“Haha, no problem,” Zhao Erhu laughed heartily. Seeing everyone’s fawning expressions, he felt incredibly pleased. He waved his hand, “We’ve been through life and death together. When I become the Li Zheng in a month, all of you will be patrol guards.”
He seemed to have completely forgotten that he had just been cursing the Li Zheng as a dog of the Three Great Immortal Clans, yet he himself was already longing for that dog’s position.
However, that was an Immortal Clan’s dog.
Who wouldn’t want to be one?
Chen Changqing also wanted to.
However, to become a Li Zheng, one must have extremely strong connections and exceptional ability.
After all, even ordinary members of the Three Great Immortal Clans coveted this position.
The Li Zheng of their Qingshi Town, Wang Chengwu, was a member of the Wang Clan, one of Dayang County’s Three Great Immortal Clans.
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Captain is generous.”
Everyone started showering him with compliments again.
Zhao Erxiong, flipping the roasted pork, looked around and cleared his throat.
When everyone looked at him, he said seriously, “I have a suggestion.”
“What suggestion?”
“Just say it, Brother Xiong.”
Chen Changqing’s eyes narrowed slightly. He thought, “Here it comes.”
Zhao Erxiong began, “Our Ming Que Hunting Squad always returns unscathed, and we get so many hunted animals every time, all thanks to my brother and my brother’s Nether Que. Do you agree with what I’m saying?”
“That’s right.”
“Yes.”
“It’s all thanks to the Captain.”
Everyone nodded. They had all realized by now and had a bad premonition.
Captain Zhao Erhu indeed contributed the most, but he alone took six tenths of the hunt’s proceeds after tax.
Hunters of similar strength in surrounding towns only took four tenths after tax.
Zhao Erhu initially took four tenths, but later increased it to five tenths.
Last year, it was raised again to six tenths. All the remaining people divided the remaining four tenths according to their contributions.
It was already greedy enough.
Are they going to increase the share again?
Zhao Erxiong continued, “Last night, I suggested to my brother that he raise his share of the hunt’s proceeds, but my brother is righteous. Not only did he not agree, he even scolded me severely. Is my brother righteous or not?”
“Righteous.”
“The Captain is the most righteous.”
Everyone spoke in unison, their voices quite loud, but in their hearts, they were already cursing.
Righteous my foot! Among the thirty-six towns in Dayang County, even if Zhao Erhu wasn’t the greediest hunting squad captain, he was definitely in the top three.
If it weren’t for Zhao Erhu’s Nether Que, it would be too dangerous in the outer areas of Yunwu Mountain.
Everyone had long wanted to leave the Ming Que Hunting Squad.
And that black-hearted scoundrel Zhao Erxiong was also no good; he actually wanted to increase Zhao Erhu’s share.
It was a good thing Zhao Erhu didn’t agree.
Everyone’s expressions improved slightly.
However, Chen Changqing was secretly nervous. Zhao Erxiong couldn’t possibly say such nonsense; the words that followed were likely the main point.
Sure enough, the main event arrived.
Captain Zhao Erhu stood up, looked around at everyone, and spoke solemnly, “My cultivation is currently at the Peak of Qi Condensation Second Layer, but my Nether Que is already an adult and can barely feedback spiritual power anymore.
However, if I buy a Blood Spirit Pill and feed it to the Nether Que, its cultivation can be raised to Lesser Demon Fifth Layer, and my cultivation can also advance to Qi Condensation Third Layer.
I have currently gathered four hundred thousand coins, but I am still short twenty thousand. I hope you all can lend me a hand. Each person can raise twenty thousand coins for me. I promise you, once I Break through to Qi Condensation Third Layer,
I will repay the money you lend me with three tenths interest.
And when I become the Li Zheng, all of you will be patrol guards.”
Everyone paused at his words.
Twenty thousand coins?
The currency of this world consisted of copper coins, silver leaves, and gold leaves.
1 gold leaf = 100 silver leaves.
1 silver leaf = 10 copper coins.
Twenty thousand coins meant twenty thousand copper coins.
One copper coin was enough for a meal for an ordinary family.
Members of the Ming Que Hunting Squad earned much more than ordinary townsfolk and were all wealthy.
But their expenses were also high, and they weren’t well-off. Even two thousand coins would be difficult to come by, let alone twenty thousand.
They couldn’t even borrow twenty thousand coins.
After all, among those in the town, Beast Masters like them were the wealthiest. Most ordinary people were very poor, barely eating meat a few times a year, and had very little spare money.
Chen Changqing’s eyes narrowed slightly. Zhao Erhu should be aware of the wealth of his team members.
He knew that everyone simply didn’t have that much money.
Unless they went deep into the mountains and risked their lives, they wouldn’t be able to get that much money in a short time.
Sure enough, Zhao Erbao stood up and said loudly, “Big Brother, I only have one thousand coins at home, and I can’t even borrow that much.
I suggest that our squad simply doesn’t rest recently. We should go into the mountain a few more times, and go deeper into Yunwu Mountain. With the Nether Que patrolling, there isn’t much danger.
As long as we get one or two Spiritual Plants, we can easily gather twenty thousand coins.”
According to their hunting squad’s rules, for Spirit Medicine and Spiritual Plants gathered deep in the mountains, the discoverer took five tenths of the total value, Captain Zhao Erhu took four tenths, and the remaining one tenth was equally divided among the others.
“So this is what they were waiting for,” Chen Changqing realized.
They wanted everyone to risk their lives to secure Zhao Erhu’s future.
Zhao Erxiong agreed wholeheartedly, “I think Brother Erbao is absolutely right. With my brother and my brother’s Nether Que, there isn’t much danger in the deep mountains.
Going into Yunwu Mountain’s depths a few more times will easily allow us to gather twenty thousand coins.”
Zhao Erbao also spoke with a booming voice, “The Captain has treated us well, and he’s not just taking it for free; he’s giving us three tenths interest.
The key is that when the Captain becomes the Li Zheng, we’ll be patrol guards! I support the Captain. Even if I have to sell everything I own, I’ll gather twenty thousand coins for the Captain.”
Zhao Erbao once again emphasized the many benefits of lending money to Zhao Erhu.
Zhao Erhu patted Zhao Erbao’s shoulder heavily, “Erbao, thank you so much. I will definitely not let you down in the future.”
“What a performance,” the hunters cursed inwardly, their expressions uncertain.
The hunters weren’t too stupid; they had already realized by now.
Zhao Erbao was definitely in on it, putting on a show.
Zhao Erhu smiled at Chen Changming, “Brother Changming, what’s your opinion?”
Zhao Erxiong and Zhao Erbao also looked at Chen Changming, putting pressure on him with their gazes.
Chen Changming felt immense pressure, especially from Zhao Erhu’s smiling eyes, which made cold sweat stream down his Face.
The deep mountains were too dangerous; he didn’t want to risk his life there. However, if he didn’t agree, and Zhao Erhu exposed his affair with the Li Zheng’s third wife, he would definitely be killed by the enraged Li Zheng.
Chen Changming wiped the sweat from his forehead, gritted his teeth, and nodded, “I agree, let’s go into the deep mountains.”
He looked at the brothers Yin Jianqiang and Yin Jianhui, “Brothers, what are your opinions?”
Zhao Erxiong and Zhao Erbao both looked at the brothers Yin Jianqiang and Yin Jianhui again, applying pressure with their gazes.
Yin Jianqiang was about to politely refuse, but then he heard Yin Jianhui speak, “Captain, I agree to go into the deep mountains.”
Yin Jianhui actually didn’t want to risk his life in the deep mountains either, but Zhao Erhu knew about his affair with the Li Zheng’s third wife.
If he didn’t give Zhao Erhu Face today, this bully would definitely expose his affair with the third wife.
It wouldn’t matter much if he died.
But he couldn’t bear to implicate the third wife.
Yin Jianqiang quickly tugged at his younger brother’s clothes a few times.
Yin Jianhui turned his head, looked at his brother, and said seriously, “Brother, with the Captain’s Nether Que, the deep mountains aren’t that dangerous.
Moreover, where there’s danger, there’s Opportunity. If we’re lucky enough to get a high-grade Spirit Medicine or Spiritual Plant, we also have a chance to become true Immortal Beast Tamers.”
He wanted to become an Immortal Beast Tamer, a powerful Immortal Beast Tamer.
Only by being strong enough would he have a chance to take the third wife away from the Li Zheng’s side.
He wanted to give the third wife a home.
Yin Jianqiang thought for a moment and also agreed to go hunting in the deep mountains. He didn’t feel at ease with his younger brother going alone.
Moreover, risking it in the mountains might just lead to a promising future.
Zhao Erhu was very satisfied. He looked at Chen Changqing and said with a smile, “Brother Changqing, what’s your opinion?”
Chen Changqing had already prepared his excuse. He said seriously, “Captain, I support you. I’ll go back to Dayang County to find my sister and ask her to give me some money.
I’ll first repay your eighteen thousand copper coin debt, and any extra I’ll lend to you.”
The deep mountains were dangerous; many hunters had died there.
Among them were even Immortal Beast Tamers at Qi Condensation Fifth or Sixth Layer.
His Little Black Tiger’s combat strength was decent, but his personal strength was too poor.
He now had the Creation Black Lotus; with diligent training, he could quickly become stronger, so there was no need to risk his life in the deep mountains.
Currently, Zhao Erhu’s influence was great.
He would agree to repay the money first.
Before, when his predecessor wrote to his sister, she didn’t even respond, clearly indicating she was thoroughly disappointed in him.
Then he would go to the homes of those scoundrel friends in Dayang County and hide from the debt for a while.
Once his combat strength improved, he would properly deal with Zhao Erhu.
Zhao Erhu chuckled and reminded him, “That eighteen thousand copper coins is just the principal. With interest, it’s now twenty-six thousand coins.”
Chen Changqing’s expression froze. He remembered that there was indeed interest, and the interest was extremely high. Calculated, it was indeed twenty-six thousand coins.
This bully Zhao Erhu, first he tricked his predecessor, and then he charged exorbitant interest. He was truly ruthless.
Silently cursing his predecessor for being an idiot, Chen Changqing nodded and agreed, “Alright, twenty-six thousand coins. I’ll go to Dayang County tomorrow morning to borrow money from my sister.”
Regardless, he would go and hide from the debt for a while first.
But Zhao Erhu wasn’t a fool. He sneered, “Chen Er Liu Zi, you want to go to Dayang County to hide from debt, don’t you?”
“No, no, I’m going to Dayang County to borrow money from my sister,” Chen Changqing said.
Zhao Erbao, standing nearby, sneered, “You wrote to your sister before, and she didn’t even respond. Why would your sister give you twenty-six thousand copper coins? It’s better to go hunting in the mountains with us.”
His expression seemed to have completely forgotten.
That Chen Changqing had saved his life an hour ago.
Some people are just like that; they only remember others’ wrongs and completely forget their good deeds.
Their eyes only see profit.
That look was truly despicable.
Chen Changqing glanced at Zhao Erbao and said seriously, “I was afraid my sister would punish me before, so I didn’t tell her about losing the gamble. I only said I slept with your wife and would be beaten to death if I didn’t pay compensation. It seems my sister didn’t believe me.”
“You’re asking for death!” Zhao Erbao’s Face flushed red, and spiritual power surged around him, about to make a move.
At this moment, a black shadow had already stood in front of Chen Changqing. It was Little Black Tiger.
Black spiritual power churned around Little Black Tiger’s body, baring its fangs, its eyes cold.
Zhao Erhu stopped his movement immediately. His Face was ashen, his fists clenched, crackling, but he didn’t dare to lash out.
He just seethed with suppressed Qi.
Zhao Erbao’s cheeks twitched with anger, pulling at his ear, which had been cut by an arrow, making him wince in pain.
His mood immediately worsened.
