CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 74: BLADES IN HAND, FOLLOW ME!

It was already past midnight.

The world was enveloped in darkness, but the Wang Family Manor was an exception, consumed in a sea of flames.

Over two hundred households within the Wang Family Manor, totaling 762 people, gathered in front of the manor. Awoken from dreams, some were still groggy.

But soon, they realized something was amiss.

The martial artist sent by the Wang Family was being held by the hair and pressed to the ground, and seven members of the Wang Family’s Guard were caught and forced to kneel.

The firelight illuminated their faces, revealing fear and terror, which the villagers of Wang Family Manor could clearly see.

At that moment, the villagers’ gazes began to shift.

It turned out that even the high and mighty martial artists could become prisoners of others.

It turned out that the martial artists were no different from them.

Their gaze no longer held reverence but an indescribable emotion.

Just then, Wang Family’s martial artist seized by Chen Mo shouted loudly, "Fellow villagers, these bandits are here to loot us. Quickly kill the bandits, and whoever kills a bandit, I will report to the Landlord to exempt you from a year’s rent."

The promise of a year’s rent exemption stirred the crowd.

But it was only a temporary stir, and soon it calmed down again.

The reason was simple: Landlord Wang did not have a good reputation in the estate and lacked credibility.

Moreover, the martial artist who had just spoken was notorious for bullying them.

Seeing no one moved, the martial artist’s expression changed, and he was about to resort to threats.

Poof!

With a swift motion, Chen Mo’s Tang Blade slashed his throat, and blood spurted out, spilling onto the ground.

The villagers were shocked, with some frightened.

Although their sense of reverence had diminished, they were still afraid of the Wang Family martial artists. Witnessing one getting his throat slit right in front of them quickened their heartbeats.

That fear and reverence shifted to the one who killed the Wang Family’s martial artist.

Chen Mo tore a piece of cloth from the martial artist’s body, wiped the blood off his blade, and said, "Let me introduce myself. I am Chen Mo, from Fu Ze Village, and also a martial artist..."

When speaking of being a martial artist, Chen Mo suddenly turned around and slashed at the manor behind him from a distance.

"Boom!"

An invisible Sword Qi burst forth with a loud bang, causing the manor to collapse instantly, shattering into pieces.

The villagers took two steps back in fear, and those who had previously sided with Chen Mo were equally stunned, but then their hearts were filled with certainty.

The stronger Chen Mo’s power, the more secure his promise of protection felt to them.

Chen Mo turned slowly, sheathing his Tang Blade, and said, "I am here for three things."

"First," Chen Mo raised a finger, his voice loud and clear, "From now on, the Wang Family Manor is under my control!"

"Second, your past debts to the Wang Family are nullified."

"Third, this year the Wang Family Manor will not collect taxes. Not only that but from next year onward, only a three-tenths land tax will be collected, with no other exorbitant taxes."

Chen Mo repeated to the villagers of the Wang Family Manor what he had said in Fu Ze Village.

The court and the Wang Family had oppressed them for so long.

The court’s exorbitant taxes had been increasing over the years, and combined with the recent disasters, it was impossible to pay taxes with just a few acres of land.

At that time, the Wang Family offered to lend them money.

Of course, the money had to be repaid along with a hefty interest.

Yet, the taxes were due this year and again next year, thus forcing them to keep borrowing money to pay the taxes.

Eventually, they became tenants of the Wang Family.

However, the debt never seemed to clear and only piled upon their shoulders like a massive mountain, forcing them to farm the Wang Family’s land for generations, making it impossible to rise again.

They had a fire burning inside them.

But without a leader, and with the road not yet at an end, they couldn’t vent that internal fire.

But now, Chen Mo was here to help them vent it.

The notion of having their debts wiped clean made them feel a sudden lightness.

Afterward, they asked Chen Mo the same question the "deserters" in Fu Ze Village had asked him.

Chen Mo responded again.

Finally, he said, "Don’t worry about the government’s response. I’ll take care of it."

The crowd was moved.

They didn’t care who controlled the Wang Family Manor, only whether they could survive and live better than before.

They only cared about their small plots of land, not who the County Magistrate was.

"Now," Chen Mo’s voice boomed, "whoever is willing to leave, or stay, or report to the authorities, is up to you."

He then turned and said, "Those who choose to stay, dispose of these men at your will. If there’s a grudge, settle it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the eyelids of the seven guards of the Wang Family narrowed, and their faces turned pale.

Especially seeing some people begin to stir, one guard shouted, "I wish to stay, too, Chen... Brother Mo, I..."

Before he finished, a villager rushed up and kicked him in the head, saying, "It was you who defiled my daughter, driving her to suicide. Today, I shall avenge her."

Once a leader emerged, a group of villagers who had been bullied by them quickly surrounded them.

They hit and kicked.

The seven guards were beaten to death.

The manor was set alight, furiously burning, with the hot flames illuminating their faces and reflected in their eyes.

That fire was like the rage in their hearts, completely ignited.

At least at that moment, the fire engulfed the cowardice in their hearts.

Watching this scene, Han Wu and a few others felt a strange surge of blood boiling inside them.

Possessing a weapon of power, their murderous intent surged.

Once they finished venting.

Chen Mo leaped onto a rooftop, shouting, "Since you’ve chosen to follow me, return to your homes, grab your blades, and follow me!"

...

When Chen Mo emerged from the Wang Family Manor, he was followed by about six hundred men.

All six hundred were men.

After that, Chen Mo led them to Willow Village, Xiaogao Village, and several nearby villages.

In these villages, there were numerous "deserters" who had returned.

They had originally chosen not to follow Han San.

Instead, they decided to return home and planned to flee with their families.

But now, with Chen Mo’s arrival and his declaration of taking over their villages, distributing land, and exempting taxes.

Faced with the momentum, they joined his ranks.

By the time Chen Mo and his men arrived at Dadong Lake, the sky was beginning to lighten.

The number of people had grown from three to four hundred to over eight hundred.

When the disciples of the Qinghe Gang stationed at Dadong Lake discovered this group, they were all terrified.

Chen Mo waved his arm and shouted, "Remember how the Qinghe Gang oppressed you when they searched the villages?

Go and get your revenge!"