Walking out of the gates of the Garrison Commandantâs Office, Zeng Jihe felt as if he were in a dream. Thinking about how he had followed Chen Pingâan out, he couldnât help but feel a pang of regret.
Though it hadnât been his intention, the act of leaving with Chen Pingâan had undoubtedly offended Constable Zheng.
At this thought, a pained expression appeared on Zeng Jiheâs face.
"What? Regretting it already?" Chen Pingâan remarked, having noticed Zeng Jiheâs expression. âTo be honest, his reaction is perfectly normal. Here at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, who would dare to offend a Constable?â
Zeng Jihe didnât answer. Right now, he just felt like crying.
"If you regret it, you can still go back now," Chen Pingâan said with a smile.
At Chen Pingâanâs words, Zeng Jiheâs expression grew even more pained. âHow can I possibly go back now? All I can do is see this through to the bitter end.â
After a glance at Zeng Jihe, Chen Pingâan said nothing more and started walking toward Tiger Run Lane.
As they were walking, about halfway there, Zeng Jihe couldnât hold back any longer.
"Master Chen, how are you not nervous at all?!"
"Why should I be nervous?" Chen Pingâan asked in return.
Uh...
Zeng Jihe was stunned. âWhat kind of question was that? Isnât it obvious?!â
He chose his words carefully before speaking cautiously. "Master Chen, youâve completely offended Constable Zheng! This is a disaster! If we canât collect the Tiger Head Gangâs donation silver today, then what Constable Zheng said about severe punishment... well..."
Zeng Jihe didnât finish, but his meaning was clear enough.
"Then all we have to do is collect the donation silver, and the matter will be settled," Chen Pingâan said nonchalantly.
Seeing Chen Pingâanâs matter-of-fact expression, Zeng Jihe was at a loss for words.
...
Tiger Run Gambling Square.
"Weâre here." Chen Pingâan glanced up at the gambling squareâs sign and then led Zeng Jihe inside.
"Lord Officials, Lord Officials, hold on! Please wait!"
Several ruffianly servants from the Tiger Head Gang came to meet them, and their leader, a man with triangular eyes, spoke up.
Dressed in the Black Clothing of the Garrison Commandantâs Office, Chen Pingâan and Zeng Jihe were impossible to miss.
"Whatâs wrong? Are we not allowed in?" Chen Pingâan asked without breaking stride, continuing straight inside.
"Not at all, Lord Official. Of course you can enter! Weâd just like to know what esteemed business brings you here."
Those posted at the entrance to a gambling square were all shrewd characters. His tone was exceedingly polite, but his intention was clearly to block Chen Pingâanâs path.
"Since when do I have to report my business to a ruffianly servant like you?!" Chen Pingâan snapped, striding forward with Zeng Jihe.
"Lord Official, Lord Official, just state your business, and Iâll pass on the message. Thatâs the procedure. Please donât try to force your way in!" The triangle-eyed servant narrowed his eyes, his tone gaining a hard edge as he physically blocked Chen Pingâanâs path.
An order had come down from on high: if a constable from the Garrison Commandantâs Office arrived, they were to be announced according to standard procedure and absolutely not be allowed to enter directly.
âThey want to come in and discuss the donation silver? How could we let them in without a little show of force first?â
âEven if questions are asked later, the Tiger Head Gang will be in the right! And taking it a step further, even if the Garrison Commandantâs Office wants to pursue the matter, the Tiger Head Gang has countless ways to shift the blame.â
"Move," Chen Pingâan said, his eyes fixed on the ruffianly servant blocking his path.
"Lord Official, please donât make things difficult for me," the triangle-eyed servant said, standing his ground fearlessly before Chen Pingâan. The other servants also drew closer, forming a loose circle around him.
âI have to admit, openly blocking a constable from the Garrison Commandantâs Office like this... it feels pretty damn good!â
âWith orders from the higher-ups, we have nothing to fear!â
âIf anything goes wrong, the bosses will handle it!â
SHIING!
Facing the ruffian before him, Chen Pingâan wasted no more words, drawing his saber directly from its sheath.
The saber, forged from refined iron, glinted menacingly in the sunlight.
The ruffianly servant blocking Chen Pingâanâs path froze, utterly stunned by the sight of the drawn blade.
This...
When a constable from the Garrison Commandantâs Office solemnly drew his saber, very few ruffians actually possessed the courage to resist. The reputation of the Garrison Commandantâs Office was deeply ingrained in the publicâs mind. No one dared a direct confrontation; they certainly werenât brave enough to start a rebellion.
"Out of the way!" Chen Pingâan, saber in hand, struck the ruffianly servantâs shoulder with the flat of the blade. The man cried out in pain and involuntarily stumbled aside.
Chen Pingâan shot him an indifferent glance and strode forward.
Zeng Jihe followed behind, his face a picture of astonishment.
He found that he could figure Master Chen out less and less.
But he had to admit, he liked this style!
âMaster Chen, what a badass!â
Seeing Chen Pingâan step directly into the gambling square, the ruffianly servants exchanged a look. The triangle-eyed servant gritted his teeth and hurried after him.
As Chen Pingâan and Zeng Jihe entered the gambling square, they immediately drew a great deal of attention.
The Black Clothing of the Garrison Commandantâs Office were, after all, extremely conspicuous.
"Itâs constables from the Garrison Commandantâs Office! What are they doing here?"
Some of the gamblers sized them up with curiosity. These were the confident ones, mostly well-to-do and considered successful among the common people.
But there were also the more timid gamblers, their hearts pounding with unease, who deliberately tried to make themselves scarce.
âI hope theyâre not here to make trouble!â
Chen Pingâan moved through the gambling square, heading deeper inside.
"Lord Official! Lord Official!"
The triangle-eyed servant called out, chasing after him.
Chen Pingâan stopped abruptly. The triangle-eyed servant nearly crashed into him.
"Lord Official." The triangle-eyed servant forced a fawning smile onto his face.
Low-level gang ruffians like him were classic bullies: they preyed on the weak and feared the strong.
The moment Chen Pingâan showed his strength, their bravado had vanished. âIf I had followed their rules, stated my purpose, and let them announce me, they would have looked down on me in their hearts.â
âToday, Iâm here representing the Garrison Commandantâs Office to collect the donation silver. That means I have to be forceful! Not just that, I have to be forceful to the very end!â
âIf I want to collect all the donation silver in one go today, I have to ride the momentum! Iâll use the authority of the Garrison Commandantâs Office to keep the Tiger Head Gang guessing and cut this Gordian knot once and for all!â
âPresence is a zero-sum game. When youâre strong, your opponent naturally becomes weak!â
"Whoâs the Steward here?"
"In reply to the Lord Official, the one in charge of the gambling square is a Protector of our Tiger Head Gang, Big Steel FangâLord Ya!" the triangle-eyed servant said carefully.
Chen Pingâan naturally had some knowledge of the Tiger Head Gangâs leadership. Young Master Xiao Hu, the adopted son of Gang Leader Master Hu; Big Steel Fang, also known as Lord Ya; and Tornado Wolf, also known as Master Lang. Together, these three were known as the three great Protectors of the Tiger Head Gang.
Aside from Young Master Xiao Hu, the other two had reached the Qi Blood Third Layer of the Martial Arts Realm.
A Realm of that level was high enough to qualify for the position of Constable in the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
"Good! Then tell him to come out and see me!"
"Lord Official, about that..." The triangle-eyed servant hesitated. âLord Ya has a fiery temper. If I deliver the message like that, Iâll probably be beaten half to death!â
Just as the triangle-eyed man hesitated, a sharp, drawn-out voice drifted over from nearby.
"Make this Protector come out to see you? Youâve got some nerve, Lord Official!"
Chen Pingâan turned to see a middle-aged man with a round face, a buzz cut, and protruding teeth emerge from a side door deeper inside the gambling square. Several ruffians and thugs followed behind him.
It was the Protector of the Tiger Head Gang: Big Steel Fang, Lord Ya!