In the grand hall of the Liu family, Liu Jingkang sat stiffly in the grand tutor's chair, his elderly wife still curled beside him like a small statue, her eyes closed in repose.
To live long, one must not waste energy. This is how the Liu family's matriarch managed to remain by Liu Jingkang's side for so long.
Yan Shouyi entered, led by Liu Jiaren.
He scanned the hall and noticed more ghosts than the previous day. Most were ancestors of the Liu family, along with some servants and retainers. The malevolent ghost Liu Yong was also among them.
Liu Yong's surname was not originally Liu. It was bestowed upon him by Liu Jingkang due to his immense contributions to the family, a great honor in ancient times.
The other ancestral spirits, upon seeing Yan Shouyi, displayed a hint of greed in their eyes.
Liu Jiaren sighed inwardly. If a solution wasn't found soon, the Liu family ancestral home would eventually become a living hell.
She gracefully stepped forward and bowed to Liu Jingkang. "Great-Grandfather, Yan Shouyi has been brought here."
Liu Jingkang nodded with a stiff face. Liu Jiaren then moved to stand behind the matriarch.
Yan Shouyi jiggled his shackles and said, "Old Sir, we don't greet guests with these things in modern times. How about we untie them and talk?"
Unexpectedly, Liu Yong immediately barked, "Insolent! Know your place!"
Wealthy people always kept a few dogs to assert their authority when necessary. Yan Shouyi understood this, but if the dog barked too loudly, even trying to steal the show, then the dog deserved to be beaten.
Yan Shouyi cast a cold glance at Liu Yong. "I am speaking with the Old Sir. He has not yet spoken, and it is not your turn to interrupt."
Liu Yong was rendered speechless, not expecting Yan Shouyi to be so sharp-tongued.
The matriarch opened her eyes and studied Yan Shouyi. It seemed Liu Yong's reprimand had sparked a flicker of interest in Yan Shouyi.
"Stop quarreling."
Finally, Liu Jingkang spoke.
As expected of someone who had held a high office, the moment Liu Jingkang spoke, the ghosts in the hall immediately fell silent, not daring to make a sound.
Liu Jingkang gazed at Yan Shouyi for over ten seconds without speaking, the oppressive aura around him intensifying.
Yan Shouyi simply stood there, head held high, neither servile nor overbearing.
At last, Liu Jingkang nodded. "Remove your shackles."
Liu Yong was about to step forward to release the shackles. Yan Shouyi merely shook his hands and feet, effortlessly unlocking them, and tossed them into Liu Yong's chest.
Liu Yong: "You…"
"These mere shackles cannot hold me. The only reason I stayed in the woodshed all night was to give the Old Sir face," Yan Shouyi stated calmly.
As the saying goes, diplomacy before force.
Meeting Liu Jingkang for the second time, Yan Shouyi understood that this old man responded to toughness, not softness.
Moreover, the man had locked him up for a night. If he showed no spirit, was he still a man?
If he didn't get angry about this, the other party would dare to defecate on his head next.
Seeing Yan Shouyi's displeased expression, a hint of anger appeared in Liu Jingkang's eyes. "You impudent child, do you know that when I was powerful and influential, your ancestors were still weaned?"
Yan Shouyi smiled and retorted, "No matter how powerful and influential you were in life, you are nothing but dust after death."
"Scoundrel!"
Liu Jingkang was furious, never expecting Yan Shouyi's words to be so cutting.
Yet, before Liu Jingkang could truly unleash his anger, Yan Shouyi lost his temper.
He stomped heavily on the ground, his face contorted in anger:
"I, Yan Shouyi, am a direct descendant of Lu Ban. Though young, I do not fear your Ghost King lineage. If we truly tear down the facade, I may spill three inches of blood, but I can shatter your Liu family's century-old foundation! Even with such power, I understand the meaning of respecting elders and showing courtesy, of diplomacy before force. I came to you respectfully, yet you, Liu Jingkang, without understanding the situation, locked me up. Is this the authority of a Minister of Revenue? Ha! What great authority you wield!"
With every word Yan Shouyi spoke, Liu Jingkang's face grew paler, until his once ashen complexion turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Liu Yong, hearing Yan Shouyi berate Liu Jingkang, trembled in fear, worried that Liu Jingkang would fly into a rage.
He quickly called for other malevolent spirits to seize Yan Shouyi and administer a beating.
Yan Shouyi roared again:
"Get lost! I don't even regard Liu Jingkang with respect, do you little ghosts want to court death by approaching me?"
Liu Yong was once again intimidated, frozen in place, unsure what to do.
The Liu family members were also greatly alarmed. For a hundred years, no one had dared to talk back to Liu Jingkang, let alone curse him like this.
Liu Jiaren's face showed concern, wondering why Yan Shouyi had suddenly lambasted her great-grandfather, and also fearing the dire consequences for Yan Shouyi.
Facing everyone's reaction, Yan Shouyi remained undaunted.
He counted on his fingers and said coldly:
"Old Sir, I know you were a high official in life, and I know you are a Ghost King in death. But I, a descendant of Lu Ban, am not known for nothing. I believe you also know the consequences of provoking a Lu Ban descendant."
Liu Jingkang asked with a darkened face, "What can you do?"
"I can make your Liu family members wish they were dead!"
Yan Shouyi suddenly shouted, pointing at Liu Yong.
Liu Yong flinched, taking two steps back. He expected Yan Shouyi to use some Taoist magic to attack him, but found himself completely unharmed.
He immediately declared, "Sir, this brat is just trying to scare you!"
Before he finished speaking, numerous water droplets began to emerge from Liu Yong's body.
He looked at his body in disbelief, one water droplet after another appearing, soon drenching him. Simultaneously, Liu Yong's body rapidly deflated. What was once a human form was now almost a puddle of paste!
He wailed in agony, begging for mercy, "Sir, save me quickly! Please save me! This kid really knows evil arts!"
This scene greatly terrified the Liu family members present. Some of the more timid ones had already scrambled under their chairs.
Even Liu Jingkang was starting to lose his composure.
He quickly said, "Stop it! Spare Liu Yong!"
Yan Shouyi acted as if he hadn't heard. "Liu Yong was disrespectful to me, and he deserves punishment!"
The implication was: I dislike him, and I want to deal with him today. It doesn't matter who intervenes!
Liu Jingkang was furious. He had always been the undisputed authority in the Liu family, yet as soon as Yan Shouyi arrived, he had immediately turned the Liu family upside down.
His face contorted with menace, and he was about to act when the matriarch, who had kept her eyes closed, suddenly opened them and tugged at Liu Jingkang.
Liu Jingkang looked at his wife. Seeing her silently shaking her head, her eyes filled with worry, he finally calmed down a bit.
Soon, Liu Jingkang understood Yan Shouyi's intention.
He had merely wanted to vent his dissatisfaction at being imprisoned and to prove the power of a Lu Ban descendant.
The only way to appease Yan Shouyi's anger was to talk to him calmly.
Therefore, Liu Jingkang sighed and waved his hand at Yan Shouyi.
"Mr. Yan, I was wrong earlier. Please spare Liu Yong!"