Let's Play Bigger!

Chapter 12: Playing for Bigger Stakes!

"Get up. There's no need to kneel to me; I just did what anyone would do," Lu Chen said calmly.

He hadn't expected to be so fated to meet this woman.

"Benefactor, you absolutely deserve my humble bow... You've saved my child multiple times. There's no one kinder in this world than you." Sister-in-law Zhang Rong looked up, her face full of gratitude, as she gazed at Lu Chen.

"Yes, Benefactor, please accept our bow once more!" The remaining people, also filled with emotion, continued to kowtow.

Lu Chen frowned, suddenly understanding.

These people had a deep-seated sense of hierarchy ingrained in their souls. No matter how polite he was to them, they wouldn't listen. They would only kowtow to him according to the deeply rooted concepts in their souls.

Ultimately, it was because this was a world with martial power. Martial Artists were revered, above all else! Even if he commanded them otherwise, these people wouldn't dare to overstep their perceived social boundaries.

"I'll ask you, what kind of gang is this Iron Scale Gang?" Lu Chen suddenly inquired.

Just two gang members had provided him with so much Merit Points. If he could raid their stronghold, wouldn't he gain even more Merit Points? He might even discover martial arts techniques there! Right now, he not only needed martial arts but also a massive amount of Merit Points! Time was of the essence; he needed to become stronger by any means possible.

"Benefactor, the Iron Scale Gang is a gang exclusive to the southern part of the city. They control most of the interests in that area. Anyone who wants to make a living in the south of the city will be squeezed and exploited by them. They have to pay them monthly dues. If they fail to pay for two consecutive months, the gang will forcefully take action. Furthermore, they deliberately lower our wages. We should be earning ten wen a day, but now it's only five wen. Even then, I often don't get paid, as they always deduct it with various excuses..." The leading man looked up and said with grief and indignation.

He felt that the young man before him wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined. The news from the yamen said this young man was possessed by a demon and would drink human blood. But it didn't seem like that now. The young man's eyes were clear, giving people a sense of natural closeness; he was definitely not possessed by a demon.

"Is that so?" Lu Chen's eyes flickered. "Isn't there anyone who steps in to manage them?"

"Step in to manage? The Iron Scale Gang leader sends large amounts of tribute to the yamen every month. He's already in cahoots with the County Magistrate, Lin Mingyuan. The yamen officials simply don't care about our lives. Moreover, the County Magistrate is also a powerful Martial Artist, so he wouldn't bother with us poor folk," the leading man, Zhao Dezhu, said with grief and indignation.

"The County Magistrate is also a Martial Artist?"

"Yes, but the County Magistrate doesn't seem to be in the city these past few days. I heard he went out of the city to pay respects to Buddha."

"He's indeed out of the city; I saw his convoy with my own eyes!"

"That's right. Around this time every year, the County Magistrate has to leave the city for ten days. He won't return until ten days later," everyone chimed in.

"I see." Lu Chen nodded, retracting his thoughts. "Then where is the Iron Scale Gang's headquarters? Is their leader also a Martial Artist?"

"The Iron Scale Gang's headquarters is in Qiūwú Alley in the southern part of the city. The place with the [Iron Scale] flag is it. As for their leader, he is indeed a Martial Artist, and a powerful one at that. He can shatter pillars as thick as an arm with a single palm strike!" Zhao Dezhu replied.

"Very good." Lu Chen nodded directly, extremely satisfied. He suddenly looked at them and said, "Oh right, I have some silver here. Take it and improve your lives for now." He casually took out some silver from his pouch and tossed it to the group.

"Thank you, Benefactor, thank you, Benefactor!" "Benefactor's kindness is as vast as the heavens; we will never forget it!" "Benefactor is the greatest person in the world..." Everyone kowtowed excitedly.

[You have aided a group of poor people in distress, Merit Points +20]

A line of text appeared. Lu Chen's eyes flashed. It was indeed as he had predicted!

Helping others also yields Merit Points!

And not a small amount, either!

This made his heart stir, and a bolder idea suddenly surfaced.

Perhaps he could play a bigger game.

"No need to kowtow. About how many people in this area are like you, unable to survive?" Lu Chen suddenly looked at them and said.

"Replying to our benefactor, there are far too many people like us. Even if not thirty thousand, there are at least twenty thousand who are on the brink of death. Some are so desperate they're almost selling their children..."

Zhao Dezhu said.

"Yes, if this continues, even we won't be able to hold on much longer,"

Sister-in-law Zhang Rong said.

"Good. I'm planning to do something big, but you can't spread the word yet. You'll have to wait until I'm done before you can disseminate the news,"

Lu Chen said. "Since the Iron Scale Gang has been oppressing you for so long, I plan to eliminate them today. Afterwards, you can gather all the poor people here and storm the Iron Scale Gang's headquarters. Take whatever you want, and say it's all from me, Lu Chen!"

"What? Benefactor is going to eliminate the Iron Scale Gang?"

Everyone was shocked. "That's right."

Lu Chen nodded, glanced at them, and said, "As for whether you dare to go and take things, I don't know."

The crowd immediately fell into intense struggle.

"Benefactor, after doing such a big case before, aren't you planning to leave Panshi City first? They're searching for you everywhere in the city right now..."

Sister-in-law Zhang Rong couldn't help but ask.

"Leave? We must eradicate evil completely. If I leave so easily, it would be too kind to them. Besides, if the yamen people want to kill me, don't I want to kill them too?"

Lu Chen waved his hand dismissively.

It was the same as he said before.

Without the system, he could be meek and submissive.

But now that he had the system, if he were still meek and submissive, wouldn't that be a waste of having the system?

Moreover, this system required him to constantly stir up trouble to become stronger.

Under such circumstances, how could he leave easily? He only wished he could overturn the yamen himself.

Of course, there was another reason.

The four gates were now closed, and he couldn't leave at all.

Since that was the case, why not make a bigger scene?

Everyone was shocked.

"Benefactor, as long as you can eliminate the Iron Scale Gang, what is there that we can't do?"

Sister-in-law Zhang Rong suddenly gritted her teeth and said.

"Yes, we dare!"

"Don't worry, Benefactor, we'll definitely gather more people to storm the Iron Scale Gang!"

Everyone nodded.

It was rare for a Martial Artist to stand up for them. What more reason did they have to hesitate!

"Then you shall await my news,"

Lu Chen smiled slightly and said, "When you see the torches lit, you can act."

He turned and left, quickly disappearing from the area.

He couldn't truly trust this group of poor people.

If someone were to secretly report him, it would undoubtedly cause him considerable trouble.

Therefore, his actions had to be swift, so swift that they wouldn't have time to report him.

The yamen people would never have imagined that after killing Wu Youde's entire family, he would still dare to commit another crime and eliminate the Iron Scale Gang.

The sun had completely set.

The entire city had turned dark.

Constables and members of the Giant Shark Gang were rushing about everywhere on the streets.

A scene of chaos.

But it had to be said, those constables' investigative abilities were quite impressive.

Not long after Lu Chen had left, they had actually tracked their way to the slums...

Deep within the yamen.

The aroma wafted, and mist rose.

Several scantily clad women lay on the bed, their eyes hazy.

Seated to the side was a man with a handsome face and a slender build.

The man's name was Lin Yun.

He was the county magistrate's son, who had only recently returned.

At this moment, he seemed to be cultivating some profound martial art. With each inhale and exhale, much of the mist in the room surged into his nostrils, transforming into wisps of powerful Internal Energy. "Young Master..."

Suddenly, a voice came from outside the room.

Lin Yun's eyes opened, revealing a hint of blackness before quickly clearing. He said, "What is it?"

"Something strange has happened in the city. Someone killed a nest of beggars and wiped out the entire family at a porcelain shop."

The voice outside the door spoke.

"You've come to inform me about this kind of thing?"

Lin Yun's expression was indifferent.

"But this person is rather peculiar. Many people can personally testify that this person wasn't a Martial Artist before. This morning, he was beaten half to death by the shopkeeper, but in the afternoon, he was like a completely different person. Not only did he become a Martial Artist, but he also killed everyone at the porcelain shop..."

The voice continued.

"Oh?" Lin Yun's eyes flickered.

Not a Martial Artist in the morning.

Became a Martial Artist in the afternoon?

"Who is this person?"

"His name is Lu Chen. He's from a fallen family in a village outside the city. Guo Feng has already led people to search the entire city, and the Sea Sand Gang and Rising Sun Martial Hall are also involved."

The voice continued.

"Interesting."

A smile suddenly appeared on Lin Yun's face.

He had just returned to Panshi City and encountered this.

It was truly an unexpected delight.

"Tell Guo Feng that I want this person. Bring him back alive!"

Lin Yun's tone was cold.

"Yes, Young Master!" The person responded and quickly left.

Lin Yun glanced at the women on the bed, then closed his eyes again and continued cultivating.