First, the Zhu Clan's main business, the medicinal herb shop, was robbed, and then the restaurant was smashed by thugs.
The businesses under Zhu Xiaosuo's management could no longer operate normally.
Income plummeted by eighty percent.
Unable to pay salaries, his subordinates couldn't survive on loyalty alone.
He had no choice but to continuously cut staff.
Throughout the Zhu Clan, only the business in Madam Feng's hands remained unaffected.
The Niu, Ma, and Yang Clans even gifted her more than a dozen shops.
Zhu Xiaosuo's status in the Zhu Clan plummeted, while Madam Feng, a mere mortal, rose above him.
At first, Zhu Xiaosuo didn't understand why.
Until he noticed Madam Feng's belly gradually rounding.
An old clam bearing a pearl.
This Madam Feng, truly a master of the Zhu Clan's cesspool, had her ways.
She managed to entice a cultivator on the verge of breaking through the Bone Transformation Stage to leave his seed in her.
She even eliminated all his lovers in the Red Pavilion.
If it were Zhu Xiaosuo, he wouldn't think he had such capabilities.
First, he underestimated Zhuang Yun, then Madam Feng.
These two misjudgments cost him dearly.
Zhu Xiaosuo stayed home, practicing spells and repeatedly reading the Cultivator's Beginner Guide.
He couldn't even cultivate.
Without the Zhu Clan's income, how could he explain if he continued to cultivate?
If Zhuang Yun heard of it, what then?
He also feared being ambushed by Zhuang Yun during cultivation, revealing the secret of the Spirit Crystal.
That would truly be a downfall.
As the master sat on the sidelines, his subordinates fared even worse.
Without stable business, Zhu Qigao and Zhu Liude were sidelined as well.
Madam Feng, without notifying Zhu Xiaosuo, arranged her own stewards from the seventh and sixth generations.
She even took them to a Four Great Clans gathering without Zhu Xiaosuo.
Outside, the seventh-generation steward from Madam Feng's side was recognized as the chief steward of the Zhu Clan.
Now, all of Mountain Chicken County isolated Zhu Xiaosuo.
Those associated with him were suppressed.
Wei Min's transfer to Yellow Dog County was personally vetoed by the County Magistrate.
Shen Ma's other backers couldn't protect him either; he lost his County Constable position and was demoted to a mere constable.
Zhu Xiaosuo's plans for revenge in Yellow Dog County became empty talk.
Plans to meet Shen Ma were shelved.
In his current situation, Shen Ma couldn't offer much help.
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't want to bring more trouble to Shen Ma at this time.
Empty Form Temple was also threatened to expel Jieku.
To protect the lives of the monks, Abbot Jieqi tearfully expelled Jieku from the temple.
Jieku was then taken in by Zhu Xiaosuo.
Zhu Xiaosuo's subordinates gradually lost their effectiveness.
All this happened in less than half a year after Zhuang Yun left.
The newly risen Zhu Xiaosuo of Mountain Chicken County became a laughingstock.
From Zhu Xiaosuo's rise to his fall, it took only three months.
The Zhu Clan's business, following Zhu Xiaosuo's rise and fall, went from a frenzy to decline.
Everyone witnessed the entire process.
Initially, when Zhu Xiaosuo made a name for himself, everyone thought he was a formidable character.
He even forced the Niu, Ma, and Yang Clans to repeatedly concede in business.
But it wasn't long before he was knocked back to his original state.
People joked that even a summer cicada could sing longer than him.
Thus, the mortals gave him a nickname:
Cicada Man.
When a child shouted on the street, someone would immediately stand up and say, "Learning from Cicada Man when young, you'll have no future when grown."
Everyone knew the difference between immortals and mortals.
Once someone becomes a cultivator, they stand above all mortals.
Killing is just a flick of the finger.
Because of the power of spells, no cultivator has ever been looked down upon by mortals.
At least in Mountain Chicken County, cultivators have always been revered and admired.
Zhu Xiaosuo set a precedent.
From the heavens of mortals, he fell into the dirty mud.
He lost his deterrent power over mortals.
The failure of the Zhu Clan's business made all of Mountain Chicken County laugh at him.
But beyond Mountain Chicken County, the people of Yellow Dog County also took him as a joke.
Because his reprimand in Yellow Dog County never took effect.
That day, he returned to Yellow Dog County, high-spirited.
In front of the Braised Chicken Feet Shop, he pointed and commanded with great authority.
How unreachable he seemed.
He even threatened, due to the county official's negligence, that the Zhu Clan would spare no expense to demote everyone from the County Magistrate to the head constable by three ranks.
After his threat, the entire constable system of Yellow Dog County fell into endless panic.
Most of them were locals of Yellow Dog County.
They couldn't escape.
They could only accept punishment.
When in power, these people oppressed their subordinates and exploited the people.
Without oppressing subordinates, they couldn't show their authority.
Without exploiting the people, they couldn't show their power.
Now, having lost authority, those they once trampled would surely seek revenge.
The man-eating tiger was skinned, revealing it was just a man in disguise.
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Yellow Dog County was shrouded in fear.
More despairingly, they found it hard to rise again in this lifetime.
Because the one who spoke was a cultivator.
Not only was he more powerful, but he also had a longer lifespan.
As long as Zhu Xiaosuo lived, their suspended sentences wouldn't be lifted.
Some officials even planned to commit suicide before Zhu Xiaosuo could act.
Who would have thought, the tables turned.
Zhu Xiaosuo was ruined.
At first, people couldn't believe it.
But news kept coming from Mountain Chicken County, confirmed by various sources.
Everyone finally believed Zhu Xiaosuo was powerless to fight back.
Yellow Dog County was at peace.
In some ways, it even thrived.
The constable system's officials set off firecrackers, celebrating as if it were New Year.
Bao Hui, who had smashed his shop, was brought to the forefront by big figures.
Once a scapegoat everyone wanted to beat, he became a model for resisting unscrupulous immortal masters in Yellow Dog County.
He was promoted two levels, becoming the head constable.
He even managed the area where Zhu Xiaosuo's Braised Chicken Feet Shop once stood.
The newly built Braised Chicken Feet Shop, meant to compensate Zhu Xiaosuo, was converted into a public toilet in two days.
Bao Hui ordered that constables passing by must relieve themselves in that toilet before leaving.
Symbolizing defecating on Zhu Xiaosuo's head.
Besides, Bao Hui gave speeches all over Yellow Dog County.
Zhu Xiaosuo heard snippets from his subordinates.
Xiaosuo was a petty thief from a young age, and after opening the Braised Chicken Feet Shop, he bullied the market, shortchanging customers.
Kind-hearted Constable Bao Hui tried to educate him many times to no avail, tearfully closing the shop and giving him money to leave Yellow Dog County.
But Xiaosuo got lucky and became an immortal master.
Xiaosuo became Zhu Xiaosuo, but Bao Hui remained fearless.
He was righteous, honorable, and had a clear conscience!
After Zhu Xiaosuo became the head of the Zhu Clan, he launched a stormy revenge against him.
His family lived in Zhu Xiaosuo's shadow day and night.
Troubles came one after another.
He didn't even have time to attend his child's parent-teacher meetings at the county school.
He loved his child dearly!
Bao Hui endured for a long time, refusing to yield, always fighting against the insidious and cunning immortal Zhu Xiaosuo.
Finally, heaven had eyes, and Zhu Xiaosuo fell from grace.