Dayu County, East Market.
"Scarface, here are the protection fees this time."
Lu Yuan carried a basket on his back, took out six hundred cents from his bosom, and honestly handed them over to a man with a scar on his face.
This was the new leader sent by the city's Black Wolf Gang to replace the dead Biao Ye to collect the protection fees.
Scarface looked fierce, and it was said that he used to be a strong bandit in his early years. Somehow, he joined the Black Wolf Gang and became one of the famous fighters in the gang.
Since Biao Ye was killed on the street last year, the Black Wolf Gang increased the manpower collecting the protection fees.
At this moment, six black-clothed men stood behind Scarface, each with a short knife at their waist, glistening in the sunlight, making people feel fearful at the sight of them.
"Not bad, you're smarter than the others, not trying any tricks."
Scarface walked up to Lu Yuan, casually flipped through his basket, quickly estimated the value of the items inside, and the protection fee he handed over was exactly 30%. Scarface nodded with satisfaction: "Pay honestly, it's good for both of us."
"You're right." Lu Yuan made a flattering smile.
Scarface patted his shoulder, took the money, and left with his men.
Passersby on the street moved aside in fear when they saw this group of fierce men, leaving a clear path for them.
"A bunch of bloodsuckers."
Watching their retreating figures, Lu Yuan cursed in his heart.
Being stripped by these bloodsuckers every time he entered the city, three-tenths of his hard-earned harvest for several months were taken away for nothing, making anyone feel heartache.
That was all his blood and sweat money.
Especially since he started practicing martial arts, his expenses and consumption increased sharply, making it even more painful.
As for not paying?
Although he had started practicing martial arts and even perfected the Submerging Water Technique, his combat power had increased many times.
But Lu Yuan knew that his current strength was still far from a match for his opponents.
Ma Ji Qing, who had practiced inner strength and was good at walking on walls and eaves, was a powerful figure.
However, facing the pursuit and killing of the Black Wolf Gang, he was still seriously injured, fled into Dayu Mountain in panic, and eventually died by Lu Yuan's hands
"Ma Ji Qing was at least a person who had gone through two meridians, which was enough to be regarded as a Jianghu third-rate strength. He was defeated by the Black Wolf Gang. I haven't even practiced my inner strength yet, and my strength is nowhere near theirs. Fighting against the Black Wolf Gang would definitely be a dead-end."
Lu Yuan has always been clear about his own strength.
So even if he was very dissatisfied with being exploited, he still held back for the sake of his life.
The humiliation he was experiencing now would only be temporary. When he accumulated enough strength, it would be time for him to settle old scores.
"But considering my current progress, by the time my Cloud Palm skill becomes a major success, it might be thirty or fifty years from now. It's a question whether Scarface and Black Wolf Gang would still be around."
Lu Yuan suddenly thought of this problem, but soon shook his head: "No matter. By the time those guys are dead, I'll just find their sons or grandsons to take revenge. It's fair and right for descendants to pay for the sins of their ancestors."
...
After making a mental note of this grudge, Lu Yuan turned to enter the Sichuan Trading Company.
After bargaining with Liu Papi in the store as usual, he sold the fur he had brought with him and got two taels and five silver coins for his three months' harvest.
With the newly acquired silver coins, he proceeded to the medical clinic next door.
"Dr. Zhou, please prepare some herbs for me according to this prescription."
As usual, Lu Yuan took out a prescription and handed it to Dr. Zhou, who was doing his accounts behind the counter.
Dr. Zhou, named Zhou Ze, was around thirty years old, with a short beard on his chin. He looked like a scholar.
This Zhou Family Medical Clinic had been run by his family for generations, and it was said to be over a hundred years old.
Since Lu Yuan began to practice martial arts, he frequently visited the city almost every month, usually coming here to buy medicine and becoming a regular customer.
After half a year, the two sides had grown quite familiar with each other.
Zhou Ze took the prescription and looked at the ingredients in it, frowning slightly: "It's different from the prescriptions before. These are all herbs for nourishing blood and regulating inner Qi. Did you hurt your internal organs?"
Zhou Ze knew a little about this regular customer's martial arts practice and medicine purchases.
Seeing the change in the prescription and judging the specific effects of the new prescription based on his rich experience, he subconsciously thought that the other party had made a mistake while practicing martial arts, so he was buying medicine for recuperation.
"No, I just feel the way I practiced before was wrong, so I changed to a different method." Lu Yuan had prepared a reason beforehand and now put it forward.
Zhou Ze frowned: "Although these herbs won't harm your body when taken, a large dose will still burden your body. The human body is delicate, and if you mess around with it, it's easy to get sick.
Let me advise you, Jianghu is not easy to mix in, and martial arts are not easy to practice.
With all the fighting and killing, one may lose one's life if not careful.
Instead of dreaming of these unrealistic martial arts practices, you might as well save up money, marry a wife, and live a stable life."
Dr. Zhou proved that doctors do have a benevolent heart. Even though he was facing a customer buying medicine, he was more concerned about the other party's health than his business.
Lu Yuan shook his head and smiled: "It's alright, I know my limit."
Zhou Ze sighed: "Alright, your own business is your own business. What's the point of me saying all this? Wait here, I'll get the herbs for you."
He then started to go around to each medicine cabinet according to the prescription and prepared the herbs.