This time, after the victory over the werewolves, the lion's share of the rewards naturally went to Yan Xing.
Meanwhile, Lao Hansi and Eddie, who had cheered and charged into battle, also shared in the spoils.
Lao Hansi was originally the leader of this group of peasants and possessed certain management skills. With the Experience gained, he smoothly advanced to an elite unit.
The tax collector was the lowest-ranking official in human territory. Their responsibility was to collect taxes from peasants on behalf of the Lord, meaning the Lord didn't have to collect them individually.
An excellent tax collector could also slightly increase the tax yield.
Yan Xing had rescued 11 peasants this time. Together with Lao Hansi and the two children left at the camp, there were fourteen people in total.
The children were with Gao Sipa, and their taxes wouldn't be collected until Yan Xing returned…
Although taxing children seems a bit shameless, it's just the way the world operates. Even Yan Xing felt it was a moral decline, but those two Gold Coins every week were too tempting. He would just have to give them a few extra pieces of candy as compensation later.
Out of the 12 peasants here, Lao Hansi, having been promoted to a Second Order tax collector, lost his peasant tax-paying talent. Yet, he still handed over 12 Gold Coins to Yan Xing.
This indicated that he could collect almost ten percent more in taxes.
He's an absolute treasure!
Yan Xing somewhat regretted not discovering Lao Hansi's promotion sooner. Otherwise, if Lao Hansi had collected taxes from the newly recruited peasants, perhaps Yan Xing could have gained an additional Gold Coin.
Alas...
He would wait until tomorrow.
The new week would begin with Lao Hansi taking full charge of tax collection across the territory.
Yan Xing officially appointed Lao Hansi as his tax collector.
A legitimate identity would be helpful for Lao Hansi's work once the territory's population grew.
Eddie also approached Yan Xing, presenting a tattered cloth bag containing 200 God-given gold coins awarded by the system.
Yan Xing ran his hand over the Gold Coins, and they all disappeared.
This was a Lord function Yan Xing had just discovered. It was similar to a player's inventory, where all items related to the God-given system could be stored.
Storing the numerous God-given gold coins this way made them convenient to carry and use.
Yan Xing also stored the werewolf flail he had just obtained in this space. Not only was it uncomfortable to have the handle tucked into his belt, but the spiked ball swinging at his side was also impractical.
After securing the Gold Coins, Yan Xing eagerly checked Eddie's attributes.
Eddie (Human)
First Order Peasant (Can be upgraded to Second Order Militia, requires the Militia Hut building)
Attack: 1
Defense: 1
Damage: 1
Stamina: 1
Talent: Taxpayer
Eddie, by following Yan Xing and gaining Experience, had also met the criteria to advance to a Second Order Militia.
However, unlike a Second Order Elite Unit that could advance on its own, ordinary Second Order units required corresponding buildings for advancement.
To build a Militia Hut, prerequisite buildings like the Village Council Hall and Peasant Huts were necessary.
There was one Peasant Hut now; the next step was to build the Village Council Hall as soon as possible.
Yan Xing had seen what the Village Council Hall looked like in the Lord System. It was essentially a large hall, sturdy enough to accommodate the Village Head and his officials for meetings.
He could construct this kind of building himself, without needing to use the Lord System to create it instantly.
Besides, he didn't have enough God-given gold coins.
It seems I'll need to return to the real world, exchange some Gold Coins for cash, buy building materials, and transport them here to construct the building.
And the walls!
Just as Yan Xing was contemplating the territory's construction, a disturbance suddenly erupted outside the hut.
Yan Xing, accompanied by Lao Hansi, Eddie, and the newly recruited peasants, rushed out, only to see the cause of the commotion… several werewolves had regained consciousness.
This included the Great Werewolf.
The werewolves were extremely agitated, struggling to break free from their restraints. They bared their teeth and growled lowly, displaying an intimidating demeanor towards the peasants.
The peasants surrounded the bound werewolves, pitchforks in hand, but their fearful demeanor made it seem as though they were the ones surrounded.
Fortunately, Yan Xing's presence stabilized the peasants' morale, and the addition of new companions bolstered their confidence.
With so many subordinates, Yan Xing also felt exceptionally bold.
He walked up to the Great Werewolf, stopping at a distance where it couldn't bite him.
In his left hand, he took out the werewolf flail and said to the Great Werewolf, "Do you know what this is?"
The Great Werewolf's attention was drawn to the werewolf flail, and Yan Xing seized the opportunity to swing the steel pipe at its head.
The Great Werewolf howled in pain.
Half of its face was oozing blood.
The attack of a level 5 hero was no joke.
After beating the Great Werewolf until it no longer dared to bare its teeth, Yan Xing moved to the next snarling werewolf, shaking the werewolf flail in his left hand.
"Do you know what this is?"
As soon as the werewolf's gaze was fixed on the flail, he immediately brought the pipe down on its head.
Another series of howls ensued.
After he had beaten four werewolves, the others that gradually regained consciousness became obedient.
Their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Yan Xing. It was unclear whether the werewolf flail had intimidated them or if they feared the steel pipe in Yan Xing's other hand.
With the werewolves no longer howling, the peasants' morale surged, and they held their pitchforks with the vigor of a robust army.
Eddie moved a stool from the farm trike and placed it in front of the Great Werewolf.
Yan Xing sat down, swinging the werewolf flail in one hand while tapping the steel pipe on the ground with the other.
Then he asked the Great Werewolf, "Where do you come from? How far is your clan from here? How many are in your family? Who is your Clan Leader?"
The Great Werewolf looked at the werewolf flail in Yan Xing's hand, its expression fearful. But when the enemy asked for information about his clan, he said, "Human, you use despicable means to poison us. You shame your knightly spirit…"
At that moment, Lao Hansi angrily interjected, "Mud-wallowing barbaric creature! Do not doubt Lord Yan Xing's bravery with your despicable thoughts.
"We had already surrounded you last night. But Lord Yan Xing abides by the knightly spirit and was unwilling to launch a surprise attack on you. Instead, he prepared a feast for you.
"He let you eat your fill so you could have a fair battle at dawn.
"You claim Lord Yan Xing poisoned you, which is utterly foolish. We ate that meat too!
"That was Lord Yan Xing's grace, a delicacy only high nobility can enjoy."
Lao Hansi's retort left the Great Werewolf speechless.
Indeed...
Before the werewolves ate the meat, he had made a peasant taste it. Only because the taster remained unharmed did they dare to eat.
And while paralyzed, the werewolves could still see. The peasants had finished off all the leftover meat.
And they were completely unharmed!
The Great Werewolf finally retorted stubbornly, "If you didn't poison us, then why couldn't we move at all?!"
"Foolish, ignorant, barbaric werewolf," Lao Hansi, newly promoted, scolded the Great Werewolf with renewed vigor. "My Lord possesses mysterious Magic. Even when cooking in the kitchen, he enslaves flame spirits to boil water.
"Lord Yan Xing's greatness cannot be desecrated by your slander.
"Lord Yan Xing's word is his bond!"
The peasants shouted in unison, "Lord Yan Xing's word is his bond!"
Lao Hansi called out, "Lord Yan Xing, limitless in Magic power!"
The peasants echoed, "Lord Yan Xing, limitless in Magic power!"
Yan Xing had always considered himself thick-skinned, but at that moment, he still instinctively covered his face…