Bang! Bang! Bang!
Inside the small courtyard, sounds of stones hitting the wall echoed continuously.
Chen Ping'an stood inside the house, constantly throwing Flying Locust Stones. Two full days had passed since he achieved martial arts initiation in Flying Locust Stone. Today was the third day.
+1!
As a familiar experience symbol appeared, Chen Ping'an also stopped his morning practice.
His eyes moved slightly, and a panel appeared before him.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood Second Stage Perfection
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Perfection, Flying Locust Stone martial arts initiation (12/15)
......
"Only 3 more experience points! I'll be able to achieve Flying Locust Stone Minor Achievement tonight!"
Chen Ping'an was a little excited.
According to his deduction, as long as Flying Locust Stone reached Minor Achievement, the Qi and Blood surging within his body would be enough to push his Realm to Qi Blood Third Stage.
Qi Blood Third Stage!
If he could successfully enter this Realm, then in this vast Nanquan Lane, he would be considered a notable figure.
For smaller Gangs in Nanquan Lane, a Vice-Gang Leader would only be at the Qi Blood Third Stage level.
For a Gang like Tiger Head Gang, which was more powerful, Qi Blood Third Stage was enough to become a high-ranking member within the Gang.
Tiger Head Gang, with Tiger Ye and Qing Ye as the two Gang Leaders (one main, one vice), had three well-known Protectors, seven Chief Constables as pillars, and hundreds of Gang members below them, as fierce as wolves and tigers.
Among the three Protectors of Tiger Head Gang, Little Tiger Ye was the weakest because he was the adopted son of Gang Leader Tiger Ye and a key training target for the Gang. Besides his Qi Blood Second Stage Perfection martial arts cultivation, the other two Protectors were both at the Qi Blood Third Stage Realm.
According to information from the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office, Tiger Head Gang's Vice-Gang Leader, Qing Ye, was suspected to be at Qi Blood Third Stage Perfection. And Gang Leader Tiger Ye was a Martial Artist with Qi and Blood Fourth Level martial arts master back then. However, in recent years, due to old age and declining strength, his power should no longer be at its peak, only slightly stronger than an average Qi Blood Third Stage Perfection.
"Qi Blood Third Stage is enough for Tiger Head Gang to take seriously! It's just a pity that my strength cannot be revealed; I still need to hide it."
Chen Ping'an felt a surge of excitement in his heart. If Qi Blood Third Stage could make Tiger Head Gang take him seriously, what about Martial Artist with Qi and Blood Fourth Level?
That would probably make Tiger Head Gang go to great lengths to curry favor, right!?
Harboring expectations for the future, Chen Ping'an ate breakfast with Chen Er'ya, then headed to the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office for his duties.
The Nanquan Lane Garrison Office was still the same: a pre-duty meeting, the Chief Constable's speech, and then patrolling the streets according to the locations assigned by the Division.
Several people, dressed in Yamen Runner uniforms, walked through the streets and alleys, still exuding quite a majestic Aura.
With Monkey Head and Dashan's banter and casual chats, Chen Ping'an's day was not boring at all.
After finishing his duties, Chen Ping'an headed straight home.
"I wonder what Nannan cooked today?"
Chen Ping'an thought this on his way home.
After a whole afternoon of exertion, he was already starving. Turning a corner, Chen Ping'an saw his courtyard gate wide open in the distance.
Hm!?
Chen Ping'an's pupils suddenly contracted.
There were people in the courtyard! And several of them! Who were they?
Chen Ping'an's face sank, and he quickened his steps, running straight home.
"Xiao Yatou, don't be ungrateful! If you don't hand it over, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The speaker was Pockmarked Liu, a trusted subordinate of Little Tiger Ye from the Tiger Head Gang. He looked fierce, staring at the Xiao Yatou not far away. Behind him stood two ruffian followers, also with malicious expressions.
"Auntie next door said that the Tiger Head Gang's monthly fee is based on the number of people. Able-bodied men pay one silver coin, able-bodied women half a silver coin, and elders and children pay twenty small coins. There are only my brother and I in our family, so the monthly payment should only be one hundred and twenty small coins. Why do we need to pay two silver coins?"
Chen Er'ya had a hint of fear on her face, but her gaze remained stubborn as she stared at the several people in front of her, clutching a black cloth bag tightly in her hand, refusing to let go.
"The rules of my Tiger Head Gang have never changed! My Tiger Head Gang has never collected less than two silver coins for monthly fees! There are only two people in your family; do you expect Sixth Master to make up the rest for you!? Speak! Are you going to pay or not!?"
Pockmarked Liu approached Chen Er'ya.
"I won't pay two silver coins!"
The Xiao Yatou said stubbornly.
"Good, you won't pay, will you!?"
Pockmarked Liu turned around, lifted the table, and pushed it over onto the ground.
The table was originally full of dishes. With his push, bowls and chopsticks fell, and soup spilled, creating a mess.
Looking at the mess in the courtyard, Pockmarked Liu felt pleased.
"No one can refuse to pay the Tiger Head Gang's monthly fee!"
With that, he tried to snatch the black cloth bag from Chen Er'ya's hand. However, he didn't expect the seemingly frail Xiao Yatou in front of him to hold on so tightly; his grab didn't succeed, and instead, he pulled the Xiao Yatou a little closer.
He hardened his heart, exerted force, and pushed Chen Er'ya away, and the black cloth bag fell into his hand.
Pockmarked Liu had achieved martial arts initiation, so his strength was naturally not small. Chen Er'ya was pushed to the ground and scraped by an uneven stone, breaking the skin on her arm and causing blood to flow.
However, the Xiao Yatou ignored these things. She looked at Liu'er and shouted, "Give me back the money!"
"This Xiao Yatou is quite stubborn? Hahaha, interesting." The two followers laughed loudly.
"Interesting." Pockmarked Liu also sneered, "Xiao Yatou, are you choosing money over your life?"
He stepped forward and grabbed Chen Er'ya's clothes, just about to beat her to vent his anger, when an angry shout came from outside the courtyard.
"Let her go!"
Chen Ping'an was incredibly fast, rushing into the courtyard, past the two ruffian followers, and grabbing Liu'er's arm.
"Let go!"
Chen Ping'an looked at Liu'er with cold eyes.
"Brother~"
Chen Er'ya seemed to have found her reliance.
"Nannan, don't be afraid." Chen Ping'an comforted Chen Er'ya, but the coldness in his eyes didn't change at all. He looked at Liu'er coldly, his tone like ice.
"da gan law, Article 178: Those who break into a house and act violently shall be flogged thirty times and imprisoned for five years!"
"If there are casualties, the perpetrator shall be flogged one hundred times and imprisoned for twenty years!"
Chen Ping'an's voice rang in Liu'er's ears.
"Chen Ping'an, you're using the da gan law to threaten me!?"
Liu'er's voice was very loud, attempting to suppress Chen Ping'an with his Aura.
"Those who cause irreversible situations..."
Chen Ping'an ignored Pockmarked Liu, speaking each word distinctly.
"Shall be beaten to death with a stick!"
"Beaten to death with a stick!? Ridiculous! My Tiger Head Gang is collecting monthly fees normally; how could it involve beating me to death with a stick!? Just with you?"
"Just with the da gan law! Just with the Zhenfu Division!"
Chen Ping'an stared intently at Liu'er. It must be said that Chen Ping'an at this moment possessed an Aura, and Liu'er was momentarily made uncomfortable by his stare.
"Zhenfu Division! Zhenfu Division! What are you, a temporary Yamen Runner? How dare you threaten me with the Zhenfu Division?"
"If you don't believe me, you can try."
Chen Ping'an's tone was calm.
Looking at the expressionless Chen Ping'an in front of him, Pockmarked Liu, for some unknown reason, released his tight grip on Chen Er'ya's clothes.
"Get lost! I don't have time for this!"
He glanced at the black cloth bag in his hand, then looked at the surroundings.
"Consider yourselves lucky today! Let's go!"
"Sixth Master?"
The two ruffian followers were a bit confused, thinking they were going to teach the kid in front of them a good lesson. They didn't expect Sixth Master to be ready to leave.
"Go."
Pockmarked Liu's face was gloomy as he walked directly out of Chen Ping'an's courtyard.
Seeing this, the two ruffian followers followed. Before leaving, one of the short-haired ruffians gave Chen Ping'an a fierce look.