I'll take thirty percent of the spoils, who dares to complain?

Li Pingsheng placed the Blazing Fire Python's inner core into the box and snapped the lid shut.

The moment his fingers touched the bottom of the box, a surge of heat traveled up his fingertips, piercing through his skin and into his veins.

He tucked the box into his inner pocket with a backhanded motion.

Next was the white jade box containing the Ice Pole Silkworm essence.

This item was intensely cold; the moment he picked it up, the hairs on the back of his hand stood on end, and a thin layer of frost quickly crystallized on his skin.

The combination of extreme cold and heat could be used to balance the internal disharmony of qi and blood caused by his forced use of thunder techniques.

If he handed these two items over to the martial arts hall, he would only receive a few hundred contribution points.

Kept in his own hands, however, they could be refined into three doses of potent medicine to treat his marrow sea, provided he added a few auxiliary herbs.

He tucked the Ice Pole Silkworm essence into his robes as well, the pain from the clashing ice and fire energies against his chest sharpening his mind.

He dug up the Century Blood Ginseng on the shelf, roots, soil, and all.

Li Pingsheng gestured with his finger toward the sandalwood shelf on the right.

Lu Qingshan grabbed a grey burlap sack and swept all the medicinal herbs from the shelf into it; the dried herbs rustled as they hit the bottom of the bag.

"Brother Li, there is a hidden compartment underneath."

Lu Qingshan crouched to the side, gripped a loose paving stone, and pried it upward.

The brick tumbled to the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust and revealing three black iron chests.

The copper locks on the lids had been nearly eroded away by moisture and air, turning green and becoming coated in a layer of fungal growth.

Li Pingsheng stepped forward and kicked the copper lock off the first chest.

Snap.

The rusted lock shattered, and the iron fragments from the keyhole clattered to the floor.

As the lid opened, a thick, pungent, gamey odor mixed with the scent of herbs rushed out to meet them.

Inside, rows of dark red jerky were neatly stacked, each piece the size of a brick and covered in a layer of white salt frost.

"Level 3 Demon Bear Meat."

Lu Qingshan's Adam's apple bobbed; the sound of him swallowing in the quiet secret chamber was distinct.

On the black market, a single tael of this meat could fetch ten taels of silver.

These three large chests held hundreds of catties.

Li Pingsheng bent down, grabbed a piece of jerky, and ate it, though the meat was so tough it nearly chipped his teeth.

He clamped his jaws together, his cheeks bulging as he chewed the jerky into pieces.

A surge of qi and blood exploded in his stomach, sending heat radiating to his limbs.

His meridians, previously dried up from the thunder techniques, instantly filled, accompanied by a wave of throbbing pain.

Li Pingsheng's chest heaved as he forcibly suppressed the urge to belch.

The illusory panel on his retina flickered slightly, and his potential value began to climb.

"Take it all."

Li Pingsheng uttered these three words.

Lu Qingshan didn't hesitate, hoisting the heavy iron chest onto his back; the iron edge at the bottom of the chest pressed deep indentations into his shoulders and clothing.

Just then, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed from the passage outside.

Two enforcement instructors from the martial arts hall entered, followed by several disciples.

Leading them was Instructor Sun, the discipline administrator of the outer courtyard, who held a thick ledger and was marking circles in red ink with a brush.

"The Zhao Family cellar has been fully inventoried."

Instructor Sun flipped a page of the ledger without looking up, his brush leaving a heavy mark on the paper.

"One hundred and three thousand taels of silver, twelve deeds to Inner City shops, and five hundred mu of fertile land in the Outer City."

Instructor Sun finally looked up after closing the ledger.

His gaze swept over the cluttered secret chamber before coming to rest on Li Pingsheng's heaving chest and the iron chest on Lu Qingshan's back.

"Uncle-Master Li."

Instructor Sun changed his tone.

"The Hall Master has ordered that all assets of the Zhao Family are to be confiscated, registered, and transported back to the martial arts hall's treasury for unified distribution."

Li Pingsheng did not let him continue.

He walked to the mahogany chest filled with silver notes and bullion, pressing his hand against the lid and tapping it with his knuckles, producing a dull, thudding sound.

"Out of the one hundred thousand taels of silver, I want thirty thousand."

"As for the deeds, I want the three shops near the Inner City."

Instructor Sun's face turned ashen, and deep furrows appeared on his forehead.

"Nephew Li, you cannot do this."

"The rules of the martial arts hall dictate that one must first join the hall before rewards are discussed."

Instructor Sun stepped forward half a pace, using his authority as an instructor to keep him in check.

"The rules are set by the Hall Master."

Li Pingsheng cut him off and walked toward Instructor Sun.

The Demon Bear meat he had just consumed was still radiating blood energy within his body, and the pressure emanating from him, coupled with the aura of lightning, leaked out unconsciously.

The surrounding air seemed to grow scorching hot.

Instructor Sun felt a tightness in his chest, and his breathing immediately became unstable.

The image of Chen Tieshan's chest caving in at the Martial Practice Field flashed through his mind. Looking at the youth before him, who had stood his ground against Old Qi, cold sweat instantly seeped from his back.

One hundred thousand taels of silver was tempting, but one had to be alive to spend it.

To offend a ruthless Head Disciple of the Inner Courtyard for the sake of the hall's public funds—no matter how he calculated it, it was a losing trade.

He hurriedly lowered his head to avoid Li Pingsheng's gaze, coughing to mask his panic.

"Head Disciple Li is right."

"You performed the greatest service in the grand examination and saved the entire Outer City. Thirty percent... should belong to you."

Instructor Sun changed his tune quickly. With a stroke of the brush in his ledger, he turned the one hundred thousand taels into seventy thousand.

"Thank you for your flexibility, Instructor Sun."

Li Pingsheng flipped open the mahogany chest, grabbed a thick stack of silver notes, and without counting or checking them, stuffed them directly into an empty pocket belonging to Lu Qingshan.

Afterward, he pulled three sheets from a stack of land deeds, folded them, and tucked them into his own pocket.

Steady footsteps echoed from the stone stairs outside the secret chamber, and Master Pei descended with his hands behind his back.

He glanced at the chaotic, ransacked secret compartment, then at the crossed-out ledger in Instructor Sun's hand, and finally let his gaze rest on Li Pingsheng's bulging pockets.

"Master."

Li Pingsheng turned around and gave a slight nod.

Master Pei looked at his student.

A few months ago, this kid had been chased all over the city by the Black Water Gang for a few measly taels of silver.

Now, standing before such vast wealth, he didn't even blink, carving out the largest share for himself right in front of the enforcement instructor.

He was ruthless, greedy, but also incredibly steady.

In an era where lives were cheap, only those who kept resources firmly in their own hands could hope to survive.

Anything promised by those above would have long since been devoured by wild dogs.

Master Pei asked no questions, merely waving a hand at Instructor Sun.

"Do as we discussed."

"Load the rest onto carts and transport them to the martial arts hall."

"Understood, Master Pei."

Instructor Sun, as if granted an amnesty, immediately called his men to move the chests out.

"The business is done, head back now."

Master Pei patted Li Pingsheng on the shoulder; his palm was large and broad.

"The shock your family suffered should have passed by now; you can go back and settle them in."

"I will handle the accounts regarding the martial arts hall."

"Thank you, Master."

After exiting the underground chamber of the Zhao Mansion, the sky outside had turned completely dark.

The Zhao family's grand red gates had been smashed into splinters, and bloodstains still marked the threshold.

The commoners of the Outer City crowded both sides of the long street, watching from afar, not daring to approach, only able to stand on tiptoe to peer inside.

Li Pingsheng held Yunmei's hand and stepped over the broken threshold onto the street.

A suppressed commotion rippled through the crowd.

Many eyes focused on Li Pingsheng; among them were gazes of awe, fear, and sycophancy, but the disdain of the past was gone.

"That's the eldest grandson of the Li family."

"Shh, do you have a death wish? In these times, you must call him Lord Li."

"He leveled the Zhao family; who in the Outer City would dare provoke the Old Li House from now on?"

The whispers were carried to my ears by the evening breeze.

When Master Qin kicked open the courtyard gate, the surrounding neighbors had also gathered around, waiting to see what the people of the Old Li House would do.

In the Outer City, sympathy was worthless.

If you make everyone fear you, only then will they respectfully clear a path for you.

The Zhao Family has fallen.

But as long as the powerful in the Inner City exist, and as long as the thing at the bottom of the Dragon Locking Well remains, such things will continue to happen.

Thirty thousand taels of silver and Tier 3 beast meat are just the beginning.

He needs more potential points to unlock more skills, until the end when no one can control his life or death.

Lu Qingshan took a wheelbarrow and loaded it with three large crates of beast meat and some medicinal herbs; the axle let out a "creaking" sound.

"Brother Li, if these wheels fall apart halfway, we'll have to carry it all back."

Lu Qingshan gripped the handles tightly, the muscles in his arms tensed, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"If it falls apart, you'll be the one carrying it alone."

Li Pingsheng walked in front without looking back.

Yunmei held onto two of his fingers; the little girl had been frightened today and had been very quiet on the road.

"Brother, why did they want to capture me?"

Yunmei tilted her head and asked in a low voice.

"Because their strength cannot compare to your brother's."

Li Pingsheng wrapped his hand around Yunmei's small hand, the warmth from his palm spreading to her.

"And it never will again."

The night was cool, and the streets of the Outer City were uneven; when the cart rolled over puddles, it kicked up sprays of mud.

After walking for about an hour, the dilapidated courtyard wall of the Old Li House finally appeared before them.

The wall had been knocked down halfway before, and though it had been barely patched up with broken bricks later, it was already teetering on the edge of collapse.

Li Pingsheng stopped moving, feeling that something was wrong.

The courtyard was very quiet.

Generally, at this hour, Second Aunt would be in the kitchen preparing dinner, and Grandfather would be in the yard smoking his dry tobacco.

At this moment, the aroma of food that usually filled the air was gone, the scent of tobacco had vanished, and there was only a faint smell of earth mixed with a hint of blood.

Li Pingsheng let go of his grip and pushed Yunmei behind Lu Qingshan.

"Watch her."

After lowering his voice to give the instruction, he lightened his footsteps and walked to the wooden door.

He touched the door panel lightly with his left hand, and the hinges creaked as the door opened just a tiny crack.

The situation inside the courtyard was immediately revealed before his eyes.

Beside the water vat, Grandfather and Second Uncle stood back-to-back.

Both were drenched in sweat, not daring to blink even once.

Grandfather gripped a dull wood-chopping knife tightly, while Second Uncle held a sharpened wooden carrying pole, the veins on his hands bulging.

Both men's muscles were tensed to their limits, their eyes locked onto a shadow in the old elm tree outside the courtyard wall that had merged into the darkness of the night.