Chapter 9：Conflict (1/2)
Yuan Tu had been in pain since three days now, ever since he got flogged because of the spirit apples that were damaged by Lin Mu. Not only did he get physical punishment, all the wages of the peasants for this month were cut to compensate for the damages spirit apples. He had been watched with eyes of dislike by a lot of the peasants because of that.
”At least I did not have to pay it from my own savings or worse having to use my property to compensate for it. It was a saving grace that only Lin Mu had his property seized. Though now, each and every peasant hates Lin Mu.”
The key harvest period for spirit apples was a major part of the peasant's earnings of the year. During this period most of the peasants and even their children would help out to earn more for their families. The Mayor allowed any willing person to be employed for the harvest, and at least one person from each family worked in the orchards during this period.
Even though spirit apples grew all throughout the year, they were the most abundant a few months before winter and usually started at the end of summer. They were one of the chief exports of Wu Lim city and brought a large revenue for the city mayor each year, but this year there were fewer people because of the plague that spread last year and the process was delayed.
The supervisor was under pressure from the city mayor to speed up the harvest and complete it before winter comes; so that the spirit apples could be exported to other cities in the south. The supervisor Li Peng in turn put pressure on the peasants to hasten the speed of harvest, especially since the incident three days ago, Li Peng wanted no more accidents.
Yuan Tu was working in the orchards along with his group in the morning, they were assigned the area at the very end of the orchard along the transport road. He was working when he saw carriages and a lot of armed men coming from the forest; he had seen none of these carriages nor the men going to the forest in this week. The only other way for them to go to come to this part of the forest would be to go through the other route which passes from inside the western part of the forest.
The route from the western forest was dangerous, and the area was populated with mid-tier beasts, even hunters would not take the risk if they could just use the safe route from Northern town. Yuan Tu looked at the men, trying to find anyone familiar when he spotted a boy walking behind the carriages. As soon as he saw him clearly, his eyes filled with hatred as it was the same boy who was the reason for his punishment and suffering.
Lin Mu had come close to the orchards when he heard the man who was glaring at him shout,
”HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE LIN MU, AFTER ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.”
Before Lin Mu could reply the man spoke again,
”After the supervisor confiscated your property, why would you come here, you're not welcome to stay here anymore.”
By this time the other nearby peasants had heard Yuan Tu's shouting and had some to check what was happening. Lin Mu was getting nervous as more and more people gathered. He looked at their faces and every person was looking at him with a hateful look. Lin Mu gathered his courage to reply.
”Uncle Yuan Tu, I'm not here to stay, I'm just visiting the town to sell and buy some things”
Yuan Tu replied,
”What would you even sell after all your property was confiscated, and if you still have money, you should rather compensate us.”
The other peasants all agreed in a chorus,
”Yeah if you have anything to sell, you better compensate us first.”
Lin Mu did not even know what to reply, as there was no way he could compensate them, anyway. Looking at the silent Lin Mu the peasants kept on rambling; they themselves knew that there was no practical chance that Lin Mu could compensate them, all they wanted was to just vent their anger on him.
Lin Mu decided to just walk away as he could not listen to the peasants anymore and wanted to do nothing with them. Lin Mu took a step back and turned around when someone grabbed his shoulder.
”Where do you think you're going? Today we will settle our debts.”
Yuan Tu was gripping his shoulder hard, if Lin Mu had not broken through to the fourth stage of body tempering realm, his shoulder bones would be broken. Yuan Tu who himself was in the fourth stage of body tempering stage was a little surprised seeing that Lin Mu was not hurt at all. Lin Mu squirmed and pushed away Yuan Tu's hand.
”Let go off me Yuan Tu, I've already paid by getting my property seized, you've no right to stop me.”
Yuan Tu now furious rushed to hold him once again while shouting,
”Grab this kid, he'll compensate us with his bones and blood.”
The other peasants who were standing there also attempted to catch Lin Mu. Lin Mu had at this point been surrounded on three sides by the angry peasants. Lin Mu started running around, while all the peasants chased him.
By this time the town's guards had noticed the commotion and had informed the supervisor, Li Peng.
Hearing that the peasants were creating a commotion and had stopped working even when they were already behind in terms of completing the harvest, Li Peng's face turned red with anger and he ran fast towards the location the guards had mentioned. The guards were following behind Li Peng, unable to keep up with Li Peng's speed.
Li Peng was in the Eighth stage of body tempering realm, if Li Peng could learn a qi cultivation technique he would have already become a qi cultivator as the minimum level at which one could become was the Eighth stage of body tempering realm. Only at the Eighth stage was the body strong and tough enough to handle spirit qi.