Chapter 78: Put your handprint on it!

"Old man,"

Today I'm going to get my revenge for that knife I stabbed back then.

You'll pay with your life!

however,

However, he severely underestimated the strength of his opponent.

The hunched figure simply sidestepped slightly.

Their movements were as swift as a ghost.

Yi Zhonghai's all-out lunge missed its mark instantly.

Before he could regain his footing,

A sharp, piercing pain shot through my lower back.

A tremendous force kicked him hard in the lower back.

He collapsed heavily to the ground like a tattered sack.

The dagger in his hand flew far away with a clang.

Yi Zhonghai struggled with all his might to stand up on the ground.

Unbeknownst to him, the white-haired old man had already stood steadily in front of him.

The old man's movements were lightning fast, so swift that no one had time to react.

Two crisp, melodious "crack" sounds, yet with a chilling undertone, rang out from the joints.

They managed to dislocate both of his arms without any effort.

Then,

A powerful, large foot suddenly stomped heavily on his head.

The old man, like an owl lurking in the night, let out a strange and chilling laugh:

Hehehehe

Ha ha ha ha!"

"You little monkey who hides his head and tail!"

With your pathetic, incompetent skills, you're hardly worthy of being mentioned.

"You dare to swagger in here, looking for revenge?"

The old man, his face filled with arrogance and disdain, sternly rebuked them.

The force under his feet increased slightly.

Yi Zhonghai's cheek rubbed hard against the cold, hard bluestone slab.

A searing, piercing pain shot through me instantly.

Subsequently,

A gleaming, sharp dagger was lightly drawn back and forth across his neck and side.

His expression was as if he were slowly and deliberately choosing where to make the cut.

Yi Zhonghai was so terrified by this scene that he seemed to lose his mind, as if his very soul had been stolen away. He collapsed to the ground, slurring his words and repeatedly kneeling to beg for mercy.

"Master!"

Master! I know I was wrong!

I truly know I was wrong!

Grandpa, please have mercy and spare my life!

I will never dare to do it again…

"hey-hey,

Now you want me to spare you?

Are you going to turn around and gather those scoundrels to come after me again?

The old man subtly increased the pressure on his feet once again.

"I wouldn't dare!"

I would absolutely not dare!

Master,

Please spare my dog's life.

I am willing to serve you like a slave, devoting my entire life to your service!

Yi Zhonghai pleaded desperately, his voice filled with a desperate sob.

"To be my slave?"

I don't care about these petty gains at all.

The old man scoffed disdainfully, his tone icy.

"Do you really want to live?"

"think!

I desperately want to live! Please, Your Excellency, have mercy!

Yi Zhonghai swallowed hard and nodded frantically in response.

The old man then slowly withdrew his foot from the man's head, releasing him from his restraints.

Yi Zhonghai, however, still dared not stand up easily.

He could only slump to the ground like a lump of mud, repeatedly kowtowing.

He kept kowtowing and repeatedly said, "Thank you, sir, for sparing my life!"

Thank you, sir, for sparing my life! Thank you, sir, for your mercy!

"Back in the previous dynasty,"

Crushing a nobody like you is no different from crushing an ant; it's effortless.

The world has changed drastically since then, dynasties have risen and fallen.

I didn't want to get into any unnecessary trouble, but I've brought this disaster upon myself.

There are ways to survive.

Lao Tzu happens to need someone to run errands and do his bidding. Would you be willing to do it?

The old man asked in a cold voice, his tone devoid of any warmth.

"Do it, little one!"

I'd be more than willing!

A wave of endless sorrow and bitterness welled up in Yi Zhonghai's heart.

Although he was castrated at a young age and lost his manhood,

But in his entire life, he has never personally admitted that he was a eunuch.

Now, they actually want to recognize an old eunuch of unknown origin as their godfather?

If this matter gets out,

Given his extremely proud and vain nature,

It's better to just hang yourself than to live.

But the current situation clearly shows that we are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board.

What if we refuse to bow our heads and admit defeat now?

Then all that awaited him was death, with no trace of his remains!

"Godfather, please accept my bow!"

Yi Zhonghai gritted his teeth and hurriedly kowtowed three more times respectfully.

A faint trace of blood quickly appeared on his forehead and seeped out.

Yi Zhonghai,

Your name is quite pleasant to the ear, not bad at all.

The old man finally spoke, introducing himself, his tone remaining calm and even.

"Alright, get up and come inside with me to talk."

The old man before us is none other than Wei Jianxiong, who was exiled from the palace years ago.

Despite the excruciating pain in his arm, which felt like it was broken, Yi Zhonghai struggled to his feet.

With his head bowed and back bent, he followed Wei Jianxiong respectfully into the house.

Wei Jianxiong sat steadily on the chair in the hall.

Looking at Yi Zhonghai, who stood opposite him with his hands at his sides, as respectful as a servant, he slowly spoke:

"Since you have already acknowledged me as your godfather, you should at least know my name."

Let's not dwell on those unpleasant past events anymore; let's turn the page.

Remember this well: your father's name is Wei Jianxiong, make sure you understand!

"yes,

"I understand, Godfather."

Yi Zhonghai immediately lowered his head and respectfully replied, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

"Don't put on that pathetic look of someone who just lost their father. Who are you trying to impress with that mournful face?"

Being my godson is a win-win situation.

Just wait and see, you'll see what happens.

After Wei Jianxiong finished speaking, he got up and walked into the inner room.

Not long after,

He came out carrying a coarse cloth bundle in both hands.

The package looked heavy and substantial.

It contained a stack of gleaming silver dollars.

There are also two old sheets of paper that have long since yellowed and show the marks of time.

He casually placed the silver dollar on the mahogany table.

He then took out a box of vermilion inkpads.

They were all pushed in front of Yi Zhonghai, who then gave the order in a deep voice:

"Come here and put your handprint on it!"

Yi Zhonghai's heart skipped a beat.

A sense of foreboding instantly washed over him; his intuition told him...

This is definitely not a good thing; it's probably a trap.

He picked up the two pieces of paper and glanced at the handwriting and content.

It felt as if I had fallen into an ice cave, my whole body was ice-cold.

I couldn't help but let out a desperate sigh:

"What terrible things have I done to deserve this? How could I have ended up like this?!"

One of them was a family recognition contract document with black and white text and hidden marks.

The other one was actually a contract that his father had voluntarily sold him into the palace years ago.

The contract clearly states this in black and white.

If Yi Zhonghai violates this family recognition agreement,

This old indenture will then serve as official proof.

Send it directly to the government department.

He was officially registered as Yi Zhonghai as a "eunuch from the palace."

The date on the contract clearly stated the year President Yuan ascended the throne.

They didn't care about his actual age at the time, whether he was old or young.

The current government has extremely strict regulations and controls over those who were previously living among the common people.

They treated them almost like fat sheep to be slaughtered, manipulated at will.

Especially those lackeys and yamen runners in black leather coats,

Once they get a chance, they will bully them mercilessly.

Yi Zhonghai stared intently at the box of red inkpad on the table.

The scarlet pigment in the box looked exactly like the one he wore when he was castrated.

The bloodstains splattered on the tattered bedsheets were glaringly obvious.

Wei Jianxiong extended his finger and gently tapped the table.

The brass pipe struck the sandalwood tabletop, producing a crisp, pleasant "tap-tap" sound.

"What?

Do you regret it now?

It's too late! It's all too late!

"I'll press it!"

Yi Zhonghai clenched his teeth so tightly that his lips bled.

He forced those two words out between his teeth, carrying endless humiliation.

Wei Jianxiong stepped forward, his hands moving with lightning speed.

With a few quick "cracks," they managed to dislocate his two arms that had just been severed.

It was reconnected, and the moment it was reconnected, excruciating pain struck again.

As if resigned to his fate, Yi Zhonghai slowly walked forward.

Extend your right thumb, dip it in the bright red ink,

He pressed his fingerprint firmly onto the kinship agreement, leaving a clear imprint.

"Not enough,"

Wei Jianxiong suddenly spoke coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ten fingers,

"Put them all on, not one less!"

"good!"

Yi Zhonghai's heart sank to the bottom, chilled to the bone.

He was secretly making plans in his mind,

After returning home, I tried to find a way to ruin the fingerprint on my thumb.

That way, they can find an opportunity to deny it later and refuse to acknowledge the debt.

Even now, we are still at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board.

There was absolutely no room for resistance.

He could only obediently extend all ten fingers.

Dip each stick in ink.

One by one, they pressed their clear and complete fingerprints onto the contract.

"Put this one on too, don't try anything funny."

On that contract of servitude

Besides the brand-new fingerprint he had just pressed himself on.

There were also several old fingerprints that had long since dried up and become indistinct.

It recounts the unbearable past.

The signature area was blank.

This old man probably didn't know how to use this piece of waste paper.

He has harmed countless innocent people; his methods are ruthless.

Yi Zhonghai dared not hesitate for a moment and did as instructed.

All the fingerprints were pressed clearly.

Wei Jianxiong nodded in satisfaction.

He casually tucked the contract away, folding it neatly.

He then pointed to the empty blue-and-white porcelain teacup on the table.

"Offering tea! A cup of tea for your godfather!"

Yi Zhonghai shakily lifted the teapot and poured in boiling tea.

He held the teacup high with both hands and knelt heavily on the ground.

"Godfather, please have some tea! Your son toasts you!"

"Okay, good son."

Get up, and from now on, work hard for me.

Wei Jianxiong happily accepted the teacup, took a small sip, and looked relaxed.

After putting down the teacup,

He pushed the heavy ocean letter forward, right in front of Yi Zhonghai.

"Here, this is a gift from your godfather, a small token of his appreciation."

Don't think it's too little. Be good to me in the future, and you'll get plenty of benefits. I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury.