"West City is in chaos? What happened? Did the White Lotus Sect start a revolt?" Jiang Liu asked in confusion.
"Our Cloud Sun City hasn't had good years since three years ago! The harvest has gotten smaller every year! Although the rain was scarce in previous years, at least there was still a harvest, and at least no one had starved to death!"
"But since the beginning of summer this year, not a single drop of rain has fallen. There's been no harvest at all, yet the landlords, local gentry, and government offices haven't reduced the land rents or taxes by even a bit! They're pressing people even harder than in previous years! By now, people have already begun starving to death in the villages outside the city."
"Now the White Lotus Sect is handing out rice under the banner of saving people from misery. Anyone who joins the White Lotus Sect gets rice, and more than a hundred thousand people have gathered in an instant. The entire West City is now under the White Lotus Sect's control! So don't go to West City unless you have to!" After Lin Hai finished explaining, he took his leave.
In truth, there was another major reason behind the current situation, but Lin Hai had been too embarrassed to mention it: the various gangs, large and small, were actually the ones exploiting the poor most severely! After all, the Fallen Blossom Gang was one of them. Otherwise, where would they get the funds to support so many people?
Jiang Liu pondered for a while. A White Lotus uprising? Won't my house be wrecked? I have to go back and take a look! As for whether he only wanted to inspect the house or had some other plan, only Jiang Liu himself knew.
After night fell, Jiang Liu practiced his mental cultivation method as usual. Instead of returning to his room to meditate, he left the Hunting Eagle Hall's headquarters and headed out.
The gang members on guard at the entrance did not ask many questions and simply let him pass. After all, Jiang Liu was wearing the clothes of an ordinary gang member. Unless he took out his Identity Jade Token, no one knew that he was merely a gang apprentice; they assumed he was an ordinary gang member.
As soon as Jiang Liu left the Hunting Eagle Hall, he headed toward West City. When he was close to West City, he hurriedly found a corner, stripped off his clothes, and changed into the everyday clothes he had worn before joining the gang, making himself look like an ordinary West City resident.
The moment he drew near West City, he began seeing groups of wandering refugees along the road. Some lay by the roadside, while others stood in groups of three or five, armed with cleavers, clubs, and other weapons as they guarded the road from South City into West City.
As soon as Jiang Liu reached the entrance to West City, several people surrounded him with weapons in hand. Seeing that he was dressed like a commoner, they did not make things difficult for him. A leader-like man asked, "Where are you from? What are you doing in West City?"
Jiang Liu replied, "Greetings, sirs! I'm from Flowing Cloud Alley in West City. I'm just returning home after work." The leader said nothing more and waved for Jiang Liu to leave. His subordinates also stepped aside and cleared the way.
The moment he entered West City, a sea of voices surged around him, with clamor echoing everywhere. These were probably the refugees who had fled from the villages outside. West City was the only place willing to take them in, so they had all gathered there.
When Jiang Liu passed An Sheng Pharmacy, he found its main doors tightly shut. The disturbance must have been severe; even at night, they no longer dared to open.
As soon as Jiang Liu entered Flowing Cloud Alley, he sensed that something was wrong before even reaching his house. Why were the lights on inside?
Bastards! They actually occupied my house while I was away. They must be looking for death!
When Jiang Liu had first crossed into this world, he had relied on fighting as if his life meant nothing to intimidate the thugs and protect his house. Otherwise, he would have died in some filthy ditch long ago.
Although he had now joined the Fallen Blossom Gang, the competitive and combative nature buried in his bones was not so easily worn away.
Now that he saw his house occupied—and had already become an Entry Grade martial practitioner—his anger was even harder to suppress.
Jiang Liu arrived at the gate of his courtyard and reached out to push it open. Suddenly, the door opened, and a head poked out. When Jiang Liu saw that it was his neighbor Big Dog, his anger surged. He instantly turned his palm into a fist and unleashed a Tiger Subduing Fist. The man opening the door let out a miserable cry and was sent flying backward into the courtyard.
Several figures immediately rushed out of the room, shouting, "Who are you?"
Jiang Liu withdrew his fist and walked into the courtyard. Taking a look around, he saw that there were six people in total, including the one lying on the ground. Looking closely, he found that Big Dog, whom he had just punched, lay motionless on the ground. He was probably already dead.
"Who are you? Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? You've got some nerve! You actually dared to occupy my house. If you don't give me an explanation today, don't even think about walking out that door." Jiang Liu spoke slowly.
The remaining five exchanged glances. The leader-like man frowned and said, "What happened? Didn't Big Dog say no one lived in this house?"
The others looked at one another, not knowing how to answer. As for Big Dog, Jiang Liu had already punched him to death.
The leader could only say, with a hint of embarrassment, "Brother, sorry for the trouble. My subordinate failed to do his job properly and didn't know someone lived here. We'll leave right now."
"Leave? Did you ask my fists? You occupied my house for no reason, and now you want to leave without giving me an explanation?"
The leader spoke with an unhappy expression. "Brother, I'll apologize, and let's let this matter go. Besides, you beat Big Dog too. His life or death is still unknown, so why don't we call it even? How about it?"
If the leader had not seen that Jiang Liu was an Entry Grade martial practitioner, would he have swallowed his anger like this? He would have killed him with one punch long ago and taken the corpse to feed the dogs. Why would he still stand here wasting his breath?
"You want to leave? Ask my fists whether they agree!" Jiang Liu could not be bothered to waste any more words. He raised his fist and circulated Tiger Subduing Fist, then activated Wind Walk. With one sudden step, he reached the leader and brought his fist crashing down onto his head.
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