The Clan Leader Was a Little Fierce

"Eldest Nephew, absolutely not." Wang Dinghai hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "The Liu Clan Leader is already forty, seasoned and experienced."

"Zhe'er, you're being too impulsive." Gongsun Hui was somewhat flustered as well. "The Clan Leader holds an exalted position. He is the needle that steadies the family..."

If it had been a fight with Liu Yongzhou, they would have been happy to see it, since the gap in strength between the two sides was considerable. But directly challenging Liu Shengye was an unknown situation and far too risky.

Meanwhile, Liu Shengye secretly wiped away a cold sweat. Good, good. There were still sensible people in the Wang Clan. They really ought to talk some sense into this young Wang Clan Leader. What kind of nonsense was this?

Who started things off by having the commanders of two armies fight a life-and-death duel? Wouldn't that turn everything upside down?

Besides, Liu Shengye had lived in comfort and luxury for so many years and had not fought anyone in ages. A life-and-death battle was no joke.

"Auntie, Sixth Uncle." Wang Shouzhe directly cut them off. "The Clan Leader is merely a member of the family as well. So long as one is a member of the family, everyone has both the right and the duty to shed their blood and lose their heads for the family, to sacrifice themselves for its survival. Besides, Ancestor Longyan..."

As he spoke, Wang Shouzhe grew somewhat agitated and grief-stricken, as though an eruption were brewing beneath suppressed emotion. The final three words caught in his throat before he abruptly swallowed them back down.

"Shouzhe!" Wang Dinghai panicked at once and hurriedly asked in a low voice, "Ancestor Longyan, she couldn't possibly..."

"Don't worry, she's fine." Wang Shouzhe's face was slightly pale. "It's just that it pains me to see how much Ancestor has given to the family over her entire life. It's time for us juniors to step forward and bleed a little."

Yet no matter how one looked at it, his words seemed like a cover-up.

After saying that, Wang Shouzhe turned and fixed his gaze on Liu Shengye. "Clan Leader Liu, since our two families are riddled with conflicts, why not use this opportunity to settle things once and for all? You and I can sign a life-and-death duel contract. The loser will withdraw from An River Fishing Ground, and neither family may pursue the matter afterward." His words carried a resolute air.

"Good! Clan Leader Wang is indeed a young hero of spirit and blood."

"Since there's conflict between the two families, why not have king against king and settle it?"

The onlookers naturally had no fear of making a big fuss. The chance to see the leaders of two great clans personally engage in a life-and-death battle was an exceedingly rare spectacle. At once, they began egging them on, determined to push the matter higher.

Damn it! Why does this brat look like a starving wolf? His words are evasive—could it be... the rumors are true...? If so, the situation has changed. Liu Shengye shuddered, his brows knitting tightly. After a brief moment of thought, he made his decision. Changing the subject, he put on an expression of harmony bringing wealth. "Worthy Nephew, speaking of which, your father and I were old acquaintances for many years. It's not improper for me to call you Worthy Nephew, is it? We Three Great Clans of Peace have stood in Ping'an Town for generations. We are all neighbors, and ought to support and care for one another. For such a small dispute, why go this far? Why indeed?"

"So Clan Leader Liu means to compensate my Sixth Uncle's medical expenses?" Wang Shouzhe narrowed his eyes, a cold smile hanging from the corner of his lips.

Compensate medical expenses?

Liu Shengye's face darkened. Yet he had always excelled at lying low and concealing blades within smiles. His smile only became more amiable. "Conflicts between neighbors are unavoidable. But since this time it was Yongzhou's fault, we naturally must acknowledge it. Here are thirty Qian Gold, as an apology to Brother Dinghai."

As he spoke, Liu Shengye took out three gold notes worth ten Qian Gold each and smilingly pressed them into Wang Shouzhe's hand. "They say Worthy Nephew is a dragon and phoenix among men, with potential no less than Ancestor Longyan in her day. In the future, you will surely become a pillar holding up Ping'an Town."

Thirty Qian Gold?

With the memories he had fused, Wang Shouzhe knew this was already an enormous sum. He immediately accepted the favorable outcome and smiled as well. "Clan Leader Liu is the needle that steadies Ping'an. Shouzhe has only just taken up the position of Clan Leader, and I will still need much care from Clan Leader Liu in the future."

"Certainly, certainly!"

After laughing twice, Liu Shengye departed the Deepwater Pier district with his family guards and Liu Yongzhou.

Seeing that no real fight had broken out, the crowd let out waves of regretful sighs, as though they had missed some grand drama. Slightly disappointed, they dispersed in twos and threes.

"My nephew truly has methods." Wang Dinghai looked as though he had vented a mouthful of pent-up anger, his face beaming with delight. "With only a few words, you turned the situation around and even made that old fox Liu Shengye willingly apologize and offer compensation."

But Gongsun Hui showed no joy at all. Instead, worry clouded her brows.

"Sixth Uncle, Auntie, since we're already here, why don't we board Sixth Uncle's boat and take a look?" Wang Shouzhe smiled. "From childhood until now, I've never gone out on a boat with Sixth Uncle."

"Good, good, good! Then Sixth Uncle will show you a good time." Wang Dinghai said happily. "In a while, I'll demonstrate my fishing skills for you."

Before boarding, Wang Shouzhe called several family guards over and quietly gave them instructions. The guards understood. After saluting, they scattered in all directions to carry out their tasks.

Only then did Wang Shouzhe, together with Gongsun Hui, follow Wang Dinghai toward the deepwater berths.

At the same time.

Outside Dingpu Ferry, the hot-blooded young Liu Yongzhou wore an ugly expression. "Clan Leader, didn't we agree to bite off a piece of flesh from the Wang Clan? How did it end with us apologizing and offering compensation?"

"Yongzhou, you are still too young." Liu Shengye appeared calm and unhurried, smiling with his hands clasped behind his back. "As the saying goes, times change. In the current situation, not only can we not take the initiative to provoke the Wang Clan, we should instead be cautious everywhere to avoid conflict with them."

"Clan Leader..." Liu Yongzhou was somewhat angry and unable to understand.

"By my judgment, that old undead Wang Longyan does not have long to live." Liu Shengye narrowed his eyes, as though victory were already in his grasp. "The Wang Clan is now like a sick tiger on the verge of death—the most dangerous moment. If we press them too hard, we may trigger their frenzied backlash. My Liu Clan is not afraid, but neither do we wish to let the Zhao Clan profit as the fisherman."

Wang Longyan!

That name was like a poisonous thorn lodged in the Liu Clan's throat. So long as she lived, the Liu Clan did not dare completely tear away the mask of civility with the Wang Clan.

"Clan Leader, is this true?" Liu Yongzhou was wildly excited.

"Originally, Wang Longyan went into seclusion and did not emerge, not even appearing for such a major matter as the succession of the Wang Clan Leader. I was already thirty to forty percent certain." Liu Shengye let out a cold chuckle. "Then I saw that Wang Shouzhe, the new Clan Leader, was so unable to keep his composure that he actually wished to stake everything on a life-and-death battle with me. That confirmed my judgment by seventy to eighty percent. Heh heh, how could I let him have his way? In as little as two or three years, or at most four or five, once Wang Longyan dies..."

"Clan Leader? We still have to wait that long?" Liu Yongzhou was somewhat dumbfounded.

"What do you know? How can the rise and fall, succession and replacement of a family be achieved in a single morning or evening? My Liu Clan has waited all these years. Can't we endure a mere few more?" Liu Shengye flicked his sleeve and climbed into the carriage with the support of a family guard. "Besides, before Wang Longyan dies, our Liu Clan has much preparation to do. Yongzhou, remember this: before receiving my orders, you are not to clash with the Wang Clan. Otherwise, the family laws will deal with you!"

"Yes, Clan Leader." Liu Yongzhou held back a bellyful of anger, but there was nothing he could do. He could only respectfully see off Clan Leader Liu Shengye's carriage as it departed.

Wang Shouzhe had several family guards remain at the pier to carry out their tasks, then boarded Wang Dinghai's medium-sized fishing vessel, the Dinghai, together with Auntie Gongsun Hui. The medium-sized fishing boat was roughly eight or nine zhang long and more than two zhang wide, built entirely from wood.

Judging by its tall mast and lowered sails, it was a wind-powered sailing vessel.

Wang Dinghai ordered the boatmen under his command to raise the sails and leave the harbor. Just as he eagerly wished to introduce Wang Shouzhe to the boat's various facilities, Gongsun Hui said solemnly, "Zhe'er, Sixth Uncle, let's speak at the stern."

The two followed her. As the vessel rocked, it gradually sailed out of the deepwater harbor.

"Ah, Zhe'er, you went a little too far today." Gongsun Hui sighed. "Ancestor Longyan has sacrificed her entire life for the family. The bitterness and hardship she has endured are beyond counting. How could you spout such nonsense and insinuate that she, that... especially before such a large crowd? And you even sent family guards to spread rumors just now! What you did today will certainly reach the elders' ears. Those few senior relatives will surely reprimand you."

"Um..." Wang Dinghai was flustered as well. "Fifth Sister-in-law, what should we do? The elders won't impeach Shouzhe, will they?" Ancestor Longyan was not only the needle that steadied the family, but a mountain-like presence. Naturally, Wang Dinghai revered and feared her immensely.

"Sixth Uncle, calm down, calm down." Wang Shouzhe smiled placidly. "The elders are all our seniors. I believe that once I reason with them, they will understand. Auntie, let me ask you this: how much longer can Ancestor Longyan hold on?"

"Zhe'er, how can you be so disrespectful toward Ancestor Longyan? We cannot idly discuss..."

"Auntie, as Clan Leader, I naturally must consider the interests and development of the entire family as a whole." Wang Shouzhe directly cut off Gongsun Hui. "If I cannot even ask or know how much longer Ancestor can hold on, how can I plan for the family's future development? If that is the case, then I, Wang Shouzhe, am likely unfit to bear the position of Clan Leader. We should replace me as soon as possible."