69novels Chapter 88 If you can't even pay your taxes, what's the point of living?
Chapter 88 If you can't even pay your taxes, what's the point of living?
Nighttime, the Black Tiger Gang.
The entire mountain stronghold was brightly lit and bustling with activity. Many bandits gathered together to drink and eat meat, creating quite a lively scene.
Right in the center of the mountain village.
Da Baojian put on a tiger-skin coat and sat on a tiger-skin chair, exuding an imposing aura, just like the previous leader.
"Chief, the mountain stronghold's food reserves have been depleted too much these past few days, and winter has only just begun. Should we...?"
A shifty-eyed bandit stepped forward and cautiously asked.
Wang Ze, the bandit leader, is the third-in-command of the stronghold. He is quite strong and has just broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining.
However, unlike the previous two leaders, he was in charge of the village's finances.
He was responsible for the bandits' food supply and the expenses of the stronghold.
As far as Da Baojian knew, Wang Ze was worldly and shrewd, and in addition to controlling the finances, he had great prestige throughout the stronghold, even surpassing that of the second-in-command, Xia Yuanba.
Upon hearing his words, many of the courtesans dared not make a move, and the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
Da Baojian's face darkened, and he sneered, "This is all the wealth I've worked so hard for over the years. What's wrong with enjoying it now?"
Then, he looked at the songstresses, a blissful smile spreading across his face: "Hahaha, don't stop! Keep playing the music and dancing!"
Hearing this, the songstresses dared to continue dancing, and cheerful music filled the hall once again.
A chill flashed in Wang Ze's eyes as he watched this scene.
"You can do what the Black Tiger Gang leader can do, so why can't I, Wang Ze? If your cultivation weren't stronger than mine, I would have killed you long ago!"
Wang Ze thought to himself, but his face remained calm, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.
As for the big sword, he breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully he had successfully intimidated him this time.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
If I had known there was a third leader, I should have just had the sect leader kill him too, and let the Sword Immortal take over the role.
Just then, Da Baojian felt that with Jianxian's personality, he was perfect for playing this kind of villainous role.
At that time, all three leaders of the Black Tiger Gang will be their people, and it probably won't be long before the entire gang is completely under the firm control of the Qingxuan Sect.
Unfortunately……
The current Grand Swordsman is simply too busy to be in two places at once.
Not only did he have to deal with Wang Ze, but he also had to secretly coordinate with the second-in-command, Xia Yuanba, on specific matters within the gang.
Coincidentally, the Great Sword is going to Liuye Town to collect taxes again tomorrow, and tonight's banquet is everyone's last celebration before the tax collection.
"I wonder how things are in Liuye Town now. And that Master Liu, wasn't he so capable before? Tsk tsk tsk... He'll get what's coming to him tomorrow."
With that thought in mind, Da Baojian quickly fell asleep amidst the revelry.
The next day at noon.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, bringing warmth to the town of Liuye as winter approached.
However, for the ordinary people of Liuye Town, the most terrifying thing about winter is often not the temperature, but the human heart.
The Black Tiger Gang, with its extortionate and tyrannical practices, has long been a malignant tumor in Liuye Town, bullying men and women.
Today is the last day they collect taxes for the year.
In previous years, the last time the Black Tiger Gang collected taxes was a month ago.
Da Baojian led dozens of his gang members through the deserted streets of Liuye Town.
Many low-level rogue cultivators have already left this place, and those who remain are mostly ordinary mortals.
Several gang members went to a house first. Instead of knocking, they banged on the door twice.
"Old Li, why aren't you coming out to pay your taxes?"
"Tax evasion, is that it! I think you don't want your precious granddaughter anymore."
Accompanied by two angry curses from the bandits, a hunched old man slowly and shakily walked out of the house.
He trembled as he pushed open the tightly closed, dilapidated door: "My lords, please spare my life! This old man is truly penniless, and besides, in previous years, taxes were only levied once a month in advance, weren't they?"
The bandit leader glared at him irritably and shouted, "Our boss doesn't collect taxes on a 'number of times' basis!"
"Besides, there have been more monster invasions this year, so Liuye Town's consumption and expenses have naturally increased. It's only right that you give us more, you know that?"
After saying that, he ignored the old man and rushed straight into the courtyard.
"What...what are you going to do?"
Old Li leaned against the door frame and the wall.
Upon seeing the bandits suddenly burst in, he was overcome with anger and collapsed to the ground.
The bandits, seeing this, were momentarily stunned, unsure whether to go in or not.
Upon seeing this, the bandit leader roared, "You bunch of useless trash! What's that old man doing? Hurry up and go in to search! Take whatever you find that's useful!"
"Is one spirit stone a lot?" The bandit leader rolled his eyes at Old Man Li and sneered, "If you can't even afford this much, what's the point of you being alive?"
In the past, he might have been in the mood to tease the other party, but now that the head of the gang was personally supervising him, completing the task was the most important thing.
Thinking this, the bandit leader looked at Da Baojian and said obsequiously, "Boss, although this old man Li is rather useless, his granddaughter Li Qingyao is quite beautiful."
"How about I capture her and give her some amusement?"
The bandit leader talked on and on, already engrossed in his future path to promotion and wealth.
He believed his performance this time was not bad, and that he might actually win the favor of the boss.
The bandit leader was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't notice Da Baojian's gloomy face or his clenched fist.
After a long while.
Finding that the greatsword had not responded, the bandit leader looked over in confusion.
"Boss, what's going on?"
The bandit leader asked in confusion.
Da Baojian took another long breath, completely calming his complicated emotions.
Noticing the other person's questioning gaze, he revealed a wicked smile: "Nothing, I think that granddaughter is quite nice, tie her up and take her back to the village."
With that, Da Baojian went inside himself.
He glanced disdainfully at the hunched old man lying on the ground, his eyes filled with despair.
Then, he casually tossed out a string of copper coins and said coldly, "Old man, be sensible. Your granddaughter is quite good; consider it payment for your winter taxes."
"If you're still thinking about evading taxes, you'd better get out of Liuye Town as soon as possible."
In a short time.
The great sword unleashed its full power, completely intimidating everyone and leaving even the small bandits stunned.
The bandit leader stared blankly at his imposing back, muttering to himself:
"Is this the chief? Such an aura! No wonder he's the leader of the stronghold!"
Old Li stared blankly at the string of copper coins that had fallen in front of him.
But quickly realizing what was happening, he hurriedly picked up the money and tried to grab Da Baojian's trouser leg.
"My lord, this old man doesn't need this string of copper coins, I only hope..."
"Hope what! You lowly mortal, do you even deserve to talk about the word 'hope' with the boss?"
The bandit leader walked over, intending to kick him.
But because the large sword was blocking his way, he could only glare at it fiercely.
Da Baojian didn't say anything more, turned around, crossed the courtyard, and walked straight into the house.
Before long, he stepped into the hall.
A young girl, dressed in tattered clothes and with a haggard face, held scissors to her own throat and stared fiercely at the big sword.
"You villains, if you dare to kill my grandfather, I will make sure you die before you succeed."
The girl spoke each word carefully, a resolute glint in her eyes.
She lost both her parents at a young age and lived with her grandfather, with whom she shared a deep bond.
If Grandpa dies like this, then there's no point in him living on.
The bandit leader sneered, his eyes as cold as an eagle's: "Little girl, it's not that easy to die. We have plenty of useful torture instruments in our stronghold."
But who would have thought that as soon as he said those words, he was kicked to the ground by the big sword.
"Useless! You've ruined this person with those torture devices, what's the point of playing with him then?"
The bandit leader fell to the ground, staring in horror at the big sword, only then realizing he had said the wrong thing.
He then raised his hand and slapped himself twice hard: "I'm sorry, Boss, it's my fault. I wanted to help you subdue this woman, and I spoke without thinking."
Da Baojian stared at the bandit leader with a gloomy look in his eyes and said in a stern voice:
"If this mistake happens again, you'll have to come back to me with your head."
After saying that, he ignored the bandit on the ground and walked directly towards Li Qingyao, who was carrying scissors.
As Li Qingyao watched Da Baojian stride towards her, the hand holding the scissors tightened its grip even more.
"Your name is Li Qingyao, right?"
"You villain, I will never..."
Da Baojian interrupted Li Qingyao, saying calmly, "I'm not in the mood for all this nonsense. I'll give you two choices now."
"Either you come with me to the mountain stronghold and serve me, or you and your grandfather will both die here today."
At this point, Big Sword seemed to remember something, and his tone turned cold: "After all, if we can't even pay the taxes for my Black Tiger Gang, what's the point of living?"
Li Qingyao's face turned completely pale, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Okay, I'll go with you, just don't hurt my grandfather."
The girl's hand completely relaxed, and the scissors slipped from her hand, crashing to the ground with a thud.