Chao Xiangzi, with a helpless sigh, tore off the blindfold from Chao Tianci’s eyes. He then unblocked his acupoints.
Chao Tianci, who had been trying to shout, fell silent as he regained his sight. Looking at his two brothers before him, his expression contorted. They had seen his pathetic state just moments ago, and he was consumed by shame and indignation. Since his birth, the Second Madam had doted on him, never letting him suffer any hardship. His cultivation was also built upon heavenly treasures and rare herbs, essentially making his power a mere facade.
“Big Brother, are you well!” Chao Xiangzi spoke.
“Xiangdi, where is this place? Did you two save me? Thank you, thank you!”
Chao Xiangzi glanced at Chao Yangzi, as if to say, "See? Just this stupid. Are you sure he won't ruin the sect?"
“Mother is here! It’s perfect to find something for Mother to do, so she won’t overthink things. The entire sect is in Mother’s hands, she’ll like it.” Chao Yangzi suddenly uttered this and sat down. Chao Xiangzi understood.
“Big Brother, didn’t you very much want to be the sect leader? If you can pass the trial this month, my brother and I will put you in the position of sect leader.” Chao Xiangzi enticed him skillfully.
“The First Madam won’t agree. Don’t lie to me!” Although Chao Tianci was unreliable, he was acutely aware of the First Madam’s formidable nature. If it weren't for the fact that only those with the Chao bloodline could inherit the position of sect leader of the Chao Tianxian Sect, his First Madam would have long ago deposed his father and become the sect leader herself.
“Firstly, the Second Madam must be sent away. She and Mother do not get along, and this will affect you. Although Mother is overbearing, she is generally fair and will not do anything detrimental to the sect. As for the Second Madam, look at this,” Chao Xiangzi handed him a record book that the hidden guards had found.
Chao Tianci flipped open a page:
On a certain day, the Second Madam, relying on the might of the Chao Tianxian Sect, bullied its way into a marketplace, seizing a sect-protecting treasure from a small sect. Afterward, she sent people to kill all 108 members of that small sect. Chao Tianci’s pupils contracted. He knew that sect-protecting treasure very well; it was a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng that had gained sentience and intelligence. His mother had prepared it using a secret method for him to consume. So, all along, he had been eating human blood steamed buns…
On a certain day, the Second Madam, in Tianfeng City, indulged her subordinates in forcibly purchasing a jewelry shop simply because the merchant had failed to deliver the custom hairpin she ordered in time. Afterward, she murdered everyone involved…
On a certain day, colluding with enemies in Jiuye City, she secretly plundered two spirit stone mines that the sect’s treasure-seeking pavilion had discovered but not yet reported. She was playing with fire, and the enemies in Jiuye City devoured half the spirit stones, while she thought herself so clever! She also silenced the two disciples who had reported the mines.
… The further Chao Tianci read, the more he trembled. He had never known his mother to be so audacious. He had lived a life of luxury and naively believed it was a result of his father’s love for his mother. Day by day, such crimes were being committed. If these were to be exposed, his mother would surely face death.
No, everything his mother had done was for him. How could he abandon her?
“These are all my shortcomings as a son. I failed to admonish my mother. For all her actions, I am willing to bear the consequences in her stead. I implore you two brothers, for the sake of sharing the same father, spare my mother!” Chao Tianci knelt directly on the ground, kowtowing to Chao Yangzi and Chao Xiangzi to beg for mercy!
Chao Yangzi and Chao Xiangzi exchanged a glance. This elder brother, willing to suffer for his mother, had some redeeming qualities!
“Death can be avoided, but punishment is unavoidable. She can only be sent away; her life will not be harmed, but she can never return to the Chao Tianxian Sect in this lifetime. If you are willing to suffer for your mother, then you are fined to serve the sect for one thousand years as acting sect leader. Once you have a direct heir and have cultivated them, you may resign. This cannot be reneged upon!” Chao Yangzi spoke. He knew that Chao Tianci was sincere at this moment. He would write this into the sect’s rules.
Chao Tianci was dumbfounded. What kind of punishment was this? He had always yearned to compete with the two of them for the position of sect leader, and now he had suddenly been given it, yet it felt unreal. How many things had he done to compete, including harming his two brothers? He had tripped them, shot hidden arrows, and so on. Although the two of them had dodged it in the end, the deeds were done.
“I am sorry. For all the mistakes I made before, as an elder brother, I lacked magnanimity… I…” Chao Tianci suddenly wept in shame.
“Big Brother, please rise. To be the sect leader, you still need to undergo a trial. If you can pass it within this month, then you will be the next acting sect leader of the Chao Tianxian Sect. If you fail…” Chao Xiangzi hesitated, leaving half his sentence unsaid. Chao Tianci’s heart skipped a beat in fear.
“What will happen?”
“You will be expelled from the sect and sent away with your mother,” Chao Yangzi said coldly.
Chao Tianci’s mouth gaped. He had been touched for nothing; these two brothers were still as ruthless as ever.
“What? Scared? Cowardly? With this kind of courage, you still want to be the sect leader? Forget it, I think we should send him away now.” Chao Yangzi said sarcastically while sipping the tea just delivered by the hidden guards. He looked at Chao Tianci with undisguised contempt.
Chao Tianci was provoked by that gaze.
“Fine, I’ll do the trial. Who’s afraid of whom.”
“That’s more like it, Big Brother. If you hadn’t been spoiled by the Second Madam since childhood, you would have been very intelligent. But you’ve forgotten your original self!” Chao Xiangzi suddenly spoke sentimentally. He recalled that when they were five years old, they heard about their exceptionally gifted elder brother who had reached Foundation Establishment at ten and was about to form a Golden Core at fifteen. Afterward, they heard no more news. When they finally did hear news, it was that their elder brother spent his days not cultivating, but eating, drinking, playing, and bullying others, while within the sect, he bullied outer disciples…
Later, they learned that his cultivation had not progressed at all in the hundred years before Chao Yangzi and his brother were born…
Pitiable Chao Tianci, for the hundred years before the Chao Yangzi brothers were born, the sect only had him as an heir. He was maliciously flattered. His mother was the legitimate daughter of a small sect with little insight; even she became conceited. How could she raise him well? If Ju Xun were here, she would undoubtedly recognize this as a classic case of "Sūn Shàngyǒng" (a talented child whose talent withered due to lack of proper nurturing)!
Now, he was suddenly moved by Chao Xiangzi’s earnest words. No one had ever spoken such heartfelt words to him. He lowered his head, not wanting them to see his momentary vulnerability. After a moment, he raised his head and looked at the two of them, saying,
“I don’t know why you suddenly decided to do this, but I will definitely pass the trial. Rest assured, you can entrust the sect to me. I will be filial to my mother. Her words are correct; anything that does not harm the sect, I will absolutely obey!”
At this moment, Chao Yangzi began to view his elder brother with newfound respect. Indeed, he possessed the mettle of the Chao family. He nodded to Chao Xiangzi, and Chao Xiangzi waved his hand. Instantly, a pile of ledgers filled half the room. Two accountants entered from outside.
“Start by reviewing the accounts. As sect leader, you won’t necessarily have to manage the accounts, but you must know how to read them. You have until the end of today to finish them. These two accountants are here to assist you; you can ask them anything!” With that, the two left.
Chao Tianci… Did he agree too quickly? These two younger brothers always managed to shatter his newfound hope just when he was about to be moved…