Cruel Family Law Chapter 5: Accusation

I was happily practicing the Shaolin Arhat Fist on the lawn in the back garden. This Arhat Fist is said to be the source of Shaolin external martial arts, and even the techniques of the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin evolved from it. Many martial artists dismiss this claim as a joke, but with my cultivation level reaching the late stage of Grain Abstinence, I could clearly feel the power of this set of boxing. My guess is that this boxing style might be the Demon Subduing Arhat Fist from the Buddhist Sect in the Cultivation World. The Demon Subduing Arhat Fist and the Demon Subduing Vajra Art are the treasures of the Buddhist Sect. However, the Demon Subduing Vajra Art is even more wondrous, said to have eighteen levels. Reaching the pinnacle could even allow one to directly enter the Divine Realm, bypassing the Immortal Realm. What's most remarkable is that only the eighteenth level presents a Buddhist tribulation; otherwise, it's quite safe. While cultivation techniques are slightly faster, they are fraught with many tribulations, and one wrong step could lead to Soul Scattering, never to be reincarnated.

The happiest thing about my current life is being able to practice this boxing. As I practiced, I gained more insight. Gradually, my movements became slower, yet everything around me moved with my punches. After an unknown amount of time, I slowly finished my movements. I was suddenly surprised to find that the liquid Innate True Qi within my body had begun to condense. This was a sign of forming a Golden Core! I was so excited. My luck has been exceptionally good these past two days, haha...

"Young Master, Young Master, it's bad! That old ghost from the Ouyang family is here, and he wants to settle the score with you, saying you beat up his son yesterday. Young Master, you need to be careful!" Chun Yu shouted from the garden entrance, her expression extremely anxious.

Alas, joy turns to sorrow. I was just saying my luck was good, and now Old Ghost Ouyang has arrived. Old Ghost Ouyang and my family are currently jointly operating the mining business in the Far East. I'm in trouble this time, alas!

What should I do? Old Ghost Ouyang is extremely cunning, not comparable to his precious son. He's very difficult to deal with!

"Second Brother, what's troubling you? Tell me about it, and see if I can help you think of a solution." Brother Lang Feng walked in from the doorway. He's my brother, so I don't mind letting him enter my sacred space.

"Ouyang Liang's father is here, and he wants to settle the score from yesterday. Alas." I couldn't help but start worrying again.

"Ouyang Liang provoked you first. Ouyang Liang was in the wrong, and his father is coming to settle the score with you? What kind of logic is that? Don't worry, we're in the right, so what are we afraid of?" My brother seemed very indignant. Alas, such a pure-hearted brother.

"Brother, you don't understand. It's not as simple as us being in the right. Who will prove it? Besides, I'm fine, but his son was probably very weak when he went back yesterday. This fight will be difficult to win," I explained patiently to my brother.

"You figure it out, I can't. I'll just rest." My brother finally showed his ten-year-old self.

"Brother, you go play. I'm going to the front hall," I said to my brother and walked out. I can only face this myself.

As I walked, I thought of countermeasures. After much thought, I couldn't come up with any good ideas. In the end, I decided to firmly deny having hit him. As for the rest, I'll take it one step at a time.

"Third Young Master, the Ouyang family head has arrived. Master is currently entertaining him and asked me to call you over. It seems to be about the Ouyang family head's son. Third Young Master, you need to be careful!" Steward Zhang ran over and said to me. Steward Zhang watched me grow up and cares about me deeply. Honestly, in the entire mansion, only that First Wife and Second Wife hold animosity towards me.

Honestly, I have no idea why this is happening. I once asked my mother, a beautiful, virtuous, and elegant woman, but her answer was that I was still too young and it wasn't time yet. She would tell me when I grew up. I used to be troubled by this, but later I came to terms with it. As long as I behave properly and have a clear conscience, that's all that matters.

At this moment, I suddenly felt that it was fine to just go. No matter what, I didn't hit Ouyang Liang, so what was there to fear? Hmph.

I strode towards the main hall, my heart filled with righteous indignation.

I entered the main hall with neither humility nor arrogance.

I looked up. My father and First Wife were seated in the main seats. My mother, Second Wife, Fourth Wife, and Fifth Wife were seated on the right. All of my father's wives were present. It seemed the matter had escalated.

"Greetings, Father, Mother, First Wife, Second Wife, Fourth Wife, Fifth Wife, Sixth Wife. Nephew greets Uncle Ouyang." I immediately lowered my head and said.

Why were First Wife and the others all here? This matter shouldn't be this serious. Old Ghost Ouyang was sitting in the upper seat on the left, and below him sat a group of people brought by Old Ghost Ouyang. Old Ghost Ouyang's face was frosty, and he stared at me as if he harbored a deep hatred, as if he wanted to kill me. My heart trembled. Could it be that Ouyang Liang was really in serious trouble? I couldn't figure it out. I carefully replayed the events from beginning to end. Suddenly, I remembered something very serious. Ouyang Liang was too young. He had been continuously affected by the imposing aura of Brother Lang Feng and myself. Moreover, Ouyang Liang had always been pampered. Perhaps he collapsed at home because of it. His mind was too fragile. How could he withstand the pressure exerted by such powerful individuals? I couldn't help but feel a little anxious. It was all my fault for Ouyang Liang's cunning words from the beginning. I had implicitly assumed his tolerance level was very high. Alas!

"Little San, did you do anything like threatening or intimidating the Ouyang family's young master?" My mother immediately asked. She seemed very anxious, and I could clearly observe the worry in her brows. What was going on? Even if Ouyang Liang fell ill, it shouldn't make my mother like this. My brow furrowed.

"Little San, speak. Did you do it or not? Answer quickly." My father was very stern, and his tone was extremely cold.

I was startled. This was the first time my father had spoken to me like this. From childhood until now, my father had always doted on me. Yet, at this moment, he was treating me like this. I couldn't help but feel a little angry. I raised my head and said, word by word, "I—did—not." My eyes were fixed on my father.

"You didn't? Good, very impressive, Third Young Master. You've ruined my son's life. Haha, and you still won't admit it? Tell me, besides being bullied by you yesterday, did my son have any conflicts with anyone else? Huh? Hmph, hmph, if Ouyang Mingqing has to sell all his possessions, I will avenge my son!"

"Ouyang family head, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. Please don't be anxious. The Prefect of Suzhou Prefecture is also here today, and you've also brought a large group of witnesses. So please don't be anxious," my father said immediately.

An old man standing below the Ouyang family head stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Grace the Duke, Your Grace the Earl, and Your Honor the Prefect, this subordinate will handle this matter impartially. Please rest assured, Your Graces." The old man, who was the Prefect of Suzhou, looked extremely serious. This matter seemed very troublesome. What exactly happened? Old Ghost Ouyang said his son was finished. How could he be finished? Just by getting sick, he's finished? Am I really that unlucky? I just scared him a little, and it ended up like this.

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Throughout the Ming Dynasty, major families were granted noble titles, namely Duke, Earl, and Baron. These were only for merchants. The actual titles granted to officials were the five ranks of Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.

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My father frowned and said, "Little San, tell the truth. What exactly happened? Tell us everything from the beginning."

"Third Young Master, you must tell the truth. I have quite a few witnesses here," Old Ghost Ouyang said coldly.

"Ouyang family head, we are all very sorry that such a thing has happened. Please listen to my son's account," my father said immediately. My father was, after all, the head of the Zhang family, one of the four great clans. Old Ghost Ouyang wouldn't dare to disrespect my father.

I said calmly, "Everyone, that day, when I went to the small garden in the west city, Young Master Ouyang was there. Later, he sent his attendant to ask me for martial arts advice. I then defeated his attendant. Later, I found that this attendant was very pitiful. He came to the Ouyang family for his mother's sake, so I asked Ouyang Liang to send his attendant's mother to my Star Peak Pavilion. Later, Young Master Ouyang ordered his servants to send his attendant's mother over. After that, you came looking for me. That's all."

My father immediately said, "Ouyang family head, is what my son said the true situation?"

"What a clever Third Young Master! He's actually avoiding the important points and focusing on the trivial. He didn't mention the details at all. He dares to say he didn't threaten or intimidate my son, hmph!"

"Uncle Ouyang, I dare to say that I did not utter a single threatening or intimidating word. You can find anyone present to testify." I said righteously. Honestly, I never said anything threatening or intimidating from beginning to end. It's just that I used my aura to intimidate him.

"Those children, what do they know when they speak? They are only a few years old, and their words cannot be taken seriously. I have a way to prove that you, Third Young Master, did everything. Ah Tian, tell them about the young master's actions and demeanor that day." Old Ghost Ouyang turned and said to a servant.

"Yes, Master. Esteemed Lords and Your Honor the Prefect, I have been serving the young master since he woke up that morning. I remember the young master was in a very good mood that day. After breakfast, he happily walked towards the small garden in the west city. We servants waited outside the garden. The young masters had all said that adults were not allowed to enter, only children. We waited outside. After a while, the Third Young Master arrived with his younger siblings. After some time, a group of children came out, each looking nervous, and they all went home. A moment later, the young master also came out, his face pale, with cold sweat on his face. I thought the young master had fallen ill. The young master ordered us to return to the mansion immediately and to send that attendant's mother to the Third Young Master's Star Peak Pavilion. Later, as soon as the young master returned home, he lay down on the bed. That night, he developed a high fever, and then the divine physician arrived."

An old man in a wide-sleeved robe with his hair in a topknot immediately stood up and said, "Your Grace the Duke, Your Grace the Earl, and Your Honor the Prefect, with my forty years of medical experience, Young Master Ouyang must have been subjected to strong threats and intimidation, causing his mind to falter. That night, he also caught a cold, and the high fever ensued, affecting him both internally and externally. Moreover, Young Master Ouyang is very young and has weak resistance. That high fever caused damage to Young Master Ouyang's brain. Young Master Ouyang is too young, and his self-recovery ability is too low. It is estimated that his brain will be difficult to recover for his entire life."

I was stunned. No way, his brain is damaged? How can I be so unlucky? I just scared him with my aura, and it ended up like this.

"Zhang Tiande, tell me, whose fault is this? Ah, my son is ruined like this. He is my only son! Tell me!" Old Ghost Ouyang was somewhat frantic. It's not surprising; Old Ghost Ouyang is already over fifty, and Ouyang Liang is his late-born son. Now that his precious son is like this, it's only natural for him to be frantic.

"Ouyang family head, please don't be anxious. Everything will become clear. With so many people here, we will ensure justice is served," my father said immediately to appease Old Ghost Ouyang. Old Ghost Ouyang was indeed a formidable figure; he controlled his emotions and sat down.

"Little San, is there anything the people from the Ouyang mansion said that is untrue?" My father turned and asked me.

"No, but I never threatened or intimidated him." I was determined to deny threatening or intimidating Ouyang Liang. As soon as I said it, I regretted it. By saying that, wasn't I admitting that Ouyang Liang's complexion turned bad? The other children left, so this result only points to one conclusion, right? Ah, this is so troublesome. What should I do?

Old Ghost Ouyang sneered from the side.

My mother appeared somewhat anxious.

First Wife and Second Wife, however, wore smiles on their faces.

My father's brow immediately furrowed, but he still said, "Little San, then tell me, how did Young Master Ouyang's complexion turn pale after you all went in and came out?"