Qingzhou, Liuyun City, Ye Family.
"A father's debts are repaid by his son, a husband's debts by his wife; this is the natural order."
"Madam, you wouldn't want to see the Ye Family exterminated, would you?"
In the Ye Family's Spirit Hall, white banners fluttered as a stunningly beautiful woman knelt on a prayer mat, her fingertips clutching the hem of her mourning clothes.
As the sinister voice of the man in black robes fell, dozens of eyes in the hall stared at her pearl-like snowy neck like hungry wolves.
This beautiful woman was named Liu Feiyan. Seven years ago, she married into the Ye Family of Liuyun City, becoming the wife of the Family Head.
Liu Feiyan was born with a Water Spirit Body and was one in a million with a Pure Yin Charm Body. Her figure was fiery, with full breasts and a curvaceous backside, making her one of the top beauties in Liuyun City. Coupled with her cultivation techniques, her appearance was even more breathtaking, the kind of woman countless men in Liuyun City dreamed of bedding.
But today, Liu Feiyan was uncharacteristically haggard and exhausted.
Her husband's corpse, who had died suddenly three days ago, had not yet grown cold, and the steward of a rival family was already stepping on his memorial tablet to demand repayment.
"Steward Cai, please, give me a few more days. I will repay the spirit stones my husband owed to the Cai Family."
"More time? The Cai Family has already given enough leeway. If you don't repay thirty thousand spirit stones today, don't blame us for being rude."
"What thirty thousand spirit stones!?"
Liu Feiyan immediately stood up, her chest heaving with anger. "My husband clearly only owed you ten thousand. He's been dead for just three days, and you're demanding triple repayment?"
"Hehehe."
The Cai Family's steward, Cai Kun, chuckled with narrowed eyes. "Ten thousand spirit stones was the principal. The remaining twenty thousand is interest, totaling thirty thousand."
"What! Such high interest, do you have no sense of fairness?"
Cai Kun threw out an IOU, the rice paper landing on the incense table with a puff of dust. He snorted coldly, "Fairness? A year ago, your husband personally signed this document in black and white. This is fairness. Does Madam Ye intend to renege?"
Seeing the IOU, the beautiful woman felt as if she had been struck by lightning. The handwriting and fingerprints were indeed her husband's.
"What now? Madam Ye, could it be that you can't repay?" Cai Kun smirked lewdly, eager to get to the point.
The beautiful woman lifted her head, speaking softly, "Steward Cai, you know the Ye Family is facing difficulties. My husband just died, and my cultivation has fallen from the Qi Condensation Realm to the Body Tempering Realm. I really can't produce the spirit stones right now. Could you give me a little more time?"
(Realm divisions: Body Tempering Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, Qi Condensation Realm, Core Formation Realm, Profound Connection Realm, Transcending Mortality Realm, Vajra Realm, Nether Passage Realm, Myriad Laws Realm.)
"More time? Hehehe." Cai Kun sneered, "The Cai Family has already given the Ye Family plenty of time!"
"Then what do you want me to do? I can't produce a single spirit stone!" the beautiful woman said angrily.
"Can't produce them?" Cai Kun leered at her chest. "No problem, no problem. My Family Head has spoken. Thirty thousand spirit stones, pay today, or... use your Water Spirit Body to settle the debt."
"Shameless!"
"The Cai Family is shameless? What crime is it for a wife to not repay her debts?"
"Your Cai Family is bullying us too much!" The beautiful woman gritted her teeth, her face flushed with anger, glaring at Cai Kun below the platform.
"So what if we're bullying you? Do you think you're still the Madam Ye of the Qi Condensation Realm?"
Cai Kun snorted coldly, "The Family Head has said, Madam Ye has only today to consider. If you refuse, then the Cai Family will have to use force. I'll say it now, if Madam Ye doesn't agree today, the Family Head will destroy the Ye Family, leaving no survivors."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Ye Family trembled with fear.
A member of the Ye Family stepped forward and said, "Sister-in-law, for the sake of our Ye Family, please comply~!"
"It's just sleeping with the Cai Family Head. It's not a difficult thing for Madam. Sister-in-law, you wouldn't want to see our Ye Family exterminated, would you?"
"You! Ye Qiang, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person! I've done so much for the Ye Family over the years, even if not meritorious, I've worked hard. How can you treat me like this?"
Ye Qiang chuckled, "Done so much for the Ye Family? If it weren't for your idea, how would my brother have died in that Secret Realm?"
With that, he looked at Cai Kun and smiled, "Steward Cai, since when does a woman make decisions for the family? I, Ye Qiang, agree on behalf of my sister-in-law!"
"Good, Second Master Ye is indeed a man who knows the times. Once my Family Head has had his fun, there will naturally be benefits for you."
"Thank you, Steward Cai!"
"Since Second Master Ye has spoken, men, take her away." Cai Kun waved his hand, intending to take the beautiful woman from the Spirit Hall.
"How dare you! I would rather die than agree to this!" The beautiful woman was furious.
But at this moment, not a single person in the Ye Family dared to speak up, let alone act.
In full view of everyone, she was like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
"That won't be up to you, hehehe!" Cai Kun laughed lewdly.
"Take her away!"
"Who dares to touch my Shiniang!"
(PawRead T/N: Shiniang (师娘) refers to one's master's wife—a respectful and affectionate form of address in Chinese culture.)
Suddenly, a young figure leaped out from the corner of the Spirit Hall, standing in front of the beautiful woman!
This young man was tall and strong, with a muscular build and handsome features, looking quite intimidating at first glance.
But upon closer inspection, everyone burst into laughter, even the Ye Family members couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Who did I think it was? Isn't this the Ye Family's fool? Hahaha!"
"Hahaha, what? The Ye Family's fool wants to play hero and save the beauty?"
This young man was named Sha Niu, known throughout Liuyun City as a fool!
(PawRead T/N: Sha Niu is a nickname. 'Sha' (傻) means 'silly' or 'foolish' in Chinese, while 'Niu' (牛) means 'ox' or 'cow.')
Sha Niu wasn't originally from the Ye Family. He was picked up by the Ye Family Head and Liu Feiyan from the roadside six years ago.
Liu Feiyan, seeing that Sha Niu had an extraordinary appearance, brought him back to the Ye Family to raise him. He did odd jobs like carrying water and chopping wood, and she even gave him a name, Ye Tianci!
Everyone knew this fool was simple-minded, always grinning foolishly, but he was blessed with good looks. Because of his handsome appearance, someone even proposed a marriage match for him a few months ago!
But when they heard Ye Tianci was a fool, they immediately shook their heads and refused, even cursing him as a toad wanting to eat swan meat, no way!
"Sha Niu, get down, don't let them hurt you."
Among the hundred members of the Ye Family, not one stepped forward to help, yet the fool everyone despised stood up. The beautiful woman felt it was pitiful, yet she was somewhat moved.
"No, Sha Niu won't leave! Shiniang raised Sha Niu, Sha Niu will protect Shiniang!"
Sha Niu grinned foolishly, speaking in a simple-minded manner.
Everyone found it even more laughable: "A fool wants to protect your Shiniang?!"
"Fool, get lost, if you ruin my plans, I'll chop you up!"
Cai Kun was impatient, his face showing a ferocious expression!
"With me, Sha Niu, here, whoever dares to bully my Shiniang, I'll fight them!"
Sha Niu, looking desperate, charged at Cai Kun with red eyes!
"Sha Niu, be careful!" The beautiful woman exclaimed, her face full of worry.
"Damn it, even a fool dares to act tough with me, see if I don't chop you up!"
As he spoke, Cai Kun shouted and swung his large knife down.
This strike was as swift as lightning, the blade cutting through the air, instantly reaching Sha Niu!
"The fool is doomed!" The Ye Family members watched indifferently, as if it were a spectacle.
"Hahahaha, brat, where do you think you're going!" Cai Kun laughed heartily, his face full of smugness, as if he had already seen the fool being chopped into pieces.
But in the next moment, his expression changed drastically!
The fool suddenly dodged his sword like a flash of lightning, then charged straight at Cai Kun!
Bang!
A dull thud sounded, and Cai Kun, unable to dodge, was directly knocked flying by Sha Niu!
Everyone, including the beautiful woman, was shocked by the sight!