Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Tiger Run Gambling Square

Just as the tension between Chen Ping’an, Cheng Yuan, and Zhao Hu was reaching a breaking point, Zeng Jihe came running back from the Task Room.

"Master Chen, we’re screwed!"

Zeng Jihe looked utterly miserable.

"What’s wrong? Where have we been assigned?"

’To put it bluntly, this is just Constable Zheng from the Garrison Commandant’s Office making things difficult for me!’

Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu exchanged a glance, their expressions full of undisguised glee.

They had already learned about the donation silver assignments from Zheng Shiyong. When they first found out, they had been just as miserable as Zeng Jihe. However, Zheng Shiyong had already promised them that as long as they followed his orders, he would take care of any trouble for them.

With Constable Zheng backing him up, they naturally believed every word Zheng Shiyong said.

"The Tiger Run Gambling Square!"

Zeng Jihe’s expression was glum. The Tiger Run Gambling Square had always been one of the most difficult places to collect donation silver from! According to the precedent from previous years, a powerful establishment like this was a job for a team led by the most senior official constables.

Even then, they’d often come up empty-handed on the first or second try!

"So it’s the Tiger Head Gang," Chen Ping’an said with a nod, his expression calm.

"Master Chen, aren’t you surprised?!" Seeing Chen Ping’an’s reaction, Zeng Jihe grew curious instead.

"Success depends on our own efforts. Nothing to be surprised about." Chen Ping’an waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, right. What about the collection voucher?"

Collecting the donation silver wasn’t a haphazard or arbitrary affair. There was a fixed amount every year, which had to be collected according to the amount specified on the voucher.

"They haven’t given it to us yet. They said we can’t get it until tomorrow morning!" Zeng Jihe became even more depressed at the mention of this.

The constables in all the other squads had already received their collection vouchers. Only a few hadn’t, and they just had to be one of them!

Who could they possibly complain to?

"What’s the collection deadline?" Chen Ping’an pressed.

"Three days," Zeng Jihe replied.

"I see." Chen Ping’an nodded and fell silent.

’What a clever trick.’

The collection period for the donation silver was only three days to begin with. By only giving them the voucher tomorrow, they were essentially robbed of a full day. For a place as difficult to collect from as the Tiger Run Gambling Square, the implication of losing a day was self-evident.

’Still, it’s no matter.’

Chen Ping’an was inwardly composed.

If nothing else, his current Martial Arts Realm of the Qi Blood Fourth Layer gave him immense confidence and a solid foundation to stand on.

At the Qi Blood Fourth Layer, courage comes naturally!

"Master Chen, what’s our next move?" Zeng Jihe asked.

"Do we have street patrol duty today?"

"No."

"That’s good, then!"

Chen Ping’an nodded.

"In that case, let’s go check out the Tiger Run Gambling Square first!"

"Okay!"

Zeng Jihe readily agreed.

With that, the two of them prepared to set off. However, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu remained standing lazily where they were, showing no inclination of moving.

"You two?" Chen Ping’an said with a frown.

"The two of us have something to take care of later, Constable Chen. We won’t be going!" Cheng Yuan said, stretching lazily.

"What could be more important than collecting the donation silver!?" Chen Ping’an demanded.

"Constable Chen, didn’t you just hear what Xiaozeng said? We can’t get the collection voucher until tomorrow. What’s the point of going to the Tiger Run Gambling Square today? What does that have to do with collecting the donation silver?" Cheng Yuan retorted.

"Fine! Just don’t come to regret this!"

"You can save your concern about our regrets, Constable Chen."

Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu said, their smiles not reaching their eyes.

Glancing at the two of them, Chen Ping’an didn’t waste any more words and turned to leave.

"Bah! Mr. Zheng was right, the kid’s a total coward!" Cheng Yuan spat viciously in the direction Chen Ping’an had gone.

"And *that’s* an official constable? I could do his job a thousand times better!" Zhao Hu chimed in, his voice full of jealousy.

A classic case of the "I could do better" mentality.

...

"Master Chen, just the two of us... Are you sure this is okay?" Zeng Jihe asked worriedly as they walked.

"It’s fine."

Chen Ping’an walked briskly, his expression unconcerned.

"Master Chen, the Tiger Run Gambling Square is the Tiger Head Gang’s most important business. Collecting the donation silver from them won’t be easy! And judging by those two’s attitudes just now, they probably won’t show up tomorrow either. If they don’t come, won’t it just be you and me? We’ll be completely outnumbered!"

Zeng Jihe thought Chen Ping’an had misunderstood him. What he was trying to say was that with just the two of them, things would be very troublesome! The Tiger Head Gang might not be a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, but getting anything out of their hands was never easy!

Especially since Cheng Yuan, the only one of the four of them who had actually entered the threshold of the Martial Dao, probably wasn’t coming!

If the Tiger Head Gang decided to mess with them, just a few of their grunts would be more than enough to give them a world of trouble. And if things really blew up, the Tiger Head Gang would just find some scapegoat to blame it on, shrugging off all responsibility.

"Didn’t Constable Zheng just say it himself? This donation silver business is of the utmost importance. Any mistakes will not be tolerated! Even if Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu don’t go, the job still has to get done!"

Chen Ping’an said calmly.

’Technically, the donation silver is the responsibility of all four members of their squad. If things go south on my end and I fail to collect the silver, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu won’t be able to escape the consequences either!’

’And yet, they’re so brazenly confident. Zheng Shiyong must have promised them something.’

’Heh, this Little Zheng is really willing to pay the price!’

The Tiger Run Gambling Square was on Tiger Run Lane, a street Chen Ping’an had patrolled several times before. He had also come here once at night, back when he killed Popei Liu’Er.

Walking down Tiger Run Lane, it was as bustling and crowded as ever. Besides gamblers, the street was filled with gang members, ruffians, and lackeys. However, since the two of them were wearing the Black Clothing of constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office, no one dared to provoke them.

Tiger Run Lane was lined with gambling dens, and the Tiger Run Gambling Square was the largest of them all.

"This is it, Master Chen," Zeng Jihe said, pointing at the gambling den’s sign up ahead.

On the sign were four large words: Tiger Run Gambling Square!

Several servants stood at the entrance of the gambling den. Though they wore the den’s livery, a single glance was enough to tell they were ruffians from the Tiger Head Gang.

The servants saw Chen Ping’an and Zeng Jihe standing at the entrance and were just about to step forward and greet them. But then they saw the man in the official uniform turn and walk away. The other man was caught by surprise, only reacting a moment later to hurry after him.

"What are constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office doing here?" a younger servant asked curiously.

"Probably about the donation silver," a more senior servant said with a smile.

"Donation silver?"

"Yeah. It’s once a year. The time is about right; it should be happening these next few days."

"Oh, I see."

"Still, it’s strange. Why did only two people show up this time? By tradition, it should be at least four! And if the collection doesn’t go smoothly, it’s not unusual for ten or more constables to show up!"

"Maybe they were just scouting? I saw them leave again."

"Probably. You keep watch here, I’m heading inside to report this. I reckon they’ll be back to make the collection in the next day or two."

"..."

After this brief exchange, the more senior servant ran inside to report what had just happened to his boss.

...

"Master Chen, why are we leaving?" Zeng Jihe was a little baffled.

"Do we have the collection voucher?"

"No."

"Then what’s the point of staying there!?"

"But..." Zeng Jihe was at a loss for words. He’d thought Chen Ping’an had made a special trip here to scout the place out and prepare for tomorrow’s collection of the donation silver. He never imagined they wouldn’t even step inside! If that was the case, what was the point of coming here at all!?

However, Zeng Jihe would soon find out why.

"Xiaozeng, we’ve paid our visit to the Tiger Run Gambling Square. Since the Garrison Commandant’s Office didn’t schedule us for patrol duty today, let’s head back for now!"

"Back where, Master Chen?" Zeng Jihe asked, his face blank. He felt like he couldn’t keep up.

"Home! Where else."

"Huh?!"

’This...’

’They had to collect the donation silver tomorrow! Shouldn’t they be doing more prep work today, coming up with plans and strategies to lay a solid foundation for tomorrow?’

’But Master Chen was...’

’How could he be so relaxed! Wasn’t he nervous at all?!’

’This is a little too casual!’

By the time Zeng Jihe snapped out of it, Chen Ping’an was already far ahead.

’With this extra time, I might as well go home, practice my martial arts, and spend time with my little sister!’

As for the schemes of Zheng Shiyong and Constable Zheng, he couldn’t be bothered with them.

’Schemes and plots are laughable in the face of absolute power!’

’And he just so happened to need a suitable opportunity to cement his reputation as a Martial Dao genius.’

’And wasn’t this the perfect chance?’

’Everything depends on tomorrow!’