Spend the Silver, Avert Disaster

Lin Feng pretended he had heard nothing. He sat at the bun stall beside the blacksmith's shop, ate two buns, and drank a bowl of millet porridge.

When trouble came, one had to eat and drink one's fill first. Only then would there be strength to deal with it.

By the time those two men left the blacksmith's shop, Lin Feng had finished eating as well.

He entered the blacksmith's shop.

The shopkeeper hurriedly greeted him with a smile when he saw him. "Sir, you're here. What would you like this time?"

Lin Feng smiled as well. "I'm just looking around. I also wanted to ask if you know where Martial Arts Manuals can be bought."

"If you want Martial Arts Manuals, you can only buy them at the Black Market."

"There really is a place that sells Martial Arts Manuals? Where is this Black Market?"

The shopkeeper glanced toward the entrance, then curled the fingers of the hand resting on the table at Lin Feng, signaling for him to come closer so he could speak quietly.

Lin Feng cautiously leaned closer.

The shopkeeper whispered into Lin Feng's ear, "Sir, did you offend the Evil Wolf Gang?

"Two men from the Evil Wolf Gang just came by and asked about you buying a sword."

"Oh?" Lin Feng feigned ignorance. "What is this Evil Wolf Gang?"

"The Evil Wolf Gang is the city's second-largest gang.

"Though it ranks second, the Evil Wolf Gang is merely a wild gang. It cannot compare with the top-ranked Yunda Escort Agency."

"There are wild gangs?"

"I can tell at a glance that you're not from the city. The Yunda Escort Agency is a subordinate force of the Sword Sect and the true ruler of our Qinghe County.

"Whether it's the general commanding the City Guards or the County Magistrate handling daily affairs, they are all people from the Yunda Escort Agency.

"Of course, they may also have been sent directly by the Sword Sect.

"The Evil Wolf Gang does not belong to the Sword Sect's line, and no one above backs them. That's why they are called a wild gang.

"Even a wild gang is not something ordinary people can afford to offend. Sir, you'd best be extra careful."

Lin Feng felt that this shopkeeper was a decent man, at least he had given him a warning. "Thank you for the reminder, Shopkeeper."

"You're welcome. I don't know where the Black Market is either. You'll have to ask someone else. I heard that to enter the Black Market, an insider must lead the way."

After chatting with the shopkeeper for a while, Lin Feng left the blacksmith's shop.

Two Evil Wolf Gang members followed him from each side of the street.

Lin Feng headed toward the center of the city, his mind racing as he considered countermeasures.

He definitely could not leave the city now. In the city, these people would not dare make a move. Once he left the city, they would surely kill him and take his silver.

As the city's second-largest gang, the Evil Wolf Gang definitely had many experts stronger than him, and they had strength in numbers.

Lin Feng did not think he could escape.

Hiding in the city forever was no solution either. Leaving aside how worried his family would be, staying at an inn every day would sooner or later drain all his silver.

Since silver was the root of this trouble, he might as well spend it all.

He had originally planned to use the silver to buy Martial Arts Manuals.

But he could not find the Black Market anytime soon, and buying manuals probably would not use up all that money anyway. He might as well use it to buy a residence.

Once he bought a residence, it had to be registered at the county office. No one could snatch it away.

To transfer ownership of a residence, both buyer and seller had to personally visit the county office. Bandits would never dare go to the county office; going there would be walking straight into the net.

Robbing a residence was far harder than robbing silver. Bandits generally never entertained the thought of seizing one.

Lin Feng had long wanted to buy a residence in the County Town.

Xiaohe Village was far too unsafe. The bandits in the mountains came down every year to collect a head tax.

From time to time, there would also be a herd of wild beasts coming down the mountain.

Moving his family into the city would be much safer.

As Lin Feng walked along the street, his eyes remained fixed on the roadside, searching for notices advertising residences for sale.

As he walked, someone called out to him.

"Young Hero Lin, what a coincidence. We meet again."

Lin Feng turned and saw that it was Steward Li, whom he had met once at the county office.

Lin Feng smiled. "It seems we are fated to meet."

Lin Feng had a good impression of Steward Li. The man was warm and easygoing, and generous with his money.

Steward Li asked, "I saw Young Hero Lin staring at the roadside. What are you looking for? If you need anything, feel free to ask me. There is nothing in Qinghe County that I don't know."

Lin Feng thought Steward Li's tone was truly bold, but the man had the confidence to back it up.

Wanting to settle the matter quickly, Lin Feng did not beat around the bush. "It's like this. I want to buy a residence in the city, somewhere to stay whenever I pass through."

Steward Li pondered for a moment. "What price range of residence does Young Hero Lin wish to buy?"

Lin Feng answered readily, "You know how much silver I have on me. Buy one at that price."

A smile appeared on Steward Li's face when he heard this. "What a coincidence. The residence next to mine is currently for sale, with an asking price of two thousand seven hundred taels.

"I'll speak with my neighbor. We should be able to get it for two thousand five hundred taels."

Lin Feng was delighted. "Then I'll thank you in advance, Steward Li."

Steward Li extended a hand in invitation. "My home is just ahead. Young Hero Lin, come with me."

The two walked together, followed by Steward Li's six servants.

Naturally, the Evil Wolf Gang members following Lin Feng recognized Steward Li.

They were quite puzzled. How had this kid gotten involved with Steward Li of the city?

They relayed the matter to their superiors, and Lone Wolf Li Jingfeng, the Evil Wolf Gang's leader, told them to continue following him.

After walking for nearly half an hour, they finally arrived before Steward Li's residence.

Steward Li did not go home. Instead, he went straight to the gate of the neighboring courtyard and knocked.

"Old Zhang, are you home?"

An aged voice quickly answered from within the courtyard. "I'm here, I'm here. Old Li, what wind has blown a busy man like you over?"

"Open the door, quickly. I've brought you a buyer."

With a creak, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

A stooped old man with white hair and beard and a kindly face opened the gate. He swept his gaze over the group and invited them into the courtyard.

There was only one maidservant and four servants in the courtyard.

Steward Li led Lin Feng to sit beside a stone table in the courtyard.

Lin Feng glanced around and felt that the courtyard was quite nice.

It was a spacious siheyuan with six rooms.

There was also a parasol tree in the courtyard so thick that one person could barely wrap their arms around it. In summer, it would provide shade from the heat.

Steward Li asked, "Old Zhang, have you found a buyer?"

The old man shook his head. "No buyers have come to my door. I was already preparing to lower the price. Once I sell this residence quickly, I can go to the county city sooner to retire."

Steward Li pointed at Lin Feng. "Young Hero Lin here killed Wang Shanxiong, the notorious Flower Picking Bandit. Today, he brought Wang Shanxiong's head to the county office and collected a reward of two thousand taels.

"I also gave this young hero five hundred taels.

"Two thousand five hundred taels in cash for your residence. You won't be losing much. Why not sell the courtyard to Young Hero Lin?"

The old man hurriedly rose to his feet and bowed to Lin Feng. "Young Hero Lin is truly a righteous man."

Lin Feng stood and helped the old man up. "You overpraise me, Elder."

The old man sat back down and said, "When the Flower Picking Bandit Wang Shanxiong was committing crimes everywhere, every family in Longyuan County with a daughter had to live each day on tenterhooks.

"Young Hero, by killing this scoundrel, you have eliminated a scourge for Longyuan County. You have done a great deed of boundless merit.

"I will sell this residence to Young Hero Lin.

"I won't ask for more, just two thousand five hundred taels. I'll leave all the furniture behind for Young Hero Lin as well."

A courtyard this large truly could not be bought without at least two thousand six or seven hundred taels.

Moreover, this old man was leaving all the furniture behind.

His home in Xiaohe Village was practically bare to the four walls, with no decent furniture at all.

If he bought a set of furniture like this himself, it would cost him over a hundred taels of silver.

This old man was indeed giving him a considerable discount.

Lin Feng did not waste words. He directly completed the transaction with the old man, then went to the county office to register the transfer of ownership.

Not a single tael remained of the two thousand five hundred taels he had just received.

When Clerk Qian Wenshun saw Lin Feng spend all his silver, he silently cursed him as a spendthrift.

Once the Evil Wolf Gang received the news, they withdrew the people watching him.

Just like that, a crisis was resolved.

After the transaction, Steward Li insisted on inviting Lin Feng, his new neighbor, to visit his home.

Lin Feng also wanted to ask Steward Li about the Black Market, so he agreed.