Chapter 7 - 7 Chapter 7 Seizure_1 (2/2)

This wasn’t all; he had also mixed some ashes and dirt into the big wooden tub filled with marinating meat.

This trick was somewhat similar to when, during a meal, someone would spit into a bowl of food.

By spitting into it, others would find it disgusting and no longer compete for that bowl.

“Open the door!”

The sound of beating on the wooden door grew fiercer; it wasn’t a knock but an attempt to break the door down.

“Coming, coming!”

Qin Niu concealed a dagger-like knife in his sleeve and, holding the firewood cutter that had slain the old wolf in his hand, he then went to open the door.

“Damn it, you open the door so slowly, what the hell are you dawdling for, kid?”

The visitor cursed and barged in, burly and broad-waisted.

His face was adorned with a thick beard.

A pair of yellowing eyes emitted nothing but ferocity, and his whole demeanor was extremely violent.

This person was the notorious village bully, Wang Haikun.

Arrogant, vicious, and exceedingly brutal, he would resort to fists and kicks at the slightest disagreement. As a tax collector, he was always the one called upon by the grain officers to do their bidding.

Those who dared not pay would suffer his rage and violence.

The villagers all feared him.

It was said that he had a brother working for the Black Tiger Gang, which was likely not unfounded.

Because Wang Haikun knew a set of boxing skills, though not very impressive, it was more than enough to intimidate the ordinary villagers in the town.

“Qin Niu, I heard you picked up a wolf carcass in the mountains, where is it?”

Without any simple courtesy, he went straight to the point.

This was outright plunder.

Whomever had the stronger fist had the power to bully others.

“Wow, that’s a huge wolf skin!”

Wang Haikun immediately spotted the pinned up wolf skin.

After skinning, the raw hide needed to be nailed onto a wooden board and stretched out as much as possible. Otherwise, if the hide was not properly handled, its price would be greatly reduced.

“You lucky brat, your luck isn’t bad! Recently, Kun Ye’s been craving wild game and hasn’t caught any. I’ve heard wolf meat is very nourishing; just hand it all over to me! If anything happens in the future, Kun Ye will cover for you, making sure no one in the village dares to pick on you.”

Wang Haikun unceremoniously took down the wolf skin and held it in his hand.

“Kun Ye, I offer this wolf skin as a token of my respect. The wolf meat is a bit spoiled though, and I made it somewhat dirty. If I find any fresh game later on, I will bring it to you.”

Qin Niu’s right hand gripped the firewood cutter tightly as he calculated the odds of winning if he fought.

Unfortunately, his mastery of the Slash Martial Skill was only just beginning. If he could reach a higher realm, his chances of winning would be much greater.

However, Wang Haikun’s brother held a position in the Black Tiger Gang. Killing Wang Haikun could bring endless trouble.

Although he was reluctant to give up the wolf skin, if it could quell this disaster, he could accept it.

With his farming skills and the Ant Queen, Qin Niu would turn the tables sooner or later.

He planned to get back what he gave, with interest.

At the moment, patience was key.

“Damn it, such a waste of all this wolf meat, ruined by your stupidity. Oh well, let it be, consider the wolf meat a gift for you to enjoy from Kun Ye. Remember, the next time you find any game, you bring it straight to my house, got it?”

Wang Haikun, seeing the wolf meat soaking in a basin of dirty water, immediately lost interest in seizing the meat.

Furthermore, he noticed that Qin Niu always had a grip on his firewood cutter, apparently submissive on the surface, but if pushed too far, he was certainly capable of fighting back fiercely.

For a basin of wolf meat that turned one’s stomach, it was not worth it.

The most valuable part of the wolf was its skin.

“It’s etched in my heart! Have a safe trip, Kun Ye!”

Qin Niu patted the region over his heart.

He had recorded this grudge deep in his heart, just waiting for the day when he had enough strength to force Wang Haikun to kneel and spit it all back out.

Weak as he was now, he could only feign obedience on the surface.

“Heh heh, you’re quite sensible, kid. Damn, it’s just such a shame to see that wolf meat ruined like that; I haven’t had the pleasure of eating it in a long time.”

Wang Haikun left, cursing and mumbling as he carried away the wolf skin.

There were too many in the village whom he had bullied. Rumor had it that he fancied the wife of a pushover who was somewhat attractive. He took her right in front of her husband, pushing her down inside their house and having his way with her.

The local authorities were in cahoots with the Black Tiger Gang, so complaining was useless.

Because Wang Haikun’s brother worked for the Black Tiger Gang.

However, Wang Haikun wasn’t entirely senseless in his actions. He wouldn’t dare to provoke people like Wang Furen, who had a certain reputation and connections.

When Wang Furen encountered Wang Haikun, he would usually be quite polite, occasionally offering some ‘tips’ to maintain their ‘friendship.’

After sending away this calamity, Qin Niu closed the door, his eyes brimming with ice-cold killing intent.

Preserving the wolf meat was of utmost importance to him.

Because it could help him quickly improve his Cultivation Technique.

Ordinary meat had no such effect.

To keep the wolf skin, too, there were only two possible outcomes in the end: either he would be injured by Wang Haikun while having the skin stolen, or he would kill Wang Haikun and then be wanted by the authorities.

Both outcomes were unacceptable to him.

Offering up the wolf skin willingly proved to be the wise choice.

Moreover, with the ‘favor’ of the wolf skin, perhaps Wang Haikun might show some leniency the next time he collected taxes and grain.