Chapter 008: The Fierce Woman and the Malicious Tongue, a Dreaded Spirit

Ye Chang also looked over and saw that the elder was dressed in a coarse garment, with a serious expression and a stern gaze. Beside him were his long-extended uncle Ye Lian and Liu Shi, whose face was filled with anger that he could not conceal.

In summary, thanks to the blessings of Master Sun, we have found water. Next, I need to calculate an account. Liu Gui, where are you running off to

There have long been rumors in Xiuwu County that during the early days of the national dynasty, the divine physician Sun Simiao once gathered herbs and refined elixirs at Fufu Mountain and Liuzhen Mountain. Later, upon completing the elixir, he ascended to immortality. His disciple, Lu Zhao-lin, one of the Four Masters of the Early Tang Dynasty, also came here in search of his master's traces.

At this moment, Ye Chang came to his senses; it seemed that he could not escape a punishment from the family. He glared at Liu, who, upon noticing his glare, shouted even louder: "You uncultured little beast, you dare to glare at me? Zongzhang, look at this, he still dares to glare at me in front of you!"

Although he possessed a certain quick wit, he was ultimately just a servant from the countryside. His inherent fear of the authorities made him panic upon hearing that he was to be taken to see an official. All his crafty ideas vanished in an instant, and his knees went weak, causing him to kneel down immediately

The matter of encountering immortals was something that Ye Dan was somewhat skeptical about. However, in Ye Dan's impression, this distant relative had always been a taciturn and reserved person, and both brothers were generally honest. Yet now, Ye Chang's behavior was completely different from his previous impression.

I, I ... ...

He could not help but recall the rumors he had heard earlier, that Ye Chang had encountered the immortal Sun Simiao. Could it be that he truly met an immortal and gained enlightenment, which is why he possesses such wit now

The leader is here, may I ask what your instructions are

In fact, Ye Chang held a skeptical attitude towards the rumors about Lu Zhao-lin. Although Lu Zhao-lin studied medicine with Sun Simiao, he ultimately could not endure the torment of illness and chose to drown himself. How could he have had the leisure to wander around Xiu Wu County

At this moment, Liu Gui was intentionally or unintentionally overlooked by everyone

He intends to uphold the patriarchal system, yet he will not allow the Liu family to manipulate him. Moreover, the current discord among the three brothers presents an excellent opportunity for him to profit from the situation. How could he possibly allow matters to be resolved in such a short time!

Seeing that the crowd was swayed by Ye Chang, Liu Gui began to prepare to run. However, while others could ignore him, how could Ye Chang do the same? With a sharp reprimand, Liu Gui attempted to flee, but Ye Chang quickly caught up and grabbed him.

"I heard that you said in front of outsiders that your aunt from the main branch is not good to you?" Ye Dan snorted and said, "Your third branch has been causing more and more trouble lately. Instead of focusing on your livelihood, why are you being so suspicious and slandering your own aunt? Don't you know that this is an act of rebellion?"

However, he must now put on a facade.

Liu Gui understood in his heart that the only way for him to have a way out was to submit. He immediately bowed his head and said: "I was wrong, I should not have acted foolishly, and I should not have slandered my lord... In truth, I have been working day and night since I arrived at San Zhi, feeling discontented and wanting to provoke Eleventh Young Master to send me back to Chang Zhi. I will never dare to do so again!"

The Ye family's third branch has been very dominant since the previous generation. As a result, the other two branches have become relatively weak. By the time of Ye Shu and Ye Chang's generation, the two branches were at their most impoverished, with their main income coming from some fields allocated by the clan. After a century, the equal land system in the Tang Dynasty had begun to disintegrate, and the fields distributed by the court had become nominal in some areas. Therefore, Ye Shu sent Ye Chang to inherit the third branch, also with the intention of seeking a way out for him

After a half day's commotion, everyone was exhausted, and given the events of today, they were eager to return home to share the news with their family and neighbors. One by one, they began to rise. After taking a few steps, Ye Chang called out loudly: "Since it is the Medicine King's venerable elder who has bestowed upon us the clear spring, everyone must remember that tomorrow we shall all go to the Medicine King's Temple to offer incense!"

Although he pleaded for mercy, he did not dare to involve the Liu family, and his words contained a hint of defending them. Ye Chang snorted; he had never expected to resolve all troubles through this matter. His primary objective had already been achieved. As for Liu Gui, as long as he could extract a bit more benefit from him, there was no need to hold a grudge.

Now it was Ye Chang's turn to be stunned

The patriarch said, "... ..." Liu Gui, who was beside him, knew that this was his only chance to turn the situation around. Although he was bound, his mouth was not gagged. At that moment, he immediately knelt before Ye Dan and said, "I, a lowly person, have witnessed with my own eyes that Shiyi Lang has actually slandered the mistress, claiming that she intends to harm him!"

Thinking of Ye Chang finding the spring water, Ye Dan felt a sense of irritation in his heart. This put him in a bad mood, and his gaze towards Ye Chang became somewhat cold

Hmm?

Seeing Ye Chang looking at him, Liu was so angry that he could not speak coherently, pointing at Ye Chang, trembling all over

How dare you act this way, how dare you act this way

Ye Chang, regardless of what the old monk thought in his heart, saw this as a small act of revenge for the old monk's betrayal. With the help of others, they took Liu Gui and the others down the mountain. Those who were quick on their feet had already rushed ahead, so by the time they arrived, today's events had already been exaggerated and relayed back to Wu Zepu.

"Spare me, Shijiro, spare me!" Liu Gui was immediately flustered

The head of the Ye family is named Ye Dan. In terms of seniority, he is the uncle of Ye Chang. Upon seeing Ye Chang, he slightly nodded his head in acknowledgment

Ye Chang ignored her and instead stepped forward to pay his respects to Elder Ge Yi: "I have met the clan leader."

Is this true?" Ye Dan asked coldly

Xiang Er stood in the middle of the crowd with a confused expression. Beside her was her sister-in-law, Fang Shi, and behind Fang Shi stood a seemingly honest man, her husband Ye Shu, who was also Ye Chang's actual elder brother. Ye Shu was nearly thirty years old, more than ten years older than Ye Chang. He was extremely timid, spoke little, and as a result, Ye Chang had not exchanged more than ten words with him since waking up.

"Ichiro, your nonsensical talk, while not outright defiance, is nonetheless disrespectful to your elders." Ye Danwei pondered for a moment and said, "Go to the ancestral hall to receive the family discipline."

Well, if it was just a moment of anger, then let it be. However, Liu, as an elder, should behave like one. In the future, do not act like a shrew shouting in the streets

Moreover, his demeanor exuded a sense of grandeur, which made Ye Dan look at him with newfound respect

In the past, I sought to visit the immortals and pursue the Dao every day, yet I never imagined I would miss such an opportunity!" He pounded his chest and stamped his feet: "Ultimately, it is my insufficient affinity for the immortals and my lack of virtue!"

However, his gaze towards Ye Chang always carried a sense of apology, perhaps feeling that it was truly unfair to ask Ye Chang to serve as a surrogate for the three branches

Ye Chang's words were sharp, and his thinking was keen. He readily accepted the criticism directed at his aunt, which did not constitute a major fault, but he firmly denied the charge of disobedience. This ability to downplay the serious while addressing the trivial is a trait only possessed by those who are articulate and exceptionally astute.

Therefore, by the time they reached the village entrance, half of the villagers were waiting, most of whom were from the Ye family, along with some outsiders who had come to watch the commotion

Therefore, Yaowang Temple became a new choice for Ye Chang, and he had no choice but to personally come and perform with the books.

This elder in a gray robe is the head of the Ye clan, a prominent family in the martial arts community, and also serves as the village chief of Wuzepei. According to the Tang Dynasty system, one hundred households constitute a li (a small administrative unit), and five hundred households form a xiang (a larger administrative unit). In places like Wuzepei, there should also be a li chief; however, due to the absence of distinguished officials among the families of Wuzepei (as the Tang Dynasty often appointed officials of the sixth rank and below to serve as li chiefs), and the lack of notable figures in recent years, the position of li chief has been filled by someone from the neighboring Xiaoliu village. The Ye clan, being numerous, allows its head to serve as the village chief. In rural areas that traditionally prefer to avoid dealings with the government, the li chief and village chief hold authority in resolving disputes, apprehending thieves, and mediating conflicts. In recent years, the absence of notable figures has led to the neighboring Xiaoliu village filling the li chief position, while the Ye clan's large population enables its head to take on the role of village chief. In these rural areas, which consistently shy away from government interaction, the li chief and village chief are the authorities in adjudicating lawsuits, capturing thieves, and mediating disputes.

Cough, elder brother, the Liu family has been angered by this young... by Eleventh Master, speaking without discretion, a slip of the tongue, let us not pursue this matter any further

He looked up again at the old monk, Pure Faith, and realized there were accounts to settle with him, but there was no rush; he would remember it for now

You audacious servant, how dare you deceive your master and falsely accuse the innocent of theft? This is indeed a grave offense... Everyone, help me take him to the authorities; he certainly deserves to be punished with dozens of lashes

The old monk felt regret for the third time, and this time the regret was profound and complete

"Elder, my surname is Ye. If I am a beast, then are all of us with the surname Ye not beasts?" Ye Chang exclaimed loudly, "I merely disrespect her as my aunt. She claims that those of us with the surname Ye are beasts, which is a disrespect to my Ye family's ancestors and also a disrespect to you, Elder. This should be dealt with according to family law!"

He pushed for the crime of rebellion, as he knew that during the Middle Ages, it was a grave offense. His reasoning was originally quite sound, and Ye Dan also clearly accepted his rationale. However, he still had to be dealt with according to family law. What is the reasoning behind this?

It is well known that the common people fear officials, a sentiment that has persisted throughout history. The character for 'official' consists of two mouths; one mouth consumes the people's resources, while the other decides their fate and livelihood. Aside from individuals like Ye Chang, who inherently harbor skepticism and inquiry towards the government due to their experiences in later generations, who would not be afraid? Ye Chang did not expect that his mention of sending someone to see the official would frighten this cunning servant to such an extent. He was momentarily taken aback, then shifted his thoughts: "Do you plead guilty?"

On that day, while wandering around with Xiang'er, he had already met this elder, named Ye Hun, who was of the same generation as Ye Dan and whom he should respectfully address as Ninth Uncle. However, this Ninth Uncle had always maintained a good relationship with Ye Lian, which is why he would come forward at this moment to speak on behalf of the Liu family.

She acted like a shrew, cursing in the streets, yet did not realize that Ye Chang had caught her in a flaw, ensnaring her with a single sentence. Ye Chang's disrespect towards her, as a mere aunt of the household, was not a grave offense; however, disrespect towards the ancestors was indeed a serious matter. If it were said that Ye Chang would face punishment by whipping for this, then Liu would certainly not escape being slapped with a shoe sole.

Liu's venomous curses were suddenly silenced

Ye Chang is, after all, a person from the future, and thus does not yet have a profound understanding of the current clan dynamics. Even though Ye Dan internally agrees with Ye Chang's reasoning, he must still impose punishment today. It is important to note that Ye Dan's prestige and power within the clan stem from the patriarchal system; how could he not uphold the authority of the third branch's main line

Ye Dan pondered for a moment; dealing with the Liu family using family methods seemed unlikely to bring any benefits to himself. On the contrary, it might offend the Liu family's maternal side, thus this favor must be extended.

"Shijuro, are you still lacking in virtue?" The crowd erupted in laughter, seemingly mocking Ye Chang for being overly greedy

In the past, he seldom paid attention to this branch of the clan. The Ye family is a large clan, with over a hundred members when all branches are combined. A distant descendant, who usually remained inconspicuous, naturally did not catch his eye. However, this time was different; he unexpectedly "encountered a celestial being" and even found a spring during a severe drought.

As soon as he arrived, he was met with a large hat. Ye Chang glanced at Liu, who, previously filled with anger, now appeared somewhat smug.

The atmosphere momentarily froze, and Ye Lian exchanged a glance with someone beside her, prompting a slightly hunched elder of the Ye family to speak up

Ye Chang pondered for a moment, then recalled something. Yesterday, when his brother-in-law Liu Kun visited him, he mentioned that someone intended to open a pottery kiln in Fufushan and was in need of labor. A thought struck him; this Liu Gui certainly could not be kept around, for he might cause trouble at a critical moment, which would be very disadvantageous for him. Sending him to the authorities was not a good option either, as Ye Chang had no confidence that the government would not investigate the so-called "encounter with a celestial being." Therefore, the best course of action was to sell Liu Gui—this would not only get rid of him but also convert him into some copper and iron for use.

Send this fellow to see the authorities! Someone shouted, as there are always those idle people in the countryside who love to stir up trouble and enjoy the spectacle.

In Ye Chang's original plan, the old monk of Shifang Temple was supposed to harmonize with him, thus allowing him to minimize his own performance. However, now that the situation has changed, not only did he fail to show support earlier, but even if he had, Ye Chang would not place all his eggs in one basket.

It was said that ... ... '' someone responded in a low voice, naturally indicating a close relationship with the third branch.

His words finally brought movement back to Liu's previously stiff face, while Ye Chang glanced at the hunchbacked elder and smiled slightly

He ordered someone to bind Liu Guixian and then said, "We will discuss it after descending the mountain, dear family members, let us return!"

Shijiro's anger in Ye Dan's heart grew even stronger

This matter will be discussed again when Ye Si returns. Ye Dan glanced at Liu and said: "Shiyi Lang is a junior, inexperienced and needs strict guidance, but he is not yet the head of the third branch, so he should not be counted as such"

The Immortal Sun in the Medicine King Temple refers to the statue of Sun Simiao enshrined in the Medicine King Temple

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law." Ye Chang greeted them, and Ye Shu nodded slightly, his gaze filled with hidden concern as he looked towards an elder standing among the crowd

The nephew mentioned that the aunt Liu has been coveting the family assets of this branch and intends to make things difficult for me. Ye Chang did not understand why Ye Dan seemed to be somewhat antagonistic towards him, so he responded neither servilely nor arrogantly: "As for being disrespectful, this aunt has neither given birth to nor raised the nephew, so I truly cannot accept the term 'disrespect'"

Seeing Ye Chang smile at him, Ye Hun, who had already lived for more than sixty years, inexplicably felt a tremor in his heart. There seemed to be a strange power about Ye Chang that involuntarily instilled a sense of fear in others

Everyone responded in unison, but the old monk, who was purely devoted, nearly stumbled at his feet

Ye Chang's performance left Ye Dan momentarily stunned

Originally, there was some hesitation regarding how to deal with Liu Gui's Ye Chang, but at this moment, a firm decision was made. This fellow is indeed loyal to the Liu family, and whenever there is an opportunity, he jumps out to cause trouble. Such a person cannot be allowed to remain.

"This is simply too cheap for him. The clan land allocated by the family must be reclaimed from him!" Liu said loudly from the side

These incense offerings... were originally meant for his Shifang Temple, but because he temporarily altered Ye Chang's script, they were instead assigned to the Yaowang Temple by Ye Chang. As a result, he has been busy for quite some time and even made various arrangements. Wouldn't it mean that he gained no benefits at all, merely facilitating Ye Chang's encounter with the immortal?