Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Each with Their Own Thoughts

Outside Gu’s Manor.

Han Lu led the Black Sand Gang members, galloping on horseback, heading towards the Li Family Fort.

Gu’s Manor was just their first stop. What they said earlier was merely a deliberate act.

Han Lu looked smug.

Someone beside him immediately chimed in with flattery.

"The Deputy Gang Leader is truly awe-inspiring. That Gu Changming is just a coward, completely spineless. He handed over three thousand taels of silver without protest. With this annual tribute collected, the strength of our Black Sand Gang will become even greater this year!"

Han Lu laughed heartily but then shook his head and said:

"Gu Changming is far more difficult to deal with than a brute like Gu Jingang. Only when I mentioned Liu Yuanhu did he back down."

"All of you here are blood-sworn brothers, so I, Old Han, won’t keep anything from you. The boss has said that while our Black Sand Gang seems to have done great things, our situation is actually not good at all."

The faces of those around him changed suddenly, and they looked at Han Lu with puzzled expressions.

They had become accustomed to their swaggering presence recently, thinking they could dominate all of Canghe County in the future. Little did they expect Han Lu to say such a thing.

Han Lu continued:

"The boss said that when the birds are gone, the bow is put aside; when the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked. Now that Cao Shiduan is gone, our Black Sand Gang stands alone at the top, and that will naturally make Liu Yuanhu wary of us."

The gang member who had just been flattering hesitated and said:

"If that’s the case, shouldn’t we keep a lower profile? Collecting more tribute earlier might only provoke more suspicion..."

Han Lu looked surprised at the seemingly delicate member.

"You’ve got a bit of intelligence, but the boss said our break with Liu Yuanhu is inevitable. No matter how we hold back, it’ll be the same. Since that’s the case, it’s better to plunder resources as much as possible while Liu Yuanhu is too busy to deal with us and strengthen ourselves."

"Three thousand taels is roughly the bottom line. From now on, brothers should work hard on their martial arts training after sharing these resources. That’s the way forward. If someday our Black Sand Gang truly becomes the overlord of Canghe County, haha, that’s when..."

With those words.

The eyes of the people around him lit up with passion.

The dynasty was crumbling.

The magistrate and the county magistrate openly struggled for power, which had stirred thoughts among the Black Sand Gang that might not have existed before.

In chaotic times, heroes emerge. Who could say for sure that the hero wouldn’t be them?

"Let’s go! To the Li Family Fort! Let’s see how that bootlicker Du Jiangbo has been managing the place lately!"

"Du Jiangbo is spineless and timid, skilled at flattery. But his wife is alluring and seductive. I caught a glimpse of her from afar last time; like an enchanting little vixen."

The crowd laughed loudly, their laughter laced with some ambiguous mockery.

...

At Gu’s Manor.

Some skilled martial artists and clan elders from the main family were holding an urgent meeting. Naturally, Gu Sheng did not qualify to join, but he could roughly guess the content of their discussions.

It was nothing more than how to deal with the Black Sand Gang’s aggressive pressure.

And how to manage the extra expenditure of a thousand taels of silver that had been extorted.

Life in Gu’s Manor would inevitably become even harder in the future, potentially impacting the resources available to the young martial arts trainees of the main family. Those with poor aptitude for training might see a significant decline in their treatment, never returning to how things were before.

Gu Sheng felt a growing sense of urgency.

The winds of change were sweeping through.

No place was truly safe. If one day the Black Sand Gang truly tore apart all relations with Gu’s Manor, he would likely be unable to stay out of it.

For now, he could only hope that day would come later rather than sooner.

Looking at his Iron Stone Fist, which had reached 57% into the Small Success stage, Gu Sheng steeled himself. Training fists—only training fists could give him a sense of security.

His archery had already been pushed to the limit.

Only his Iron Stone Fist remained as something he could continue to work on. With more time available, his progress in Iron Stone Fist had improved significantly. In just over a month, he would be able to reach the Great Success Realm. Then, his speed in toughening his skin and muscles would improve further.