Lian Taoze gave a bitter laugh, his voice heavy with exhaustion he could not hide. "We've had to surrender another sizable chunk of our profits. These days, our daily earnings barely cover our expenses. My father has also dragged me into handling household affairs, keeping me so busy my feet barely touch the ground. And now your sister-in-law is pregnant again... ah, there's just too much to worry about."
"Thank you for all your hard work, Senior Martial Brother."
Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian spoke at the same time, then could only offer a few words of comfort each.
There were things Lian Taoze had left unsaid. Another group of affiliated martial warriors had left the Lian Household. Including Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian, only four first-grade affiliates remained. Everyone else had gone.
Those martial warriors might have called him Senior Martial Brother with the utmost affection before, but when interests were at stake, each changed faces faster than the last!
It left him deeply hurt.
And the further the Lian Household fell, the more smug the Shen Clan became.
He had heard that the Shen Clan was now offering generous monthly stipends and had even recruited several second-rank martial artists. Its strength now far surpassed the Lian Household's, which was one reason the Lian Household's business had grown increasingly difficult lately.
But Lian Taoze did not voice these troubles. What good would telling Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian do? It would only burden them with needless worries.
Instead, he forced a smile. "Still, no matter how difficult things get, your monthly stipends are guaranteed. Neither of you needs to worry."
Zhou Chen immediately said, "What are you saying, Senior Martial Brother? Even if you couldn't pay us, the care you've shown us before would be reason enough for neither