Chapter Three: Tactical Reversal
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"Enough." Gongsun Hui's gentle voice reprimanded, stopping the dispute. She then continued, "Sixth Uncle, don't be impulsive. Let's resolve everything calmly."
Gongsun Hui herself was the legitimate daughter of the Shanyang Gongsun Family, the rightful wife of the previous Clan Leader of the Wang Family, and also the legitimate mother of the new Wang Clan Leader. Her status alone was sufficient to mediate and resolve this matter.
Wang Dinghai spoke with agitation, "Fifth Sister-in-law, it's not that I'm impulsive, but that the Liu family's kid is going too far. Everyone knows in Ping'an Town, from Dingpu Ferry going thirty miles to Chaotic Stone Beach on Anjiang, it's the water territory of our Ping'an Wang Family. Yet, that Liu Yongzhou kid repeatedly crossed the line to fish, blatantly crossing it by ten miles this time. If I don't act to expel him, will there be any place for us Wang Family on Anjiang?"
"Oh, Wang the Sixth, don't play the villain pretending to be the victim." Liu Yongzhou appeared greatly wronged, "The winds on Anjiang are strong and the waters are swift. Our Liu Family's territory is upstream on Anjiang, and sometimes the boats can't be anchored steadily. Instead, you rammed us with a fishing boat right away, and after suffering some losses in the conflict, you actually called your elders. It's really outrageous, bullying our Liu Family without a Clan Leader or elders?"
Wang Shouzhe had not spoken, quietly observing and contemplating. He was already certain that this time it was the Liu Family who initiated the dispute, most likely to test him as the newly appointed Clan Leader, or perhaps to measure his capabilities as the new head.
If he, as the Clan Leader, lacked skill and courage, the Zhao Family would likely collaborate with them next. A series of plots and conspiracies would flood in like a tide.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Wang Shouzhe coughed twice, calmly walking forward.
"Shouzhe nephew, you're here too?" Wang Dinghai was delighted, then indignantly said, "Quick, help your Sixth Uncle judge, this kid secretly cheated and ambushed. Your Sixth Uncle is not convinced and wants to have a fair fight again."
"So it's the Wang Family's Young Clan Leader, no, it should be Clan Leader here." Liu Yongzhou's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of caution and jealousy towards Wang Shouzhe.
Without a doubt, in terms of comprehensive skills, Wang Shouzhe far surpassed him, Liu Yongzhou. Moreover, Wang Shouzhe was only eighteen years old and had already cultivated to the Sixth-Layer High Stage of the Qi Refining Realm, showing great potential for future growth.
Currently, within the Liu Family, there was great apprehension toward Wang Shouzhe. If given the opportunity to advance to the Spirit Platform Realm, the structure of Ping'an Town would undergo a significant change.
Some of the onlookers began to whisper among themselves, seemingly showing great interest in the young newly appointed Clan Leader of the Ping'an Wang Family. Their words implicitly indicated that if the former Wang Clan Leader Wang Dingyue hadn't died so early, and could have held on for another ten years until the Young Clan Leader Wang Shouzhe fully matured, the situation for the Ping'an Wang Family would have been different.
"Sixth Uncle, victory and defeat are common in military affairs." Wang Shouzhe squinted slightly, lowered his voice, and probed, "But, Sixth Uncle, are you sure you can win decisively? If you lose again in front of everyone, it will damage our Wang Family's prestige."
"This…" Wang Dinghai hesitated slightly, speaking in a low voice, "I have clashed with that Liu kid several times, usually ending evenly matched, each with our advantages. But today, for some reason, his Water Escape Technique seems to have improved significantly, slipshod like an eel in the water, catching me off guard and costing me. But don't worry, nephew, your Sixth Uncle will fight to win this round."
Improved significantly, Water Escape Technique?
Haha, this is getting interesting, Wang Shouzhe rubbed his nose, already understanding the opponent's strategy. They manufactured conflict to fuel Wang Dinghai's defiant mindset. Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, allowing Liu Yongzhou, the up-and-coming talent, to defeat Wang Dinghai, reducing the Wang Family's prestige.
If they could further escalate emotions, signing a wager or something similar, it would be even better. By then, they could bite a significant piece off the Wang Family again.
Wang Shouzhe had a clear judgment of the scene and promptly said, "Sixth Uncle, let me handle this matter."
"This…" Wang Dinghai hesitated momentarily but, seeing Wang Shouzhe's composed demeanor, calmed down and stepped back, "Shouzhe, be careful, the Liu Family is adept at scheming."
"Rest assured, Sixth Uncle, I won't let us suffer." Wang Shouzhe reassured, then glanced around, addressing loudly under everyone's gaze, "As a Black Tortoise Clan, we have always founded our clan on martial strength. As for ancestral territories, if the descendants are incapable of defending it, retreating to a corner is only natural. Liu Yongzhou, your Liu Family's attempts to encroach on our Wang Family's fishing grounds is just a petty move. Why not simply fight it out as our ancestors did in a life-and-death duel, and whoever wins gets the other's fishing grounds?"
"What?"
The crowd erupted with exclamations, a life-and-death arena!? Does the young Wang Clan Leader have to be so aggressive?
Wang Shouzhe was a full five years younger than Liu Yongzhou, yet his direct challenge for a life-and-death duel left Liu Yongzhou's face alternating between pale and flushed. He didn't dare to accept, nor could he, so he awkwardly said, "Clan Leader of the Wang Family, you're joking, how can a Clan Leader step onto a life-and-death stage?"
From this alone, although Liu Yongzhou was outstanding among his peers, he fell short by more than a notch when compared to Wang Shouzhe, who had been groomed as a Young Clan Leader.
"Hehe~" Wang Shouzhe sneered with sarcasm, "Cowardice is cowardice, so why bother dressing it up? Today, I'm here. As long as any of your Liu Family's Yong generation comes, I'll take them all on."
"Good! Well said, the new Wang Clan Leader has great spirit!"
"The Black Tortoise Race, establishing its family through martial prowess, is quite interesting. Let's see how the Liu Family responds. As far as I know, the eldest of the Liu Family's Yong generation is thirty-six or seven years old, and the youngest is still babbling. I've thought it over and can't figure out who can compete with the Wang Family's new Clan Leader."
"Brother, how strong is this young man? Can he truly defeat all of Liu Family's Yong generation?"
"You must be an outsider, aren't you? That's our Ping'an Wang Family's new Clan Leader, Wang Shouzhe, who is just eighteen and nearly reached the high tier of the Qi Refining Realm. It's said his talent in the Sword Dao is extremely strong, and his swordsmanship has already reached a refined level," a local proudly introduced. "Additionally, Wang Shouzhe has passed the enrollment examination of the Purple Mansion Academy and is soon to enroll, though, unfortunately, the Wang Family encountered such a major incident that he had to forgo his studies."
"The Purple Mansion Academy? Is that the one that's said to guarantee reaching the Spirit Platform once entered? Impressive, impressive, but such a pity!"
The surrounding discussions reached Wang Shouzhe's ears, reminding him that not long ago, he did indeed pass the initial selection of the Purple Mansion Academy enrollment.
The Purple Mansion Academy in Longzuo County recruits new students every three years, but their requirements are extremely strict. Within the Changning area, one to three candidates usually pass the initial selection each time and qualify for the retest, and this year Wang Shouzhe was among them.
However, saying someone is soon to enroll is exaggerated; within the whole jurisdiction of Changning Guard, rarely does a Purple Mansion student emerge every ten or eight years. Wang Shouzhe considers himself exceptional but is aware that the probability of passing the retest is less than thirty percent.
The surrounding atmosphere and public opinion began to lean in favor of the Wang Family.
Previously, the conflict and misunderstanding could have damaged the Wang Family's reputation. But now, instead, it enhanced the Wang Family's prestige.
"Well done, great-nephew," Wang Dinghai said, full of joy. "You see, how could those kids from the Liu Family still dare to be arrogant?"
Gongsun Hui was also somewhat surprised, not expecting Shouzhe to turn a situation damaging to the clan's prestige into one disadvantageous to the Liu Family with just a few words.
Before this, her legitimate son had always focused solely on his cultivation, caring very little about other matters. Yet unexpectedly, upon becoming the Clan Leader, he demonstrated considerable skill.
"Good!"
Suddenly, a voice of praise rang out, "Patriarch Wang's words truly are deafening, admirable! The Black Tortoise Race establishes its family through martial prowess; if you can't uphold your ancestral legacy, why not retreat to a corner? Indeed, well said!"
A middle-aged man, clad in a brocade robe and exhibiting extraordinary presence, emerged surrounded by several fierce household generals, his expression half-smiling as he stared at Wang Shouzhe.
Upon seeing this person, both Gongsun Hui and Wang Dinghai's expressions changed: "It's actually Liu Shengye!"
Especially Gongsun Hui, whose face turned difficult, softly reminded Wang Shouzhe: "Zhe'Er, Liu Family's Patriarch's appearance must have some trick; you must proceed cautiously."
Liu Shengye.
Wang Shouzhe's eyes slightly narrowed; the current Clan Leader of Ping'an Liu Family reputedly didn't have the strongest martial power within the Liu Family, yet at forty still hadn't broken through to the Eighth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm.
However, in Wang Shouzhe's memory, he was famous for being calculating and deceitful—an infamous smiling tiger. In his clashes with the Wang Family's previous Clan Leader, Wang Ding Yue, he frequently gained the upper hand and excelled at managing family assets, boosting the Liu Family's strength significantly.
"So it's the Patriarch Liu who has graced us with his presence," Wang Shouzhe calmly replied. "Since the Patriarch Liu agrees with my words, do you also consent to the life-or-death arena with Liu Yongzhou?" Without further ado, he first set a trap for Liu Shengye.
"That's not the case. While patriarch Wang's words have merit, as a clan leader, can you really bully the young with your senior position?" Liu Shengye curtailed his argument, "Since it's a life-and-death arena match, naturally it should be identities of similar status for it to be interesting."
His intent was clearly to redirect the battle back to Liu Yongzhou and Wang Ding Hai.
"Patriarch Liu's words are truly reasonable," Wang Shouzhe earnestly nodded in agreement, "Between our Wang and Liu Families, there's always been much friction and accumulated grievances. If there's to be a life-and-death duel, why don't the two Clan Leaders personally take the stage? It would indeed be a match between equals."
"What?"
Liu Shengye's face twitched; the Clan Leaders personally engaging in a life-or-death arena? Has Wang Shouzhe gone mad? First, he latches onto Liu Yongzhou, now directly biting Liu Shengye! Is he just biting whoever he can? Was that my intent?
The business travelers and other individuals at the ferry nearby were also plunged into a stunned silence; right off the bat, it was a life-or-death battle between two clan leaders. Is it necessary to be so impulsive?
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