Huang Xiao and Huo Lian sat in the seats of honor, listening to the reports from everyone below.
It was mainly the two Deputy Gang Leaders and four Grand Elders who spoke. The other Elders simply listened quietly.
After more than two hours of accounts, Huang Xiao finally gained a deeper understanding of the Fierce Mountain Gang.
In truth, the Fierce Mountain Gang was not as prosperous as the Wild Ox Sect imagined.
The Fierce Mountain Gang had squeezed quite a lot out of the sects beneath it, but most of that income was offered as tribute to stronger sects above it. Only this way could it obtain their protection.
Wang Xiongshan had holed up here precisely because he did not want to stir up trouble or invite disputes.
Thus, he did his best to satisfy the demands of the sects above him.
When those above increased the Fierce Mountain Gang's annual silver tribute, he naturally increased the tribute demanded from the sects below.
Just as he had this time, raising the Wild Ox Sect's tribute straight to a hundred thousand taels.
"The annual silver tribute to the Soul-Reaping Sect is eight hundred thousand taels?" Huang Xiao asked after hearing them out.
"That was in previous years. This year, they raised it to a million taels," the First Deputy Gang Leader said respectfully.
"So that was why you added fifty thousand taels to the Wild Ox Sect's tribute?" Huang Xiao asked.
"This... this was an order Wang Xiongshan gave earlier," the Second Deputy Gang Leader hurriedly said.
"The Fierce Mountain Gang currently has twenty sects under it. Previously, each sect paid fifty thousand taels, making a million taels a year, leaving the Fierce Mountain Gang a surplus of two hundred thousand. After this increase, that becomes two million taels. Deduct