"The Hu Clan?"
Ikasa mouthed to Feng Yan, puzzled by sudden visitors.
On the other hand, Gu Dan got up and brought a pouch full of coins from his furnace room. He intended to hand it over as if it were a regular occurrence.
Feng Yan stopped him from opening the door to the shop. Ikasa approached and placed a hand on Gu Dan's shoulder.
"Blacksmith Gu, what is going on? Shouldn't you be paying taxes only to the City Lord?"
Gu Dan helplessly shook his head.
"These thugs call it a tax, but it is nothing but extortion. They wreak havoc if we don't pay and sometimes even shut the shop down."
While Gu Dan answered, the knocks on the door turned to bangs. The loud thumps shook the entire door frame. It seemed as if it would give in at any second.
"Gu Dan! Do you not want your shop anymore? Open this door now!"
It only took a few minutes for the goons outside to drop any pretext of politeness and show their colors.
