Coercion

The man the Tri-Union Gang sent to take over was named Qian Ming. He was from Big Tree Village, as it happened, and Xu Yang had seen him a few times before, so he was no stranger.

The Tri-Union Gang had a hall nearby, situated between Big Tree Village, Li Family Village, and White Stone Ward.

Back when he'd planned to ambush and kill Li Hu, he hadn't come here—not because he knew Li Hu was already in hiding, but because more than a dozen people were stationed at this hall year-round. It would've been unrealistic to come here and kill Li Hu, so he'd chosen to ambush him outside the village where Li Hu's mistress lived instead.

On his way into the city, Xu Yang took a small detour here, planning to pay the housing fee so these people wouldn't come harass his family.

The Tri-Union Gang charged the housing fee per person: five copper coins a month for each resident.

It wasn't much, but it wasn't nothing, either. They wanted you to live just long enough to keep paying them every month.

When Xu Yang arrived, he found that most of the people who'd followed Li Hu had been replaced. Several faces were unfamiliar.

Soon, he found the man in charge of recording the payments and handed him the ten copper coins he'd prepared.

"Which village, and what's your name?"

"White Stone Ward. Xu Yang," Xu Yang replied.

But after hearing his name, the man didn't write it down. Instead, he called to someone at the entrance, "Go fetch Master Qian! Tell him Xu Yang is here."

Xu Yang's heart sank. Had the Tri-Union Gang discovered that he'd killed Li Hu?

He kept his expression unchanged. Soon, Qian Ming arrived—a middle-aged man with a large belly.

Like Li Hu, he wasn't a martial artist. Xu Yang wasn't very afraid of him.

Even if the Tri-Union Gang had figured out he was behind it, he could still fight his way out of here. It was the gang's martial artists he feared, not these underlings who showed their faces in public.

"So you're Xu Yang?" Qian Ming narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down. No wonder he's so sturdy. He's a laborer who's worked the fields for years.

"This young one pays his respects to Master Qian!" Xu Yang smiled, doing his best to make his powerful frame seem smaller.

He'd changed a lot in the past month. He'd shot up in height, and his body had grown so sturdy it was hard to miss.

Qian Ming stared at him for a while, then suddenly slapped Xu Yang hard on the chest. The blow landed with a thud. Xu Yang took the opportunity to stumble back a few steps, putting on a look of "pain."

Qian Ming praised him. "It's a waste for a body like yours not to join the gang. Come work for me, and I'll make sure you eat well and live in comfort. It'll be ten times better than being an ox and a horse for people in the city."

Xu Yang's heart sank. Qian Ming wanted to trick him into joining the Tri-Union Gang, then make his move against Xu Qing. Otherwise, why summon Qian Ming just because he'd come to pay?

If he refused, he'd be slighting Qian Ming, giving him an excuse to make trouble.

If he agreed, Qian Ming could do whatever he wanted with him.

"Master Qian thinks too highly of me. I'm more timid than a mouse. If I worked for you, I'd only bring shame on you."

Qian Ming's face darkened. "You think you're too good for me?"

"Kid, Master Qian's giving you a chance. You should be grateful!"

"You don't know what's good for you!"

"You dare turn down Master Qian? Kill him!"

The surrounding underlings started shouting.

Xu Yang put on a frightened expression. "Please hear me out, Master Qian. A hero like you has my utmost admiration. It's just that I'm working for the Huang Family in the city now, and I signed a contract. If I quit, the Huang Family certainly won't let me off."

He'd brought up the Huang Family. That ought to help.

"Fine. In that case, I won't force you. I've heard you have a burden of a little sister who does nothing but eat your food. The Tri-Union Gang wants to buy her. Surely you won't refuse me this time?"

The threat in Qian Ming's words was unmistakable.

You've already refused me once. Refuse again, and I'll lose my temper.

Xu Yang drew a deep breath. "My sister and I have depended on each other since we were children. I would never sell her, no matter what. If there's nothing else, Master Qian, I still have to get back to work for the Huang Family."

Qian Ming didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed. "You've dared to refuse me twice in a row, and you still say you're timid. Go on, then. If you won't sell her, the Tri-Union Gang won't force a deal."

"Thank you for understanding, Master Qian!" Xu Yang clasped his hands, then turned to leave.

Qian Ming's eyes narrowed to slits as he watched Xu Yang go. In the end, he didn't press the matter further. Xu Yang's repeated mentions of the Huang Family had had some effect.

Xu Yang might not be anyone important in the Huang Family, but his uncle, Zhou Shunchang, had joined the family before it rose to prominence. He was bound to have some influence.

Besides, if they went too far, these laborers would fight back. At the very least, they couldn't make their move openly.

"Isn't he working in the city? You few, get ready. I want to make sure he doesn't get home tonight."

"Master Qian, if something happens to him tonight, won't the Huang Family suspect us?" one of his men asked.

They'd only threatened him today. If Xu Yang died that very night, the Huang Family would naturally suspect them first.

"Then we'll wait a few days," Qian Ming said.

The Huang Family had only risen to prominence in recent years, but it was best not to provoke them. None of those wealthy families in the city were simple. If they were easy to deal with, the Tri-Union Gang wouldn't be squeezing money only from these laborers.

Looks like I'll be getting even less sleep tonight.

Xu Yang hurried toward Wei Yuan Hall. Qian Ming had just wanted him dead, but the Huang Family's name had held him back, and he'd ultimately refrained from attacking on the spot.

He'd planned to deal with the Tri-Union Gang after breaking through to Qi Gathering, but now it seemed he couldn't wait.

The truth was, he'd been able to keep Li Hu's death under wraps because no one knew he was practicing martial arts in the city. Once that came out, it would be easy for people to connect the dots and suspect him. Sooner or later, the Tri-Union Gang and he would have to fight to the death.

If that was how it had to be, then they'd see who died first.

Thirteen people. That won't be easy.

Before leaving, he'd quietly observed the gang's hall. There were thirteen people there, and four or five of them carried sabers. If things went badly, he might not just fail to kill them—he could lose his life.

He'd only practiced martial arts for a month. He could handle a few people with his bare hands, but if they had weapons, even one or two could put him in danger.

As he made his way into the city, Xu Yang went over everything he knew about the Tri-Union Gang, trying to find some useful information.

"Ah Yang!" A voice finally called him back to himself.

He looked up and realized that, without noticing, he'd already reached the entrance to Wei Yuan Hall. The one calling him was his cousin, Zhou Xia.

"Cousin, what brings you here?" He pushed his thoughts aside and hurried over.

"What, am I not allowed to come?" Zhou Xia gave him a mischievous smile.

Xu Yang scratched his head. "That's not what I meant!"

"Father asked me to come see you."

As she spoke, she spread her fingers. A few bright silver pieces lay in her palm, worth about two taels. "Father asked me to bring these to you. He told me to tell you not to give up."

Xu Yang nodded first, showing her he hadn't given up, then shook his head. "I can't take this. Uncle has already helped me so much."

His uncle's monthly salary of two taels sounded like a lot, but both his cousins were married with children, and neither had a decent job. Their income was low, so they all depended on his uncle to support them.

"Father knew you wouldn't take it. He said it's a loan. Once you become a martial artist, remember to pay him back."

"All right!"

Only then did Xu Yang take the silver from Zhou Xia. "Thank Uncle for me. Tell him I'll definitely succeed in Qi Gathering."