The Strange Owls squawked and clamored as they flew high overhead, following him for a while. But once Du En left the area around their nests, they immediately turned back and left instead of truly swarming him.
When all was said and done, they were merely a flock of carrion birds, not vicious predators.
Du En withdrew his attention from them and weighed the Strange Owl he had just killed in his hand.
This one was not like the old and weak individuals that had thrown themselves into the trap or could be lured over simply by pretending to be a corpse. It was a robust member of the flock.
Now that he had really caught one, he could confirm that this kind of great owl was almost on the verge of becoming a demon beast. Its size looked little different from those old and weak individuals, but it weighed more than twenty pounds—fully twice as much!
"It's actually not strange. After all, what they eat all day is the remnants of Qi Refining Stage corpses."
That was also why Wei Ming and the others instinctively resisted eating them.
"In circumstances like these, there's no room to fuss over it. We might as well regard it as the deceased giving the living one last sponsorship..."
With that thought only faintly floating through his mind, Du En hurried back.
The medicine and porridge stewing in the two earthenware pots still needed quite a bit more time over the fire.
He simply gathered up his clothes, went to boil water first, and began processing the great owl.
By the time he finished, he had tossed it into the water with medicinal ingredients and started cooking. The porridge and medicine happened to be ready as well.
He poured everything straight into his stomach to fill his starving belly, then circulated his cultivation art to accelerate the absorption of the meal's and medicine's effects.
The color returned to his face at a visible speed.
After circulating his cultivation art through two Greater Celestial Circuits, his stomach and intestines were already empty.
He opened his eyes and guarded the Three Talents Stewed Owl until it finally finished cooking some time later.
An even richer fragrance mixed with the Strange Owl's own sour stench.
Du En ladled up a spoonful of soup and drank it.
Mm. It was only a little better than ordinary stewed owl. It was still hard to eat.
However, the meal's effects were indeed plentiful. Compared to the previous stewed owl, which had only barely reached the grade of a spirit dish, this pot of stewed great owl was firmly a First-tier Low Grade spirit dish!
Such effects were enough to support his current cultivation needs!
Du En ate the spirit dish and began to cultivate diligently.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Shack District.
On a fairly spacious plot of open ground that had been deliberately left vacant, the leaders of the two gangs under the Blood Eagle Iron Hands each led a group of hall masters there to gather.
Compared to their former tense standoff and the carnage of last night's battle, they were exceptionally polite and enthusiastic now.
"Oh, big brother, you're far too courteous! You actually came before us younger brothers. What a sin, what a sin!"
"Hey, little brother, there's no need for that. As the older brother, coming a little early is nothing at all!"
Both sides were full of merriment, exchanging pleasantries while everyone wore smiling faces, forcibly squeezing out an air of sincerity.
Last night, they had gone to Elegant Courtyard to plead for forgiveness and beg for mercy. They had only barely managed to return alive, so naturally they did not dare create any more conflict now. Even if it was only an act, they had to put on a harmonious front.
That was one reason.
There was another!
"Big brother, did your side also run into those bastards from the Green Robe Gang?"
"Oh? Little brother, you too?"
The two gang leaders exchanged glances and confirmed the situation.
It really was the Green Robe Gang's doing!
Those despicable wretches had seen that the stewards despised them and that they had suffered heavy losses after a bloody clash, so they had immediately begun expanding their territory.
Of course, because they still had to take the stewards into consideration, this expansion was neither blatant nor carried out at breakneck speed. That was why the two gangs still had enough leeway to respond and had come together now to discuss matters.
They exchanged another glance, and both understood the other's thoughts perfectly.
"Hmph! It would be one thing if they came to my side to fish in troubled waters, but they even dared go to little brother's side. This is simply outrageous!"
"Those green-capped bastards dared to stroke big brother's tiger whiskers. Your little brother certainly can't let them off!"
While exchanging such fine words, the two men shook hands and made peace.
They would hunker down to preserve their strength and jointly resist the Green Robe Gang!
That was the strategy they were too embarrassed to state outright.
Although neither gang had lost its core members, and they could counterattack the Green Robe Gang if they truly joined forces, they were currently trying to keep their tails tucked between their legs and behave. How could they dare stir up more trouble?
Thus, this was the optimal solution.
They would settle the score once the storm had passed!
The Green Robe Gang was not the only one they secretly hated. They also harbored resentment toward the other gang.
In short.
When Du En rose early on the second day and went out to investigate the situation, he indeed sensed the actual change in the atmosphere. He was fairly satisfied with the two gangs' current display of keeping their tails tucked between their legs.
With this, the oppressive predicament brought about by the Bully Gang had eased considerably.
Although it had not been truly resolved, they had secured precious time.
When he returned to the small courtyard, the others were still asleep, lying there like dead pigs.
Du En had no choice but to break down the door and wake them one by one.
"Ha~"
Wei Ming could not help yawning. As he briefly washed up and changed clothes, he looked at Du En's ruddy complexion and vigorous air, then at the others, each listless and sickly. He could not help complaining, "Boss, why is it that, to my eyes, you—the injured one—are actually in the best condition?"
"Because I eat more and train more."
Du En's answer was simple and honest.
Wei Ming only felt that he was brushing him off, and the others did not take it to heart either.
Regardless, they still had to go to work.
The group shuffled along with drooping heads, walking into the sunlight.
But as soon as they left, someone blocked their way.
People from the Blood Eagle Gang!
Liu Qixiang looked fairly young, only in his twenties. At this moment, he wore a tense, solemn expression. Facing the six of them, he could not help straightening the Blood Eagle emblem on his clothes, yet he seemed to lack confidence. He subconsciously swallowed.
"What is it?"
Du En spoke first, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Cough, well, it's about the protection fee."
Liu Qixiang stumbled over his words, hemming and hawing.
It was not that he was afraid of Du En and the others. Rather, he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
The protection fee had to be collected. The Blood Eagle Gang needed to replenish its strength as quickly as possible. But Hall Master Zhang Lin had given strict instructions that, during this period, they had to keep their tails tucked between their legs and behave. They absolutely could not make a big fuss, or he would personally butcher them!
As a result, the gang members responsible for carrying it out were all left with massive headaches, yet they could only brace themselves and go ahead.
Their lack of confidence brought about a change in the situation.
At that moment, the people living nearby, who belonged to the same protection-collection district, noticed what was happening and stopped one after another to look over.
They were clearly anticipating something.
If these six tough nuts, Du En's group, chose to refuse to pay, they could use that as a pretext to scheme toward paying less or nothing at all. If trouble really arose, they could push it onto Du En and the others.
Let them make those people pay first, then come to us!
It's not that we don't want to pay. They started it!
It's all those corpse-burying bastards' fault. If you want to blame someone, blame them!
Du En swept his gaze over them once and immediately knew what these neighbors, who normally only threw disdainful looks and sidelong glances at his group, were thinking now.
So he nodded directly and asked, "How much are you collecting this time?"
"Not much. It's calculated by head—one spirit stone per person."
"Fine. Here you go."
Du En did not hesitate in the slightest. He took out the spirit stones he had prepared earlier and tossed them directly to the other man.
It was not suitable to cause another incident now, and even less suitable to be used as someone else's weapon for nothing.
Besides, they had plenty of spirit stones. Six pieces were nothing. Even the other corpse buriers had not cared much. They merely glanced over before following Du En and passing Liu Qixiang on their way to the Corpse Burial Wasteland.
Huh?
They had collected it just like that?
Liu Qixiang caught the spirit stones and was clearly dumbfounded.
Wasn't it said that the corpse buriers were extremely tough now?
The hall master had even specifically mentioned it. So what was going on?
As he thought about it, he soon recalled what Zhang Lin had said afterward at the time.
"That boy was just injured after being given a hard time by the steward when he demanded his wages. He probably won't be able to keep acting tough now. In any case, I have faith in you. Hurry up and collect it!"
Liu Qixiang could not help nodding inwardly. He decided that he had simply thought too badly of the hall master. The moment he heard about a difficult assignment, his attention had scattered.
Then, having dealt with the thorny tough nuts, he gained confidence. He swept his gaze around and looked toward the others in the district.
Those who had been watching from the sidelines were now all utterly dumbfounded.
No, you wretches, how did you give in this time?!
Before you continue