Chapter 77: Is That You?

Jiang Cheng, like everyone else, stood at the doorway, waiting for the other side to come in.

Surprisingly, even though the Wild Wolf Gang had doubled their demand this time, the overwhelming majority still handed over the money.

Only that each time, the few from the Wild Wolf Gang would go inside for a while; even if they paid at the door, they would still go in.

This made Jiang Cheng both puzzled and uneasy.

Of course, there were also those who couldn't pay, lacking a few hundred.

Then the sound of objects being smashed was heard.

The homeowner, reluctant, instinctively tried to intervene, only to be pinned to the ground and beaten brutally by two or three people, letting out a gut‑wrenching scream.

"What a sin!"

Someone, unable to bear watching any longer, turned his head away.

Some people dared not speak, merely clutching their pockets tightly.

Those who had been hoping for luck, upon seeing this scene, fled immediately with whatever valuable items they had.

"These beasts!"

Jiang Cheng cursed inwardly as well.

All for a few hundred coins, they beat a person into this half‑dead state; the medical costs alone exceed a few hundred.

Moreover, they looted the house: anything of value was thrown into the car, and anything they couldn't take was smashed.

Soon, a group of people walked toward Jiang Cheng.

"Two thousand coins, not a cent less."

Behind Wei Bao, a long‑haired man holding an Iron Staff said,

"Gentlemen, I am a Senior Member of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall, exempt from management fees; this is my Membership Card."

Jiang Cheng took out the card and handed it over.

The few people in front of him were all taken aback.

Having collected Protection Fees from dozens of households along the way, this was still the first time encountering such a situation.

Even normally, this kind of situation might not be seen once in several months.

"You are Jiang Cheng?"

At that moment, Wei Bao spoke.

Jiang Cheng was startled; the other party hadn't even taken his card or glanced at it, yet already knew his name.

His original self didn't have enough face to be remembered by a gang leader.

Jiang Cheng thought of the only possible explanation.

"Brother Bao, it really is him," the long‑haired man said with a sneer after taking the card and seeing the name.

Then he glanced at the photo and date, looking exactly as expected.

The few Wild Wolf Gang members behind him, however, seemed disappointed.

"Let me see."

Wei Bao said as he took the Membership Card, gave it a few looks, then sneered and ordered the men beside him, "Search inside."

"Yes, Brother Bao!"

A few of them were about to enter the house.

"Gentlemen, what are you doing?"

Jiang Cheng's complexion changed.

"I've already shown you the Membership Card."

"What for? Of course to search inside, to see if anyone is hiding here."

"What does that mean?"

"What does that mean? What if someone hasn't paid, has nowhere to go, and hides here? We've previously uncovered several people doing that."

"Kid, I advise you to step aside quickly; don't think being from the Martial Arts Hall makes you great. If you provoke us, we'll still go after you."

"Exactly, step aside right now!"

"Sorry, this is my home; I can't let you search inside. Of course, you have many people; if you insist on searching, I have no choice. However, I will report this to the Martial Arts Hall later and let them judge the matter," Jiang Cheng said, then stepped aside.

As a result, this left the few outside stunned; they were neither going in nor staying out, and had to turn their heads toward Wei Bao.

Wei Bao's expression darkened, "Kid, your trick of hanging a tiger skin as a banner is getting more Proficient. Since you won't let us search, we won't search. But I have a word for you: the Martial Arts Hall can protect you for a while, but not your whole life, understand?"

After speaking, he sneered and tossed the Membership Card back.

"Go to the next house."

A few Wild Wolf Gang members glared at Jiang Cheng a few times before leaving.

"Brother Bao, that kid is so reckless; are we just going to let it be?"

"Yes, Brother Bao, does that kid think having a Senior Member Card makes him great? I could tear his head off and use it as a kicking ball!"

"Enough."

Wei Bao's mouth curled upward, "Why waste your breath fighting a dying man? In a few days, someone will send him off; he still has his Grandma, and neither can escape."

Hearing that, the few felt considerably relieved.

"Brother Bao, who is that person?"

"Alright, don't ask unnecessary questions."

Although they're not worried about the few leaking the news, they're not afraid of ten thousand but of a 'what if'—what if that kid gets wind of it early and hides in the Martial Arts Hall for days? Later, if the Iron Fist Gang occupies this place and these people are inadvertently captured, they'd truly die.

A few of them arrived at Chen Sao's neighboring door, saw it locked from outside, realized something, and forced the lock open to break in.

Jiang Cheng didn't go over; faintly he heard curses and the sound of things being smashed.

His heart gave a sudden thud.

The thing I was worried about still happened.

He had already moved everything that could be moved, but things like the bed, stove, and toilet couldn't be moved, and now they have become the objects of those people's venting.

His anger burned in his heart, but now more than ever he must keep his composure, because if those people learn that his family is familiar with the neighbors, what they will do next won't be just smashing; they might even set a fire outright.

After a few minutes of smashing, the few people finally came out, and before leaving they didn't forget to smash the door to pieces.

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath; as for Wu Tian's group, he didn't need to go looking for them—they would definitely come looking for him.

And these people.

If the chance arises, might as well send them to hell.

Because from the behavior of those two earlier, Jiang Cheng could easily guess; no wonder the Wild Wolf Gang members on the street deliberately kept an eye on him during the day but didn't follow him in the evening.

It must have been through Wei Bao that they learned his address; when he set up his stall on the street during the day, they had probably come by many times.

Not to mention, these people are thoroughly wicked.

After a while, Wei Bao and a few others finally left the vicinity and went elsewhere.

Jiang Cheng went next door once; indeed it was a wreck, even the two pots had been smashed to pieces.

These items, if replaced with new ones, would still cost around a thousand or so even if not two thousand.

Jiang Cheng silently recorded the expense, and after leaving, went to the two shops from yesterday, asked them to watch his door, and gave each ten yuan.

Perhaps because he had just lost two thousand yuan, the owners of the two shops reacted even more strongly than yesterday, solemnly promising they would keep a good watch and not give any chance to those thieves.

After doing all that, Jiang Cheng finally locked the door and headed toward the Martial Arts Hall.

If nothing goes wrong, today Double Staff can reach Mastery Level.

Even with Proficient Double Staff, it might not be enough to defeat Jiang Xiong and his men.

With Mastery of Double Staff, plus Iron Staff, it's a ten‑out‑of‑nine certainty; whether intentional or not, it's basically a sure win.

However, today it seems the guy surnamed Xiao is directing the members on the second floor.

Jiang Cheng frowned.

He must have taken the wrong medicine to go looking for a duel with the other side.

"If it really doesn't work, just spar with Senior Brother Lin and the others; the Experience Value may increase more slowly, but it consumes less stamina—just takes a bit more time."

(End of Chapter)