Chapter 45: Conflict

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Inside the small courtyard, the sound of stones hitting the wall rang out repeatedly.

Chen Ping’an stood inside the house, continuously throwing the Flying Locust Stones. A full two days had passed since he reached the Introduction level with the Flying Locust Stone; today was the third.

+1!

As a very familiar experience symbol appeared, Chen Ping’an stopped his morning practice.

With a slight shift in his gaze, a panel materialized before him.

Name: Chen Ping’an

Realm: Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection

Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Introduction (12/15)

...

"Only 3 Cultivation Experience points left! I’ll reach Minor Achievement in the Flying Locust Stone tonight!"

Chen Ping’an was a little excited.

Based on his calculations, as soon as he reached Minor Achievement in the Flying Locust Stone, the surge of Qi Blood in his body would be enough to push his Realm to the Qi Blood Third Layer.

The Qi Blood Third Layer!

If he could successfully break into this Realm, he would be considered a significant figure in the vast Nanquan Lane.

In a smaller gang in Nanquan Lane, for example, the Vice Gang Leader would only be at the Qi Blood Third Layer.

Even in a more powerful gang like the Tiger Head Gang, the Qi Blood Third Layer was enough to become a high-ranking member.

The Tiger Head Gang had Master Hu, the Gang Leader, and Master Qing, the Vice Gang Leader. Its three Protectors were renowned, with seven chieftains serving as the backbone and over a hundred members as fierce as wolves and tigers below them.

Among the Tiger Head Gang’s three Protectors, Young Master Xiao Hu was the weakest. This was because he was the adopted son of the Gang Leader, Master Hu, and a key figure the gang was focused on developing. Aside from his Martial Arts Cultivation being at Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection, the other two Protectors were both at the Qi Blood Third Layer Realm.

According to information from the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, the Tiger Head Gang’s Vice Gang Leader, Master Qing, was suspected to be at Qi Blood Three Realms Perfection. As for the Gang Leader, Master Hu, he was a Martial Arts Master at the Qi Blood Fourth Layer in his prime. However, in recent years, his strength had waned with age, and he was likely no longer at his peak, only slightly stronger than an ordinary expert at Qi Blood Three Realms Perfection.

’The Qi Blood Third Layer is enough to make the Tiger Head Gang take me seriously! But it’s a shame my strength can’t see the light of day. I still need to hide it.’

A fire ignited in Chen Ping’an’s heart. If the Qi Blood Third Layer could make the Tiger Head Gang take him seriously, then what about the Qi Blood Fourth Layer?

’Wouldn’t that make the Tiger Head Gang spare no effort to curry favor with me!?’

Filled with hope for the future, Chen Ping’an ate breakfast with Chen Erya and then headed to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office to report for duty.

The Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office was the same as always: a routine meeting before duty, a speech from the Constable, and then heading out to patrol the assigned streets.

The men, dressed in their Constable’s Black Clothing, cut quite an imposing figure as they walked through the streets and alleys.

With Monkey Head and Da Shan’s teasing and idle chatter, Chen Ping’an’s day wasn’t boring at all.

After his shift ended, Chen Ping’an headed straight for home.

’I wonder what Nannan cooked today?’

Chen Ping’an thought to himself on the way home.

After the afternoon’s exertion, he was already famished. Rounding a corner, Chen Ping’an saw his own courtyard gate wide open in the distance.

Hm!?

Chen Ping’an’s pupils contracted sharply.

’There are people in the courtyard! Several of them! Who are they?’

Chen Ping’an’s expression darkened. He quickened his pace and ran straight for home.

"Little girl, don’t be a fool! If you don’t pay up, don’t blame me for getting rough!"

The speaker was Popei Liu’Er, a trusted henchman of the Tiger Head Gang’s Young Master Xiao Hu. A vicious glint in his eye, he stared at the little girl not far away. Behind him stood two of his ruffian cronies, their faces also full of ill intent.

"The auntie next door said the Tiger Head Gang’s monthly fee is based on a head count. One mace of silver for an able-bodied man, half a mace for an able-bodied woman, and twenty small cash for the elderly and children. There are only my brother and me at home, so for one month, we should only have to pay one hundred and twenty small cash. Why are you demanding two mace of silver?"

A trace of fear was on Chen Erya’s face, but she still stared stubbornly at the men before her, her hand clutching tightly to a black cloth pouch.

"The Tiger Head Gang’s rules have never changed! We never collect a monthly fee of less than two mace of silver! There are only two of you in this house. You expect me, Sixth Master, to make up the difference for you!? Tell me! Are you paying or not!?"

Popei Liu’Er stepped closer to Chen Erya.

"I’m not paying two mace of silver!"

The little girl said stubbornly.

"Fine, you won’t pay, is that it!?"

Popei Liu’Er turned, lifted the table, and threw it to the ground.

The table had been laden with food. When he threw it over, bowls and chopsticks fell, and soup and dishes scattered, creating a complete mess.

Looking at the mess in the courtyard, Popei Liu’Er felt a sense of satisfaction.

"No one gets away with not paying the Tiger Head Gang’s monthly fee!"

With that, he reached out to snatch the black cloth pouch from Chen Erya’s hand. He hadn’t expected the seemingly frail little girl to grip it so tightly. His first grab failed, and he only managed to pull the girl slightly towards him.

A vicious thought crossed his mind. He put a sudden burst of strength into his arm, shoved Chen Erya away, and the black cloth pouch fell into his hand.

Popei Liu’Er was at the Martial Arts Introduction level, so he naturally wasn’t weak. Pushed to the ground, Chen Erya was scraped by an uneven stone, breaking the skin on her arm and drawing blood.

But the little girl ignored it. She looked at Liu’Er and shouted, "Give me back the silver!"

"The little girl’s pretty stubborn, huh? HAHAHA, interesting," the two cronies laughed.

"Interesting indeed," Popei Liu’Er also sneered. "Little girl, are you choosing money over your life?"

He stepped forward and grabbed Chen Erya by her clothes, about to beat her to vent his anger, when an enraged shout came from outside the courtyard.

"Let her go!"

Chen Ping’an was incredibly fast. He burst into the courtyard, dashed past the two ruffian cronies, and grabbed Liu’Er’s arm.

"Let go!"

Chen Ping’an stared coldly at Liu’Er.

"Brother~"

Chen Erya sounded as if she had found her protector.

"Nannan, don’t be afraid." Chen Ping’an comforted Chen Erya, but the coldness in his eyes did not waver. He stared icily at Liu’Er, his tone like frost.

"Daqian Law, Article 178: Those who break into a residence to commit violence shall receive thirty strokes of the cane and five years of penal servitude!"

"If there are casualties, the offender shall receive one hundred strokes and twenty years of penal servitude!"

Chen Ping’an’s voice rang in Liu’Er’s ears.

"Chen Ping’an, you’re using the Daqian Law to pressure me!?"

Liu’Er’s voice was loud, attempting to intimidate Chen Ping’an with sheer volume.

"Those who cause irreparable circumstances..."

Chen Ping’an ignored Popei Liu’Er, enunciating each word deliberately.

"...shall be caned to death!"

"Caned to death!? Ridiculous! The Tiger Head Gang is just collecting its regular monthly fee. How does that warrant being caned to death? You think you can have *me* caned to death!? You alone?"

"On the authority of the Daqian Law! And the Garrison Commandant’s Office!"

Chen Ping’an stared intently at Liu’Er. It had to be said, there was an imposing air about Chen Ping’an at that moment, and his stare made Liu’Er feel uneasy.

"The Garrison Commandant’s Office! The Garrison Commandant’s Office! What are you, a mere temporary constable? You dare threaten me with the Garrison Commandant’s Office?"

"If you don’t believe me, you can try it."

Chen Ping’an’s tone was calm.

Looking at the expressionless Chen Ping’an before him, Popei Liu’Er seemed to recall something and released his grip on Chen Erya’s clothes.

"Get lost! I don’t have time for this!"

He glanced at the black cloth pouch in his hand, then at his surroundings.

"Count yourselves lucky today! Let’s go!"

"Sixth Master?"

The two ruffian cronies were confused. They thought they were about to teach the kid in front of them a good lesson. They never expected Sixth Master would actually prepare to leave.

"Let’s go."

Popei Liu’Er’s face was grim as he walked right out of Chen Ping’an’s courtyard.

Seeing this, the two ruffian cronies followed. Before leaving, one of them, who had a buzz cut, shot Chen Ping’an a vicious glare.