Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Six: The Slap

The next day, when Fatty Hou received the news that, without any effort on his part, those people had actually taken the initiative to suggest he take the position, he felt a brief sense of relief. He had expected the task assigned by Grandpa Sword to be difficult, but it turned out to be surprisingly simple.

However, a second thought left him feeling chilled to the bone. Everyone knew that taking power during such chaotic times wasn't about reaping the rewards; it was about acting as a human shield. Would the malevolent entities reason with you? Of course not. They would surely vent their rage by killing the head of the Chamber of Commerce to quell internal anger before even considering how to divide the spoils. He was reminded of the classic wuxia novel *Ode to Gallantry*, where the Changle Gang, needing to attend the Feast of the Eighth Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month and wishing to avoid it, chose the simpleton Shi Potian to act as their scapegoat. Reality, it seemed, was far more dramatic than fiction.

"Mother, oh Mother, is it true that after raising me all these years, you have no affection for me at all?" he thought, feeling pained.

Juejue, the young and pretty woman standing outside the door, felt a sharp pang of sympathy. Although she had a sharp tongue, it was only to protect this foolish young master from being bullied. In a household with such high thresholds, one had to have some schemes to survive. With the three big bosses of the Chamber suddenly dead, what possible benefit could there be in becoming the chairman now? Would no one investigate the deaths of those leaders? And if they did, who would bear the responsibility? And what form would that responsibility take? Would it not be offering one's life as atonement?

Just as the Fatty was sinking into the gloom of life, new news arrived at noon that brought him a shred of comfort. His Third Grand-Uncle—his grandfather's own younger brother and the supervisor of the Chamber’s logistics warehouse—had heard the news and stepped forward to speak a word of justice.

"This won't do. Little Fatty doesn't understand anything; how could he convince anyone as chairman? If you really want to find a scapegoat, take me, the old man. I'm nearly eighty; I've lived long enough! I've eaten what I should eat, drank what I should drink, and my sons and nephews are all gone. I have no attachments. If there’s trouble, come to me! Just push everything onto my head."

"So, there really is someone who truly cares for me..." he muttered. He then donned his dragon robe, took his sword and Juejue, and headed toward his mother's office. He knew that if he didn't step up, those people would surely go with the flow and send his Third Grand-Uncle to his death. If he stepped up, he still had the sword and the hidden guards as his trump cards; if his Third Grand-Uncle went, he would be nothing but a discarded pawn.

He soon reached the office, familiar with the route, and heard the shouting inside—the booming voice of his Third Grand-Uncle.

"I'm not afraid! Let those malevolent ghosts come find me in the middle of the night to claim my life; I'll lie on my couch and wait for them!" The old man was sitting on the sofa, leaning on his cane, assuring everyone with great vigor.

Everyone present was already swayed. Legally speaking, the old man also had a right to inherit the Chamber's leadership. It wasn't that they hadn't thought of him before; it was just that someone had proposed a candidate early on, clouding their judgment and causing them to overlook a better possibility. There were many in the Hou family, but they were distant relatives and not easily fooled; no one was willing to step up and die at such a time. When forced to choose between a man willing to die and a clueless fool, everyone immediately changed their tune and pushed for Third Uncle Hou to be the chairman.

Hou Jinhua was naturally pleased with this. Although the man was her own uncle, he wasn't as dear as her son. The key was that her son wasn't married yet and had no children. Thinking of this, she secretly made a decision: since the three malevolent entities were dead, the bloodline restriction in her son's body should no longer be an issue, meaning he could now carry on the family line. She would have him married tonight. Finding a woman wasn't difficult; she had a bunch of beautiful girls under her command for him to choose from.

"Good! I’ve been looked down upon by my big brother my whole life. I never expected that in my old age, I’d get to take his place and have a taste of power. It's worth it!" Third Uncle Hou, not one to decline, sat directly in the boss's chair that Hou Jinhua had vacated.

Just then, Fatty Hou, who had been peeking for a long time, pushed the door open. "Mother, it’s Spring Festival again! I want to be the Emperor. Tell the staff to put on a grand spectacle for me this year!" He swung his dragon robe and appeared before everyone with great self-satisfaction.

"What time is it? You're still playing around?" Hou Jinhua was already suffering from a headache and felt a bit guilty. Seeing her son like this, she moved to slap him.

The sword flew out instantly, blocking her. *Clang!* Hou Jinhua failed to land the blow and ended up with a stinging hand from the recoil. Everyone was stunned, especially Zhao Boyue, whose face turned pale. He had thought the sword he offered was merely a unique trinket, like those sentient plants or trees—just a sword that had gained some spirit, nothing significant. Now, it seemed the item held divine mysteries.

*Heaven once gave me the chance to take revenge with my own hands, but I threw it away...* he thought bitterly. Using someone else's hand to take revenge was never as satisfying as doing it yourself; it was a way to truly vent one's rage. Borrowing a knife to kill someone was, in essence, the same as waiting for an enemy to wither away.

"This is the Sword of Justice given to me by Uncle Zhao, to help me study hard and improve every day. Uncle Zhao is truly a great man, a gentleman, always thinking of me when he has something good," Fatty Hou said triumphantly.

"What exactly do you want to do?" Hou Jinhua withdrew her hand. She could sense that this sword could easily take her life!

For a moment, she had a fleeting illusion: could it be that her son was the one who killed the three malevolent entities? Had this guy been playing the fool to catch the tiger all along? Thinking of the unusual things she had occasionally noticed, and the anomalies she had ignored because she was too busy with work, she suddenly realized that she was likely like many parents, unaware of the true side of her own child.

"I just want to be the Emperor! Let’s rename our Nanling Chamber of Commerce today. Let's call it the Nanling Great Empire, and I shall be the Empire's first Emperor! History shall know me as the First Emperor of Nan, and this is my Imperial Sword." Fatty Hou, like an actor on stage, waved the sword and put on a show.

"Enough, enough! Those beings don't allow us to establish kingdoms. Stop causing trouble here. You are getting married tonight; go back and tidy up for the bridal chamber." Hou Jinhua gave a look to the two secretaries beside her. The two burly female secretaries immediately closed in on Fatty Hou.

"No, I don't want to get married! I want to ascend the throne today!" Fatty Hou became anxious. If he didn't take power, wouldn't Grandpa Sword kill him?

The sword flew out, driving the two secretaries back three meters.

Just then, Third Uncle Hou, sitting behind the desk, spoke up. "Little Fatty, do you really want to be this Emperor?"

"Yes, Third Grand-Uncle! Didn't our Hou family originate from royalty?" Fatty Hou said with a cheeky grin.

"Well, if that's the case, promise me one thing. I am the chairman now, but if you agree, I will cede the position to you and even help you turn the Chamber into an Empire," Third Uncle Hou said seriously.

"What is it? Grand-Uncle, as long as you let me be the chairman, I'll listen to you on everything!" Fatty Hou was overjoyed.

"Listen to your mother. Tonight, you go into the bridal chamber and get married," Third Uncle Hou declared firmly.

"Ah..." Fatty Hou glanced secretly at Juejue outside the door. She definitely couldn't enter this office; she was, after all, just a servant.

"Are you listening or not?"

"I'm listening, I'm listening. But I have one request: I only want to marry Juejue," Fatty Hou said earnestly.

Hou Jinhua's eyes lit up, but she shook her head. "No, she already told me she’s getting married next month. We Hou family members don't force others."

Fatty Hou felt dejected, thinking to himself, *Your son is being forced by others, can't you force someone for your son?*

"I'll go talk to her. I watched her grow up," Third Uncle Hou said, truly doting on his grandson, and gave his word.

"That's great! I'll listen to everything you say, Grand-Uncle." Fatty Hou finally let out a sigh of relief.