Chapter 359: Chapter 356: Everyone Calls for Backup
Lin Wanwan sent Hua Nong to recruit people, and they were precisely the Daoists from the Daoist Temple on the mountain.
In that Daoist Temple, Lin Wanwan herself had left a golden jade hairpin as collateral for medicine fees, which could now serve a dual purpose as a deposit.
Lin Wanwan promised the Temple Master of the Daoist Temple a donation of incense money, which amounted to twenty bolts of silk and twenty pounds of pepper.
Indeed, Lin Wanwan would rather give all this wealth to the Daoist Temple than compromise with the bullies.
The Imperial Family of Li Tang, trying to enhance their prestige, recognized Laozi as their ancestor, thus raising the status of Daoist Temples in the Early Tang era. Both male and female Daoists were frequented by high society members of the Great Tang.
Since Lin Wanwan had established an image of her "master" as an aloof old Daoist, she naturally wanted to be close to Taoism.
Moreover, her real master in the Great Tang, Old Sun, was also a Taoist person.
She bore a natural goodwill towards Taoism.
Daoists are not like monks; most are not prohibited from eating meat.
The ability to eat meat gives strength, and coupled with everyone practicing swordsmanship and martial arts, the combat power of a Daoist Temple should not be underestimated. In the martial world, they were a formidable force.
At this moment, Lin Wanwan sent Hua Nong to recruit people, and with sufficient interests at stake, there was no worry that they wouldnât act.
While Hua Nong broke through the encirclement to seek help from a nearby Daoist Temple, Kun Lun had already been summoned back by Lin Wanwan, halting the fight, and both sides were now in a standoff.
Kun Lun, with his great strength and ruthless actions, had injured several ruffians. At this moment, with him standing guard like an iron tower at the warehouse door, those people dared not rush in easily.
Lin Wanwan and Kun Lun could break through the siege and leave without difficulty, but the goods in the warehouse behind them would then be impossible to protect, resulting in losses greater than what they were being extorted for.
Thus, Lin Wanwan had no intention of fleeing. She was confident from the start; she signaled Kun Lun to use force precisely so that the ruffians wouldnât dare to charge forward recklessly.
As long as they were apprehensive, she didnât mind verbally sparring with them to delay for time.
Once the Daoists descended from the mountain, the balance of power would reverse, and then it would be time for these bullies to pay the price.
"You all have quite the nerve! Donât you know I am the Leâan Village Lady, personally appointed by the Saint, of Secondary Fifth Rank?" Lin Wanwan spoke to the crowd from behind Kun Lun.
Fu Ergou, hiding similarly behind his henchmen, touched his arm that had been unintentionally struck by Kun Lun, and sneered coldly: "No matter if you are Leâan or Junâan, anyone on my turf of Master Fu Er, even a phoenix must bow to the Master and follow the Masterâs rules.
Previously, I asked for twenty bolts of silk and twenty pounds of pepper. But now your Kunlun slave has injured my people, so youâll have to pay twice that, covering the medicine fees for my brothers.
Donât forget your ship is still at the dock. At my command, the water ghosts could easily drill a big hole in your shipâs hull. Do you believe me?"
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Lin Wanwan remained unfazed and retorted: "What kind of dog dares to call himself âMasterâ in front of me, the Village Lady? How bold, where do you get the confidence?"
As soon as her words fell, urgent hoofbeats approached from afar.
Lin Wanwan slightly raised the corners of her mouth in a smile, gazing intently into the distance, and indeed found a group of Daoists wielding treasure swords or horsetail whisks coming over, chased by Hua Nong.
Given the Daoist Templeâs infirmary had too many impoverished villagers owing medicine fees, causing the templeâs expenditure to exceed its income, they had few horses.
This group of Daoists couldnât form cavalry; they came running on foot, following Hua Nongâs horse.
In the process, the air of divinity was naturally lost, but their swift, graceful running posture still inspired those who saw them to yield.
Fu Ergou stared in surprise at the Daoists rushing towards them, but when he recognized Hua Nong at the forefront, his complexion changed drastically.
No wonder the opposing Kunlun slave suddenly stopped fighting after a bout with his men; it turns out the Village Lady started conversing with him, ignoring her status, to delay for reinforcements!
Looking at the newcomers, Lin Wanwan said plainly: "Just some petty ruffians, and they dare to lay hands on me, the Village Lady! If I donât teach you a lesson, you wonât understand why the flowers are so red."
Though her words were indifferent, Fu Ergou sensed the murderous intent within them and instinctively replied with intimidation: "Village Lady, donât be unwise. Iâll tell you that once there was a passing noble who thought himself quite remarkable, ignoring us lowly people.
Guess what happened? The inn where he stayed caught fire, burning him to a crisp like a roasted suckling pig. Do you think thatâs a pity?"
Upon hearing Fu Ergouâs words, Lin Wanwanâs face remained calm, as always.
Such incidents were the norm, or else they wouldnât have the nerve to block her so boldly.
With past experiences and not being held accountable, their courage grew larger and more reckless.
Lin Wanwan lifted her gaze to the blazing sun above and murmured: "It seems that this worldâs Hai City only speaks with fists, where reason doesnât prevail. Well, itâs a good chance to test if my superpower works."
Lin Wanwanâs superpower wasnât great strength but wealth rivaling that of a nation!
In an instant, the Daoists had rushed up along with Hua Nong, the leading middle-aged Daoist on horseback scanning the thirty-odd ruffians here, finally fixing his gaze on Fu Ergou in neat clothes: "How blind are you dogs, daring to provoke the Village Lady?"
Fu Ergou wasnât entirely a reckless thug. The protection fees and docking fees he collected on this dock were shared with local rogues.
While he could extort from a passing Village Lady like Lin Wanwan, he couldnât afford to disrespect the local high-combat power Daoists from the mountain.
He stepped forward and cupped his fists: "Daoist, this is the dock, my territory. Your territory is on the mountain. We donât disturb each other. You act as your Temple Master, and we donât cause trouble on the mountain or stop pilgrims. I collect my money at the dock, and I hope Daoists donât interfere; we mind our own business."
The Daoist sighed and shook his head: "Impossible."
Fu Ergou raged: "Why not? Daoist, are you refusing to give me, Fu Er, face?"
The Daoist leaned slightly, his gaze piercing Fu Ergouâs: "Whatâs your face worth? The Village Lady has offered this old Daoist an irresistible high price for your dog lives. Today, itâs either you feed fish, or we feed fish. Thereâs no third possibility."
Fu Ergou stepped back, glancing at the hundred or so subordinates gathering around the perimeter, then silently smiled and, with fierce eyes, stated: "I havenât tried killing a Daoist yet, nor tasted the delicate flesh of a Village Lady. Looks like today is a day to indulge."
Lin Wanwan isnât the only one who can rally people; as local bullies, seeing the situation turn, would they sit idly by?
Seeing theyâve completely offended the visitors, they might as well go all the way, directly taking down the Village Lady and feeding her to the sea.
He could already smell the pepperâs aroma; the wealth in the warehouse was enough to sink these people and smoothly cover it up.
As for fallen brothers, he would surely ensure proper burial.
Fu Ergou had been roaming the martial world, mastering half a dock, not due to being easily intimidated.