Beating the Head Steward

Luo Zheng was so excited that night that he could not fall asleep. He slept only two hours the entire night, yet his spirits remained high.

Early the next morning, Luo Family servants opened the heavy lock on the cellar, fitted Luo Zheng with shackles and leather armor, and led him out.

After entering the Bone Refining Realm, his body had undergone a qualitative transformation. The change was difficult to describe. Even something as simple as walking had changed—each step felt lighter, more coordinated, and less strenuous.

If not for these damned manacles and fetters restraining him, he would have wanted to sprint ahead.

Led by the servants, Luo Zheng noticed that something was wrong with this route.

The Luo Family estate covered an enormous area, but its layout was orderly. Aside from the Martial Arts Practice Hall, Meeting Pavilion, Hundred Herbs Garden, and Weapon Forging Workshop, which were shared by the Lineage, most places were arranged in the front courtyard of the residence.

Yet this path circled inward, seemingly heading toward the Luo Family backyard!

Luo Zheng frowned slightly but said nothing, choosing to wait and see.

He had not visited the Luo Family backyard in a long time, and it had changed greatly. The residences of the Luo Family Second Branch and Luo Family Third Branch in particular had gained many pavilions and towers, along with newly dug ponds, Small Bridges over flowing water, pool pavilions, and waterside buildings.

The craftsmanship of these structures was exquisite enough to leave one speechless. Their carved beams and painted rafters, dragon and phoenix patterns, had all been traced in gold, while bright Gemstones had been set into the rooftops...

Seeing what the Second Branch and Third Branch had done, Luo Zheng could not help sighing inwardly. The Luo Family had deep foundations, and this money was hardly worth mentioning. But in these times, only the strong could survive. To a martial artist, Wealth and Rank were mere trifles. If a Lineage settled for pleasure and indulgence...

Then the Luo Family would likely be ruined in the hands of Second Uncle and Third Uncle.

After passing a pond, Luo Zheng turned into a Secluded Courtyard.

Two men sat facing each other within the courtyard, drinking tea in great contentment.

Luo Zheng looked closely and saw that one was Steward Fang, who had vanished for two days. The other was an elderly man past fifty, dressed in Gorgeous Clothes of silk. Luo Zheng knew this man as well. His name was Huang Ge, and he had originally been a servant of the Luo residence.

Huang Ge's wife had been the wet nurse of Luo Chengyun, Third Uncle's eldest son. Moreover, Huang Ge was exceptionally skilled at flattery and cultivating connections, and he had an excellent relationship with the Luo Family Third Branch. His status had steadily risen as a result.

Now that Second Uncle and Third Uncle controlled the Luo Family's authority, Huang Ge's status had risen with the tide. He had become the Luo Family's head steward and did not even put collateral Luo Family Disciples in his eyes.

Luo Zheng had long heard of his many arrogant deeds.

Before Luo Zheng even entered, he heard Steward Fang say to Huang Ge, "Master Huang, this Secluded Courtyard bestowed upon you by Young Master Chengyun is truly a masterpiece. If I am not mistaken, the jade dragon carved on that plaque was made from the finest Corundum rough material, wasn't it?"

Huang Ge chuckled twice. "You do know your goods. Not just the jade dragon—look at the Glazed tiles on the roof, and that Bronze lion. They were all made by the finest craftsmen in Chongyang County..."

After inspecting them one by one, Steward Fang clicked his tongue. "Old Man Huang, this little courtyard of yours has everything, but it is still missing something!"

"My courtyard has anything I could want. What could it possibly lack?" Huang Ge said smugly.

Steward Fang grinned. "Of course, it lacks a nimble servant to attend to your daily needs. See? I have brought the man right to you. Let him serve you, and I guarantee you'll have plenty of face!"

"Who is this man?" Huang Ge asked curiously.

Steward Fang pointed toward the entrance of the Secluded Courtyard. "Old Man Huang, look!"

Following Steward Fang's finger, Huang Ge saw Luo Zheng at once. How could he possibly not recognize the once-renowned young family head, the Luo Family's eldest young master?

Luo Zheng stood at the courtyard entrance and heard every word exchanged between Steward Fang and Huang Ge. Anger surged up within him. Those two dog servants had some nerve. They were utterly lawless.

Though Luo Zheng had been demoted to a Family Slave, that was still a matter of the Luo Family.

Even ordinary collateral disciples would not dare behave too outrageously before him. After all, his former status still stood—he was the eldest son of the Eldest Branch.

Yet Steward Fang actually dared urge Huang Ge to use him as a servant for pouring tea and water!

Huang Ge appraised Luo Zheng twice. A sinister smile spread across his wrinkled old face. "Having this kid attend to my food and daily needs would be suitable enough. I just wonder whether Young Master Chengyun would have any objections."

"Rest assured, Old Man Huang. You are our Luo Family's head steward. With a single word, you can transfer Luo Zheng here from the Martial Arts Practice Hall. Luo Zheng is now merely a Family Slave with no name or standing, sent to the Martial Arts Practice Hall every day to be beaten until he howls like ghosts and wolves. Wouldn't being your servant be much more comfortable? At most, he would only have to empty your chamber pots..." Steward Fang continued.

Steward Fang's string of words moved Huang Ge. Someone like Huang Ge, who had climbed up from the bottom, valued face above all else. Having the Luo Family's former eldest young master personally empty his chamber pot truly sounded interesting. Huang Ge nodded and asked Steward Fang, "Then shall we do it?"

"Let's do it!" Steward Fang nodded, then rose and called to the servants, ordering them to bring Luo Zheng inside.

Yet Luo Zheng stood where he was, unmoving as a mountain. No matter how those servants pulled and dragged at him, he did not shift in the slightest.

Those servants might have some strength, but how could they possibly move Luo Zheng, who had entered the Bone Refining Realm?

Luo Zheng's feet were like wedges hammered into the ground by a heavy maul. The servants strained with all their strength until sweat poured down their backs and they gasped for breath.

"Luo Zheng, I'm giving you an opportunity to serve Master Huang. Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!" Steward Fang snapped, flicking his sleeve.

At that moment, a ferocious gleam flashed through Luo Zheng's eyes. He let out an angry roar. After entering the Bone Refining Realm, the contraction force of his ribs had become even stronger. This roar was like a thunderclap exploding from level ground, numbing the ears of the servants, Huang Ge, and the others with painful vibration.

"Huang Ge, Fang Cong! Even if my Second Uncle, Luo Bingquan, were here, he would not dare make me serve him. Yet you two lowly outsiders dare act so arrogantly! I wonder who gave you the nerve to spout such reckless nonsense as though no one else existed, ordering me to serve you?"

Luo Zheng's aura swept toward Steward Fang like an overwhelming tide, frightening him so badly that he staggered back several steps and hid behind Huang Ge.

Steward Fang had deliberately brought Luo Zheng here today because he wanted Huang Ge to deal with him. Seeing Luo Zheng so agitated now, he knew that the matter was more than halfway done. Head Steward Huang Ge had climbed up step by step from being a Family Slave, and what he hated most was being called lowly. This time, Luo Zheng would probably be unable to bear the consequences.

Hearing Luo Zheng's words, Huang Ge remained unmoved. He narrowed his eyes and said darkly, "Luo Zheng, do not forget your current status. You are the lowliest of Family Slaves, not the young family head you once were. The current young family head is called Luo Peiran, not Luo Zheng. Having a Meat Target like you serve me is already an honor for you."

"Get lost!"

Luo Zheng gave a powerful shake, and the servants were immediately flung away, crashing down in a disorderly heap.

Seeing this, Huang Ge continued, "Luo Zheng, you are already a criminal under punishment. Are you trying to rebel? According to the Luo Family Rules, you could be sentenced to death by a thousand cuts!"

Luo Zheng sneered and took a great stride into the Secluded Courtyard. As he walked, he laughed loudly. "Luo Family Rules? An outsider like you dares speak of Luo Family Rules before me? Today, I'll let you understand what the Luo Family Rules truly are!"

With that, Luo Zheng raised his hand to strike Huang Ge. A string of sounds like beans popping instantly burst from between his bones. That was the Bone cracking sound produced only when one drove one's strength to its utmost limit and the bones ground against one another.

"Luo Zheng, how dare you! If you hit me, Young Master Chengyun will never spare you. You are only a Meat Target, with no power or influence in the Luo Family. Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death..." Huang Ge said, forcing himself to remain calm.

Slap!

Before Huang Ge had finished speaking, Luo Zheng's palm had already swept across his face. After entering the Bone Refining Realm, Luo Zheng's strength had nearly doubled. Though this slap was not delivered with his full power, it was still far from light.

Huang Ge's old face first turned deathly pale. Then five finger marks rose clearly upon it as if branded there, while one side swelled up like a pig's head.

"Luo Family Rules: Spouting reckless nonsense and maliciously discussing others—slap yourself!"

Slap!

"Luo Family Rules: Aiding a tiger in its evil deeds and being self-righteous—slap yourself!"

Slap!

"Luo Family Rules: Stirring up trouble and turning black into white—slap yourself!"

Slap!

"Luo Family Rules..."

Slap!

With every slap, a cloud of bloody mist burst forth. Steward Fang trembled all over at the sight.

This... this...

This was a little different from the script he had imagined. Luo Zheng was usually treated as a Meat Target and seemed to have no temper at all, always meekly accepting whatever came his way. How could he now dare strike even Old Man Huang?

What Steward Fang did not understand was that Luo Zheng had endured in silence only because he could not be bothered to lower himself to the level of these servants.

By now, quite a few Luo Family Disciples had gathered at the entrance. Seeing this scene, every one of them wore a shocked expression, though they also felt greatly satisfied.

This head steward, Huang Ge, had relied on his connection to Luo Chengyun to run rampant through the Luo Family, seemingly treating himself as the master of the Luo Family. Many collateral disciples had suffered Huang Ge's abuse before. They had endured it out of respect for the Second Branch, but Huang Ge did not know when to stop. Their tolerance had only fed his arrogance further.

Today, someone had stepped forward to teach this fellow a lesson. It was truly satisfying.

But...

These Luo Family Disciples all understood clearly that an outsider could be so arrogant only because he possessed a powerful backer. The root of Huang Ge's arrogance was his relationship with Luo Chengyun.

Moreover, arrogant as Huang Ge was, before the Second Branch and Third Branch, he displayed the instincts of a servant to the utmost and had won their favor.

Luo Zheng himself was now a Family Slave. Having beaten Huang Ge, he was in serious trouble.

Luo Zheng was definitely going to suffer a terrible fate...

Luo Zheng did not stop until he had slapped Huang Ge dozens of times. Huang Ge's face had become a bloody mess, flesh torn and blood streaming. Without looking carefully, one could not distinguish his nose from his mouth. Even his grizzled hair had come loose, making him look like a ghost.

After Luo Zheng stopped, Huang Ge's ruined mouth moved, and he muttered indistinctly, "You... just you wait..."

Before Huang Ge could finish, Luo Zheng added another slap. Only then did Huang Ge roll his eyes white and fall backward to the ground.

After teaching Huang Ge a lesson, Luo Zheng turned his gaze toward Steward Fang.

When Steward Fang saw Luo Zheng looking at him, he could not help trembling. He backed away two steps and cried, "Luo Zheng, you are a Family Slave!"

"So what if I am a Family Slave?" Luo Zheng pressed closer step by step.

"How dare you defy your superiors!" Steward Fang said.

"What is superior? What is inferior? My surname is Luo. Even as a Family Slave, my surname is still Luo. And you have forgotten one thing: my fist is bigger than yours, so I am superior! My strength is greater than yours, so I am superior! My martial skill is stronger than yours, so I am superior!"

As he spoke, Luo Zheng seized Steward Fang. With his Bone Refining Realm strength, these servants were like obedient chicks in his hands. Holding Steward Fang up, he struck left and right, delivering more than a dozen slaps.

The resounding slaps made everyone else's teeth ache just from hearing them. How painful must that have been?

Having finally had his fill, Luo Zheng casually threw Steward Fang onto Huang Ge. Both men let out miserable screams. Luo Zheng said, "Today's lesson is for you. Remember this pain well, so that in the future you may distinguish right from wrong and understand what can be done and what cannot!"

With that, Luo Zheng turned and walked out of the little Secluded Courtyard. The moment he reached the entrance, the Luo Family Disciples and servants who had been watching there scattered in all directions.