Chapter Three: Counter-Framing
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"Enough." Gongsun Hui's lovely voice ordered, before she added, "Uncle Six, don't be impulsive, let's calmly solve this matter."
Gongsun Hui was the legitimate daughter of the Gongsun Clan of Shanyang, the rightful wife of the Wang family's previous Clan Leader, and the birth mother of the new Clan Leader of the Wang family; that was enough to mediate this affair.
Wang Dinghai exclaimed excitedly: "Sister-in-law, it's not that I, Old Six, am impetuous. It's just that this Liu brat has stepped way out of line. Everyone in Ping'an Town knows that the Peace River from Dingpu Ferry to Chaotic Stone Beach, spanning thirty miles on the right, is our Wang family's territory. But Liu Yongzhou has repeatedly overstepped his bounds by fishing here. This time, he shamelessly trespassed by ten miles. If I do not defend our territory, will there be any place for our Wang family on Peace River?"
"Oh, oh, oh, Old Six Wang, you're jumping the gun here." Liu Yongzhou looked very aggrieved. "The Peace River has a swift current and strong wind, and my Liu family's territory is upstream of the Peace River. There are inevitably times when a ship cannot be anchored properly. Yet, you charge at us with your fishing boats as soon as any conflict arises. It's unjust to cry foul after losing. Are you taking advantage of the fact that the Liu Clan lacks older generations?"
Wang Shouzhe had been quietly observing and speculating. He now confirmed that the Liu Clan had instigated this dispute on purpose, probably to test him, the newly inaugurated Clan Leader, and to assess his abilities.
If he, the Clan Leader, proved to be incompetent and unassertive, a series of covert and overt schemes would soon follow, most likely in alliance with the Zhao Clan.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Wang Shouzhe coughed twice and calmly stepped forward.
"Nephew Shouzhe, you're here?" Wang Dinghai's face lit up, then he angrily said, "Quickly pass judgment for your Uncle Six. This boy cheated in a sneak attack. I, your Uncle Six, won't admit defeat and wish to confront him in a fair rematch."
"So, the young Clan Leader of the Wang family, no, the current Clan Leader, has arrived." Liu Yongzhou narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a hint of fear and jealousy towards Wang Shouzhe.
Without a doubt, Wang Shouzhe surpassed Liu Yongzhou in terms of overall strength. At just eighteen years old, Wang Shouzhe had already reached the High Level Six of the Vital Energy Refining Realm, which suggested great potential for future growth.
The Liu family was very wary of Wang Shouzhe. If given the chance, and if he reached the Spirit Platform Realm, the balance of power in Ping'an Town would drastically shift.
Some of the people watching began to whisper among themselves. They seemed quite interested in the young, newly appointed Clan Leader of the Wang family. The discussions hinted that if the previous Clan Leader, Wang Dingyue, had lived a little longer and allowed the younger Clan Leader, Wang Shouzhe, to fully mature, the situation for the Wang family in Ping'an would have been different.
"Uncle Six, victory and defeat is commonplace for warriors." Wang Shouzhe slightly narrowed his eyes and testingly said in a low voice, "But, Uncle Six, are you sure you can certainly beat him? It would damage our Wang family's reputation if you lost again in public."
"Well…" Wang Dinghai hesitated, then said quietly, "I have had several disputes with this Liu youth, and we've been evenly matched, each with our own advantages. I don't know why today, he seemed rather off. His Water Escape Technique has improved significantly, he was as slippery as an eel in the water, and he caught me off guard. But don't worry, Nephew. Even if it costs me my life, I will win this fight."
The Water Escape Technique has improved significantly?
Well, this is interesting. Wang Shouzhe touched his nose. He figured out the opponent's strategy: to provoke a conflict, to incite discontent within Wang Dinghai, and then to have Liu Yongzhou, the promising youth of the Liu family, defeat Wang Dinghai publicly, thereby undermining the Wang family's prestige.
If the situation could be further inflamed and a wager could be agreed upon between the two parties, it would be even better. In such a case, they could bite a big chunk out of the Wang family's resources.
Having made a definite judgement, Wang Shouzhe said, "Uncle Six, let me handle this."
"This..." Wang Dinghai hesitated a little, but when he saw the calm expression on Wang Shouzhe's face, he quickly cooled down and stepped back. "Shouzhe, be careful, the Liu family is best at playing dirty tricks."
"Rest assured, Uncle Six, we won't be wronged." After reassuring Wang Dinghai, Wang Shouzhe scanned the surroundings and loudly declared in front of everyone, "The Wang Family, being a martial Profound Martial lineage, has always upheld our status through martial power. The so-called ancestral territory naturally falls to the capable. Should the younger generation lack the ability to guard it, yielding a portion is expected. Liu Yongzhou, you of the Liu Clan have planned to encroach upon my Wang Clan's fishing and hunting grounds, starting conflicts is merely trivial. Why not be more candid? Let's have a life-and-death match, just like our ancestors. Whoever wins will take control of the other's fishing grounds. How about it?"
"What?"
A gasp echoed around the crowd. A life-and-death match!? Was the young Clan Leader of the Wang family being too aggressive?
Wang Shouzhe was a full five years younger than Liu Yongzhou, but this direct challenge for a life-and-death match left Liu Yingzhou white-lipped and pale-faced. This was something he dared not, and could not, accept. He replied awkwardly, "You're joking, Mr. Wang Clan Leader. You're the Clan Leader. How could you participate in a life-and-death match?"
It was clear that although Liu Yongzhou was not inferior amongst his peers, he fell far short of Wang Shouzhe, who had always been groomed to be the young Clan Leader.
"Hm!" Wang Shouzhe sneered derisively. "If you are cowardly, just admit it, there's no need to be so pretentious. I, Wang Shouzhe, am here today. I'll accept any challenge from anyone of the 'Yong' generation of your Liu Clan."
"Good! Well said. The new Clan Leader of the Wang family sure is spirited."
"The Xuanwu family is a martial arts family. It's interesting to see how the Liu Clan will respond. As far as I know, the elders of the Liu clan are already in their mid to late thirties, and the younger ones are still learning to talk. I can't think of anyone who could fight the new leader of the Wang family."
"Brother, how strong is this young man? Can he really defeat all members of the Liu Clan's elder generation?"
"Are you from out of town? That's the new leader of our Ping'an Wang family, Wang Shouzhe. At only eighteen, he's close to cultivating to the advanced stage of the Qi Refinement Realm. It's rumored that his talent in sword Dao is extraordinary, his sword techniques have already reached an impeccable stage." The local bragged, "Moreover, he's passed the entrance exam of the Purple Abode Academy. He's supposed to go off to school soon, it's a pity such a big incident happened in the Wang family causing him to give up his studies."
"The Purple Abode Academy? The one known for transforming students into Spirit Platform experts once they get in? That's impressive, it's really a pity!"
Scattered discussions around Wang Shouzhe reminded him that he indeed passed the Purple Abode Academy's early selection not too long ago.
The Purple Abode Academy in Longzuo County enrolls a new class every three years, but their requirements are very strict. Only one to three individuals in the whole Changning area pass the primary selection each time, gaining the opportunity to participate in the secondary examination, and this year, Wang Shouzhe was among them.
But the talk about him going off to the Academy was exaggerated, the jurisdiction area of Changning City wouldn't produce a Purple Abode student once in eight or ten years. Although Wang Shouzhe considered himself exceptional, he also knew that the probability of passing the second round of selection was less than 30%.
The public opinion started to tilt in favor of the Wang family.
In the previous conflict, the improper handling could have damaged the Wang family's reputation. At this moment, it instead boosted the prestigous image of Wang family.
"Well done, nephew." Wang Dinghai said with a pleased expression, "Look if those brats from the Liu family still dare to be arrogant."
Gongsun Hui was also surprised, she didn't expect that Wang Shouzhe's very utterance had turned a bad situation which would harm the family's prestige into a predicament for the Liu clan's reputation.
Prior to this, her oldest son only focused on his own cultivation with very little concern for other matters. She didn't expect him to demonstrate such capability as soon as he took the role of Clan Leader.
"Excellent!"
Suddenly, a voice of approval rang out, "The words of the Wang Clan Leader really opened my ears, I'm impressed. I'm impressed. The Xuanwu family is a martial arts family. If you can't hold on to your ancestral property, why not retire to a corner?"
While speaking, a middle-aged man, appearing extraordinary in his brocade robe, strode out, surrounded by several fierce family guards, he looked at Wang Shouzhe with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
As soon as this man appeared, both Gongsun Hui and Wang Dinghai's expressions changed: "It's Liu Shengye!"
Especially Gongsun Hui, her face awkwardly whispered a warning to Wang Shouzhe, "Zhe Er, be careful. The Liu Clan leader appearing at this time is suspicious."
Liu Shengye.
Wang Shouzhe's eyes narrowed slightly. The present Clan Leader of Liu Clan in Ping'an. He heard that his personal martial power is not the strongest in Liu Clan, having not broken through to level eight of Qi Refinement Realm despite being forty years old.
In Wang Shouzhe's memory, this person was famous for his cunning and deceitful tactics, a smiling tiger. He had taken advantage of the former Clan Leader, Wang Dingyue, several times. He was very good at managing family properties, making the power of Liu Clan grow stronger day by day.
"I see, it's the Liu Clan Leader." Wang Shouzhe responded calmly, "Since the Liu Clan Leader agrees with my words, does that mean you agree to my duel with Liu Yongzhou?" Without further ado, he threw a loop to Liu Shengye.
"Where is this coming from? Though your words make sense, as the head of a clan, how can you bully the weak?" Liu Shengye smoothly rode the momentum, "For the duel, it should be fair and equal."
His intention was naturally to shift the duel back onto Liu Yongzhou and Wang Dinghai.
"Clan Leader Liu's words make sense." Wang Shouzhe nodded seriously in agreement, "Our Wang and Liu Clans usually have many disagreements and misunderstandings. Since we have to duel, why don't we, two Clan Leaders, fight personally? That could also be considered equal."
"What?"
Liu Shengye's face twitched. The Clan Leaders personally duel? Was Wang Shouzhe crazy? He first bit on Liu Yongzhou, and now he is directly biting on him, Liu Shengye! Was he going to bite everyone? Is that what he meant?
The surrounding business travelers and other people at the ferry crossing were also taken aback, going straight for a deathmatch between two prominent family Clan Leaders, was he too impulsive?
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