The path became more and more familiar.
Tang Wen suddenly remembered—this was the same route he had taken that day when he escorted the young girl he had encountered on the road back to her home.
The person who suggested coming here explained:
"...The people living there are also members of our gang. A few years ago, they were attacked in the wild and poisoned with a strange toxin. They were brought back struggling and have been bedridden ever since."
Wu Hao, unfamiliar with the situation, asked curiously, "What rank? Has the gang been supporting them all this time?"
The man paused, then said, "Just an ordinary Martial Practitioner, like me, a small team leader. At the time, the gang said they would support him for five years. Counting the days, it's almost up."
Tang Wen frowned after hearing this. "We're here to make money, but we can't violate the gang's taboos."
Driving out a senior member of the gang and taking over their residence—once something like that was done, their reputations would be ruined.
Wu Hao also furrowed his brow.
He wasn't willing to do such a thing either.
The man quickly shook his head. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! I handled the deeds for a few days in the gang, and if I remember correctly, there are still two or three months left before the five years are up. By then, the whole family will have to move out of this courtyard."
Someone else chimed in:
"Commanders, you haven't been in Mountain Chasing City for long, but honestly, even if we drove them out now, no one would say anything. If we gave his wife and children some compensation, they'd be extremely grateful! The entire gang would praise us for our benevolence."
Wu Hao nodded.
Tang Wen didn't know what to say.
In Flame Camp, someone like this would be supported for life.
Their family's fields would be exempt from rent.
Their children would be taught to read and practice martial arts, not only without tuition fees but also provided with food and clothing until the age of fifteen.
As they spoke, the group arrived at a secluded street and turned into a small alley.
Tang Wen remembered that walking out of this alley would lead to the home of that mother and daughter.
"Come out!"
"Your husband owes me money, pay up!"
Just as the group was about to exit the alley, a man's aggressive voice reached their ears.
Wu Hao clenched his fist, and a slender man from the team immediately dismounted and crept forward to investigate.
In truth, there was no need for him to go. Tang Wen and the others already understood the situation.
A young, defiant voice retorted:
"You're lying! My father has been bedridden every day. How could he owe you money?"
Hearing this, Tang Wen and the others exchanged glances.
This was bad.
The girl had been deceived.
Sure enough.
The man's voice immediately became more arrogant. "Hehehe, so your father has been bedridden all this time! No wonder I've never seen him. Open the door, let me in to see your dad."
The girl was both anxious and frightened. "You, you, you—"
"What 'you'? Let me in, and I'll be your father from now on!"
The girl said, "We're members of the Blackwater Gang."
"The Blackwater Gang? Don't try to scare me with that. To tell you the truth, I've had my eye on you for months now..."
"Giddy up!"
Everyone turned to see Tang Wen, who couldn't stand it any longer, urging his horse forward.
This wasn't recklessness.
He had made a judgment—they were only a few dozen steps away from the alley's exit.
At this distance, the man was still knocking on the door.
There were only two possibilities: one, despite the short distance, he hadn't heard them, which meant his strength was pitifully weak.
He could only bully the widows and orphans here.
Perhaps he didn't care, being a master.
But this possibility was extremely slim.
He had already revealed himself in his words.
As Tang Wen walked out of the alley, he saw a tall, thin man blocking the entrance of a house.
"Who are you!" Tang Wen shouted.
The man turned his head and saw Tang Wen on horseback.
Without a word, he lowered his head and skillfully slipped away along the wall in another direction.
"Stop!"
Tang Wen shouted.
The man immediately started running at full speed.
This guy was truly something, not even having the courage to ask who Tang Wen was, yet daring to bully others.
It seemed, as he had said, he had targeted this place because he knew a lonely mother and daughter lived here.
"Catch him!"
Tang Wen didn't chase.
But three or four brothers from the team heard the call and pursued him.
They disappeared from Tang Wen's sight in a flash.
"Let's go, we should check it out too."
Wu Hao called out.
The two rode their horses, but before they could go far.
A brother ahead turned back to report: "Commanders, we've caught him."
So fast?
Probably, the guy was just a Martial Apprentice.
After about ten minutes, the man was dragged back, looking quite battered.
"What's the situation?"
"Hey! Just a petty thief."
With a thud, the brother who caught him lifted him with one hand and slammed him hard onto the ground.
He spat out several mouthfuls of blood.
The so-called master struggled to kneel: "Sir, spare me! Spare me! Please, just let me go like a fart!"
Tang Wen didn't speak, turning his head to look at the wooden door.
Footsteps could be heard from inside.
The door opened.
A mother and daughter walked out, and upon seeing Tang Wen's face, they immediately knelt and kowtowed: "Savior, please save us!"
"So it's you, get up and speak."
"Brother Tang, do you know them?" Wu Hao asked.
Tang Wen casually replied: "A couple of days ago, I saw the little girl in distress and helped them out."
Wu Hao didn't ask further.
At this moment, the mother and daughter raised their heads.
Tang Wen immediately frowned: their disguise was too fake.
Their faces were covered in a black substance like soot.
Clearly, it had been smeared on.
The woman, around thirty, said: "Sir, you are kind-hearted, please help us once more. I am willing to serve you as an ox or a horse in return."
"This is simple, kill him." Tang Wen said indifferently.
The woman shivered and quickly waved her hands: "Sir, I didn't mean to kill."
"Then what?"
Suddenly, two streams of clear tears flowed from the woman's eyes, and she said with a sob: "My husband died the night before last, and we have no money to bury him. I beg you, sir, to give us some silver. After burying my husband, I am willing to serve you as a slave!"
Shaking his head, Tang Wen was about to hand her the silver directly.
But then he felt it was inappropriate.
This wasn't Flame Camp, nor even the well-ordered Four Seas Camp.
This was Mountain Chasing City, where everyone kept slaves.
He paused, then calmly said:
"I've helped you once before. With your looks, I wouldn't normally be interested. But seeing your plight, and since I happen to have no one to serve me, I'll let you stay."
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"
The woman kowtowed repeatedly.
Tang Wen turned his head, took out a twenty-tael silver note, and handed it to someone behind him: "Brother, please make a trip and find someone to handle the funeral, make it decent. After all, he was once a brother of the Blackwater Gang."
The mother and daughter on the ground, upon hearing this, cried in gratitude, hugging each other and sobbing.
The subordinate behind him didn't take the silver notes, instead sighing, "Commander Tang is truly meticulous! There's no need for you to spend money on this. We'll make sure it's handled properly!"
However, Tang Wen shook his head. "One thing at a time. After all, I'm going to take them in as servants."
"It's their good fortune to serve you," Wu Hao chimed in.
Hearing this, the subordinate stopped insisting, accepted the silver notes, and turned to find someone to carry out the task.
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