Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Am I Being Too Nice?

The first thing Big Steel Fang noticed about Chen Ping’an was his age—he was young. Far too young!

The Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office was sending a constable this young to collect the donation silver from his Tiger Run Gambling Square?!

’This has to be a joke!’

Following the custom of previous years, collecting the donation silver from his Tiger Run Gambling Square was a whole ordeal, requiring several visits back and forth. But this year, as far as he knew, constables had already visited the surrounding shops to collect the donation silver two days prior.

He had waited at the Tiger Run Gambling Square for two days without a single constable showing up. One of his subordinates had reported that a constable came to the entrance, glanced inside, and then left.

He’d thought the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office was gearing up for some big move. And this was it?!

They only sent two constables?!

"You’re Big Steel Fang?" Chen Ping’an’s face was devoid of expression as he looked at the man, his tone detached.

’Hm?’

A sense of unease settled in Big Steel Fang’s heart. For a moment, he couldn’t quite figure out where Chen Ping’an was coming from.

’What’s going on?’

’In previous years, visiting constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office always came with smiles on their faces. What the hell is this one playing at?’

"How dare you! This is the Protector of the Tiger Head Gang, Lord Ya!"

Big Steel Fang hadn’t even spoken when a loyal underling behind him stepped forward and bellowed the rebuke.

SWOOSH!

A blade flashed, slicing straight toward the underling who had just spoken.

The blade was fast, showing no signs of holding back.

The underling couldn’t react in time and was about to be hit.

Big Steel Fang, who was standing to the side, struck decisively, his fist slamming against the flat of the blade.

CLANG!

The blade shuddered violently. The immense force knocked it off course, and it sliced through empty air.

Cold sweat instantly streamed down the underling’s back.

’I just wanted to show some loyalty and run my mouth. But he attacked without a word of warning! No sign at all! What kind of ruthless bastard is this?!’

Big Steel Fang was startled, too. It wasn’t that he was afraid of trouble, but Chen Ping’an’s reaction had caught him completely off guard.

’Is this guy here to collect the donation silver, or to start a fight?!’

He had been through this collection process with the Garrison Commandant’s Office many times, but he’d never encountered a situation like this before.

Several ruffians behind Big Steel Fang drew their weapons and aimed them at Chen Ping’an, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Behind Chen Ping’an, Zeng Jihe was completely stupefied with fear.

’Master Chen, are you always this reckless?!’

’This is their turf!’

"Lord Official, you draw your blade at the slightest provocation. Are you implying my Tiger Head Gang is defenseless?!"

Big Steel Fang demanded loudly, his eyes locked on Chen Ping’an to gauge his reaction. He hadn’t risen to the top of the Tiger Head Gang on strength alone—he had brains, too.

He refused to believe a constable from the Garrison Commandant’s Office would be a madman, brazenly offending the Tiger Head Gang for no reason.

If he saw even a flicker of evasion in the constable’s eyes, or the faintest hint of feigned bravado, he wouldn’t hesitate to have his men take the man down.

"I am here representing the Garrison Commandant’s Office. It’s one thing for you, the Steward of this gambling square, to be unwelcoming. But for one of your men to dare point his finger in my face and curse me? Tell me, am I the one treating the Tiger Head Gang as a pushover? Or are you, Big Steel Fang, deliberately letting your men provoke the authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office?"

Chen Ping’an’s words were firm, his presence imposing without any display of anger. His Martial Arts Realm gave him more than just strength; it had also cultivated an intangible, powerful aura.

Chen Ping’an’s reaction completely blindsided Big Steel Fang. The accusation of "provoking the authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office" instantly changed his mind.

"Lord Official, a misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding! How would we dare provoke the authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office? My men are just ignorant!"

Big Steel Fang forced a smile.

"Why don’t you come inside for a seat, Lord Official? Have some tea, calm your anger."

"Alright." Chen Ping’an nodded and strode in the direction Big Steel Fang indicated, without a hint of fear. He walked as if he were in his own home, not the Tiger Run Gambling Square, a key stronghold of the Tiger Head Gang.

Chen Ping’an’s composure made Big Steel Fang’s eyes gleam. He felt more and more certain that softening his tone and not losing his temper had been the right decision.

’Given how fearless he looks, if a real fight broke out, who knows what kind of mess it would stir up.’

"This way, Lord Official," Big Steel Fang said with a smile, leading Chen Ping’an through an inner door.

Zeng Jihe glanced around at the ruffians eyeing them like hungry tigers and couldn’t help but shiver. He steeled his nerves and followed Chen Ping’an.

Beyond the door was a lavishly furnished room.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ping’an took the seat of honor as if it were his due.

Sensing Chen Ping’an’s confidence and ease, Big Steel Fang’s eyes flickered several times. He suppressed the rage in his heart and sat down in a nearby guest seat.

"What are you waiting for? Serve Lord Official some tea!"

Big Steel Fang ordered one of the ruffians behind him, then turned back to Chen Ping’an with a smile.

"So, I must ask, what business brings Lord Official here today?"

Chen Ping’an raised his head and looked at Big Steel Fang. He said nothing, simply staring.

Big Steel Fang forced a smile and met his gaze.

Just as the muscles in Big Steel Fang’s face began to twitch, Chen Ping’an finally spoke.

"Big Steel Fang, do you really think you need to ask me that? You know why I’m here better than I do."

Chen Ping’an’s face was devoid of any humor, his gaze fixed on Big Steel Fang.

"Lord Official, you wound me! I truly have no idea."

Big Steel Fang cried foul.

In his heart, however, a thread of apprehension toward Chen Ping’an took root. ’This one is a real piece of work.’

’If anyone else dared to speak to me like that, I would have had them chopped to pieces by now. But unfortunately, the man sitting across from me is no ordinary person.’

’He’s a constable from the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office—an official constable!’

’To become an official constable in the Garrison Commandant’s Office at such a young age... I don’t believe for a second he doesn’t have connections.’

’Besides, judging by his behavior so far, he has his emotions under perfect control. This isn’t just some hot-headed fool. He can’t be underestimated.’

BAM!

Chen Ping’an slammed his palm down on the table.

"Big Steel Fang, stop playing dumb! You think the Garrison Commandant’s Office is being too soft on you, is that it?"

The table trembled, and a faint crack appeared on its surface.

Standing behind Chen Ping’an, Zeng Jihe felt his heart skip a beat.

’This...’

’Master Chen, Master Chen, don’t be so reckless!’

’We’re here to collect the donation silver, not to pick a fight and get ourselves killed! You’ve got to take it easy!’

’I can’t handle this much stress!’

"You!"

If the other Tiger Head Gang Protector, Tornado Wolf, had been sitting here, Master Lang would have undoubtedly started a fight with Chen Ping’an by now.

But the one sitting here was Big Steel Fang.

The fury on Big Steel Fang’s face was fleeting; he forcibly suppressed it.

"Lord Official, what respect I, Big Steel Fang, have, I earned for myself. It wasn’t given to me by anyone! And another thing... don’t keep throwing the Garrison Commandant’s Office in my face to intimidate me! Or I, Big Steel Fang, won’t be able to hold back!"

Big Steel Fang’s gaze was chilling as he stared at Chen Ping’an.