Chapter Fifteen: The Second Elder of Questionable Intelligence

The wisdom of netizens is not to be underestimated. Chen Bo saw many constructive suggestions—true experts indeed reside among the common people.

The surrounding Chen family juniors, who had gathered to watch Chen Bo make a fool of himself, were left bewildered when, unexpectedly, the enforcers from the Discipline Hall all collapsed to the ground one after another. The onlookers were utterly confused, unable to discern what tricks were being played.

"Wait, weren't they about to enforce the family law? Why aren't any of them making a move, and why have they all fallen to the ground?" one Chen family youth asked in bewilderment.

"Are they just toying with us?"

"Impossible! Would they dare risk punishment by making a joke of this? Could it be they're afraid to act?"

"A bunch of worthless fools—afraid to even lay a hand on a good-for-nothing! The Chen family has truly raised them in vain."

"But why are they all sprawled on the ground?"

"Did they eat something they shouldn’t have? I’ve heard the Chen family cook’s food is barely fit for human consumption!"

"Good thing I always eat out."

"Me too."

Chen Bo staggered to his feet, rolling up his sleeves and inhaling sharply. These bastards had been ruthless—the bruises on his hands were proof enough.

But Chen Bo was not one to let them off so easily. With a feigned stumble, he stepped onto someone's hand, and with another so-called accident, he ground his heel in for good measure.

The man’s face turned blue with pain; his mouth gaped, but not a sound emerged. His whole body trembled, his eyes filled with venomous hatred as he looked at Chen Bo.

Oh, you dare glare at me? Without leaving a trace, Chen Bo sent a swift kick to the man’s groin, this time putting in a bit more force.

He proceeded to "attend" to each of the seven men in turn, leaving the bystanders watching with scalp-tingling unease.

Whenever Chen Bo’s gaze swept over them, each person couldn’t help but retreat a step. Yet, realizing they were intimidated by someone considered a useless wretch, they grew both embarrassed and angry. How had it come to this?

"Outrageous! How dare you, Chen Bo—dare lay hands upon your kin!" A thunderous voice rang out. In his peripheral vision, Chen Bo saw a dark figure speeding towards him. Danger!

He tried to dodge, but to his alarm, the figure was far too swift. Before he could react, a gust of wind whooshed past his ear.

"Stop!"

Bang!

The deafening crash made Chen Bo’s eardrums throb. A fierce wind grazed his face, forcing him back a step, almost making him fall.

But... there was no pain? Chen Bo paused, turning to see the Second Elder, his fist clenched and face flushed red with rage, while a wide palm blocked his punch, unmoving as a mountain.

“Hmph! Second Elder, what is the meaning of this? Striking at my son without distinguishing right from wrong—what are you planning?” The one who had intervened was none other than the patriarch of the Chen family, Chen Zhenhai.

“Patriarch, the facts are plain! Chen Bo assaulted the enforcers, defied family law, and even attempted to resist—these are grave offenses!” the Second Elder declared.

“Nonsense! When did I assault the enforcers? When did I say I would resist? When did I violate any family law? If you can’t explain yourself, then I can accuse you of abusing your authority and seeking personal revenge! Attempting murder against a direct descendant of the Chen family—what are your intentions?”

“Hmph, what more needs to be said? You have shown no respect for your elders and have destroyed the family’s precious property—those two offenses are more than enough!” The Second Elder withdrew his fist and snorted coldly.

“Ha! That’s a laugh. As I said before, when exactly did I show disrespect for my elders? Produce your evidence, and if you have it, I’ll willingly submit to family discipline! Show me! Where’s your proof?”

“At the time, I addressed you all with the utmost respect—what more do you want? As for the family’s valuable property, excuse me, but those pills were mine. I can do with them as I please—it’s none of your business! I don’t recall any family law forbidding that.” Chen Bo brushed the dust from his clothes as he spoke.

For a moment, the Second Elder was left speechless. He realized he’d let his anger cloud his judgment and acted too rashly. His eyes flickered as he tried a new tack. “Then what about your disrespect towards the elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect? You called them ‘old man’ and ‘old fellow’ in front of everyone—we all heard it.”

Chen Bo looked at him oddly. “Second Elder, those are the elders of Ten Thousand Swords Sect, not our Chen family. Or do you intend to claim their sect as our own? My, who would have thought you harbored such grand ambitions! I’m impressed, truly!”

“You—you’re talking nonsense!” The Second Elder hurriedly cut him off. If anyone from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect heard this, he’d never live to see another sunrise.

“This time, you got lucky!” With that, the Second Elder turned to leave. Who knew what else Chen Bo might say if he lingered? He was too old to endure more of this.

“Hold it!” Chen Bo didn’t let him go. “Second Elder, today you invoked family law without any evidence—that’s a grave crime!”

At those words, the Second Elder’s face turned deathly pale. Pretending not to hear, he tried to slip away.

But after just a few steps, he was blocked by an old hunchbacked man—the Chen family steward, Chen Sheng.

“Second Elder, don’t be in such a hurry. Let me recall: invoking family law without evidence, according to the rules, merits two hundred strokes and removal from the Discipline Hall. Are you planning to defy the law?” Chen Bo pressed relentlessly.

“Chen Bo, you little brat, what do you want?!” the Second Elder cried in desperation.

“How did you ever become an elder? Is strength the only requirement—brains not needed? You try to deal with me, Chen Bo, without a scrap of evidence and leave yourself no way out. A brute, nothing more.”

“Uncles, aunts, elders, and fellow members of the Chen family! Today, the Second Elder, Chen Gu, has violated family law and should be punished by two hundred strokes and stripped of his position in the Discipline Hall! Let me, Chen Bo, carry out the sentence!” Chen Bo shouted.

With that, he picked up a staff from the ground.

“You’re not with the Discipline Hall, nor are you the patriarch! You have no right to strip me of my position or punish me!” The Second Elder was truly panicked now. He couldn’t fight, couldn’t argue, and now he’d been caught red-handed.

“He may not have the authority—but I do!” Chen Zhenhai’s voice was icy.

Before the Second Elder could react, Chen Zhenhai sealed his acupoints and tore the elder’s insignia from his waist—the token of a Chen family elder.

“For abusing your authority and bending the law for personal gain, I, Chen Zhenhai, as patriarch of the Chen family, hereby strip you of your title and demote you to an ordinary member!” Chen Zhenhai’s shout rang through the entire Chen estate.

He had intended to stay out of this, but the Second Elder had dared to strike at his son. That was a line he would not allow to be crossed—his son was his only treasure.