Wretched Bones

Slap! An exceptionally loud slap rang out.

"This slap is for the Li Family throwing their weight around and bullying others!" Fang Yuan roared.

The entire place fell deathly silent. Everyone was stunned; even the Clan Elder stood there with his mouth open, forgetting to rebuke him.

Slap! Another slap landed on the other side of his face.

"This slap is for your disrespect of your elders and your inability to tell right from wrong!"

He shouted those words straight at the Clan Elder.

The Clan Elder was so frightened by the mad ruthlessness in Fang Yuan's eyes that he staggered back a step, nearly falling over.

Slap! The third slap came right after. Er Gouzi had been beaten senseless; he had even forgotten to cry, managing only harsh, gasping breaths.

"This slap is for the Fang Family not having an old bastard like you who grovels before outsiders and oppresses his own kin!"

The Clan Elder trembled with rage, even the finger pointing at Fang Yuan shaking.

"Stop! Stop at once! You beast, are you really trying to beat someone to death?!"

Fang Yuan seemed not to hear him. He raised his large hand again, ready to bring it down.

The few women nearby watched with their hearts in their throats and could not help muttering under their breaths.

"Th-this... if he keeps hitting him, someone's really going to die..."

"Clan Elder, say something quickly. He really can't keep beating him..."

"Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, make him stop!"

Listening to the chatter around him, the Clan Elder grew even more frantic, stamping his foot. "Fang Yuan! Did you hear me? I told you to stop!"

Fang Yuan's hand froze in midair. He suddenly turned his head, but those eyes were not looking at the Clan Elder. They were fixed on Li Wangshi, who was sprawled on the ground, wailing.

"You want me to stop?" His voice was low. "Fine. You go give that old thing two slaps across the face. If he shuts up, I'll stop."

Everyone was dumbfounded, staring at Fang Yuan in disbelief. This was madness! He wanted Li Wangshi to hit the Clan Elder?

Li Wangshi herself was stunned silent. Forgetting to wail, she stood there with her mouth open, looking from Fang Yuan to the Clan Elder, whose face had turned livid.

The Clan Elder was so enraged he nearly fainted. "Y-you bastard! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Seeing that Li Wangshi did not move, Fang Yuan's gaze sharpened. Without the slightest hesitation, his large hand came down hard again!

Slap! This one was even heavier than before. Er Gouzi was beaten completely dazed, his eyes beginning to go unfocused.

"Ah—my son!" Seeing her son like this, Li Wangshi was scared out of her wits. Clan Elder, dignity—she could no longer care about any of it.

She sprang up from the ground and lunged at the Clan Elder like a crazed mother beast.

The Clan Elder had never expected her to truly dare lay hands on him. His eyes widened in shock. "Y-you dare—"

Slap! A crisp slap landed solidly on the Clan Elder's gaunt face, cutting off his words.

Everyone turned to stone, watching helplessly as Li Wangshi actually struck the Clan Elder.

The Clan Elder clutched his face, completely stunned. His aged eyes brimmed with shock and humiliation. "Y-you hit me? I was helping you..."

"Helping my ass!" At that moment, all Li Wangshi could think of was her son's face, swollen into a pig's head. Nothing else could get through to her. She backhanded him with another slap.

"You old bastard! If you hadn't had so much useless crap to say, would my son have taken all those extra hits?! Make him stop! Stop him!"

She screamed as she wildly clawed and scratched at the Clan Elder.

The Clan Elder staggered back from the blows. His hair knot was torn loose, and his graying hair spilled down around him, leaving him utterly disheveled.

He vainly waved his cane to fend her off, so furious he could barely form words. "Rebellion... all of you have rebelled... shrew! Shrew!"

The scene had completely spiraled out of control.

Just moments ago, Village Chief Li's family and the Clan Elder had stood united against Fang Yuan. Now they were tangled in a brawl, weeping, curses, and shrieks blending into one chaotic din.

The surrounding villagers watched, dumbstruck. A few young men wanted to step forward to break it up, but had no idea where to start.

Fang Yuan watched the farce with cold eyes, then finally released his grip.

Er Gouzi crumpled to the ground like a lump of mud, and Li Wangshi hurriedly crawled over to clutch him tightly in her arms.

Fang Yuan walked over to Village Chief Li, who was slumped on the ground. He extended a hand—not to hit him, but to yank him upright.

Village Chief Li's whole body went limp, and he nearly slid back down, but Fang Yuan's iron-pincer grip held his arm fast.

The surroundings instantly fell silent. Every gaze focused on the two of them.

The Clan Elder stood off to the side, clutching his face and panting heavily. Li Wangshi held the groggy Er Gouzi and did not dare wail again.

Fang Yuan stared at Village Chief Li's deathly pale face. His voice was not loud, yet it weighed on everyone's chest until they could barely breathe.

"Village Chief Li, I'll give you one more chance. In front of everyone, tell it clearly from beginning to end. Who stole whose belongings?"

Village Chief Li's lips trembled. His eyes darted about, trying to avoid Fang Yuan's icy, bone-piercing gaze.

He could feel that the hand gripping his arm was as hard as a branding iron. Then he remembered the savagery of those slaps just now—

And how his own wife had actually struck the Clan Elder... the last scraps of luck and stubbornness in his mind collapsed completely.

At last, he forced out a tearful sentence.

"It... it was my Doggie... he picked up Little Bean Sprout's bracelet... We... we shouldn't have..."

Village Chief Li's eyes flickered wildly. He was still trying to muddle through it, his voice weak and uncertain.

"Hm?" Fang Yuan snorted through his nose and suddenly tightened his grip, his five fingers nearly sinking into Village Chief Li's flesh.

"Ahhh!" Village Chief Li immediately let out a pig-slaughtering scream. His arm felt as though it were about to be crushed, and he no longer dared cling to any hope.

"I'll say it! I'll say it! He stole it! My Doggie stole Little Bean Sprout's Gold bracelet! We were wrong! We're bastards!"

He practically cried out the words, no longer daring to conceal even the slightest thing.

"Pah!" Fang Yuan spat, then abruptly released him. Village Chief Li immediately collapsed to the ground, clutching his nearly numb arm and sucking in cold breaths.

Fang Yuan looked down at him, his eyes filled with contempt.

"You worthless cur who won't appreciate a good thing! I asked you nicely, but you refused to speak. You had to force me to use my fists before you'd cough up the truth! Get lost!"

A wave of suppressed gasps rose from the crowd. Though they had long suspected it, hearing the Headman admit it with their own ears still made their hearts tremble.

Then, many faces showed the relief of having their suspicions confirmed.

That was right. Fang Yuan had once been a scholar and cared most about reason. If he had not been driven into a corner, why would he have resorted to violence?

And now that he was no longer being reasonable, his fists were this hard...

Fang Yuan did not let him say another word. With disgust, he released his hand.

Village Chief Li's legs went weak, and he nearly slumped to the ground again.

Fang Yuan pulled the Gold bracelet from Er Gouzi's hand and raised it high.

The slender gold band glimmered faintly in the dim light.

"Look carefully!" His gaze swept over every face in the crowd like a blade before finally pinning Village Chief Li and the Clan Elder with merciless force. "This belongs to my sister! Today, I took it back!"

His voice was not loud, but everyone could hear it.

"I, Fang Yuan, will make this clear today! If anyone dares play dirty tricks again, next time I won't just be hitting faces!"

He stepped forward, nearly pressing his face against Village Chief Li's, and enunciated each word.

"I. Will. Break. Every. Bone. In. Your. Entire. Family! If you don't believe me, try me!"