Chapter 96: Overestimating Oneself

As Zheng Zhenwu was the most powerful Constable in Nanquan Lane, with a word from him, the Spring Rain Tower had long since prepared girls for his arrival.

The Madam of the Spring Rain Tower personally led the way, guiding Zheng Zhenwu and Zheng Shiyong upstairs.

Having reached Zheng Zhenwu’s position, he was considered quite the figure in Nanquan Lane.

"Who’s that? Why is the Madam personally leading him?"

"You don’t even know him? That’s Constable Zheng from the Garrison Commandant’s Office!"

"Ah! A Constable from the Garrison Commandant’s Office! So that’s why. No wonder the Madam of the Spring Rain Tower is escorting him personally."

"That’s right. If you want to make a living in Nanquan Lane, you have to grease the right palms, high and low. You have to keep the surrounding gangs happy, but the most important thing is to maintain a good relationship with the Garrison Commandant’s Office."

"Exactly. Compared to the Garrison Commandant’s Office, these gangs are shit!"

"Shh, watch your mouth. Careless talk leads to trouble!"

"What’s there to be afraid of! You think anyone from the gangs would dare to challenge me on that? What happened to the Tiger Head Gang was just a short while ago!"

"If they heard what you just said, the gangs wouldn’t dare refute it. But you might have just landed yourself in trouble."

"..."

Watching Zheng Zhenwu go upstairs, the patrons in the Spring Rain Tower began to murmur amongst themselves.

"Sir, this is the room."

The Madam beamed, her smile cloyingly sweet.

This Constable Zheng commanded six squads of constables, making him essentially the third-in-command at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. She naturally had to pay special attention to a man of his stature; offending him was out of the question.

"Mm." Zheng Zhenwu nodded. Without exchanging further pleasantries with the Madam, he led Zheng Shiyong into the room.

’This uncle and nephew sure know how to party!’

The Madam closed the door, grumbling to herself.

Inside the room, the Spring Rain Tower had already arranged for two girls.

Zheng Zhenwu glanced at Zheng Shiyong, and his nephew took the hint.

"Come, ladies, have some wine first to liven things up!"

"Yes, my lord," one of the Spring Rain Tower girls cooed alluringly.

A moment later, the two Spring Rain Tower girls lay drugged and unconscious on the bed.

Zheng Zhenwu went over to them, checking and double-checking their condition.

"Uncle, do we really need to be this cautious just to kill that low-life?"

Zheng Shiyong asked from the side, confused.

"Stupid! Killing a Constable of the Garrison Commandant’s Office is putting our own heads on the chopping block! If we’re discovered, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough to atone for it!"

"One can never be too cautious! Be careful when we leave later, and make sure no one sees us!"

Seeing the grave look on Zheng Zhenwu’s face, Zheng Shiyong quickly agreed.

"To be honest, if it weren’t for Tan’s death, I might have actually tried to smooth things over with him."

Zheng Zhenwu said with a grim face.

He had made this decision after careful deliberation.

’This kid, Chen Ping’an... I didn’t think much of him before. But the more I learn about him, the more unnerved I am. In less than a single month, he’s gone from a commoner who knew nothing of the Martial Dao to a skilled fighter at Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection. On top of that, he has connections in the South Town Garrison Command and has somehow become a Constable, my equal in rank.’

’One could foresee that he wouldn’t stop at being a Constable! And Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection won’t be his limit, either.’

’A man like that is anything but ordinary!’

’And very unfortunately, I’ve already made an enemy of him. Judging by his methods, he doesn’t seem like the type to just let things slide.’

’Tan Huacong’s death seemed normal in every respect, but I’ve always suspected Chen Ping’an had something to do with it!’

’Since I’ve already offended a man like that, I might as well be thorough and eliminate the problem entirely.’

’If I don’t crush him now while he’s still weak, I’ll be the one to suffer once he becomes powerful.’

"Let’s go!"

Confirming that the two women were indeed unconscious, Zheng Zhenwu immediately got up.

"Remember, be careful at every step."

"With you making a move, Uncle, it’s a guaranteed success!" Zheng Shiyong said, laying on the flattery.

"That low-life really doesn’t know his place. A little success and he’s already this arrogant! Making me toast him and pour his wine repeatedly... I’ve put up with him for long enough at that banquet! Soon, it’ll be time for him to pay the price!"

Zheng Zhenwu nodded, but said nothing.

’I’m at the Qi Blood Fourth Level Bone Forging Realm, while he’s merely at Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection. With a carefully laid trap, there’s no way he can escape my grasp.’

’If it weren’t for this certainty, I wouldn’t have made such a risky decision.’

...

Chen Ping’an walked alone through the streets and alleys, the cold moonlight stretching his shadow long.

The drinking session at the Spring Rain Tower had gone on quite late. The streets and alleys were completely empty and eerily quiet.

Just ahead was a small alley. After passing through it and crossing one more street, he would reach Pear Blossom Lane.

Suddenly, Chen Ping’an’s expression shifted slightly. He continued to walk as if nothing was wrong, but his right hand slowly and discreetly drifted to the hilt of the saber at his waist.

SWOOSH!

A blade flashed as a dark figure leaped down from the side of the alley.

"About time," Chen Ping’an sneered.

The saber at his waist shot out of its sheath like a clap of thunder, the blade striking like a dragon.

There was nothing fancy about the attack—just a simple, direct chop aimed straight at the shadowy figure’s head.

Zheng Zhenwu never imagined Chen Ping’an would be so audacious as to immediately resort to a life-or-death gambit. Instead of dodging or evading the attack, Chen Ping’an countered with a strike aimed directly at his own vitals.

"You’re overreaching!"

Under his black mask, a hint of delight appeared on Zheng Zhenwu’s face.

He had considered many ways Chen Ping’an might react to an ambush, but a life-for-a-life exchange was the one he least expected.

’Attack their vitals, and out of fear, they’re bound to pull back in a panic. It’s a classic tactic of attacking their weak point to save your own, turning defense into offense.’

’In many cases, this all-or-nothing approach could achieve miraculous results.’

’But that only worked when both fighters were on a similar level. If the gap in their Martial Arts Realm was too great, then... death!’

A vicious glint flashed in Zheng Zhenwu’s eyes. He was confident enough that he could kill his opponent before the latter’s blade could strike him.

This was the confidence that came from his higher Martial Arts Realm!

His blade struck Chen Ping’an’s body, just as he’d anticipated. But what happened next was not what he’d imagined at all. Instead, his blade met with unimaginable resistance.

His slash felt not like it was cutting flesh, but as if it had struck a piece of metal.

Just as Zheng Zhenwu was about to change his move to defend, he suddenly realized that at some point, he seemed to have started flying.

Yes, he was flying!

Higher and higher. After reaching a peak, he began to slowly descend.

He seemed to see a headless body.

’Wait... whose body is that?’

A flicker of confusion crossed Zheng Zhenwu’s eyes.

With a THUD, he was slammed violently onto the ground.

At the very last moment, he seemed to have suddenly understood something.

’Oh, that’s my body.’

’So I...’

’...am dead?’

’Killed by Chen Ping’an?’

’He concealed his true strength so deeply!’

Zheng Zhenwu’s thoughts didn’t last long. Infinite regret and a profound weariness washed over him. The next moment...

...he was completely plunged into darkness.

Constable Zheng Zhenwu of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office was dead.

Watching this scene from his hiding spot, Zheng Shiyong’s face turned ashen. He felt as if his soul was about to flee his body.

His eyes were full of shock and disbelief, his teeth chattered, and a chill swept through his entire body.

’Run! Run! Run!’

After his brain briefly short-circuited, Zheng Shiyong made the only logical choice.

But he had just taken a single step when a sharp pain shot through the back of his right knee. As he stared in a daze, an identical pain seared his other leg. He lost his balance completely and collapsed to the ground.

Zheng Shiyong struggled to rise, but the moonlight was suddenly blotted out. He looked up to see a dark figure standing over him, looking down.

It was Chen Ping’an!

Zheng Shiyong fell into despair.