Questioning the Crime

I happily practiced the Shaolin Arhat Fist on the grass in the rear garden. It was said that this Arhat Fist was the source of Shaolin's external martial arts, and even the moves of Shaolin's seventy-two ultimate arts had evolved from it. Many martial artists treated such claims as a joke, but with my strength already at the late Grain Abstinence stage, I could clearly sense the power of this fist technique. By my guess, this technique was very likely the Demon Subduing Arhat Fist of the Buddhist Sect in the Cultivation World. The Demon Subduing Arhat Fist and the Demon Subduing Vajra Art were the Buddhist Sect's treasures that held down its very foundations. Yet the Demon Subduing Vajra Art was even more marvelous. It was said to have eighteen levels; once cultivated to the peak, one could enter the Divine Realm directly without passing through the Immortal Realm. Most remarkable of all, only the eighteenth level held a Buddhist tribulation. At every other stage, it was exceedingly safe. Cultivation arts might be somewhat faster, but their tribulations were numerous. One careless step could lead to one's soul scattering and spirit dispersing, condemned beyond reincarnation for all eternity.

What pleased me most about arriving in this life was being able to practice this fist technique. The more I practiced, the deeper my understanding became. Gradually, my movements grew slower and slower, yet everything around me moved with the force of my fists. Who knew how long had passed before I slowly withdrew my stance. Then I discovered in astonishment that the liquid Innate True Qi within me had begun to condense. This was an omen of forming a golden core! I was overjoyed. My luck these past two days had truly been excellent, haha...

"Young Master, Young Master, this is bad! That old man from the Ouyang Family has come. He wants to settle accounts with you, saying you beat his son yesterday. Young Master, you must be careful!" Chun Yu shouted anxiously from the garden entrance.

Alas, extreme joy gave birth to sorrow. I had just said my luck was good, and now Old Ghost Ouyang had arrived. Old Ghost Ouyang was currently running the Far East mining business together with my Household. This time, I was in for it. Alas!

What should I do? Old Ghost Ouyang was extremely crafty, nothing like his precious son. He would be very difficult to deal with!

"Second Brother, what are you troubled about? Tell me, and see whether I can help you think of a solution." Brother Lang Feng walked in through the entrance. Since Big Brother was my brother, I allowed him into my treasured grounds.

"Ouyang Liang's father has come. He wants to settle yesterday's account with me. Alas." I could not help growing troubled again.

"But Ouyang Liang provoked you first. Ouyang Liang was in the wrong, yet his father has come to settle accounts with you? What kind of nonsense is that? Don't be nervous. We have reason on our side; what are we afraid of?" Big Brother seemed quite angry. Alas, what an innocent Big Brother.

"Big Brother, you don't understand. It isn't that simply because you say we have reason, we truly have reason. Who can prove it? Besides, I'm perfectly fine, while his son was probably very weak when he returned yesterday. This battle will be hard to fight." I patiently explained it to Big Brother.

"You should think of a way. I have no ideas. I'd better rest." Big Brother finally showed that he was only ten years old.

"Big Brother, go play for now. I'm going to the front hall." After saying that to him, I headed out. I could only face all this myself.

As I walked, I thought over countermeasures. After thinking it through again and again, I found no good solution. In the end, I could only decide to firmly insist that I had never hit him. As for the rest, I could only cross the bridge when I came to it.

"Third Young Master, the Ouyang Family head has arrived. Master is accompanying him and sent me to summon you. It seems to be about the Ouyang Family head's son. Third Young Master, you must be careful." Steward Zhang came running over to tell me. He had watched me grow up and cared deeply for me. To tell the truth, in the entire residence, only First Wife and Second Wife bore hostility toward me.

To tell the truth, I had no idea why it was like this. I had once asked my mother, a beautiful and virtuous woman, but her answer was that I was still too young, that the time had not yet come. When I grew up, she would tell me. I had been troubled by it before, but later I came to terms with it. As long as I observed propriety and had a conscience clear as a bright mirror, that was enough.

At that moment, I suddenly felt that I should simply go. No matter what, I had not hit Ouyang Liang. What was there to fear? Hmph.

I strode toward the front hall, my heart open and unashamed.

I entered the main hall neither servile nor overbearing.

I looked up. Father and First Wife sat in the seats of honor directly ahead. On the right sat Mother, Second Wife, Fourth Wife, Fifth Wife, and Sixth Wife. All of my old man's wives were present. It seemed this matter had grown serious.

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

Why were First Wife and the others all here? This matter should not have been this serious. Old Ghost Ouyang sat in the seat of honor on the left, with a group of people he had brought seated below him. His face was frosty as winter, and he stared at me as though he bore a deep, irreconcilable hatred for me, as if he wanted to kill me outright. My heart jolted. Could something truly have happened to Ouyang Liang? I could not understand it. I carefully went over the matter from beginning to end. Suddenly, I remembered something serious. Ouyang Liang was too young. He had been affected in succession by the pressure of Big Brother Lang Feng's aura and mine, and Ouyang Liang had always been pampered. Perhaps he had collapsed at home because of it. His mind was too fragile. How could he withstand the pressure emitted by such experts? I could not help becoming anxious. It was all because Ouyang Liang had spoken to me so cunningly from the start that I had unconsciously assumed his tolerance was high. Alas!

"Little Third, did you ever threaten or intimidate the Ouyang Family's young master, or commit any similar acts?" Mother immediately asked. She seemed extremely anxious, and I could clearly see the worry between her brows. What exactly had happened? Even if Ouyang Liang had fallen ill, it should not have made Mother this anxious. I could not help furrowing my brow.

"Little Third, speak. Did you do it or not? Answer quickly." Father was very stern, his tone icy cold.

I shuddered. This was the first time Father had spoken to me like this. From childhood until now, Father had always doted on me, yet he treated me this way now. I could not help feeling angry. I raised my head and said, word by word, "I—did—not." My eyes fixed directly on Father.

"You didn't? Good, very good. What an impressive Third Young Master! You ruined my son for life, hahaha, and you still refuse to admit it! Then tell me, besides being bullied by you yesterday, did my son have any conflict with anyone else? Huh? Hmph! Even if I, Ouyang Mingqing, must spend my entire fortune, I will avenge my son."

"Ouyang Family Head, I will certainly give you an explanation for this matter. Do not be anxious. The Prefect of Suzhou is also here today, and you have brought a great many witnesses. There is no need to rush." Father immediately said.

An old man seated below the Ouyang Family head stood up and cupped his hands. "Duke, Lord Earl, this humble official will certainly handle the matter impartially. I ask that both of you rest assured." The old man, the Prefect of Suzhou, wore an extremely serious expression. This matter seemed very troublesome. What had actually happened? Old Ghost Ouyang said his son was finished. How was he finished? Would a mere illness finish him? Could my luck truly be this bad? I had only frightened him a little, and that had finished him...

The great Lineages throughout the Ming Dynasty had all been granted noble titles: Duke, Earl, and Baron. These titles were only given to merchants. The true noble ranks granted to officials were the five grades of Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.

Father frowned and said, "Little Third, tell the truth. What exactly happened? Tell it from beginning to end without concealing anything."

"Third Young Master, you had better speak truthfully. I have quite a few witnesses here." Old Ghost Ouyang immediately said coldly.

"Ouyang Family Head, we all regret that such a thing has happened. Please listen to my son recount the matter." Father immediately said. Father was, after all, the head of the Zhang Lineage, one of the Four Great Families. Old Ghost Ouyang did not dare refuse Father even that much face.

I said calmly, "Everyone, that day, when I arrived at the small garden in the western district, Young Master Ouyang was there. Later, he had his study companion come to seek instruction from me in martial arts. I defeated his study companion, and afterward I discovered that this study companion was quite pitiful. He had entered the Ouyang Family for the sake of his mother, so I asked Ouyang Liang to send his study companion's mother to my Star Peak Pavilion. Later, Young Master Ouyang ordered his servants to send the study companion's mother over. Then you came looking for me. That was all."

Father immediately said, "Ouyang Family Head, is what my son said the true account?"

"What an impressive Third Young Master, avoiding the important and dwelling on the trivial. He did not mention any of the details at all. Does he dare say that he did not threaten or intimidate my son? Hmph!"

"Uncle Ouyang, I dare say that I did not utter a single threatening or intimidating word. You may find anyone present to testify." I spoke with righteous confidence. To tell the truth, from beginning to end, I had not said anything threatening or intimidating. I had merely used my aura to cow him.

"What do children know about speaking? They are only a few years old; their words cannot be taken seriously. I have a way to prove that everything was done by you, Third Young Master. A-Tian, recount all of Young Master's behavior that day." Old Ghost Ouyang turned and said to a servant.

"Yes, Master. My lords, this servant began attending to Young Master from the moment he rose that morning. I remember Young Master was in a very good mood that day. After breakfast, he happily headed toward the small garden in the western district. We servants stood guard outside the gate. Those young masters had said that adults were not permitted in that garden, only children. So we waited outside. After a while, Third Young Master arrived with his younger brothers and sisters. Some time later, a group of children came out. Every one of them looked nervous and went home. Soon afterward, Young Master came out as well. His face was pale, and cold sweat covered it. I thought Young Master had caught some illness. Young Master ordered us to return to the residence immediately and demanded that we promptly send that study companion's mother to Third Young Master's Star Peak Pavilion. After Young Master returned home, he lay down in bed. That night, he developed a high fever, and later Physician Yu came."

An old man in a wide-sleeved robe, with his hair tied in a topknot, immediately rose and said, "Lord Duke, Lord Earl, Lord Prefect, based on my forty years of medical experience, Young Master Ouyang must have suffered powerful threats and intimidation, causing his mind to lose its guard. That night, he was then exposed to the cold and developed a high fever. The internal and external afflictions erupted together. Moreover, Young Master Ouyang was very young, and his resistance was weak. That high fever damaged his brain. Young Master Ouyang is too young, and his ability to recover is too poor. His mind will likely be difficult to heal for the rest of his life."

I was stunned. No way—his brain had been damaged? How could I be this unlucky? I had merely used my aura to frighten him a little. How had things reached this point?

"Zhang Tiande, tell me, whose fault is this? Huh? My son is finished just like that. He is my only son! Tell me!" Old Ghost Ouyang was a little crazed. It was no wonder. He was already over fifty, and Ouyang Liang had been a son born to him in his old age. Now that his precious son was like this, it would be stranger if he did not go mad.

"Ouyang Family Head, do not be anxious. Everything will become clear. With so many people here, are you afraid you will not be given justice?" Father immediately soothed Old Ghost Ouyang. Old Ghost Ouyang truly was a hero of his generation; he controlled his emotions and sat back down.

"Little Third, was there anything untrue in what the people of the Ouyang residence said?" Father turned and asked me.

"No, but I did not threaten or intimidate him." I firmly insisted that I had not threatened or intimidated Ouyang Liang. The moment I said it, I regretted it. By saying that, had I not admitted that Ouyang Liang came out looking unwell? All the other children had left, so did that not leave only one conclusion? Ah, what a headache. What should I do?

Old Ghost Ouyang sneered at the side.

Mother looked somewhat anxious.

First Wife and Second Wife, however, wore faint smiles.

Father immediately frowned, but still said, "Little Third, then tell me, why did Young Master Ouyang come out pale-faced after you entered?"

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