Gang

2024-07-31

Gang

Song Changming arrived at a small courtyard within the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

A plaque reading Patrol Captain Liang Chuanshan hung over the courtyard gate. This was the gathering place for the Patrol Guard Team under Liang Chuanshan's command.

Unless there were special circumstances, the Patrol Guard Team members had to report here each day and flip their tags, after which Liang Chuanshan would assign them tasks and send them out.

However, when Liang Chuanshan had important matters to handle, task assignments would be left to his deputy, Lu Gang.

"Nothing today. Go patrol the streets first."

Once Lu Gang spoke, everyone knew what to do. There was no need for further questions. After acknowledging the order, they split into pairs and departed.

Patrolling the streets during the day was one of the Patrol Guard Team's routine duties.

They mainly walked through bustling market streets, serving as a deterrent, preventing serious incidents, and maintaining public order.

Unlike the Night Watchmen, if something truly happened, Patrol Guards had to step in for real.

"Come on, Changming. Stick with me today," Lu Gang said to Song Changming at the end.

He had a very favorable impression of Song Changming, the newly arrived Patrol Guard.

Not only was his saber technique impressive, but his performance yesterday had also made Lu Gang admire the young man. He therefore intended to personally guide this junior.

"I'll trouble you, Brother Lu." Song Changming tightened the Side Saber at his waist and nodded.

Yesterday's meal and drinks had allowed him to initially blend into this team. At the very least, everyone now knew one another.

Especially Lu Gang. The two had exchanged pointers on saber technique, and each had gained some understanding of the other's strength.

"It's nothing. The old guide the new; that's how everyone came up." Lu Gang smiled and led Song Changming out of the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

Song Changming had patrolled the streets at night every few days before, but this was his first time doing so in daylight.

It was completely unlike the desolation of the night.

The bustling streets during the day were alive with a roaring sea of voices.

Song Changming and the others were said to be patrolling, but it was no different from ordinary sightseeing. There was nothing in particular for him to do.

Even when street vendors got into disputes with others, the moment they saw them approaching, they immediately shut their mouths.

This Patrol Guard uniform carried that much intimidation for ordinary citizens.

He spent the entire morning casually walking around with Lu Gang, and it passed just like that.

At noon, Lu Gang took Song Changming to a familiar restaurant for food and drink.

"Do you feel like it's not much different from being a Night Watchman? Other than changing night into day?" Lu Gang asked with a smile as he removed his Patrol Guard Helmet and Hat and sat on a long bench.

"There are still differences," Song Changming said tactfully.

"There's nothing bad to say about it. That's simply how it is. We do catch criminals, but there aren't criminals to catch every day. Nothing happening in our daily lives is the normal state of things.

"Even if you want to earn merit, an opportunity has to arise first. That's why, after you caught Chen Beihu yesterday, both Patrol Captains paid so much attention to it.

"Such great merit doesn't come around often."

As Lu Gang spoke, the restaurant attendant had already brought over two jugs of wine and several small dishes.

"Please enjoy, officers. Please enjoy. The hot dishes will be here shortly," the attendant said with a fawning, respectful smile.

"Got it, Brother Lu." Song Changming nodded.

"One more thing—when you run into trouble, don't force things just because you're wearing this official uniform. There are many capable Practicing Martial Arts people in the martial world. If you provoke someone into desperation by accident, it won't do us any good.

"Every year, Patrol Guards get beaten to death by fierce martial-world men. It's not worth it." Lu Gang lowered his voice several degrees as he spoke. These unspoken rules were meant for Song Changming alone.

What worried him most was that Song Changming was new, young, and hot-blooded, with no sense of restraint in his actions. If he provoked a ruthless person, he might ultimately suffer for it.

Just as Song Changming was about to say something, a commotion suddenly rose from downstairs.

Lu Gang immediately frowned, put his Helmet and Hat back on, picked up his saber, and stood. "They won't even let us finish a meal properly." With that, he headed down the stairs.

Seeing this, Song Changming immediately rose and followed.

Wasn't nothing supposed to happen?

They had been eating and drinking on the restaurant's third floor. On the second floor, several tables had now been overturned, and more than ten benches had been smashed.

Food and wine covered the floor. Many diners had already fled, leaving only two groups facing each other with drawn swords and bent bows.

"What are you doing in broad daylight!" Lu Gang barked coldly.

His appearance made the two groups rein in some of their anger, but they did not lower the blades and clubs in their hands. They remained locked in confrontation.

Clearly, Lu Gang's official uniform could not completely cow these two groups.

Song Changming swept his gaze over them. Both groups had around a dozen people, no small number. They carried a roguish air and stared maliciously at Lu Gang and him as they approached.

"Gang members."

It was not difficult for Song Changming to identify the two groups.

If this had been back when he was a Night Watchman, he would have turned around and left without sparing the scene a second glance.

But his status was different now. His duty no longer allowed him to shrink back, or at least not to openly turn a blind eye.

His right hand lightly settled on the hilt at his waist, ready to draw his saber at any moment.

"Brother Lu, forgive us for disturbing your meal." One of the gang Leaders spoke in a muffled voice. He clearly recognized Lu Gang as well.

"Bao Tou, what is your Qinghe Gang doing! And you lot—does the Nine Bends Society plan to rebel within the city?!" Lu Gang demanded sharply.

"Hmph. You should ask the Nine Bends Society that. They dared to fish beyond their boundaries; this matter cannot end peacefully." Bao Tou, whose face bore several stripes, crushed the wine bowl in his hand with a single grip. He spoke viciously, showing no intention of yielding.

"Officer, we've been wronged. We only came to have a meal, and it's not as though we won't pay. We have no idea what these gentlemen across from us are talking about. Could it be that just because the restaurant is open during the day, it won't do business with us?" Hu Xiao'er spread his hands and sneered, disdain plain on his face.

That immediately threatened to ignite the Qinghe Gang members again.

Song Changming, standing to the side, had already tightened his grip on his saber hilt.

"You want to fight? Fine. Just think carefully about the consequences." Lu Gang pressed down on Song Changming's saber, then stepped back without saying another word.

After hearing that, Bao Tou cast Lu Gang a wary look. His expression shifted several times, but in the end, they did not start fighting.

"Hmph! Let's go!"

As one side withdrew, the Nine Bends Society members left as well, laughing brazenly like victorious roosters.

"I never expected the Nine Bends Society, newly established at the beginning of this year, to be so arrogant. One mountain cannot hold two tigers. Sooner or later, it looks like they and your Qinghe Gang will have to settle matters in life and death." Lu Gang narrowed his eyes and said blandly.

Seeing Song Changming look at him, he continued explaining.

"Whether it's the old-established Qinghe Gang or the newly risen Nine Bends Society, they have already greased the palms of everyone in the Patrol Guard Headquarters, including Captain Liang.

"Under normal circumstances, as long as these two gangs don't go too far, we turn a blind eye to their open and secret struggles.

"Today, they overstepped a little, which was why I intervened. But that's all. There's no need to meddle too much. If we really threw them all into prison, not only would both gangs bear us a grudge, Captain Liang would probably scold us too. It would be pure thankless labor."

Lu Gang returned to the earlier topic, warning the newcomer, Song Changming.

The many hidden rules involved, the way to handle matters by stopping at just the right point—these were all things Song Changming had to quickly become familiar with and master.

Song Changming nodded in acknowledgment. If he had drawn his saber just now, he would have made a fool of himself instead.

Since those were the rules, he would follow them.

Even if he found them unpleasant, it was not something a mere Patrol Guard like him could change at present.

"Come on. Let's go finish eating."