Is this a threat?
It’s a threat, isn’t it?
But they had always been the ones threatening others for money, forcing others to do evil deeds. It was their first time seeing someone using life and death to coerce others into learning.
If these words came from the mouth of a normal person, Niu Sanbao and the others would have taken it as a joke and might have fought with their lives or, if not, would have thought of ways to run away as far as possible.
But the one in front of them was an eight or nine-year-old child, and what’s more, a child with extraordinary martial strength, so the sincerity of these words greatly increased.
Even if someone deliberately taught a child, they couldn’t make them act like this.
Besides, who would specially train such a child just to torment them?
It’s not worth it!
Is this the way of the Big Demon?
Niu Sanbao and the others looked at each other’s physical disabilities, feeling regretful in their hearts; they had no way out!
With such a master, if they didn’t kill him after learning, their understanding wouldn’t be thorough!
With an incomplete understanding, how could they possibly cultivate their Divine Skill to perfection?
Thinking this way, they suddenly understood why the inheritance of the Carefree Sect involved betraying their masters...
...
Taking a deep breath, Niu Sanbao said, "Senior, we will learn. But with our conditions, how shall we deal with the backlash from our subordinates?"
"Those under you have been tormented into their current state, unable to continue any other livelihood. Just give them a bit of sweetener to entice them into joining you," Duge surveyed the several men, advising, "Choose two from among them who extort the most money every day, make these two deputy heads. Each deputy head leads a team for a one-month period, whichever team extorts more money, promote that one to head.
Within their teams, create a fictitious manager position, to be held by the one who extorts the most money after one month. The head can take a cut from everyone’s earnings, and the manager can take more than the others from the extorted Silver Coin, with the managers rotating monthly.
The person who extorts the least money will have a two-month grace period; if they are still at the bottom in terms of Silver Coin after two months, expel them, and let them fend for themselves.
This way, you not only divide them but also give each person hope for ascent. Even without your supervision, they will maintain this order themselves, seeking the greatest benefit.
In the long run, once you’ve gathered more people, you could even establish a gang with this, not fearing their rebellion, right?"
Would this work as well?
Niu Sanbao and the others held their breath. Is this what they mean by an educated thug?
"If you’re still not at ease, you can have them learn with you," Duge chuckled lightly, "Their bodies are disabled, and they have no hope in this life, but after saving some money, they can still marry and have children, allowing their children to make something of themselves. Isn’t that wonderful?"
"We even have to help them get married and have kids?" Liu Laowu’s eyes bulged, full of incredulity.
"You want the donkey to run, but you don’t want the donkey to eat grass. Is it any wonder that over twenty people can only bring you a bit over a thousand Silver Coin a year, including the protection fee?"
Duge looked at them disdainfully, tirelessly advising, "You’ve been oppressing them with violence, leaving them all bearing grudges against you. Scaring some Silver Coin out of them, you thought it was enough to allow them to scrape by in this world.
But extending one’s line is a human instinct. With the incentive of marrying and having children, do you worry they won’t work hard to earn money? If you reward the person who extorts the most money for a whole year with a mansion, that bunch would probably fight to the death to find ways to make money..."
Niu Sanbao, whose mind was the most agile, pondered carefully and felt the likelihood of success of the methods Duge had mentioned was extremely high. This art of managing people could be the secret of the great merchants, so easily spoken of here; there was no doubt this child was extraordinarily capable.
If they served him well, even if they couldn’t learn his Divine Skill, they could live happily as a great merchant.
Of course.
If they could learn his Longevity Skill and restore their disabled limbs, it would be even better. Who in this world does not desire longevity?
"Have you learned?" Duge asked.
"We have learned, thank you for the guidance, Senior," Niu Sanbao replied respectfully.
"If you’ve learned, then carry it out," Duge glanced at them, "I should not appear in public. Find me a mansion nearby to stay in, and if you encounter any problems, seek me out to help you solve them."
"Senior." Niu Sanbao said, "We have also bought the courtyard next to the mansion. The two courtyards are connected by an underground passage, which we brothers have reserved as an escape route. Senior, please rest in the courtyard next door, no one will disturb you. We brothers will provide your daily food and drink on time."
Having damaged Niu Sanbao and the others and urged them onto the wrongful path, Duge’s attributes greatly rose, and his perception expanded to forty or fifty meters.
The two integrated courtyards meant his perception could just cover this area; Niu Sanbao’s arrangement did save him quite a bit of trouble.
Thus.
Duge nodded, "That’s fine." He looked at Niu Sanbao, asking, "Do you know how to act in order not to give away my identity?"
"Please instruct me, Senior," Niu Sanbao said.
Duge thought for a moment, then instructed, "If no one asks, let it be. If someone inquires, tell them you offended an unknown Swordsman and were punished by the Swordsman. If questioned about buying books, say it was the Swordsman’s demand, and you did not dare to disobey..."
...
After providing detailed instructions to Niu Sanbao and the others on how to make their unusual behaviors seem reasonable, Duge moved into the adjacent courtyard, as arranged by Niu Sanbao.