Myriad Immortals

Ma Family Compound.

Although the seventh day after his death has passed, the mourning hall in the courtyard has not yet been removed. The courtyard is covered in white, and soft sobs can be heard from time to time. It is Ma Lei's young wife who has just married him, and his two young sons.

Old Ma Fu sat alone in the courtyard.

The sons stood in a row.

The whole family remained silent, creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard.

Just then—

"What do you mean?"

The Ma family members' shouts rang out from outside the door, seemingly trying to stop someone from entering.

Didn't Mali teach you manners?

"I'm here to offer incense to my brother Ma."

The words had barely left his lips when the person arrived.

Xu Mao pushed aside the two young men from the Ma family guarding the door and strode into the mourning hall.

"Old Ma, these young men of yours don't even know the rules. You need to teach them more manners in the future. You even stop me from offering incense to my brother?"

Looking at Xu Mao, who was showing off in front of his brother's funeral hall, Ma Lei's older brothers were filled with anger. They no longer cared whether Xu Mao was the village head or not, and wished they could tear him apart.

As for why it wasn't put into practice...

Besides Ma Fu's stern gaze, there was also a large group of people behind Xu Mao.

It was precisely because of these people that Ma Lei's brothers were even more furious.

Who would bring a dozen or so shirtless, strong men to burn incense at someone's house?

But they dared not speak out against their anger.

Xu Mao glanced at the people in the courtyard.

There's no need for the Ma family to entertain them.

He took three incense sticks, lit them on the brazier, and bowed three times in front of Ma Lei's memorial tablet, which had not yet been moved.

Muttering to himself:

"Brother Ma, you died a tragic death. Remember not to provoke people like that in your next life. It's really easy to offend the wrong people."

Done.

He then straightened up and looked at Ma Fu.

Since Ma Lei died, Ma Fu, who was already close to sixty, looked even older. His hair, which was originally only fifty, turned completely white within seven days, and the stubble on his chin became particularly glaring.

There was no sympathy.

Xu Mao knew very well that if he were the one to die, Ma Fu would certainly not forgive him.

As the saying goes, a kind heart cannot command an army.

This principle also applies to village chiefs and clan leaders.

The conflict between the Xu and Ma families was a major event concerning the clan for decades, and it could not tolerate any womanly compassion.

"With Brother Ma Lei dead, Elder Li must be extremely saddened and probably unable to take care of village affairs anymore. Elder Li should rest at home and not worry. I and Elder Zhong will take care of things."

The words sounded light and airy.

But the meaning is already very clear.

They wanted to seize power.

Ma Fu lost his son, which severely damaged his health.

At this moment, fighting against Xu Jiaqiang would certainly not end well. Xu Mao knew the principle of striking while the iron was hot.

If it weren't for the gossip in the village, they might have already come to visit before the seventh day after the death.

Ma Fu's wrinkled old face showed no expression.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and in the end, he uttered only a single word in a low voice:

"Um."

Xu Mao nodded in satisfaction after hearing Ma Fu's answer.

He wasn't worried that Ma Fu would go back on his word.

I'm here today to give Ma Fu some dignity, but if Ma Fu doesn't want dignity, I'll help him to have dignity.

My condolences, Brother Ma.

Once the situation has settled down.

Zhong Xuan then spoke.

He did not offer incense.

To be fair, Ma Lei is of the nephew generation, so there's no way an uncle would offer incense to his nephew.

We left the Ma family compound.

Xu Mao looked at Zhong Xuan with a smile: "Uncle Zhong, the Ma family seized a lot of land before, and now it's time for them to give it back."

"My family doesn't have any particularly capable people, just a lot of farmers. Why don't we go and be affiliated with Uncle Zhong? The money for the affiliation will definitely be sent on time. If anyone doesn't send it, I'll be the first to personally urge them to pay."

Ma Lei is dead.

This is tantamount to the Ma family suffering a complete defeat in the struggle.

Although the struggles in the village are not like those of the imperial power, which are often life-or-death, the Ma family will still be a major clan in the village, but they will certainly have to pay a price.

And it must hurt.

Zhong Xuan nodded: "I'm just an old man, I don't need so much land, so I'll listen to you."

Xu Mao was overjoyed.

The reason he was willing to sincerely cooperate with Zhong Xuan was not only because Zhong Xuan himself was powerful enough, but more importantly because he was old and childless.

Even if Zhong Xuan rekindles his desire to remarry.

It will be twenty years before Zhong Xuan's son grows up.

For a family to grow strong, it takes at least three generations. What happens fifty or sixty years from now... is for future generations to think about.

Otherwise, if Zhong Xuan had three or five sons, Xu Mao would definitely worry about inviting trouble into the family.

......

......

"Grandpa Zhong, my father asked me to bring you the affiliation fee for the next six months."

Xu Mao's chubby-faced youngest son was holding a small wooden box.

Zhong Xuan accepted it.

heavy.

At least fifty taels!

"Your father is very thoughtful."

Zhong Xuan patted Xu Mao's youngest son's head: "Have you started learning martial arts?"

"My father told me to go to the martial arts school in the city to learn boxing in the spring."

Zhong Xuan nodded: "Go back and tell your father that the tuition at Flying Eagle Martial Arts Academy isn't expensive."

"Oh, okay, Grandpa Chung."

The eleven-year-old boy couldn't understand the meaning behind Zhong Xuan's words; he just nodded repeatedly, completely bewildered.

After Xu Mao's youngest son left.

Zhong Xuan then opened the small wooden box.

There were several silver ingots in front of me.

It was a full sixty taels, more than he had expected.

Although a village is mostly populated by farmers, the village head and elders, who are in charge of the village, are so wealthy that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they have a fief of a hundred households. Their level of wealth is even comparable to that of some wealthy merchants in the city.

Otherwise, where would the Xu and Ma families get the money to hire martial arts practitioners?

You can make a fortune every day without having to go out and work hard.

Zhong Xuan has plenty of time to practice his skills.

Moreover, with this money, he could support himself to become a bone-training martial artist.

......

......

Langzi Bay.

The waves of the Baisha River roared and crashed against the barbican.

at this time.

Shi Yuanbai led a person completely wrapped in black robes through the city gate, and soon they arrived at the courtyard where the Dragon King was worshipped.

The Dragon King statue stands tall, its mottled blood color giving it an indescribable fierceness.

In front of the stone statue.

A tall figure stood with his back to the two, head bowed, staring motionlessly at the pool beneath the Dragon King statue.

He turned his finger slightly, and the water surface began to slowly rotate with his finger.

Water control from a distance!

Only martial artists who have mastered the three major training methods can do this.

"Best wishes."

Mosha, the young boy from the Black Witch Cult, stood five zhang away from the figure, his back bent so low that his forehead almost touched the ground, his eyes filled with unyielding fear.

"Take the things out."

The figure of the Black Witch Cult's High Priest lingered before the Dragon King statue.

Mosa obediently took out the black stone, still bending over, and presented it to the tall figure with both hands.

"Um?"

As Da Zhu's questioning voice rang out.

Mosa's heart tightened suddenly, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The high priest of the Black Witch Cult stared at the black stone in his hand for a long time:

"There are actually people in this world who know how to absorb and consume qi."