Chapter 4

That night, Luo Zheng was so excited that he couldn't fall asleep, and he only managed to sleep for one hour, yet he still felt full of energy.

The next morning, the servants of the Luo family opened the large lock on the cellar and put the iron shackles and leather armor on Luo Zheng before leading him out.

After entering the Bone Tempering Realm, his body had undergone a qualitative change. This change was hard to describe, even something as simple as walking had changed. Each step he took was more relaxed, more coordinated, and more energy-efficient.

If it weren't for the cursed shackles binding him, he would have wanted to sprint forward.

Under the guidance of the servants, Luo Zheng noticed that the path they were taking seemed off.

The entire Luo family estate was vast, but the layout was well-organized. The martial arts hall, the council pavilion, the herb garden, and the alchemy workshop, which were shared by the family, were all located in the front courtyard.

However, this path led them around the inner part of the estate, seemingly heading towards the rear courtyard!

Luo Zheng's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained silent, observing the situation.

He hadn't been to the rear courtyard of the Luo family for a long time, and the appearance had changed significantly. The residences of the second and third branches of the Luo family had added many pavilions and terraces, and several ponds had been dug, with small bridges and streams built, as well as pavilions and water pavilions.

These buildings were exquisitely crafted, leaving one in awe. The carved beams and painted pillars, adorned with dragon and phoenix patterns, were gilded with gold, and the rooftops were adorned with bright gems...

Seeing what the second and third branches of the Luo family had done, Luo Zheng couldn't help but sigh. Although the Luo family was wealthy, and this expenditure was insignificant, in today's world, only the strong could survive. For a martial artist, such luxury was trivial. If a family indulged in pleasure...

The Luo family would likely fall into the hands of his second and third uncles.

After passing a pond, Luo Zheng turned into a small courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, two people were sitting and drinking tea, enjoying themselves.

Luo Zheng took a closer look and recognized one of them as Fang Guan, the steward who had disappeared for two days. The other was an elderly man in silk robes, in his fifties. Luo Zheng knew him too; his name was Huang Ge, who was originally a servant of the Luo family.

Huang Ge's wife had been the wet nurse of Luo Chengyun, the eldest son of the third branch, and Huang Ge himself was very good at flattery and building relationships, which made him very close to the third branch of the Luo family. His status had risen steadily.

Now, with the second and third uncles controlling the Luo family, Huang Ge's status had risen even higher, becoming the chief steward of the Luo family, and even the collateral descendants of the Luo family didn't dare to look down on him.

Luo Zheng had heard about his arrogance long ago.

Before Luo Zheng could enter, he heard Fang Guan say to Huang Ge, "Sir Huang, the courtyard that Young Master Chengyun gave you is truly a masterpiece. If I'm not mistaken, the jade dragons on the door plaque are made of high-quality jade, right?"

Huang Ge chuckled, "You have a good eye. Not just the jade dragons, look at the glazed tiles on the roof and the bronze lions. They were all made by the best craftsmen in Chongyang County..."

Fang Guan examined them one by one and said, "Sir Huang, your small courtyard is perfect, but it's missing something!"

"What could it be missing? I have everything here," Huang Ge said smugly.

Fang Guan smiled, "Of course, it's missing a nimble servant to take care of your daily needs. I've brought someone for you. With this person as your servant, you'll have a lot of face!"

"Who is this person?" Huang Ge asked curiously.

Fang Guan pointed to the courtyard entrance, "Sir Huang, take a look!"

Huang Ge followed Fang Guan's finger and immediately recognized Luo Zheng, the former famous young master of the Luo family and the eldest son of the Luo family. How could he not recognize him?

Luo Zheng stood at the courtyard entrance, hearing every word Fang Guan and Huang Ge said. A surge of anger rose in his heart. These two dogs were so audacious and disrespectful.

Although Luo Zheng had been demoted to a family servant, this was still a matter of the Luo family.

Even the collateral descendants of the Luo family wouldn't dare to be too unreasonable in front of him, given his past status as the eldest son of the eldest branch.

Fang Guan dared to incite Huang Ge to treat him like a servant!

Huang Ge looked at Luo Zheng for a moment, and a sinister smile appeared on his wrinkled face, "Having this boy take care of my daily needs might be fitting, but I wonder if Young Master Chengyun would approve?"

"Sir Huang, you are the chief steward of our Luo family. A simple word from you can have Luo Zheng transferred from the martial arts hall. He's just a nameless family servant now, and he's beaten every day in the martial arts hall. Serving you would be much more comfortable. At most, he'll have to empty the chamber pots..." Fang Guan continued.

Fang Guan's words convinced Huang Ge. As someone who had climbed from the bottom, Huang Ge valued face the most. The former eldest son of the Luo family personally serving him would indeed be a funny thing. Huang Ge nodded and asked Fang Guan, "Shall we do it this way?"

"Let's do it this way!" Fang Guan nodded, got up, and called the servants to bring Luo Zheng in.

However, Luo Zheng stood his ground, unmoving, and the servants couldn't budge him no matter how hard they tried.

These servants, though strong, couldn't move Luo Zheng, who was in the Bone Tempering Realm.

Luo Zheng's feet were like wedges hammered into the ground, deeply rooted. The servants exerted all their strength, sweating profusely and panting.

"Luo Zheng, I'm giving you a chance to serve Sir Huang. Don't refuse the wine and end up drinking the penalty wine!" Fang Guan said, waving his sleeve.

At that moment, a fierce light flashed in Luo Zheng's eyes, and he roared. After entering the Bone Tempering Realm, his ribcage's contraction strength had increased, and his roar was like a thunderclap, making the servants and Huang Ge's ears ring uncomfortably.

"Huang Ge, Fang Cong! Even if my second uncle, Luo Bingquan, were here, he wouldn't dare to make me serve. You two lowly outsiders are so audacious. Who gave you the nerve to talk so arrogantly and demand that I serve you?"

Luo Zheng's aura overwhelmed Fang Guan, who was scared and retreated a few steps, hiding behind Huang Ge.

Fang Guan had brought Luo Zheng here today with the intention of having Huang Ge deal with him. Seeing Luo Zheng's agitated state, he knew the plan was half done. Huang Ge, who had climbed from a servant to the chief steward, hated being called lowly the most. Luo Zheng was in for a rough time.

Hearing Luo Zheng's words, Huang Ge remained calm, his eyes narrowing, and he said sinisterly, "Luo Zheng, don't forget your current status. You are the lowest of the low, a family servant, not the former young master. The current young master is Luo Peiran, not you. Being a meat target to serve me is an honor for you."

"Get out!"

Luo Zheng shook his body, and the servants were thrown away, landing in a heap.

Huang Ge continued, "Luo Zheng, you are a criminal. Do you want to rebel? According to the family rules, you could be executed by slicing!"

Luo Zheng laughed coldly and took a big step into the courtyard, laughing as he walked, "Family rules? An outsider dares to talk about family rules in front of me? Today, I'll show you what family rules are!"

With that, Luo Zheng raised his hand to strike Huang Ge. His bones crackled as he channeled his strength to the extreme, a sign of his bones interlocking.

"Luo Zheng, you dare! If you hit me, Young Master Chengyun will never let you off. You are just a meat target, powerless and without influence in the Luo family. Afraid of being beaten to death..."

"Slap!"

Before Huang Ge could finish, Luo Zheng's palm struck his face. After entering the Bone Tempering Realm, Luo Zheng's strength had nearly doubled. Although this slap wasn't his full strength, it was still powerful.

Huang Ge's face first turned pale, then five finger marks appeared, as clear as if they had been stamped on, and half his face swelled like a pig's head.

"According to the Luo family rules, speaking arrogantly and slandering others, slap!"

"Slap!"

"According to the Luo family rules, being a lackey and overestimating oneself, slap!"

"Slap!"

"According to the Luo family rules, stirring up trouble and distorting facts, slap!"

"Slap!"

"According to the Luo family rules..."

"Slap!"

With each slap, a cloud of blood mist burst out, and Fang Guan trembled at the sight.

This... This...

It wasn't what he had expected. Luo Zheng, who was usually treated as a meat target, seemed to have no temper and was always submissive. How could he now dare to hit even Sir Huang?

Fang Guan didn't understand that Luo Zheng's submissiveness was because he didn't want to stoop to their level.

By now, many Luo family members had gathered at the entrance, and they were all surprised and felt a sense of relief.

This chief steward, Huang Ge, had been bullying the Luo family members with the support of Luo Chengyun, acting as if he were the master of the Luo family. Many collateral descendants had suffered at his hands, but they had endured it for the sake of the second branch. However, Huang Ge's arrogance had only grown because of their tolerance.

Today, someone had stood up to teach him a lesson, and it felt good.

But...

These Luo family members knew that an outsider's arrogance was based on strong backing. Huang Ge's arrogance stemmed from his relationship with Luo Chengyun.

Moreover, despite his arrogance, Huang Ge was a model servant in front of the second and third branches, which made him very popular with them.

Luo Zheng, now a family servant, would be in big trouble for hitting Huang Ge.

Luo Zheng would definitely be in for a rough time...

Luo Zheng slapped Huang Ge dozens of times before stopping. Huang Ge's face was a bloody mess, and his gray hair was disheveled, making him look like a demon.

When Luo Zheng stopped, Huang Ge's battered mouth moved, and he mumbled, "You, you wait..."

Before Huang Ge could finish, Luo Zheng slapped him again, and Huang Ge's eyes rolled back as he fell to the ground.

After teaching Huang Ge a lesson, Luo Zheng turned his gaze to Fang Guan.

Fang Guan trembled at Luo Zheng's gaze, took a few steps back, and shouted, "Luo Zheng, you are a family servant!"

"So what if I'm a family servant?" Luo Zheng approached.

"How dare you defy your superiors!" Fang Guan said.

"What is superior? What is inferior? I am a Luo, and even as a family servant, I am still a Luo. And you forgot, my fists are bigger, so I am superior! My strength is greater, so I am superior! My skills are better, so I am superior!"

With that, Luo Zheng grabbed Fang Guan. With his Bone Tempering Realm strength, the servants were like obedient chickens in his hands. He slapped Fang Guan a dozen times.

The sound of the slaps made others wince, imagining the pain.

After hitting enough, Luo Zheng threw Fang Guan onto Huang Ge, and both let out a cry of pain. Luo Zheng said, "Today, I give you a lesson. Remember this pain, so you can distinguish right from wrong and know what to do and what not to do!"

With that, Luo Zheng turned and walked out of the courtyard. As he reached the entrance, the Luo family members and servants scattered.

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