Chapter 161 - 111: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey! Fulfilling the Promise!

Gu’s Manor.

A group of martial artists dressed in sturdy attire rode swiftly on galloping horses, kicking up a cloud of dust over the fields. Leading them was an old acquaintance of Gu’s Manor.

Han Lu.

By this time, he had completely moved past the shadow of the Li Yu and Du Jiangbo incident. With opinions in the gang subsiding, he once again was the one collecting this year’s tribute.

After focusing on cultivation for a period, Han Lu’s aura had grown even more formidable. Though he had not yet reached Great Success in the Blood Refining Realm, he was distinctly stronger than the average martial artist in the Small Success stage.

It was still the same training field at Gu’s Manor.

The multitude of Black Sand Gang martial artists condescendingly looked down upon the gathered people of Gu’s Manor. The scene felt remarkably familiar.

Two years ago.

This was exactly how it was.

Only back then, Gu Sheng had just begun learning martial arts, not even reaching the Stone Skin stage. But now, he had achieved Great Success in the Blood Refining Realm, his combat strength fierce enough to slaughter every single one of the dozen Black Sand Gang martial artists before him effortlessly.

Gu Sheng stood among the crowd, his eyes cold.

"I wonder what brings Master Han to our manor today?"

Gu Changming maintained his customary laugh, though anyone could see his stance was noticeably straighter than before.

He looked at Han Lu with a calm and unhurried demeanor.

Han Lu narrowed his eyes, his bristly beard trembling slightly.

"What’s this? After the new year, Brother Changming seems a bit muddled, forgetting even the rules?"

A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

Gu Jingang shouted coldly:

"Han Lu, you’d best watch your tongue. Otherwise, don’t blame me for showing you no mercy!"

Gu Changming didn’t stop Gu Jingang and continued to smile as he said:

"Master Han, which rules are you referring to?"

Han Lu, filled with anger, smirked instead. Sensing the powerful vitality surging from Gu Jingang, he sneered repeatedly:

"It seems your Gu’s Manor has grown quite a bit these past two years. If you want to play dumb, I won’t humor you. Let me ask you straight: will you pay the tribute or not?"

The smile in Gu Changming’s eyes gradually faded. He sighed and said:

"Has Master Han forgotten?"

"In previous years, we paid the tribute to safeguard Gu’s Manor’s safety. But now, thanks to the county magistrate’s decisive actions, our Canghe County has become peaceful, with bandit troubles significantly reduced. We no longer have need of your gang’s services. So, we won’t be paying the tribute anymore."

The martial artists of Gu’s Manor straightened their postures one by one.

Since siding with Liu Yuanhu during the Demon Fox incident last year, Liu Yuanhu hadn’t treated Gu’s Manor unfairly, providing many conveniences. The martial artists of Gu’s Manor saw marked improvements in their conditions; even Gu Sheng benefited with an increase in the supply of Body Refining Ointment from three years to five.

Though the extended supply didn’t really make a substantial difference to Gu Sheng personally, the overall strength of Gu’s Manor had still seen considerable enhancements.

With Liu Yuanhu backing them, they were no longer afraid of the Black Sand Gang.

Everyone knew that Liu Yuanhu and Zhao Honglie were bound to clash eventually. When the time came, only one faction would remain standing. Under such circumstances, Gu’s Manor could not possibly pay the tribute—that would be tantamount to aiding their enemy.

"Good! Very good! Looks like I won’t be getting my five thousand taels tribute today..."

Before Han Lu could finish speaking, Gu Jingang’s booming voice cut him off.

"Five thousand taels? Let me tell you, you’re not getting a single coin!"

All the people of Gu’s Manor glared angrily. Once, it was two thousand taels, then three thousand; now, they were demanding five thousand—this was outright extortion, aiming to bleed Gu’s Manor dry. Even though Gu’s Manor had an annual revenue of around ten thousand taels, their expenses were also significant.

When the tribute increased to three thousand taels previously, Gu’s Manor had already been struggling. If they hadn’t ultimately allied with Liu Yuanhu, decline would have been inevitable.

Now, a tribute of five thousand taels was no longer a slow bleed—it was a stab to the artery.

It was absolutely impossible to agree.

Gu Changming’s face showed an uncharacteristic hint of rage.

"Master Han, please leave!"

Were it not for concerns about the Black Sand Gang’s power, he might have been tempted to detain Han Lu right then and there within Gu’s Manor.

Han Lu was utterly enraged. He hadn’t expected a mere Gu’s Manor to dare challenge the Black Sand Gang. His gaze swept coldly over the crowd, before he spoke in a sardonic tone:

"Very well! Since Gu’s Manor no longer requires our Black Sand Gang’s protection, you’d better be careful. Canghe County isn’t as peaceful as you imagine. In the future, when your manor’s caravans travel outside, be sure to watch out—you wouldn’t want them to be slaughtered by roaming bandits, now would you?"

"We’re leaving!"

With a heavy snort, he turned and led his men away.

Hearing this blatant threat, the people of Gu’s Manor seethed with killing intent. Gu Jingang gestured a throat-slitting motion toward Gu Changming, who just shook his head.

Regardless of the strength of Han Lu and his men, it remained uncertain whether they could be detained.

Even if they managed to kill them, it would inevitably provoke full-scale retaliation from the Black Sand Gang. For now, Gu’s Manor only needed to contend with partial pressure from the gang. Being a small faction, the Black Sand Gang wouldn’t dedicate all their resources toward them.

If action were taken, it would only involve limited forces.

Gu Changming whispered a few instructions to a senior martial artist nearby, who immediately turned and left.

Gu Sheng guessed that the message was likely being sent to Liu Yuanhu to inform him of the situation.

After all, with their relationship with the Black Sand Gang now fully strained, preparations had to be made in advance. The elders of Gu’s Manor had always acted with caution and wouldn’t act rashly. If they dared offend the Black Sand Gang so openly, then they must already have countermeasures in place.

"Troubled times..."

Gu Sheng murmured a sigh and walked away slowly.

The Black Sand Gang had failed to collect their tribute, and they certainly wouldn’t take it lying down. It seemed Gu’s Manor would face a tempestuous future, and a battle might even be on the horizon.