Ambush

"Wang Kun." Lu Chuan's voice went completely cold. "There are rules to how things are done. Making trouble like this—aren't you afraid of ruining the Black Tiger Gang's reputation?"

"Reputation?" Wang Kun sneered with contempt. "You think you're worthy of talking reputation in front of me? I say you didn't pay, so you didn't pay!"

With that, he gripped the long blade at his waist, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. "Hand over the silver! Keep yapping, and I'll tear this shithole of yours down today!"

Seeing Wang Kun about to draw his blade, a flood of thoughts surged through Lu Chuan's mind. If it were just him alone, he wouldn't be afraid no matter what—but behind him were his parents. If he truly fell out with the Black Tiger Gang, would there still be a place for them in Kaoshan Village?

With that thought, Lu Chuan suddenly calmed down. "Eldest Brother Wang," he said, softening his tone, "there's no need to draw a blade over this. Today's matter... we were the ones who didn't understand the rules. We failed to grasp your meaning, Eldest Brother Wang."

Wang Kun had been bracing for Lu Chuan to resist, but seeing him suddenly back down, he was caught off guard for a moment. Then a wave of smug contempt washed over him. Just a half-grown kid who'd never faced real trouble—folded the second he saw steel!

He threw his head back and laughed, brimming with arrogance. "Would've saved us both a lot of trouble if you'd been this sensible from the start! Fine, since you know your place, I won't double the silver. Just the original amount—hand it over!"

Lu Danian stomped his foot in desperation, wanting to speak, but Lu Chuan had already pulled the silver from his pocket without hesitation. "Eldest Brother Wang, please count it. One tael and two maces. Keep it safe."

Wang Kun snatched it up, tucked it into his chest with satisfaction, and glanced at Lu Chuan with a lofty tone. "Not bad, kid—you've got some eyes. You've been hauling in all those valuable kills at home, so what's wrong with sharing a bit with your big brother here? Remember this: from now on, be smart. When you bag something big, hand over thirty percent. On this turf, your big brother can look out for you now and then."

"You're right, Eldest Brother. I'll remember that." Lu Chuan nodded repeatedly. "Next time, I'll be sure to offer my share first."

"Mm, that's more like it." Wang Kun, puffed up with pride, waved his hand and turned to stride away.

Lu Chuan stood at the door, the smile vanishing from his face the moment Wang Kun turned his back.

Kaoshan Village wasn't the only household Wang Kun shook down. He picked only those families that were doing a bit better. His spiel was the same every time: taxes unpaid, receipt doesn't match—either make up the difference or pay double. Anyone who dared argue got a dark scowl and a half-drawn blade.

By the end of the day, he'd likely fleeced no less than several dozen taels of pure silver. Satisfied, Wang Kun set off for home.

At the boundary between Kaoshan Village and Liujia Village, another underling who'd gone to collect from Liujia was already waiting. "Hey, Brother Wang!" the companion greeted him. "Judging by your look, you must've pulled in no less than this much today, right?"

The two of them had pulled this pocket-lining stunt plenty of times. As long as the underlings handed over the required quota on time, Chief Lei upstairs usually turned a blind eye to these little schemes. The men below were happy to skim some extra fat, and everyone understood the unspoken arrangement. Wang Kun was an old hand at it.

Wang Kun boasted, "Twenty taels, not a cent less! Ran into some greenhorn today too—that Lu kid from Kaoshan Village. I nearly had my blade out!"

"Someone that clueless? You didn't have to use it?"

"Use it?" Wang Kun snorted. "A kid who just joined the Martial Arts Hall a few days ago—what could he do? In the end, he handed over the silver like a good boy, didn't even dare to fart."

The two walked side by side along the dirt road. "With this money, we brothers can head to Chunxiang Tower and have ourselves a good time for a few days..." Wang Kun said smugly.

"That's right! Stick with Brother Wang, and there's always meat on the table!" the companion flattered obsequiously. "When the money runs out, we'll swing by that kid's place again. I saw a nice bow in his house..."

Before he could finish, his voice cut off abruptly. Wang Kun, still lost in his daydream, suddenly felt his companion jerk to a halt and let out a strange gurgle. He turned to look—the man's eyes were wide, blood and foam bubbling from his mouth. An arrow had punched through the front of his neck, the tip protruding from the back, skewering his throat clean through.

"Enemy attack..." Wang Kun's scalp exploded with terror, his soul fleeing in panic as his body lunged forward by instinct.

Yet his movement was still half a beat too slow.

The instant he leaped, a short, sharp whistle of wind suddenly rang out.

"Pfft!"

The next moment, Wang Kun felt as if a sledgehammer had smashed into his body, a searing pain erupting.

The agony nearly robbed him of consciousness.

He looked down—a pitch-black arrow shaft was embedded in his left chest, right where his heart lay.

He strained to lift his head, staring toward the direction the arrow had come from.

In his blurring vision, a figure in a worn jacket seemed to stand a hundred meters away, a large bow in hand.

It was... that kid...

Inside Lu Chuan's room.

Gazing at the pile of Snowflake Pattern Silver laid before him, a full thirty taels' worth, Lu Chuan couldn't help but remark:

"No wonder they say murder and arson bring gold belts—robbery really is the fastest way to wealth..."

Since arriving in this world, he had hunted a Red-bellied Golden Pheasant, a Black-Scaled Iron-Thread Snake, and a massive Wild Boar King.

Yet all those kills combined couldn't match this heap of silver.

This world, Lu Chuan had come to see clearly, was simple: eat what you need to supplement yourself. To rise above others, you had to eat men!

"Killing is easy, but the Black Tiger Gang's retaliation is the real headache."

Though he had disposed of the bodies, the truth couldn't be hidden forever. Two gang members vanishing without a trace would surely prompt a massive search from the Black Tiger Gang.

A little digging, and they'd trace it back to the people those two had offended.

"Good thing they weren't just collecting money from my family alone—a thorough investigation should take some time."

"During this period, I can't make waves in the village. I'll lie low and develop steadily."

With a huge windfall in hand, Lu Chuan told no one.

The next day, he took a few taels of silver and headed to Renhetang Pharmacy.

Ordinary prey no longer did much for his training; he planned to buy a few Qi and Blood Pills to bolster his foundation.

Entering Renhetang's gate, he spotted the Young Master who had taken his medicine before, and immediately stepped forward with a cupped fist salute.

"Brother Zhao, you're well, I trust."

Zhao Xuanhe looked up at the sound, and upon seeing Lu Chuan, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes:

"It's you, Brother Lu. It's only been a short while... your qi and blood..."

He paused briefly, then said bluntly, "Have you taken up martial arts?"

Lu Chuan's heart tightened—Zhao Xuanhe's eyes were indeed sharp, spotting the change at a glance.

He didn't hide it, nodding in reply:

"Brother Zhao has keen eyes. Thanks to the money from selling that medicine last time, I had the chance to enter Mountain Splitting Saber Hall under Master Zheng's tutelage and learn some crude skills."

"Mountain Splitting Saber Hall? Old Zheng?" Zhao Xuanhe's face lit with understanding.

"I see. I always thought you were no ordinary man, Brother Lu, but I didn't expect you to make such clear progress in so short a time."

Ordinary people, even if they joined a Martial Arts Hall, would struggle to show much change after half a year of training.

"It's all right, all thanks to Master Zheng's efforts."

Then, as if recalling something, Zhao Xuanhe asked with keen interest:

"By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you..."