Gou Zai Wudao Shicheng Dao

Night fell over Heishan County, and the oil lamps in the streets and alleys cast a dim yellow light.

Just as Fang Xia was about to get home, she heard a series of shouts, curses, and cries from ahead.

Fang Xia paused, slowed her pace, and looked in the direction of the sound.

At the end of the alley, three thugs with short knives at their waists were seen bullying a middle-aged couple.

The leader of the thugs had narrowed his triangular eyes into slits and wore a sinister smile.

It was Huang Laizi, a minor leader of the Black Tiger Gang.

Surrounded in the middle was the Lu family, Fang Xia's neighbors.

Uncle Lu was beaten black and blue, blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth, and blood was still seeping from the wound on his forehead.

He knelt on the muddy ground, his voice hoarse, repeatedly pleading, "Master Huang, please have mercy, I beg you..."

We've already paid our monthly allowance, and we really can't afford any more money...

Aunt Lu sat slumped in the muddy water, her hair disheveled, her hands covering her head.

"Master Huang, please let us go! Our family is so poor, and our child needs medical treatment. We really can't afford the money for the wedding..."

Please have pity on us...

Huang Laizi kicked Uncle Lu away and sneered, "Pity you? Who pities me?"

"When my master, Master Biao, takes a concubine, every household in the outer city gives a congratulatory gift. Are you the only ones making an exception?"

The two men standing behind Huang Laizi were a man as thin as a bamboo pole with a scar on his face; one of them was Ying San.

A short, stout man with a face full of scars, was Ma Qi.

Fang Xia naturally recognized the two men who acted as henchmen for Huang Laizi.

Seeing that the Lu family refused to pay, the two men immediately stepped forward and kicked Uncle Lu, who was lying on the ground, several more times.

The kicks caused Uncle Lu to curl up on the ground, only able to let out painful groans, barely having the strength to beg for mercy.

"Old man Lu, if you know what's good for you, hand over the wedding money right now." Ying San kicked Uncle Lu, his tone arrogant.

"If you can't pay the wedding gift, we'll tear down your dilapidated house and throw your sick son into the mountains to feed the demons!"

Ma Qi echoed him, his face full of malice.

"Exactly! In this northern city, the Black Tiger Gang has the final say. They can crush you like ants. Don't push your luck!"

Fang Xia frowned deeply, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.

Looking at Uncle Lu and his wife, he felt a surge of sympathy, but he didn't move his feet.

Fang Xia knew in his heart that he had not yet mastered the Three Yang Stance, and had not even stepped into the Body Tempering Stage.

Huang Laizi, on the other hand, had condensed his qi and blood, making him a body-tempering martial artist.

Moreover, the Black Tiger Gang is one of the two major gangs in Heishan County.

They controlled half of the outer city, and even most of the trade in Black Mountain was firmly in the hands of the Black Tiger Gang.

The leader of the Black Tiger Gang is a martial artist at the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm, possessing formidable strength!

In Heishan County, those who can rival it are few and far between.

......

Anger raged within me, burning through my internal organs.

After taking a deep breath, Fang Xia rationally chose to ignore it.

The Black Tiger Gang is too powerful; he cannot afford to be their enemy.

Fang Xia knew that if she intervened now, she would not only fail to save the Lu family, but would also implicate her own family.

Furthermore, the relationship between the Fang family and the Lu family was merely that of ordinary neighbors!

The reason he felt angry was simply due to the influence of his subconscious from a past life.

Fang Xia was about to quietly take a detour to leave when Huang Laizi caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye.

Huang Laizi raised an eyebrow and strode towards Fang Xia.

His triangular eyes swept over Fang Xia, a fake smile plastered on his face.

"Hey, isn't this Xia-ge'er? Just got back from the martial arts gym?"

"I just got back, Brother Huang..."

Fang Xia remained expressionless, nodded slightly, and said nothing more, but she was already on high alert.

Huang Laizi didn't care about his indifference. He turned to the side and pointed to the wailing Lu couple behind him, his tone full of "grievance".

"Xia-ge'er, look at this mess, I don't want to do it either."

You old Lu, you really don't know what's good for you. My master Biao is taking a concubine, so I'm just asking him to pay some money to share in the joy.

That was for his own good, and also to save face for Master Biao. But he stubbornly refused; isn't that a taboo?

Sighing, Huang Laizi pretended to be reluctant: "We're all neighbors who see each other all the time, how could I really make things difficult for him?"

But he offended Boss Biao, and if I don't do something to save face, I won't be able to explain myself to Boss Biao when I get back, will I?"

Fang Xia sneered inwardly, but on the surface she pretended to agree and gave a perfunctory response.

"Brother Huang has it tough too; it's really not easy being a neighbor."

Seeing Fang Xia's gentle attitude, a calculating glint flashed in Huang Laizi's eyes, and he abruptly changed the subject.

Leaning slightly forward, Huang Laizi stared intently at Fang Xia.

"Yeah, that's right! Life is tough these days!"

A few days ago, the Black Mountain demons caused an uprising, and my Black Tiger Gang lost many brothers, so we're really strapped for cash."

After a pause, Huang Laizi said with a hidden meaning, "Brother Xia, your family has been living in this northern city for a year now. Shouldn't you pay your monthly allowance?"

If you're experiencing temporary cash flow problems, no problem, I can lend you some money first.

I'll only charge you three coins a day in interest. We'll settle the rest when your family has more money. What do you think?"

Fang Xia clenched her fists slightly, her inward sneer growing even stronger.

That scoundrel is really good at scheming.

He seemed generous and righteous, willing to pay the Fang family's monthly allowance in advance.

In reality, every word is calculated, hiding a heart that would devour people without spitting out their bones.

Although the eldest brother Fang Qing was severely injured by the demon, losing his left arm and destroying his martial arts foundation.

But he was ultimately a military examination graduate, with an official title.

The Great Xia Dynasty was founded on military strength and ruled the world together with the gentry.

Anyone with an official title was considered a member of the scholar class, and their household registration was classified as a military scholar.

Although the Fang family has declined, as long as the eldest brother is alive, this academic title still exists, and he is a proper scholar.

Fang Xia knew perfectly well that the scholar class had its own rules.

The Fang family was even exempt from government land and commercial taxes thanks to their academic achievements.

Although the Black Tiger Gang had some influence in Heishan County, monopolizing the outer city's territory and trade with Heishan.

The gang leader was a martial artist at the Qi Gathering and Meridian Opening Realm, but ultimately it was an underground gang and could not be brought into the open.

They would never dare to openly bully scholars who hold official titles.

If the Black Tiger Gang dares to openly bully the Fang family, it will be breaking the rules of the aristocratic clans.

All the scholars in Heishan County who had passed the military examinations and held official titles would not stand idly by.

However, if the Fang family were to voluntarily hand over their monthly allowance, it would be considered a sign of self-degradation and a lowering of their status.

If you ever want to raise your head again, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Moreover, the two coins of interest Huang Laizi mentioned each day may seem like small amounts, but when compounded, the annual interest rate becomes shockingly high.

Before long, the Fang family will be completely dragged into the abyss, never to recover.

How malicious this intention is!

Having figured this out, Fang Xia revealed a half-smile on her face and subtly changed the subject.

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Huang. You've really put in the effort."

However, Brother Huang seems to have forgotten that our Great Xia Dynasty was founded on military strength and ruled the world together with the "gentry".

Although my family has fallen on hard times, my eldest brother is a military officer who passed the imperial examination.

The family also held a military examination degree, and their household registration remained as "military scholars."

Fang Xia slightly raised her eyes, looked directly at Huang Laizi, and said, word by word.

"If my family were to pay our monthly allowance to your gang, and word got out, outsiders would only say that the Black Tiger Gang had broken the rules of the gentry."

This is neither good for my family nor for your gang, is it?

Brother Huang is a master of body tempering and skin refining, and is very knowledgeable; he should understand the implications.

Huang Laizi's fake smile froze, a hint of panic flashed in his eyes, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Look at my memory, I'm really confused!"

I completely forgot that Xia Ge'er's family holds official titles; it was my fault, my blunder!

As he spoke, Huang Laizi bowed to Fang Xia, apologizing profusely in an extremely humble manner.

"Thanks to Xia Ge'er's reminder, otherwise I would have made a big mistake today!"

"My apologies, please forgive me, Brother Xia!"

Fang Xia remained unmoved, simply waving his hand dismissively: "Brother Huang is joking. Ignorance is no excuse."

I have something to do, so I'll head home now. Please make yourself at home, Brother Huang.

After saying that, Fang Xia left straight away, her steps steady and her expression calm.

Huang Laizi watched Fang Xia's departing figure, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes, but in the end he dared not step forward to stop her.

He knew in his heart that Fang Xia was telling the truth!

Oppressing scholars is a major taboo, and even the leader of a gang would not dare to cross this line.

Gritting his teeth, Huang Laizi turned to look at Uncle Lu and his wife, his anger rising again.

However, having his interest dampened by Fang Xia, Huang Laizi lost the will to continue pestering him.

"If you don't raise the wedding money within three days, we'll demolish your house!"

After leaving behind some threatening words, Huang Laizi, along with Ying San and Ma Qi, left cursing and swearing.