Chapter 59: Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu

Name: Chen Ping’an

Realm: Qi Blood Third Layer

Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Minor Achievement in Flying Locust Stone (29/40), Public Door Thirteen Sabers (Entry Level) (2/15)

...

Early in the morning, after finishing his Martial Dao Cultivation, Chen Ping’an looked at the accumulated martial arts experience on his panel and felt quite satisfied.

"Nannan, your big brother is leaving. Remember to buy extra meat for dinner!"

"Okay, Big Brother~"

After this brief exchange, Chen Ping’an headed for the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.

Constable Zheng was uncharacteristically absent from today’s pre-patrol meeting. Of the five Constables at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, he was the one who attended these meetings most frequently.

However, with the matter of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect still unresolved, the other four Constables were all present.

The pre-patrol meeting concluded after some arrangements and speeches from the Constables. Chen Ping’an then officially received his new assignment and met the three temporary constables under his command.

Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Zeng Jihe.

Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu looked a little awkward. For a moment, they didn’t know what to say.

As it happened, they had seen each other just a few days ago in front of Chen Ping’an’s house. At the time, they were afraid of getting into trouble and hadn’t interacted with him much.

They never expected that the next time they met, they would be his subordinates.

"Greetings, Master Chen."

Zeng Jihe, on the other hand, was straightforward and greeted Chen Ping’an directly.

Zeng Jihe wasn’t old, probably around the same age as Chen Ping’an, perhaps a year or two older.

"Mm," Chen Ping’an acknowledged with a smile.

Seeing Zeng Jihe speak up, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu finally greeted Chen Ping’an as well.

"Master Chen."

After speaking, the two exchanged a look, their thoughts unreadable.

Chen Ping’an didn’t say much in response to this.

"Where are we patrolling today?"

Chen Ping’an asked.

Hearing this, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu remained silent.

Chen Ping’an turned his gaze to Zeng Jihe. Zeng Jihe glanced at the other two before forcing a smile.

"Master Chen, you’re here too early. We haven’t gone to check yet."

"Oh?"

Chen Ping’an looked at Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu, who stood with their heads down in silence, and sensed that something was off.

He hadn’t arrived particularly early; many other constable shifts had already set out on patrol. Logically, they should have checked the day’s patrol assignment long ago. ’Why haven’t they checked, even though I’m already here?’

Although Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu weren’t being too obvious about it, Chen Ping’an could tell from their brief interaction that they likely didn’t respect his authority.

’I just wonder if someone else is pulling the strings.’

"Master Chen, please wait a moment. I’ll go check right now." Zeng Jihe said with a laugh, then immediately ran inside.

"Mm," Chen Ping’an grunted. He ignored Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu and closed his eyes to wait.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Constable Chen! Not setting out yet? What’s this? Thinking of slacking off on your very first day as an official constable?"

A sarcastic, mocking voice drifted over from the side.

Chen Ping’an opened his eyes and saw a man with several others in tow walking toward him.

"You needn’t trouble yourself with my patrol, Constable Zheng. I have my own arrangements! You should worry more about your night watch duty. Don’t let the Ten Thousand Demons Sect slip through the cracks!"

Chen Ping’an said coolly, barely lifting his eyelids.

He really had no interest in dealing with a person like Zheng Shiyong.

’I don’t know where he gets the nerve to show his face in front of me. Others might not know, but shouldn’t he be perfectly clear on how he got his position as an official constable!’

’I haven’t forgotten the debt from back then!’

Hearing Chen Ping’an’s words, a dark look flashed across Zheng Shiyong’s face.

Ever since joining the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, thanks to his connection with Constable Zheng, he had never been spoken to like that.

’This country bumpkin gets promoted to official constable and suddenly doesn’t know his place? He’s just a hick who got lucky, and now he dares to take this attitude with me!’

’Fine, fine, fine!’

’Just see if I don’t crush you!’

Glancing at his surroundings, Zheng Shiyong forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart.

"Constable Chen is a young talent, a role model for our generation. I hope you can achieve something earth-shattering and truly broaden our horizons."

Without waiting for Chen Ping’an to reply, Zheng Shiyong turned to Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu. "Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, you two better work hard under Constable Chen! Your futures are limitless!"

"Yes, yes, of course, of course," Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu replied, their faces breaking into sycophantic smiles. It was a complete reversal of their earlier attitude toward Chen Ping’an.

"Excellent!"

After clapping each of them on the shoulder, Zheng Shiyong let out a loud laugh and strode away.

’Trying to fight me!? I’ll piss you off until you explode!’

Having been around the block, Zheng Shiyong wasn’t a complete idiot. He naturally knew the best way to cause trouble for Chen Ping’an.

What could be more infuriating than having one’s own subordinates pledge allegiance to someone else right in front of you?

Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu had always been part of his uncle’s faction, and he had already won them over the day before. With those two on the inside, Chen Ping’an could forget about accomplishing anything. It would be a testament to his ability if he could just avoid making mistakes.

Chen Ping’an watched Zheng Shiyong leave, his eyes narrowing slightly. He turned his head to look at Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu.

"What was that all about?" Chen Ping’an’s voice was cold.

"What are you referring to, Master Chen?" Cheng Yuan feigned ignorance.

The two of them had originally planned to maintain a peaceful facade and avoid offending either side. But Zheng Shiyong’s arrival had forced them to choose.

On one side was Zheng Shiyong, who was backed by Constable Zheng, had achieved Martial Arts Introduction, and had a limitless future. On the other was a young man who hadn’t even reached Entry Level in the Martial Dao and had only become an official constable through some dumb luck.

If they had to pick a side, even an idiot would know who to stand with!

Chen Ping’an said nothing, his gaze locked onto the two men.

Cheng Yuan met his gaze without fear.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Zeng Jihe came running back.

"Master Chen, we’re patrolling Niu Ye Square today!"

Zeng Jihe ran between them, panting, and clearly sensed that the atmosphere was off.

"Master Chen?" Zeng Jihe asked with an obsequious smile.

"Understood," Chen Ping’an replied. "Let’s go."

"Right behind you," Zeng Jihe said, hurrying to catch up.

Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu exchanged a glance, a mocking glint visible in each other’s eyes, then slowly followed.

Tch!

’He’s just an ordinary young man. What does he have to fight us with!? Besides his lucky break of getting officially registered, what does he have that’s better than us?’

As they patrolled, the four walked through the streets and alleys, the atmosphere less than pleasant. Chen Ping’an generally walked in the lead, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu kept to themselves, and Zeng Jihe tried to mediate from the middle.

At noon, the two of them simply left without a word to Chen Ping’an. When Zeng Jihe asked where they were going, they casually brushed him off, saying someone was treating them to a meal.

When it was time for the afternoon patrol, the two of them returned, already half-drunk. While the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office didn’t strictly forbid drinking during patrols, it was custom for the leading official constable to be the one to drink, if anyone did. It was unheard of for temporary constables to drink while their official constable superior abstained.

This was a blatant show of disrespect to the official constable!

However, Chen Ping’an didn’t react much to this.

The day passed slowly in this tense atmosphere. After the patrol ended, Chen Ping’an ignored the two and went off duty directly. As a registered official constable, he didn’t need to return his saber and Waist Token, so he could leave early.

’I’ll let you dance around for a few more days! We’ll see if you still can!’

On the way home, a ruthless glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

Drinking on patrol and disobeying orders were all minor infractions that couldn’t be blown out of proportion. Even if he made an issue of it, the punishment would be far from sufficient.

Therefore, he was waiting for an opportunity. An opportunity that would make them regret this for the rest of their lives!