“This imperial examination values not only literary talent, but also fortune. Although I cannot see auras, I have a general sense of them. In this new life, most of my fortune has already been stripped away—it's extremely thin. If I refuse my uncle now and provoke displeasure within the clan, I’ll lose the support of clan fortune... I might end up even worse than my previous self, and even passing the child student exam would be difficult.”

“But as long as I obtain the child student qualification, I can cultivate the Daoist foundational techniques. Relying solely on my own cultivation, I can gather fortune, rather than depending entirely on external support.”

“The great calamity is descending upon the world. Though its signs have yet to appear, time waits for no one. At this moment, advancing means life, retreating means death. I can’t afford to waste even a moment—perhaps now, there’s only one risky move left to play…”

With this thought, Edward Clark narrowed his eyes, casting his gaze toward the layers of mountains to the north.

Mount Beimang, the legendary land of the dead.

As he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a startled cry from afar—it was Grace’s voice. His heart tightened, and he rushed down at once.

When he got down, he saw a man pestering Grace. With a single glance, he was instantly enraged and shouted, “It’s you—how dare you?”

At this shout, both people below were startled. The man’s heart trembled, then turned to anger, intimidated by this branch family youth. He let out a strange, mocking laugh and said, “So it’s Young Master Edward. What a loud voice you have—doesn’t sound like a scholar at all, does it?”

He continued with a leering smile, “But your face is clean, and your voice is strong. You’d make a fine leading actor on stage!”

Upon hearing this, Edward Clark did not get angry. He stared at the man for a moment, then said coldly, “You’re my cousin Charles Clark’s servant, called Samuel Grant, aren’t you?”

At this, Edward Clark revealed a sinister smile. “I didn’t expect my cousin to have such a fool under him. Do you know why, all these years, I’ve been neglected here, yet not a single blind servant has dared to offend me directly? Do you know what family rules and clan law are?”

Samuel Grant, pressured by that gaze, involuntarily took a step back, cold sweat breaking out. “Don’t try to scare me. I’m not afraid. I belong to Young Master Charles!”

“Scare you?” Edward Clark sneered.

“No matter how down and out I am, I’m still a member of the Ye family genealogy—your master. What are you, to dare to throw your weight around in front of me?”

“According to royal law, if a servant bullies his master, as long as I file a complaint, regardless of right or wrong, the authorities will give you thirty strokes of the cane first. Ask yourself—can you withstand the government’s caning?”

At these words, whatever Samuel Grant was about to say was forcibly swallowed back.

Servants held a lowly status. According to royal law, if a servant made a mistake, the master could beat him to death and only pay a fine. But if a servant dared to bully his master, once it reached the authorities, there would be thirty strokes of the cane, no questions asked.

Especially since the authorities themselves sided with the masters and hated such things most. So those thirty strokes were often a signal for the yamen runners to use their full strength. Even the toughest men would be beaten half to death on the spot; the weak might die right there, and it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Thinking of this, Samuel Grant swallowed his words, but still felt unconvinced. Seeing this, Edward Clark sneered again: “I know you’re not convinced. You think if I do this, I’ll offend my cousin and won’t be able to get away with it in the future. But have you thought about this?”

“If I’m desperate enough to offend my cousin and uncle, tear my clothes, ring the clan bell, and accuse you of beating me and bullying my maid, do you know what will happen to you?”

“What is clan law built upon? It’s the family rules and clan law. No matter how destitute the master is, he’s still the master. If you servants dare to bully him, you’re violating the family rules and clan law—do you believe that my cousin and uncle won’t even listen to your explanation, but will immediately beat you to death in front of the ancestral hall as a warning to others?”

At this, Edward Clark grinned viciously at Samuel Grant and said, “Do you dare? If you have guts, then stake your life and strike me down—drag me down with you!”

“With a master accompanying you to ruin, I suppose it’s worth it for you!”

These words fell like stones and jade, and Samuel Grant’s eyes instantly reddened, veins bulging on his face. In his heart, he truly wanted to slap this frail youth to death.

But he really didn’t dare!

In this world, even the most mischievous servant’s child had been whipped and taught the family rules. Though deaths were rare, the pain was unforgettable.

No matter how stupid or impulsive Samuel Grant was, he knew the youth before him was right.

If this youth was desperate enough to risk offending the master and young master, having him caned to death was not difficult.

After a long moment, unable to withstand the pressure of family rules and clan law, Samuel Grant glared hatefully, shot a vicious look at Grace, and left in anger.

Seeing this man glare at himself and Grace with such vicious and lecherous eyes, Edward Clark felt a trace of murderous intent rise.

In his previous life, he had obeyed William Clark and never suffered such treatment—instead, he’d been given thirty taels of silver.

But now, just for going against him a little, trouble had come.

Even with generations of servant education and ironclad rules, human nature could not be suppressed. Rebellion and resentment were normal. As someone from Earth, Edward Clark didn’t think it was a grave mistake.

But since Samuel Grant’s target was himself and Grace, this man could not be allowed to remain. He had no intention of being the farmer to this snake!

However, now was not the time—he could not kill him yet.

The most important thing now was still to pass the child student exam, gain a scholarly title, and be able to cultivate Daoist arts. By then, killing Samuel Grant would be as easy as turning his hand.