Throughout the day, Chen Ping'an was preoccupied with Chen Er'ya at home, feeling somewhat distracted. However, his expression management was quite good, and Monkey Head and Dashan were busy patrolling and chatting, so they didn't notice anything unusual about him.
Chen Ping'an, dressed in his black uniform and carrying his saber, walked through the streets and alleys, listening to the two of them chat idly.
"Did you see the faces of the Chief Constables today!? Their brows were so furrowed they looked like they were about to crack!"
"Did something happen?"
"Do you know about the Ten Thousand Demons Sect!?"
"Ten Thousand Demons Sect!"
"Recently, there have been traces of Devils from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect appearing in the city. I heard there have been several murder cases in other districts already. In this situation, let alone the Chief Constables of our Nanquan Lane, even the Squad Leader above is under a lot of pressure!"
"Several murder cases? That serious!"
"Yes! You all know the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's methods; each one is incredibly ruthless."
"Monkey Head, how do you know all this? I haven't heard anything."
"Hehe, Monkey Head has his own ways! It's already spread throughout the Zhenfu Division, just waiting for the Chief Constables' official announcement! Just wait and see, it won't be long, it'll be announced sooner or later! Be careful these days."
"..."
Monkey Head didn't say much, only briefly mentioned the Ten Thousand Demons Sect before changing the subject. At this critical juncture, bringing up the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was not a good idea.
Ten Thousand Demons Sect!
Chen Ping'an listened in secret.
Old Chen's death was due to his involvement in the encirclement and suppression of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, where he was severely wounded by a deacon from one of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's strongholds.
He had an irreconcilable feud with the Ten Thousand Demons Sect!
However...
The Ten Thousand Demons Sect was no ordinary sect; it was a colossal entity that swept across the entire Canglong State. Even just a branch was enough to make the Weishui County Town Zhenfu Division treat it with utmost seriousness.
Back then, Old Chen's encirclement of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was merely a very small stronghold within the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Yet, even so, the joint operation of the Zhenfu Division from various alleys in Nancheng District, despite favorable timing, location, and human factors, still suffered heavy casualties.
No less than ten Chief Constables died in that encirclement!
This was just a stronghold; if it were a hall above a stronghold, resolving it would require the entire Outer Town Envoyship to work together. If it were a branch...
Then relying solely on the power of Weishui County City might not be enough.
That day's patrol time quickly passed as the few of them wandered about.
After getting off duty, Chen Ping'an headed straight home. He had been worried about Chen Er'ya's situation all day.
As Chen Ping'an walked into Lihua Lane, he could feel a sense of solemnity and tension. Normally at this time, there would be many neighbors walking outside or visiting each other to chat. But today, Chen Ping'an didn't see any such activity.
Approaching his doorstep, he saw someone hurrying past.
"Uncle Liang, what's going on? Why are there so few people in the streets and alleys?"
Chen Ping'an took a few steps forward and blocked the person's path.
Hearing someone call him, Uncle Liang was startled at first, but relaxed when he saw it was Chen Xiaoge.
"Oh, it's Chen Xiaoge! You don't know, something big has happened?"
"Uncle Liang, what happened?"
Although Chen Ping'an already had a general idea that it was about Liu'er, he still asked one more question.
"Sixth Master of the Tiger Head Gang, he's dead!"
With that, Uncle Liang didn't wait for Chen Ping'an's reaction and hurried away. At this critical juncture, he didn't want to loiter outside and be seen by the Tiger Head Gang, inviting unnecessary trouble.
They were all ordinary families, and couldn't afford any trouble.
"It really is this matter."
Chen Ping'an watched Uncle Liang leave, his eyes flickering. He didn't linger in place and walked straight towards his front door.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, he saw the figure busy in the kitchen, and a weight lifted from Chen Ping'an's heart.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness..."
The worry that had been on his mind all day could finally be somewhat put down.
"Nannan, I'm home."
"Brother, you're back! It's time to eat!" Chen Er'ya smiled brightly.
The Xiao Yatou was still young, and Chen Ping'an found her smile incredibly adorable and innocent.
"Brother is hungry." Chen Ping'an laughed heartily and went into the kitchen to help Chen Er'ya bring out the food.
The weather wasn't good today; it looked like it was going to rain, so the siblings ate indoors instead of in the courtyard.
The light inside the house was a bit dim, not as bright as outside, but the smiles on both siblings' faces illuminated each other's hearts.
After dinner, Chen Er'ya didn't get up to clear the dishes as usual. Instead, she slightly reined in her smile and looked at Chen Ping'an with wide eyes.
"Brother, earlier today, people outside said that Sixth Master, that Liu'er of the Tiger Head Gang, died last night."
After speaking, Chen Er'ya fell silent. As intelligent as she was, connecting it to the bloodstains on Chen Ping'an last night, she already had a guess in her heart.
Looking into Chen Er'ya's eyes, Chen Ping'an was silent, carefully choosing his words.
Just as he had organized his thoughts and was about to say something to Chen Er'ya, the Xiao Yatou stood up.
"Alright, Brother, I'm going to wash the dishes."
"Wait." Chen Ping'an called out to Chen Er'ya: "Last night..."
"Shh!"
The Xiao Yatou made a gesture. Then she pointed outside, signaling Chen Ping'an not to speak.
"Brother, you don't need to tell me, I know. And you don't need to explain, I understand everything!" The Xiao Yatou turned around and hugged Chen Ping'an. "No matter what Brother does, I will always trust Brother!"
Chen Ping'an felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this and was about to reach out and pat the Xiao Yatou's head. Unexpectedly, the Xiao Yatou suddenly ran off.
"Hehe... I'm going to wash the dishes~"
"This girl..." Chen Ping'an was speechless for a moment.
She was only nine years old; if it were in his previous life, who would believe it? She was overly mature!
However, seeing the genuine ease on the Xiao Yatou's face, he gradually felt relieved.
He had been worried that his killing of Liu'er would burden the Xiao Yatou. He hadn't expected the Xiao Yatou's adaptability to be so strong!
Indeed, those with weak adaptability would find it difficult to survive well in this world.
After dinner, Chen Ping'an was about to digest his food and then start practicing the Flying Locust Stone. He stood in the courtyard and was suddenly startled when he saw the almost white marks on the courtyard wall.
"How could I forget this! My brain!"
The marks on the courtyard wall, if not looked at carefully, didn't seem like anything special. But if one looked closely, they would find dense, tiny dots within them.
These were all made by the Flying Locust Stone.
If the Tiger Head Gang truly came to investigate, although they might not necessarily connect this to Liu'er's death, it would undoubtedly create complications and needlessly leave a flaw.
Thinking of this, Chen Ping'an immediately grabbed a stone and ran to the courtyard wall, starting to draw and paint.
Just as he was halfway through painting, there was a heavy knocking sound from outside the courtyard gate.
"Open the door! Tiger Head Gang!"
...
PS: My hobby is typing, so what if I'm a street writer? Even if I only get 1 subscription, I won't quit.
Do good deeds, don't ask about the future.