[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-14":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270022,4432,"Chapter 14: Establishing Authority","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>Before Wang Zhao’s hut, a circle had already formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhao, I really didn’t steal anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard Zhao Mazi crossed his arms and sneered sideways: “Don’t you know whether you stole it or not?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then tell us—how did Second Madam’s earring end up in your room?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi intensified his tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him stood several guards, all scowling; in his hand he held a delicate pearl pendant—clearly jewelry only a wealthy household’s lady or daughter could afford.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Zhu household, stealing from the masters was a grave offense—punishable by death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These guards were all massive, muscular, and covered in coarse flesh, intimidating to behold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some servants saw something was wrong but dared not speak, fearing the trouble would turn on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew Zhao Mazi was Zhu Lie’s man; servants followed their masters, and all were unreasonable. Anger Zhao Mazi, and you’d face endless frame-ups like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This had happened several times before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Mazi had Zhu Lie’s protection, and he only targeted servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhu wouldn’t risk tearing with his own brother over such a trivial matter—it always ended in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was a life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the life of a lowly commoner wasn’t a life at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, come with me to see Master—let him judge this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing he must face Master, Wang Zhao’s face turned deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last month, the corpse of the new servant Master Zhu had beaten to death still lay in the mass grave—if he truly met Master, his fate wouldn’t be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhao, I’m innocent—I’ve been framed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao frantically banged his head on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This morning, these men had stormed into his room without warning, accused him of theft, ransacked everything, and then Zhao Mazi pulled out the pendant and swore he stole it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi grinned without warmth: “You’re saying I framed you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao fell silent, helplessly glancing around at the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was like mud falling into one’s trousers—impossible to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi had long mastered this trick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Zhao Mazi raised his hand to strike again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew perfectly well Wang Zhao was innocent—the pendant had always been on his person; he’d slipped it in during the search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blame your master for angering someone he shouldn’t have!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui was valued by the Zhu father and son, so they couldn’t touch him—but his disciple? Easy. No consequences at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Master Zhu knew, he’d never defend a servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Master Zhu’s eyes, Wang Zhao was a commodity—with a fixed price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Yang Yong and Li Rui pushed through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yong barked loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi saw the main party had arrived and let out a mock “Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, your disciple has a black heart—he stole from the masters. What do you say should be done?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui ignored Zhao Mazi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward, helped the kneeling Wang Zhao to his feet, and brushed the snow off his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi, ignored, flew into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the martial arts master looked down on him—but a seventy-year-old old man dared to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, you’re hanging yourself from the tree of longevity—you’ve got too much life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi stepped forward, raising his foot to kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he dared not strike hard—if he killed Li Rui, he couldn’t explain it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as his foot was about to touch Li Rui’s clothing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s foot shot out swiftly, striking Zhao Mazi’s belly first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi instantly twisted in agony, rolling like a ball across the snow before finally stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi groaned in the snow for two breaths, rolled his eyes, and fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who else among you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui retracted his foot and turned to scan the surrounding guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wants to take my disciple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi’s followers exchanged glances, each seeing fear in the others’ eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi led them not just because he was a sycophant, but because he could fight—like a mad dog, fearless of pain, which was why Zhu Lie favored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Zhao Mazi couldn’t withstand one blow from Li Rui, who among them dared move?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why’s Old Li so fierce now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Old Li recently trained in a martial art called Eight Brocades—it suited him perfectly, and he’s already achieved minor mastery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minor mastery?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re blowing smoke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, Old Li does have some skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu household servants were stunned by Li Rui’s thunderous display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their memory, Li Rui had always been a mild, cautious, cheerful old man who greeted everyone—many had grown up under his watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this Old Li now radiated menace—like a tiger holding back its roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards exchanged glances and dared not provoke Li Rui again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hastily lifted the fallen Zhao Mazi and fled like rats from a sinking ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, everyone, disperse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhu Lie’s men gone, Li Rui spoke to the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li, how’d you get so strong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp-faced, monkey-like young servant voiced everyone’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui smiled faintly: “I recently trained in a martial art called Eight Brocades. I didn’t expect it to suit me so well—I’ve already achieved minor mastery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the crowd erupted in murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Li really trained!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder his body had grown so much sturdier—many had noticed Li Rui’s transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad—if he’d started forty years earlier, he might have become a martial arts master and shed his lowly status.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An experienced elder spoke the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Li Rui was strong now, he had no real potential—he could never become a martial arts master. At best, he could fight a bit better—but as he aged, even that advantage would vanish completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timing matters greatly in cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Master Zhu’s eldest son—he began training in child’s qigong at age five, and consumed countless rare herbs. No ordinary man could compare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhao looked at Li Rui with innocent gratitude: “Master, I’ve caused you trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui did not blame Wang Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Mazi had Zhu Lie’s backing and intended to frame him—there was no avoiding such schemes, only accepting defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sudden outburst today was to protect Wang Zhao—and also to reveal his strength, just enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His changes after training were too obvious; whispers about him had reached his ears, carried from Yang Yong—he could no longer hide it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concealing one’s ability isn’t stupidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revealing just enough strength can quell idle speculation and deter hidden enemies, avoiding much trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, he was already a ranked expert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Zhu household pushed too far, he’d simply take Wang Zhao and flee under cover of night—become a hunter or blade-wielding outlaw in the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1112,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","40abf397059a27d54e1c1a1fb4290dc8be6078b02c9c87db7d43c92aaa8406d3","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-15","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-13",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]