Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Chapter 629: Chapter 95: Song Luyun’s Combination Punch

Song Qingxing, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open. For an instant, a sharp Sword Light flashed in their depths before vanishing. Standing closest to him, Song Qingming felt the corner of his eye twitch, his heart filled with a sense of dread.

Unaware that he had just unintentionally terrified a fellow clansman, Song Qingxing confirmed in an indifferent voice, “Me?”

“That’s right,” Song Changsheng said with a slight smile. “I believe your abilities make you more than qualified for this position.”

Before Song Qingxing could even respond, the others erupted in an uproar.

No one would question Song Qingxing’s strength and talent; he was in a league of his own within the clan. He also had the merit he had earned in the last great war to his name. None of those present would have the slightest objection to him serving as an Elder with real authority.

But the one position he absolutely could not hold was that of Punishment Elder.

What kind of position was the Punishment Elder?

It was a sharp sword hanging over the head of every single person in the Song Clan. Everyone, from the vassal forces below to the clan Elders above, fell under its jurisdiction.

No one was allowed to stain their hands with the blood of a fellow clansman, but the clan’s Law Enforcers were an exception.

If a clansman committed a crime and a review confirmed their guilt, the Punishment Elder had full authority to handle the matter. As long as the sentence was passed according to clan law, not even the Clan Leader had the right to interfere.

The Punishment Elder’s authority didn’t stop there. If a Clan Leader proved incompetent, the Punishment Elder could even use the power granted by clan law to convene a meeting and have them deposed.

This was a system the Song Clan had inherited from the Ancestral Vein. While the Song Clan had no precedent for a Clan Leader being deposed, there were genuine cases in the Ancestral Vein where the Punishment Elder, in concert with the Elder Council, had removed a Clan Leader from power.

In short, as long as they acted within the scope of clan law, the Punishment Elder’s power was immense. They were a figure whose very title was enough to make people pale in fear.

For such a crucial position that affected everyone, the type of person who held it was extremely important. After all, the clan law wasn’t exhaustive, and when it came to determining guilt and passing sentences, the Punishment Elder’s attitude was particularly vital.

The same case, judged by different people, would inevitably lead to different outcomes.

Back when Song Luyao was the Punishment Elder, she had earned the nickname “Cold-faced Asura” within the clan.

This was because she was completely impartial and merciless, refusing to bend the rules for anyone. Her sentences tended to be harsh, and she was utterly uncompromising, refusing to let even the most trivial matter slide.

Her tenure was the busiest period for the Law Enforcement Hall, but it was also the time when the clan’s discipline was at its absolute best.

Later, when Xia Yunxue succeeded her as Punishment Elder, she was similarly unsentimental, but her methods were far milder. She would often let minor offenses go with just a verbal reprimand and would show some clemency if others pleaded on someone’s behalf. Only when it came to matters of principle would she reveal her unyielding side.

The most recent one, Song Chang’an, was different from the two before him. He was meticulous and impartial, following the clan law to the letter. He would neither deliberately harshen a sentence nor show favoritism, operating strictly by the book.

However, at critical moments, he would still show some consideration for the bonds of kinship.

Three individuals, three different methods of enforcement, each with its own pros and cons. But naturally, those being policed would hope to have a more lenient Law Enforcer.

Song Qingxing was notoriously cold and ruthless within the clan. There had even been rumors that he intended to cultivate the Emotionless Dao.

And what was the Emotionless Dao? It meant forsaking all family and kin.

And Song Qingxing certainly fit that description. He had cultivated in the clan for decades, yet aside from Song Changsheng, not a single person present could claim to be well-acquainted with him.

If one were to press the matter, only people like Song Changrong and Song Changxue had ever fought side-by-side with him, and even then, their interactions had been pitifully scarce.

If a man like that became the Punishment Elder, how could any of them expect to have an easy life from now on?

Pleading for mercy would be impossible; they wouldn’t even know how to start.

Song Luzhou understood everyone’s concerns and said with some difficulty, “There’s no question about Qingxing’s abilities, of course. But for the position of Punishment Elder, wouldn’t Lutong be a more suitable choice?”

As soon as his words fell, everyone nodded in unison. While Song Lutong was something of a brute, he wasn’t completely inflexible. Compared to Song Qingxing, he seemed downright lovable.

But Song Changsheng shook his head firmly. ‘Are you kidding me? Lutong is quick to anger, clumsy, and lacks attention to detail. If he were made Punishment Elder, everything would fall into chaos.’

He then said bluntly, “Looking across the entire Clan Elder Council, whether in terms of cultivation or temperament, Qingxing is the most suitable candidate. If any of you has a differing opinion, feel free to nominate someone else, and we can discuss it together.”

Hearing this, Song Luzhou shook his head with a bitter smile. ‘It’s precisely because he’s so perfect for the job that he’s the wrong choice. Everyone is selfish to some degree. No one wants to face a cold and merciless Law Enforcer. Even if they could guarantee they themselves would never slip up, what about their children and descendants? If their descendants made a mistake, could they truly sit back and do nothing? Of course not. If that were the case, the Song Clan would have perished long ago.’

Song Changsheng was also well aware of this. ‘The clan doesn’t need that many people with hearts of steel. If everyone were as cold as iron and stone, what would be the point of the clan’s existence?’

However, he understood the principle that a thousand-mile dike can collapse from a single anthill even better.

‘One minor transgression might not seem like much, but what happens when everyone starts doing it?’

‘That’s how corruption starts.’

‘Because of leniency and indulgence.’

The Song Clan didn’t have many members at present, and its people had walked with the clan step-by-step out of adversity. As a result, no corrupting habits had yet taken root.