The Martial Saint begins by collecting corpses.

For the next ten days, Lu Ming took Da Hu and Monkey to the training ground every morning to practice the Canglang Stance Technique.

Da Hu drinks a bowl of Qi-boosting powder every day, while Lu Ming and the monkey each drink half a bowl.

After several days of diligent practice, even the monkeys could stand properly.

Because he ate meat every day and also had Qi-boosting powder to aid his cultivation, Lu Ming felt that his Qi and blood had been significantly enhanced. He was immediately invigorated, and the Canglang Stance Technique was indeed extraordinary.

This seemingly motionless stance, while maintaining stability, gradually activates and manipulates the body's Qi and blood.

This is a genuine martial arts technique.

However, just as he was getting excited, on the ninth day at noon, the three of them had just finished their cultivation and were about to leave.

Suddenly, Big Tiger shouted:

"Coach, the skin on my body seems to have suddenly hardened, it's so strange..."

Chen Yihui, who had just reached the entrance of the martial arts arena, suddenly stopped, turned around, and strode over. Somewhat disbelieving, he approached Da Hu, squeezed his arm, and asked:

"Your skin is firm, your movements are swift, and your strikes are powerful. Do you feel this way right now? I can feel your energy and blood circulation; it certainly is..."

As Chen Yihui spoke, he released Da Hu's hand.

Da Hu was seen running wildly across the training ground. His speed was significantly higher than before, and ordinary people could not catch up with him.

His hands waved wildly, creating a powerful and imposing presence. Coupled with his naturally large physique, even the monkeys were somewhat terrified.

"Train the skin, practice martial arts to the nine heavens, train the skin!"

Chen Yihui's eyelids twitched, and a look of shock appeared in his eyes. Although he knew that cultivation with superior innate talent was fast, he did not expect it to be this fast.

This was because Da Hu was somewhat malnourished before; otherwise, it might have gone even faster.

Chen Yihui quickly burst into laughter:

"Haha, very good. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you the fighting style of Canglang Fist."

The monkey exclaimed in admiration, "The tiger is amazing!"

Seeing Chen Yihui's enthusiastic expression, Lu Ming couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Superior aptitude, will he become a martial artist in the Nine Heavens? Powerful, so powerful.

Collect the corpse, collect the corpse as soon as possible; he also wanted to possess superior innate talent.

That evening, Lu Ming had Ah Lang buy some good wine and food to celebrate with Da Hu.

The next morning, after finishing their practice and having lunch, Lu Ming gave Monkey and Tiger a wink, and the three of them walked out of the back gate of the county government office and came to Qingyun Street in the back street.

Ah Lang was already waiting there. Seeing Lu Ming and the other two come out, he quickly went up to them and said:

"Brother, I've found out. The Fierce Tiger Gang's headquarters are right on the street. They started collecting protection money from the street."

"They harvest in the afternoon because the people here are mostly craftsmen, blacksmiths, carpenters, etc., not farmers."

"They are usually resting or working in the store at this time."

Lu Ming nodded slightly: "Let's put it away first."

Ah Lang was taken aback: "Collect? How do I collect it?"

Lu Ming said, "Just go in and collect it. Even if we haven't been charged protection money before, haven't we been charged before?"

As they were talking, Lu Ming had already entered a carpentry workshop.

The master craftsman is chopping wood to make a chair, holding a saw in his hand, while two apprentices help him.

The three men suddenly felt darkness at the doorway. Turning around, they saw four men, with extraordinary complexions and robust physiques, blocking the entrance. Their hearts skipped a beat, and they asked:

"What kind of carpentry work do you want to do?"

Lu Ming said, "We're here to collect protection money, two hundred coins a month."

The experienced craftsman stood up, somewhat surprised and suspicious:

"Two hundred coins? You're from the Fierce Tiger Gang?"

The Fierce Tiger Gang usually receives four hundred coins a month, so why are they being so charitable this time?

Lu Ming shook his head: "We are not from the Fierce Tiger Gang."

The old master craftsman frowned even more deeply:

"We've already paid protection money to the Fierce Tiger Gang, and you..."

Lu Ming interrupted him:

"Just tell me, are you going to pay or not?"

The experienced craftsman hesitated for a moment:

"Why don't you go and talk to the Fierce Tiger Gang first?"

Lu Ming said calmly:

"Looks like you don't want to pay anymore, very well."

The master craftsman's expression changed slightly. Was he about to take action?

As a result, after saying these words, Lu Ming turned around and left, and his three companions followed him.

"What's going on?" The two apprentices looked at each other in bewilderment.

Seeing this, the old master was relieved. "They probably don't have the guts to really fight; they're just a bunch of pretentious scoundrels."

On the street, Da Hu vaguely heard what the old man said and asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Brother, we definitely won't get paid if we do it this way."

Lu Ming's expression remained calm: "Don't worry, not receiving it now doesn't mean you won't receive it later."

Upon hearing this, Da Hu glanced helplessly at A Lang and Monkey, and they both shut their mouths, following Lu Ming to collect the offerings from each household.

Sure enough, not a single one was willing to pay.

There are thirty households on Qingyun Street, all of which are artisan families. They work in the shops during the day and live in the backyard at night.

Lu Ming visited twenty-nine houses and arrived at the end of Qingyun Street. After passing this house, the Fierce Tiger Gang's mansion was right next door.

From here, you can vaguely hear people drinking and eating heartily inside, with clinking glasses and shouting loudly, creating a rather lively atmosphere.

The thirtieth household was a blacksmith shop.

As Lu Ming approached, he heard a reprimanding voice coming from inside:

"We don't have enough money to pay the Tiger Gang this month, you little brat, what the hell is going on?"

"These few pieces of good iron are what I plan to pawn to raise enough money to pay protection money!"

"They're more trouble than they're worth, actually taking on a job from the county government at this crucial time."

"Now look what's happened! Even a few good pieces of iron will have to be forged into throwing knives. How are the Fierce Tiger Gang going to survive? You tell me!"

After a reprimand that sounded like a father's, a loving mother's voice immediately followed:

"Alright, stop arguing with him. He just wants to do something for his family."

Lu Ming turned to look at Ah Lang, who whispered:

"Yes, I asked this blacksmith shop to make throwing knives for my elder brother. His son received me at the time, and when he heard that I was from the county government, he told me that I didn't need to pay a deposit."

Lu Ming nodded and led the three of them into the blacksmith shop.

Inside, a family of three was seen. The scolded boy was huddled in a corner, looking aggrieved. Upon seeing Ah Lang's face, his eyes lit up, and he quickly said:

"Father, he's the one who asked me to forge throwing knives."

The blacksmith was in his forties, with bloodshot eyes and dark reddish-brown skin. Upon hearing this, he turned and saw Lu Ming and the others.

He sized up the four people, then stepped forward and said:

"Are you all from the county government?"

Lu Ming smiled and said, "I'm just staying at the county government's residence."

The blacksmith said, "Gentlemen, you are all very kind. My son was ignorant and accepted your order for throwing knives, but we are simply unable to forge them recently. I wonder if we could find someone else to do it?"

Lu Ming said, "No, I need it urgently."

The blacksmith smiled wryly:

"To be honest, today is the day the Fierce Tiger Gang collects protection money. We need to pay a full four hundred coins, but I don't have that much money right now. I need to pawn a piece of good iron."

Lu Ming said, "Four hundred coins? That protection fee is almost heavier than the imperial tax. You must be having a very difficult time every month."

The blacksmith sighed:

"That's how it is, but there's nothing we can do about it. The officials seem to understand the hardships faced by the people, so..."

Lu Ming said, "In that case, you just give us two hundred coins. I'll take care of the Fierce Tiger Gang for you."

The blacksmith was shocked:

"Sir, what does this mean?"

Ah Lang said from the side:

"We're here to collect protection money."

Protection money? Instantly, the blacksmith's family's expressions changed.

The old mother immediately cried out:

"It's tough! We were already paying protection money to the Fierce Tiger Gang, and now another one's showing up. Is this any way to live?"

In the midst of the commotion, a voice suddenly broke in from outside:

"Hehehe, it's so lively here?"

Everyone turned their heads and saw that the gate of the Fierce Tiger Gang had opened. A burly man with broad shoulders and a thick waist led five or six fierce-looking brothers, all holding sticks, out of the gate and came to the front of the blacksmith shop.