"Good thing we left quickly, or these old bones of mine would've been done for."
The shopkeeper hurried Jiang Yan into the carriage. Only after they'd driven all the way down the street did he finally let out a breath of relief.
"Old brother, were those people just now disciples of the Wuliang Sword Sect?"
Jiang Yan didn't look down on the old shopkeeper for getting beaten and still having to bow and scrape.
Though he was a stranger here, everything in Moyun City was much like what he'd experienced in Great Yan.
The law of the jungle still ruled, and the weak were still at the mercy of the strong.
"Bah! What kind of Wuliang Sword Sect disciple is that Huang Xiaogou?"
The shopkeeper spat out a mouthful of blood and cursed under his breath:
"Though the Wuliang Sword Sect accepts all comers and lets anyone join for a price, most of them are only nominal disciples. Usually, all they can do is throw the Wuliang Sword Sect's name around. Huang Xiaogou is one of those."
"But, well, he's still someone I can't afford to offend."
Once the shopkeeper started complaining, he couldn't stop. He laid bare every last detail about the so-called "Wuliang Sword Sect disciple" who had taken over the house belonging to the property agent.
The Huang Xiaogou he spoke of was really called Huang Xiong. He used to be nothing but a street thug in the neighborhood. Later, he seduced the Chai Gang leader's wife, killed the former leader, and rallied a gang of toughs around himself. That was how he'd made it big.
He'd even paid to join the Wuliang Sword Sect and gained himself a powerful backer. These days, he made a fortune selling smuggled salt and lived a life of luxury.