare to disrespect you again! Please, just treat me like trash and let me go!" Wang Jian stammered in terror.
The Wang family had only just managed to establish ties with the Guan family. Now, all of the Guan family's core members had been taken away by the authorities—everything pointed to the Guan family's imminent downfall.
And all of this was likely orchestrated by the man standing before them. How could Wang Hongye and Wang Jian not be terrified?
"Disrespecting me is one thing, but if anyone dares to lay a finger on my wife or daughter, I'll make them wish they were dead."
Yang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. Though his words were directed at Wang Jian, everyone understood—this was a warning to all of them.
Wang Jian, remembering how he had once tried to take Yang Chen's wife, nearly wet himself in fear. He kowtowed repeatedly, slamming his forehead against the floor. "Mr. Yang, I was wrong! I'll never dare to harass your wife again!"
"Get lost!" Yang Chen snapped.
Just as he had told Guan Zhengshan earlier, he had only come today to gauge the Guan family's attitude. Not every piece of trash was worth his attention.
But he had been disappointed. Guan Zhengshan had allowed his descendants to run rampant.
Countless heroes had sacrificed their lives on the borders to protect the nation.
Yet families like the Guans acted lawlessly, wallowing in wealth without virtue. They didn't deserve the prosperity and strength that had been bought with the blood of soldiers.
Hearing Yang Chen's command, the Wang father and son scrambled away as if granted amnesty.
The others didn't dare linger either and quickly fled the ill-omened place.
Soon, the enormous banquet hall was empty except for Yang Chen, Ma Chao, and Yang Wei.
Yang Wei wasn't stupid—in fact, he was quite sharp. Compared to the others, he had a clearer understanding of Yang Chen's background.
He was almost certain that those armed men had been called in by Yang Chen.
"Mr. Yang, shall I drive you back?" Yang Wei stepped forward respectfully.
Yang Chen glanced at him indifferently. He knew Yang Wei had something to say but didn't refuse. He turned to Ma Chao. "You drive back first. He'll take me."
"Yes!" Ma Chao responded without hesitation and left.
Yang Wei didn't rush to speak. He personally drove Yang Chen all the way to the Qin family's estate.
The entire ride, Yang Wei remained silent, as if he were just a chauffeur.
It wasn't until Yang Chen was about to get out of the car that Yang Wei finally spoke. "Mr. Yang, I have an idea. I'm not sure if I should mention it."
A faint smile tugged at Yang Chen's lips. So, this guy had finally run out of patience. "Go ahead," he said lightly.
"After tonight, the Guan family will no longer exist in Jiangzhou. I believe this is an opportunity for you," Yang Wei said with a smile.
"Oh? How so?" Yang Chen feigned ignorance.
"The news of the Guan family's downfall won't spread immediately. If we seize this moment to take over their assets, you could establish your own family in Jiangzhou, standing alone at the top."
Yang Wei smiled. "If you're willing, my Yang family will support you unconditionally."
"Truly unconditional?" Yang Chen asked mockingly.
"Truly."
Yang Wei nodded. "The Yang family only asks for one thing."
"What is it?" Yang Chen asked.