Chapter 113: Coercion

Qingyang Town was a small town a thousand miles from Liuhuo City, home to several thousand households.

At this moment, Li Jiansan had already arrived at the outskirts of Qingyang Town.

"If this were my past life, I could just hop on a plane and be there in two hours, but here..."

"Technology really does change lives."

Li Jiansan had walked for half a day and still hadn't covered even a tenth of the distance. He couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

He hadn't yet reached the level of soaring through the skies and diving into the earth; the distance from the imperial capital to this place was still far too great for him. So for now, he could only lament the advanced transportation of his previous life.

"Regardless, I need to find some means of transport."

Li Jiansan needed to reach the imperial capital, a journey of immense distance—walking was clearly impractical.

"Is that a carriage over there?"

Li Jiansan glanced toward the distance and murmured softly.

In the distance, several carriages were indeed heading his way.

"Stop the carriage and admire the maple forest at dusk—riding in a carriage isn't such a bad idea after all."

Li Jiansan smiled faintly, strode forward, and halted the carriages.

"Who are you? Get out of the way!"

A coachman driving one of the carriages saw Li Jiansan suddenly appear and block the path, and couldn't help but bark out in anger.

"My good sir, I still have a long journey ahead. I was wondering if you might do me a favor—I'd like to purchase one of your carriages."

Li Jiansan smiled at the coachman.

"Sorry, but we'll need these carriages later. We can't sell them to you."

The coachman, pulling on the reins, glanced at Li Jiansan and replied.

Hearing this, Li Jiansan turned and left. Since the other party was unwilling, he wouldn't force the matter.

Just as Li Jiansan was about to walk away, a hearty voice suddenly came from within the carriage.

"Enough. Do him the favor."

Hearing the voice, the coachman said indifferently, "Go to the carriage at the back, then."

After a pause, the voice from within the carriage spoke again:

"The carriage behind is for cargo. Come to the front instead. After we enter the city, you can use this carriage—we'll just exchange for another one."

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"

"No trouble at all. We're heading home anyway."

"Alright then."

Soon, Li Jiansan boarded the carriage at the front.

"May I ask where this friend is headed?"

As soon as Li Jiansan got on, a portly man inside the carriage began asking.

He wore an ornate robe—luxurious in appearance, yet clearly struggling to contain his large belly.

"I'm planning to go to the imperial capital."

Hearing Li Jiansan's words, the fat man brightened with joy:

"Really? I'm headed to the imperial capital too! Why don't we travel together?"

"Sure, that works."

The fat man grinned. "Then you can stay at my place for a few days. Once we're rested, we'll set off for the imperial capital together."

Li Jiansan nodded.

"My name is Zhang Dabao. My family lives right in Qingyang Town."

Li Jiansan also spoke: "Li Jiansan."

"You look a bit older than me, so I'll call you Brother Li from now on."

Watching Zhang Dabao so quickly claim him as a big brother, Li Jiansan could only nod in response.

Judging by appearances, his family seemed rather wealthy. Being his big brother probably wouldn't be a bad deal.

...

...

Meanwhile.

At the Zhang family residence in Qingyang Town.

A burly, imposing middle-aged man sat majestically in the seat of honor. Though seated at the highest position, his face was twisted with boundless fury, like an enraged lion king.

This man was none other than the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Dabao's father, Zhang Jinyang. Possessing cultivation at the Tongxuan stage, he was highly renowned throughout Qingyang Town.

"Third Uncle, today I can still call you Third Uncle, and I've already shown you plenty of respect."

"You need to understand that times have changed. The situation now is completely different."

"Third Uncle, if you refuse to agree, you'd best watch out for your life."

Below Zhang Jinyang's seat sat a cocky young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old.

His name was Zhang Lieyang, the son of Zhang Jinyang's late elder brother.

Not long ago, he had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, gradually gaining some reputation within the Zhang family. But after being accepted as a disciple by a formation master, he had grown exceptionally arrogant—now even coveting the position of family head.

"Wretch! You wretch!"

"For our Zhang family to produce a vile creature like you—if I hadn't sent you to the imperial capital back then, how could you have... If I'd known this would happen, I should have struck you dead with a single palm!"

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

Zhang Jinyang's expression was extremely grim. His livid face was laced with towering fury, and even his body trembled uncontrollably.

Rage filled his chest, but what weighed on his heart even more was pain!

He never could have imagined that the nephew he had raised with all his heart and effort would treat him like this.

"How dare you! You old dog, don't be ungrateful."

"Kneel down at once and apologize to my brother Lieyang."

"Otherwise, I'll wipe out the entire Zhang family right now!"

Standing beside Zhang Lieyang was a beautiful woman.

She wore an exquisite green dress, with lustrous black hair.

But her delicate features subtly revealed a hint of arrogance, projecting an air of being high above others, utterly haughty and unapproachable.

"Zhang Jinyang, why haven't you knelt yet? Do you want to drag the entire Zhang family down with you?"

"Can't you see the situation clearly?"

"Still clinging to your delusions—are you trying to keep the position of family head for your good-for-nothing son?"

All around, several elders were filled with righteous indignation, looking at Zhang Jinyang as if he were a heinous criminal.

"Zhang Jinyang, all these years you've relied on your cultivation to forcefully occupy the position of family head, refusing to pass it down. Now it's time for this to end."

"Exactly. The position of family head should have belonged to your elder brother. If it weren't for his... how could you have become the family head? Now that his son has grown up, shouldn't you return the position to him?"

"The Zhang family doesn't belong to you alone!"

"Or do you mean to say, because of you alone, our entire Zhang family should suffer the consequences?"

"You've gone too far—absolutely too far. Now kneel and apologize!"

A group of old men around them all spoke out, their words razor-sharp, every arrow aimed at Zhang Jinyang.

Now that such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had presented itself, none of them would let it slip by.

"Third Uncle, why bother?"

"Why resist stubbornly? Why hold out to the bitter end?"

"All I want now is to take back the position of family head."

"Fine. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least consider your son, shouldn't you?"

"I hear that to this day, he still shows no talent in cultivation—one could even call him a waste."

"Third Uncle, if you remain obstinate, what do you think will happen to your son?"

"A wise man knows when to yield. If you hand over the position of family head now, I can spare your life. What's more, I can guarantee your son a lifetime of wealth and comfort."

"Third Uncle, you'd best make your decision soon. Otherwise... the consequences will be truly severe."

Zhang Jiyang still wore an arrogant expression, like a lofty sovereign looking down upon Zhang Jinyang with nothing but contempt.

Seeing this, some elders who didn't understand the situation asked in confusion:

"What's going on here? How does Young Master Jiyang dare to act this way in front of the family head?"

"Haven't you heard?"

Another elder immediately whispered:

"Young Master Jiyang displayed his talent in the imperial capital and naturally attracted quite a bit of attention."

"Among those was the formation master Gu Yue."

"So naturally, Young Master Jiyang came to know Master Gu Yue's daughter. The two developed quickly and became engaged..."

"Now, Young Master Jiyang is Master Gu Yue's son-in-law. His status and standing are naturally different now."

On the other side, Zhang Jinyang, upon hearing Zhang Jiyang's words, flew into a rage:

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

"Anyone else who wants to leave with them, step forward now!"

Zhang Jinyang shook with fury.

All his life, he had acted with decisive ruthlessness and swift resolve—when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

"Old dog, I'll ask you one last time: will you kneel or not?"

"Don't you forget who I am..."