Malicious Intent

"Lin Yin... you finally came back."

Looking at the handsome youth before him, an imperceptible glint flashed through Li Sihhu's eyes.

He still had not forgotten what had happened during their last transaction. Now that he had caught an opportunity, there was no way he would let this mother and son off so easily.

"Yin'er..."

Madam Wang's expression changed slightly when she saw Lin Yin. Yet she had no time to worry about the men before her, hurriedly pulling him behind her.

"Master Tiger, what are you doing?"

Lin Yin wore a look of "shock."

Li Sihhu said flatly, "Protection money. The Black Scorpion Gang's protection money."

After saying that, he deliberately ignored Lin Yin and continued speaking to Madam Wang.

"Sister Wang, you know I'm only carrying out official business. The Black Scorpion Gang is responsible for protecting the Market. Every shop in town has to pay protection money. It's not as though I'm deliberately making things difficult for you."

With that, he put on an all-business expression. The two Men behind him also subconsciously shifted aside, revealing the long sabers hanging at their waists.

The threat needed no words!

"Don't make things difficult for me!"

His heavy voice carried endless chill. The three men seemed ready to draw their blades at the slightest disagreement.

"Master Tiger, when Old Master handed the shop over to me, he said this month's protection money had already been paid."

Tears swirled in Madam Wang's eyes in her panic.

"Hmm?"

Li Sihhu raised his brows and shouted, "He paid it, not you!

Now that the shop has changed owners, we're going to 'protect' you. If we don't ask you for it, who should we ask?"

Seeing Li Sihhu press forward step by step, Lin Yin subtly caught the look in his eyes and formed a guess.

This fellow was most likely holding a grudge over what happened last time!

Rage flared in Lin Yin's heart, but his outward expression grew ever more "terrified."

Seeing that the atmosphere had been built up enough, Li Sihhu's tone shifted.

"However, if Sister Wang truly can't scrape together the money, it's not as though there's no solution."

"What solution?"

Madam Wang asked anxiously.

She had recently bought a large batch of cloth from the cloth shop, hoping to earn a few more coins when business opened. Who could have expected something like this to happen?

Now, her heart was filled only with regret. Seeing a turn in the matter, she could not help but ask.

"This matter may require your son's help. Steward Wang in town is lacking a book..."

"Enough!"

Lin Yin gave a low shout. Afterward, he looked at Li Sihhu and the two Black Scorpion Gang members with some "panic."

"Brother Sihu, I can consider this matter. Please give me some time?"

As he spoke, Lin Yin's body could not help trembling, his face growing even more "pale."

When Li Sihhu saw this, delight rose in his heart.

He was scared!

Once he was scared, things would be easy.

Seeing that his plan was about to succeed, Li Sihhu pressed his advantage. He deliberately furrowed his brows.

"The task from above is urgent. We have to hand over the full amount of our take within the next two days. Where would we find time for you to consider it?"

"Master Hu Zi, my mother and I live right here. We can't run away, and the shop is here too. If you keep forcing us, then even if we take this to the yamen..."

"You're threatening me?"

Li Sihhu narrowed his eyes.

"No, how would I dare threaten Master Tiger? It's only that my mother and I have truly reached the end of the road."

Lin Yin gritted his teeth, looking somewhat lacking in confidence.

"Three days. Within three days, I will definitely give Master Tiger an answer."

"Three days? No, two days. If there's still no result after two days, don't blame my blade for showing no mercy. Do you really think our Black Scorpion Gang is harmless?"

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"I wouldn't dare..."

As he watched the youth bend deeply at the waist, his faintly trembling form fully entered his eyes.

Li Sihhu gave a soft snort, the corners of his lips curling into an imperceptible arc.

Thinking his scheme had succeeded, he turned and left with his men, utterly failing to notice the Youth's expression change in an instant behind him.

"Two days..."

Only after Li Sihu and the others had left did Lin Yin slowly straighten up. The complex emotions that had filled his face—timidity, panic, fear—had long vanished, replaced by a ferocious look.

"W-what are we going to do? It's all Mother's fault... Yin'er, what exactly does he want you to do? Mother... Mother will definitely find a way."

Beside him came Old Mother's flustered, panicked voice.

When Lin Yin turned back around, only calm remained on his face.

"Mother, don't panic. Don't concern yourself with what comes next. I'll handle it."

For some reason, Madam Wang suddenly felt waves of chill spread through her body, as though an indescribable, impenetrable cold had enveloped her.

"Alright..."

Looking at her son's expression, Madam Wang moved her lips, but in the end, she could not say anything. She merely nodded and did not press him further.

She knew that her son had grown up and had ideas of his own.

But even so, she was still thinking about how to gather Five Taels of Silver within two days.

"Boss, that kid's still green. A little scare was enough to make him buckle."

"I reckon he'll come knocking on our door himself in a couple of days."

Once they had gone some distance away, the two attendants behind Li Sihhu could not help bursting into laughter.

The Black Scorpion Gang would not collect protection fees again for some time; this month's money had already been handed over. If things really blew up, it would indeed be somewhat troublesome.

"Too bad they're a widow and an orphan. They don't dare gamble."

The corner of Li Sihhu's mouth lifted slightly.

Ever since Lin Yin had flatly refused his demand last time, he had held a grudge. Since becoming a minor leader in the Black Scorpion Gang, who had ever dared refuse Li Sihhu?

A wet-behind-the-ears brat, yet he had quite the nerve.

This time, not only would he send him to Master Wang, he would also squeeze a hefty sum out of the boy's mother.

Even that shop...

At the thought of it, a cruel curve appeared on Li Sihhu's face.

Now, the Hungry Wolf Gang in the eastern district was expanding its power at a frantic pace, while the once-thriving Black Scorpion Gang was instead surrounded by dangers on all sides.

Li Sihhu needed to find himself a way out.

If the Black Scorpion Gang fell, he needed some means of making a living no matter what.

Running a shop was out of the question, but selling that shop at a high price to some wealthy fellow was still possible.

With that money, along with the Money and Silver he had gained over the years by preying on the common folk, he could easily flee far away and seek another place to settle.

But that was all for later.

"Think of how I, Li Sihhu, clawed my way to where I am in the Black Scorpion Gang. Other than my elder brother, I relied entirely on myself. A widow and an orphan are nothing more than toys in the palm of my hand."

"Master Tiger is amazing!"

"Master Tiger is truly gifted!"

The two lackey attendants echoed him again and again.

Li Sihhu would take the lion's share, and they would get to drink a little soup as well.

The three of them slung their arms around one another's shoulders and headed cheerfully toward a tavern in Wolf Time Town.

After eating and drinking his fill, Lin Yin told Mother to stay home for the next two days and avoid going out if possible. Then, alone and carrying a bow and crossbow on his back, he made his way toward Tiger Head Mountain under cover of night.

Within the dense, silent forest, only faint swishing sounds could be heard.

Arrow after arrow darted through the woods like brilliant cold stars.

He repeated this over and over until dawn the next day.

As the final arrow struck the trunk of a tree a hundred meters away—

[Heaven rewards diligence, Will achieve something]

[Archery Mastery (0/100)]

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