Chapter 61: Rules!

"Heh."

Chen Kun had already guessed that Chen Xuan would never agree to offer a formal apology, so he simply gave a cold chuckle.

"Since that is the case, I have nothing more to say. However, Young Master Xuan, there is one thing I must remind you of. Should the Prefecture Lord's Mansion come looking for trouble with you, I sincerely hope you will not use my Chen family as a shield."

He was drawing a distinct line between his family and Chen Xuan.

"Rest assured. A man bears responsibility for his own actions. If the people from the Prefecture Lord's Mansion wish to find me, let them come."

Chen Xuan smiled indifferently.

"Very well, I hope Young Master Xuan keeps his word!"

Chen Kun's voice boomed. "Things have reached this juncture, and I see no point in continuing this meal. Young Master Xuan, I have already arranged lodgings for you all. Please."

He was overtly issuing an eviction notice.

After all, both sides were already on the verge of tearing away their polite facades, and continuing any further would merely be a waste of each other's time.

"Lead the way."

Chen Xuan had no desire to exchange any more idle chatter. Now was not yet the time for a complete falling out with Chen Kun; he needed to first establish a firm footing here before gradually expanding his own sphere of influence.

"Follow me!"

Chen Kun turned sharply and walked off, taking the lead.

Beside them, Chen Qing was consumed by unwillingness.

The atmosphere between the two sides had already grown tense to the breaking point, teetering on the verge of an explosive conflict. Who could have imagined that Chen Kun would still manage to swallow his anger and endure it?

This made him feel that his own father was utterly cowardly and incompetent!

If he were the one in power within the Chen family, he would never have left Chen Xuan a path to survive!

"Lads, keep up."

Chen Xuan called out, and Liu Jinyu's subordinates immediately rose to their feet.

Words are wasted on those who disagree.

Since they were all full anyway and had nothing to say to the people of the Chen family, remaining here any longer was entirely meaningless.

Moreover, having endured a long and arduous journey recently, having a place to rest was not a bad outcome.

Everyone followed closely behind Chen Kun.

Leaving the Chen residence, they headed west all the way.

Before long, they passed beyond the city gates and entered the outskirts.

Finally, they halted before a secluded courtyard compound.

It was a sealed compound, and when Chen Xuan and his group arrived, official paper seals were still plastered across the doors.

"Open the door!"

Chen Kun stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his tone detached and cold.

Immediately, two men stepped forward from behind him, tore away the seals, and pushed the doors open.

The moment the doors swung wide, a thick plume of dust billowed into the air.

Inside the compound, dust covered every inch of the ground.

Goodness knows how many years it had been since this place was last cleaned.

"Young Master Xuan, this is it."

Chen Kun said with a mocking smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"People are supposed to live here?"

Before Chen Xuan could speak, Liu Jinyu couldn't help but complain aloud.

"This dump looks like it hasn't been tended to in ages! There are weeds growing right out of the courtyard!"

Aside from a thick layer of accumulated dust, the entire courtyard was overgrown with weeds, presenting a thoroughly desolate scene.

Making people live in such a place—was this not deliberately making things difficult for them?

"Nothing can be done about it. Nowadays, Easy City has too many people and too few houses. Securing this courtyard took quite a bit of effort on my part."

Chen Kun replied flatly, his attitude clearly conveying that they could take it or leave it.

The house was all he had to offer; if they didn't want it, too bad.

"Fine, we'll stay here then. Thank you for your trouble."

Chen Xuan couldn't be bothered to pick and choose. Since this was the lodging arranged by the other party, there was no need for him to bicker over it.

He was well aware that Chen Kun was intentionally trying to humiliate him, but it mattered little.

"Heh, I wish Young Master Xuan a good rest. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

Chen Kun spoke indifferently.

"Please do."

Chen Xuan couldn't be bothered to engage with him further.

Since relations had already soured, uttering even one extra word was a waste of time for both parties.

"Let's go!"

Chen Kun immediately turned and led his men away.

Before long, the members of the Easy City Chen family had all departed.

"Lord Chen, those people from the Chen family were clearly giving us a hard time on purpose, dumping us in such a dilapidated ruin."

As soon as they left, Liu Jinyu began cursing angrily.

Who knew how many years this courtyard had been abandoned? The ground was blanketed in a thick layer of grime.

"No matter. Clean this place up, and we will stay here. As for the brothers..."

Chen Xuan cast his gaze over the roughly five hundred bandits.

Such a small courtyard could never accommodate so many people.

"For the time being, you can make do by staying at the inns in the city. In a few days, I will secure a larger estate so everyone can live together."

Chen Xuan said slowly.

With that, he instructed Li Xiuning to fetch a hundred liang of gold and distribute it among the bandits.

"Lord Chen, you are being far too generous."

Liu Jinyu took the lead in declining, hurriedly protesting that they couldn't accept it.

"It is just a small token of my appreciation. The brothers have suffered a great deal following me."

Chen Xuan insisted that they take it.

"Very well. Since it is a token of Lord Chen's kindness, we would be remiss to refuse."

Liu Jinyu accepted it on behalf of the men, then waved his hand grandly and barked orders, "Listen up, everyone! Immediately set to work cleaning this courtyard! Scrub every single corner until it is spotless!"

"Make sure our sisters-in-law have a clean and comfortable environment!"

"Understood!"

Everyone sprang into action at once.

With nearly five hundred people working simultaneously, no matter how filthy the courtyard was, it was cleaned from top to bottom in the blink of an eye.

Even the tiles on the roof were scrubbed clean.

Afterward, Chen Xuan sent some men out to purchase fresh bedding and pillows.

In no time at all, the entire courtyard took on a completely new look.

"You've all worked hard today, so go get some rest."

"However, there is one thing I must remind you all of: no visiting brothels, and absolutely no drinking alcohol!"

Chen Xuan stated with a stern expression.

"Huh? Not being allowed to drink is one thing, but we can't even go to the brothels?"

"Lord Chen, don't be like this. I'm about to go stir-crazy!"

"Exactly! After more than half a month of arduous travel without touching a woman, I'm burning up all over and need to blow off some steam!"

A great chorus of discontented grumbling instantly erupted among the crowd.

Chen Xuan heard every single word clearly.

"Let me tell you this: right now, not only are the people from the Chen family watching you, but the people from the Prefecture Lord's Mansion are watching you as well."

"The moment you touch a drop of alcohol or step foot into a brothel, the men from the Chen family and the prefecture will come knocking to pick a fight!"

"If you're itching to be thrown into the dungeons, go right ahead. But I'm warning you beforehand—if you get locked up, I will not lift a finger to bail you out!"

Chen Xuan swept his gaze over each and every one of them, his stance unyielding.

Having arrived in Easy City, these bandits constituted his primary power base.

However, Chen Xuan knew very well that while these men listened to Liu Jinyu, they might not necessarily obey him.

Therefore, he had to establish strict rules now to make future control easier.

Naturally, Chen Xuan's rules drew the deep dissatisfaction of the bandits present.

They had long been looking forward to indulging themselves in the brothels once they reached Easy City.

To have that privilege abruptly denied would displease anyone.

Involuntarily, they turned their gazes toward Liu Jinyu, hoping their chief would put in a good word for them.

Liu Jinyu was also placed in a difficult position. Hesitating for a moment, he ventured, "Lord Chen, the brothers have endured quite a bit of hardship lately and were simply hoping to unwind upon arriving in Easy City. Forbidding them from going out like this is indeed placing a rather heavy burden on them..."