Chapter 14 Conflict

Chapter 14 Conflict

Chapter 14 Conflict
"Bah!"

Just as Zhu Shenzui was wondering about the origins of this group of people and was about to step forward to ask and communicate with them, the tiger sitting on the other side suddenly glared at this side and shouted.

"I opened this mountain! I planted this tree! If you want to pass through here, you have to leave money for passage! Come on, tell us your name! Leave money for passage. If you dare to say no, I will kill you today, but I won't bury you!"

Zhu Shenzhui was stunned, and for a moment he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Where did this fool come from? How can a strong man be like this? And he kept saying that he would kill but not bury? Could it be that this guy has listened to too many storytellers?
Besides the leader Zuoshanhu, the middle-aged man in a robe and two other men, most of the rest of the group were dressed in rags and looked pale. Their expressions were timid and unnatural. They didn't look like strong men but rather like ordinary refugees.

Moreover, they did not have any good weapons. Some of them carried axes, some carried pickaxes and hoes, and some even carried dung forks and bamboo poles.

This group of people were in a mess, standing in a group here and there in a casual manner. At first glance, they looked like a mob. No one knew where they came from, but they ran to Yangtou Mountain and became the king of the mountain.

But no matter what, their people are twice as many as Zhu Shenzui's, and although most of them are malnourished, they do not look weak. Even if they have never practiced martial arts, they will probably suffer casualties if a fight breaks out.

After thinking about it, Zhu Shenzhui felt that it would be better to negotiate first, and avoid fighting if possible.

Zhu Shenzhui took a step forward, bowed to the other party, and asked politely: "I am Wang Shen, passing by here on business. May I ask who is your boss? Where are you from? Why are you blocking our way?"

"Wang Shen? Are you their leader?" Zuoshanhu squinted his eyes and looked at Zhu Shenzui with a haughty expression.

"I am a humble person, but I would like to ask what is the name of this brave man? And how can you help me?"

Zuoshanhu waved his hand and said carelessly: "Listen carefully! My name is Zuoshanhu, just call me Tiger Lord. You don't need to know my name. As for taking care of me, since you asked, I won't be polite. I have made it clear just now that I have brought my brothers to Yangtou Mountain to do business that requires no capital and is in the name of justice. It is your luck today that you have met Tiger Lord and I am in a good mood. If you know what is good for you, you can pay the toll. Otherwise, hmph!"

Zuoshanhu looked around, took two steps forward, and swung his knife to the left. Under the flash of the knife, a small tree was cut in half in an instant. Zuoshanhu and his group clapped and cheered, and everyone was excited. Zuoshanhu was also very proud, as if he was the best in the world.

Zhu Shenzui's pupils shrank. He was a martial artist, so he could naturally see the power of Zuoshanhu's sword.

Don't underestimate this simple cut. The tree was as thick as an arm. Even if you used an axe, it would take two or three hits. But it was not easy for this guy who called himself a mountain tiger to cut it down with just one cut.

If Zhu Shenzui was not mistaken, this Zuoshanhu had some kung fu skills, and they were not weak.

"This guy is not simple. His knife skills are so clean and neat. Could he be a deserter from the border? Or is he a military family from somewhere?"

Zhu Shenzhui was pondering in his mind, guessing the other party's origins.

"Sixth brother, leave this tiger thing to me, let me take the lead!" Wang Jinwu was not panicked at all, but looked eager to try.

Turning his head and glaring at him, Zhu Shenzhui ordered, "Go back! Don't move without my order!"

After saying that, Zhu Shenzhui ignored Wang Jinwu and continued to bow to Zuoshanhu politely, "Master Hu, my brothers and I are just passing by here, doing a small business. It is fate that we can meet Master Hu today. The world is long, and we are friends when we meet. Master Hu, you have opened a shop here, so I naturally have to give you some face."

"Haha, you're quite good at talking." Zuoshanhu was very proud. He felt that his previous blow of the knife had established his authority. Now that the other party had surrendered, it was time to get down to business.

Zhu Shenzhui said with a smile: "Master Tiger, according to the rules of the underworld, we will offer some money to Master Tiger and his brothers to drink. Please be kind and give us a way out today. The mountains are high and the rivers are long. In the future, Master Tiger and his brothers will take care of us when we come here..."

As he said this, Zhu Shenzhui winked at Wang Chuer who was standing beside him. Wang Chuer immediately understood, put away his knife and walked back, and after a while he took out some silver and two strings of cash. Pointing at the silver that Wang Chuer had taken out, Zhu Shenzhui once again bowed to Zuoshanhu.

Zuoshanhu's eyes fell on the silver and money that Wang Chuer had taken out. He didn't say anything for a while. He raised his hand and waved to the white-faced middle-aged man. The white-faced middle-aged man hurriedly trotted to Zuoshanhu's side. The two whispered something to each other. After a while, Zuoshanhu suddenly laughed.

"Wang Shen, right?"

"I wonder what instructions Lord Tiger has." Zhu Shenzhui bowed.

Zuoshanhu pointed his knife towards Zhu Shenzhui and the others and said, "You just said that you are doing small business. I'm afraid that's not true. You guys are all young and strong. You're walking on the mountain trails, carrying goods and sharp weapons. Everyone knows what you're doing."

"Since you are doing such a good business, but you only give us this little bit to get rid of us brothers, don't you think it's a bit inappropriate?"

Zhu Shenzhu cursed inwardly. This mountain tiger looked rough but he was not someone who could be easily fooled. It seemed that he had guessed what these people were doing. However, this was not beyond Zhu Shenzhu's expectations. Besides, one of them was smuggling salt, and the other was occupying the mountain as a king. Neither of them was a good person.

Originally, Zhu Shenzhui planned to avoid more trouble and spend some money to get rid of this group of people of unknown origin. After all, when they are out, they will not fight to the death unless they are forced into a desperate situation. After all, once they do this, life and death are unpredictable. Even if they win, they will inevitably suffer casualties.

The people in Wangjia Village were all Zhu Shenzhui's team, and they were carefully trained by him in the past two years. They would be of great use in the future. Once a conflict broke out, even if they were sure to win, the casualties would be irreparable. In Zhu Shenzhui's eyes, the lives of his brothers were much more important than those of the other side.

A problem that can be solved with money is not a problem. They made a profit of about 200 taels on this round trip, so it is not too much to give Zuoshanhu a little bit of money. Zhu Shenzhu asked Wang Chuer to offer about or taels of silver, which is not a small amount of money. Ordinary people grow crops for a year and this amount is the same. Who would have thought that Zuoshanhu was not satisfied.

"Master Hu, please tell me, how much do you think is appropriate?" Zhu Shenzhui kept his expression unchanged and continued to ask with a bow, neither arrogant nor humble.

Zuoshanhu laughed and gestured with his hand.

"Since you understand, I won't ask you for much. Let's put it this way. Today is the first time we meet, so Master Tiger will give you face. I will leave 40% this time, and 30% for each trip over Yangtou Mountain in the future. Master Tiger, I guarantee that you will be safe on this journey."

"Pooh!"

As soon as these words came out, Wang Jinwu couldn't help it. This mountain tiger was simply going too far. Leaving 40% to him? And he had to hand over 30% every time he passed Yangtou Mountain? Daydreaming!

It is true that they made huge profits from smuggling salt, but no matter how big the profits were, they were limited. For example, this time when they went to Zhao Village, they could only make a profit of about 200 taels at most. How could this tiger ask for % of it at once?
You have to know that 30% of all their goods belong to Zhao Village, and the remaining 70% are theirs. If Zuo Shanhu takes 40%, then this trip will be almost in vain. People have been eating and sleeping in the open for nearly a month, working hard but getting nothing in return. Who would be willing to do this?
"You are such an ungrateful sick cat. You are taking advantage of my Sixth Brother to give you face, but you are still pushing it too far. Don't think that you have more people than us. We are not pushovers. Come on, come on, I want to test your abilities today and see where you get the courage from!"

Without saying a word, Wang Jinwu rushed forward with his knife in hand, as fast as a gust of wind. Zhu Shenzhui quickly reached out to grab him but caught nothing.

"Oops!"

Zhu Shenzhui's heart tightened. He was careless and failed to stop the stupid boy Wang Jinwu. He saw the boy rushing to the front in a few steps. With a thunderous shout, he swung his knife and chopped towards Zuoshanhu. Zuoshanhu did not expect that Wang Jinwu would start fighting as soon as he said so. The knife came at him in the blink of an eye.

Zuoshanhu was not surprised. He took a half step back with his left foot and shouted, "Good job!"

I saw the left heel of Zuoshanhu's retreating leftward, his right foot drew a half arc, and his whole body turned sideways in an instant.

He dodged Wang Jinwu's head-on blow by moving sideways, and Zuoshanhu's knife was not idle either. He slashed it upwards, and with a flash of knife light, it went straight to Wang Jinwu's chest...

(End of this chapter)