65: Chapter 65 Green Snake Gang

"You hit my people, and you aren't going to apologize?"

Liu San's smile froze for a moment, then he snorted.

"I was just teaching a few beggars a lesson, and you want me to apologize? You haven't been in Linyuan City very long, have you? Perhaps you don't know the rules of..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Because you moved.

You raised your hand and pinched the iron rod he was carrying on his shoulder with two fingers.

Liu San instinctively pulled back, but it didn't budge.

He used all his strength, but the iron rod remained motionless, as if it were welded to your fingertips.

Liu San's expression finally changed. He was a Houtian Middle Stage Martial Artist, and in the current Linyuan City, he was considered quite capable among ruffians like him, but at this moment, he felt like he was pulling against a mountain.

You twisted your fingers.

"Snap."

The iron rod broke in half from the middle.

The cross-section was as neat as if cut, and iron filings fell down with a rustle.

Liu San's pupils shrank to pinpricks.

He retreated instinctively, but your other hand had already seized his wrist.

"Crack."

A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed through the alley.

Liu San opened his mouth wide, the sound stuck in his throat and unable to come out.

You let go, and his right wrist was bent at an unnatural angle, hanging limply.

The pain finally broke through to his brain, and a miserable howl exploded out.

"Ahhhh—my hand! You crazy bi—"

You raised your foot and kicked him in the chest.

Liu San flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the two ruffians behind him, and the three of them rolled into a heap.

He clutched his broken wrist and rolled on the ground, his face as white as paper.

The remaining five ruffians were stunned for less than a breath before turning and running.

You didn't chase them, but simply stood where you were and released a trace of your aura.

The aura of a top-tier Grandmaster enveloped the entire alley.

The legs of all five men went soft at the same time, and they fell to the ground in unison, as if pressed down by an invisible hand on their spines; they lay on the ground, trembling all over, unable to even crawl.

"Go back and tell your gang leader."

Your voice wasn't loud, but every word drilled clearly into their ears, "I will only give you half an hour."

You turned and returned to the shop.

After applying medicine to Shitou and comforting the frightened children, you sat behind the counter and continued copying books.

Before long.

A small sedan chair stopped at the alley entrance.

A thin, gaunt man in his forties stepped out of the sedan chair, wearing a silk long gown with a shrewd appearance, holding a folding fan in his hand, though it was completely useless in the middle of winter.

He was followed by four attendants, one of whom was Liu San, whose wrist had been broken earlier; his right hand was in a sling, and his face was ashen.

The thin man sized up the shop's storefront, looked at Shitou standing at the door, and finally let his gaze fall on you behind the counter.

His footsteps paused slightly, clearly dazzled by your appearance, but he quickly returned to normal.

"I am Zhou Gui, leader of the Green Snake Gang."

He cupped his hands, "May I ask for your surname, Miss?"

"Lin."

"Miss Lin."

Zhou Gui walked into the shop and took the initiative to sit on the stool opposite you.

He placed the folding fan on the table and sighed, "My subordinates do not follow the rules and have offended Miss Lin; I, Zhou, apologize first."

He turned his head to look at Liu San.

Liu San gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and said with some fear, "I... I'm sorry, Miss Lin, I apologize to you!"

You didn't look up and continued copying the book.

Zhou Gui maintained his smile, but the corner of his eye twitched.

"Miss Lin," he changed to a more polite tone, "I am a businessman and do not like to harm harmony.

Today's matter, at the end of the day, is just a misunderstanding.

How about this: since Liu San was the one who offended you first, I am willing to compensate Miss Lin for all losses."

You put down your brush and looked up.

"Your men hit the children I have adopted."

Your tone was flat, "One took an iron rod to the shoulder, one had their mouth beaten until it bled, and one had their hair pulled."

Zhou Gui's smile stiffened.

"This... children are tough, they'll be fine after resting for two days."

You looked at him.

Zhou Gui's smile slowly faded.

He was a Xiantian Peak Martial Artist, experienced and worldly; when you looked at him, he clearly felt a sense of oppression coming from a higher level.

He was not sure of the specific cultivation level of the woman opposite him, but he was certain of one thing: he absolutely could not afford to provoke her.

A moment later, he sighed.

"Please name your price, Miss Lin."

"Three thousand taels."

You held up three fingers, the exact same gesture Liu San had made earlier, "In addition, I want a plot of land.

That vacant old residential site in the west of the city; I've looked at it. It's your gang's property, and it will barely suffice."

Zhou Gui's face twitched.

Three thousand taels of silver was not enough to bankrupt the Green Snake Gang, but it was by no means a small sum.

Added to that piece of land in the west of the city, it was worth at least a thousand taels.

Altogether, it was almost equal to three or four years of the gang's illicit profits.

He opened his mouth to bargain.

Seeing that you remained indifferent and looked full of confidence, coupled with the dense Internal Energy radiating from your body.

Zhou Gui closed his mouth again.

"...Deal."

He squeezed the two words out from between his teeth.

You picked up your brush again.

"The silver must be delivered within three days, and the deed transferred tomorrow. Also..."

You said without raising your head, "From today on, no one from your gang is to appear within three hundred paces of this alley."

Zhou Gui stood up, cupped his hands, and turned to leave.

When he reached the alley entrance, he whispered to the attendant beside him, "What is this woman's background?"

The attendant shook his head tremblingly.

Zhou Gui looked back at your bookstore once, and tucked his folding fan into his sleeve.

"Investigate."

After they left, Shitou poked his head out from behind the door.

"Big Sister, three thousand taels... will they really give it?"

"If he doesn't give it, I'll go to his gang and take it myself."

You turned a page, "But he will give it; smart people know how to choose."

Shitou swallowed his saliva.

"Then... what do you want that land for?"

You stopped your brush and thought for a moment.

"There are more and more children, and the shop is too small to live in."

You said, "I'll build a few rooms and make a proper place. I can't have you all squeezed in forever."

Shitou's eyes suddenly turned red.

He blinked hard twice, lowered his head, and wiped his face messily with his sleeve.

"Thank you, Big Sister."

"Don't cry."

You said indifferently, "I'll teach you a set of fist techniques; next time someone comes to cause trouble, you'll at least be able to hold out until I come out."

Shitou nodded vigorously, sniffled, and ran back to the courtyard.

You continued copying the book.

Just like that, three years passed in the blink of an eye.