Chapter 15
Young Master Wang
After squeezing out of the crowd, Lin Yan saw a large group of passersby gathered at the entrance of the rice shop.
In the middle of the crowd was the mean woman he had seen the day before. She was hugging a fat child of twelve or thirteen years old and crying bitterly.
Lin Yan stood in the middle and said sternly, “I didn’t sign an indenture, but the rich rice shop forced me to sign it. Isn’t this forcing me to be a slave?! With such banditry, who still dares to work at your Fugui Rice Shop?!”
As soon as he finished speaking, whispers immediately sounded in the crowd.
Old Chen brought a group of laborers out with a gloomy expression. “Fellow villagers, this kid works in my shop. He clearly owed me money and wanted to sign an indenture, but now he wants to escape! He’s really detestable. Please help me take him down!”
“I work for you, but I owe you money? What a joke!”
Naturally, the surrounding people would not be easily fooled. They were purely here to watch the show.
Lin Yan: “I’m here today to quit my job! As for the half a month’s salary that you owe me, I don’t want it either. Let’s part ways here!”
There were many people on the other side, and a gentleman would not stand under a dangerous wall. Lin Yan waited for an opportunity to retreat.
At this moment, the woman in the middle suddenly pointed at Lin Yan and screamed, “It’s you! It’s you! You killed my husband! It’s you! Give me back my husband’s life!”
Her voice was as shrill as a malicious ghost, scaring everyone.
Everyone looked at Lin Yan strangely. Geng Bing was a martial artist. How could his death be related to Lin Yan?
Old Chen, who was on the other side, was also shocked by this call. “Madam Hu, what did you say?”
As soon as he said this, Madam Hu immediately turned to Old Chen. “My husband was killed by someone from your rice shop! It’s him! My poor husband! You died so tragically!”
The person she was wailing at had already changed to Old Chen.
“Nonsense!” Old Chen blew his beard and glared at her. “This kid is just a lowly person who settles accounts. How can he have the ability to harm Master Geng? Madam Hu, if you dare to bite random people again, be careful of your tongue!”
Wu San stood beside Old Chen and muttered, “That’s right. How could Lin Yan kill Master Geng? She’s crazy about money.”
“It’s him, it’s him!”
Then, Madam Hu cried and repeated what had happened yesterday.
“What! Dragon Gate Pavilion!”
“Doesn’t the Dragon Gate Pavilion stand side by side with Tiger Camp?”
“I heard that it has a lot to do with the Inner Circle’s City Lord Residence. Moreover, there are extremely skilled martial arts experts inside. It’s a domineering force!”
“No wonder, no wonder. Wasn’t Geng Bing courting death by provoking the people from Dragon Gate Pavilion?”
“Heh, I’ve seen disciples of the Dragon Gate Pavilion wearing such clothes.”
“Really? This little accountant is actually a disciple of Dragon Gate Pavilion?”
“That Fugui Rice Shop is so bold that they actually dare to force a disciple of the Dragon Gate Pavilion to sign a contract!”
In fact, Madam Hu had also said what had happened last night, but there were not many people. Secondly, no one believed that the rice shop’s accountant was related to Dragon Gate Pavilion, so no one believed her.
But now, with the witness and the clothes, the credibility increased.
“Nonsense, nonsense! I know, you must have colluded with him!”
Old Chen blew his beard and glared. He was certain that Lin Yan had low standards and did not have any ability. He did not believe him at all.
Wu San couldn’t believe it either. He widened his eyes and looked at Lin Yan. “Lin Yan, she’s lying, right?”
However, his body couldn’t help but stop. The other laborers all retreated too.
When Old Chen saw this, his heart thumped. He pointed at Lin Yan. “Lin Yan! You said that you’re from Dragon Gate Pavilion. How can you prove it?!”
“Ridiculous!”
Lin Yan turned around and retreated to the edge of the crowd, preparing to leave. He had learned something today. There was still a long way to go. He would definitely repay what they did later.
“Wait!”
Suddenly, another shout came from outside. Three people pushed through the crowd and slowly walked in.
The two of them stood side by side in front while a tall guard guarded behind.
“Big Boss!” Old Chen shouted in surprise.
Lin Yan recognized one of the two people in front. It was Boss Zhang from the rice shop with an awkward expression.
The other was extremely young, not even 20 years old. He had a valiant appearance, a tall and straight figure, and his face was filled with anger.
He had his hands behind his back, looking proud and noble. There was a hint of disdain in his eyes, as if he didn’t care about anything around him.
Most importantly, he was wearing a gray suit that was similar to Lin Yan’s. However, there was a black word “Dragon” embroidered on his chest.
“This is…”
Lin Yan recognized it. It was the uniform of Dragon Gate Pavilion, and it was from the Dragon Yard.
He quickly cupped his hands. “Greetings, Senior Brother.”
However, the person snorted coldly and did not even look at him.
Wu San, Old Chen, and the others’ pupils constricted. Senior brother?
The young man turned to Boss Zhang. “Boss Zhang, your people are very capable. How dare you look down on the disciples of Dragon Gate Pavilion…”
Beside him, Boss Zhang looked embarrassed and hurriedly said, “Young Master Wang, it’s a misunderstanding. My servants are insensible. I’ve made a fool of myself.”
Then, he turned around and walked straight to Old Chen.
“Boss, he…”
Boss Zhang directly slapped him twice. “Old thing! Your eyes have been eaten by dogs! How dare you be rude to the disciples of Dragon Gate Pavilion? Is this how I taught you?”
Old Chen saw stars in his eyes, and his face was swollen. He knelt down in fear. “Boss, I, I…”
“Get in! Don’t embarrass yourself here!”
“Yes, yes…”
Old Chen hurriedly got up and looked at Lin Yan in horror before quickly retreating behind the door.
Wu San’s eyes widened as he looked at Lin Yan’s familiar face in shock.
The high and mighty big boss actually hit Old Chen for Lin Yan!
On the other hand, the laborers’ faces were pale and their legs were weak. He was afraid that the big boss would implicate them.
“Wait! The few of you, bring Madam Hu and her child in too. Since this matter involves Dragon Gate Pavilion, I’ll have a good chat with her later!”
Only then did the laborers step forward, grab the woman and the child, and forcefully carry them through the door.
“I’m not going in! I’m not going in!”
Only then did Madam Hu panic a little. However, after a few cries, she was pulled into the door, which was closed with a bang.
Young Master Wang looked around and saw that everyone was still watching with relish. His face was filled with impatience as he scolded loudly, “What are you looking at! Who are you to watch? Get lost!”
The crowd immediately dispersed like scared birds.
Not long after, only Lin Yan, Young Master Wang, and Boss Zhang were left at the door.
After everyone left, Boss Zhang smiled at Lin Yan. “You’re Lin Yan, right? I didn’t expect you to become a disciple of Dragon Gate Pavilion. I’ve really wronged you this time.”
Lin Yan was vigilant. “Boss Zhang, you’re too polite.”
“You worked in my rice shop. Here are five taels of silver. Take it as me sponsoring your martial arts career. How about we let bygones be bygones?”
Lin Yan was silent for a moment before reaching out to take the silver. “Okay.”
At this moment, Young Master Wang snorted coldly. “Trash! It’s fine if you’re forced into a corner, but you’re even afraid of five taels of silver. You’re really embarrassing our Dragon Gate Pavilion!”
Lin Yan’s expression remained unchanged as he clenched the silver in his hand.
“Peace makes money. Peace makes money.”
He spoke to Lin Yan, but his gaze remained on Young Master Wang.
Young Master Wang shrugged. “Boss Zhang, you don’t have to take it to heart. He’s just a piece of trash from the Wordless Yard. He will only wear this outfit for two months. I’m doing this to protect the reputation of the Dragon Gate Pavilion. I’m just angry. I don’t know what the Master is thinking. He keeps all kinds of trash in the pavilion and even lets them practice martial arts. Other than embarrassing himself, what can such trash do…”
Boss Zhang smiled apologetically at the side.
Young Master Wang glanced at Lin Yan and frowned. “Are you still an eyesore standing here? Get lost!”
Lin Yan lowered his head to hide the sharpness in his eyes and immediately turned to leave.
Lin Yan only heaved a long sigh of relief when he reached his house in Zhubai District.
He sized up the tight-fitting clothes on his body. The outfit on his body was indeed tiger skin, but if he did not have enough strength to match it, he would be a fox borrowing the tiger’s might. Anyone could ride on his head.
Practicing martial arts, practicing martial arts…
The Black Tiger Gang didn’t seem to notice Hu Biao’s disappearance. Lin Yan hurriedly entered the house to move his things.
There were no valuables. Other than bedding and clothes, the wooden box at the chimney was the most precious.
Thanks to his biology class in his previous life, he remembered that mushrooms were fungal creatures that reproduced with spores. Although he had finished eating the poisonous mushrooms, there were still many spores of poisonous mushrooms in the wooden box.
Unfortunately, he had not seen any poisonous mushrooms being sold in the market recently. Perhaps he should find an opportunity to personally go up the mountain to pick them?
He packed a bag and returned to Dragon Gate Pavilion.
After packing up, there was still some time before Xiaozhi’s class started. Lin Yan went to the martial arts arena and found an empty place to practice the Five Animal Hands again.
Lin Yan’s actions became increasingly fierce, as if he was going to use all his strength, when he recalled his experiences during the day.
Tiger Form, Deer Form…
As his blood energy gradually depleted, he could feel a faint itchiness all over his body. Eldest Senior Brother had said that this was the effect of the Five Animal Hands Technique nourishing his muscles and bones.
Two hours later, the proficiency of the Five Animal Hands increased from 5% to 8%. It was clearly slower than in the morning. Lin Yan didn’t mind. He took a sip of Emerald Wind Powder and went out to fetch Xiaozhi in satisfaction.
After dinner, Lin Yan spent another half an hour teaching Xiaozhi how to read.
Xiaozhi was very smart, far surpassing her intelligence at this age. For three months, he had been teaching Xiaozhi how to read on and off, but because of his busy life, he did not have much time.
Half an hour later, Lin Yan finished arranging Xiaozhi’s homework. After washing her clothes and bowls and chopsticks, he ran to the martial arts arena again to practice the Five Animal Hands.
There were no lanterns in the martial arts arena at night, and the moonlight was not bright, so the venue was dark and there was no one else.
Lin Yan cultivated until his blood energy was empty. He took out the Emerald Wind Powder again and took a small sip. Immediately, he cultivated again!
After another hour of practice, the proficiency of the Five Animal Hands increased to 12%. The speed of growth clearly slowed down. Lin Yan went back to rest.