Chapter 8

That's the Black Tiger Gang.

Heavens, how could the Black Tiger Gang suddenly come?!

So many people.

What is the Black Tiger Gang?

Amid the crowd's shock and discussion.

From the village entrance, the sound of horse hooves was continuous and urgent, rumbling loudly.

A large group of figures on horseback came galloping swiftly.

In the blink of an eye they had arrived here, a black mass, at least seventeen or eighteen of them.

The figures on horseback were all sturdily built, with cold smiles on their faces, exuding a strong aura of blood-slaughter.

Each wore a long saber and a long sword at their waist.

Behind them they also carried black flags.

The flags bore embroidered tiger patterns with golden filigree, each imposing and stern, utterly unlike ordinary villagers.

Even Fang Yi felt a stir in his heart.

The Black Tiger Gang is a power in Qingyang City.

Throughout Qingyang City they are the true local tyrants, with many followers, involved in various industries in the city.

The Zhang family actually colluded with the Black Tiger Gang!

No wonder I had repeatedly seen the Zhang family patriarch acting furtively these past few days; perhaps he was contacting the Black Tiger Gang.

Sir, I am Shen Qingshan; may I ask why you esteemed elders have come today?

Shen Qingshan, the Shen family patriarch, his expression shifting, could not help but step forward and clasp his fists.

Whoosh!

As his words fell, the leading middle-aged man gave a cold laugh, swung his horsewhip, producing a crackling, dull blast, and lashed directly at Shen Qingshan.

In the strike, the whip faintly flashed a trace of blood light, extremely swift.

Blood energy!

Fang Yi's eyes flashed.

This middle-aged man of the Black Tiger Gang actually cultivated blood energy to a high level.

But Shen Qingshan reacted quickly as well.

At the instant the whip lashed toward him, his expression changed abruptly and he hurriedly dodged.

But just as he dodged, the whip, as if sentient, suddenly turned, carrying even stronger blood light, and lashed straight at Shen Qingshan.

Shen Qingshan couldn't dodge in time, quickly extending his palm to grab the whip.

In his palm a faint trace of blood light actually appeared.

However, his blood energy was obviously too weak; even after grabbing the whip, he was still shaken off by the whip's immense force, the whip lashing forward with a crack, striking hard against Shen Qingshan's chest.

Shen Qingshan let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale, his whole body instantly recoiling backward.

His chest was bloody.

His clothes were torn.

Flesh flipped, pain piercing to the bone.

You think you can block my strike? Overestimating yourself!

The Black Tiger Gang's middle-aged man showed contempt.

After easily whipping Shen Qingshan away, he flicked the whip, retracted it, his expression utterly cold, looking at the many Shen family members and said: 'The Zhang family are our Black Tiger Gang's guests; from today onward, your Shen family shall take the Zhang family as paramount; whoever dares to be an enemy of the Zhang family is an enemy of our Black Tiger Gang—hear me?'

The many Shen family members instantly changed expression, their hearts turning cold.

Although somewhat angry, under the middle-aged man's intimidation they could only lower their heads, silent.

Do you submit?

The middle-aged man's gaze was cold, he glanced at Shen Qingshan.

I submit, I submit.

Shen Qingshan gritted his teeth, chest aching, and said: 'But I still don't understand why the Black Tiger Gang would ally with the Zhang family; could the profits of Sifang Village really move you Black Tiger Gang?'

That's none of your business.

The middle-aged man gave a cold smile, saying: 'You just need to obediently step down.'

Shen Qingshan's face was grim, and he too lowered his head, saying nothing more.

As for Zhang Qilong of the Zhang family, he wore a satisfied smile, very pleased with all this.

Suddenly!

The Black Tiger Gang's middle-aged man suddenly turned his gaze toward the pharmacy, his expression grim, fixing on Xu Qing, and said: 'You are the old doctor Xu of the pharmacy, right?'

I am indeed.

Xu Lao Yishi felt uneasy, returning the gesture with clasped hands.

You're practically courting death; your pharmacy's Nourishing Vitality Pills are all counterfeit and substandard, yet you dare sell them in the city? Now our Black Tiger Gang brothers who took your Nourishing Vitality Pills are vomiting and having diarrhea, unable to get out of bed; today you must give our Black Tiger Gang an explanation!

The middle-aged man shouted sternly.

Everyone in the pharmacy changed expression.

Xu Lao Yishi also looked shocked, waving his hand and saying: 'This is absolutely impossible; I personally verified every Nourishing Vitality Pill sold in the city; there certainly are no fakes.'

Still dare to quibble?

The middle-aged man suddenly bellowed and casually threw.

A gray packet was thrown to the ground by him.

Inside the packet were all longan-sized Nourishing Vitality Pills.

But these Nourishing Vitality Pills are dull in color and lack any luster.

Some of the Nourishing Vitality Pills have even grown faint white hairs, unknown how long they've been stored.

"No, this is absolutely not the Nourishing Vitality Pills sold by our medicine shop."

Doctor Xu hurriedly denied.

"But my brothers bought them from you!"

The middle-aged man shouted.

"You old thing, selling fake medicine and still refusing to admit it—believe it or not, I'll tear you apart!"

Another Black Tiger Gang member shouted sternly.

Fang Yi frowned slightly, looking at this group of Black Tiger Gang members, then glancing at Zhang clan chief Zhang Qianlong over there.

Only saw Zhang Qianlong's mouth bearing a faint, almost imperceptible cold smile.

He suddenly understood.

Were these Black Tiger Gang members deliberately looking for trouble?

Did they intend to use this as a pretext to help the Zhang family seize the medicine shop? Or to extort Doctor Xu?

"You old thing, the Nourishing Vitality Pills you make yourself might not be fake, but those people under you might not be—last time my brothers bought the Nourishing Vitality Pills from those two kids."

The leading middle-aged man spoke coldly, pointing his horsewhip forward.

In an instant, it fell on Fang Yi and Li San.

Fang Yi's expression changed slightly.

Li San was even more frightened, trembling, and hurriedly denied.

"Yes, it's them; last time I bought from them, and we must be compensated!"

"You little brat, having made so many of our brothers sick, if you don't give us an explanation today, I'll flay you alive!"

Other Black Tiger Gang members shouted in unison.

That leading middle-aged man suddenly urged his mount forward, arriving before Fang Yi, his expression cold and aloof, his horsewhip resting on Fang Yi's shoulder, and said: "Little brother, last time it was you who sold the fake medicine; since your medicine shop refuses to admit it, don't blame me—blame yourself for selling fake medicine. Even if I kill you, the government office can't do anything to me!"

"Wait, don't act yet."

Seeing the crowd's fury directed at Fang Yi, Doctor Xu instantly grew more panicked, saying: "Sir, what exactly do you want?"

He knew this was definitely a scheme.

"How so?"

The middle-aged man revealed a vicious grin, saying: "Your fake medicine made so many of our brothers ill; you tell us what we should do—each of my brothers has a family, each was raised by parents; even if we calculate one hundred taels per person, ruining twelve brothers means we need 1,200 taels!"

"1,200 taels?"

Doctor Xu's face turned pale.

Many villagers instantly erupted in an uproar.

Even if they looted the entire Four Directions Village, they probably couldn't come up with that amount.

"Could we perhaps negotiate?"

Doctor Xu said in a trembling voice.

"'Negotiate? Of course that's possible.'"

The middle-aged man said coldly: "If you really can't come up with that much money, then hand over the shop as collateral to my Black Tiger Gang; from now on, the Zhang family will collect interest for us."

"'When you repay the 1,200 taels, the shop will be returned to you; don't think of fleeing—if anyone dares to run, don't blame my Black Tiger Gang for showing no mercy!'"

His tone was vicious, his eyes icy, as he swept his gaze over the old doctor.

Especially the horsewhip in his hand flashed a faint blood-red light, lightly pressing on Fang Yi's shoulder.

Fang Yi let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale, his body swaying.

"Fang Yi."

Doctor Xu's expression changed, and he hastily shouted.

"Hmph!"

The leading middle-aged man gave a cold snort, finally withdrew his horsewhip, and said: "Alright, prepare the contract tomorrow."

"\"Hall Master Wu, this time we truly owe you; we've already prepared a banquet at home—please come and enjoy it. \""

Zhang clan chief Zhang Qianlong smiled, quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said.

"\"Clan chief, you are thoughtful. \""

Hall Master Wu laughed heartily, dismounted, and directly led the many Black Tiger Gang members toward Zhang Qianlong.

All the Zhang family members were proud and delighted, following behind.

The many villagers whispered incessantly, astonished.

(End of chapter)