Gou Zai Xianwu Chaos World, Physical Sainthood

The voice was sharp and thin, not loud, but extremely high-pitched, making people shudder.

The fishermen quieted down and looked at the two people who came out of the wooden shed.

On the left is a government tax collector, dressed in a worn-out black robe, with little expression on his face.

The man on the right was in his thirties, with a large patch of festering sores on his face.

Even though it was only the beginning of spring, he was pretending to wave a folding fan in his hand.

He was a notorious scoundrel in the local fish market.

Sores and boils!

Ignoring the angry fishermen, You Lancang turned his head and whispered something to the tax collector.

The tax collector nodded slightly.

Then You Lancang turned around, faced the crowd, and slowly said:

"That's why I say you can't be too kind-hearted."

"Once you land, the fishmongers pay all the taxes for you, including the government taxes. Do you have the money yourself?"

"Old Wang, do you have the money to pay your taxes? If you can't pay your taxes, how can you sell your fish?"

The old man who had been the most aggressive just moments before suddenly fell silent.

The others looked at each other, unsure how to respond.

Yu Lancang continued:

"When the spring floods arrive, the river becomes incredibly dangerous; how many skilled swimmers don't drown every year?"

"The fish market organizes fishing teams and coordinates them in a unified manner to prevent people from dying."

"Not only do you have to go through all this trouble, but I'll also give you eighty coins every day." He paused, then pointed to the pile of fish on the ground. "Are these few fish worth eighty coins? You're unwilling to accept such a generous offer."

As he spoke, his tone turned icy:

"You can refuse if you don't want to, but don't even think about going out to sea during the spring flood season."

The fishermen became excited again.

"That river doesn't belong to you, so why can't we sail out?"

Yu Lancang's gaze suddenly swept towards the fisherman who had spoken, and he let out a cold snort, saying:

"Jiang certainly doesn't belong to our family, but we set these rules."

As he spoke, he looked at the tax collector beside him:

"Secretary Wang, wouldn't you agree?"

The tax collector, expressionless, spoke indifferently:

"Fishmongers assist the government in managing fisheries and have their own rules and regulations. It is only right that they be managed in a unified manner during the spring fishing season."

Even the government openly sided with the fishmongers, and the fishermen were completely disheartened, whispering amongst themselves in small groups:

"Fine, let's leave it at that. At worst, we'll just put in the work but not put in the effort."

"Yes, the waves during the flood season are indeed quite large, so it's okay to earn less."

"But this is just too frustrating!"

"What can you do? If you really offend this guy, you'll either get swept away by the waves or he'll kill you."

"Besides, we really don't have the money to pay taxes."

"I...sigh..."

……

As they discussed this, several people were already lining up to sign their names.

Yu Lancang laughed smugly.

"Hehehehe."

He vaguely heard those words, and the more he heard them, the more excited he became.

Lu Cheng stood at the bow of the ship, a surge of anger rising in his chest.

Originally, to be on the safe side, Lu Cheng did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble and provoke You Lancang prematurely.

But a hyena is still a hyena; even if you don't provoke it, it will always be thinking of biting you.

Once You Lanchuang gets his hands on Chunxun, let alone learning martial arts, even living peacefully will become a luxury.

Old Man Ge, who was standing beside him, sensed something and suddenly grabbed Lu Cheng's wrist, his voice trembling:

"Cheng, don't be impulsive."

Lu Cheng turned around and looked at Old Man Ge.

Old Man Ge had long been worn down by the ways of the world, losing all his spirit and courage, leaving only numbness and resignation.

He could back down, but Lu Cheng couldn't.

If you don't even dare to cross this hurdle in front of you, how can you continue on the path of martial arts?

His mind raced, and the fire burned ever brighter, yet Lu Cheng remained even calmer.

He shook his head and whispered, pulling his hand away from Old Man Ge's.

"Uncle, this isn't impulsiveness, it's risking your life!"

"If you don't speak up this time, you'll never have the chance to speak up again."

Before Old Man Ge could make another move, Lu Cheng turned his head and shouted loudly:

"This is inappropriate!"

He jumped off the boat, stepped on the gravel, and walked toward the wooden shed.

Hearing the shouts behind them, the fishermen turned around to look.

But seeing that it was Lu Cheng who spoke, the slight hope that had risen in her heart vanished.

Several old fishermen exchanged glances and sighed silently.

Lu Cheng was the best student among the villagers in the vicinity.

But what happened two months ago made them realize that although Lu Cheng was intelligent, he was still too young.

In their view, Lu Cheng should have kept a low profile, fishing and studying, and worked hard to become an official, instead of recklessly going after You Lancang.

They barely survived, and now they're going to die again?

Lu Cheng was unaware of what everyone was thinking, and even if he had known, he wouldn't have been moved.

After walking along the short stretch of gravel road, I already had a plan in mind. Although it was risky, I wasn't without confidence.

Walking straight through the crowd to the wooden shed, Lu Cheng looked fearlessly at You Lancang:

"Eighty coins a day is not appropriate."

Lu Cheng's emergence surprised You Lancang quite a bit.

Unlike the fishermen, he never took Lu Cheng seriously.

In his view, what are scholars?

Even if Lu Chengzhen had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, so what? Did he really think that it was so easy to get into the government?

Isn't the tax collector next to him a perfect example?

Although he passed the imperial examination at a young age, he wasted more than ten years and finally became a minor clerk through connections with a fishmonger.

Therefore, when they first met Lu Cheng, their intention was to kill him.

The lowly and foolish fishermen have killed many, but this is the first time a scholar has been killed.

It was already an accident that Lu Cheng wasn't killed; I never expected him to dare to cause trouble again today.

It seems they've forgotten the pain once the wound has healed.

But it's good that last time he showed his fists, this time he'll show his strategy, so that people won't always say that Master You only knows how to use violence.

Kid, let's see if you're tougher, or if Master You is tougher!

In a flash, You Lancang hatched a wicked plan:

"Young man, isn't eighty coins enough? You call yourself a scholar, yet you can't even do basic math?"

"A pound of fish costs three coins, that's eighty coins. You got nearly thirty pounds in nets!"

Pointing at the fishermen, he said:

"Even during the flood season, how many of these fish can actually be caught weighing thirty pounds?"

As he spoke, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes:

"Eighty coins isn't enough? Are you planning to evade taxes?"

The tax collector surnamed Wang snorted:

"Those who evade taxes shall have their property confiscated and be exiled to a distant land."

This terrified many fishermen, who repeatedly said they dared not.

Lu Cheng glanced at You Lanchuang with surprise.

He was genuinely surprised that this guy would have this trick up his sleeve, but he misjudged Lu Cheng's purpose, so his words had no effect.

Lu Cheng shook his head and bowed to Wang, the tax collector:

"Don't worry, clerk. Lu Cheng is a scholar. He fishes now only to make a living, but his ambition to take the imperial examinations has never faded. He will not violate the laws of Daqi."

The tax collector nodded:

"If it's not tax evasion, then what are you trying to do?"

"If it's not tax evasion, then it's because they feel they've been taken advantage of." You Lancang snapped his folding fan shut, glared at Lu Cheng, and pointed at him. "They say that most heartless men are scholars, and I never believed it, but I never expected... sigh..."

"Are you really that concerned about a few pounds and a few coins?"

"You've already earned a lot more than usual. Now, are you unwilling to share even a little bit of the profits, and insist on dragging others into the storm as well?"

Changing the subject, he added:

"But since Master You is so kind, how about this: you and Old Man Ge, I'll give you one hundred coins?"

boom!

This caused an uproar in the crowd.

"Ugh, why do they get a hundred coins!"

"We can catch more fish too."

"What does casting a large net on the river have to do with skill?"

How ruthless!

What a cunning scheme!

With just these few words, Lu Cheng was not only pushed to the side of being unrighteous and immoral.

Lu Cheng catches almost twice as many fish as others every day, which has already aroused jealousy in many people.

But that was a matter of personal skill, so the fishermen didn't think much of it.

But when Yu Lanchuang offered a higher price than the others, it immediately ignited the jealousy buried deep in their hearts.

We've already been bullied by those thugs at the fish market, but how come Lu Cheng can also bully us?

At this moment, the fishermen seemed to have forgotten the exploitation by the thugs and were only focused on venting their dissatisfaction with Lu Cheng.

Yu Lanchuang looked at the excited fishermen, his smugness almost barely contained.

Lu Cheng did not answer You Lancang, but turned to face the fishermen and said loudly:

"You all underestimate me, Lu Cheng. A mere few copper coins are nothing compared to a silver sturgeon!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it made everyone hold their breath.

Silver sturgeon is such a rare creature, it's like gold in the water.

At that moment, all thoughts of the fishing team and the hundred coins were forgotten.

"Did I hear that right? Lu Cheng said... Silver Sturgeon?"

"That's right, that's right, he said he can catch silver sturgeon."

"Really? Or are you just bragging?"

"I think it's true..."

Yu Lancang instantly realized something, and without even bothering to pretend, he asked urgently:

"What do you mean?"

They've taken the bait!

Lu Cheng turned his head and gave You Lancang a deliberately arrogant glance:

"It means exactly what it sounds like: everyone goes out on the boat and pulls in the nets. What if we catch a rare fish like a silver sturgeon?"

"Are you suggesting we include that in the eighty-cash coin count? That's just too unfair!"

Yu Lancang's breathing suddenly became rapid.

Silver Sturgeon!

This kid can catch silver sturgeon!

Everyone secretly spread rumors that he killed Lu Zhongyou.

That's true, but it's not because Lu Zhongyou offended him.

It was Lu Zhongyi's act of releasing the silver sturgeon in a fit of anger that aroused his suspicion.

That's a silver sturgeon! An ordinary fisherman might not be able to catch one in his entire life.

Why did Lu Zhongyou so impulsively release the animals?

So You Lanchuang secretly followed Lu Zhongyou when he left the ship.

When their interrogation on the river failed, a conflict ensued, and Lu Zhongyou was thrown into the river.

Now it seems that Lu Zhongyou must have told Lu Cheng about the waters of the Silver Sturgeon!

Even though You Lancang considered himself to have weathered many storms, he was now afraid of frightening Lu Cheng, and said rather cautiously:

"Young nephew Lu is joking. Such a rare catch as silver sturgeon cannot be sold like this. We should just divide it equally according to its value."

Lu Cheng snorted coldly and said disdainfully:

"What's the value? Three coins a pound?"

These blunt words made You Lancang's face twitch with anger, but he still forced a smile and said:

"Oh dear, I was just joking with Brother Lu, I never thought he would take it seriously. Silver sturgeon has always been 100 coins per catty."

Is this really true?

"really!"

The fishermen also got excited.

A silver sturgeon weighs at least 100 pounds. If a fishing team consists of 20 people, each person can earn more than 100 coins!

Lu Cheng received an affirmative answer and nodded, saying:

"If that's the case, then that's acceptable."

After saying that, he ignored them and turned back towards the fishing boat.

Behind him, You Lancang hurriedly probed:

"Hey, sign and put your fingerprint on it."

Lu Cheng sneered inwardly, and said without turning his head:

"What's the rush? The spring flood season is still a while away. It's not too late to sign in a couple of days."

Instead of being angry, You Lancang was pleased, watching with a smile as Lu Cheng and Old Man Ge exchanged the fish.

Lu Cheng's actions clearly indicate that he intends to catch silver sturgeon.

……

"Uncle, I'll go out on the boat by myself first thing tomorrow morning. The wind and waves on the river are getting stronger, so I'll check out the water conditions first."

That evening, outside the courtyards of the Lu and Ge families, as they were about to part, Lu Cheng whispered these words.

Upon hearing this, Old Man Ge froze, then thought of the conflict on the mudflats at noon, and naturally understood what Lu Cheng was going to do.

Upon hearing Lu Cheng's words, he immediately fell silent.

After a long while, he whispered:

"That's good. I'm exhausted after all these days. It'll be good to take a few days off and catch up on my internet."

After a pause, he continued:

"However, don't actually trust that scoundrel. If there's any conflict, remember to protect yourself."

After speaking, the old man slowly walked into the courtyard. The door creaked twice, and the surroundings fell silent again.

Lu Cheng knew that Old Man Ge had misunderstood him, but he did not explain.

I looked up at the sky and saw that the setting sun was almost touching the horizon.

I took a deep breath, hurried home, closed the door, and went to sleep.

When the moon was high in the sky, Lu Cheng quietly came to the courtyard and grasped the harpoon leaning against the wall.

Spear fishing technique

[Rank: Common]

[Level: Mastery (92/100)]

"Ninety-two..."

To treat ulcerative sores, three techniques are the only reliable methods.

Among them, the "spear fishing technique" is of paramount importance.

Now, we don't need to strive for higher levels of skill; we just need to warm up and get familiar with the techniques so that we can face the enemy with composure.

……