How Was He Supposed to Prove That?

"Coming!"

Zhao Er called back and walked out of the side room.

Over the past few days, he had done nothing but head into the mountains and cultivate at home. Even his trips into the mountains had been quick ones, all because he was waiting for the men collecting protection money to arrive.

Chaotic as this world was, most of the bloodshed took place between martial artists. For ordinary people who stayed close to their villages and towns, the greatest threats were actually officials and gang members.

The last time Zhao Er had gone away, he had left no money at home because he needed it to obtain a cultivation art. His father getting injured as a result had been an accident.

Knowing that these men would be coming to collect protection money soon, his father, Zhao Dazhu, had taken the money over early that morning to wait and pay after receiving the notice.

Still, Zhao Er felt it would be better to go take a look. Besides, he had secretly killed their gang leader last time, so he needed to stay on guard.

[Cultivation: Martial Artist, First Realm—Blood Condensation]

[Five Poisons Returning to Origin Body (Blue) lv.2 (74/500)]

[Nine-Turn Golden Armor Art (Blue) lv.1 (17/80)]

[Five Poisons Fist (White) lv.2 (34/500)]

[Poison Resistance (Passive): lv.2 (2/500)]

[Available Skill Points: 2]

Zhao Er checked his panel as he led Zhao Shan out of the house.

After four days of cultivation, the original five strands of qi and blood within him had doubled. Thanks to cultivating the Nine-Turn Golden Armor Art, his strength had increased considerably as well.

Although cultivating the Nine-Turn Golden Armor Art brought almost unbearable pain, it greatly improved his fighting ability.

Zhao Er reckoned that if he encountered that Wang Family steward again, he could withstand the man's heavy punches head-on and kill him.

"Zhao Changde! Where's Zhao Changde? Get over here and pay! Four people in your household means a thousand copper coins. Fucking stop dawdling and wasting my time!"

At the entrance to the Zhao Family Village ancestral hall, a lean man with a goatee held a register, flipping through it as he shouted.

"Here, here! This is my family's protection money. Please count it!"

Hearing his name called, the slightly hunched Zhao Changde stepped forward and produced a large string of copper coins.

An underling beside the man took the coins, removed the cord threaded through them, and placed them in a wooden box. The box was specially made, with marked measurements; lining the coins up inside and checking the markings showed how many there were.

"A thousand copper coins! All there!"

The underling glanced at the markings, called out the amount, then casually dumped the coins from the wooden box into a large cloth sack beside him.

"Why the fuck are you still here? Waiting for me to hand out sweets?"

The goateed man made a mark in the ledger. Seeing Zhao Changde still standing before him, he thrust out a leg and kicked him.

Zhao Changde had just turned to leave when the kick struck him, sending him stumbling forward. If a quick-eyed villager from Zhao Family Village hadn't caught him, he might have taken a nasty fall.

At the sight, a trace of indignation appeared in many of the villagers' eyes.

"What are you staring at? Not happy I kicked him instead of beating you lot? Keep dawdling and wasting my time, and watch out for my club! Next, Zhao Changgui!"

The goateed man looked utterly scornful. He picked up the short club beside him and tapped it a few times, then called the next name.

"Here! Here's the money..."

Another villager stepped forward and took out a large string of copper coins.

While the villagers up front waited for their names to be called so they could pay, two men stood off to the rear, watching and murmuring to each other.

"Boss, if this guy keeps this up, he's going to stir up the villagers' anger, just like in Zhou Pond Village next door."

"What are you afraid of? They can't whip up any waves."

"I'm mostly worried it'll be like with our old bo... like with Li San before. He'll push someone too far."

"Relax. Even if someone snaps, they'll only kill this Yang fellow! We haven't laid a hand on anyone."

"I just don't understand why the deputy gang leader sent this Yang fellow along with us. Isn't he just making trouble?"

"How is he making trouble? With him here, aren't we collecting the money faster this year? Besides... if we don't put someone like this out here, how are we going to find whoever committed that murder last time?"

"Oh, so that's it! You're sharp, boss. You figured out what the deputy gang leader intended right away..."

The two continued whispering. Had Zhao Er been there, he would have recognized them as the two underlings who had followed Li San back then, only now one of them had become a leader.

"Fuck you! It says six here, so you have to pay protection money for six people!"

As the two spoke quietly, the goateed man named Yang suddenly bellowed from up front. They stopped talking and looked over together.

"There were six people in our family half a year ago, yes, but our third child fell sick three months ago and didn't make it. We told Boss Li San about it back then."

A villager stood in front of Yang, explaining.

"How many people in your family died has fuck all to do with me! Let me tell you, even if everyone dies except you, as long as this register says six, you have to pay for six!"

After hearing him out, Yang looked thoroughly impatient.

"But... but our third child really did pass away. Everyone in the village knows..."

Zhao Damin clutched his bag of copper coins tightly, his face filled with anxiety and misery.

"The villagers know, but the register doesn't! I just follow the rules. If the register says six, then I have to collect for six!"

Yang's face was cold.

"But... but..."

Zhao Damin had never been good with words, and in his distress, he had even less idea how to explain.

"Stop fucking saying 'but.' Either pay up now or prove your third child really died!"

"How am I supposed to prove that... how am I supposed to prove it when the child's already buried..."

"Buried? Then why the fuck don't you dig the body up? Heh... it says here that short-lived brat of yours only turned ten this year. If you really dig the body up and carry it over, I'll accept it..."

At this, a mocking look appeared on Yang's face.

In fact, there was a note attached to the register stating that Zhao Damin's third child had died. But in cases like this, collecting an extra half-year's payment was an unspoken rule, and the extra money went straight into their own pockets.

"How could I do that? My third child already died so young. How could I dig the body up?"

"Then pay up! If you don't pay now, don't blame me when this club shows no mercy!"

Seeing that there was no amusement to be had, Yang grabbed his short club and impatiently struck the ground a few times.

"But I didn't know I had to pay for six people. I didn't bring that much money..."

Zhao Damin's fingers had turned white around the money bag. He had wanted to keep pleading, but after seeing the short club, all he could do was mutter those words.

"No money? No money, and you're still wasting my time with this bullshit? You're asking for a beating!"

Yang had long since run out of patience. The moment he heard that Zhao Damin couldn't pay in full, his expression changed, and he raised his short club to strike.