Zhai Zhu

My grandfather is very eccentric, performing daily rituals of offering incense to himself, standing in front of his own spirit tablet and eating candles.
Villagers are fearful of my grandfather.
I am fearful of him too.
Later, I discovered that what they were afraid of was not my grandfather, but me.
Even grandfather is afraid of me.
...
My name is Chen Shi.
The Chen of honesty, the Shi of sincerity.

Above the Great Dao

Chen Shi picked a stick from the ground, approached the woman, and gave her two lashes, then threw the stick aside and chuckled, "One who is ungrateful deserves to be punished, and now I have administered that punishment. Wife of Guang Hao, let the past go unpunished, and do not make the same mistake in the future."


The woman bowed her head and thanked him.


Chen Shi repeated his earlier words, and only then did the elders understand; they let out a sigh of relief, but some worry remained, "Wouldn't that bring trouble to you, our benefactor?"


Chen Shi laughed, "This matter no longer concerns your village but me alone. I'll handle my own affairs! If the Zhao family sends someone, I'll kill them one at a time, two by two. When enough have died, the Zhao family will naturally be willing to let bygones be bygones."


He gave some orders and then took the carriage straight into the mountain.


The coachman, carrying him and Black Pot, did so without any complaints.


Chapter 41: Clear Dreams Overwhelm the Star River_2