Chapter 4

In the early morning, the sunlight shone under the eaves, carrying the temperature of late autumn, and the scent of cooking smoke drifted in from outside the courtyard, along with faint human voices.

Memories surged and flowed in his mind, some from the future, some from his life on Earth.

In this world, he had missed the child examination at the age of fifteen, failed the second time, and only passed the third time. Although he later advanced through the ranks, becoming a scholar and then a provincial candidate, by then, a great calamity had already befallen the world, causing widespread suffering.

During this great calamity, heroes rose up, and the world was in turmoil. However, he, having missed his time, was powerless to ride the tide of the era and died at the age of thirty at Cangye Manor.

The entire Ye family, seven hundred and ninety-one people, were spared no one.

Thinking of this, Ye Qing收回了目光，不再看着远去的叔父的背影。

The child examination was a prerequisite for becoming a scholar. Without the title of child, one could not enter the path of immortality, as the immortal sects only accepted disciples who had passed the child examination.

There was no reason to yield in this child examination, even if it meant bloodshed with his own kin.

"Master, it's time to eat!"

Qianqian, having composed herself, remembered her duty and soon brought over a plate of pickled dishes and two bowls of meat porridge, the aroma wafting through the air.

Following Ye Qing's instructions over the past two days, his body was too weak and needed to be nourished, otherwise, even practicing the highest-grade foundational Daoist techniques would be greatly discounted.

Ye Qing took the chopsticks and casually gestured to the wooden stool, inviting her to join him.

Qianqian silently sat down and ate with him. She noticed that although Ye Qing was eating, his face was somber, and his expression alternated between joy and sorrow, clearly deep in thought. She wanted to ask but swallowed her words.

In the past few days, she had keenly sensed that the young master had many more thoughts, and inadvertently, he exuded a terrifying aura and authority.

This kind of solemn and indifferent authority, she had only seen before in the criminal officials.

In large families, there was a rule not to speak during meals, so the two of them had little interaction. After finishing, Qianqian naturally cleared the table.

"I'm going out for a bit!"

"Alright!" Qianqian responded, watching him leave. The sunlight shone on her bright eyes, making her expression somewhat dazed.

Leaving the door, Ye Qing headed straight for the back garden.

The Ye family was considered a large household in Pingshou County, and the Ye Manor covered a vast area. The path in the back garden was winding, paved with blue stones, and lined with tall green bamboo on both sides.

It was late autumn, the sky was clear, and the bamboo leaves had fallen, covering the path with a thick layer. The leaves crunched underfoot, and there was a small artificial hill, thirty meters high, where a cool breeze blew, making it very pleasant.

Beyond the hill was a small stream that formed a lake, with large trees on the shore. In summer, they would provide ample shade, but now in autumn, the area around the lake was very quiet and cold.

Seeing this, Ye Qing nodded in approval. With his current knowledge, he could see the profound layout, a feng shui spot known as "Small Hill with a Belt," which, though not bringing great wealth and honor, could benefit the family's fortune, promoting prosperity. Unfortunately, without a title, he could not use Daoist techniques to see the fortune.

Standing there, he felt refreshed and clear-minded. After a while, he sat down in a pavilion. With no one around, he moved his hand, and a scroll appeared out of nowhere.

Under the dappled sunlight through the green bamboo, the ancient characters on the scroll read: "Chuanlin Notes."

Ye Qing focused his mind and read. Although he could not use Daoist techniques, just holding the scroll made him feel a surge of clear energy, making his mind sharp and his body comfortable. He could see a faint, ethereal glow around him, the limit a mortal could reach.

Turning the page, only the first page was visible, with sixteen characters: "Ultimate Fortune, Heaven and Earth Collapse, Four Seas Merge, Universe Destroyed!"

Before the great calamity, someone had foreseen this, but no one paid attention at the time. A lone Daoist traveled the world, recording major events, trying to uncover the essence behind the changes...

However, this Daoist died, and the Daoist sect claimed that he had tried to defy heaven and was punished. They offered a reward for the notes, which, though not enormous, was a significant resource for many struggling Daoists. In the last few years of his previous life, many people died fighting over this item, which eventually fell into his hands!

His death in his previous life was not for this, but incredibly, after dying and being reborn, all other magical treasures were lost, and most of his Daoist knowledge was erased, yet this scroll remained with him.

Opening the notes, Ye Qing stared at the second page, which only had four characters: "Six Yang Diagram Explanation," with nothing else written below.

Ye Qing was not disappointed. He closed the scroll, waved his hand, and the notes disappeared, sinking into his mind. At this moment, he felt a sense of awe and some enlightenment.

The Daoist ruler had dominated the world for a million years, and the order was deeply rooted in the great Dao. Everything followed the rules. Ye Qing had a premonition that if he obtained the title of child, there would be a pleasant surprise.

"The Daoist examination is publicly announced to the world, focusing on Daoist theories, selecting the wise and capable, not just on literary talent."

"This examination not only values literary talent but also fortune. Although I cannot see fortune, I have a general sense. In my reborn state, my fortune has been greatly diminished, leaving me very weak. Refusing my uncle might displease the family, losing the support of the family's fortune... I might not even be as good as my previous self, making it difficult to pass the child examination."

"But if I obtain the title of child, I can practice the foundational Daoist techniques, relying on my own cultivation to gather fortune, rather than depending entirely on external factors."

"The great calamity is coming, though the signs are not yet clear. Time does not wait for me. Now, advancing means life, and retreating means death. I cannot waste a moment. Perhaps now, I can only take a risky move..."

Thinking of this, Ye Qing narrowed his eyes and looked toward the northern mountains.

Beimang Mountain, the legendary land of the dead.

As he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a scream in the distance, Qianqian's voice. He was startled and rushed down.

When he arrived, he saw a man纠缠着Qianqian. Glancing at the scene, he was instantly furious and shouted, "It's you, you dare?"

This shout startled both of them. The man was shaken and then angry, having been intimidated by this young master from a lesser branch. He laughed strangely and said, "So it's Young Master Qing. You have a loud voice, not like a scholar at all."

He then laughed again, "But with a clean face and a loud voice, you'd make a good stage actor!"

Ye Qing did not get angry. He stared at the man for a moment and then said coldly, "You are my cousin Ye Sheng's servant, Wu Tiesi, right?"

At this, Ye Qing smiled grimly, "I didn't expect my cousin to have such a fool. Do you know why, despite the cold treatment, no servant has dared to offend me directly? Do you know what family rules and laws are?"

Wu Tiesi was forced back a step by this gaze, breaking out in a cold sweat, "Don't scare me, I'm not afraid. I'm Young Master Sheng's man!"

"Scare?" Ye Qing laughed coldly.

"Even if I am in decline, I am still listed in the Ye family register, your master. What are you, to dare to act so recklessly in front of me?"

"According to the law, if a servant offends their master, I can file a complaint, and the authorities will give you thirty lashes without question. Do you think you can withstand the lashes of the authorities?"

Hearing this, Wu Tiesi's words were forced back.

Servants had a low status. According to the law, if a servant offended their master, the master could beat them to death with just a fine. Conversely, if a servant dared to offend their master, they would receive thirty lashes without question, often with the full force of the authorities, even killing the servant on the spot.

Thinking of this, Wu Tiesi swallowed his words but was still不服. Ye Qing saw this and laughed again, "I know you are不服. You think that if I offend my cousin, I will suffer in the future. But have you thought about this?"

"If I am willing to offend my cousin and uncle, tear my clothes, and ring the clan bell, accusing you of beating me and bullying my maid, do you know what will happen to you?"

"What is the clan law based on? It is based on family rules and laws. No matter how poor a master is, they are still the master. If you, a servant, dare to offend them, you are violating the family rules and laws. Do you believe that my cousin and uncle will not listen to your defense and immediately beat you to death in front of the clan temple as an example?"

Saying this, Ye Qing grinned at Wu Tiesi, "Do you dare? If you have the courage, take your life and strike me, pulling me down with you!"

"Having a master to share your downfall, you would be worth it, wouldn't you?"

These words, like stones and jade, made Wu Tiesi's eyes turn red, his veins bulging. He really wanted to strike this frail young man dead.

But he did not dare!

In this world, even the children of servants were whipped to remember the family rules. Although deaths were rare, the pain was deeply ingrained.

Wu Tiesi, no matter how foolish and impulsive, knew that the young man was right.

If the young man was willing to risk offending the master and young master, having him beaten to death was not difficult.

After a long pause, unable to resist the family rules and laws, Wu Tiesi glared at Ye Qing and Qianqian and left in anger.

Seeing this man's hateful and lecherous gaze, Ye Qing felt a surge of killing intent.

In his previous life, he had followed Ye Zifan's wishes and had not encountered such treatment, instead receiving thirty taels of silver.

But now, just by going against his wishes a little, this trouble had arisen.

Even with the strict rules and education of generations of servants, human nature could not be suppressed. Resistance and resentment were normal, and Ye Qing, coming from Earth, did not consider it a great wrong.

But this Wu Tiesi had targeted him and Qianqian, and he could not let him live. He did not have the spirit of the snake and the farmer!

However, it was not the right time to kill him.

The most important thing now was to pass the child examination, obtain a title, and practice Daoist techniques. Then, killing Wu Tiesi would be as easy as flipping a hand.

But this meant that the plans he had been thinking about in the afternoon would have to be accelerated!