Wang Damao's expression became extremely stiff. He subconsciously glanced in Wu Tian's direction, then quickly turned his head away.
A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.
He forced a smile and said, "This... it's like this, the province plans to focus on developing our village."
"We're happy about this, so we've prepared a banquet to celebrate."
"So that's how it is," Wang Bao's mouth split into a wider grin, filled with sinister intent.
"Does that mean you people should have more money now?"
Wang Damao subconsciously took a step back and shook his head, saying, "Where... where would we get that? These are all things that require spending money."
Wang Bao chuckled, "How much money could that possibly cost? Besides, isn't money spent to make more money?"
"If that's the case, I'll have to report it and increase your tribute amount."
Hearing this, Wang Damao's face turned even paler.
"Ah? We have to increase it? Isn't it already quite high?"
"Brother Bao, it wasn't easy for us to develop to this point. Please let us off!"
"Let you off? What do you mean by that?" Wang Bao said coldly, "This money is clearly for tribute, why does it sound like we're robbing you?"
"Are you implying that we're harming you?"
Wang Damao quickly shook his head, "No, no, it's just... just..."
He wanted to find a reasonable explanation, but after thinking it over, he couldn't come up with any.
Wang Bao immediately said angrily, "Speak up, why aren't you talking? It seems like you have some objections, don't you?"
"If you have any objections, just say them boldly. I won't blame you."
Wang Damao trembled and said, "No, no, how dare we have any objections? Brother Bao, you've misunderstood me."
"We are all willing to offer tribute, so please don't overthink it."
"Is that so?" Wang Bao smiled. "Since you're willing to offer tribute, then fine, pay the money now."
"Pay the money?" Wang Damao asked in confusion, "Didn't we already pay this month's money? Why do we still need to..."
"Stop the nonsense!" Wang Bao interrupted him. "This is based on our will, not yours!"
"If I want you to pay, you must pay!"
"If you don't pay, then you'll be punished!"
Wang Damao was so scared he almost collapsed.
He quickly said, "No, no, no, it's just tribute, we'll pay, we'll pay."
"You're wise," Wang Bao snorted, then held up a finger. "I'm not asking for much this time, just pay ten billion."
"Ten billion?!" Wang Damao was struck by lightning. He hurriedly said, "How can you ask for ten billion? It's usually only three billion, right?"
Wang Bao said, "What, by the looks of it, are you planning to haggle with me?"
"Your village is developing so well now, giving us ten billion is just a drop in the bucket, isn't it?"
"Or... you don't want to give it to us?"
"If you don't give it, then the consequences, I believe you know them, right?"
Wang Damao's face was filled with hesitation.
Clearly, he was extremely unwilling to accept Wang Bao's terms.
But he knew the price of resistance very well, so he could only grit his teeth, nod, and say, "I understand, I..."
Just as he was about to agree, Wu Tian's voice came from behind: "Village Chief, what's going on?"
Wang Damao was startled and quickly turned back, "Didn't I tell you to leave quickly? Why are you still here?"
Wu Tian said, "There's something happening in the village, how can I leave? What exactly happened?"
When Wang Bao saw Wu Tian, his brows immediately furrowed.
He sized up Wu Tian and said, "Kid, who are you? I don't think I've ever seen you before."
Wu Tian looked him straight in the eye and said, "My name is Wu Tian, I'm the village doctor here. Tell me whatever it is."
"Wu Tian?" Wang Bao savored the name, then, as if remembering something, said with surprise, "You're Wu Tian?"
"I heard that the village developed to this point, and it seems to be all thanks to you?"
"Seeing you today, you don't seem so remarkable!"
Wu Tian said coldly, "What exactly is going on? Who are you people, and what do you want here?"
Wang Damao tugged at Wu Tian's sleeve, signaling him to moderate his attitude, and then whispered, "Say less, these people are immortals, we can't afford to offend them!"
"Immortals?" Wu Tian frowned. "What do you mean?"
Wang Damao whispered, "They arrived three months ago, when our village had just finished its renovation."
"I don't know who they are, only that they call themselves the Black Wind Sect, and many of them can fly!"
"They threatened us, demanding three hundred million every month, or they would kill us."
"We had no choice, so..."
"Can fly..." Hearing Wang Damao's words, Wu Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
If they could fly, they were at least at the True Immortal level. It seemed like some obscure hidden spiritual sect had come out to show off.
Wang Damao said, "Yes, they are very powerful!"
"Wu Tian, I know you're very capable, but you're no match for them, so you should leave first!"
Wu Tian, of course, would not leave.
He said in a deep voice, "It's alright, Village Chief, leave this to me."
"Since they dare to cause trouble in Peach Blossom Village, I must teach them a lesson."
Wang Damao was stunned.
In his opinion, no matter how capable Wu Tian was, he was still just a human. How could a human compare to an immortal?
Wang Bao's brows also showed a hint of anger after hearing Wu Tian's words. He said, "Kid, you seem quite arrogant."
"Let me tell you, we are not people that mortals like you can comprehend, so it's best for you to behave."
"If you suffer losses later, you won't even have a place to cry!"
Wu Tian said coldly, "Cannot comprehend? Aren't you just a bunch of cultivators? What's so incomprehensible about that?"
"You people don't stay in the mountains and come out to disrupt society. Aren't you afraid of punishment from the Eight Great Divine Sects?"
Due to the vast difference between mortals and cultivators, the country and the Eight Great Divine Sects had an agreement.
Sects that cultivated spiritual or immortal energy could not be too ostentatious in society, to avoid causing too much social chaos, which was why hidden spiritual sects existed.
The Black Wind Sect daring to show themselves now clearly violated the previous agreement.