In Obsidian City, nearly all the common folk were laborers working for the Yan family, relying on them for their very survival. This was largely due to the fact that all the fields outside the city capable of cultivating Black Rye Mushrooms were under the Yan family's name, and they also employed numerous thugs, making their influence vast and few dared to resist.
Feng Xianglin was one such tenant farmer. He worked diligently, hoping to have enough Black Rye Mushrooms to eat each day. With the previous harvest of Black Rye Mushrooms now finished, it was time to replant.
As he had done in previous years, Feng Xianglin went to the Yan family to collect farming tools for planting. At over thirty years of age, he had been growing Black Rye Mushrooms for nearly twenty years for the Yan family, yet his household had never managed to save any surplus grain. If any mishap occurred or he missed a planting season, he would have to live with an empty stomach.
Once he could no longer endure, he would have to ask the Yan family for relief grain. However, this relief grain was not easy to obtain; receiving it meant signing a contract of servitude with the Yan family, binding him for life, effectively making him a serf.
Feng Xianglin was a tenant farmer with dreams. He did not wish to become a lifelong laborer for the Yan family, unable to rise above his station until death. His greatest dream was to own a piece of land for himself, to cultivate Black Rye Mushrooms without having to turn over his harvest to the Yan family.
"What? This season we have to hand over eighty percent of the Black Rye Mushrooms?" Feng Xianglin exclaimed, his face filled with anxiety.
"Yes, the master is dissatisfied with last season's harvest and has decided to increase the share by ten percent this season. Alas!" The person speaking to Feng Xianglin was also a tenant farmer, who had just received the farming tools and was now frowning with worry.
Feng Xianglin's expression was equally grim. In previous years, handing over seventy percent of the Black Rye Mushrooms barely allowed him to scrape by. Now that it had increased by ten percent, he feared he would have to go hungry for a while.
The most critical point was that once the share was raised, the Yan family would not be so kind as to lower it again.
"Well, if the harvest is poor, what can we do? Look at these tilling tools; they are rusted like this. If we can't properly till the soil, the Black Rye Mushrooms won't grow well!"
"I had already told the Yan family to make a new batch of tilling tools, but they wouldn't listen!" Feng Xianglin frowned and complained, feeling helpless about the Yan family's decision to increase the share.
"Alas, there are only so many fields outside the city suitable for growing Black Rye Mushrooms. If you don't plant, there are plenty of others who will!" The other tenant farmer sighed and waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Feng Xianglin fell silent. If the Yan family refused to let him farm, survival would become a problem, and naturally, he had no way to resist.
"Forget it, forget it. This season, I can only plant two more mu of land." Feng Xianglin's gaze dimmed. After so many years of farming, his body was no longer as agile as it used to be. In the cold and harsh weather, facing the black earth with his back to the sky, planting two more mu of land was not an easy task.
He didn't know how long he could endure such hard labor. The most crucial point was that Feng Xianglin had not yet found a wife; he did not want the Feng family's bloodline to end with him.
Let’s try a little harder!
Having received such bad news, Feng Xianglin looked toward the imposing Yan family mansion ahead, feeling it was so ugly and detestable.
Why didn’t the heavens strike down these skinning demons of the Yan family with a thunderbolt?
Just as Feng Xianglin was cursing and walking toward the gate of the Yan mansion, a group of burly, fierce-looking men suddenly emerged from the other side of the street.
At the first sight of these men, Feng Xianglin shivered and quickly stepped aside against the gate of the Yan mansion. These individuals did not look like good people; they were members of the Righteous Brotherhood, and Feng Xianglin recognized them at a glance.
The leader, a robust man with a shiny bald head, looked particularly fearsome, as if he could eat people alive. Feng Xianglin did not dare to make eye contact with them.
As they reached the gate of the Yan mansion, Tian Long waved his hand, and the group of tough men following him all stopped in their tracks.
"Wei Tian, Zhao Kou, carry this blacksmith inside with me."
After speaking, Tian Long quickly scanned the dozens of brothers from the Righteous Brotherhood around him. These were the most trustworthy men he had, each one skilled in combat.
He exchanged glances with them and finally cast his gaze over several hidden corners of the street. In those hidden corners lay a sharp, deadly dagger, waiting for an opportunity. This dagger, formed by thirteen men, would strike at the Yan family's throat without hesitation.
The members of the Seven Kill Team were well-trained. Even in the face of great vengeance, none of them lost their composure; instead, they remained incredibly calm, waiting for Tian Long's command.
Only in this way could they unleash their greatest power and deliver the most significant blow to the Yan family.
"Open the door for me, and call out that Yan San guy! I’ve brought the person your Second Young Master wanted!" Tian Long shouted with a smile at the gate of the Yan mansion.
As he spoke, Zhao Kou and Wei Tian brought the tightly bound Li Qing to the front of the gate.
Feng Xianglin, trembling nearby, glanced at Li Qing, who was bound tightly with hemp ropes, with only his face exposed. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest from fright.
It was a face covered in blood, looking extremely tragic and terrifying. Just a glance made him too scared to look again.
Before long, laughter came from inside the mansion.
"Hahaha, Tian Long, you finally made it! The Second Young Master is waiting for you inside; you can take the person in!" Yan San said, pushing open the mansion door, also smiling.
Tian Long waved his hand and said, "I wonder if the Blood Jade Mushrooms and White Flesh Mushrooms are ready?"
"Of course, the Second Young Master never goes back on his word. They have long been prepared!"
Inside the Yan mansion, Yan San seemed even more arrogant than before. Previously, he had shown some deference to Tian Long, but now he stood tall and straight.
Upon entering the Yan mansion, the seemingly lifeless Li Qing keenly sensed that several pairs of eyes were watching them.
Li Qing could tell with his toes that these were the guards raised by the Yan family, on alert for any potential surprises.
Bang!
The mansion door closed again. Wei Tian discreetly glanced at the guards behind the door and silently carried Li Qing forward.
It must be said that as the first family of Obsidian City, the scenery inside the Yan mansion was quite pleasant, with small bridges and flowing water arranged in a charming manner, exuding a unique classical flavor.
Crossing a stone arch bridge, a hearty laugh soon echoed.
"Hehe, Tian Long, it has been a long time since we last met. How have you been lately?"
The Second Young Master of the Yan family, Yan Gui'an, was sitting unceremoniously in a chair, looking at Tian Long and the others as they approached.
Behind him stood a burly middle-aged man, equally as imposing as Tian Long, with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly meeting Tian Long's gaze.
He was one of the three martial arts guardians of the Yan family, Jing Tai!
The three guardians of the Yan family each had their roles, always guarding the three most important figures of the Yan family: the patriarch Yan Qitian, the eldest young master Yan Guifu, and the Second Young Master Yan Gui'an before them.
(End of Chapter)