Harvest

Annan Ward.

Deep in the back alley of Yongsheng Trading Firm.

An ancient, gnarled locust tree stood half a rooftop taller than the surrounding houses, its twisted branches and leaves casting shadows as dark as ink through the night.

Near where the trunk branched, there was an inconspicuous crack concealed beneath layer upon layer of bark. It was hollow within, so narrow that only a palm could barely fit inside.

This was where Chen Cheng had occasionally hidden emergency copper coins when he had worked as a menial at the trading firm years ago. No one knew about it but him.

At this moment.

Chen Cheng silently appeared beneath the tree.

He pushed off lightly from the corner of the wall, hooked his fingers into the rough trunk, and exerted strength through his waist and abdomen, flipping himself up with ease.

He crouched on a horizontal branch, calmed his mind, and listened intently.

The only sound around him was the faint rustling of night wind brushing through the leaves.

Only then did he take from his robes the blood-colored scripture tightly wrapped in a piece of worn felt cloth.

He had torn that felt from an abandoned shack somewhere in the slums. It was filthy and greasy, utterly unremarkable.

He pried open the hole disguised as a crack in the bark, gently stuffed the bundle inside, then carefully restored the opening to its original state, ensuring nothing looked amiss from any angle.

After finishing, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he lay still among the branches for a while, his gaze sweeping the ends of the alley like cold lightning.

Only after confirming that this entire series of actions had drawn no unwanted attention.

Did he drift soundlessly from the trunk like a fallen leaf. When he landed, he barely stirred any dust.

The next morning, Kuhe Village.

Giant Tiger Gang members dressed in russet short outfits, savage tiger heads embroidered across their chests, went door to door in groups of three or five, pounding on doors.

"Listen up! The Black Wolf Gang is finished! From now on, Kuhe Village is Giant Tiger Gang territory!"

The leading man raised one finger and said with a sinister grin.

"The Peace Tax is increased by ten percent over the old rate. Pay it all within seven days. I don't like repeating myself. Any household that dares come up even a single coin short will learn my methods when the time comes!"

The slum dwellers all shrank behind their doors or peered through cracks in their windows. Their faces were numb and silent, but inwardly they could only howl in misery.

An additional ten percent Peace Tax!

For most households in Kuhe Village, that could mean several days' worth of food.

But who dared utter even half a word of objection?

The people standing before them were stronger and more ruthless than the Black Wolf Gang.

Who had not heard last night's cries of battle and slaughter? Who had not seen the blood flowing through the alleys?

These poor folk wallowing in the mud at the very bottom did not even dare say no. If they dared haggle, they would be beaten to death on the spot, made an example to warn the rest.

"Sir..."

Just as deathly silence descended over the crowd, Chen An's slightly trembling voice slowly rang out.

"My family... my family has a Martial Artist... Chen Cheng, a disciple of Dragon Mountain Hall's Middle Academy. He... he's my nephew, my own nephew!"

Chen An clearly lacked confidence as he spoke, while Madam Bai beside him wore a tense expression.

After all, it was their first time dealing with the Giant Tiger Gang.

More importantly, Chen Cheng might not have spoken to them beforehand.

What if they refused to acknowledge it...

Chen An swallowed. The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became. He should never have opened his mouth.

"Longshan Middle Academy?"

The leading man froze for a moment, then turned to look at a small leader beside him whose face radiated shrewdness.

The latter pulled a list covered in tiny writing from his sleeve and quickly found Chen Cheng's name on it.

"So you are Master Cheng's relatives. My apologies, my apologies!"

The small leader first cupped his hands in salute. The leading man immediately caught on, and a smile instantly piled onto his face.

"Master Cheng's great name is like thunder ringing in one's ears! Your household's Peace Tax should naturally be waived!"

The man paused, then thumped his chest and promised.

"From now on, if there is ever anything you need from me, please speak freely. I would be more than happy to serve!"

"Ah... oh..."

Chen An and Madam Bai were stunned at first, then nodded again and again.

The surrounding neighbors witnessed the entire scene. Beyond their envy, when they looked at Chen An and Madam Bai, there was now a little more reverence and awe in the depths of their eyes.

Inside the Martial Hall dining room.

After Chen Cheng finished his allotted serving of rice porridge and stewed pork, he ordered two additional portions of Venison Medicinal Meal.

One was a free resource supplied by the Martial Hall after he had condensed his Second-Incense Blood Qi.

The other still required payment.

Five qian of silver—if it had been yesterday morning, he would have weighed the matter carefully and might not have been willing to spend it so easily.

But now, he did not even blink when he paid.

That was because last night's windfall had been far too substantial.

Zhao Chuan's money pouch contained a full seven taels of silver.

Chen Hao's pouch, meanwhile, held twenty taels of silver in cash, plus ten Gold Blade Coins.

At Great Shang's official rate, one Gold Blade Coin could be exchanged for ten taels of official silver.

In other words, Chen Hao's pouch alone was worth a full one hundred and twenty taels of silver. He had become rich overnight!

Only, Chen Cheng was the one who had grown rich.

Chen Cheng took this money with a clear conscience. He would not return a single coin to Chen Hao.

He slowly chewed the venison, the ledger in his heart calculated with icy clarity.

First, Old Chen and Chen Yong's vows were no more than farts. They had deceived his father into taking the place of another in the military conscription.

That had cost his father his life!

Second, Chen Hao had stolen his chance to practice martial arts, leaving him with no path even after awakening. He could only stake his life on Longshan Lower Academy.

That had nearly cost him his life!

Finally, the ten taels of reward silver that his father had exchanged his life for had also been shamelessly swallowed by Chen Hao, driving the two of them—mother and son—to the brink of starving to death alive.

That had severed the only path of survival for a widow and her orphaned son!

Had he not obtained the trump card known as the Vertical Eye Mark along with his awakening, the lives of all three members of their family would certainly have been impossible to preserve!

By that reckoning, Chen Hao had paid merely one hundred and ten taels of silver.

In truth, Chen Hao had gotten off cheaply!

"Everyone, quiet down!"

A young disciple hurried into the dining room, his voice raised high.

"Eldest Senior Brother asked me to pass on a message. All Outer Hall disciples who have condensed their Second-Incense Blood Qi are to gather at the Inner Hall as soon as possible."

The moment those words fell, several figures immediately stood, abandoning their unfinished meals and striding outside.

A few from poorer families hurriedly picked the stewed pork from their bowls and stuffed it into their mouths, their cheeks bulging round as they walked while chewing and swallowing with all their strength.

Naturally, Chen Cheng did not dare delay. He quickly finished the remaining Venison Medicinal Meal and followed them.

"That kid... where's he going?"

In the distance, Luo Boqing, whose face was wrapped in several layers of bandages, happened to see Chen Cheng rise and head out. His eyes were filled with confusion.

Dong Li and Sun An beside him were not much better off. Both were wrapped in conspicuous bandages and carried a heavy smell of medicinal salve.

Several people who usually ran with them had not come today. They had most likely been seriously injured during yesterday's mission and gone home to recuperate.

"He's full, so he's going out to keep training like an idiot."

Dong Li looked disdainful.

"What else can he do besides throw himself into brute labor?"

Sun An sneered even more.

"A worthless trash fish with inferior root bones actually thinks he can turn his life around just by training himself half to death? What a joke!"

Before their words had even faded, Chen Cheng stepped out through the dining room doors.

Just then, a morning breeze swept through the hall and lifted the hem of Chen Cheng's clothes, revealing a small Waist Token at his belt, engraved with a silver dragon character!

(Please vote with monthly tickets. Many thanks to [Aoyou Book Repository / Digital ID / Can't You Be More Low-Key / Qinghuan Ferry / 11-Year Shennong / Sailing Without Oars] for the monthly tickets.)