Chapter 7: Extortion

"There really is no such thing as a free lunch, and even if there were, it wouldn't fall into my lap."

Su Mu looked at the overgrown wasteland before him and couldn't help but sigh.

Five hundred wen could buy a household registration in Wuling City, along with a plot of land—if there wasn't a catch, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

But if there weren't a catch, it would never have fallen to a vagrant like Su Mu.

This plot of land was essentially uncultivated wilderness. Setting aside the sheer amount of effort required to clear it, the annual land tax alone was enough to give Su Mu a headache.

The Great Xuan land tax was one sheng and six ge of grain per mu, equivalent to one qian and seven fen in silver, or one hundred and seventy wen in three-zhu coins.

This was a mandatory payment; failure to pay would result in forced labor at best, or exile at worst.

In other words, from the moment he exchanged for that household registration, Su Mu was destined to be a beast of burden for Wuling City.

"One hundred and seventy wen in land tax every year—how much can one mu of land even produce in a year?"

Su Mu cursed inwardly.

"If I didn't need an identity, whoever wants this lousy registration can have it!"

Su Mu sat on the ridge of the field, looking at the wasteland that now belonged to him. Whether it was cultivated or not, the land tax had to be paid in full.

【Name: Su Mu】

【Status: Hunter (Commoner)】

【Points: 11】

【Martial Arts: Fubo Saber Technique (Entry)】

Su Mu looked at the panel before him. If his status hadn't changed from vagrant to commoner, this registration would truly be more of a burden than a benefit.

"Let the land lie fallow then. I can't exactly become a farmer, can I?

I'll just pay the land tax as required. It shouldn't be hard to earn the tax money if I work as a hunter.

Once my saber technique reaches perfection, I'll find an opportunity to secure a status that exempts me from taxes."

Su Mu pondered for a while. Seeing the sky growing dark, he didn't dare delay and stood up to head back into the city.

Daytime was one thing, but after dark, the area outside the city was filled with danger. Bandits and outlaws roamed, and there was even a chance of encountering demons.

Su Mu had only come out this time to see the land he’d been assigned, and now he had completely given up on it.

Better to just practice his saber honestly; there was no future in farming.

As he was walking quickly, three men suddenly appeared in his path.

"Master Zhang?"

Su Mu had been walking with his head down, lost in thought. He subconsciously stepped aside to let them pass, but a hand reached out and blocked him.

Su Mu looked up, surprised.

The man who had stopped him was Zhang Chong, a minor leader of the Woodcutter Gang.

"Su Mu."

Zhang Chong looked at Su Mu with a displeased expression. "I heard you got registered?

You came out of the city to look at your assigned land, didn't you? Well, how is it? Does it feel great?"

"Master Zhang, you see clearly."

Su Mu kept his posture low, a bitter smile on his face. "It's just a piece of wasteland. It would take months of effort to clear it, and it's already too late to plant anything this year, yet the land tax still has to be paid. I'm quite worried."

"Worried?"

Zhang Chong sneered. "If you have the money to get registered, why worry about a little land tax? I think you're secretly laughing to yourself."

"Master Zhang, you know my meager abilities. The money for the registration was all thanks to your patronage. Now that I'm registered, I have almost nothing left."

Su Mu said.

"Is that so?"

Zhang Chong's face turned cold. "I gave you an opportunity."

"Master Zhang, what do you mean?"

Su Mu asked, looking stunned.

"Let me remind you."

Zhang Chong sneered. "Two months ago, Master Zhao of Pingkang Ward was murdered in the South City, and his belongings were looted. That day, you didn't go out of the city to cut wood."

Su Mu froze.

Since when did a minor gang leader start acting like a detective?

Is he suspecting me?

"I had a fever that day," Su Mu explained.

Zhang Chong replied with two cold sneers and continued, "A month ago, three beggars were killed in the dilapidated temple where you live."

Su Mu's pupils contracted slightly.

It was his first time killing; his technique had been sloppy. It was only natural that someone observant would notice.

"You, Su Mu, have earned a total of five hundred and seventy-two wen from selling wood over these past few months."

Zhang Chong stared at Su Mu and barked, "Even if you only spent three wen a day, you shouldn't have more than four hundred wen left. How did you afford the registration?"

Su Mu sold his wood through Zhang Chong, so Zhang Chong knew exactly how much he had earned.

Su Mu hadn't expected a gang thug to have such a meticulous mind.

"When I wasn't cutting wood, I occasionally caught a couple of wild rabbits to sell," Su Mu sighed and said.

"Make it up, keep making it up."

Zhang Chong crossed his arms, looking at Su Mu with a mocking expression.

"Su Mu, I never realized that someone as frail-looking as you could be so skilled at killing and looting."

Beside Zhang Chong, another man spoke up.

"Killing and looting is the government's business; that's not for us to manage. But according to the rules of the underworld—"

The other man rubbed his fingers together.

"Master Zhang, it's not much, but please accept this."

Su Mu reached into his robe, pulled out ten wen, and handed it over.

*Slap!*

Zhang Chong slapped Su Mu's hand, and the ten three-zhu coins scattered across the ground.

"Su Mu, you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit," Zhang Chong said coldly.

"I haven't even settled the score with you for using my money to get registered, and now you think you can brush me off with this pittance?"

*Your money?*

A cold chill washed over Su Mu. What a piece of trash—how could he be so damn greedy?

Setting aside whether or not I killed anyone, even if I did, what does it have to do with you, Zhang Chong? How did my money become yours?

"Su Mu, don't say Master Zhang didn't give you a way out."

Zhang Chong's lackey put his hands on his hips and said, "You've killed and looted these past few days; you must have earned at least twenty taels of silver.

Hand over twenty taels now, and everything will be fine."

"As for the five hundred wen for the registration, I'll give you half a month to earn it back for me."

Zhang Chong glared at the lackey with dissatisfaction—he was going to let the five hundred wen go?

"Right! Master Zhang is magnanimous and won't charge you interest, but since you spent Master Zhang's money, you must earn it back for him!"

The lackey quickly corrected himself.

The three of them sang in harmony, quickly making their intentions clear.

Even as patient as Su Mu was, he was now fuming with rage.

This was blatant extortion. They clearly saw him as a lamb for the slaughter!

"Master Zhang, I really don't have the guts to kill and loot. The money for the registration was saved one wen at a time through hard work."

Su Mu bowed slightly, forcing a smile. "After paying for the registration, I only have twelve wen left on me. Master Zhang, take it all.

Consider the five hundred wen for the registration a loan from you. I will definitely find a way to pay it back within half a month!"

He thought it over carefully and decided to endure.

His saber technique wasn't complete, and he might not be able to defeat these three young, strong thugs.

"Su Mu, did you not hear me clearly, or are you deaf? I said twenty taels plus five hundred wen," Zhang Chong said coldly.

"I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin.

You two, help him clear his head."

Zhang Chong waved his hand.

The two subordinates immediately cracked their knuckles and walked toward Su Mu with sinister grins.

"Master Zhang, let's talk about this!"

Su Mu took a step back.

"Talk about what!"

Zhang Chong cursed. "I gave you a chance and you didn't take it. Now, either put twenty taels of silver in front of me immediately, or I'll loosen your bones and break your arms and legs to help you clear your head."

As he spoke, his two subordinates placed their hands on Su Mu's shoulders, their free hands raised high, fists clenched, ready to strike.

"Why... must you force me?"

Su Mu's heart grew increasingly dark, and a hint of killing intent flickered in his eyes.

…………

(End of chapter)