Coercion

The man the Three Harmonies Gang sent to take over was called Qian Ming. As it happened, he was from Big Tree Village too. Xu Yang had met him a few times, so he was no stranger.

The Three Harmonies Gang had a local branch situated between Big Tree Village, Li Family Village, and White Stone Ward.

When Xu Yang had planned to ambush and kill Li Hu, the reason he had not come here was not that he knew Li Hu had gone into hiding. Rather, over a dozen men were stationed at this branch year-round, making it impractical to kill Li Hu here. That was why he had chosen to ambush him outside the village where his mistress lived.

On his way into the city, Xu Yang took a slight detour here, intending to pay the peacekeeping fee so these people would not harass him at home.

The Three Harmonies Gang charged its peacekeeping fee by the head: five copper coins per person each month.

It was not much, but it was not little either. They wanted people to scrape by, neither quite living nor quite dying, so they could keep paying tribute every month.

When Xu Yang arrived, he discovered that most of Li Hu's former followers had been replaced. Several of the faces were unfamiliar.

He soon found the man responsible for keeping records and handed over the ten copper coins he had prepared.

"Which village? What's your name?"

"White Stone Ward, Xu Yang!" Xu Yang said.

But after he gave his name, the man did not record it. Instead, he called to someone by the door, "Go fetch Master Qian! Tell him Xu Yang is here."

Xu Yang's heart sank. Had the Three Harmonies Gang discovered that he had killed Li Hu?

He kept his expression composed. Before long, Qian Ming arrived-a middle-aged man with a large belly.

Like Li Hu, this man was no martial artist, so Xu Yang was not particularly afraid of him.

Even if the Three Harmonies Gang had discovered what he had done, he could fight his way out of here with ease. What he feared were the gang's martial artists, not these lackeys who showed their faces in public.

"You're Xu Yang?" Qian Ming narrowed his eyes and looked Xu Yang up and down. As expected of a mud-legged peasant who labors all year round. He really is sturdy.

"My respects, Master Qian!" Xu Yang smiled, trying to make his powerful frame look as small as possible.

He had changed greatly over the past month. He had shot up in height, and his body had grown frighteningly robust. Qian Ming could hardly fail to notice.

Qian Ming stared at him for a while, then abruptly slapped his broad hand against Xu Yang's chest with a thump. Xu Yang took the opportunity to stagger back several steps, putting on a look of "pain."

"What a waste of that body, not joining a gang," Qian Ming praised him. "Come work under me. I guarantee you'll feast on fine food and drink your fill. Ten times better than slaving like an ox or a horse for someone in the city."

Xu Yang's heart sank. This was an attempt to lure him into the Three Harmonies Gang, then scheme to get Xu Qing. Otherwise, why summon Qian Ming just because he had come to pay?

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

If he agreed, Qian Ming would need only say the word to do whatever he wanted to him.

"You flatter me, Master Qian. I have less courage than a mouse. Working under you would only disgrace you."

Qian Ming's face darkened. "You think I'm beneath you?"

"Boy, Master Qian is honoring you by letting you follow him."

"Ungrateful brat!"

"He dares snub Master Qian? Kill him!"

The surrounding lackeys began shouting.

Xu Yang looked terrified. "Please understand, Master Qian. I deeply admire a hero like you. It's just that I'm working for the Huang Family in the city now, and I've signed a contract. If I stop working, they certainly won't let me off."

He had brought up the Huang Family. That ought to help somewhat.

"Fine. In that case, I won't force you. I hear you have a little sister weighing you down, doing nothing but competing with you for food. The Three Harmonies Gang wants to buy her. You won't refuse me again this time, will you?"

Qian Ming's words were thick with menace.

You've already refused me once. Refuse me 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 little. I won't sell her under any circumstances. If there's nothing else, Master Qian, I must hurry to work for the Huang Family."

Qian Ming did not get angry. Instead, he laughed. "You dare refuse me twice in a row, yet you claim you're timid? Go on. Since you don't want to sell her, the Three Harmonies Gang won't force a sale."

"Thank you for understanding, Master Qian!" Xu Yang cupped his hands, then turned and left.

Qian Ming narrowed his eyes to slits and watched Xu Yang leave. In the end, he did not press him further. Xu Yang's repeated mentions of the Huang Family had had some effect.

Xu Yang might be nobody in the Huang Family, but his uncle Zhou Shunchang had served them since before their rise. His words were bound to carry some weight.

Besides, if things turned ugly, even these mud-legged peasants would fight back. At the very least, they could not act openly.

"Doesn't he work in the city? You lot, get ready. I don't want him making it home tonight."

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

They had threatened him today. If Xu Yang died that very night and the Huang Family investigated, they would naturally be the prime suspects.

"Then wait a few days," Qian Ming said.

Although the Huang Family had only risen in recent years, it was better not to provoke them if they could help it. None of those wealthy city households were simple. If they were easy prey, the Three Harmonies Gang would not limit itself to squeezing money out of these mud-legged peasants.

"Looks like I'll be getting less sleep again tonight."

Xu Yang strode toward the Mighty Far Hall. Qian Ming had already shown murderous intent just now, but the Huang Family's name had cowed him, and he had ultimately restrained himself from striking on the spot.

Xu Yang had originally planned to deal with the Three Harmonies Gang after breaking through and gathering qi. Now, it seemed he could no longer wait.

In truth, his killing of Li Hu had stayed hidden only because no one yet knew he was practicing martial arts in the city. Once that came to light, people could easily connect it to him. Sooner or later, he and the Three Harmonies Gang would face each other in a fight to the death.

Since that was the case, it was just a matter of who died first.

"Over a dozen men. Not easy to kill!"

Before leaving, he had quietly observed the branch. There were thirteen members of the Three Harmonies Gang there, four or five of them armed with sabers. If he handled things poorly, never mind killing them-he might lose his own life.

He had only practiced martial arts for a month. Fighting several people barehanded would be no problem, but if they had weapons, even one or two could put him in danger.

On his way into the city, Xu Yang went over everything he knew about the Three Harmonies Gang, searching for useful information.

"Yang!" A voice finally roused him.

He looked up and realized that, without noticing, he had already reached the entrance to the Mighty Far Hall. The person calling him was his older cousin, Zhou Xia.

"Cousin, what brings you here?" Setting aside his thoughts, Xu Yang hurried over.

"What, am I not allowed to come?" Zhou Xia flashed a mischievous

smile.

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

"Dad sent me to check on you!"

As she spoke, she spread her fingers, revealing several gleaming pieces of silver in her palm. They looked to total about two taels. "Dad asked me to bring you this. He told me to tell you that you mustn't give up."

Xu Yang first nodded to show that he had not 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 older male cousins had married and had children. Neither had decent work, and their earnings were low. They all depended on his uncle to support them.

"Dad knew you wouldn't take it. He said it's a loan. Remember to pay him back once you become a martial artist."

"All right!"

Only then did Xu Yang take the silver from Zhou Xia's hand. He said earnestly, "Thank Uncle for me. Tell him I'll definitely succeed in gathering qi."