Hu Ma

Lin Yi frowned and looked toward the courtyard. Before the person appeared, his voice arrived first.

"Oh, Uncle Lin, the food smells good today. I could smell the meat from far away. A guy like me only gets to eat meat once every three or five days."

As the voice faded, six burly, fierce-looking men gathered at the entrance.

The leader was a short man with a stocky build, a flat nose, and triangular eyes. A scar ran diagonally across his square face, and he looked to be only about thirty years old.

The faint fluctuation of True Qi radiating from his body made Lin Yi frown—an eighth-grade Qi Refiner, and a martial artist who had entered the Martial Way.

The Black Wind Gang was one of the two major gangs in Jiaqing County. It was said that their leader had long since broken through the Martial Pass and condensed True Qi within his body, making him a genuine seventh-grade martial artist.

These two major gangs usually made their living by collecting protection fees and sanitation fees in their territories. They were in constant friction, with frequent verbal disputes occurring both openly and in the shadows.

Because both had big shots from the county government backing them, the Peace Guard, responsible for maintaining order and arresting demonic creatures, turned a blind eye to their activities.

"Hu Ma! What are you here for? I've already paid this month's quota!" Lin Hua stood up abruptly, staring warily at the men flooding into the courtyard, his gaze finally settling on the short man in the center.

Hu Ma?

Lin Yi's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hey, don't worry, Uncle Lin. Our Black Wind Gang has been in Jiaqing County for so many years; we would never ruin our own reputation. Since you've paid the money, the Black Wind Gang will naturally ensure the safety of your Black Water Alley." The man named Hu Ma stroked the scruffy stubble on his chin and chuckled, "However..."

"Debts must be repaid. That's only natural, right?"

Lin Hua said indignantly, "What debt? When have I ever owed you a single penny!"

"I didn't say you owed it, Uncle Lin." Hu Ma unhurriedly pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and handed it to Lin Hua.

"Uncle Lin, you're an educated man. You should be able to recognize the writing and the signature on this IOU, right?"

"Lin Changgong—this is your own younger brother. He owed us a full one hundred taels of silver a few days ago, and now no one knows where he's run off to."

"They say a son's debt is a father's burden, and an elder brother is like a father. Since you're both father and brother to him, shouldn't you clear such a large debt for him?" Hu Ma said with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was stunned. Lin Xiuwen hid timidly behind Lin Yi and whispered, "Brother..."

Lin Yi patted his head. "Don't worry, it's fine."

"If that degenerate gambler Lin Changgong owes money, go find him! Why come to us!" Aunt Chen shouted angrily. "Even brothers settle accounts clearly. Why should Lin Changgong's debt be dumped on us!"

Lin Yi sighed inwardly.

He had met this second uncle of his a few times. He was a handsome man, but he was addicted to gambling.

Years ago, to avoid military service, he had broken his own leg. Now, nearly thirty, he was still unmarried and a cripple.

However, being able to owe fifty taels—it was truly a talent. In this day and age, it was considered good if an ordinary family of three could earn twenty taels a year.

The Lin family used to run a tea and pastry shop, and with Aunt Chen doing odd jobs, they could earn at most forty taels a year without eating or drinking.

This was clearly a trap set by Hu Ma for the second uncle long ago, all for the sake of the meteorite iron beneath the Lin Family Restaurant.

"Sigh... you good-for-nothing..." Lin Hua cursed in heartbreak. A breath caught in his chest, and he fell straight backward.

Lin Yi was quick-witted; he caught him, helped him sit down slowly, and gently rubbed his back to help him breathe, his tone filled with concern. "Uncle, don't let this anger ruin your health."

Hu Ma chimed in from the side with a sarcastic tone, "Oh my, Uncle Lin, you must take care of your health. Such a large debt—if you collapse, what will become of the two children? How will they live in the future..."

Aunt Chen frowned and said, "I said, our family shouldn't have to pay this. Whoever owes it, go find them. You go find Lin Changgong yourselves!"

She had long detested this useless brother-in-law.

He was lazy, addicted to gambling, old enough to be married but still single, and constantly idle, occasionally coming to their house to borrow money.

Hu Ma said in surprise, "You can't be serious, Uncle Lin. He's your own brother. We've already started looking for him, but if you really don't pay, according to gang rules, that means hands get chopped off—both hands."

Lin Hua sat heavily, taking a long time to catch his breath. A flash of struggle crossed his eyes, and he finally let out a long sigh.

"Hu Ma... you can see the state of my home. I don't have the money, and I can't pay these fifty taels anytime soon. Anything in or out of the house that you fancy, feel free to take it."

Hu Ma sat down opposite Lin Hua with a smile.

"Hey, Uncle Lin, look at what you're saying. If we really did that, wouldn't we be nothing more than common thieves?"

Lin Hua didn't speak, only snorted through his nose.

Hu Ma's eyes rolled, and he continued, "I've discussed this with you before, Uncle Lin."

"The location where you bought the restaurant is remote. I checked with nearby merchants, and the annual rent is only thirty taels. Considering the difficulty of your renovations, how about I take it off your hands for three hundred taels? I'll take it upon myself to wipe out your brother's debt."

Lin Hua's eyes flashed, and he snorted coldly, "The restaurant is out of the question. My family relies on it to survive. Take whatever you want from the house. If we can't pay the rest, we'll pay it off slowly in the future. If that doesn't work, then I simply won't pay this debt."

Hu Ma's expression turned cold instantly, and his tone deepened.

"Uncle Lin, at your age, you should know when to be sensible and when to yield. Acting this way is how you accumulate blessings for your descendants. You wouldn't want to see some unsavory characters show up on the day your new shop opens, would you? If Aunt Lin or the two children were accidentally hurt, you couldn't blame anyone else."

Lin Hua remained silent.

Hu Ma's gaze swept coldly around the room, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Fine, fine, fine. Uncle Lin, how many years have we known each other?"

"Tomorrow, when the restaurant opens, I will definitely bring my brothers to show our support."

After saying this, Hu Ma raised his hand, signaled to his subordinates behind him, and left.

Lin Yi watched Hu Ma's retreating back.

He understood the situation well enough.

The other party's visit today was clearly meant as intimidation.

After this, things likely wouldn't be so simple...