Chapter 90

......

That punch.

It collided head-on with Bojun Old Ancestor's claw.

"Boom!"

The two energies clashed, sending shockwaves in all directions.

Bojun Old Ancestor's body, hovering in mid-air, flipped backward for over ten zhang before he barely managed to stabilize himself. A flush of red quickly faded from his face, clearly indicating he had taken a hit. He then slowly descended to the ground, his face filled with extreme anger: "It's you, Gongsun Mang!"

The Zhao family's main territory was directly opposite the Shanyang Gongsun family. He and Gongsun Mang had clashed twice before, so they were not strangers.

After Gongsun Mang's successful strike, he also landed heavily, his feet creating a pit in the stone ground.

He lifted the hood of his gray robe and sneered, "Zhao Bojun, you disregarded the rules of sparring and attacked a twelve-year-old child. If this spreads, your reputation will be ruined."

"You..." Bojun Old Ancestor was so angry that he almost spat out the blood he had been holding back, "Gongsun Mang, don't spout lies. I was merely concerned and tried to stop that girl from killing my great-great-grandson."

Gongsun Mang was just deliberately provoking him. Since the matter had not been resolved, he couldn't do much to a respected old ancestor. However, he couldn't miss the opportunity to take advantage of the situation and lower the Zhao family's prestige. He immediately said loudly, "Right and wrong will be judged by the public. Today, over a thousand people witnessed everything, and they will naturally spread the word about your family's actions."

Bojun Old Ancestor took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "We have our own grievances with the Wang family, and it's not your business to interfere, is it? Are you planning to start a war between in-laws?"

Gongsun Mang laughed heartily, "Zhao Bojun, don't try to pin such a big hat on me. I was just visiting my great-great-grandson, Wang Shouzhe, and happened to see you and the Liu family bullying a child. If you want to spar, I'm ready to accept your challenge."

Bojun Old Ancestor was somewhat surprised and uncertain.

Logically, their visit to the Wang family to cause trouble was a last-minute arrangement. Even if Gongsun Mang had received the news, he wouldn't have had time to arrive.

Could it be...

That Gongsun Mang really just happened to be visiting?

However, he knew this wasn't the time to argue with Gongsun Mang. Seeing his great-great-grandson still struggling on the ground, he immediately shouted, "You insolent Wang child, since Zhao Dingteng has already lost, why are you still using venomous insects to torment him?"

Wang Luojing was about to speak, but Wang Shouzhe stepped in front of her and said calmly and politely, "In a sparring match, injuries are inevitable. Moreover, Zhao Dingteng is as strong as a bull, brave and resolute. He hasn't admitted defeat yet, so he is still considered to be in the match. My sister continues to attack to ensure victory, which is reasonable and justified."

"Fine, fine, fine, you young whelp, how dare you speak so insolently in front of an old ancestor? Is this the kind of upbringing your Wang family has?" Bojun Old Ancestor was furious.

"Apologies, I, Wang Shouzhe, am the clan leader of the Wang family, not a junior for you to scold," Wang Shouzhe said calmly, "As for insolence, the clan leaders of the Liu and Zhao families, Liu Shengye and Zhao Jinxian, constantly mention Wang Longyan. How arrogant and domineering can they be? I, as the clan leader, have already shown considerable restraint by not addressing you as 'Zhao Bojun.'"

Bojun Old Ancestor was so angry that his whole body was trembling, "Wang Shouzhe, do you mean to say you won't release my great-great-grandson?"

"While the match is still ongoing, it's not up to me to decide," Wang Shouzhe replied, turning to Wang Luojing, "Luojing, continue the battle with Zhao Dingteng and don't tarnish the Wang family's reputation. By the way, I see that Zhao Dingteng has exceptional talent and a strong will, possibly possessing some bloodline power. Be extra cautious and don't let him turn the tide."

"Yes, Fourth Brother," Wang Luojing replied obediently, then with a serious and solemn expression, she continued to play the insect flute, summoning various venomous insects and bees to attack Zhao Dingteng.

The way the siblings spoke so earnestly and cooperatively made even Mang Old Ancestor feel a slight twinge in his heart. He had always thought that Wang Longyan and Gongsun Hui had exaggerated about Wang Shouzhe.

Now it seemed that their words had been an understatement. He immediately warned, "Spar, but be careful not to cause any fatalities." As he said this, he felt he had reached a new level of lying.

"Yes, Mang Old Ancestor," Wang Luojing respectfully replied.

Not far away, Liu Yuanrui and Liu Ruolei, the brother and sister, also swallowed their saliva. Their brother Shouzhe usually appeared gentle and refined, a true gentleman.

But once he got serious, he was truly terrifying. Zhao Dingteng was really in a terrible state.

"You young whelp, you have real guts," Bojun Old Ancestor said with a mix of anger and laughter, "Gongsun Mang, since you're protecting these young ones today, don't blame us for including you in the fight. Zhide, it's time for you to act, isn't it?"

As he spoke,

The curtain of another carriage opened, and a plain-dressed, white-bearded old man slowly walked out. He didn't use his spirit platform to fly, but walked, each step covering several zhang as if he were shrinking the distance.

His face was ruddy, his white hair flowing, and his clothes fluttering in the wind, making him look like a revered land deity. In a few breaths, he was in front of everyone.

Liu Zhide, the old ancestor of the Liu family.

"Liu Zhide, I greet Mang Old Ancestor," Zhide Old Ancestor bowed slightly.

"Gongsun Mang, I greet Zhide Old Ancestor," Gongsun Mang, being polite, returned the bow.

Zhide Old Ancestor nodded and said calmly, "Since Mang Old Ancestor is here by chance, I understand your concern for your descendants, but you have a misunderstanding about our Liu and Zhao families."

"Our Liu and Zhao families, despite having misunderstandings with the Wang family, are all families protected by Zouxuan Old Ancestor, sharing a common lineage. We should support and help each other, but it has come to this," Zhide Old Ancestor said calmly, "How about this: if the Wang family's clan leader, Wang Shouzhe, promises never to interfere in our territories and expels the recruited laborers, we will let this matter go."

Mang Old Ancestor looked at Wang Shouzhe.

Wang Shouzhe stepped forward, his expression serious, and said loudly, "Our Ping'an Wang family is different from the Liu and Zhao families. We do not share the same lineage. Moreover, Ping'an is a place that Zouxuan Old Ancestor and our ancestors fought to protect as a human habitat."

"As descendants, if we stand idly by and let others desecrate the old ancestor's legacy, would we not be unworthy of our ancestors?"

These words were reasonable and resonated with the Wang family members and most of the onlookers.

Wang Shouzhe said solemnly, "I have a suggestion. How about our Wang, Liu, and Zhao families join forces to help the innocent civilians through this difficult time? Here, I, Wang Shouzhe, on behalf of the two thousand residents of Ping'an, thank Zhide and Bojun Old Ancestors."

With that, Wang Shouzhe stood up, clasped his hands in a bow, and deeply bowed.

"Well said, the Wang family is a family of righteousness and virtue." "Truly worthy of being Zouxuan Old Ancestor's descendants."

"To help two thousand civilians, the Wang family's clan leader has set aside past grievances and bowed to the other side, truly a great act of virtue and righteousness." "If the Liu and Zhao families can return to the right path, it would be a great virtue."

The onlookers were deeply moved by Wang Shouzhe's words and began to discuss the "bright future" enthusiastically.

The Wang family members looked at each other, wondering if the clan leader was really planning to cooperate with the Liu and Zhao families to help the disaster victims. This didn't seem to fit his character.

Only Bojun and Zhide could truly feel how uncomfortable and nauseated they were by Wang Shouzhe's words and bow.

This kid is ruthless.

What right do you have to represent the two thousand residents of Ping'an? Who do you think you are?

If they refused to participate in the disaster relief in front of everyone, their prestige would plummet. If they agreed, they would become tools in the hands of that kid. All the hard work would be done by them, but everything would be credited to the Wang family, treating them like subordinate families.

They were in a bind, with no good options.

Seeing Bojun and Zhide looking as if they had swallowed a fly, Wang Shouzhe felt extremely satisfied.

Boosting prestige!

I am standing on the moral high ground, using the two thousand residents as a shield to suppress you. Whether they agree or not, my goal has been achieved.

They dared to come to the Wang family's main residence to cause trouble today, so they should be prepared to be "reputation monsters."

From start to finish, Wang Shouzhe was using them to boost his prestige, and he was doing it wave after wave.

Now that he had them, he wouldn't let go easily. He would relentlessly and creatively strip away their prestige.

If it weren't for the occasion, Wang Shouzhe would have taken out his little notebook system and adjusted the personal and family prestige values significantly.

At least the "town prestige" bar was about to max out, reaching 100 points.

Bojun and Zhide Old Ancestors exchanged glances, both seeing the regret in each other's eyes.

If they had known that the land annexation would be used by the Wang family and Wang Shouzhe to make a big issue, they would never have taken that step.

But now, there was no turning back.

They had to resort to force. Once the Wang family was thoroughly suppressed, who in Ping'an would dare to speak ill of the Liu and Zhao families?

The eyes of Bojun and Zhide Old Ancestors grew sharper, and they blocked Mang Old Ancestor from both sides. Although they didn't want to fight Mang Old Ancestor, since he had blocked their path and refused to back down, they had no choice but to suppress him first.

"Zhao Bojun, please grant me your guidance."

"Liu Zhide, please grant me your guidance."

Everyone was stunned, and the crowd was also stunned. Two respected old ancestors, acting so shamelessly, joining forces to challenge another old ancestor in front of everyone.

Indeed, when one has no shame, they are invincible.

"Ha ha, Gongsun Mang, please grant me your guidance." Mang Old Ancestor's expression was serious, but he couldn't back down now and prepared for battle.

Suddenly!

"Buzz!"

A sword hum echoed, lingering in the ears.

At the same time, a hazy figure darted from a distance, like a dragon, slicing toward Zhide Old Ancestor.

Zhide Old Ancestor was taken aback and quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding the sudden sword strike.

"Swish!"

The hazy sword glow flickered, and a strand of white beard fluttered in the wind, then returned, floating like a spirit in front of Mang Old Ancestor.

The sword was light as smoke, exuding a dreamlike beauty.

"Longyan Sword!"

Zhide and Bojun Old Ancestors' faces changed drastically, filled with fear. The scene from years ago flashed in their minds!

At the same time, a light, ethereal, and cold female voice rang out.

"Liu Zhide, Zhao Bojun. Where did you get the courage to suppress me, Wang Longyan?"

...