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In any Black Tortoise Clan, there will be clansfolk who diligently contribute to the family, and naturally, there might also be some degenerate members. Luckily, the family rules of the Ping'an Wang Family are strict, combined with the glory of the ancestors and the pressure of the family's difficult survival, most clansfolk adhere strictly to their duties.
Yet, the eighth generation of the Zong lineage has produced a good-for-nothing scoundrel.
"Fourth brother, you're the clan leader now, it's better not to get involved." Wang Shouyi said with a cold face, "Wait a moment, I'll be right back."
With that, he stormed out.
Not long after, Wang Shouyi dragged a young man in his twenties back inside. That young man, with a face bruised and swollen from beatings, whimpered continuously, "Second uncle, I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time, don't tell my father!"
"You little bastard." Wang Shouyi, in a fit of rage, kicked the young man, making him roll a few times on the ground, "You've fallen to such a state, and yet you refuse to reflect, shamelessly begging for mercy, wanting me to cover for you?"
"Ouch ouch!"
After howling twice, the young man was about to beg again when he suddenly glanced up and saw an extraordinary young man calmly seated, staring at him expressionlessly.
The young man immediately shivered, as if struck by lightning, a doomsday terror filled his eyes: "Four, four, four-fourth uncle! You-you-you-you…" His body swayed, almost fainting. In such moments, encountering his father would be preferable to running into the fourth uncle.
His father might beat him up, would lock him up for a few months, but afterward he'd be a happy man again.
But this one...
"How much did you lose?" Wang Shouzhe said coldly.
"This little bastard, in just over a month with me, has already owed the casino twenty Qian Gold, plus the private money his mother gave him, and he sold a Minor Primordial Cultivation Pill privately, losing a full forty Qian Gold!" Wang Shouyi's anger burned fiercely; this family fish stall business, with twenty to thirty clerks working hard all year, could only earn a little over two hundred Qian Gold.
This brat was lavish enough to lose forty Qian Gold gambling, with that money he could buy four 'Minor Primordial Cultivation Pills'.
"Fourth uncle, I was wrong, I truly was wrong." The young man collapsed on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Wang Shouzhe, "Begging Fourth Uncle to give me another chance."
"The opportunity, you've been given too many chances already." Wang Shouyi said angrily, "The family originally let you learn the trade under your big brother at Xinmao Silk Farm. You, instead, mixed with disreputable friends all day and even dared to flirt with respectable women! Later, your grandfather and your mother pleaded for you, letting you join Sixth Uncle's fleet to work. You complained about the hardship and sneaked to me again. I was wrong, I should never have taken you in! The bustling world of Changning Guard has blinded you."
Wang Shouzhe pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "Zongwei, you are the eldest of the Zong lineage. You should set an example for your younger siblings, yet you turned out so poorly. Originally, as you're the son of my big brother, it would be your big brother's responsibility to educate you. But I, Wang Shouzhe, as a direct lineage of the clan, have the right and duty to discipline ill-mannered clansfolk as the clan leader."
"Four, fourth uncle!" Wang Zongwei trembled into a puddle, "For the sake of my father, f-for my great-grandfather's sake..."
"Since you like gambling, let Fourth Uncle play a bet with you." Wang Shouzhe said expressionlessly, taking out a Qian Gold and pinching it in his palm, "Guess which hand the Qian Gold is in? If you're right, today's incident will be forgotten. If wrong, I won't trouble you, just want one of your hands, considering your great-grandfather, you'll afterwards live in peace within the clan like an idle loafer."
"What?" Tears stopped on Wang Zongwei's face from fear, "Four, fourth uncle, I don't want to bet, I don't want to bet."
"Four..." Wang Shouyi's expression changed, he wanted to plead but was stopped by Wang Shouzhe's waving hand, only to hear him say coldly, "Today, even if Second Grandpa Wang Xiaohui were here, your grandfather Wang Dingchuang, your father Wang Shouxin were here, it won't help."
Wang Shouyi shivered, closing his mouth instinctively, not daring to plead further.
Although they were all Wang Clan members, all Shou lineage brothers, Wang Shouzhe was from the direct lineage of the Wang Race and was now the clan leader, cherished by Ancestor Longyan since childhood; how could everyone be the same?
To the Wang Race, even ten scoundrels like Wang Zongwei tied together are not as important as a finger of Wang Shouzhe.
Having intimidated Wang Shouyi, Wang Shouzhe continued staring at Wang Zongwei, coldly saying, "If you refuse to gamble, Fourth Uncle assumes you admit defeat, put your hand forward."
"No no, I'll bet, I'll bet." Wang Zongwei said frantically, "I bet the Qian Gold is in Fourth Uncle's right hand."
"Hehe~" Wang Shouzhe's eyes flashed coldly, and he slowly opened his empty right palm, "Zongwei, you lost."
"No, don't! Fourth Uncle, give me one more chance, one more!" Wang Zongwei screamed hysterically, "In the left hand, the Qian Gold is in Fourth Uncle's left hand."
"You sure?"
"I am sure, I am sure!"
Wang Shouzhe slowly unfolded his left palm, still empty, and his gaze pierced Wang Zongwei like a sharp blade, "Zongwei, one must maintain credibility, whoever gambles must accept the outcome. Wang Zhong, Wang Yong!"
"Yes, Patriarch."
The two household generals responded, lifting the limp Wang Zongwei, whose face was ashen with trembling, only muttering, Fourth Uncle forgive me, forgive me.
"Clang!"
With a chilling glint, Wang Shouzhe drew his sharp sword from its scabbard.
Wang Shouyi couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned away.
"Slash!"
Wang Shouzhe swung the sword, sword aura flashed by, and the sword returned to its sheath in the next instant.
"Ah~~~~" Wang Zongwei shrieked miserably, "My hand, my hand, it's gone, it's gone…" A smell of urine pervaded the air.
Wang Zhong and Wang Yong, the two household generals, disdainfully released him, faces filled with contempt, thinking how the difference was so vast considering they were both the bloodline descendants of Ancestor Zhou Xuan? It's ironic that this Wang Zongwei is already twenty and two years older than the Patriarch.
"Smack!" Wang Shouyi rushed over, slapped him to stop the screams, angrily and disdainfully said, "Enough, stop screaming, shameful dog, hurry and thank your Fourth Uncle."
"Hand, my... is still, still here..." Wang Zongwei cried with tears and snot, screaming joyfully, while bowing repeatedly to Wang Shouzhe, "Thank you Fourth Uncle, thank you Fourth Uncle. I'll definitely, definitely be a good person and start over."
"Remember, you owe me a hand, I reserve the right to reclaim it at any time. Also, all your cultivation resources and salary are temporarily confiscated and transferred to, uh~ to Wang Luotong for use." Wang Shouzhe no longer wanted to see him, turned and left, the two household generals quickly followed.
"Thank you Fourth Uncle, thank you Fourth Uncle." Wang Zongwei dared not to object, repeatedly kowtowing.
Wang Shouyi glared fiercely at Wang Zongwei, quickly caught up with Wang Shouzhe, sighed and said, "Fourth brother, I understand your intentions of teaching the little bastard Zongwei a lesson, but…
"But what?" Wang Shouzhe sneered, "Could Second Grandpa or Big Brother come to take his winnings instead?"
"I'm not worried about Grandpa and Big Brother." Wang Shouyi said helplessly, "You see, sister-in-law Xu from Changning Xu Family is of the direct bloodline, pampered and nurtured since childhood with a rather… You revoked Zongwei's resources, and he deserves it; she can't find fault. However, giving the resources to Luotong sister might have sister-in-law causing trouble."
"Regardless if sister-in-law is from Xu Family or Liua Family, she is now part of our Wang Family." Wang Shouzhe said calmly, "I believe sister-in-law is from a grand noble family, she must be a knowledgeable and reasonable person, she will eventually understand my good intentions."
Wang Shouyi opened his mouth hesitantly, knowing although sister-in-law Xu was fierce, she probably wouldn't dare to clash directly with Shouzhe, feeling much relieved.
...