Let's go back two days.
When Li Ming set off for Lianyun Mountain.
In Cangyang County, Li Ming was unparalleled in prestige and popularity, and people talked about him almost every day. Naturally, this popularity also spread to the entire Cangzhou.
However, the more popular he became, the more displeased some people became.
That day, a commotion broke out in Qi Family Village, Cangzhou.
As a thousand-year-old family native to Cangzhou, the Qi family's influence naturally extends far and wide. In the military, the Qi family members are mostly well-rounded individuals who excel in both literature and martial arts, possessing profound martial arts skills and knowledge of family-inherited military strategies. Therefore, the Qi family wields considerable influence in the military.
To maintain a family's business, the Qijia Canal Transport system was quite developed.
...
On Li Ming's side, he saw the large ship of the Dragon Slayer Gang rapidly approaching the merchant ship he was on. Some gang members skillfully hung ropes with hooks on the merchant ship and then boarded it.
The group of more than ten disciples from the Dragon Slayer Gang were all martial artists with extraordinary cultivation. They wore uniform black outfits with an embroidered pattern of a black dragon being beheaded by a sword on the chest.
In the middle of them stood a middle-aged man with an imposing presence, exuding an air of authority. His clothes were also different from those of the ordinary gang members, and he had an extra sword embroidered on his chest.
"The worst among them are all experts at the Qi Refining Realm, and many of them are at the Qi Condensation Realm... Oh? There's also an expert who just broke through to the Golden Core Realm?"
Li Ming could judge the strength of these people with just a cursory glance. The leader had strong blood and qi and was not weak. It seemed that the Dragon Slayer Gang was indeed extraordinary.
They're just here to collect protection money, yet they've summoned a Golden Core Realm expert to lead the way.
Seeing the menacing presence of the Dragon Slayer Gang, the ship's owner immediately stepped forward with a fawning smile.
"Heroes of the Dragon Slayer Gang, we are a legitimate vessel. Do you still remember the Lin Yang County Magistrate's family? They are old friends."
"Who says you're a friend? Haven't you ever seen Master Yang of the Dragon Slayer Gang before?"
Before Master Yang could speak, a tall young man behind him immediately waved to the ship owner, signaling him to come over.
"Greetings, Hall Master Yang."
The shipowner immediately bowed in respect.
His cultivation was not weak; he was already a near-perfect expert in the Condensing Qi Realm. However, he dared not offend the Dragon Slayer Gang, especially since the person in front of him was surnamed Yang.
It should be noted that there are quite a few high-ranking members with the surname Yang in the lineage of the leader of the Dragon Slayer Gang.
Master Yang nodded slightly, only glancing at the other party casually, without paying any attention to him. He thoroughly enjoyed this superior treatment.
The young man said with a fawning expression, "Yesterday, Hall Master Yang broke through to the Golden Core Realm. Hall Master Yang is always busy maintaining peace in the Canglan River, which has taken up a lot of his cultivation time. You should take good care of him."
"If you please Master Yang, then when you mention his name, everyone on the Canglan River will give you some face."
Hearing this, Master Yang couldn't help but feel a little smug, clearly enjoying the young man's flattery.
He recently broke through to the Golden Core Realm, so naturally he wanted to show off.
It's only natural for people to show off and pretend to be something they're not.
Li Ming originally intended to stand behind the crowd as usual, but after thinking about it, he realized he didn't need to worry so much. However, seeing how Yang Tangzhu was showing off so much after just breaking through made him want to laugh.
However, out of politeness, Li Ming maintained his composure and kept his expression under control.
Seemingly noticing Li Ming's scrutiny, Hall Master Yang keenly observed Li Ming. Seeing that the other party's qi and blood were like those of an ordinary person, he figured he was probably just an ordinary person and didn't take it to heart.
The young man then stepped forward and said, "Boatman, do you know the rules?"
"And shouldn't you all offer some tributes for my joyous occasion, Master Yang?"
"I understand, I understand!" the shipowner nodded hurriedly and shouted.
“In the past, it was two taels of silver per person, but today, on Master Yang’s wedding day, each person will contribute three taels of silver.”
Upon hearing this, the young man frowned and said, "Master Yang, such a joyous occasion, and you're only offering three taels of silver? You know, we paid four taels of silver to get on the ship!"
"ah……"
Upon hearing that they had to pay four taels of silver, the passengers on the boat immediately erupted in commotion.
For ordinary people, let alone two taels of silver, even a few dozen coins have to be carefully calculated.
Seeing the crowd's dissatisfaction, Hall Master Yang frowned, while the young man snorted coldly:
"Um?"
"Fine, fine! Four taels of silver it is!"
"It's Master Yang's happy day, everyone, let's not spoil the fun!"
The ship owner immediately spoke up to reassure the passengers, gesturing with his right hand to signal them not to cause trouble, or their lives would be in danger.
You must understand that on the Canglan River, the Dragon Slayer Gang is the king.
Seeing the shipowner's warning and noticing the impatient expressions on the faces of the Dragon Slayer Gang disciples, no one dared to speak up and could only suffer in silence.
“Brothers, go and collect the money.”
The young man nodded and waved to the gang behind him.
Several members of the Dragon Slayer Gang went up one by one with bags to collect money from passengers on the boat. The passengers didn't say much and orderly put money into the bags.
"Hey! You're fifty coins short!"
"Don't think I can't see you!"
With a shout, a member of the gang who was collecting money kicked a boy who looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old to the ground because the boy was short fifty coins.
"I'm sorry... but I really don't have any money left."
The boy immediately knelt down and tearfully apologized.
Some of the martial artists on the boat showed expressions of reluctance.
"What are you doing... bullying a little guy?"
Upon seeing this, Master Yang immediately stepped forward and reprimanded him.
Then he went to the boy, helped him up, looked at the ornament around his neck, and reached out to grab it, finding a yin-yang double fish pendant. He then said earnestly:
"Hey, don't you have a jade pendant?"
"I think it's a good deal. Let's just call it four taels of silver. That way, you won't have to pay for the boat fare."
Ignoring the other person's reluctance, he directly snatched the jade pendant from the other person's neck.
He then gestured for the gang members next to him to return the money to him.
“This is… a keepsake from my mother…”
The boy spoke in a low voice, so low that only he could hear it.
Then, Master Yang said loudly:
"Gentlemen, please cooperate."
"Over the years, our Dragon Slayer Gang has been working hard to maintain order on the Canglan River, which has allowed you to spend these days safely on the boat. Our gang members have also risked their lives to eliminate demons and bandits, and we don't know how many brothers have died!"
"So, let's not try any clever tricks. It's better for everyone this way!"
Upon hearing what Master Yang said, everyone pulled out their money much faster.
Soon it was Li Ming's turn.
After witnessing this scene firsthand, he had no intention of standing up for others.
After all, the existence of the Dragon Slayer Gang naturally serves a purpose, and for him to rashly offend the Dragon Slayer Gang would be a thankless task.
He only managed to resist the overwhelming tide of public opinion.
This young man is guilty of possessing a treasure; perhaps losing this jade pendant will also save him from a lot of trouble.
However, the gang member who was collecting the money had a sudden thought when he saw the jade ring on Li Ming's finger, and a hint of greed flashed in his eyes.
"Young man... this thing of yours is quite good, how about you offer it as a gift to Hall Master Yang?"
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