Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Arrogant and Domineering

At Gu’s Manor, the village head and a group of tenant farmers were busily engaged in spring plowing and sowing.

They had barely survived last winter, and everyone was eager to work hard this spring, hoping to save as much money and grain as possible. The dread of last winter still lingered in their hearts.

Sweat dripped down, but no one paid any attention.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

From afar came the sound of hoofbeats pounding the ground. The farmers raised their heads, initially confused, but quickly transformed into expressions of terror.

On horseback were over twenty figures dressed in black, each arrogant and domineering, their faces filled with cruel humor.

"The Black Sand Gang!"

The farmers panicked and scattered in all directions. The massive hooves trampled down the narrow road, making the farmers even more disheveled, stumbling and falling. Worse yet, one villager by the roadside failed to dodge in time and was whipped by a rider, leaving their skin flayed and flesh torn, rolling into the field with screams of agony.

The rider mocked them while laughing.

"Worthless scum! Disturbing my beloved horse—your ten miserable lives wouldn’t even compensate!"

The group of riders burst into raucous laughter as they galloped toward the manor’s main house, leaving chaos in their wake.

The farmers stared at the riders’ retreating backs, teeth clenched, consumed with suppressed rage but afraid to voice their anger.

...

Gu’s Manor martial arts arena.

By the time Gu Sheng and Gu Xiaojiang arrived, the two groups were already locked in a standoff.

One side, of course, consisted of many martial artists from Gu’s Manor. The opposing group comprised only about twenty riders, but every one of them sat tall on horseback, looking down condescendingly at the Gu family’s people.

With Gu Sheng’s keen eye, he could discern that all twenty riders were martial artists!

"Such an imposing force!"

"Especially the leader—his aura is fierce, carrying immense power—likely not weaker than Gu Jingang!"

Gu Sheng scrutinized the burly man leading the Black Sand Gang. Behind him were two massive meteor hammers, each as large as a human head, heavy and covered with sharp spikes that glinted coldly, sending chills down one’s spine.

"So, it’s Boss Han gracing us with your presence. It lights up our humble manor! Might I invite you all inside for a cup of tea?"

Gu Changming cupped his hands and smiled.

The burly man, Han Lu, sneered and dismounted. His foot lightly stomped on the ground, instantly causing cracks to appear in the green brick tiles, drawing sharp looks from the Gu family members.

"Don’t bother playing games with me, Gu Changming. In our Black Sand Gang, we have only one boss, and that’s Boss Zhao. As for me, Han Lu—I’m but a mere pawn under Boss Zhao."

"Skip the tea. I, Han, fear you’d poison it. Today, I’m here to collect the annual tribute."

Behind Han Lu, the riders of the Black Sand Gang also dismounted, each exuding an overbearing arrogance as they stared down the Gu family’s martial artists.

Beside Gu Sheng, Gu Xiaojiang’s eyes burned with fury, though he could only sneer coldly to himself.

Gu Changming’s expression stiffened, his smile gradually fading.

"Since Vice Boss Han doesn’t want tea, then let’s tally up this year’s annual tribute. As in previous years, it remains two thousand taels of silver."

Upon hearing "two thousand taels of silver,"

The faces of the villagers from Gu’s Manor tightened, fists clenched. This was nothing short of bleeding Gu’s Manor dry!

Two-tenths of their yearly income was taken just like that—who wouldn’t be angry?

But there was no choice.

Strength matters more than reason. They had tried resistance in the past, but the cost was too high.

"Hold on!"

Han Lu shouted abruptly, cutting off Gu Changming’s words.

"Last year, some chaotic militias and roaming bandits gathered around here. We, the Black Sand Gang, cleared out these troublemakers, losing several brothers in the process. So this year—"

"The price goes up!"

His gaze drilled into Gu Changming as he scanned the surrounding crowd, his voice booming like a thunderclap.

"Three thousand taels! This year’s tribute is three thousand taels!"

Boom—

As Han Lu’s words settled, Gu’s Manor erupted into an uproar.

From two thousand to three thousand, an increase of fifty percent—it was nearly three-tenths of their yearly income!

Gu Jingang, who had remained silent all along, strode forward and roared furiously: