"No mercy for those who resist!"
In front of the Tiger Head Gang headquarters, Chen Ping’an roared, leading his men.
"Sir, yes, sir!"
The constables of the Garrison Commandant’s Office roared in reply.
After what they had just witnessed, they were completely in awe of Chen Ping’an.
’This is the man who defeated the Tiger Head Gang’s Young Master Xiao Hu in just two moves!’
Inside the Tiger Head Gang’s headquarters, a chaotic melee had erupted between the gang members and the constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office. Most of the constables were quite skilled, giving them a considerable edge in such a brawl. With the arrival of Chen Ping’an and his reinforcements, that advantage only grew.
SQUELCH!
With a flash of his saber, Chen Ping’an cut down a Tiger Head Gang member standing in his way.
’The last time I experienced a scene like this was during the raid on the Quicksand Gang. The difference is that back then, I was only a temporary constable. Now, I’m a Preparatory Constable, leading my own men.’
Chen Ping’an glanced back slightly and saw Tan Huacong not far behind, locked in combat with members of the Tiger Head Gang.
As an official constable who had achieved Martial Arts Introduction, Tan Huacong’s strength was considerable. The average Tiger Head Gang member was no match for him.
"Die!"
Tan Huacong swung his Garrison Commandant’s Office-issue saber, seemingly venting all of his frustrations.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
After seeing Chen Ping’an kill Young Master Xiao Hu, Tan Huacong had been plunged into deep fear. That fear had given way to extreme resentment.
’A mere country bumpkin, and he’s actually come this far!’
’What right does he have?’
"..."
Tan Huacong cursed Chen Ping’an endlessly in his heart.
PSHHHT!
He forced a gang member back with a slash of his saber and was about to move in for the kill when a powerfully built ruffian suddenly charged him from the side.
Caught off guard, Tan Huacong hastily parried the attack.
BANG!
The moment their weapons clashed, Tan Huacong felt an immense, oppressive force from his opponent!
’This guy has definitely reached Martial Arts Introduction!’
’No, not just Martial Arts Introduction. He’s probably reached the Skin Refining Perfection Realm.’
Tan Huacong’s expression turned grave.
"An official constable?"
The Tiger Head Gang ruffian was also surprised by Tan Huacong’s strength, his eyes narrowing.
"So what! Die!"
The Garrison Commandant’s Office was storming their gates; he had no choice but to fight to the death.
This Tiger Head Gang ruffian, clearly one of their leaders, fought Tan Huacong to a standstill with a steel rod.
In a real fight, a steel rod could be just as deadly as a great saber.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
They exchanged blow after blow, the continuous ring of metal on metal filling the air.
"Get back!"
A ruthless glint appeared in Tan Huacong’s eyes. His Qi Blood surged, and he knocked aside the steel rod thrusting straight for him.
’Not good!’
The Tiger Head Gang leader’s pupils contracted violently.
That one deflection left his center completely exposed—a fatal opening. His opponent only needed to swing his great saber to split him open from chest to stomach.
"Die!"
Tan Huacong grinned ferociously.
In his eyes, the minor gang leader before him was now just an easy kill, a point of merit for the taking.
Just as Tan Huacong was certain of his victory, a sharp pain shot through his wrist. He nearly lost his grip on his great saber.
’What was that?!’
Tan Huacong was horrified.
A searing pain from his wrist spread through his entire body. In fact, if he hadn’t achieved proficiency in Skin Refining, that single strike would have shattered his wrist.
The sudden pain broke Tan Huacong’s incredibly swift Saber Momentum. The killing blow aimed at the gang leader faltered, coming to a near standstill.
’My chance!’
The Tiger Head Gang leader’s eyes lit up.
He changed his grip on the steel rod and thrust it viciously at Tan Huacong.
"No!"
Tan Huacong cried out in horror. He changed his Sword Skill, trying desperately to block, but he was half a beat too slow.
The hardened tip of the steel rod slammed viciously into his chest. The intense pain almost suffocated him.
Tan Huacong stumbled back several steps. He managed to endure the pain and catch his breath, only to see his opponent pressing the advantage, relentlessly smashing at him with the steel rod.
One misstep led to a cascade of errors.
The two had been evenly matched, but with Tan Huacong injured, the gap in their abilities widened with every second.
THWACK!
The steel rod, moving like a black shadow, landed viciously on Tan Huacong’s skull. The force was so strong it nearly caved in the side of his head.
"ARGH! AHH!"
Tan Huacong let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The agony was more than any normal person could bear. In his desperation, he swung his great saber wildly.
But his frenzy didn’t faze his opponent. The gang leader repeatedly thrust with the steel rod, punching several large holes in Tan Huacong’s chest.
Blood gushed from the wounds, a truly gruesome sight.
"Die!"
The Tiger Head Gang leader grinned savagely, bringing the heavy steel rod down on Tan Huacong with immense force.
SWISH!
A blade flashed!
The falling steel rod was knocked off course, coincidentally smashing down upon Tan Huacong’s wrist. The powerful blow completely shattered it. This strike also happened to obliterate the mark left on Tan Huacong’s wrist by the Flying Locust Stone.
"Who is it?"
The Tiger Head Gang leader roared in fury. He scanned his surroundings and saw a youth with refined features watching him with utter indifference, as if gazing upon a corpse.
"How dare you kill a constable of my Garrison Commandant’s Office!"
Before his voice had even faded, a blade flashed once more.
"Constable? So what! I killed him, and that’s that!"
By now, the Tiger Head Gang leader’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. The muscles on his arms bulged as he swung the steel rod upward at Chen Ping’an with all his might.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
A flurry of saber flashes.
"GURGLE..."
The Tiger Head Gang leader’s eyes bulged, his face a mask of pure horror.
SQUELCH!
Blood sprayed as his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
"Those who kill a constable of the Garrison Commandant’s Office will be shown no mercy!"
Chen Ping’an declared coolly, standing with his saber in hand.
"Constable Chen! It’s Constable Chen!"
"Constable Chen is incredible!"
The constables of the Garrison Commandant’s Office who witnessed this all began to cheer. Instantly, the morale on their side soared.
Chen Ping’an glanced at Tan Huacong on the ground. His head was caved in and his chest was riddled with holes. Though a flicker of life remained, it was clear he was dying.
Chen Ping’an walked over, crouched down, and leaned his head close to Tan Huacong’s mouth. To any onlookers, it appeared as if Chen Ping’an was listening to the dying man’s last words.
But an almost inaudible voice whispered into Tan Huacong’s ear.
"Don’t blame me. If you have to blame someone, blame yourself."
Chen Ping’an could clearly feel Tan Huacong’s body stir. His chest heaved as he tried to speak, but he couldn’t muster the breath; it simply leaked from the holes in his chest.
Chen Ping’an lifted his head slightly, looking at Tan Huacong’s twisted, deformed face.
"GURGLE..."
As if in a final burst of lucidity, Tan Huacong gasped for breath like a broken bellows. He stared at Chen Ping’an, his eyes wide.
"Old Tan, rest in peace. The Garrison Commandant’s Office will take care of things for you."
With a solemn expression, Chen Ping’an placed a hand over Tan Huacong’s eyes.
In the next moment, Tan Huacong was dead.
Chen Ping’an slowly stood up and surveyed the chaotic scene.
’Since Tan Huacong chose to conspire with Zheng Shiyong and steal credit from me, he should have been prepared for this outcome.’
’As adults, when we make a choice, we have to be responsible for it!’
’This isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about self-interest and allegiance!’