"Grandpa Zhang, this is just to cover your debt from three months ago. If you can't come up with a thousand yuan in a week, I'll smash your stall!" A group of thugs said menacingly to an old man in his fifties or sixties, standing in front of a fortune-telling booth.
"He Baozai, I watched you grow up. You know my situation. Young people these days don't believe in us anymore, and my business is getting harder by the day. I finally made a little money today, and you guys took it all. I don't even know where my dinner money is coming from tonight. Where am I supposed to get another thousand yuan for you?" the old man pleaded.
"He Baozai is a name you can call him!" The thug immediately kicked him. "Don't try to act old and wise with me here. When I was little, didn't you always tell me you were the son of the great Celestial Master Zhang, and that you were the 64th Celestial Master? And that the Celestial Masters sect gives you a stipend every month? If you're really broke, go ask your Celestial Master for money! They must have plenty!"
"It's gone. Those bastards don't recognize my position as Celestial Master, and they won't give me any money. I was just bragging back then!" the old man said helplessly.
"I don't care about all that. My boss gave me this street, and I have to pay him management fees on time every month. You have to pay me protection fees on time too, or your stall shouldn't appear on this street. I'll beat you up every time I see you!" After saying that, the thug left proudly with his two followers, leaving the pitiful Grandpa Zhang alone to clean up the mess, lamenting the unfairness of fate.
"No, I can't go on like this. I must reclaim my rightful position as Celestial Master!" Grandpa Zhang, or Zhang Meiliang, cried out in his heart.
Although Grandpa looked close to sixty, he was actually only in his early fifties. The reason he appeared so aged was mainly due to his indulgence in his youth and the demands of his "profession."
That's right, Grandpa Zhang's white beard and hair were dyed. He made himself look entirely white-haired, making himself appear over a decade older. His purpose was very simple: in the eyes of ordinary people, fortune-telling was something that only elderly people with white hair could do effectively. The older, the better. If two fortune tellers set up stalls simultaneously, people would definitely seek out the older one.
This was valuable experience that Zhang Meiliang had accumulated over the years, and it had always been very useful.
However, Zhang Meiliang was not content with this outcome, as he believed he should have inherited the position of Celestial Master of the Celestial Masters sect, not his cheap father's cheap nephew.
Although he was not his cheap father's biological son, Zhang Meiliang had never considered this issue. In his opinion, since he had acknowledged his cheap father, he should inherit all of his father's legacy.
Disciples also had the right to inherit property, which was clearly stipulated in the law. He should rightfully inherit the position of Celestial Master.
Unfortunately, Zhang Meiliang's mother, the widow of the 64th Celestial Master, did not recognize this claim. Although she had taken the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal ahead of time, she still reached an agreement with Zhang Yuanxian, exchanging her support for Zhang Yuanxian in exchange for a measly monthly pension of 3,000 NTB.
It was utterly ridiculous. What could 3,000 NTB a month possibly buy?
The cost of Zhang Meiliang's entertainment at a nightclub for one night exceeded this amount when he was younger. Only after selling all the properties left by his parents and living in a rundown apartment could he barely scrape by for a month with 3,000 NTB.
However, with the accelerating pace of currency devaluation and his declining income from fortune-telling, coupled with recent extortion by thugs, Zhang Meiliang was truly at his wit's end.
Thus, an idea sparked in Zhang Meiliang's mind: to reclaim his position as Celestial Master using the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal. This idea became even more fervent after Zhang Meiliang learned that Zhang Yuanxian was gravely ill and nearing his end.
Zhang Meiliang's idea was not impulsive; he had thought about it for a long time and believed his chances of success were high.
Firstly, the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal, a celestial sect heirloom that had disappeared for decades, was in his possession. This was an absolute trump card, akin to the Imperial Seal within the Celestial Masters sect. Who would dare to defy him?
Secondly, there was Zhang Meiliang's identity. Zhang Meiliang believed that when his cheap father died 40 years ago, his mother had prevented him from inheriting the position of Celestial Master because many people in the Celestial Master's mansion at the time knew about his identity issue – that he wasn't Celestial Master Zhang's biological son but was brought by his stepmother. Therefore, in terms of blood ties, he had no chance.
But now, things were different. Those people from that era had followed Celestial Master Zhang in his escape, and most of them were in their fifties or sixties. By now, they had all died.
The current members of the Celestial Masters sect were almost all locally trained, and many didn't even know of Zhang Meiliang's existence, let alone whether he was Celestial Master Zhang's biological son.
However, legally, Zhang Meiliang had ample evidence to prove he was Celestial Master Zhang's son.
Firstly, there was the marriage certificate, stamped by the government, proving the marital relationship between his mother and Celestial Master Zhang. This could not be faked.
Then there was the household registration book, which was essentially the same as a mainland household registration book. It detailed the relationships within a family. Currently, Zhang Meiliang, Zhang Enpu, and his cheap mother were all listed in the same household registration book, with it explicitly stating in black and white that he was Zhang Enpu's son. This could also be verified with the household registration department, making it the strongest evidence.
Of course, if they insisted on DNA testing, it would expose his lie. But the problem was, who would dare to unearth Celestial Master Zhang's remains from his grave?
Furthermore, as long as he steadfastly refused to undergo any DNA testing, how could anyone forcibly obtain his DNA sample?
Even if they forcibly obtained his DNA sample, they couldn't prove it was his. Legally, it wouldn't be recognized. They only recognized the household registration book, so he was in an invincible position.
Finally, there were Zhang Meiliang's personal connections. Although he was somewhat down on his luck, through years of fortune-telling, he had occasionally been correct and had made friends in government departments who could speak up for him at crucial moments.
In addition, Zhang Meiliang actually had connections within the Celestial Masters sect. He had cultivated many disciples who now held minor official positions within the sect.
Moreover, he was aware that the Celestial Masters sect was never a united front. Many people were already dissatisfied with Zhang Yuanxian, and some were unhappy with the Celestial Masters sect's policies. As long as he promised them that their interests would be taken care of after he took office, he would have a supportive force within the Celestial Masters sect.
Finally, combined with the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal and his identity as a son, the succession to Celestial Master Zhang would be a natural progression!
Zhang Meiliang had been hesitant initially, but after being bullied like this today, he felt he could no longer tolerate it. Thus, he directly went to Zhang Yuanxian's home and had a private talk with Zhang Yuanxian, demanding that Zhang Yuanxian voluntarily cede the position to him.
That's right, Zhang Meiliang just showed up, full of confidence.
Because he felt that if all the preparations mentioned above were not enough to guarantee success, then having Zhang Yuanxian, the current acting Celestial Master, personally pass the position to him would ensure a 100% success rate, without any issues.
As for whether Zhang Yuanxian would agree, Zhang Meiliang felt it was not a question to consider; Zhang Yuanxian would definitely agree.
Firstly, he had generously tolerated Zhang Yuanxian being the acting Celestial Master for decades. Zhang Yuanxian had likely had enough.
Secondly, Zhang Yuanxian was gravely ill and nearing his end. He had no need to cling to the position of Celestial Master, and Zhang Yuanxian had no son of his own. Therefore, he didn't need to figure out how to pass the position of Celestial Master to his own son, making it natural and a situation with no loss of interest to pass it to him.
Moreover, Zhang Meiliang also wanted to guarantee Zhang Yuanxian that after he succeeded as Celestial Master Zhang, he would, in turn, pay Zhang Yuanxian's family a monthly stipend of 3,000 NTB, which could be considered a long-term benefit.
Zhang Meiliang felt that his success was inevitable. He never expected, however, that he would be kicked out by Zhang Yuanxian. The ailing acting Celestial Master clutched his chest, cursed him, and said that even if he were a scoundrel, he would never hand over the ancestral foundation to a stepson with no blood relation to the Zhang family whatsoever. He told Zhang Meiliang to get lost and never think about the position of Celestial Master again.
Good heavens, Zhang Meiliang was furious.
At this point in history, Zhang Meiliang would angrily take out the Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal, go to the Celestial Masters sect's headquarters, and, according to his plan, forcefully depose Zhang Yuanxian and become the next Celestial Master.
And he succeeded. He served as Celestial Master for three months until he was exposed by another person who presented irrefutable evidence. This person was Zhang Meiliang's biological father, who, yes, was still alive.
This biological father, seeing his son become Celestial Master Zhang, demanded to be made Grand Celestial Master and be supported by the Celestial Masters sect.
How could Zhang Meiliang agree to such a thing? However, Zhang Meiliang's father was a drunkard with no sense. After being rejected by his son, he felt that he had not only lost the position of Grand Celestial Master but also his only son and the family's heritage. Thus, he caused a huge scene, revealed the truth, and Zhang Meiliang was driven away. The Yangping Zhidu Gong Seal was also seized by the Celestial Masters sect and its whereabouts became unknown. xxs
However, in this world, on the very night Zhang Meiliang was berated and driven away by Zhang Yuanxian, just as Zhang Meiliang was preparing to contact his allies to rebel, several people who made Zhang Meiliang's blood run cold came to his door.
"Big Brother, why are you here!" Although calling a young man thirty years his junior "Big Brother" was embarrassing, Zhang Meiliang reminded himself of the beating he had received a few days prior and persuaded himself to endure it until he successfully inherited the position of Celestial Master.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the poor youth!
No, it should be the poor elder.