Zheng Shiyong's voice rang out behind Chen Ping'an. His footsteps didn't falter in the slightest as he walked straight towards the Chief Constable's office.
Ordinarily, Chen Ping'an would have given Zheng Shiyong some Face and turned around to exchange a few pleasantries. But at this moment, important matters took precedence!
As for Zheng Shiyong saying the Chief Constable wasn't present? He was half-believing, half-doubting.
Under normal circumstances, there would always be a Chief Constable stationed in the Zhenfu Division. The possibility of him not being there was extremely small.
Even if the Chief Constable genuinely wasn't there, he still needed to verify it with his own eyes.
The Chief Constable's office was a bit larger than the Errand Office. The Errand Office was where several Yamen Runners on duty worked together, while the Chief Constable's office was solely for the Chief Constable.
The comparison alone was enough to show the Chief Constable's power and status.
"He's really not here?"
Chen Ping'an looked at the completely dark Chief Constable's office in front of him and frowned slightly.
If the Chief Constable really wasn't here, then tonight would be troublesome!
The matter of Za Mao Yu's death needed to be reported as soon as possible; it couldn't wait. Za Mao Yu's body was still in that courtyard, and if it waited until tomorrow, who knew if others would discover it and take the credit.
Therefore, the report had to be completed tonight.
The safest method was originally to find the Chief Constable and report directly to him, but now... the Chief Constable was not present.
Chen Ping'an stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought.
"I told you the Chief Constable wasn't here, and you still came! How can you be so unheeding of advice?"
A voice sounded behind Chen Ping'an, interrupting his contemplation.
Chen Ping'an turned his head to look, and it was indeed Zheng Shiyong. He was looking at him with a strange expression.
"As the night shift Yamen Runner, whatever you have to say to me is the same."
Ignoring the faint mockery in Zheng Shiyong's words, Chen Ping'an looked at Zheng Shiyong with a slight smile.
"My apologies, Foreman Zheng, I was too eager just now."
With that, Chen Ping'an walked towards the Errand Office.
Za Mao Yu's matter couldn't be delayed! It had to be resolved tonight! Since the Chief Constable wasn't present, he would go find tonight's Yamen Runner on duty.
"Why are you leaving? Didn't I say that finding me is the same?"
Seeing Chen Ping'an about to leave, Zheng Shiyong quickly stepped forward, his expression displeased, intending to block him.
This fellow, where did he get so much curiosity!?
Chen Ping'an muttered to himself.
As the Zhenfu Division's night shift Yamen Runner, Zheng Shiyong naturally had the right to be informed of and report special matters.
However, for the sake of caution, Chen Ping'an still didn't want to tell Zheng Shiyong about Za Mao Yu. He had deliberately avoided engaging with Zheng Shiyong's words just now.
"Foreman Zheng, this is Chen's private matter. Who I choose to see doesn't seem to concern you, does it?"
He had intended to maintain a semblance of cordiality, but Zheng Shiyong didn't give him the chance. Stepping past Zheng Shiyong, Chen Ping'an strode forward.
"You brat!"
Zheng Shiyong looked at Chen Ping'an's retreating figure, his expression grim.
...
Chen Ping'an walked to the Errand Office, saw a light inside one of the rooms, and knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
A steady voice came from within the Errand Office.
Chen Ping'an pushed open the Errand Office door, a slight smile on his Face, and walked in.
Inside the Errand Office sat a middle-aged man, sturdily built, who looked quite powerful.
He was Tan Huacong, a formal Yamen Runner of the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office.
Tan Huacong looked towards the door and saw that it was Chen Ping'an who had entered. His hair was soaked with sweat and matted to his scalp, and his clothes were stained with perspiration, making him feel a little strange.
"Head Tan," Chen Ping'an stepped forward. "I have an important matter I wish to report."
"What is it?"
Tan Huacong asked in a serious, upright manner.
"Just a short while ago, I ran into Za Mao Yu."
"Za Mao Yu!"
Tan Huacong's expression froze.
"Za Mao Yu, the remnant of the Qing Yu Gang."
"Exactly," Chen Ping'an nodded.
"Where is he now? Did he escape?" Tan Huacong stood up excitedly. For the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office at present, the matter of the Qing Yu Gang remnants was a top priority.
"I killed him," Chen Ping'an said calmly.
"What!?" Tan Huacong's Face showed shock, and he instantly stood up from his seat.
...
In a courtyard in Nanquan Lane.
Tan Huacong looked at the corpse in the courtyard, then couldn't help but glance at Chen Ping'an beside him.
"So, you really killed him?"
According to the intelligence, Za Mao Yu of the Qing Yu Gang was a master of the Qi Blood Second Realm! Even he might not have a chance of winning against him. For Chen Ping'an, merely a temporary Yamen Runner who hadn't even entered the Dao of martial arts, to have killed Za Mao Yu was simply too unbelievable.
"Yes, Head Tan. I really was lucky. I didn't expect Za Mao Yu of the Qing Yu Gang to be so severely injured!" As he spoke, a hint of relief flashed across Chen Ping'an's Face. "Tonight, I was originally sleeping at home. I vaguely heard some movement in the kitchen next door. Just as I was about to get up, I saw a dark figure emerge from the kitchen. At that moment, I was scared stiff. However, fortunately, after being a Zhenfu Division Yamen Runner for so long, my courage has been trained. I forced myself not to make a sound and secretly observed the dark figure's situation. The dark figure tried to climb out of the courtyard, but it took several attempts before he finally managed to get out."
"It took several tries just to climb over the courtyard wall? How high is your courtyard wall?"
Tan Huacong asked.
For someone in the Qi Blood Second Realm, climbing over a courtyard wall should be incredibly simple; it wouldn't take several attempts to succeed.
"It's about the same height as this courtyard's. At the time, I observed that he seemed to have some injury on his body, as if every movement was very strenuous. That's why it took several tries for him to get over."
"Mm, continue," Tan Huacong nodded.
"After he climbed over the courtyard wall, I originally thought of just letting it go. But then I thought that as a Zhenfu Division Yamen Runner, I was just standing by and watching my home get robbed. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I figured since it was so difficult for him to climb over my courtyard wall, he shouldn't be a formidable character. So I secretly followed him out. I followed him all the way to this courtyard."
"Wait!" Tan Huacong interrupted. "Are you saying you followed him the whole way, and he didn't notice!?"
"At the time, I also thought he hadn't noticed. But looking back, he probably discovered me halfway."
"Why do you say that?"
"The other party entered this courtyard, and I thought he was still trying to steal things. So I directly climbed over the wall and came in." At this point, Chen Ping'an seemed afraid of being suspected by Tan Huacong, so he held out his seemingly slender arm. "Head Tan, don't mind that I'm thin. Actually, I usually exercise. Climbing a courtyard wall of this height isn't too much of a problem."
"Mm." Tan Huacong nodded. The courtyard wall of this courtyard was indeed not high, just a little taller than a normal person. As long as one mastered certain techniques, or even without techniques, climbing in was not particularly difficult.
"Who knew, just as I climbed over the courtyard wall, that dark figure pounced out directly from here. It gave me a huge fright at the time."
Chen Ping'an pointed to the nearby woodpile, speaking with lingering fear.