Protect Our Patriarch

In the earliest days,

Wang Shouzhe only knew of the Wang's Clan in the capital of Daqian, Guilong City. After more interactions with the Wang's Clan of Longzuo Commandery, his understanding of the world's structure became clearer, and he learned that there was also a Wang's Clan in the southern deserts.

This branch had split from Daqian's main Wang's Clan over a thousand years ago, and had developed quite well. They had been close to the main branch and had become a Purple Mansion Clan over seven hundred years ago.

Now, the southern desert Wang's Clan had already completed their second Purple Mansion succession and were in the midst of the third, firmly establishing themselves as a fifth-grade clan.

In earlier years, when the Wang's Clan of Longzuo was still a Purple Mansion Clan, they had interactions with the southern desert Wang's Clan.

However, the Longzuo Wang's Clan failed to complete their Purple Mansion succession and fell into decline. As time passed, the interactions between the two clans dwindled, and their bond faded.

Especially in the past one or two hundred years, the southern desert Wang's Clan had very little contact with the Longzuo Wang's Clan. Most of the interactions were when people from the southern desert Wang's Clan passed through Longzuo Commandery on business and paid a courtesy visit.

Due to the severe decline in strength, the Longzuo Wang's Clan had a smaller sphere of influence and naturally had little to do with the southern desert Wang's Clan, growing increasingly distant.

The southern desert Wang's Clan was already so distant from the Longzuo Wang's Clan, not to mention the Clan Leader of Changning. Since Wang Shouzhe's ascension, he had never dealt with the southern desert Wang's Clan.

Therefore, his plan for this trip to the southern desert was to come quietly and leave quietly, without any intention of recognizing relatives or such.

Who would have thought that he would encounter people from the southern desert Wang's Clan under these circumstances? And from the sounds of it, it seemed to be a young member of the "Shi" generation...

While Wang Shouzhe and the Ancestor kept a low profile,

The Clan Leader of the Mo Clan's face turned cold, and he scolded, "Wang Shihai, considering your youth and usual antics, I've let you be. But this time, while I'm hosting guests from Longzuo—your unruly behavior is intolerable. Do you really think the Mo Clan is to be trifled with?"

"Guests from Longzuo? Just some bumpkins from the sticks," a haughty young man by Wang Shihai's side jeered, "Open your eyes and see whose territory you're on! Brothers—overturn their table!"

In just a few words, the verbal conflict escalated. Wang Shihai and his group of young ruffians, driven by emotion, rushed forward, and with a loud crash, flipped a perfectly good table of food onto the floor.

"Outrageous, truly outrageous!" The Clan Leader of the Mo Clan trembled with anger and turned to Qian Xuehan to apologize, "Clan Leader Qian, please go ahead. I refuse to believe this little demon of the Wang's Clan would dare to defy heaven..."

Unexpectedly,

Before he could finish, Qian Xuehan stood up to interrupt the Mo Clan Leader.

He narrowed his eyes, glanced at Wang Shihai and the group of youths, and said aloud, "Gentlemen, please restrain yourselves and hear me out."

"Who do you think you are to speak?" A brash young man sneered at him, "In front of our Prince Sea of the southern desert Commandery, even dragons must coil and tigers must crouch."

At these words, the expressions of the two Celestial Realm elders accompanying Qian Xuehan changed, and they stood up, ready to take action.

Qian Xuehan was the newly appointed Clan Leader of the Qian Clan, a man of esteemed status.

Although the council of elders could restrain the Clan Leader, his overall status and power remained significant. Moreover, outside, the Clan Leader represented the face of the Qian Clan, and such humiliation could not be tolerated.

"Wait."

Qian Xuehan raised his hand to stop the elders, then looked at Wang Shihai and said indifferently, "I am Qian Xuehan, humbly serving as the Clan Leader of the fifth-grade Purple Mansion Qian Clan of Longzuo. Young Master Wang, are you trying to provoke hostility between the southern desert Wang's Clan and the Longzuo Qian Clan?"

His demeanor remained courteous and humble, not showing arrogance, yet as he spoke, an aura of authority naturally emanated, adding a touch of majesty to his expression.

The Longzuo Qian Clan was a fifth-grade Purple Mansion Clan, and as the newly appointed Clan Leader, he naturally held a significant social status.

"Fifth-grade Clan? Clan Leader?"

Young Master Wang Shihai's face changed, and he glared angrily at his "companion," as if questioning why the intelligence was incorrect.

After all, Wang Shihai was a junior member and had not yet held a position within the clan. The other party, however, was a fifth-grade Clan Leader, with a status equivalent to his father Wang Zonghao's within the southern desert Wang's Clan.

Although he was known as the "Little Demon King," he was no fool. Even though the other party was just a dragon crossing the river, he couldn't afford to provoke a formidable enemy like the Qian Clan for his family.

Still, his youthful vigor made it difficult for him to back down, and his expression fluctuated between anger and embarrassment.

"Let it be," Qian Xuehan said generously, waving his hand, "This appears to be a misunderstanding. Let's not dwell on such trivial matters."

"Ha ha~~ Since the guest of the Longzuo Qian Clan has arrived, I, Wang Shihai, naturally have to show respect to the Qian Clan."

Wang Shihai had already intended to back down, and seeing an opportunity to save face, he quickly took it and said something diplomatic. Then he glared fiercely at the Mo Clan Leader.

"We'll settle this matter later."

Unexpectedly,

Qian Xuehan smiled and said, "Please wait, young friend. I see you are handsome and extraordinary, surely a proud talent of the younger generation of the southern desert Wang's Clan."

"I, Qian, am most fond of befriending young talents. If you do not mind, I would like to host a new banquet to entertain you and the other young gentlemen."

Since taking the position of Clan Leader, Qian Xuehan had gradually shown a mature and measured demeanor, a far cry from his previous cautious and constantly pleading image of "Save me, Shouzhe."

Wang Shihai, merely a young talent in his twenties, was no match for Qian Xuehan.

In just a few words, Qian Xuehan had him beaming with joy, and after a brief show of modesty, he accepted the invitation.

Of course, this was also because Qian Xuehan was the Clan Leader of a fifth-grade clan. If he had been the head of a seventh-grade clan trying to befriend Wang Shihai, the latter would likely have looked down on him.

Only the Clan Leader of the Mo Clan and the two Celestial Realm Ancestors had unnatural expressions, seemingly gloomy and displeased. Even if they were upset and angry, they dared not show it in front of Qian Xuehan.

Wang Shouzhe silently watched the scene, his mind as clear as a mirror.

He had led the once-destitute ninth-grade Wang's Clan to its current strong seventh-grade status. Was he someone easy to deal with?

The knowledge and vision from his past life were merely the foundation for this one. Having grown through hardships to this point, he was no longer the same person he was at eighteen.

The banquet hosted by the Mo Clan, with Wang Shihai and the ruffians barging in to cause trouble, seemed like a brainless conflict from a third-rate Xuanhuan novel on the surface.

But the details suggested that it was likely a trap set by the Mo Clan.

They deliberately booked the table reserved by Wang Shihai to provoke the young and impetuous man, leading him and his group to make a scene. The instigator who first provoked the conflict was probably a pawn placed by the Mo Clan.

And the Mo Clan Leader's seemingly casual mention of the "Little Demon King of the Wang's Clan" would make Qian Xuehan unconsciously think that the other party was causing trouble without reason.

They probably counted on Qian Xuehan being in his forties and newly appointed as Clan Leader, likely to be the most spirited and proud. Once a conflict arose, they just needed to add fuel to the fire to sour the relationship between the Qian and Wang Clans, thereby binding the Qian Clan firmly to the Mo Clan's warship.

Unfortunately,

The Mo Clan greatly underestimated Qian Xuehan, who was an expert in patience and scheming.

He had long known his stepmother's ill intentions and usually acted meek and harmless, while secretly he had charmed a maid close to his stepmother and promised her all sorts of benefits and a bright future.

Later, he used the girl to pass messages and, seizing the right moment, turned the tables using various conditions.

As for how Wang Shouzhe knew all this, it was because Qian Xuehan's previous actions had suggested he was using the Wang's Clan, and Wang Shouzhe, suspecting he was no simple character, had secretly investigated. The findings confirmed Wang Shouzhe's suspicions.

But that wasn't the most impressive part.

The most impressive was that Qian Xuehan, despite not having a formal wife and despite opposition, actually took the maid as a favored concubine. The concubine's maternal family, a ninth-grade clan that was a vassal to the Qian Clan, rose with the tide and was put to good use, enjoying a meteoric rise in status.

All the promises and benefits he had made to the girl were fulfilled.

Even Wang Shouzhe had to admire his clear-headedness for this move.

After all, his previous calculations were just taking advantage of the situation, but they couldn't hide from those who investigated with intent. However, with this move, despite some damage to his reputation and making it relatively difficult to marry in the future, he set up a sign of keeping his word, indirectly showing that his scheming was out of helplessness and self-preservation.

At this point, even Wang Shouzhe couldn't fully fathom Qian Xuehan and had to be cautious.

Such a character, how could he be led by the nose by a small trap set by the Mo Clan?

He took the opportunity to invite Wang Shihai, resolving the conflict and giving the Mo Clan a warning to keep their place.

Soon, the scene was cleaned up, and a new table was set.

This time, Qian Xuehan didn't listen to the Mo Clan's arrangements and took the initiative like a host.

As for the Mo Clan, now overshadowed, they were in a difficult position to complain, especially since they had schemed first and were in the wrong.

Moreover, even if they weren't in the wrong, facing the "misbehavior" of the Qian Clan Leader, they had no choice but to let him have his way.

Qian Xuehan first gently pacified Wang Shihai and his group, and then, as if it were his rightful place, he approached Wang Shouzhe and Long Yan the Ancestor and bowed deeply, "Clan Leader Shouzhe, Ancestor Long Yan. Earlier, it was not I who invited you, and as the guest follows the host, it was not my place to decide."

"This new table is at my personal expense, and even if you two do not mind, I wouldn't dare to let you sit at the end of the table and be slighted."

"What?"

Both the Mo Clan Leader and Wang Shihai's group were shocked by this scene.

Especially the Mo Clan, who were completely baffled. Weren't they introduced as a seventh-grade clan earlier? Why was the Clan Leader of a fifth-grade Purple Mansion Clan so respectful and polite to them?

"Clan Leader Qian, these two... exactly..." The Mo Clan Leader hurriedly approached, asking in a shaky voice, "Could it be... that I was disrespectful earlier?"

"Old Mo, oh Old Mo," Qian Xuehan changed his address, seizing the opportunity to say, "You really need to polish your eyes. Our Clan Leader Shouzhe is so profound and majestic, and you didn't notice?"

Then, without waiting for the Mo Clan Leader's surprise, he respectfully invited Ancestor Long Yan to the seat of honor, while also pulling Wang Shouzhe to the seat next to the main guest.

After a new arrangement, everyone took their seats at the large round table.

However, he also respected Wang Shouzhe's wish not to be too high-profile, simply reintroducing him as the Clan Leader from Longzuo Changning Wang's Clan and the family Ancestor, Long Yan the Ancestor.

In his words, he subtly hinted that the Wang's Clan was not like an ordinary seventh-grade clan.

Hearing he was from Longzuo Changning Wang's Clan, Wang Shihai's eyebrows twitched, "This brother, I heard Clan Leader Qian call you... Clan Leader Shouzhe? Your name is Wang Shouzhe? Which 'Shou' and which 'Zhe'?"

Wang Shouzhe knew what he was thinking, but at this point, there was nothing to hide. He had not intended to visit the southern desert Wang's Clan to claim kinship before coming.

However, since he had encountered them by chance, he wasn't so pretentious as to deliberately conceal it. Immediately, Wang Shouzhe smiled and said, "The 'Shou' that stands for upholding one's heart, and the 'Zhe' that means discerning people."

"Boom!"

It was as if a thunderbolt struck Wang Shihai, leaving him dazed, his face alternating between pale and flushed, as he pondered something.

A companion beside him exclaimed in surprise, "Son of the Thirty-Ninth, that gentleman's name is similar to your grandfather's, just a different 'Zhe' character."

"Shut up!" Wang Shihai's face flushed with embarrassment, glaring back, "No one thinks you're mute if you don't speak." Then, he looked at Wang Shouzhe with a hostile gaze, "Brother, are you here to mock me?"

"Sigh~ I wish it were a coincidence," Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, "But there's no helping it. The generational sequence passed down by our ancestors, who dares to change it recklessly? Our Longzuo Changning Wang's Clan is a branch of the Longzuo Wang's Clan, and the Longzuo Wang's Clan is a branch of the great Daqian Wang's Clan... According to your 'Shi' generation sequence, by tradition, you should address me according to my ranking in our clan, and call me Fourth Great-Uncle."

"Fourth Great-Uncle? F—u..." Wang Shihai's face turned beet red, both angry and flustered, about to curse out loud but seemed to remember something and quickly swallowed his words.

Clans have their rules, and the older the clan, the stricter the rules. A family with thousands of years of heritage will inevitably have various branches, and seniority must be determined by generational sequence.

The relationship between Longzuo Changning Wang's Clan and the southern desert Wang's Clan, known as the same lineage but different clans, is not the same family but the same lineage. Both can trace their roots back to the great Daqian Wang's Clan, a relationship known as clan kinship.

Every descendant of a clan has a traceable heritage and cannot be taken lightly.

For clans like Longzuo Changning Wang's Clan and the southern desert Wang's Clan, if they don't interact or contact each other, it's fine. But if they meet and talk about generational sequences, they must follow the sequence to determine seniority.

Unless someone is impersonating a clan kin, no matter how destitute or poor the other party is, they must respectfully address them according to the generational sequence.

Even if Wang Shihai was unruly, he wouldn't dare to act out on such matters, or else once it reached the ears of his family elders, he would likely be punished according to family rules.

"Hehe, young friend Wang Shihai, I can vouch for Clan Leader Shouzhe's identity," Qian Xuehan said as if he had expected this, smiling, "The Longzuo Wang's Clan and Changning Wang's Clan are not unknown in our Longzuo Commandery, how could such a significant matter be impersonated?"

"I'll send someone back to ask about the Longzuo Wang's Clan." Although Wang Shihai was already mostly convinced, he still sent a family guard outside to run back to the main house to inquire.

The atmosphere that followed was somewhat tense, but Wang Shouzhe and Qian Xuehan ate with great enjoyment.

In less than half an hour,

A man with a dignified appearance and extraordinary bearing came in with a group of people. As soon as he entered, he bowed and said loudly, "As a clan kin from Longzuo visits our southern desert, I, Wang Zongping, the Clan Leader of the southern desert Wang's Clan, failed to notice and welcome you in time. My apologies."

"Dad..." Wang Shihai's face turned awkward.

Usually, when a clan visits the territory of a clan kin for business, they would also pay a visit. The host would also show the appropriate hospitality.

It's one thing not to know, but if they knew and didn't welcome them, the southern desert Wang's Clan would inevitably be labeled as snobbish and disrespectful, a stain that would be ridiculed if spread.

Wang Shouzhe also stood up, returning the greeting with proper etiquette and cheerfully said, "Clan Leader Zongping, do not blame yourself. I did not wish to trouble our kin, hence I concealed my whereabouts, and it's not your fault."

Wang Shihai hurriedly stood up, his face red with embarrassment, and bowed, "Fourth Great-Uncle, I have been disrespectful."