The ancient war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a wealthy family

A cold hand covered my mouth, and a pungent smell of medicine penetrated my nose, and my consciousness began to blur. In the haze, I seemed to see the cold smile of the third master of the Han family. He whispered in my ear: "Bai Ruoxi, your good days are over!"

I struggled, but felt powerless. Zhanyu! Where are you? My heart sank to the bottom.

When I woke up again, I found myself tied up in a dark, damp woodshed. I felt a wave of chills, and the pungent smell of medicine still lingered. I tried to recall what had happened before I passed out: the priest, the strong wind, the Third Master of the Han family... It all felt like a nightmare.

The door of the woodshed creaked open, and the third master of the Han family walked in with a few people, a smug smile on his face. "Bai Ruoxi, how do you feel?"

I stared at him coldly without saying a word.

"Oh, you're quite tough!" The third master of the Han family walked up to me and pinched my chin. "Don't think that Zhan Yu can protect you forever. Today, I'll let you know the consequences of offending me!"

He waved his hand, and the people behind him immediately rushed forward and began to tear at my clothes. I struggled desperately, but to no avail. Fear and despair surged into my heart like a tide, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside. The third master of the Han family's face changed, and he hurried to the door to check what was going on.

"what happened?"

"Third Master, this is bad! Young Master Zhan is here with his men!"

The third master of the Han family's face turned ashen. He glared at me fiercely, then turned and walked out.

A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart, Zhan Yu, you are finally here!

Not long after, the door of the woodshed opened again, and Zhan Yu rushed in and hugged me in his arms. "Ruoxi, are you okay?"

I hugged him tightly, feeling his warm embrace, and all my fears and grievances turned into tears and poured out.

"I...I'm fine..."

Zhan Yu patted my back gently, comforting me softly. He helped me untie the rope and took off his coat to put on me.

"let's go!"

Zhan Yu took my hand and walked out of the woodshed. Outside, the third master of the Han family was leading his men in a standoff with the Zhan family's guards.

Seeing me appear safe and sound, the Han family's third master's expression became even uglier. "Zhan Yu, what do you mean?"

"Mr. Han San, you imprisoned my wife without permission. We will settle this account slowly!" Zhan Yu's eyes were cold and his tone was full of murderous intent.

"Hmph! Bai Ruoxi brought something ominous and disrupted the sacrifice. I'm doing this for the sake of the family!" The third master of the Han family argued speciously.

"An ominous thing?" I sneered. "Master Han, do you have any evidence to support your claim?"

The third master of the Han family's eyes flickered. "Everyone saw it. The sacred flame went out because of her!"

I looked around. My family members were all looking at me strangely and whispering to each other. I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.

"Master Xu once taught me some knowledge about sacrifices..." I paused, looking directly at the Third Master of the Han Family, "I remember he said..."

I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "Old Priest Xu once taught me something about sacrifice... I remember him saying that the extinguishing of the sacred flame isn't always a bad thing; it sometimes heralds a new beginning. And the true 'ominous' lies not in outward appearances, but in the evil thoughts within people!" I looked directly at the Third Master of the Han family and spoke word by word, emphasizing, "Third Master Han, you keep saying I bring bad luck, but you don't know that the true filth lies within you!"

The third master of the Han family turned pale with anger, pointing at me and angrily saying, "You...you are slandering me!"

I sneered and continued, "Old Priest Xu also said that the most important thing in a sacrifice is sincerity, not complicated rituals. Although the sacred fire has gone out, our hearts remain pious, and this is what matters most!" I turned to the Qin family leader and said firmly, "Elder Qin, you are the most respected elder in the family. Tell me, am I right?"

The Qin family patriarch stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "What Bai said does make some sense. The meaning of sacrifice is to revere heaven and earth and pray for blessings, not to stick to formalities."

Hearing what the Qin family head said, the surrounding family members began to talk about it, and looked at the Han family's third master with a little more suspicion. The Han family's third master's face became even uglier. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

At that moment, Zhan Yu gripped my hand tightly. His grip was warm and strong, like an electric current running through my body, dispelling all fear and anxiety. I turned to look at him, and he was looking at me affectionately, his eyes filled with love. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Ruoxi, you're so brave. I'm proud of you." His warm breath fanned my neck, making me feel weak.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." He held my hand again and gave me a firm look.

Seeing that the situation was not favorable to him, the Third Master of the Han Family rolled his eyes and said, "Even if there were other reasons for the extinguishing of the Holy Flame, it is a fact that she broke into the forbidden area without permission!"

I was about to retort, but Zhan Yu spoke first, "Third Master Han, there is another hidden story behind the forbidden area. Ruoxi did not break in intentionally, but was framed!" He swept his eyes sharply over the few people behind Third Master Han, and they immediately lowered their heads in fear.

My heart warmed. I was deeply moved by Zhan Yu's trust and support for me. I took a deep breath, mustered my courage, looked at the family members around me, and slowly said, "Dear elders, fellow clansmen, I have some understanding of sacrifice..."

I took a deep breath, met everyone's inquiring gazes, and spoke slowly, "Dear elders, fellow clansmen, I have been familiar with history books since childhood, and I am quite familiar with the records of the Zhan family's sacrifices throughout the ages. I understand that sacrifice is not just a simple ritual, but a spiritual inheritance that connects us to our ancestors and reveres heaven and earth. The extinguishing of the sacred fire is certainly disturbing, but it is not disrespectful to our ancestors. It is a warning from heaven, warning us not to forget the true meaning of sacrifice."

My voice, though soft, carried an undeniable resolve, echoing through the silent sacrificial field. "True sacrifice lies not in elaborate formalities, but in the sincerity of the heart. We should reflect on ourselves and determine whether we truly revere heaven and earth and are grateful. Only with sincerity can we receive the blessings of our ancestors and ensure the prosperity of our family."

I noticed that some of the clan members who had initially been skeptical of me now had a touch of admiration in their eyes. The Qin clan leader even stroked his beard and nodded frequently. I calmed down a bit and continued, "The extinguishing of the sacred flame today may not be a bad thing. It gives us an opportunity to re-examine ourselves. We should be more united, more pious, and pray together for the future of our clan."

Zhan Yu stood beside me, holding my hand tightly, giving me silent support. His eyes were full of love and encouragement, which made me more determined.

However, the Third Master of the Han family was clearly unwilling to accept defeat. His face darkened as he suddenly stepped forward and shouted, "What nonsense! You're just a woman, what do you know about sacrifice? The extinguishing of the sacred flame is the result of your misfortune! Don't try to deceive the people with your lies!"

His voice was sharp and piercing, breaking the brief silence at the sacrificial ground. Some of the tribesmen began to talk again, and their eyes were once again filled with suspicion when they looked at me.

"Third Master Han, why are you so excited?" Zhan Yu stepped forward and stood in front of me, staring at Third Master Han with a sharp gaze. "Do you have some hidden secret that you're afraid the sacrifice can continue?"

The third master of the Han family was intimidated by Zhan Yu's aura and took a step back, but still said with all his strength: "I...I am only thinking about the family! This woman's origins are unknown and her identity is suspicious. She must be driven out!"

"Enough!" the Qin family head shouted in a deep voice, "Today is the day of the family sacrifice. How can you be so reckless here? What Bai said is not without reason. We should treat the sacrifice with piety, not suspicion and chaos."

The third master of the Han family wanted to say something, but was stopped by a look from the head of the Qin family. His face turned ashen, and he glared at me fiercely before retreating back into the crowd.

I breathed a sigh of relief, my palms already wet. This sudden turmoil had left me physically and mentally exhausted.

However, just when I thought things were about to calm down, the third master of the Han family suddenly pulled out a black cloth bag from his arms and threw it towards the altar.

"Since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for being rude!" He said with a sinister smile, "Let me show you what true 'ominous' means!"

The black cloth bag arced through the air and landed on the altar. A strange aura instantly filled the air... He was so anxious, could it be...

A pungent, fishy odor instantly filled the air. The black cloth bag fell to the ground, wriggling as if something alive were struggling inside. I subconsciously held my breath, a sense of foreboding washing over me. Everyone present was stunned by this sudden turn of events. The once bustling sacrificial grounds fell silent, leaving only the faint sounds emanating from the bag.

"What is this?" The head of the Qin family broke the silence first, his voice trembling slightly.

The third master of the Han family smiled sinisterly, a smile that seemed particularly sinister at this moment. "This is a gift I specially prepared for you, a gift that can truly awaken your ancestors!" He said, suddenly opening the cloth bag.

Inside the cloth bag was a strange creature, pitch black and covered in sharp teeth. It wasn't large, but it exuded a terrifying aura. Its scarlet eyes stared intently at everyone, and it let out a low, growling sound.

The crowd erupted in exclamations, and the timid ones even fainted. I clutched Zhan Yu's hand tightly, my palm icy cold. I had never seen this thing before, but I instinctively felt fear.

Zhan Yu protected me behind him, staring coldly at the Third Master of the Han Family. "What on earth do you want to do?"

The Third Master of the Han Family didn't answer, but simply laughed wildly. "Sacrifice requires the most pious offerings! Only with something this sinister and evil can we truly awaken the heroic spirits of our ancestors!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the black monster suddenly let out a sharp roar and pounced on the incense burner on the altar. Old Priest Xu cried out in surprise and quickly stepped back. The monster crashed into the incense burner, causing it to fall and the ashes inside to spill onto the ground.

At the same time, a stronger stench spread, and the incense burning on the altar went out. The entire sacrificial site was shrouded in a gloomy and terrifying atmosphere.

"You're crazy!" the Qin family head roared, "You're blaspheming our ancestors!"

The third master of the Han family didn't care at all. He shouted frantically: "Only in this way can we let our ancestors know our piety! Only in this way can we receive the ancestors' blessings!"

I watched everything unfold before my eyes, feeling a surge of unease. The Third Master's behavior was so bizarre. What was his purpose? Was it simply to disrupt the ritual? I had a feeling this wasn't going to be that simple.

At this moment, I noticed that the Han family members standing behind the third master didn't show any fear or anger on their faces. Instead, they wore strange smiles. Their eyes flickered, as if they were secretly communicating something. Moreover, I clearly saw that their hands were making some strange gestures in their sleeves...

"Zhan Yu..." I whispered.