From an emotional standpoint.
Elder Master Xie, along with the other clan elders, were all of the same generation and had weathered storms together.
Their bond was deep.
Yet, Second Uncle Xie, a mere junior, had attempted to murder Elder Master Xie.
Psychologically, this was unbearable!
Not hating Second Uncle Xie was the greatest restraint of these clan elders.
From a rational standpoint.
Elder Master Xie was the stabilizing force of the Xie family.
If the Elder Master were to fall suddenly, the Xie family would descend into chaos!
Would they still be able to enjoy the current peaceful life?
Therefore, the true nature of Second Uncle Xie was all the more detestable!
With these two points alone, the Xie family elders were destined to ignore Second Uncle Xie's pleas for help.
On the part of the Xie family head, after detailing Second Uncle Xie's crimes.
He personally retrieved the whip from the altar.
This whip was specifically offered before the ancestral tablets to enforce family law.
Holding the whip, the Xie family head turned to face Second Uncle Xie.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
The Xie family head asked indifferently.
One hundred lashes like these were something even a martial artist might not endure.
Let alone Second Uncle Xie, who was an ordinary person.
Therefore, whatever Second Uncle Xie said now might be his last words!
Second Uncle Xie looked at the barbs on the whip and the dark red marks.
These were left by others during previous executions of family law.
This made Second Uncle Xie unable to help but swallow, and he pleaded, "I... I know I was wrong!"
"Big Brother, my mind was clouded by greed, which is why I did such a thing!"
"For the sake of our brotherhood, can you give me a chance to repent? I promise, I will obey you obediently from now on and never contend for the position of family head again!"
There was a trace of sincerity in Second Uncle Xie's words.
He finally understood now.
Even if he had succeeded in dealing with Elder Master Xie, he would definitely not have been a match for the Xie family head!
So, what the Shi family had said about supporting Second Uncle Xie to the top was complete nonsense!
But what use was understanding now?
The deed was done!
What had been done could not be undone!
The Xie family head looked at Second Uncle Xie's begging with disgust, feeling as though a toad had jumped onto the instep of his foot, making him nauseous!
"Second Brother, everyone must pay the price for their actions."
"As your elder brother, it is my fault for not guiding you properly."
"So, accept your punishment with peace of mind. I will personally take ten lashes."
The Xie family head finished expressionlessly and raised the whip.
*Crack—*
A crisp sound echoed in the ancestral hall.
Second Uncle Xie was immediately stunned and dizzy from the lash.
The barbs on the whip tore at Second Uncle Xie's face, leaving it bloody and raw!
It looked terrifying.
"Big Brother, I beg you, I really..."
Second Uncle Xie cowered in fear, retreating incessantly, his face pale, his lips trembling.
But he was tied up, forced to kneel on the ground.
Where else could he escape to?
Soon, the second lash followed closely.
Coincidentally, this time the whip landed precisely on the previous wound.
Now, his already injured face had its wounds deepened.
The barbs tore away the muscle and skin, revealing raw, bloody flesh.
With the skin and flesh gone, Second Uncle Xie's cheeks revealed his bared teeth.
Jie Shishi watched the scene unfold with a pained expression.
She immediately grabbed Zhou Yu's arm and turned her head away.
Jie Yu, standing nearby, was no better!
Since they could remember, the Xie family's ancestral hall had never been opened.
Today was the first time!
Only now did the siblings understand why Second Uncle Xie dreaded the ancestral hall.
Who could endure such a whip?
After striking twice, the Xie family head handed the whip to the elder specifically responsible for punishments.
Compared to the Xie family head.
The clan elders, who had guarded the ancestral hall for years and punished wrongdoers.
Their strikes were far more precise.
The Xie family head was already out of breath after two lashes.
But the clan elder could use leverage, and with one lash, not only did Second Uncle Xie's flesh tear open.
But the elder had exerted little effort.
He had directly knocked the man over!
In the beginning, Second Uncle Xie could still beg for mercy, hoping the clan elder would be lenient.
But later on, Second Uncle Xie could no longer speak, his breathing shallow and ragged.
His wounds were horrific to behold, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, a truly tragic sight.
Even Jie Shishi couldn't bear to watch and turned her head away!
This kind of punishment was too agonizing.
After all one hundred lashes had fallen.
Second Uncle Xie was carried out.
"From this day forward, the Xie family has no such person."
The Xie family head announced with a complex expression.
This meant that Second Uncle Xie would no longer be able to stay in the Xie family.
Let alone live a life of leisure, receiving dividends from the Xie family without doing any work, as he had in the past!
This punishment finally concluded.
The Xie family head's complexion was somewhat pale.
He hurried to take Zhou Yu to eat.
During the meal, Jie Shishi frequently cast concerned glances at the Xie family head.
No matter how hated Second Uncle Xie was.
He was, after all, a brother who had grown up with the Xie family head.
Their bond was still there.
The Xie family head must have been unhappy to personally punish Second Uncle Xie!
"Dad, don't take it to heart."
"From the moment he attempted to harm Grandpa, he was no longer the same person."
Jie Shishi comforted him softly.
Even Jie Yu nodded, "Why punish yourself with someone else's mistake!"
The Xie family head grunted, but in reality, he couldn't move past it!
He knew that.
If Second Uncle Xie had not been expelled this time, and had been let off lightly.
Then, in the future, Second Uncle Xie's boldness would only grow.
He might not only attempt to murder the Xie family head.
Anyone who obstructed Second Uncle Xie would be killed!
It might even encourage others in the Xie family to follow suit.
The Xie family head just couldn't overcome this hurdle in his heart.
"Back then, when we were young, he was such a cheerful person."
"Perhaps I truly was wrong, taking too many of his opportunities, which is why he became what he is today."
The Xie family head sighed.
Although he held the position of family head, he knew very well that he himself lacked talent and was very ordinary.
These years, it was largely due to Elder Master Xie's support that the Xie family had developed and grown strong.
This was why.
The Xie family head had groomed Jie Yu from an early age.
He wanted to hand over the management of the Xie family to Jie Yu as soon as possible.
As for Second Uncle Xie, he had once wholeheartedly wanted to contribute to the Xie family.
He had even said that he would work with the Xie family head, brothers united, to elevate the Xie family to new heights!
However, now...
"Dad, this is not you taking away his opportunities."
"He became fixated on his own."
Jie Yu retorted.
Second Uncle Xie had similar abilities to the Xie family head, but his personality was more extreme.
When his state of mind was good, he was naturally positive and driven, wanting to contribute to the Xie family.
But when his state of mind was poor, he would resort to extreme measures.
He felt that everything in the Xie family should have been his!