Protection Money

Zhong Lin sat in the carriage, beaming as he clutched a small cloth pouch. Inside was the Calligraphy Fee given to him by the Liu Residence steward—a full ten taels of silver.

Burning down Zhang Kun's family after killing them, plus the silver looted from the bandit leader's corpse, had only amounted to nine taels altogether. That had cost several lives.

Yet now, just two paintings had earned him a full fifteen taels of silver. Converted into Big Coins, that was more than ten thousand coins. In Black Mountain County, three hundred Big Coins were enough to cover a family of three for a month—and enough for them to eat their fill.

If spent carefully, fifteen taels of silver could support a family of three for four or five years. It was truly a vast sum.

Now I can finally eat meat whenever I want, and I can pay the Tuition Fee to learn how to read. Joy practically overflowed from Zhong Lin's face.

He got off early at East Market, ran to a butcher's stall to buy two jin of pork belly, then bought a large rooster along the way before carrying everything home.

Zhong Lin's plan for himself was simple: as long as his means allowed it, he would eat well and eat until full. He would never permit himself to go hungry. He had to nurse his body back to health in the shortest possible time.

As he walked, he passed a martial hall. Hearing the shouts and cries from within, Zhong Lin could not help stopping to watch.

The martial hall's gates stood open. From the entrance, he could clearly see the many apprentices in the courtyard's training ground. Some lifted stones, some practiced with long spears, and some wielded sabers and swords. The place was buzzing with activity.

This martial hall was called Clear Breeze Martial Hall. Zhong Lin had asked around about it long ago. Its fees were exorbitant—thirty taels, no bargaining—and that only covered three months. If one wanted to continue learning martial arts after those three months, one had to pay again.

Zhong Lin could not help recalling the phrase from his past life: "The poor pursue learning, the wealthy pursue martial arts." Thirty taels of silver! Ordinary people truly could not afford to learn martial arts.

"No rush. Take it slow."

After returning home, Zhong Lin made a pot of stew in an iron pot, adding dried long beans and sun-dried pumpkin slices as side ingredients. Around the edge of the pot, he stuck several unleavened mixed-grain flatbreads.

The instant he lifted the lid, a rich fragrance flooded the entire courtyard. Zhong Lin and Little Shi, crouched beside the pot, nearly drooled.

"Time to eat, time to eat."

Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Zhong Lin took his writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone and went back to Food Cauldron Restaurant to set up his stall. He had rented the tables, chairs, and benches for the whole day—he could not let them go to waste.

After Zhong Lin hung up the other painting of Nie Xiaoqian, a crowd once again gathered around him before long.

The novel Three-Dimensional Painting, with its uncanny sense that the figures might step straight out of the picture at any moment, drew more and more onlookers. Though Zhong Lin's prices were somewhat high, plenty of curious people still gave it a try. In the end, they all paid with satisfaction and left cradling their paintings.

In just one day, Zhong Lin had made a name for himself throughout Black Mountain County.

Beyond the crowd, the scholar Xu Heng watched Zhong Lin lower his head and paint, his expression dark. He snorted coldly. "A tree that rises above the forest will be toppled by the wind; a mound that juts beyond the shore will be scoured by the current. Does he really think that having talent means he can rise to prominence in Black Mountain County?"

By evening, Zhong Lin returned to Sweet Water Alley with an easy, satisfied expression, his writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone in his left hand and a portion of pig head meat he had just bought by the roadside in his right.

Sweet Water Alley, where Zhong Lin lived, lay in the southeast of Black Mountain County. The houses there were rows of low dwellings, a residential area for commoners, and the roads were twisting little lanes that turned this way and that.

At that moment, the phrase "the spring breeze delighted him, his horse's hooves flew swift" could not have described Zhong Lin better. That afternoon, he had painted six pictures beside Food Cauldron Restaurant, charging three taels of silver for each one. In a single afternoon, he had earned another eighteen taels.

Added to the fifteen taels from that morning, he had made thirty-three taels in just one day—enough money for the martial hall.

I'll paint for two more days, then stop. First, I'll find a scholar to teach me how to read, then I'll go to the martial hall to learn martial arts. When I run out of money, I'll keep painting. Perfect.

Zhong Lin made a short-term plan for the future. He had not forgotten that he was earning money in order to come into contact with the martial path. Since he had crossed into another world, he naturally had to live one grand and carefree life.

Lost in thought, he turned a corner and came face-to-face with a tall, fat, burly man.

The man stared at Zhong Lin. The flesh on his face was fierce and menacing, enough to make one's heart tremble.

Zhong Lin instinctively sensed trouble. His steps halted, and he turned to leave the alley.

But at some point, a short man had appeared behind him as well. Smiling broadly, he blocked the exit, his face wearing an amused, mocking expression.

He had been boxed in.

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Zhong Lin's mind. He had only just arrived in Black Mountain County; it was impossible that he had made enemies. He had never even seen these two men before. That left only one possibility.

Zhong Lin's face darkened. He pulled a cloth pouch from his robes and placed it on the ground. "The Calligraphy Fee is all in here. Can you let me pass?"

Surrounded by two burly men and without his bow and arrows, the best way to protect himself was to spend money and avert disaster.

He would settle the score later when he had the chance.

The short, smiling brute approached as he spoke teasingly. "Tsk, tsk. Kid, you're pretty sensible. You dare do business on my turf without coming to pay your respects at the dock? Are you looking to die?"

Zhong Lin took a deep breath and cupped his hands in salute. "This little brother has only just arrived and does not understand the rules. I have slighted the two masters; please forgive me. I will not take a single coin of today's Calligraphy Fee. I offer it all to the two masters as an apology. From now on, I will pay tribute to the two masters from my daily earnings."

"Haha! Xing San, did you hear that? This kid is fucking talented. He knows what's what. I like him."

The short brute looked thoroughly pleased. He stepped forward, picked up the pouch Zhong Lin had placed on the ground, and weighed it in his hand. Feeling its heft, he grinned so widely his mouth nearly split apart.

He tucked the money pouch into his belt, then reached out and patted Zhong Lin's cheek. Each slap rang out with a sharp smack, and after several strikes, Zhong Lin's face had turned bright red.

"Remember this. My name is Qin Yong, known as Second Master Qin. Seeing how well your business did today, I won't ask for too much. From now on, just offer up twenty taels of silver every day. Don't even think about running. I know where you live. You've got a younger brother at home too, right?"

Qin Yong bared his yellow teeth, his face full of viciousness.

Zhong Lin's heart went cold, and a blaze of fury surged up within him. Icy killing intent swept through his entire body.

Lowering his head, he hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes. This little brother would never dare forget."

"Good. And don't think twenty taels is too much. Once you start paying tribute, you belong to me, Second Master Qin. If anyone gives you trouble in the future, just give them my name. Understand?"

"Yes. This little brother thanks Second Master."

"I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow. Don't be late."

"How could I make Second Master wait? This little brother will deliver it directly to your home. I can also take the chance to grow closer to you, Second Master." Zhong Lin said with a smile.

"Haha, you know how to behave. Not bad, not bad. Then bring it to my home—Locust Flower Lane, Number Six, Section A. Don't forget."

With that, Qin Yong gave a carefree laugh and swaggered away. The silent brute, Xing San, followed close behind. As he passed Zhong Lin, he slapped the back of Zhong Lin's head, sending him staggering and sprawling face-first onto the ground. He nearly ended up eating dirt.

"Haha, you little chick."

Only after the two men had left the alley did Zhong Lin climb to his feet. The fawning look was long gone from his face; his eyes were filled with nothing but coldness and killing intent.

"I still underestimated how dark this world is. I only want to live properly—why are so many people forcing my hand?"