Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

The road grew more and more familiar.

Tang Wen remembered. Wasn’t this the path he took when he escorted that little girl he’d met on the road home the other day?

The one who had suggested coming here explained:

"...The person living there is one of our own gang members. A few years ago, he was attacked in the wilds and afflicted with a strange poison. He was brought back, barely clinging to life, and has been bedridden ever since."

Wu Hao, unfamiliar with the situation, asked curiously, "What Level was he? The gang has been supporting him all this time?"

The man paused. "Just a regular Martial Artist, a squad leader like me. Back then, the gang said they would support him for five years. By my count, that time is almost up."

Tang Wen frowned upon hearing this. "We’re here to make money, but we can’t break the gang’s taboos."

Driving out a gang senior and seizing his home.

If they did something like that, their reputations would be ruined.

Wu Hao frowned as well.

He wasn’t willing to do such a thing either.

The man shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, we wouldn’t dare! I was in charge of the land deeds in the gang for a while. If I remember correctly, there are still two or three months left in the five-year period. After that, his whole family will have to move out of this courtyard."

Someone else nearby added:

"Commanders, you haven’t been in Ganshan City for long. Truthfully, even if we kicked them out right now, no one would say a thing. If we even gave his wife and child a little extra money, they’d be moved to tears with gratitude! Everyone in the gang, from top to bottom, would praise our benevolence."

Wu Hao nodded.

Tang Wen didn’t know what to say.

In Flame Camp, the camp would have supported someone like this for life.

His family’s fields would have been exempt from rent.

His children would be taught to read and train in martial arts, not only without tuition but also with food and clothing provided until the age of fifteen.

As they spoke, the group arrived at a remote street and turned into a small alley.

Tang Wen remembered that the home of that mother and daughter was just at the end of this alley.

"Get out here!"

"Your man owes me money! Pay up!"

Just as the group was about to exit the alley, a man’s hostile voice reached their ears.

Wu Hao clenched his fist, and a slender man from their group immediately dismounted, creeping forward to investigate.

In truth, Tang Wen and the others understood the situation even without him going over.

A young, defiant voice retorted:

"You’re lying! My dad is in bed all day, how could he possibly owe you money?"

Hearing this, Tang Wen and the others exchanged glances.

’This is bad.’

’The girl fell for it.’

Just as they expected.

The man’s voice instantly grew arrogant. "Heh heh heh, so your man has been in bed this whole time! No wonder I’ve never seen him. Open the door, let me in to see your dad."

The girl, both anxious and afraid, stammered, "You... you... you..."

"’You’ what? Let your old man in, and I’ll be your new daddy from now on!"

The girl said, "We’re with the Black Water Gang."

"The Black Water Gang? Don’t you try to scare me with the Black Water Gang. To tell you the truth, I’ve had my eye on you two for the past month..."

"Giddy-up!"

Everyone turned to see that Tang Wen, unable to listen any longer, had spurred his horse forward.

This wasn’t recklessness on his part.

He had made a judgment. They were only a few dozen paces from the alley’s exit.

At this distance, the man was still knocking on the door.

That meant one of two things. One: although the distance was short, he still hadn’t heard them.

This would mean his strength was pathetically weak.

He could only bully the widow and orphan living here.

Or two: he was a master who didn’t care.

But that possibility was minuscule.

His own words had already given him away.

Exiting the alley, Tang Wen saw a tall, thin man blocking the entrance to a home.

"Who are you!" Tang Wen barked.

The man turned his head and saw Tang Wen on horseback.

Without a word, he lowered his head and deftly tried to slip away in the other direction, hugging the wall.

"Halt!"

The moment Tang Wen shouted, the man broke into a sprint.

This guy was really something else. He didn’t even have the courage to ask who Tang Wen was, yet he dared to come here and bully people.

It seemed just as he’d said: he had targeted this place precisely because a helpless mother and daughter lived here.

"Get him!"

Tang Wen didn’t give chase.

But three or four of the brothers in his squad heard the command and pursued.

They vanished from Tang Wen’s sight in a flash.

"Let’s go, we’ll take a look too."

Wu Hao called out.

The two spurred their horses to follow, but before they had gone far...

A brother up ahead turned back to report, "Commanders, we’ve caught him."

’So quickly?’

’He must just be a Martial Disciple.’

Ten-odd minutes later, the man was dragged back, looking like he’d been put through the wringer.

"What’s the situation?"

"Hah! Just some petty crook."

THUD! The brother who caught him lifted him up with one hand and slammed him viciously to the ground.

He coughed up several mouthfuls of fresh blood.

The tall, thin man struggled to his knees. "My lord, spare me! Spare me! Your lordships, please just treat me like a fart and let me go!"

Tang Wen didn’t speak, instead turning to look at the wooden door.

The sound of footsteps came from inside.

The wooden door opened.

A mother and daughter emerged. Upon seeing Tang Wen’s face clearly, the pair wordlessly rushed forward, knelt, and kowtowed. "Benefactor, please save us!"

"It really is you. Get up and speak."

"Brother Tang, you know them?" Wu Hao asked.

Tang Wen replied casually, "A couple of days ago, I saw the little girl was in a pitiable state and helped her out."

Wu Hao didn’t ask any more questions.

Just then, the mother and daughter raised their heads.

Tang Wen immediately frowned. ’This disguise is too fake.’

Their faces were covered in a blackness like soot from the bottom of a pot.

It was obvious at a glance that it had been deliberately smeared on.

The woman, who looked to be around thirty, said, "My lord is kind-hearted. I beg you to help us one more time. I am willing to work like a horse or ox to repay you."

"This is simple. Kill him," Tang Wen said faintly.

The woman shivered and quickly waved her hands. "My lord, this servant was not talking about killing."

"Then what were you talking about?"

Two streams of clear tears suddenly flowed from the woman’s eyes. In a choked voice, she said, "My husband died the night before last, and our family has no money for a burial. I want to ask my lord to bestow some silver. Once my husband is buried, I am willing to serve you as a slave!"

Shaking his head, Tang Wen was just about to give her the silver directly.

But he suddenly felt it was inappropriate.

This wasn’t Flame Camp, or even the well-ordered Four Seas Camp.

This was Ganshan City, where everyone kept slaves.

He paused, then said calmly:

"I’ve helped you, mother and daughter, once before. Based on your looks, I normally wouldn’t be interested. But seeing as you’re in a pitiful state, and I happen to need someone to serve me, I’ll take you in."

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!"

The woman kowtowed repeatedly.

Tang Wen turned his head, took out twenty taels in silver notes, and handed them to a man behind him. "Brother, I’ll trouble you with this. Go find some people to handle the funeral arrangements. Make it a decent one. After all, he was once a brother of the Black Water Gang."

Hearing this, the mother and daughter on the ground wept with gratitude, clutching each other and crying their hearts out.

The subordinate behind him, however, did not take the silver notes. He simply sighed in admiration. "Commander Tang is truly a man of principle! You don’t need to pay for this, I guarantee it will be handled properly for you!"

But Tang Wen shook his head. "Business is business. I am, after all, taking them in as my servants."

"Being your servants is their good fortune."

Wu Hao chimed in. Hearing this, the subordinate no longer insisted, took the silver notes, and turned to find someone for the task.