Do You Want to Collect Protection Money?

[You successfully taught a group of hooligans and ruffians to cooperate with the constables. Merit +8.]

Zhao Zhi slightly raised his head. Looking at the prompt on the panel, the corner of his mouth twitched.

This Merit Panel's judgment was truly rather subjective.

He dismissed the thought.

Zhao Zhi glanced outside. He could not see what the Gray Snake Gang members were doing, but he could hear them moving the bodies.

He had consecutively slain Flying Cloud Stronghold's Fifth Chief and Fourth Chief, forging a death feud with Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Of course.

Even before this, the two sides had already formed a death feud.

His predecessor's father had died during the campaign to suppress the bandits of Flying Cloud Stronghold.

From seeing Flying Cloud Stronghold's Fifth Chief Wu Jiu during the day, to seeing Cloudflight Mountain's Fourth Chief Ge Zhou just now, with constable Qi D aqu accompanying them in secret—

It seemed County Magistrate Lu Guangyi had long since colluded with Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Every bandit-suppression campaign was likely more than a routine assignment. There were probably plans to amass wealth, or something else.

Zhao Zhi lowered his gaze, quietly considering the matter.

No matter what County Magistrate Lu Guangyi intended, or what Flying Cloud Stronghold planned to do, the most important thing for him now was to increase his strength.

Only overwhelming power could tear apart and crush every scheme and trick.

Initial Xiantian was not enough.

Flying Cloud Stronghold's First Chief was an Innate Warrior, with strength at the Innate Minor Achievement level, perhaps even Greater Xiantian.

With a thought from Zhao Zhi, the Merit Panel appeared.

[Martial Arts: Innate Unity Qi Technique (Beginner), Seizing Hand (Perfected), Grand Ancestor Saber Art (Perfected)]

[Merit: 54]

Fifty-four Merit was enough.

With another thought, Zhao Zhi ruthlessly poured Merit into the Innate Unity Qi Technique once more.

[50 Merit consumed. Innate Unity Qi Technique: Minor Achievement.]

In an instant.

A vast number of memories concerning the cultivation of the Innate Unity Qi Technique flooded Zhao Zhi's mind. One person, one cultivation method, training day after day, month after month, night after night without rest, pushing the Innate Unity Qi Technique to a higher level.

A strange and profound power emerged from the depths of his body, circulating along the path of the Innate Unity Qi Technique before gradually merging into his original inner qi.

In the blink of an eye.

The inner qi that had originally been no more than wisps had grown to the size of a little finger, nourishing his five viscera and six bowels, tendons, meridians, blood, and bones far more effectively than before.

After carefully sensing the state of his inner qi, Zhao Zhi slowly opened his eyes.

Innate Minor Achievement might not place him at the very peak of Qingfeng County, but he was still among the foremost.

Apart from those influential local gentry with extraordinary connections, even the county yamen had no such expert.

Zhao Zhi looked at the Merit Panel once more.

He had the Innate Unity Qi Technique for realm cultivation, but he lacked sufficient martial techniques. Whether it was Seizing Hand or the Grand Ancestor Saber Art, neither was particularly suited for the level of an Innate Warrior.

He would visit the yamen tomorrow and take a look.

The next day, at the yamen.

Zhao Zhi walked out of the yamen and slightly raised his chin. With a thought, the Merit Panel appeared.

[Martial Arts: Innate Unity Qi Technique (Minor Achievement), Giant Gate Palm (Not Initiated), Wild Wind Saber Technique (Not Initiated), Seizing Hand (Perfected), Grand Ancestor Saber Art (Perfected)]

[Merit: 4]

Giant Gate Palm and Wild Wind Saber Technique were both martial arts at the Innate Warrior level that he had obtained from the yamen.

The yamen's control over martial arts was neither strict nor lax. One needed a certain amount of merit and the county magistrate's approval.

However, after Lu Guangyi took charge of Qingfeng County, the yamen's rules had become exceedingly lax, with everything centered on Lu Guangyi.

Lu Guangyi cared only about money, not the yamen's martial arts.

As long as no one took the yamen's martial arts outside—especially martial arts at the Innate Warrior level—they could browse them freely.

This brought Zhao Zhi tremendous convenience.

All he needed to do next was cultivate properly, or obtain a large amount of Merit to advance his martial arts.

Seeing that it was already getting late, Zhao Zhi glanced at Luo Dashan not far away, walked over, and headed with him to Wang Family Tavern.

Inside Wang Family Tavern.

Zhao Zhi and Luo Dashan drank wine and ate small dishes, looking calm and carefree.

"Zhao Zhi, is it really all right for us not to patrol the streets? If Constable Chen finds out, it won't be good." Luo Dashan spoke cautiously.

"Don't worry. They have no time to bother with us right now." Zhao Zhi lifted his wine cup, wearing a relaxed, easy smile as he blinked at Luo Dashan. "Besides, aren't we patrolling the streets right now, keeping an eye on the safety of the common folk and their shops?"

Luo Dashan laughed. "That's true."

For some unknown reason last night, the Gray Snake Gang had thrown the corpse of Flying Cloud Stronghold's Fourth Chief, Ge Zhou, at the entrance of the yamen, causing the entire yamen to erupt in commotion.

Had the county magistrate not ordered that the matter not be spread, it likely would have traveled throughout all of Qingfeng County.

The county yamen was busy dealing with Ge Zhou and the Gray Snake Gang, so naturally they paid little attention to the two of them.

Luo Dashan leaned closer to Zhao Zhi and glanced toward the Wang family girl at the counter, lowering his voice. "Zhao Zhi, look. That Wang family girl has been secretly watching you the whole time. It seems your heroic rescue of a beauty the other day won her heart."

Zhao Zhi noticed the Wang family girl's gaze and smiled faintly. "She's only afraid you'll dine and dash."

"You..." Luo Dashan stared wide-eyed at Zhao Zhi, then gave a bitter laugh. "You really are impervious to oil and salt. But you killed the county magistrate's brother-in-law. He definitely won't let you off lightly. Be more careful during this time. Don't act impulsively, and don't stick your head out."

Zhao Zhi glanced at Luo Dashan.

He would not let him off lightly?

Indeed. He had already made his move.

Qian Tong and Luo Dashan were merely ordinary blue-clad constables in Qingfeng County. Neither knew how to curry favor with the powerful, so naturally they could not catch County Magistrate Lu Guangyi's eye and knew nothing of what had happened in secret.

"Mm."

Zhao Zhi picked up a cup of wine and took a shallow sip. His gaze shifted toward several people walking into the tavern from outside.

"Old Wang."

Ma Dazhong puffed out his chest and strode into Wang Family Tavern with an imposing air.

"Master Ma." Shopkeeper Wang hurried over, his face wreathed in smiles. "May I ask what brings you here this time?"

Ma Dazhong grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "What else could it be? Of course, the monthly incense money."

Shopkeeper Wang's expression abruptly changed. "Incense money? Didn't we already pay it half a month ago? Why are you collecting it again?"

As Ma Dazhong listened, his eyes slowly narrowed, a glint of viciousness gathering within them. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the Wang family girl behind the counter. An inexplicable smile curled his lips as he approached Shopkeeper Wang and patted his shoulder. "Isn't the gang leader about to break through in martial cultivation? Expenses are high, and more money is needed. So from now on, you'll pay incense money once every half month."

"Once every half month?"

Shopkeeper Wang's lips trembled, and his face turned slightly pale.

Once a month was already no small sum. Once every half month meant the tavern might not even make a profit.

"Master Ma, could you ask the gang leader to show some leniency? Once every half month is truly too much."

"Leniency?" Ma Dazhong's brow twitched lightly as he said with a lecherous grin, "It's not impossible. Send your daughter to the gang leader. Once you become the gang leader's in-law, all your future incense money can be waived."

Shopkeeper Wang hurriedly refused. "No, that's impossible."

"If it's impossible, then I'll see whether you have enough silver."

A vicious light burst from Ma Dazhong's eyes. He pressed heavily on Shopkeeper Wang's shoulder, sending him sprawling to the ground, then strode toward the counter, frightening the Wang family girl until her face turned pale.

Bang.

Before Ma Dazhong had taken more than a few steps, he slammed into a sturdy, upright body.

"Do you want to collect protection money?"

Zhao Zhi looked at Ma Dazhong with a gentle expression.