Pushing It Too Far

Near noon, Hunter Zheng and his son emerged from the Snowridge Mountains, carrying a black eagle’s leg.

People made their living off the mountains and waters. Once the snow on the Yunling Mountains melted, it wasn’t only the hunters and mountain travelers who resumed their work in the wilderness.

The open ground at the foot of the mountains was already packed with carriages belonging to merchants from all over Yunzhou, who had come at the first opportunity to purchase mountain goods from the hunters and other travelers.

As for ferocious beast meat, a mountain product in especially high demand, the authorities had even established a special department to purchase it. Of course, the honorable officials would never stoop to dealing with hunters and mountain travelers personally. They generally contracted the beast-meat trade to local wealthy merchants, allowing themselves to skim a handsome profit in the process.

Yunzhou was no exception.

Three merchants had taken over the ferocious-beast purchasing business from the authorities.

The first was Wang Gou'er of the Wang Clan Money Shop.

The second was Zheng Huaiyi of Huichun Hall.

The third was Huang Peng of Fireworks Alley.

Now that Zheng Huaiyi and Wang Gou'er had both met untimely deaths, Huang Peng was the only one left to monopolize the ferocious-beast trade.

Zheng Shoutian was the finest hunter in Yunzhou City.

Naturally, he knew the situation inside and out. Carrying the black eagle’s leg through the crowd, he soon found the stall belonging to Fireworks Alley.

Huang Peng was sitting on a cushioned couch inside a carriage, sipping tea. When he saw Hunter Zheng approaching, he greeted him with a genial smile.

“Hunter Zheng, got another haul for me?”

There were plenty of hunters in Yunzhou City, but only Hunter Zheng could reliably obtain ferocious-beast meat. He was highly renowned among the hunters, and Huang Peng knew him well.

Zheng Shoutian acknowledged him.

With practiced efficiency, he untied the rope securing the black eagle’s leg to his back and set it on the ground. Bending at the waist, he nodded and said, “Shopkeeper Huang, have a look at today’s goods.”

Huang Peng had a rather prosperous appearance.

He wore magnificent robes stitched with dark golden-yellow thread.

Two gold pendants the size of fists hung from his plump ears. As he turned his head to examine the black eagle’s leg on the ground, the pendants swayed along with him.

“As expected of Yunzhou City’s most famous hunter. You really are capable—every time, you manage to bring in excellent goods,” Huang Peng praised.

In the past, whenever he heard such praise, a trace of pride would appear on Zheng Shoutian’s face. But today, he could not feel pleased at all. He looked like an eggplant beaten down by frost. Lowering his head as far as he could and hiding his embarrassment, he said, “As long as the boss finds it acceptable.”

With the heavy snow sealing off the mountains, even ordinary game in the city had become scarce, and its price had risen by nearly half. Ferocious-beast meat was naturally even more valuable. Huang Peng had no reason to reject such fine eagle meat, so he called to the servant beside him.

“Go weigh it and calculate Hunter Zheng’s payment.”

As Zheng Shoutian waited anxiously, several servants carried the black eagle’s leg to the large scale behind the carriage. After a short while, the lead servant, Zhang Qiang, returned and cupped his fists.

“Boss, after removing the feathers and useless bones, there are 198 jin and 7 liang left.”

Upon hearing that figure, Zheng Shoutian, who had been staring at the ground, froze for a moment.

Then he hurriedly raised his head and said to Huang Peng, “Boss, could the scale be wrong? I weighed that black eagle’s leg in my hands earlier. It should have weighed at least eight or nine hundred jin. Even after removing the feathers and bones, there ought to be more than five hundred jin left. It’s impossible for there to be only two hundred!”

The price of ferocious-beast meat in Yunzhou City had now soared.

Huang Peng bought the goods cheaply outside Yunling Mountain and sold them at a high price in Yunzhou City. Every trip earned him a handsome profit.

The lower he drove down Hunter Zheng’s price,

the more money he made.

Under ordinary circumstances, doing business this way would be no different from killing the goose that laid the golden eggs and destroying his own reputation. But now that Zheng Huaiyi and Wang Gou’er were dead, Huang Peng was the only person left in all of Yunzhou City who dealt in vicious-beast meat.

Hunters like Zheng Shoutian had no choice but to sell their meat to him.

Who else could they sell it to?

At that point, wasn’t he free to declare the weight whatever he pleased?

Huang Peng’s expression darkened. “What? Does Hunter Zheng think I’m trying to cheat you?”

Zheng Shoutian did not dare offend Huang Peng. He hurriedly cupped his fists and said, “I wouldn’t dare. It’s just that the black eagle leg I carried here couldn’t possibly weigh only two hundred pounds.”

Huang Peng gave a derisive laugh.

“If Hunter Zheng doesn’t believe me…” He turned to Zhang Qiang, who was standing nearby. “Did you hear that? Hunter Zheng says he doesn’t believe us. Hurry up and bring out the large scale and weigh it again right in front of him.”

Zhang Qiang acknowledged the order.

He shot a cold look at Zheng Shoutian and his son before joining several servants to push the large scale from behind the carriage.

They weighed the meat again in front of Zheng Shoutian.

The scale’s pointer came to a stop at the number one hundred and ninety-eight pounds.

Huang Peng smiled. “Are you satisfied now, Hunter Zheng?”

Zheng Shoutian stared in disbelief.

At this point, how could he not realize that Huang Peng was deliberately cheating him?

Behind him, Zheng Fei clenched his fists. Unable to hold back his anger, he shouted, “That’s a rigged scale! You’re deliberately cheating us! My father has been a hunter for more than thirty years. He can tell the weight just by lifting something once. You merchants are nothing but crooks! We’re not selling this meat to you—”

Before he could finish, there was a sharp smack.

Zhang Qiang raised his hand and slapped Zheng Fei across the face. A clear red handprint immediately appeared on Zheng Fei’s cheek.

“Boy, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want! Our employer runs a legitimate business. How dare you slander him like this?”

“If you think the price is too low, then get lost and find someone else to sell to!”

“Stop spouting bullshit here!”

Zhang Qiang rolled his wrist, then spat toward Zheng Fei’s face with a contemptuous “ptui.” Zheng Shoutian quickly stepped in front of his son and took the spit himself.

But where else could they go?

The Zheng and Wang families were both dead.

In the entire city of Yunzhou, Huang Peng of the Fireworks Quarter was the only person still buying vicious-beast meat.

If they didn’t sell it to him,

how could they get the money to pay for his wife’s medical treatment?

Zheng Shoutian restrained his trembling son. Hunched over, he apologized to Huang Peng on Zheng Fei’s behalf. “Please don’t take offense, Master. We’re simple mountain folk and don’t understand proper etiquette.”

Seeing Zheng Shoutian yield, Huang Peng, seated in the carriage, took a sip of tea and laughed inwardly.

These poor wretches were so easy to bully.

No matter how badly he treated them, they never dared resist.

That black eagle leg clearly weighed six or seven hundred pounds, yet he had claimed it weighed only two hundred. And they could do nothing but accept it. Ha!

This deal alone would earn him several hundred extra taels of silver.

Huang Peng was in an excellent mood.

He took a hundred-tael banknote from the money pouch beside him and tossed it out through the carriage window as though bestowing a reward. “You people have it hard. Meat weighing less than two hundred pounds is worth at most ninety-seven or ninety-eight taels. But I’m a kind man, so I’ll round it up for you. Here’s one hundred taels. Take it and get lost.”

The cold wind howled as a hundred-tael banknote spun through the air.

Then it landed on the snow in front of them.

Zheng Shoutian stared at the hundred-tael note on the ground—the money he had “stolen” at the cost of all his dignity, only to be exploited all the same.

He clenched his back teeth.

His body stood trembling in the snow.

When Zhang Qiang saw that he still had not picked it up, he barked angrily, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and thank our employer for his great kindness. Pick up the silver and get lost!”

There was no other way.

To save his wife, Hunter Zheng had abandoned every last shred of his dignity.

His knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground.

Clutching his swollen, reddened cheek, Zheng Fei grabbed hold of his father and shouted furiously, “Dad! Why are you kneeling to them? They’re obviously bullying us! Don’t kneel to them! Get up—now!”

Hunter Zheng pressed Zheng Fei down.

He kowtowed to Huang Peng and pleaded earnestly, “Employer, please show mercy! My wife is seriously ill and needs the money to buy medicine. Please give us a little more!”

“Didn’t I already give you a hundred taels? What more do you want? Do you think I run a charity?” Huang Peng’s expression suddenly turned cold.

“A hundred taels truly isn’t enough!”

“Please, employer, have a heart! My wife is gravely ill and needs two hundred taels for medicine to save her life. Otherwise, she won’t make it through this winter! This black eagle weighs five or six hundred pounds—it’s worth at least three hundred taels of silver.”

“I only want two hundred taels!”

“I’m willing to give the extra hundred to you, employer!”

“Please, show mercy!”

Zheng Shoutian lowered his head and kowtowed three times.

“You ungrateful bastard, Zheng! I’ve already given you several extra taels, and you’re still not satisfied. Now you’re accusing me of cheating you?” Huang Peng’s face filled with fury. He shot Zhang Qiang a glance, and Zhang Qiang immediately understood.

“Bastard! The employer has already given you more than enough, yet you keep pushing your luck. You’ve got no shame!”

He strode forward.

Then he viciously kicked Zheng Shoutian in the face. With a sharp crack, Zheng Shoutian’s nasal bone broke, and blood immediately gushed from his nostrils.

“How dare you bully people like this!”

Zheng Fei had already taken a slap earlier. Seeing his father humiliated so mercilessly, his chest nearly burst with rage. He snatched up the metal pitchfork strapped to his back.

He charged forward, intent on fighting Zhang Qiang to the death.

Zheng Shoutian, his face covered in blood, hurriedly grabbed him. Offending Huang Peng would mean cutting off his wife’s only chance of survival. Zheng Shoutian shouted, “Employer! I’m a lowly bastard, and you’re right to curse me! I only beg you to give us a little more. My wife is waiting for the medicine that will save her life!”

*You think I’m going to take money back out of my own purse after it’s already gone in?*

*Dream on!*

Huang Peng said coldly, “I, Huang, have been making my way in Yunzou City for all these years. What kind of people haven’t I met? You think you can play the rogue with me? What a joke! Beat them. Beat them until they submit!”

Having received the order,

Zhang Qiang led a group of men forward, iron rods in hand. Grinning viciously, they surrounded Zheng Shoutian and his son. Seven or eight iron rods came whistling down.

The mountain folk gathered nearby could not bear to watch.

They all turned their heads away and whispered among themselves. “I wonder what’s gotten into Hunter Zheng. Haven’t the mountain goods we bring down from Yunling Mountain always been bought for whatever price the city lords decide to pay?”

“Exactly. Having enough to eat is already something to be grateful for. If we offend someone, no one will buy our goods anymore, and we’ll all starve to death!”

“Exactly! What right do ordinary people like us have to bargain with our betters? One hundred taels of silver is plenty. This father and son from the Zheng family are simply too greedy!”

Hunter Zheng was old.

Moreover, he had cultivated a Mixed Aspect.

After his vital energy declined, it became difficult for him to wield the power of his Divine Aspect. All he could do was cling tightly to Zheng Fei and shield him, taking the iron rods head-on.

“The boss already gave you extra money, yet you’re still not satisfied. You actually want more!”

“Why are you so ungrateful?”

“How can you be so greedy? Don’t you deserve a beating?!”

Zhang Qiang cursed as he struck. With a mighty swing, he brought an iron rod crashing down onto Hunter Zheng’s forehead.

Bright-red blood immediately streamed down the old father’s face.

A drop landed on Zheng Fei’s cheek.

At that moment, the last of Zheng Fei’s reason shattered with a roar.

“I’ll kill you all!” he bellowed.

Breaking free of Hunter Zheng’s protection, he suddenly raised the steel pitchfork in his hands and smashed it against the iron rod Zhang Qiang was swinging down!

Clang!

Sparks burst through the air, glowing scarlet!

Holding the iron rod in both hands, Zhang Qiang felt an immense force strike him head-on. The impact numbed his hands with pain, and he was knocked backward several steps.

Looking down at his hands gripping the rod, he saw that the flesh had been torn open, and bright-red blood was flowing freely.

Zhang Qiang was shocked.

He and Huang Peng were maternal cousins. Over the years, with Huang Peng’s financial support, he had spent eight or nine hundred taels of silver to achieve Second-Grade Foundation Establishment. He possessed a strength of four to five hundred jin!

Yet now, he had been forced back by a hunter’s son.

He found it impossible to accept!

“You little bastard! Master Zhang is going to break both your legs!” Zhang Qiang shouted to bolster his own courage. Enduring the pain in his hands, he swung the iron rod again.

Although he claimed he was aiming for Zheng Fei’s legs, the rod’s vicious arc was actually directed straight at Zheng Fei’s head!

However, Zheng Fei had gone completely berserk. Instead of retreating before the rod could descend, he charged forward.

With a muffled thud, he took the blow across his back.

An ordinary person would have had half the bones in his body shattered by such a strike, with even his spine broken. Yet Zheng Fei acted as though nothing had happened. Roaring furiously, he charged straight toward Zhang Qiang’s face!

Hunter Zheng was the finest hunter in Yunzhou.

An ordinary hunter might not be able to obtain even a single ferocious beast in two or three years. But every three to five months, Hunter Zheng would use his skill at concealing his presence to launch a sneak attack and bring one back.

Sometimes it weighed twenty or thirty jin; sometimes only four or five.

For decades, he had relied on this craft.

Over time, he had amassed a considerable fortune.

What father did not wish for his child to succeed? Having spent his entire life as a hunter, Hunter Zheng knew all too well how lowly their profession was.

He did not want Zheng Fei to follow the same path.

Thus, he had long since spent all his savings on Zheng Fei. When Zheng Fei was only a teenager, Hunter Zheng had already helped him complete Second-Grade Foundation Establishment.

Though Hunter Zheng lacked the ability to ambush a peak seventh-grade ferocious beast and help Zheng Fei complete First-Grade Foundation Establishment, he had no shortage of the essence blood of ninth-grade ferocious beasts.

Through years of accumulation, Zheng Fei—still not yet twenty—possessed tremendous strength. He might not have been able to muster a thousand jin, but he could easily exert seven or eight hundred jin of force!

Especially with his broad, sturdy frame and fierce-looking features.

He was as robust as a ferocious beast!

Having taken the blow head-on, Zheng Fei gripped the steel pitchfork with his left hand and thrust it straight toward Zhang Qiang’s face. A cold, razor-sharp gleam flashed from the pitchfork’s tip, frightening Zhang Qiang into hurriedly turning his head aside to dodge!

But the three prongs of the steel fork split apart to either side.

He dodged the middle prong, but by the time he tried to evade the other two, it was already too late.

With a wet *squelch*—

The left prong pierced straight through his right eye, and red, white, and black matter burst from the socket in an instant!

“AAAH!!!”

Overcome by agony, Zhang Qiang kicked Zheng Fei hard in the stomach with both feet.

Zheng Fei felt as though all his internal organs had been crushed together. He vomited a large mouthful of blood and was sent flying, dropping the steel fork as his back slammed into the snow, sending up a broad spray of frost.

Yet the moment he hit the ground, Zheng Fei spun around like a ferocious beast.

Using both hands and feet, he lunged forward and tackled Zhang Qiang to the ground, pounding his face again and again with his fists as he roared, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

Zhang Qiang could not withstand Zheng Fei’s strength. On the verge of being beaten to death, he shielded his head with both arms and screamed furiously, “What are you standing around for? Get over here and beat this bastard to death!”

Everything had happened too quickly.

The few men, who had been staring dumbfounded, finally came to their senses after Zhang Qiang’s furious roar. Gripping their iron rods, they charged toward Zheng Fei and raised them to strike.

But before their rods could land—

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

A figure suddenly burst into the crowd. In the space of three punches and two kicks, several thugs were sent flying, blood pouring from their mouths.

Then a booming, righteous shout exploded beside everyone’s ears:

“What are you people doing? Don’t you know that Great Xia strictly prohibits armed brawling?!”

The voice was like a thunderclap.

It shook Huang Peng and the bleeding servants sprawled across the ground. They all turned toward the source of the voice.

Even Zheng Fei, who had been raging like a madman, came back to his senses.

He looked over.

The one who had shouted was a dark-faced, burly man who had appeared among the crowd at some point.

Standing beside him was a handsome, heroic-looking youth.

Though the youth wore only coarse cloth, he was exceptionally eye-catching. His brows were dark as ink, and his eyes shone like the sun. Beneath the clear winter sky, sunlight fell upon him, seeming to coat his black hair in a layer of radiance. He was dazzling, almost like a celestial deity.

Who else could they be but Yang An and Li Yan?

Yang An patted Zheng Fei on the shoulder and comforted him. “Brother Zheng Fei, it’s all right now.”

“Brother… Brother An, they bullied me!” Zheng Fei seemed to have found his family. Tears blurred his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

His bloodstained fists kept wiping at them, but he could not wipe the tears away.

From atop the carriage, Huang Peng recognized the newcomers. His plump face trembled, and the golden pendants hanging from his ears swayed up and down with it.

He cried out inwardly.

Aren’t these Li Yan, the Military Registrar, and his brother-in-law, Yang An?!

If one had to name the people who had been most prominent in Cloud Prefecture City lately, it would undoubtedly be Li Yan and Yang An!

The two of them had killed Wang Gou’er and Zheng Huaiyi and had even entered the Cloud Prefecture prison. Not only had they avoided trouble, they had also been awarded noble titles.

One had received the Third-Rank Zan Niao title.

The other had received the Second-Rank Shang Zao title.

Li Yan, in particular, was now a Judicial Military Registrar. If anyone offended him, and he said he would have them thrown in prison that very day, they would not make it to the next.

Huang Peng considered himself a man of some standing in Cloud Prefecture City.

But in the end, he was merely an ordinary merchant with neither an official position nor a noble title. He was not even the equal of Wang Gou’er or Zheng Huaiyi. How could he possibly dare offend these two fiends?

And when he saw that Yang An seemed to know the father and son of the Zheng family—

His entire mind went numb!

Huang Peng hurriedly jumped down from the carriage, racking his brains for a way to salvage the situation.

However, before his feet had even touched the ground—

Taking advantage of Zheng Fei’s hysterical sobbing, Zhang Qiang wriggled free from beneath him. Covering his blinded eye, he pointed at Li Yan and cursed furiously, “What the hell is it to you, you black brute? Those ungrateful thieves attacked us with weapons and blinded my eye! I’m going to cripple them, report them to the authorities, and make them pay with their lives!”

“You dare meddle in our Master Huang’s affairs too?”

“You’ve got some damn nerve!!! Are you looking to die?!”

“Zhang Qiang, fuck your mother!!!”

At those words, Huang Peng’s face turned deathly green. In his panic, he failed to watch his footing and stepped squarely onto a slick, wet rock.

With a cry of pain, he rolled several times—

and, like a watermelon, tumbled straight into the slushy snowmelt.