The Star River Era! The Dimensional Freedom Demon

Under the bed, the third stone from the right.

Following his memory, Ji Chen took away some of the money that the skinny monkey had hidden there.

Skinny Monkey was a shrewd man. He divided his money into three parts, giving one part to the martial arts school and keeping the other part for himself.

This was originally intended for my "brother" before I left, but I never expected that his acting skills were so lacking, and that my "brother" wasn't entirely innocent either.

In that case, the money naturally cannot remain here.

It would be better to give it to him as provisions for martial arts training.

As the saying goes, "the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts," meaning that if you want to master a skill, it's impossible without spending a lot of money on medicine and meat.

After glancing around the room one last time, Ji Chen packed up some marinated fish and left.

Before leaving, he casually glanced around.

In the bushes to the left of the hut, Liu Zi, who had been left to keep watch, lay trembling on the ground.

For some reason, he had a feeling that the "skinny monkey" was looking at him just now, like a legendary master who seemed to be able to foresee the future.

"Monkey Brother has changed a lot this time, it's scary."

Liu Zi suddenly lost confidence in the operation against Monkey Brother, feeling that Monkey Brother was now terrifyingly strong.

It's frightening for no reason whatsoever.

The ability to assess situations and act accordingly is an instinct honed over many years by a nobody like him, but his instincts are stronger than those of others.

Liu Zi's eyes darted around, and he quickly came up with an idea.

. . . . . .

Tiger's house.

A large red lantern hung high at the entrance, the passageway was clean and tidy, and melodious tunes drifted from the courtyard from time to time.

The grand mansions and the fish-smelling, muddy roads, and emaciated fishermen mingled together in a strange yet harmonious way.

The main hall in the courtyard was packed with people, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts. The burly man was surrounded by a group of people bowing and scraping, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Shrimp Head seized the opportunity to approach, and Little Wing flattered him.

"Master Tiger, I've already dealt with that ignorant fellow. What do you think..."

The burly man was Tiger, and his face hardened:

"Huh?! What are you looking at? Isn't that what you're supposed to be doing?!"

He knew this guy was asking for a reward.

Logically speaking, this person is so sensible, he should indeed be rewarded.

However, the art of managing people lies in the balance of tension and relaxation. Unspoken rewards are one way he controls his subordinates.

"This...this..."

After making several such sounds, the shrimp head responded with a flushed face.

Tiger grunted a few times before slowly saying:

"Weren't you brothers with that monkey guy? Why did you throw him into the lake?"

Why don't you, you son of a bitch, know this?

Despite his resentment, the shrimp head became increasingly submissive on the surface.

"That ungrateful bastard, he doesn't understand, but don't I, as his older brother, understand?"

"If it weren't for Tiger Lord's kindness, how could we peasants possibly make a living in this area?"

"A peasant like me wants to get ahead through martial arts? Isn't that just trying to break away from Tiger and start my own business? What kind of logic is that? Even if Tiger doesn't say anything, I still have to deal with this black sheep."

In the fish market of Changjiang County, each manager's henchmen were considered his personal property.

Fishermen like Skinny Monkey and Shrimp Head had to pay stall fees, and half of their remaining profits had to be handed over to tyrannical bosses like Tiger.

Tiger, in particular, had the backing of the Manchus, making him a kind of white glove for the Manchus in the inner city. As a result, compared with other managers, Tiger's power and number of henchmen far exceeded Tongji's.

With the livelihoods of so many fishermen in his hands, Tiger Lord, while enjoying his power and privilege, couldn't help but worry that his men might develop rebellious intentions and threaten his continued enjoyment of wealth.

The skinny monkey's behavior violated his taboo.

A peasant, who had a stroke of good luck in his territory, not only found some silver but also wanted to learn martial arts.

What does a peasant like him want to achieve by learning martial arts?

Wandering the martial world?

If you don't have a life in your hands, are you still a江湖客 (jianghu kè kè, a wandering swordsman)?

To improve physical fitness, so as to catch more fish and make more money?

A person with a sharp blade naturally harbors murderous intent. If someone possesses exceptional skills yet remains docile, they are either a saint or an unparalleled madman.

In short, Tiger Lord has always advocated for the complete elimination of any potential destabilizing factor like Skinny Monkey, who could shake morale and cause future instability.

"You're quite sensible. Go play in the backyard."

Tiger was very satisfied with his methods and enjoyed Shrimp Head's flattery, so he decided to grant Shrimp Head's wish and allow him to play with the prostitute he had bought a few years ago.

The shrimp head immediately beamed with joy, and the fly rubbed its hands together and retreated.

Just as Shrimp Head was about to walk past the front yard and head towards the back yard where the maids were, he was stopped by a dark figure.

"Hey, who's got the guts to stop you, Shrimp Master? Don't you even know what's going on... Hey, Blackie, what brings you here?"

Shrimp Head's face was still flushed with anger. He was furious and wouldn't let the kid off the hook unless Hei Er gave him an explanation.

"Something's wrong, something's wrong, Shrimp Head Bro..." Hei Er suddenly lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, before whispering:

"Skinny Monkey isn't dead. We saw him going home earlier."

"Ah, he's not dead?"

Shrimp Head looked incredulous. He had personally beaten Skinny Monkey so badly that he was unconscious. It was unbelievable that he could survive being thrown into the lake under such circumstances.

Despite his disbelief, remembering Tiger's past ruthless methods, he dared not delay and hurriedly pulled Hei Er away.

Tiger, who was sitting in the main seat, happened to see this scene and couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

One of his men asked:

"Tiger, what's wrong?"

Tiger didn't answer, but pondered for a moment, then said, "Ah Shui, go and take a look."

. . . . . .

Ji Chen planned to get to the county town as soon as possible tonight. It was getting late, and the dog holes along the city wall were probably all occupied. If he didn't hurry, he really wouldn't have anywhere to spend the night.

The road was uneven, and the trees were dense. With the moon dimming, the place seemed like a ghost town.

A timid person walking on this road might be terrified by the slightest noise behind a tree.

However, for Ji Chen, this terrifying atmosphere was like a gentle breeze.

The life or death of his human host will not affect his physical safety within the Human Federation.

When people are not even afraid of death, what are ghosts?

However, Ji Chen's plan to go to the county town today was destined to be somewhat fraught with difficulties.

"stop!"

"Don't run!"

.......

As soon as Ji Chen turned around, he saw three thin, pale-faced, and rough-skinned teenagers surrounding him.

Shrimp Head had a sharp eye and recognized the skinny monkey at a glance, which startled him so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.

"You damned monkey, what are you doing alive? You selfish bastard, are you only satisfied when you've killed us all?"

As he spoke, he kicked him.

Ji Chen's face was gloomy as his gaze swept across the three faces.

The cold gaze sent a chill down the spines of the three. Shrimp Head's half-extended foot froze in mid-air, caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure whether to kick or retract it.

"Alright, since you're already here, why don't you stay?"