After much inquiring, Zhang Hai Xing finally learned that Zhang Bei was still at the forge.
Although most of the Zhang family members had gathered at the ancestral hall,
the majority were from the main branch. The members of the extended family probably didn't even know what was going on.
At this moment, Zhang Bei held a golden jade ruyi in his hand, his face filled with satisfaction.
“This counts as my second weapon forged, and my first true weapon.”
Zhang Bei brandished it a few times, still very pleased.
“Bang!”
Just then, Zhang Hai Xing rushed in, his face flushed with urgency.
“Quick, come with me to the ancestral hall!”
Zhang Hai Xing grabbed Zhang Bei's hand.
Zhang Bei was completely bewildered and asked, “What happened?”
“The little ghost doesn't know what's going on, they're preparing a coffin for him.”
Zhang Hai Xing said hurriedly.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Bei instantly bristled. That was his future brother-in-law, Zhang Qi Ling. What were these Zhang family members up to?
“Wait!”
After shaking off Zhang Hai Xing's hand, Zhang Bei inserted the gilded jade ruyi into his waistband.
He then returned to the forge and brought the black gold ancient blade with him.
“Tell me exactly what happened.” Zhang Bei inquired along the way.
Zhang Hai Xing recounted everything that had happened since their return.
Knowing that his brother-in-law had been in the ancestral hall for half a day and now they were preparing a coffin for him,
Zhang Bei was naturally very anxious and quickened his pace.
The Northeast Zhang family was vast. By the time the two arrived, the ancestral hall was already surrounded by countless people.
After much effort, they finally squeezed into the ancestral hall.
They saw a coffin adorned with intricate carvings placed in the open space outside the ancestral hall.
A large group of people were gathered around, and their brother-in-law stood quietly before the coffin.
Several Zhang family elders stood beside him, one holding a flask of wine.
Everyone wore black, with white cloth bands on their arms.
Seeing this, Zhang Bei instantly exploded. This was a funeral, wasn't it?
His brother-in-law was dressed in a luxurious black garment, as if this was his final moment of respect after death.
“Clan Head, please.”
One of the elders handed the flask of wine to their brother-in-law.
Was he being forced to commit suicide? Zhang Bei was furious.
“Stop!”
With a roar, Zhang Bei leaped towards his brother-in-law.
“Zhang Bei, leave immediately, or you will die!”
An elder stepped forward and said in a deep voice.
A middle-aged man hurriedly stepped out from the crowd. He was Zhang Bei's uncle.
His father had disappeared, no one knew where he had gone.
“Zhang Bei, don't cause trouble. Come back with your uncle.” Zhang Bei's uncle said hastily.
Ignoring them, Zhang Bei turned to the acting Clan Head.
“What's the meaning of this? Your brother-in-law recovered the Heaven's Staff, you didn't reward him, and now you want him to die?”
Zhang Bei's voice was heavy and filled with concern.
But the acting Clan Head simply ignored him, looking at him with cold eyes.
“You are a member of the main branch, leave now, or you will die!”
The elder stared at Zhang Bei, his voice cold.
Zhang Bei could clearly feel the murderous intent in the old man's tone.
“What, you want to kill me?” Zhang Bei glared at the elder, his voice cold.
Just then, East Uncle came over.
“Zhang Bei! This is the path to becoming the Clan Head.” East Uncle said.
East Uncle was the elder who taught them martial arts. He was essentially the master of the younger generation of the Zhang family.
All their skills were learned from East Uncle.
“What kind of Clan Head needs to drink poison?” Zhang Bei asked in a deep voice.
Zhang Bei then turned to his brother-in-law, only to find that he was calm, as if he had already accepted this outcome.
“Brother-in-law, don't be afraid, I'm here.” Zhang Bei said to his brother-in-law.
His brother-in-law simply shook his head at Zhang Bei, unwilling to say more.
“This is his own choice. Don't be unreasonable!”
The acting Clan Head looked down at Zhang Bei with a hint of coldness in his eyes.
“Choice? What do you mean?” Zhang Bei was confused.
The acting Clan Head said, “To become the Clan Head, one must enter the Zhang Family Ancient Tower and receive the Heaven's Mandate.”
“In the past, we didn't have the Heaven's Staff, so the Clan Head position has always been vacant. Now that the Heaven's Staff has returned,
he must go to the Ancient Tower to receive the Heaven's Mandate.”
Hearing this, Zhang Bei breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Then why does he have to drink poison?”
“It's a potion that can induce a state of temporary death. Only a dead person can enter the Zhang Family Ancient Tower.” The acting Clan Head said.
Zhang Bei furrowed his brows, looking at the poisoned wine, he couldn't believe it.
“What happens if he fails?” Zhang Bei asked.
The acting Clan Head said, “He dies!”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Bei became anxious and said to his brother-in-law, “Brother-in-law, we don't want this Clan Head position.”
The people around were immediately alarmed and glared at Zhang Bei.
Zhang Bei quickly noticed something was off. The more insistent they were, the more suspicious it felt.
“Brother-in-law, we're not drinking this wine. I want to see what's so difficult about this Zhang Family Ancient Tower.
I'll go with you if I have to.”
Zhang Bei was unwilling to let his brother-in-law risk his life, so he said it again.
But his brother-in-law remained calm, emotionless, leaving Zhang Bei at a loss.
“Acting Clan Head, tell me the truth, or no one here will be able to make him drink this wine today!”
Seeing that his brother-in-law ignored him, Zhang Bei could only turn to the acting Clan Head.
“Those who defy the Clan Head's orders shall die!”
The elder who had been warning Zhang Bei finally couldn't hold back anymore.
He joined his two fingers together, and with a ghostly movement, he lunged towards Zhang Bei.
This speed surprised Zhang Bei. The agility and speed were beyond his own.
These elders had lived for hundreds of years, each of them a seasoned veteran.
Their strength naturally far surpassed that of Zhang Bei and the other young people.
“Clang!”
But Zhang Bei was not going to sit back and let this happen. He immediately drew the long blade in his hand.
It was the black gold ancient blade specially forged for his brother-in-law.
The elder's two fingers struck the blade, a powerful force resonated from the weapon.
Thankfully, the black gold ancient blade was heavy enough. Coupled with Zhang Bei's preparedness, he didn't suffer a disadvantage.
“Old fool, you want to die, I'll grant you your wish!” Zhang Bei didn't hold back against this man.
He was a time traveler after all, he didn't have much feeling for this so-called Zhang family.
But his brother-in-law was different. Perhaps it was the original owner's affection, perhaps it was their time together.
Zhang Bei didn't want anything to happen to him, so he showed no mercy towards this elder.
“Swish!”
The long blade in his hand turned into a phantom, striking directly at the elder.
“Hmph! Do you think you can fight me with a broken blade?” The elder sneered.
The elder kept one hand behind his back and raised the other, spreading his two fingers slightly. This was the Golden Two Fingers, a deadly martial arts technique.
“Your hand is tougher than my blade?” Zhang Bei looked disdainful.
As the blade flashed, Zhang Bei's blade tip touched the ground.
Several drops of blood slowly dripped from the blade tip.
“Ah!”
A scream followed. The elder's palm had been slashed, leaving a deep wound.
“Are you an idiot? You dare try to catch a blade with your bare hands?” Zhang Bei looked disdainful.
Then Zhang Bei delivered a flying kick, sending the elder crashing towards the acting Clan Head.
“Acting Clan Head! Can I hear your explanation now?”
Zhang Bei stared at the acting Clan Head with a cold gaze.
Seeing that Zhang Bei had defeated the elder with one blow, everyone present was dumbfounded.
“If you want to die, then I'll grant you your wish!”
“Zhang Bei has violated the Zhang family rules, from this day forward, Zhang Bei is no longer a member of the Zhang family!”
“Everyone listen to my command, execute Zhang Bei immediately!”
…