Jilong Road Lower Courtyard, at the boundary of Gengyin District.
Ding Wu, alone, arrived early at a roadside pavilion.
The pavilion was supported by gray wooden pillars, topped with green tiles, and the ground was paved with stone slabs.
Every year, the Lower Courtyard arranged for the storeroom disciples to come here to collect the land tax from Gengyin District.
In the grassy area next to the pavilion, one or two sickly Yellow Bud Rice plants could faintly be seen, about half a person tall.
Before long, a figure over two meters tall with dark skin and bulging muscles approached leisurely, yet swiftly.
The oppressive aura that came with him made Ding Wu’s heart tighten.
“Could it be Brother Zheng?” Ding Wu hurriedly bowed and saluted.
The muscular Brother Zheng looked at Ding Wu coldly without a word.
Ding Wu felt his scalp tingle under the scrutiny.
Zheng Jin, the second of the seven brothers from Wu Mountain, was an uncompromising cultivation fanatic.
And he had a volatile temper, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
If it weren’t for the rules of the Lower Courtyard holding him back, and the fear of being held accountable by the Inspection Courtyard, who knows how many would have died by his hand.
Even so, there were still rumors that a good number of disciples’ disappearances were related to him.
“I have a piece of news. It’s about a newly promoted disciple who is especially skilled at planting Yellow Bud Rice,” Ding Wu eagerly stated his purpose for being there.
“This year, the pest infestation was rampant, and his fields were damaged as well, yet he still managed to pay the full land tax, which clearly shows his outstanding technique.”
“I don’t ask for much, only ten White Jade Coins,” Ding Wu said with a smile on his face.
The seven brothers from Wu Mountain were often collecting various skilled farmers, exploiting their labor to earn White Jade Coins.
Knowing about Chen Mu, especially that he was a newly promoted disciple without any power, they were sure to make a move!
By that time…
He was pondering what he would do then, but noticed that Zheng Jin was still saying nothing, just calmly looking at him.
Ten White Jade Coins isn’t that expensive, is it? Ding Wu couldn’t help scratching his head.
The seven brothers from Wu Mountain forced others to help them farm, becoming exceedingly wealthy. Every year, two or three of them were able to go cultivate at the dojo.
Surely, they could afford ten White Jade Coins, right?
Thinking of his task, Ding Wu hesitated for a moment then resolutely said, “Five White Jade Coins will do.”
This should be enough to pass on the message.
But Zheng Jin still remained silent, looking at Ding Wu without uttering a word.
Ding Wu was filled with helplessness. Indeed, the richer people are, the stingier they become.
“Fine, I’ll tell Brother Zheng for free.”
After all, the money didn’t matter much; what was important was to deliver the message.
At last, the ever-calm Zheng Jin made a move.
He faced Ding Wu’s beaming smile, slightly parted his lips, and then suddenly exerted force from his abdomen.
“Tui!”
Ding Wu: “…”
…
“The man’s name is Chen Mu, in Xinxu District. I hope this helps Brother Zheng,” said Ding Wu, clenching his teeth after a prolonged confrontation, then turned and walked away.
If he didn’t leave now, he feared he wouldn’t be able to resist starting a fight.
Under the pavilion, watching Ding Wu closely, veins on his forehead exposed, angrily storming away until he disappeared at the end of the road.
Zheng Jin’s formidable figure shrank like a deflated ball.
He soon became identical to Ding Wu.
The muscles on his face adjusted, and apart from the absence of a scar on his face, he was almost the spitting image of Ding Wu.
“No rush,” Chen Mu suppressed the urge to catch up and kill the bastard.
Indeed, the Purple Bamboo Society was up to no good!
“Fortunately, I staked out at the Purple Bamboo Society last night.”
“Otherwise, I would’ve been taken out without even knowing!”
Chen Mu scoffed.
Then he quickly began to rummage for putty and pigments to apply to his face as black smoke swirled around him.
“If it weren’t for fear of being investigated by the Inspection Courtyard, I would have taken both of you down last night.”
With the aid of the Shape-shifting Technique, he quickly acquired a lifelike scar on his right cheek.
“But if the Purple Bamboo Society and the seven brothers from Wu Mountain were to clash…”
“It would be nothing out of the ordinary for one or two people to die.”
…
An hour later.
A man over two meters tall with bulging muscles and built like a tower approached the pavilion.
His hair was casually draped over his back, his eyes sharp, like a wild beast.
Seeing Chen Mu, he grinned, immediately revealing white, densely packed teeth.
Woosh!
A cloth bag whistled through the air, rapidly flying towards Chen Mu’s face.
Slap!
Chen Mu raised his right hand, only to feel his right hand being suddenly struck by a tremendous force.
Puh!
The cloth bag couldn’t withstand the collision, shattered into pieces, and White Jade Coins immediately scattered everywhere.
“I don’t care what your damn message is, I bought it. Take the money and scram!”
“Go back and tell your boss that the seven brothers of Wu Mountain want to see him.” Zheng Jin’s voice buzzed.
Chen Mu glanced at the White Jade Coins on the ground with astonishment. There had to be at least fifty coins in that bag!
It seemed like something had changed.
“Can you tell me why?” Chen Mu probed, without betraying his emotions.
“Ah, it’s nothing.” Zheng Jin said nonchalantly, “We’ve taken a fancy to the Purple Bamboo Society.”
“Those new disciples inside, they’re just idling around, so they might as well work for us in the fields.”
Chen Mu couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. The Purple Bamboo Society was being targeted.
“What if we don’t agree?” Chen Mu asked.
“Why wouldn’t you agree?” Zheng Jin looked at Chen Mu, not understanding.
“Didn’t you establish the Purple Bamboo Society to make money?”
“Hand over the people to us, collect land rent annually, take a cut, and focus on cultivating. Isn’t that good?”
Chen Mu fell silent.
Yes, why wouldn’t he agree?
He had come to the Lower Courtyard on Jilong Road to cultivate.
If the seven brothers of Wu Mountain offered enough compensation to allow Zhang Tu’an to cultivate in peace, why wouldn’t he agree?
But once they agreed, it would mean countless ordinary people at the bottom would be enslaved!
And he was likely to be among them.
A surge of sorrow and anger couldn’t help rising in his heart.
Wouldn’t living in peace be good? Why always strive for self-benefit at the expense of others?
He had honestly engaged in pharmaceuticals and farming, steadily cultivating at home.
And yet trouble had still found him.
He couldn’t help feeling resigned. This world…
Hiss!
A sharp cry suddenly arose.
A fine thread of black and red light pierced through the air and abruptly arrived in front of Zheng Jin’s forehead.
Puh!
A drop of blood splattered.
Zheng Jin withdrew his jet-black hands that had been crossed in front of his forehead.
Even as he covered them with Soul Strength at extreme speed, the center of his palms still bore a bloody, mangled puncture wound.
A depression deep enough to expose bone appeared on his forehead. Blood oozed from the depression, gathered, and slid down one side of the bridge of his nose.
“That really hurts.” Zheng Jin, looking at Chen Mu, involuntarily stretched a smile revealing a row of finely pointed teeth gleaming coldly.
“It’s been a long time since someone dared to take a swing at me.”
“Hancha Secret Technique? You’re quite skilled at it.”
“Rakshasa!”
Whirr!
Zheng Jin’s figure suddenly vanished from the spot.
Almost instantly, he reappeared in the air in front of Chen Mu.
His right hand, transformed into a claw, was raised high, with Jet Black Soul Strength swirling, enveloping, and reshaping.
In a blink, it turned into a monstrous claw the size of a human head, with wickedly curved fingers.
Zheng Jin split open his mouth wide, excitement filling his eyes as he looked at Chen Mu.
It was as if an eagle swooping down from the sky was staring intently at a startled rabbit.
“Ha!”
The next moment, black smoke suddenly materialized in mid-air, and like a python whipping its tail, it slammed down on Zheng Jin’s head.
Bang!
With a muffled sound, Zheng Jin, as if struck by a whip, was forcefully smashed into the pavilion’s floor.
The stone slabs shattered, dirt flew, and Zheng Jin’s entire body was involuntarily buried in the ground.
He stared at the swirling black smoke in front of Chen Mu, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Hiss!
A sharp sound suddenly rose again.
Puh!
A hole abruptly burst open in the depression on Zheng Jin’s forehead.
Without uttering a sound, he immediately fell to the ground.
Chen Mu gave the opponent a cold glance, carefully confirming that Zheng Jin was dead.
“You don’t want me to live a peaceful life? Then you all can start the commotion first!”
Then the black smoke rolled over, quickly gathering the spoils of war.
Afterward, the figure flashed and swiftly vanished.