Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
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“Looks like I can only take it one step at a time.” Wang Shouzhe’s expression was slightly solemn. However, he quickly accepted it. Even without a cheat, he still had some advantages.
At least after fusing his memories, he realized that although many experts in this world were very strong, their development and state of mind were inferior to that of Earthlings, even if he was just an ordinary university graduate who was working…
Just as Wang Shouzhe was about to summarize his advantages…
All of a sudden, the manservant, Wang Gui, rushed inside in a panic. “Patriarch, Patriarch, this is bad. Sixth Master got beaten up. He sent people back to ask for help.”
Sixth Master?
Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly as memories flooded his mind. “It’s Sixth Uncle, Wang Dinghai.”
Wang Dinghai was Wang Shouzhe’s uncle. He was ranked sixth among the sons with the generation name “Ding”. His natural talents and cultivation level were ordinary, but he was relatively good in water. Thus, he was in charge of one of the clan’s businesses, the fishing fleet.
Now that Wang Dinghai had been beaten up, there must be something up with the clan’s fishing fleet. It was a good opportunity to observe this world with his own eyes.
“Calm down. Being so flustered is inappropriate.” Wang Shouzhe calmed down as he thought about this. After the reprimand, he said calmly, “Prepare the carriage. Let’s go take a look.”
“Yes, Patriarch.” Wang Gui hurriedly replied and slipped away to prepare for the trip.
Wang Shouzhe exited the room according to his memory and slowly walked towards the gate of the main residence. Along the way, he observed the various buildings and structures of the main residence, verifying them with the memories in his mind.
On the way, he happened to see his legitimate mother, Gongsun Hui, leading a few clan guards in a hurry towards the main gate with a solemn expression.
Wang Shouzhe bowed to Gongsun Hui. “Greetings, Mother.”
Having fused memories, Wang Shouzhe already knew that he had lost his mother when he was young. Gongsun Hui was the main wife his father, Dingyue, remarried. She had a direct daughter named Wang Luomiao, who was already eight years old this year.
Therefore, although Gongsun Hui was Wang Shouzhe’s legitimate mother, she was not his biological mother. However, she was pure-hearted and kind, and had always treated Wang Shouzhe as her own. She took good care of him in all aspects.
This was quite different from typical fantasy novels.
As soon as Gongsun Hui saw Wang Shouzhe, she went forward and held his hand. Her face was filled with concern. “Zhe’er, why are you out? Have you eaten? Are you feeling better?”
The other clan guards also hurriedly bowed to Wang Shouzhe.
“Mother, I’m fine now. I’ve also finished the spirit food you ordered prepared . I’ll tell you in detail later.” Wang Shouzhe broke free from her hand subtly. With a solemn expression, he said, “Mother, you’re leading the clan guards. Are you going to assist Sixth Uncle? I’ll accompany you.”
Gongsun Hui’s face fell. After some hesitation, she said, “Zhe’er, since you’ve already inherited the position of the patriarch, you’ll face these sooner or later. Since your health has already recovered, let’s go take a look together.”
“Yes, Mother.”
The two of them walked out the main door of the main residence together. The plaque at the front door had the words “Wang Clan of Ping’an” written in bold and fancy calligraphy. It could be said to possess extraordinary grandeur.
However, the mottled porch pillars and the white lanterns with the word “Dian”1 fluttering in the wind manifested the bleakness of the decline of the Wang Clan.
“Patriarch, Madam Gongsun, the carriage has been prepared.” The personal manservant, Wang Gui, scurried over. “The sword and bow and arrows have been placed on the carriage.”
After a brief discussion, Wang Shouzhe and Gongsun Hui rode in a carriage together. The other four clan guards would each ride a buckskin horse to guard around them as they headed towards Dingpu Crossing of An River.
On the way, Gongsun Hui explained everything that happened.
Wang Shouzhe, who had the mindsets of both his previous life and current life, quickly understood the actual situation. The An River was a huge river that was over a thousand feet wide. The water in the river was rich and unique, and could produce long-term economic benefits with fishing fleets.
However, wherever there were interests, conflicts would often arise. Naturally, none of the three major noble clans in Ping’an Town was willing to give up on this golden goose. After all kinds of conflicts and compromises, now the three major noble clans of Ping’an each drew their own territories and did not cross boundaries.
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The Wang Clan of Ping’an’s territory was 30 miles of An River from the right of Dingpu Crossing to the Rubble Beach.
It was just that in recent years, the other two noble clans had been producing talents every generation and constantly growing stronger, and their appetite had gradually grown. In a situation where the total territory was limited, it was naturally easy for them to infringe on the interests of others.
The plan of gradual encroachment had already been constantly enacted. The territory and industries of the clan kept shrinking year after year. The smaller their territory, the more they lacked resources, and without resources, the harder it would be for the clansmen to grow. From then on, they would fall into a vicious cycle.
What made the situation worse was that the Wang Clan’s mainstay, Ancestor Longyan, seemed to be deteriorating in health year by year. She had been in seclusion for the past few years. Despite such a huge matter happening in the clan, she had not shown herself. The outside world would definitely speculate endlessly about whether she could still put up a fight.
The situation was not optimistic. Wang Shouzhe frowned.
Speaking of which, the Wang Clan’s main residence was built beside mountains and rivers. It was only over ten miles from Dingpu Crossing, and the foundation of the road was hard and maintained year-round. With advance clan guards opening the way, the journey was smooth, and the carriage arrived in less than an hour.
When Ping’an Town was first established, this crossing was already one of the outposts of Changning Wei. After Ping’an Town developed for over a century, the Dingpu Crossing had become an important transportation route that connected the north and south.
The three noble clans of Ping’an all had basic facilities such as piers, ferries, shops, and so on here.
There were some simple defensive facilities at the wharf. The city walls were rather crude, only about five or six meters tall, and could only withstand the impact of small-scale assaults by dire beasts.
After Wang Shouzhe and the others entered the wharf, they headed straight for the deepwater pier. Under the long wooden trestle bridge stood a huge wooden pillar with a circumference that spanned both arms. It lifted the plank bridge all the way to a depth of 30 to 40 feet. There were two more horizontal bridges in the deepwater area that formed multiple berths.
Ships of various sizes were docked at the berths. There were ferries, merchant ships, and fishing boats.
From afar, one could see two groups of people confronting each other at the end of the trestle bridge. Both sides were holding clubs, sabers, and pitchforks, and their emotions were very intense.
“Old Wang, you sure are bold. How dare you bring people to block the Young Master of Yongzhou? Do you think I should give you a worse beating?” A young man’s mocking voice sounded.
“You little bastard from Liu family.” Another man shouted in an agitated and angry voice, “Didn’t you just launch a sneak attack in the water? If you’re a real man, we’ll go in the water for a real fight with our own abilities. The Sixth Master of Wang Clan will teach you how to behave, you bastard.”
“Old Wang, don’t blame me for looking down on you. You’re already so old, yet all your years have gone to waste. You don’t have any brains at all.” The young man scoffed. “Underwater ambush is one of the strategies of war. Don’t tell me we have to make it clear beforehand that we’re not allowed to use tactics before fighting? Heh, the longer you live, the worse you get. Why don’t you get out of Ping’an Town as soon as possible instead of wasting food?”
The group led by the young men burst into laughter and joined the young man in jeering. Get out of Ping’an Town. Get out of Ping’an Town.
There were many passersby and merchants gathered at Dingpu Crossing. At this moment, they had already gathered around to watch the commotion. All sorts of discussions were going on.
Today’s conflict would definitely be spread to other places by word of mouth. Wang Clan of Ping’an, which had suffered a loss in this conflict, would also become a laughingstock for the time and the topic of casual gossip, thus incurring a blow to the reputation of the Wang Clan.
“Little bastard from Liu family.” The man’s face was already flushed red. He was furious to the extreme. “You’re going too far. I’ll fight you to the death!”
“Old bastard from Wang family, come at me if you have the guts!”
An armed confrontation between the two parties was imminent.
“Stop!” Seeing that the situation was urgent, Gongsun Hui hurriedly walked to the center of the confrontation and stopped them. “Wang Dinghai, Liu Yongzhou, calm down first. We can talk things out.”
Wang Shouzhe was worried that his mother would be at a disadvantage. With a wave of his hand, the four family guards rushed forward and protected Gongsun Hui. He followed closely behind and continued to observe everything coolly.
Observation and memory at the scene told him that the somewhat slovenly looking young man dressed in a tight-fitting diving suit with a short blade hanging from his waist was called Liu Yongzhou, a member of the Liu family’s generation with the “Yong” generation name.
It was rumored that this young man was good at fighting in the water, and was especially good at Water Traversal Technique. He had once dived with a short blade and killed a Class One dire beast, the Crimson-scaled Eel, that weighed more than 200 catties. He had risen to fame at the young age of 23 or 24, and was a talent of the Liu Clan of Ping’an.
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The other man was lean and had dark skin. It was obvious at a glance that he was someone who made a living on the waters for a long time. However, his head and arms were injured and covered in hemp bandages, making him look a little disheveled.
It was Wang Shouzhe’s uncle, Wang Dinghai. He was in charge of the clan’s fishing operations in their territorial waters. He was also very good at fighting in the water and fishing, and was also the main catcher of the Red-tailed Spirit Minnow that Wang Shouzhe had eaten earlier.
“Oh, so you’re the Madam Gongsun of the Wang family.” The young man called Liu Yongzhou carelessly saluted with folded hands with a smile. Then, he sneered at Wang Dinghai in disdain, “Old Wang, you got your sister-in-law to support you over some conflict with a junior like myself. I really admire you and feel ashamed for not being your match.”
“You…” Wang Dinghai’s dark face turned dark red.
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