Demon-Wraith Plagued World: From Commoner to Supreme - Chapter 7 - Scar-Ge

Lin Feng stepped out of his house and saw two members of the Green Snake Society beating up a young man. The young man was already battered, bleeding, and barely conscious. The onlookers stood by, too afraid to intervene, because Scar-Ge, a Little Leader of the Green Snake Society, was overseeing the scene.

Scar-Ge, who managed this small part of the Shantytown, had a scar on his face that twisted like a centipede when he smiled, making him look menacing. He was notorious for collecting protection fees in the area. Breaking legs and chopping off fingers were common occurrences under his rule. People were naturally too scared to get involved, fearing they might become the next target.

Seeing the young man about to collapse, Scar-Ge finally spoke up. “Hold on, why hit him so hard? We don’t want the neighbors thinking I’m unreasonable, do we?”

“Heh, no way! It’s just that this kid didn’t listen and didn’t understand Scar-Ge’s difficulties. When we raised the protection fee to twenty wen, he talked back! So we had to loosen his tongue a bit,” one of the henchmen said with a grin as he stopped hitting.

“Yeah, Scar-Ge, it’s this kid who’s being difficult!” another chimed in, playing along with Scar-Ge.

“Scar-Ge, last month’s protection fee was fifteen wen per person, and now it’s suddenly so much more! Plus, with the government office collecting head taxes, residence taxes, and entry taxes, our family of three just can’t manage anymore! Please, Scar-Ge, give us a break this month. We’ll be forever grateful!” The young man’s wife pleaded, kneeling on the ground, holding a crying baby in one arm and supporting her fallen husband with the other.

“Who will give me a break if I give you one?” Scar-Ge sneered. In these chaotic times, tears and appeals for sympathy were the most ineffective defenses for the underprivileged, though often their only recourse, albeit usually futile.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. If you haven’t gathered the money, the Inner City’s Chunhong Building could use more people!” Scar-Ge warned, his voice dripping with menace.

“Alright, stop gawking! Have you all prepared your protection fees? Or do you want to end up like Liu Er’s family?” Scar-Ge taunted, looking at the crowd.

Everyone instinctively took a few steps back, retreating to their homes to hurriedly gather this month’s protection fees, not daring to delay for fear of suffering the same fate as Liu Er. They all knew Scar-Ge had likely beaten Liu Er on purpose to set an example. With no money left for treatment, Liu Er’s injuries would go untreated, and the outcome was predictable. If they couldn’t pay the protection fee by tomorrow, Liu Er’s wife would likely be sold to the Inner City’s Chunhong Building to work.

For Liu Er’s family, Scar-Ge’s whim could mean their destruction. The most pitiful was the baby in the swaddling clothes. Lin Feng knew the fate awaiting Liu Er’s family, but what could he do? He was just a slightly stronger ant in this world. Scar-Ge, though merely a Little Leader and not even at the early stage of Body Forging, was backed by his brother, a late Body Forging warrior and a Big Leader in the Green Snake Society.

Could Lin Feng risk his own safety for Liu Er’s family? Impossible. Even if Scar-Ge were gone, another would take his place. The suffering of the underprivileged wouldn’t change. More importantly, if anyone discovered Lin Feng’s involvement, his family would be in danger too. So, he could only watch helplessly as Liu Er’s family faced their plight, powerless to intervene.

Soon, the two lackeys collected the protection fees from over a dozen households in the area.

Then the trio approached Lin Feng’s door.

“Lin-Ge’er, it’s time to pay this month’s protection fee!” Scar-Ge said, jingling a handful of copper coins with a grin that made the scar on his face twist menacingly.

Lin Feng knew that despite Scar-Ge’s usual cheerful demeanor, he was ruthless when it came to dealing with people.

“Scar-Ge, I know the rules. Here’s this month’s protection fee,” Lin Feng replied with a smile, handing over sixty wen.

“Ah, you’re a sensible one,” Scar-Ge chuckled as he counted the coins.

“Well, if that’s all, I’ll head back inside. Got work to do,” Lin Feng said, turning to leave, eager to be away from these scoundrels.

“Hold on!” Scar-Ge suddenly called out, a peculiar smile playing on his lips.

“Xiao Feng, the protection fee has increased this month.”

“Scar-Ge, I know it went up. It’s twenty wen per person now, up from fifteen. I gave you sixty wen for three people, that’s right, isn’t it?” Lin Feng replied, still smiling.

“Heh! You forgot, your family has four people, doesn’t it?” Scar-Ge said.

“Four people?” Lin Feng was puzzled and a bit annoyed, sensing that Scar-Ge was looking for trouble today.

His family did have four members, but his father had passed away a few months ago, something Scar-Ge was well aware of.

When his father was alive, Scar-Ge wouldn’t dare collect protection fees from them. But after his father’s death, Scar-Ge had become bold enough to demand payment.

“That’s right! Out of respect for your father, we didn’t charge your family before. But starting this month, your protection fee is calculated for four people. What? Do you have a problem with that?” Scar-Ge’s smile faded, his expression turning cold as he tucked the coins into a cloth bag.

It was clear that at the slightest provocation, he and his lackeys were ready to teach Lin Feng a lesson.

Hearing this, Lin Feng’s anger flared up, his right hand clenched into a fist behind his back, knuckles turning white.

These gang thugs would scrape the last bit of flesh off a bone if they could, pushing people to the brink.

“Kid, are you itching for a beating? Hurry up! Looking for trouble?” one of the lackeys sneered, rolling up his sleeves, ready to pounce.

“Ha, Scar-Ge, yes, if you say four people, then it’s four people!” Lin Feng suddenly smiled, pulling out another twenty wen from his pocket and handing them over.

“Heh, that’s more like it! Don’t worry, if anyone dares to mess with you around here, just let me know, and I’ll back you up!” Scar-Ge said, patting Lin Feng on the shoulder as he pocketed the coins.

Just then, Mother Lin and Lin Man returned from work. Despite her worn clothes and slight frame, Mother Lin’s beauty was undeniable, a trait she passed on to her handsome son, Lin Feng.

Scar-Ge ogled Mother Lin shamelessly, his eyes gleaming with lust before he laughed heartily and left with his lackeys.

Mother Lin, frightened, quickly shielded Lin Man, hiding behind Lin Feng.

Lin Feng led his mother and sister inside, already contemplating how to eliminate Scar-Ge without leaving a trace.