Mo Tie eventually said to Director Liu, "Old Liu, go to the storeroom and get 500 taels of silver."
"Yes."
Director Liu took the order and left.
Soon after, Director Liu came with a silver note for five hundred taels and respectfully handed it to Chen Zhuang.
"Good, not bad!" Chen Zhuang counted the silver note and a rich smile appeared on his face. It was, of course, best to get the money peacefully!
"Villa Owner Mo, see you again next year!"
Having received the money, Chen Zhuang didn't continue to linger. He laughed heartily, turned, and walked out of Black Iron Manor, mounting his horse.
"Brothers! Let's go! We have more places to visit! There is still much to be done today!"
With a call, Chen Zhuang and dozens of riders quickly left, fading into the snowstorm.
The Black Cavalry Gang's targets were not limited to Black Iron Manor, but all the villages in the nearby area. One could imagine there were places like Black Iron Manor that paid up to avoid disaster, and certainly those who were unwilling to pay, choosing instead to fight desperately.
"I hope this Black Cavalry Gang is quickly eradicated!"
"These damned vampires!"
As the Black Cavalry Gang left, everyone at Black Iron Manor erupted in indignant curses.
Mo Tie sighed helplessly. In these troubled times, ordinary people with little strength could only obediently follow the orders of the powerful or face destruction, unable to rely on anyone else!
The Black Cavalry Gang, at least, took a steady, siphoning approach; as long as one paid up, they wouldn't make things difficult. However, every year the Black Cavalry Gang would come to collect their tribute, and each year Black Iron Manor would have to give away a portion of its earnings for nothing.
The only thing one could pray for was that the Black Cavalry Gang would be wiped out by the officials, but that wasn't likely to be easy! Those high officials certainly weren't so dedicated and responsible!
"Only by becoming stronger can one avoid being humiliated!"
Su Changkong witnessed everything that happened today and silently spoke to himself.
Faced with Chen Zhuang, who bullied and robbed using his power, Su Changkong had no intention of stepping up to confront him. First, with his current strength, he might not be able to defeat Chen Zhuang; second, even if he could indeed defeat Chen Zhuang and drive away the other members of the Black Cavalry Gang,
the consequences would likely be the entire gang coming out for revenge. He might walk away, but Black Iron Manor would suffer greatly, which would hurt everyone instead!
Unless Su Changkong was capable of uprooting the entire Black Cavalry Gang!
"Cultivate, continue to cultivate!"
Keeping a low profile, strengthening oneself - that was the right path!
Since Black Iron Manor dutifully paid up, the Black Cavalry Gang did not come to harass them again.
Mo Tie was relatively honorable; he didn't cut the salaries of his people in the manor but took it upon himself to pay the protection fee to the Black Cavalry Gang.
All winter, it snowed frequently, and with the visitation of the Black Cavalry Gang, aside from occasionally going to Clearwater City to buy ingredients for the Body Strengthening Soup, Su Changkong spent his time as usual, forging weapons, practicing the Five Animal Frolics, and the Iron-Cutting Blade Technique.
Winter passed, and all things burst forth with new life. Su Changkong was clearing the remaining snow in the courtyard, having just finished practicing the Five Animal Frolics.
Name: Su Changkong (15 years old)
Lifespan: 60 years
Potential Points: 8 points
Martial Arts Mastered: Five Animal Frolics (5th Realm, Stand out 11%), Iron-Cutting Blade Technique (4th Realm, Mastering Stage 37%)
Skills Mastered: Forging (4th Realm, Mastering Stage 30%)
Su Changkong opened the attribute panel, but his brows immediately furrowed.
"Three months' time, and the proficiency of the Five Animal Frolics has risen by merely 10%… The farther along, the more difficult it becomes. To achieve another breakthrough in my Five Animal Frolics, I'm afraid it will take at least two to three years!"
What made Su Changkong helpless was that his potential value had reached 8 points, but as his physique became more robust and the effects of the Body Strengthening Soup weakened, the progress of his Five Animal Frolics also began to slow down. To achieve another significant breakthrough, he would have to measure the time in years!
In fact, for Su Changkong to have trained the Five Animal Frolics to this realm within a mere two to three years was already quite remarkable, yet Su Changkong was still not entirely satisfied.
"I may need to cultivate some Inner Strength. By combining internal and external training and tapping into my body's potential, I should be able to progress faster!"
Su Changkong thought to himself.
Inner Strength involves cultivating True Qi and unlocking the body's potential and possesses various profound abilities. In the hands of an expert in Inner Strength, even a blade of grass can wield the killing power of a Divine Weapon!
"I'll take a trip to Clearwater City tomorrow to see if I can learn a suitable Inner Strength technique at a local martial arts academy," Su Changkong decided to learn Inner Strength in the martial arts academy of Clearwater City.
The time came the next day, the day off at Black Iron Manor. In the morning, Su Changkong set out on his journey to Clearwater City alone.
Whoosh!
On a road, Su Changkong sprinted with leaps and bounds, each stride covering two to three meters, resembling a darting Spirit Deer, maintaining a speed of ten meters per second as he continued running.
After his Five Animal Frolics reached the 5th realm and he stood out, his internal organs were fortified, his strength and stamina greatly enhanced, allowing him to maintain such a speed for half an hour!
Traveling thirty to forty li, Su Changkong crossed the distance in less than half an hour and arrived at Clearwater City.
"In Clearwater City, there are several renowned martial academies, but the biggest one is Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy. I'll go to Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy first."
Walking the streets within Clearwater City, Su Changkong reflected.
Su Changkong had contemplated studying martial arts at an academy before, but the tuition fees for accepting a disciple were extremely high, beyond what he could afford. Nevertheless, he had inquired about the intelligence of several martial academies in Clearwater City.
Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy, as one of the largest martial academies in Clearwater City, housed two to three hundred disciples and was extremely reputable!
Upon reaching the outside of Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy, two stone lions over two meters tall stood guard at the entrance. Carved into the academy's signboard were the powerful and vigorous characters of Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy, exuding grandeur. Every so often, the sound of martial practice and command could be heard coming from beyond the walls.
"What can I do for you?"
At the Inner Door of the martial academy, a disciple of Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy spotted Su Changkong and asked.
Su Changkong stepped forward and said with hands clasped in a traditional greeting, "I have heard of the fame of Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy and am very interested in its martial arts. I've come to have a look."
Hearing this, a look of enthusiasm appeared on the face of the Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy disciple, "Our Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy is the top academy in Clearwater City. We're extremely eager to have students with talent. Follow me, young brother, I'll take you to meet our Vice Principal, Mai Mingjie."
Almost every day, people visited Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy, and recruiting each disciple meant a substantial income, so naturally, the disciple of Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy was enthusiastic.
"Thank you for the trouble," Su Changkong nodded and followed the disciple into the Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy.
On the academy's courtyard, dozens of up to a hundred people gathered, led by a strong and vigorous man, practicing boxing techniques together in a neat, spectacular fashion.
Soon, in a room, Su Changkong met with Mai Mingjie, the Vice Principal of the Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy.
Mai Mingjie appeared to be in his thirties, in his prime, burly in stature with rough skin, arms as thick as an ordinary person's thighs, exuding a fierce presence.
"Please, take a seat. What is your last name, young friend?" Mai Mingjie said kindly.
"My last name is Su," Su Changkong replied and then took a seat.
With a smile, Mai Mingjie continued, "Are you thinking of joining our Iron Cloth Martial Art Academy? The monthly tuition is 7 taels of silver, which includes some medicinal costs for martial practice. If someone is exceptionally talented, there's the possibility of tuition reduction later on."
A monthly tuition of 7 taels of silver was undeniably beyond what ordinary people could afford. Being rich in literature but poor in martial arts meant that without money, it was very difficult to make significant achievements in practice!