Upon hearing Guo Zhengde mention dirty things, the previously arrogant young man with yellow hair became noticeably timid.
There's no way around it, I'm really scared!
Moreover, living in this cursed town, I've heard and seen far too many bizarre things since I was a child.
Putting aside other issues, let's just talk about recent events. First, there was the incident of Fatty Ma being stuffed into a refrigerator, and then there were so many other people dying violent deaths one after another.
Seeing that Cao Xiaohu, the young man with yellow hair, was backing down and didn't want to make a big fuss, Guo Zhengde, worried about affecting his career, quickly continued.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone get back to what you were doing!"
"Especially you, Zhao Youliang, hurry up and return those two treasures to the master! Why are you clinging to things that aren't yours?!"
"To catch an adulterer in the act, you need to catch him red-handed; you've caught him red-handed!"
"With your behavior, you deserve to be beaten to death by the master!"
If Guo Zhengde hadn't said those last few words, Zhao Youliang would have originally planned to suffer in silence and let the matter rest for the time being.
But that won't work now: if he just leaves without saying a word, or obediently hands over the prayer wheel and the human skin drum, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting he's a thief?!
Having suffered greatly since childhood, he could pretend to be subservient and swallow his pride to make a living, but he could not be known as a thief!
There's a saying that goes: "It is the father's fault to raise a child without teaching him."
Zhao Youliang would absolutely not allow anyone to point at his adoptive father's back and say that he had raised a thief after nearly twenty years of hardship!
With this thought in mind, Zhao Youliang gently pushed Sister Yingchun behind Chen Wei, then walked firmly through the neighbors who were protecting him and stood in front of Guo Zhengde.
His eyes were filled with rage.
Seeing Zhao Youliang like this, Guo Zhengde was immediately startled.
He considered himself to be of noble status, and that he was not in the same league as Zhao Youliang, a mere laborer.
I don't want to end up with a bloody mess in the other party's "raging rage," resulting in a "one-for-one" exchange.
So, while instinctively backing away, he asked in a weak and insincere tone, "Zhao, Zhao Youliang, what are you doing?!"
"I'm warning you, this is a society governed by the rule of law. Don't do anything reckless in public!!"
Zhao Youliang sneered and spoke loudly to Guo Zhengde.
"Those two items you mentioned are indeed in my possession."
"But it wasn't stolen; it was given to me by that master before he died!"
"Many neighbors witnessed this, and they can vouch for me!"
As soon as Zhao Youliang finished speaking, Chen Wei was the first to speak.
"Quantum is right, it was given to him!"
"I was there when this happened, and I can testify for him!"
After Chen Wei finished speaking, many residents followed suit and spoke up one after another.
“We all saw it at the time. Quantum didn’t steal it; it was given to him by that master before he died!”
"You surnamed Guo, it's one thing if you don't help us locals, but you also distort the truth and frame Quantum. You're a real scoundrel!"
Hearing so many people vouch for him, Zhao Youliang was moved and took another step forward.
"Guo Zhengde, did you hear that? I didn't steal anything!"
"You're framing me on behalf of outsiders just because I didn't sell the shop to you at a discount?"
"As an elder and the town mayor, isn't what you're doing a bit excessive?!"
"Apologize to me!!!"
As soon as Zhao Youliang finished speaking, the residents with a sense of justice spoke up in unison.
"That's right, apologize to Quantum immediately!"
"You, surnamed Guo, tried to sell to Quantum Shop at a low price, but they wouldn't sell, so you colluded with outsiders to frame him. You're a real scoundrel!!"
Seeing that he had incurred public wrath, Guo Zhengde, this hypocrite, immediately backed down.
But he couldn't bring himself to apologize to Zhao Youliang, the laborer, in front of so many people, so he could only look to the lama behind him for help.
Surprisingly, the "Devil Muscle Man" known as "Great Bitter Master" not only did not speak up for Guo Zhengde, but instead said indifferently: "Apologize, 'Great Black Heaven (Note 1)' does not tolerate those who speak falsely."
“If you sincerely repent and correct your mistakes, after you take refuge, this Dharma Master will forgive your sins on behalf of ‘Six-Armed Black Mahakala (Note 1)’.”
"This...this..." Guo Zhengde was clearly terrified of "Great Master Kuben," so after a slight hesitation, he still spoke to Zhao Youliang with a mournful face.
"Quantum, quantum, Uncle Yi misspoke in his haste."
"I was just worried that you might clash with the master... I apologize to you."
After Guo Zhengde finished speaking, before Zhao Youliang could speak, "Great Master Ku" continued.
"Alright, he has already apologized. Return the sacred object immediately."
"All that is good and holy in the world should be offered to the great 'Mahakala', not placed in the hands of a 'Langsheng' like you."
"To possess beauty and wealth is the original sin of you 'Lang Sheng'!"
"Langsheng" was the term used by lamas before liberation to refer to serfs. In Tibetan, it means "domestic slaves" or "household slaves".
They had no means of production, no personal rights whatsoever, and were regarded as "talking livestock" by the evil Tantric lamas.
In other words, Zhao Youliang and the townspeople didn't understand Tibetan, let alone the meaning of "Langsheng," otherwise they would have immediately fought the Grand Lama to the death.
Even though they couldn't understand, the lama's aggressive attitude still provoked the residents' anger.
What does it mean that "possessing beauty and wealth" is our original sin?
So you think it's okay if all the good stuff goes to you?
Do we deserve to be poor? Do we deserve to be supported by you for nothing?!
Who are you talking to?!
Are you still using the same attitude you had towards your serfs before liberation to treat us?!
Just as the townspeople were about to have a proper talk with the Grand Lama, Zhao Youliang suddenly spoke up to stop them.
Because only he could sense the power of the "Great Master of Suffering" before him, he didn't want his neighbors to suffer.
If you really enrage a lama... what wouldn't those guys who can create such cruel ritual implements as "human skin drums" do?!
Zhao Youliang quickly stepped forward and stared intently at "Great Master Ku" as he spoke each word.
"We're all members of the sect, so let's resolve this according to the rules for members!"
"Let's meet at a certain place in seven days for a duel. Whoever wins gets to keep those two treasures!"
Upon hearing this, Da Ku Ben Shi's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Without saying a word, he turned and left with the other lamas.
Seeing this, Guo Zhengde and the other five major local surnames quickly followed, as they dared not face the anger of the town's residents alone.
Note 1: Mahakala: An important guardian deity in Tibetan Buddhism, who manifests in a wrathful form when subduing demons.
There are three types: six-armed, four-armed, and two-armed. The "six-armed Black Mahakala" mentioned by the Great Master of the Great Bitterness mentioned earlier is one of them.
Note 2: The author did not fabricate the information about the lamas' attitude towards ordinary Tibetans and their cruelty.
If you, dear readers, don't believe me, you can look up the relevant information yourself.
Special note: Every religion has good and bad people, including Tantric lamas; they cannot be generalized.
The author has no intention whatsoever of defaming Tantric beliefs, and hopes that believers will understand this clearly.
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