The Mountains and Rivers May Change, but One's Nature Is Hard to Change!
Ye Jing had made up his mind; it was time for him to move to a different place.
Xiao Jin took the jade pendant, her eyes slightly red, and looked at Ye Jing gratefully. "Thank you, Brother Ye Jing. I will cherish it."
She knew she couldn't keep Ye Jing.
Ye Jing smiled slightly, turned and left, leaving the Zhao family members in silence. They watched Ye Jing's receding figure, their hearts filled with mixed feelings, including awe for the strong and uncertainty and anticipation for the future.
But Ye Jing remained exceptionally resolute in his heart.
Around me.
The Woman in White Dress suddenly appeared beside him.
"Ye Jing, what you did was very good. This is the kind of you!"
"Thank you, I think I know how to deal with the Evil God and break this memory!" Ye Jing's lips curled up.
After Ye Jing left.
At first, as he said, Young Master Zhao did curb his arrogance and began to try to use his own power to help those who had been bullied by the Zhao family.
He personally went to the countryside to sponsor impoverished students, repair farmland and houses damaged by the Zhao family, and even personally visited the victims to apologize, trying to salvage some of the Zhao family's reputation and public support.
But time slowly passed.
Young Master Zhao found this kind of life boring.
A golden autumn breeze blew gently, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary stillness and desolation.
Young Master Zhao stood atop a high mountain, gazing at the busy villagers in the distance, a barely perceptible hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.
In his heart, a flame of "unwillingness" was quietly burning.
"Why do I have to live this kind of life? I am clearly the young master of the Zhao family, a chosen one of heaven!"
Young Master Zhao roared inwardly, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.
Just then, a trusted follower rushed over and whispered, "Young master, Old Li from the east end of the village is spreading rumors about your good deeds again, but judging from his expression, he's clearly mocking us."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Zhao's expression changed drastically, a surge of anger rising to his head. "Mocking? He dares! Come, take me to see him."
At the east end of the village, Old Li was sitting under the eaves of his simple house, mending his old fishing nets while chatting with a few neighbors.
Their conversation naturally revolved around Young Master Zhao's "transformation," but their words always carried a hint of doubt and reservation.
Young Master Zhao strode over with several attendants. Upon seeing this, the villagers all fell silent and watched him nervously.
Old Li looked up and saw Young Master Zhao leading a group of people approaching menacingly. A barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips.
"Oh, isn't this our young master Zhao? What's up, you've got the leisure to observe the people's conditions again today?" His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone around to hear.
Upon hearing this, Young Master Zhao's face darkened further. He stepped forward and glared at Old Li, shouting, "What do you mean by this? I, Zhao, sincerely wish to repent, yet you stand here mocking me!"
Old Li put down his fishing net, stood up, looked directly into Young Master Zhao's eyes, and said with a hint of disdain, "Young Master Zhao, let's not beat around the bush. We've seen what you've been doing these past few days, and you know what you're really thinking. A soft persimmon suddenly becoming hard is just a change of skin; it's still the same inside."
Upon hearing this, several neighbors cast complex glances at him, some with sympathy, others with disdain.
These words stung Young Master Zhao's heart, and he was furious. "You! What right do you have to say that! I, Zhao, have already decided to turn over a new leaf, so why are you still clinging to the past!"
Old Li shook his head and sighed, "Young Master Zhao, people's hearts don't grow cold overnight, nor can they be warmed up in a day. We've seen what you've done, but to truly gain forgiveness, it will probably take time, and even more so, your persistent efforts."
If your nature is hard to change, and today's efforts are just a flash in the pan, then won't we ordinary people be repeating the same mistakes?
Young Master Zhao clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly, finally letting it fall limply.
He realized that he might have been too impatient, and that it was obviously impossible to change everyone's opinion of him overnight.
"Fine, I think you're deliberately trying to smear my Zhao family!" Young Master Zhao suddenly turned hostile, snatching the fishing net from Old Li's hand and slamming it to the ground. "Do you think I'll let you off so easily? Let me tell you, there's never been anything I, Zhao, can't get if I want it!"
This really scared Old Li.
The other villagers were also shocked and retreated hastily, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.
Upon seeing this, Young Master Zhao felt an unprecedented surge of pleasure, as if he had returned to the era when he could act recklessly.
He ordered his men to surround the villagers, while he himself approached Old Li step by step.
"Today, I'll show you what the true Zhao family style is!" Young Master Zhao said, raising his hand and delivering a heavy punch that landed squarely on Old Li's face. Caught off guard, Old Li was instantly covered in blood and collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"Stop!" a young villager shouted from the crowd, but was quickly subdued by the others.
"Who else wants to step forward?" Young Master Young Master Zhao surveyed his surroundings, his eyes filled with madness. "Remember, from today onwards, everything in this village is under my, Zhao's, control!"
The villagers were ashen-faced; they hadn't expected that Young Master Zhao would so quickly revert to his cruel and tyrannical self.
"We can't just sit here and wait to die!" a young villager suddenly shouted. He broke free from his attendants' restraints, picked up a Shi Tuo, and threw it at Young Master Zhao.
This action seemed to ignite the anger in the villagers' hearts, and they followed suit, using various tools to launch a counterattack against Young Master Zhao and his entourage.
Despite the vast difference in strength, their eyes were filled with unyielding determination.
"Hmph, a bunch of ants, how dare they oppose the Zhao family?" Young Master Zhao sneered.
Young Master Zhao's cold laughter sounded particularly jarring in the autumn wind; it was an arrogance and disdain that came from the depths of his soul, as if the whole world trembled at his feet.
His gaze turned unusually cold, like a sharp icy blade in winter, piercing straight to the heart. With his command, his followers quickly scattered, pouncing on the villagers who tried to resist like hungry wolves. In an instant, the eastern part of the village was plunged into unprecedented chaos and panic.
"Beat them! Beat them hard! Let these arrogant fools know who the real masters are here!" Young Master Zhao's voice stood out clearly amidst the chaos, carrying an unquestionable authority and ruthlessness. Every word he spoke was like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's hearts and sending chills down their spines.
Although the villagers were angry and resentful, their resistance seemed so futile in the face of the well-trained followers.
Sticks and stones flew through the air, but most were skillfully dodged or blocked, while villagers fell one after another, their cries of pain and sobs creating a tragic scene.