Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen: The Wicked Clerk at the Prefect's Office

As the second son opened a third-grade immortal root, he and his wife immediately became overjoyed and led their two sons into Ding Hao's room.

Ding Laosi sat down with a grand air and said in a sarcastic tone, "Young Master, my second son, Ding Juncai, has opened a third-grade Sinking Ice Immortal Root. He is now a third-grade genius. What do you plan to do about it?"

Ding Hao's expression remained unchanged as he said, "For Ding Juncai, the son of a servant, to achieve such success today is also a credit to our Ding family. Here's what I propose: the manor will reward him with fifty taels of silver, and I hope he continues to work hard and does not disappoint my expectations!"

"Your expectations?" Ding Laosi's shrewish wife sneered sharply, standing up and saying, "Little waste, do you think we care about fifty taels of silver? Be honest and give up the Immortal Seed identity, and everyone will look better."

Ding Hao snorted coldly, "The Immortal Seed identity was earned by our Ding family ancestors through their lives in the Immortal Refinement World. Why should I give it to you? Besides, even if I were to give it up, I would give it to someone with sentiment, status, and position, not to a family of servants. I've already done enough by providing you with food and shelter. To ask me to give up the Immortal Seed identity is truly ungrateful!"

Ding Juncui hated it most when people called him a servant. He slammed the table hard.

Bang!

The cups on the table shook violently, and Ding Juncui roared, "Ding Hao, I'm telling you, you have to give up the Immortal Seed identity, whether you like it or not! Humph, you little waste, don't blame others for not awakening yourself! Don't squat in the toilet without doing your business!"

The boss of the shop stepped forward to reason, "What are you talking about? Lord Ding is still an Immortal Seed and hasn't reached the age of 16 when his meridians will close. He could awaken at any time! You have no right to force him!"

"No right?" Ding Laosi sneered, "Why not? Don't forget, my second son is a third-grade genius, and he has the privileges granted by the City Lord's Office! He can impeach Ding Hao's Immortal Seed identity! Even if the little waste awakens, he will still be impeached!"

"This..." The shop boss had no response. This was a privilege of geniuses, and no one could object!

Ding Laosi's shrewish wife became even more arrogant, standing up with her fat body and pointing at Ding Hao, "Little waste, stop struggling. Why make us lose face? If you obediently give up your position, we'll let you stay in the Ding family and give you a meal to eat! But if you insist, don't blame us!"

At this moment, several other clerks with embroidered spring knives on their waists walked in. They were all colleagues of Ding Juncui, clerks of the Prefect's Office in Wuzhou City.

The clerks nodded to Ding Juncui, who felt he could control the situation. He stood up with a cold laugh and said sinisterly, "Ding Hao, you have one last chance. Will you give up the Immortal Seed identity or not?"

Ding Hao's response was only two words, "Dream on!"

Ding Juncui immediately waved his hand, "Take him to the Prefect's Office! My brother, Ding Juncui, will exercise his priority right to impeach Ding Hao's Immortal Seed identity!"

The shop boss stepped forward, "You can't do this! Lord Ding still has half a year..."

"Get out of the way!" The clerks, like wolves, pushed the shop boss aside and came to take Ding Hao.

Ding Hao's eyes flickered, and he said sinisterly, "You guys are helping Ding Juncui today, don't regret it later!"

The clerks didn't take him seriously, snorting, "Waste, you haven't awakened by the age of 15.5, we will never regret it! Come with us!"

"I'll go myself!"

Seeing Ding Hao being taken away, the shop boss and Ding Hao's clients all felt angry: "This family of wicked servants is too outrageous! Lord Ding still has half a year. Even if they exercise their priority right, they should wait until Lord Ding opens his Immortal Root. If he is indeed inferior to Ding Juncui, then they can exercise their right! Let's go and see!"

The Prefect's Office, a subordinate department of the City Lord's Office, was responsible for the internal security, customs, and disputes of Wuzhou City. It was located next to the central square of Wuzhou City, close to the City Lord's Office.

Entering the Prefect's Office, Prefect Zhou Genwei sat solemnly in the hall.

Standing in the hall, Ding Juncui said first, "Your Excellency, I am a clerk of the Prefect's Office and also a party involved in the case, so I request to be excused."

"Go ahead," Prefect Zhou waved his hand, which actually meant, "Don't worry."

In fact, he had already heard about this from Ding Juncui. As Ding Juncui's superior, he naturally favored Ding Juncui. He then asked, "Is Ding Juncui here?"

The ten-year-old Ding Juncui, mature beyond his years, stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency, Juncui is here."

Prefect Zhou nodded, "I heard you opened a third-grade Immortal Root?"

"Third-grade Sinking Ice!"

Prefect Zhou nodded, "Third-grade genius, take a seat!"

This was a world where only Immortal Roots mattered. The magistrate gave a seat to a ten-year-old child, which clearly showed that Ding Hao and Ding Juncui were already ranked in his mind.

Prefect Zhou asked, "Why are you here?"

Ding Laosi stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency, I am Ding Laosi, the steward of the Mu family in Nanyuan Rear Street. The head of the Ding family died early, and for the past ten years, I have been diligent and loyal, working hard for the family, hoping that the young master, Ding Hao, would open a high-quality Immortal Root and inherit the family business..."

Ding Hao snorted, thinking to himself that this old man must have prepared his speech well in advance, speaking so smoothly.

But this snort made Prefect Zhou slam the gavel and shout, "Ding Hao, it's not your turn to speak!"

Ding Hao sneered, "Your Excellency, your bias is too obvious. When did I speak?"

The people outside, mostly Ding Hao's clients, all laughed. Zhou Genwei's face turned pale, and he harbored resentment towards Ding Hao, changing his tone, "Then don't speak! Rest assured, I will judge fairly!"

When he said "judge fairly," a sinister smile appeared on his face.

He then said, "Ding Laosi, continue."

Ding Laosi said, "Although I hoped that the young master, Ding Hao, would open a high-quality Immortal Root, unfortunately, it was not to be. Ding Hao is about to turn 16, and he still hasn't awakened!"

Ding Hao shouted, "Ding Laosi, get your facts straight! I still have half a year before I turn 16, not 'about to turn 16'! Half a year can do a lot!"

Bang! Zhou Genwei slammed the gavel again, "Shut up! Speak out of turn again, and I'll punish you with the cane!"

Ding Laosi sneered at Ding Hao and continued, "Today, my son, Ding Juncui, awakened a third-grade Sinking Ice Immortal Root. According to the rules of the Nine Provinces, my son can take Ding Hao's Immortal Seed identity. Moreover, as a third-grade genius, he can use his priority right to impeach Ding Hao. I hope Your Excellency will rule that my second son, Ding Juncui, be adopted into the main branch of the Ding family, receive the Immortal Seed identity, and inherit the family legacy, relieving the worry of our ancestor, Ding Yibai, about having no successor."

Ding Hao sneered, "So, should my great-grandfather, Ding Yibai, thank you, a servant, Ding Laosi?"

"Stop your nonsense!" Zhou Genwei roared, then asked, "Ding Hao, are you willing to let them take your seed?"

Ding Hao said, "Of course not!"

Zhou Genwei nodded, "It seems mediation is impossible. I now rule..."

Seeing him about to pronounce judgment, Ding Hao hurriedly said, "Your Excellency, you've only heard one side of the story. You haven't heard my side yet!"

Zhou Genwei said, "I already know the truth. You don't need to speak."

Ding Hao's eyes blazed with anger, "What do you mean I don't need to speak? Hearing both sides leads to clarity. Before making a judgment, you should listen to both the plaintiff and the defendant. The defendant hasn't spoken yet, and you want to pronounce judgment. How can you be so hasty? What kind of official are you?"

"Do I need you to teach me how to judge?" Zhou Genwei was furious, shouting, "The facts of this case are clear. Even if you repeat yourself, it will only waste time! Let me ask you, is it true that he wants to take your seed? Is it true that Ding Juncui opened a third-grade Immortal Root? Is it true that you haven't awakened yet?"

This Zhou Genwei was indeed a seasoned official, his three questions seemingly reasonable.

Ding Hao insisted, "But I still have half a year before my meridians close!"

Zhou Genwei glared, "Half a year? Be more precise!"

Ding Hao said, "Five months and three days."

"Fifteen years without awakening, and you think you can awaken in five months?"

Zhou Genwei's eyes showed ridicule, "Ding Hao, don't have unrealistic fantasies! In five months, you can't open an Immortal Root! Even if you did, could you open a third-grade or higher Immortal Root? I know you're not satisfied, but that's the reality! Opening a third-grade or higher Immortal Root isn't easy! Young man, accept your fate!"

Ding Hao angrily said, "I won't accept my fate!"

Zhou Genwei laughed, "You won't accept your fate, but I will. I now pronounce judgment..."

Seeing him about to pronounce judgment, Ding Laosi's family looked at Ding Hao with ridicule, thinking, "Little waste, you'll be kicked out as soon as we get back!"

Seeing this, Ding Hao's eyes blazed with anger, and he said softly, "If my great-grandfather, Ding Yibai, knew that his great-grandson was stripped of his Immortal Seed identity before his meridians closed... hmm, you'd better think twice!"

This made Zhou Genwei nervous. Although people from the Immortal Refinement World couldn't return, there were exceptions. If it really happened one day...

Seeing the magistrate hesitate, Ding Laosi's eyes showed a murderous intent, "Ding Hao, don't talk nonsense! The ancestors of the Ding family are in seclusion in the Immortal Refinement World. How could they come out so quickly? Even if they do come out one day, seeing you as a waste, they won't blame us!"

Zhou Genwei thought, "A waste isn't enough; it would be better to make this boy a 'dead man'!"

Seeing Zhou Genwei about to pronounce judgment, the shop boss and others outside shouted, "Your Excellency, Lord Ding Hao still has five months and should be able to awaken his Immortal Root! You shouldn't rule to take his seed! Otherwise, we will protest together!"

Three updates, ten thousand words!

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