In Obsidian City, nearly all the city's common folk were people who worked the land for the Yan family. It could be said that they all depended on the Yan family to survive in the city.
That was because all the fields outside the city capable of growing Black Rye Mushrooms belonged to the Yan family. Moreover, the Yan family kept quite a few thugs and wielded immense power, so few dared resist them.
Feng Xianglin was one such tenant farmer. He worked diligently, seeking only to have enough Black Rye Mushrooms to eat each day.
With the previous Black Rye Mushroom harvest finished, it was now time to sow the seeds again.
As in previous years, Feng Xianglin went to the Yan family to collect the farm tools needed for planting.
Though only around thirty years old, he had already grown Black Rye Mushrooms for the Yan family for nearly twenty years. Yet his household had not managed to save even a scrap of surplus grain. If anything went wrong and he missed a planting season, he would have to live on an empty stomach.
Once he could no longer hold out, he would have to ask the Yan family for relief grain.
Yet that relief grain was not so easy to receive. Once he accepted it, it was tantamount to signing a contract of sale with the Yan family. He would never be able to leave them for the rest of his life, becoming no different from a serf.
Feng Xianglin was a tenant farmer with dreams. He did not want to become a serf who farmed for the Yan family all his life, unable to rise above it until the day he died.
His greatest dream in life was to own a patch of land himself, to grow Black Rye Mushrooms for himself, without having to hand over the mushrooms he grew to the Yan family.
"What? We have to hand over eighty percent of the Black Rye Mushrooms from the fields this season?" Feng Xianglin said, his mouth falling open, his face full of unease.
"Yes. The masters were dissatisfied with last season's Black Rye Mushroom harvest and decided to take an extra ten percent this season. Sigh!"
The man speaking with Feng Xianglin was also a tenant farmer. He had just collected his farm tools when he learned this terrible news, and he was currently wearing a deeply troubled expression.
Feng Xianglin's expression did not look much better. Handing over seventy percent of his Black Rye Mushrooms in past years had barely been enough to keep him alive. Now that it had risen by another ten percent, he feared he would have to go hungry for a while.
Most crucially, once the share they took went up, the Yan family would hardly be kind enough to lower it again.
"B-But there's nothing we can do if the harvest is poor! Look at these farm tools for sowing and loosening the soil—they've rusted into such a state. If the soil can't be properly loosened, of course the Black Rye Mushrooms won't grow well!"
"I told the Yan family before to make a batch of new soil-loosening tools. Why wouldn't they listen?"
Feng Xianglin frowned as he complained, feeling utterly helpless about the Yan family's decision to increase their cut by ten percent.
"Sigh, there's nothing to be done. There are only so many plots outside the city suitable for growing Black Rye Mushrooms. If you won't grow them, plenty of others will!" The other tenant farmer sighed and waved a hand.
Upon Hearing these words, Feng Xianglin immediately fell speechless.
If the Yan family stopped letting him farm, even staying alive would become a problem. Naturally, he had no way to resist.
"Forget it, forget it. This season, I can only plant another two fen of land." Feng Xianglin's gaze dimmed.
After farming for so many years, his body was no longer as nimble as before. In freezing weather, with his face to the black earth and his back to the sky, how could planting another two fen of land be an easy task?
He did not even know how much longer he could endure such grueling labor.
Most importantly, Feng Xianglin had not even taken a wife yet. He did not want the Feng family bloodline to end with him.
Try a little harder!
After learning such terrible news, Feng Xianglin looked toward the imposing Yan family estate ahead on the street and found it incomparably ugly, utterly hateful.
Why didn't Heaven send down a bolt of lightning and strike those skinning demons of the Yan family dead?
Just as Feng Xianglin cursed under his breath while walking toward the Yan estate's gate, a group of burly, fierce-looking men suddenly emerged from the other side of the street.
The instant he saw them, Feng Xianglin shuddered all over and hurriedly pressed himself against the Yan estate's gate, standing to one side.
These men, who looked like they were anything but decent people, were members of the Righteous Gang. Feng Xianglin recognized their origins at a glance.
The broad, powerfully built man at their head, with a gleaming bald head, looked even more terrifying. He was as savage as though he could eat people alive, and Feng Xianglin did not dare meet their eyes at all.
When they reached the Yan estate's gate, Tian Long waved a hand, and the capable men following him all stopped.
"Wei Tian, Zhao Kou, you two carry this blacksmith inside with me."
After saying that, Tian Long swiftly swept his gaze over the several dozen Righteous Gang brothers around him. They were all the people he trusted most, and every one of them could fight.
He exchanged glances with them, then finally swept his eyes once more across several concealed corners along the street.
In those hidden corners lay a sharp, deadly blade. So long as they waited for an opportunity, this blade made up of thirteen men would press against the Yan family's throat and slit it without hesitation.
The Seven Kill Squad members were well-trained. Even with their great enemy before them, not a single one lost his head. Instead, they waited with incomparable calm for Tian Long's command.
Only in this way could they unleash their greatest strength and deal the Yan family their heaviest blow.
"Open the gate for me! Call that Yan San fellow out. I've brought the man your second young master wanted!" Tian Long shouted toward the Yan family's estate gate with a smile.
Saying this, Zhao Kou and Wei Tian carried the tightly trussed Li Qing to the estate gate.
The trembling Feng Xianglin took a look at Li Qing, who was bound tightly from head to toe with hemp rope, with only his face exposed, and nearly had his heart leap out of his chest in fright.
It was a face covered in blood and grime, looking wretched and terrifying. Just one glance was enough to scare him so badly that he did not dare look again.
Before long, laughter came from inside the estate.
"Hahaha, Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, you've finally arrived. The second young master is waiting for you inside. Bring the man in!" Yan San said with a smile as he pushed open the estate gate.
Tian Long waved a hand and asked, "Don't know whether the Blood Jade Mushrooms and White Meat Mushrooms you mentioned are ready?"
"Of course. Second Young Master never goes back on his word. They were prepared long ago!"
Inside the Yan estate, Yan San seemed even more arrogant than before. He had previously shown some wariness toward Tian Long, but now his back was ramrod straight.
After entering the Yan estate, Li Qing, who appeared to be barely clinging to life, keenly sensed several gazes falling upon him.
Li Qing knew with his toes that they had to be guards the Yan family kept within the estate, watching out for any possible mishap.
bang!
The estate gate closed again. Wei Tian discreetly glanced at the guards behind it, then continued onward in silence while carrying Li Qing.
It had to be said that, as the foremost Lineage of Obsidian City, the Yan family's scenery was quite impressive. Little bridges and flowing water were arranged in pleasing layers, giving the place a distinctive classical charm.
After crossing a stone arch bridge, a hearty laugh soon rang out.
"Heh, Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, it has been a long time. Have you been well lately?"
Second Young Master Yan, Yan Gui'an, sat imperiously in a chair, looking at Tian Long and the others approaching him.
Behind him stood a middle-aged man whose physique was no less imposing than Tian Long's. With his hands clasped behind his back, he calmly met Tian Long's gaze.
He was Jing Tai, one of the Yan family's three martial arts Guest Elders!
The Yan family's three Guest Elders each had their own duties. In ordinary times, they guarded the Yan family's three most important figures without leaving their sides: Yan family master Yan Qitian, Yan family eldest young master Yan Guifu, and the Yan family's Second Young Master Yan Gui'an before them.