Chapter 33: Crazy Gamble
Huang Mansion.
It is located in the most central location of Qingzhou City.
The high walls and thick gates stretch for miles and from a distance it looks like a city within a city.
The backyard of the mansion, the open space in front of the ancestral hall.
Pieces of white stones with flat sides were neatly laid on the ground. On both sides of the open space stood two rows of young men with solemn expressions. From the murderous looks in these men's eyes, it could be seen that these people were martial artists.
There are nearly a hundred young martial artists, many of whom are generals. This is the capital of the Huang family, one of the eight major surnames in the Liang Dynasty.
If these young martial artists represent the future of the Huang family, then the four old men standing in front of the ancestral hall gate are the Huang family's foundation.
Of the five elders of the Huang family elders council, except for the chief elder who had been in seclusion for a long time, the other four were all present.
In previous years, except for the ancestor worship ceremony, the four elders rarely gathered together. Some of them practiced martial arts in seclusion in the tribe, while others went out to travel.
However, the reason why the four elders gathered together today was that today was the day when the young master of the Huang family entered the ancestral temple to worship his ancestors.
Looking at the figure walking towards the gate of the ancestral hall, many people present had complicated expressions.
The battle for the position of young patriarch, which had lasted for several years, finally came to an end today. No one expected that the final winner would be Huang Zhongtai.
This illegitimate son of the head of the family, many members of the Huang family had never heard of his name seven years ago.
The eldest son of the patriarch, Huang Zhongqian, has an extremely high talent in martial arts, overshadowing other members of the same generation. Many members of the patriarch tacitly accept that Huang Zhongqian is the next heir to the patriarch's throne.
However, Huang Zhongqian's sudden death seven years ago changed everything.
All those who were suppressed by Huang Zhongqian and had the ability to compete for the position of family head began to have ideas. After several years of fighting, the two who finally broke free were Huang Zhongtai and Huang Zhongxing.
Compared with Huang Zhongtai, the tribe members are more optimistic about Huang Zhongxing.
The reason is very simple. Although Huang Zhongtai was born to the head of the family, he was an illegitimate child. The head of the family's wife was very dissatisfied with him and suppressed him many times without any concealment. Although Huang Zhongxing was a collateral branch, his father was a fourth-rank military general, second only to the head of the family.
Moreover, Huang Zhongxing himself has a very high talent in martial arts and he broke through to the sixth-rank general three years ago.
Before today, Huang Zhongtai's strength shown to the outside world was that of a seventh-grade martial artist.
Who would have thought that Huang Zhongtai had hidden his true strength and had already broken through to the level of a fifth-rank general, easily defeating Huang Zhongxing.
It's hidden really deeply.
After defeating Huang Zhongxing and gaining recognition from the elders and the head of the family, Huang Zhongtai only needed to enter the ancestral temple to worship his ancestors, and his status as the heir to the family head would be completely confirmed.
Huang Zhongxing in the crowd had an unwilling look in his eyes. He didn't expect that Huang Zhongtai had hidden so deeply. He broke through the fifth-grade realm but still endured it in Daning County and fought with He Xu who was in the seventh-grade realm.
He Xu was his man, and he arranged for He Xu to be the magistrate of Daning County, Raozhou Prefecture. His purpose was to let He Xu cause trouble for Huang Zhongtai and test Huang Zhongtai's strength.
"Brother, even if Huang Zhongtai becomes the young master of the family and becomes the head of the family in the future, he cannot retaliate against us at will with the elders here. Don't let others gossip about him and give Huang Zhongtai a chance."
The man next to Huang Zhongxing gently reminded him that the hatred in his brother's eyes was too obvious and that he had a grudge against the young master, which was not allowed by the family's top management.
"He's not the young master yet!"
Huang Zhongxing whispered, looking at Huang Zhongtai, who was only a few steps away from the gate of the ancestral hall, and didn't care whether he succeeded or not, and shouted directly: "Four elders, Huang Zhongtai is not qualified to be the young master of the family!"
If we wait until Huang Zhongtai enters the ancestral hall, there will be no room for change.
Even if Daning County succeeded and secretly sidelined Huang Zhongtai in the end, the position of the head of the family would still be his, because the Huang family is one of the eight major families in the world and they have to maintain their reputation.
"Huang Zhongxing, do you know what you are talking about?"
One of the four elders glanced over coldly. Huang Zhongxing's face turned pale when the mighty master fell, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "Zhongxing knows what he is talking about. Zhongxing has no complaints about losing, but Huang Zhongtai is indeed not qualified to be the head of the family."
Huang Zhongxing did not dare to keep the secret any longer and continued, "Huang Zhongtai is practicing the Tiancan technique, so his strength will break through quickly, but practicing this technique will make it impossible for him to have children."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar and everyone looked at Huang Zhongtai.
Tiancan Gongfa does not refer to a kind of martial arts technique, but a type of martial arts technique. This type of martial arts technique has a flaw, and some defects will appear in the body after practicing it.
Some people’s life spans are shortened after practicing, and some people gradually lose their sanity…
"Zhongtai, is what Huang Zhongxing said true?"
The person asking the question was the Patriarch of the Huang family. His eyes were sharp and seemed to contain some special meaning.
“Father, the four elders, what Huang Zhongxing said is true.”
Huang Zhongtai stopped, turned around, and admitted it directly.
"But Zhongtai had already left behind a descendant before he began to cultivate. He is currently in Daning County. Zhongtai will have someone bring him over today."
"What if your son is already dead?"
Huang Zhongxing interrupted Huang Zhongtai without hesitation, and his words attracted strange looks from other members of the Huang family present.
Huang Zhongtai’s son died?
Isn't that what you did? However, these clansmen were not very angry. The clan selected the young master in this way, just like raising a Gu, letting a group of talented people fight each other and finally decide the strongest one.
These competitors use countless ruthless tactics behind the scenes, and the clan leaders pretend not to know as long as they don't expose them in public.
Huang Zhongxing's words were both explicit and inconspicuous. To put it bluntly, all the members of the Huang family knew what he meant, but for the sake of appearance, they all pretended not to understand.
"In that case, then Zhongtai... forget it, Huang Long, you go to Daning County to bring Zhongtai's son back." said the head of the Huang family.
"Father, I've sent someone to pick him up. If everything goes well, he should be back soon." Huang Zhongtai replied.
As early as yesterday, after defeating Huang Zhongxing and his people being controlled by the clan’s top leaders, he sent his housekeeper to Daning County.
"Then wait a moment."
The elder of the Huang family spoke, and no one had any objections.
The head of a family is not allowed to be childless. If the head of a family is childless, he does not need to consider future generations and it is easy for him to sacrifice the family for himself.
Time passes by bit by bit.
All the Huang family members in front of the ancestral hall, except for the four elders, including the head of the family, had a feeling that time was passing so slowly at this moment.
Huang Zhongxing and Huang Zhongtai looked at each other. When Huang Zhongtai showed a sarcastic smile on his face, Huang Zhongxing couldn't help but said:
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"Don't be happy too soon. It's still unclear who will win or lose."
What he hates most is Huang Zhongtai's smile. You, Huang Zhongtai, are just an illegitimate child. If Huang Zhongqian hadn't died unexpectedly, no one would know who you are.
The outcome is still undecided, what right do you have to sneer at me! Finally, there was a noise outside the door.
"Master, the lady and the young master have arrived safely at the mansion."
The housekeeper appeared. Huang Zhongtai kept smiling, but his right hand, which was clenched in his sleeve, slowly loosened.
In the end, I won this gamble.
If I hadn't deliberately exposed the flaws in my martial arts and let Huang Zhongxing discover the whereabouts of his wife and children, making Huang Zhongxing think that he had grasped my vital points and didn't take action against me early, I would not have been able to grow to this point.
If he loses, he will be doomed, but if he doesn't gamble, he will be looked down upon as a bastard for the rest of his life, and he will not be able to avenge his mother.
"Please invite Young Patriarch Huang Zhongtai to offer sacrifices to the ancestors!"
While everyone was still immersed in the shock of Huang Zhongtai's complete turnaround, the elder's solemn and dignified voice instantly silenced all the discussions and uproar.
…
…
The back house of the Huang Mansion, the courtyard of the young master.
As Huang Zhongtai entered the yard, he saw Chu Ning standing up from his chair and his wife and children sitting at another table. He paused, then quickened his pace, walked up to Chu Ning, and suddenly bowed.
"Uncle Huang, this is unacceptable. You are the elder and I am the younger. How can an elder bow to a younger person?"
"This is not an elder greeting a younger person. This is a husband and a father thanking the man who saved my wife and children."
"In that case, without your help, Uncle Huang, my aunt and I would have to beg on the streets or even starved to death. This is also a life-saving grace." Chu Ning chuckled.
"It's different. I was just doing you a favor, but you almost lost your life."
Huang Zhongtai was very serious, so Chu Ning had no choice but to say, "You are my Uncle Huang. As a nephew, it is my duty to protect my aunt and cousin. If you say so, you are denying my nephew."
"Okay, I can't argue with you." Huang Zhongtai smiled, and then looked at his wife and children: "Xiaoxuan, Chu Ning saved your life, you have to do this courtesy."
"Yes, father."
Xuan'er walked up to Chu Ning respectfully and bowed to him.
"Xiaoxuan thanks Brother Chu for saving my life."
"What Brother Chu? Just call me Brother from now on." Huang Zhongtai frowned.
Chu Ning didn't stay in the yard for long. He found an excuse and left. It seemed that Uncle Huang and his family had a lot to say.
"Mr. Chu, the master asked me to arrange a place for you to live in the Huang Mansion. It may not be safe outside. The master has arranged people in Xiafeng Town to handle the rest of the matter, so don't worry."
Chu Ning understood that although Uncle Huang had become the young master of the family, he could not control the entire Huang family so quickly. As one of the important figures in Uncle Huang's turnaround, he was afraid that many members of the Huang family would want to eat him alive. Living in the Huang Mansion was indeed the safest place.
The housekeeper arranged a separate courtyard for Chu Ning. After taking a look around, Chu Ning exclaimed, "Wow, it's as good as Uncle Huang's mansion in Daning County."
As expected, the Huang family is one of the eight major families in the Liang Dynasty. This is just one of the courtyards in the Huang Mansion reserved for guests to live in. The entire mansion is probably as big as the county seat of Daning County.
For the next few days, Chu Ning lived in the yard and didn't go out at all. It was not safe outside, but Chu Ning was also worried in the Huang Mansion. Uncle Huang's illegitimate son had turned over a new leaf, and there must be many people in the Huang family who were dissatisfied. They were afraid that they would deliberately make trouble for him. It was better for Chu Ning to stay in this yard.
After seven leisurely days, Chu Ning finally met Huang Zhongtai again.
PS: Everyone says that the changed title is worse, but big data won’t lie. The click-through rate has dropped to 40‰. Jiu Deng thought about it and understood why this happened. Everyone came in to read it before the name was changed, which means that everyone approved of the original title, so naturally they think the new title is not good.
Ahem, for this reason Jiudeng decided to use this title for the book, and the cover will remain the original one, unless Qidian changes it for me one day. I am really smart.
(End of this chapter)