The Gang

In front of an ordinary black courtyard gate in Datong Ward.

Yang Jing's footsteps paused, his eyes darkening.

He sized up the two ruffians standing before him. One had short, crooked hair, the other had frayed cuffs. Both were idly playing with daggers, their gazes scrutinizing Yang Jing.

"Yang Jing, the six-month deadline is up. It's time to pay back the money," the short-haired man said, twisting his neck with a cracking sound.

"You borrowed eight taels from our Great Fortune Gang back then. According to the contract you signed, one becomes two in half a year. You owe us sixteen taels of silver now," the tall, thin man with frayed cuffs added with a cold snort.

Hearing their words, Yang Jing frowned at first, thinking they were trying to extort him. But the next moment, he suddenly remembered.

Did he actually borrow money at usurious rates?

Or, to be more precise, the original owner of this body had borrowed money at usurious rates, and he was now merely inheriting the consequences.

Memories flashed through Yang Jing's mind.

Although he had completely absorbed the original owner's memories, they were too numerous and complex. Yang Jing hadn't sorted through them all, just piled them up somewhere.

It was like how many people feel they've forgotten memories from before the age of three; they haven't truly forgotten them, but they're stored somewhere in the brain, perhaps retrievable with a specific trigger.

Yang Jing had it much easier, though. He could recall those memories whenever he needed them.

Soon, Yang Jing had sorted through all the relevant memories concerning the original owner's usurious loans.

After understanding the whole story, Yang Jing's expression slowly turned grim.

In order for the original owner to mingle with Lu Yang, Zhou Lin, and Zhang Kehan's circle, he had to host dinners. Twice, when dining with Qi Yun, he had specifically offered to pay the bill in an attempt to get closer to her and curry favor.

Even so, Qi Yun had never given him a second glance.

In the eyes of Qi Yun and the others, the original owner was merely a country bumpkin with terrible Talent/Aptitude.

And most importantly, Qi Yun, Lu Yang, Zhou Lin, and the others came from prominent or wealthy families in the city, possessing ample resources. But what did Yang Jing have?

The monthly allowance from his family wasn't even enough to cover the cost of drinks and meals when they all went out together.

The original owner was a complete pauper, with very little money on hand. How could he possibly afford to treat Qi Yun, Lu Yang, and the others to meals and drinks? He had inadvertently learned that the Great Fortune Gang offered loans.

The original owner was truly brainless, never considering the interest rates, and directly borrowed eight taels of silver.

Yang Jing shook his head inwardly. The poorest are often the ones who put on the biggest airs. Now, the debt collectors had found him.

"I don't have money right now. I'll pay you when I do," Yang Jing said calmly.

He decided to play the rogue.

Firstly, he genuinely didn't have much money on hand, let alone enough to gather sixteen taels.

Secondly, he had no intention of paying the money at all.

Six months, one becomes two.

Such exorbitant interest rates were outrageous and explicitly prohibited by the Government. They only circulated in private, never seeing the light of day. Therefore, Yang Jing wasn't afraid of the matter escalating.

Furthermore, from the memories of the original owner, Yang Jing learned that besides lending money at usurious rates, the Great Fortune Gang was also involved in heinous activities like human trafficking and mutilation for profit.

While Yang Jing wasn't a saint, he still had his bottom line.

He harbored a deep-seated disgust for such a gang.

"You're looking for death!"

"Kid, are you trying to mess with us?"

The short-haired man and the tall, thin man's faces darkened, their voices turning icy upon hearing Yang Jing's words.

They took a step forward, forming a subtle pincer formation around Yang Jing, clearly ready to draw blood if words failed.

Seeing the two gang members, armed with daggers, closing in, Yang Jing's expression remained unchanged, his heart unfazed.

These two thugs were ordinary people. Judging by their physique and Blood Essence, they were only average among commoners, likely lacking regular exercise.

As for the Great Fortune Gang behind them, Yang Jing didn't know much. The information from the original owner was too scarce.

It had to be said, the original owner was truly foolish and stupid.

Without fully understanding the Great Fortune Gang, he dared to borrow money for food, drinks, and entertainment, not even grasping the loan interest rates.

But thinking about it, such people weren't uncommon.

Even on Yang Jing's previous life's Earth, many high school and university students got involved in various online loans, and at one point, even "fruit loans" were a market. It showed that once people lose their heads or stop thinking, they're bound to fall into a deep pit.

'Gang.' The word surfaced in Yang Jing's mind.

Although he knew little about the Great Fortune Gang, he had some understanding of the general landscape of gangs in Yuhe County.

As far as Yang Jing knew, Yuhe County was rife with gangs. Especially in the various wards within the county town and the suburban areas near the town, countless gangs of different names existed.

These gangs varied in strength.

The leaders of the stronger gangs were generally at the Hidden Strength level.

Next were the ordinary gangs, whose leaders were typically at the Bright Strength level.

The lowest tier were the grassroots gangs, where competition was fiercest, and the entire gang might consist of ordinary people.

In Yuhe County, ordinary and grassroots gangs were the most numerous.

With Yang Jing's current strength at the Bright Strength realm, he wasn't worried as long as he didn't provoke any gangs protected by Hidden Strength experts.

If he really angered such a powerful gang, he could always take refuge in the martial arts school.

His Master, Sun Yong, was a renowned Transforming Strength expert, already among the strongest individuals in Yuhe County.

Now, Yang Jing was no longer an unregistered disciple but Sun Yong's official disciple. If he truly provoked a Hidden Strength expert, his cheap Master Sun Yong couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

At the very least, he would protect and look after him for a short period.

As for the future, Yang Jing was confident that given enough time, all enemies would be paper tigers!

"You two," Yang Jing said, looking at the approaching pair, his brows slightly raised as if he'd thought of something.

"What?" the short-haired man asked coldly.

"Can I borrow another sum? I promise I'll pay it back!" Yang Jing said.

Yang Jing had already decided to fall out with the Great Fortune Gang and wanted to try borrowing more money, as he had no intention of paying it back anyway.

"Damn it! You little brat played us!"

The two gang thugs were stunned when they heard Yang Jing, then they reacted, shouting, "You still don't have money to pay back, and you want to take more from us? Do you think the Great Fortune Gang's money grows on trees?"

"I think you're looking to die!" the tall, thin man cursed, throwing the first punch. His fist carried brute force but lacked any technique.