Chapter 547: Something Happened

Winter arrives.

Boat Village.

A small red clay stove is puffing out white steam.

Once the water boils, Aaron picks up the kettle and brews himself a cup of clear tea.

At this point, he finally no longer has to drink tea dregs, having switched to good tea with whole leaves.

Outside the window, the cold wind blows, and there is a light snowfall.

He holds the teacup, blows away the heat, and watches the tea leaves slowly unfurl in the hot water, his gaze drifting slightly as he looks at his Attribute Panel:

【Name: Fang Yu (Aaron)】

That man has a thick beard and a tall build, yet at this moment he is screaming repeatedly from being whipped—it is actually 'Hu Ye'!

"How come you fell before I even used any strength?"

"Black Sand Palm combined with Medicinal Sand makes for decent training speed, but it's just too expensive... If I used it every day, it would cost sixty taels of silver a month... However, a Force-Entering Martial Artist is considered a figure of importance wherever they go; joining a gang would allow one to be immediately promoted to a small leader, or one could guard a house, escort caravans, or protect travelers—there are quite a few ways to make money."

"Ah!"

Aaron will not give others a handle to use against him, so he refuses directly.

"Without realizing it, I have already been in this world for four years... Four years—how many four-year periods does a life have?"

"I won't help!"

At this moment, a plump, fair-skinned man who looks like a wealthy squire steps out and bows to the crowd: "Fellow elders and neighbors, I am 'Wang Hua', though everyone can also call me 'Wang Pangzi'... Today, on the orders of the gang leader, I am here to announce two things."

"First, this 'Zhang Heihu' has been derelict in his duties and engaged in underhanded dealings... he even allowed fishermen to secretly sell 'Red Blood Carp' to the county town. He is hereby dismissed from his position as Fish Market manager, and I shall serve in his stead. Furthermore... thirty lashes to serve as a warning to others!"

After sighing over how youth easily slips away, Aaron thinks about his own training progress.

Aaron takes a deep breath, walks out of the boat cabin, and follows the boardwalk to the entrance of the village.

This is the first time he has spoken to Aaron since the incident.

【Realm: Bright Strength (Entry)】

Several old fishermen gasp in shock: "Isn't that... Lao Yutou?"

Having been friends, he should still come to see him off.

He claps his hands, and immediately a Golden Fish Gang member carries a bamboo pole over to show the crowd the head on it.

It is just that such paths are often accompanied by trouble; Aaron does not want to invite trouble, so he does not go.

'You old dog... aren't you the best at saving your own skin? You even advised me before... I never expected that someone as thick-browed and big-eyed as you would do something like this?'

If he were to gamble successfully this time, he would likely abandon his home and business and leave his native land.

A sound of gongs comes from outside, making Aaron frown, knowing that something major has happened.

"Good!" The fishermen have long suffered under 'Hu Ye'; they used to dare to be angry but not speak, but now seeing him become a dead tiger, they cannot help but cheer one after another.

Clang! Clang!

Reaching a reconciliation was merely to make it easier to clear away suspicion in the future...

For a moment, Aaron is actually quite stunned.

More importantly, after the news spread that he had become an official Disciple of the Qingshan Martial Arts Hall, 'Hu Ye' had specifically come to apologize once, keeping a very low profile and speaking with servility. The funny sight of that fleshy face putting on a fawning expression makes the corners of Aaron's mouth curl into a smile even now as he recalls it.

"Heh... it's precisely because I've lived long enough to understand that one must gamble when an opportunity arises in this life! If you don't gamble, you will always be beneath others!"

Xiao Chu looks at Lao Yutou's head, seemingly recalling his own father; he first cries out three times, then says fiercely: "If you won't help, fine... I'll do it myself!"

The fishermen sigh and walk away one after another; some do not even dare to pay their respects to Lao Yutou, fearing they might anger the people from the Golden Fish Gang!

No!

There is still someone!

Xiao Chu, dressed in tattered clothes, walks over. Looking at Lao Yutou's head on the bamboo pole, his eyes seem to be erupting with flames: "Zhang Heihu has become a dead tiger... now that he is no longer imposing and has no subordinates to protect him, will you help me or not?"

He closes his eyes, and the scene of the other man puffing on his dry tobacco pipe seems to be right before his eyes again.

"Hmm?!"

He currently earns over ten taels of silver a month from fishing, using Medicinal Sand to train for five days a month, and relying on self-study the rest of the time, which is not bad.

"Coward! What's the use of you practicing martial arts!"

Brewing tea and tasting it is only one of his pastimes.

Two days ago, he even specially invited his fellow disciples to go to the pleasure house for a team-building session, where he saw the Flower Courtesan, Hong Yu; she was indeed quite beautiful, with both song and dance being peerless.

"How could it be Lao Yutou? He was such a sensible man!"

At this time, Wang Pangzi continues: "As for this second matter... it is to reiterate the gang rules! Anyone who dares to violate them will be killed!"

"That was Red Blood Carp, and sold privately at that! It could fetch at least one hundred taels! If one had such a large sum of silver, it would be enough to abandon the boat, go to the countryside to buy a few acres of land, take a wife, and live a stable life!"

While maintaining self-discipline, Aaron has not become a training fanatic, but instead finds some joy in his life whenever possible.

【Talent: Immortality】

Aaron looks up; his eyesight is astonishing, and he can clearly see Lao Yutou's graying hair, bloodless face, and unique bulbous nose...

【Martial Arts: Flowing Sand Palm (Great Success), Black Sand Palm First Layer (Entry)】

Listening to the discussions of those around him, Aaron also recalls the situation.

【Age: 20】

【Skills: Fishing (Proficient), Sea Gathering Residual Art (Entry)】

This leaves the fishermen even more stunned.

"Everyone come out!"

The urgent sound of the gong reminded him of the tragic state of Lao Chutou and his son back then.

However, although he accepted Hu Ye's apology on the surface, he had not abandoned the plan to finish him off.

What a pity... in the end, he still lost, lost completely! He even lost his life!

Clang! Clang!

The children were one after another covered by the eyes of adults, and the women let out screams.

As long as one leaves Taize Prefecture, who knows what the Golden Fish Gang amounts to?

In the crowd, Xiao Chu was also there, staring fixedly at a person kneeling on the ground receiving a whipping.

"Taking advantage of the slack winter, I have already figured out the habits, residence, and travel routes of that dead tiger... I can make a move once I find an opportunity!"

After Wang Pangzi left with the people from the Golden Fish Gang, Aaron came under the bamboo pole, unplugged the wine gourd, and poured the Yellow Wine onto the ground.

The one whipping Hu Ye was, surprisingly, also a member of the Golden Fish Gang.

Although Lao Yutou was timid and afraid of trouble, he did indeed often lament that life was bitter; perhaps he did not take risks before because the profit was not big enough!

Aaron, however, curled his lips: "The great mountain that is the Golden Fish Gang hasn't fallen yet, you are all happy too soon... Eh? Someone actually caught a Red Blood Carp? And secretly took it to sell for money? Even I wouldn't dare, this is truly daring... The county town? Hmm... that is quite an idea!"

Watching Xiao Chu's departing back, Aaron narrowed his eyes slightly.

"This kid... the simple honesty of the past is gone... Sure enough, hatred is what changes a person the most."

(End of this chapter)