Chapter 7: Seven-Step Verse

If this matter gets out, it is likely that not only you, Li Jing, will be ridiculed, but our entire Li family may also find it impossible to hold our heads high in public in the future

Only a few prominent families possess ancestral halls. Through the power of their descendants' offerings, they can establish a blessed land where family members may reside after death, referred to as the ancestral spirits of the clan. These spirits are sustained by the offerings of the family. However, once the family faces a catastrophic disaster, these ancestral spirits will instantly dissipate and can no longer remain in the world

Li Jing finally understood the cause of today's incident, and he couldn't help but feel extremely angry. He secretly cursed Li Cheng for going too far this time. Even if he was bullying Li Lin, it shouldn't have been done so openly by sending the family servants to do it. Now, it turned out that they were caught red-handed by his third uncle, who was known for his strictness and impartiality. Normally, this might have gone unnoticed, but if the clan rules were applied, then these family servants had indeed committed a capital offense, deserving of the utmost punishment.

Upon hearing the decision of the third uncle, several of Li Cheng's household servants were immediately terrified to the point of losing control. They were accustomed to bullying Li Lin, and not only did they verbally insult him, but they also physically assaulted him without anyone intervening. However, they never expected to be caught by the third uncle today, who actually intended to execute them on the spot. Each of them was so frightened that their souls seemed to leave their bodies, crying and repeatedly bowing their heads in a plea for mercy.

However, for a family, even with ancestral halls and blessed grounds, it does not mean that every individual in the clan can enter the ancestral hall after death to receive offerings and become ancestral spirits. This is because maintaining the blessed grounds requires immense willpower. Each year, only a very few important members of the family may be permitted to enter the ancestral hall to receive offerings and become ancestral spirits after their death. The rest, upon passing, will receive varying degrees of soul power from the ancestral spirits, after which they will be expelled to seek opportunities in the wilderness. If they do not encounter significant opportunities before their soul power is exhausted, they are destined to completely dissipate. Each year, only a very few important members of the family may be permitted to enter the ancestral hall to receive offerings and become ancestral spirits after their death. The rest, upon passing, will receive varying degrees of soul power from the ancestral spirits, after which they will be expelled to seek opportunities in the wilderness. If they do not encounter significant opportunities before their soul power is exhausted, they are destined to completely dissipate

Today, as I passed by the yard of Li Lin, I happened to witness these five ruffians uttering foul language and wantonly insulting Li Lin, even going so far as to physically assault him and beat him up

Li Cheng looked at Li Lin, gritting his teeth in hatred. Today, he had intended to humiliate Li Lin thoroughly and to torment Xiao Lan to death, to vent his pent-up resentment. However, unexpectedly, his plan backfired; not only did he fail to humiliate Li Lin, but he also lost his trusted subordinate, Li Gui, who was beaten to death. The four servants were also severely beaten, and it was clear that his face had been completely lost, as if thrown into a latrine at his grandmother's house.

"Boiling beans burns the bean stalks, the beans weep in the pot, they are born from the same root, why must they hasten to harm each other?" A fine poem! Li Lin, I come to ask you, you must answer truthfully, is this poem your work?" After dealing with several household servants, Uncle San asked Li Lin.

Li Cheng was also taken aback; he never expected that today his third uncle would be so furious. In just a few words, he threatened to execute all five of his subordinates on the spot. Moreover, three of them were actually his father Li Jing's household servants. Thus, he hurriedly bowed his head to plead for mercy on behalf of his subordinates

Li Lin was also secretly observing the execution outside the ancestral hall. As Li Gui died, his transparent soul began to gradually detach from his body and floated up. Before Li Gui's soul could linger for a moment in his own corpse, a flash of white light passed by, immediately ejecting Li Gui's soul far away, casting it out of the Li family.

Li Cheng is not at all the courteous person he usually appears to be. From his and Tu Shu's behavior today, this is his true nature. Li Cheng belongs to the type of person who is narrow-minded, insincere, and lacks the capacity to tolerate others. He is already behaving recklessly within the clan, and with such character, I cannot imagine what kind of disaster the Li family would face if he were to become the head of the family one day. Thinking of this, my third uncle feels a bit disheartened

Thus, the third uncle's heart immediately formed a judgment of superiority and inferiority, and he secretly sighed again. Originally, he had a good impression of Li Cheng, believing that he would be a suitable candidate to inherit the position of family head in the future. However, it now appeared that their previous judgments had been obscured by the facade that Li Cheng had created.

This is the conclusion that Li Lin has drawn after sorting through the memories left to him by Zhou Yuan and after careful observation over the past few days

Uncle San is absolutely right! These damned things indeed deserve a good lesson! Even if we were to beat them to death, it would be no great loss! However, executing them all at once would certainly tarnish the reputation of the Li family, so I hope Uncle San can be lenient! We should give them a good beating, perhaps several dozen strokes, to make them remember this lesson. I will ensure that the servants in the clan are strictly disciplined, so that such incidents do not occur again

The executioner could not bear to watch Li Gui suffer in agony. After delivering more than twenty strikes, he swiftly struck him on the back of the head with a club. The blow shattered Li Gui's occipital bone, instantly ending his life. Li Gui's body immediately went limp, and his cries were abruptly silenced.

After a moment of contemplation, the third uncle realized that Li Jing was speaking the truth. Executing five household servants on the spot would indeed reflect poorly when the news spread. He cast a glance at Li Lin, who was standing to the side with his head slightly lowered, hands clasped around a book, eyes focused on his nose and nose on his heart, exuding an air of calm and composure, as if this matter had nothing to do with him. With a faint sigh, he turned his attention to Li Cheng, who was glaring at Li Lin from the side, as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

Thus, the majority of people in this world live in fear, particularly the fear of the future and what comes after death, which is often more intense than the fear of death itself. This is indeed a profound and distressing reality, highlighting the importance of maintaining a family.

He secretly shook his head and said, "Since you, as the head of the family, plead for them, I will grant your request today. However, Li Gui is the principal offender; not only did he use foul language to insult his master, but he was also the first to attack Li Lin. He cannot escape the death penalty. Bring him forward and execute him on the spot. As for the other four, while they may escape the death penalty, they cannot avoid severe punishment! Each will receive thirty strokes of the rod to serve as a warning!"

Including Li Jing himself, he was also taken aback by the handling of the situation by the third uncle. Although for a family like theirs, executing a servant is not considered a major issue, the immediate execution of five individuals is certainly not a trivial matter. The Li family cannot be regarded as a prestigious family, although they are considered a wealthy household, and there are claims of their connection to noble families. However, their foundation is ultimately insufficient. The execution of five servants at once will undoubtedly lead to the Li family being labeled as unfeeling and ruthless, a reputation that is unavoidable.

I know you do not like Li Lin, but he is still your son and, in a sense, a member of the Li family. Regardless of how unpopular he may be, in front of the household servants, he remains the master. This is something that no one should forget! If any servant can bully him at will, then what rules does the Li family have left to speak of?

This is the guardian spirit light of the ancestral hall. In this realm, there are significant differences from the laws of heaven and earth in the realm where Zhou Yuan previously resided. There is no underworld available for souls to go to; after death, souls have nowhere to go and can only wander in the mortal world. They rely on their innate seven strands of soul power to remain in the mortal realm for seven days. During these seven days, if they do not encounter a great opportunity, the souls will ultimately dissipate completely between heaven and earth. Souls have nowhere to go and can only wander in the mortal world, relying on their innate seven strands of soul power to remain in the mortal realm for seven days. During these seven days, if they do not encounter a great opportunity, the souls will ultimately dissipate completely between heaven and earth.

Seeing Li Cheng's indifference, Li Gui finally lost all hope and collapsed onto the ground, no longer uttering a single plea. He was completely defeated. Although he resented Li Cheng's coldness and lack of compassion, he still had family in the Li household. He did not dare to offend Li Cheng and could only resign himself to his misfortune

The family servants of the ancestral hall entered, seized Li Gui and others, and without further ado dragged them outside the ancestral hall. They produced the punishment staff and immediately began the execution. The executioner was also mindful of his actions; since it was stated that they would be beaten to death, he could not hold back. Swinging the staff vigorously, he struck Li Gui's waist and back with great force. Li Gui, whose lumbar vertebrae were already fractured, found the pain unbearable as the staff hit the injured area, letting out a wail akin to that of a slaughtered pig

As for the other four individuals, they honestly endured thirty strokes, leaving their buttocks and lower backs bloodied and bruised, rendering them unable to get out of bed for nearly a month. Even so, after the punishment was completed, they were still required to be dragged back to the ancestral hall to express their gratitude to the third uncle and the family head, Li Jing.

Good! It seems you still remember the clan rules! Then, bring the person! Drag Li Gui out and execute him on the spot! The other four shall also be executed on the spot!

For a servant like Li Gui, not only is it impossible to receive the protection of the ancestral spirits even if he were to die a penal death, but even in dying for the Li family, he would at most be granted a few strands of soul power. He would still be driven away, left to fend for himself and perish. Reflecting on how hopeless people in this world are regarding their future after death, even Li and Tu Shulin felt somewhat despondent.

Li Gui had also regained consciousness at this moment. Upon hearing that he was to be executed on the spot, he was terrified and hurriedly cried out to Li Cheng, pleading for him to intercede on his behalf and ask their third uncle for mercy. However, Li Cheng was too preoccupied with his own troubles to have the heart to plead for him. He simply turned his head away, choosing to ignore Li Gui entirely, regardless of how desperately Li Gui begged.

Li Lin also noticed the gaze of Li Jing sweeping over him, and his heart ached even more, almost bringing him to tears. However, he managed to hold back, only clenching his fists tightly in his sleeves, with his nails digging into his skin, a trickle of blood flowing down along his nails.

Uncle San, please calm down! I do not understand what has transpired today that has made you so furious. Although these servants may be ignorant, it is excessive to punish them all with death by beating! Is there some misunderstanding in this matter?" Li Jing felt that the handling of this situation was somewhat excessive, and thus could not help but speak up to advise.

However, Li Jing still suppressed his anger, casting a cold glance at Li Lin. He still held no goodwill towards Li Lin; in Li Jing's view, if it had not been for his words, such a situation would not have arisen today

Uncle San turned his head to glance at Li Jing, his expression darkening as he said: "Do the clan rules mean nothing to you? I asked you earlier, what punishment should be meted out to a servant who defies their master and bullies them? You said it should be executed on the spot with a cane!"

It is now evident to everyone that Li Gui has become a useless person. He lies on the ground, completely devoid of sensation in his lower body, and it is certain that his lumbar vertebrae have been fractured. Even if such a person were to be rescued, he would still be incapacitated in the future. Moreover, his right hand has now turned to rotten flesh, further eliminating any ability for self-care. Leaving behind such a useless person is of no benefit to the Li family, so executing him with a staff is merely a matter of convenience.