Unresolved Matters, Part Two

2024-07-31

Chapter 39: Unresolved Matters, Part Two

"You!" The other companions were startled, and the way they looked at Song Changming changed.

The old madam from Spring Breeze Garden recognized Song Changming at once. As if she had found a savior, she hurried forward and tearfully pleaded her case.

"Master Song, you have to stand up for me! With them causing trouble like this, how am I supposed to keep doing business?"

"You're from the Patrol Guard Headquarters!" The burly man leading the assault caught the implication and narrowed his eyes.

"I am Wang Liuzi of the Nine Bends Society. My men were ignorant just now and offended you. Please forgive us."

As he spoke, the group prepared to leave first.

There was not much reverence for the Patrol Guard Headquarters in their words. They simply could not openly tear off the mask.

"Did I say you could leave?" Song Changming swept his gaze over them and spoke flatly.

Wang Liuzi glanced sidelong at Song Changming, his expression turning cold. "Not long ago, we drank with Captain Qian. If you want to arrest us, go ask whether your Patrol Captain agrees first.

"Don't mistake courtesy for weakness!"

An air of force surrounded Wang Liuzi. He was clearly a martial artist, and likely held no low position in the Nine Bends Society, or he would never have been able to associate with the Patrol Captain of the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

If Song Changming had merely been an ordinary patrol guard, he would most likely have been in a difficult position now.

But Song Changming did not buy it. After confirming that they were members of the Nine Bends Society, he stepped on the unconscious man and said slowly,

"If I want to arrest you, why would I need to go through all that trouble? If you don't want your crimes compounded, lie facedown on the ground."

Wang Liuzi's face immediately darkened, fury blazing in his heart. How dare a mere patrol guard act so brazenly before him?

If this had been a year ago, when the Nine Bends Society had not yet grown so powerful, they might not have dared openly defy the Patrol Guard Headquarters. They would only have dared to do things in secret.

But now, as the society grew ever stronger, its members had become increasingly arrogant.

Things they had not dared to do before were no longer necessarily out of reach.

"Fine! Let's see how you plan to arrest me!" In his rage, Wang Liuzi actually drew his blade on Song Changming.

The meaning of that act was entirely different.

"Have they truly become this rampant?" Even Song Changming was somewhat surprised.

Drawing a blade against law enforcement officers such as patrol guards in full public view was a serious crime. It was not something that could be brushed aside with a few words or monetary compensation.

It concerned the authority of the Patrol Guard Headquarters and even the entire government.

Song Changming's gaze sharpened. He took a step forward, drew his blade with his right hand, and slashed forward.

Wang Liuzi only heard a crisp clash of blades. A cold glint appeared before his eyes, then vanished in an instant.

Only afterward did Wang Liuzi belatedly realize that his right hand, along with the blade he held, had disappeared.

The severed wrist was perfectly clean, blood continuously spurting from it.

In a daze, agonizing pain began relentlessly assailing his nerves.

Wang Liuzi's face twisted as he was about to let out a miserable howl. Song Changming flipped his blade and struck him with its flat.

"Shut up."

Under that overwhelming force, Wang Liuzi did not even manage a groan before his body toppled stiffly to the ground.

Song Changming then swept his gaze over the other members of the Nine Bends Society.

"Are you lying down or not?"

This time, they did not dare utter another word. They obediently pressed their faces to the ground.

Not long after, the patrol guards on duty arrived after hearing the news.

"Captain Song!"

"Take all of them back and lock them in the dungeon. And him too—treat him. Don't let him die." Song Changming pointed at Wang Liuzi, whose hand had been severed.

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in the private room, Zhou Sixin and Liang Chuanshan could not hear everything clearly, but they had witnessed the entire incident. Song Changming's fierce strike in particular made the Capital City Patrol Captain's eyes light up. "I have to say, little Brother Song's blade skills are extraordinary." Zhou Sixin clicked his tongue in praise.

"You have a discerning eye, Brother Zhou. Changming's blade skills have already reached mastery." Liang Chuanshan smiled.

"How old is he?"

"He just turned twenty."

"What a promising talent!" After hearing that, Zhou Sixin could not help but give Song Changming in the hall another look.

"So that's why Director Liang promoted such a young fellow to Patrol Captain!"

Liang Chuanshan chuckled.

At that moment, after dealing with the commotion outside, Song Changming returned to the private room and recounted the identities of the troublemakers and everything that had just happened.

The smile vanished from Liang Chuanshan's face at once.

The Nine Bends Society was now a thorn in his side. Until it was pulled out, he would never be at ease.

"Hmph, the Nine Bends Society has become so arrogant and lawless!" After hearing everything, Zhou Sixin slapped the table and snorted coldly.

Song Changming then glanced at Liang Chuanshan.

Sure enough, Liang Chuanshan immediately brought up the matter he had previously discussed with Zhou Sixin.

"Brother Zhou, I told you before that I am determined to destroy the Nine Bends Society. I do not wish to delay too long, but I have only just taken over the Patrol Guard Headquarters and have yet to gain full control. The manpower I can mobilize is also somewhat insufficient."

Liang Chuanshan drained the wine in his cup and put on a troubled expression.

Zhou Sixin was no fool. Having spent many years struggling through the capital headquarters, he had already more or less guessed Liang Chuanshan's meaning before the latter had even finished speaking.

"If there is anything Director Liang needs from me, just say it."

"I hope Brother Zhou can lend me a hand in private." Liang Chuanshan no longer beat around the bush and stated the purpose of this banquet outright.

"In private..." Zhou Sixin pondered for a moment, but did not immediately agree.

Liang Chuanshan promptly continued, "Rest assured, Brother Zhou. There may be no official merit in this matter, but once it is done, I will certainly prepare a generous gift to thank you."

At that, Zhou Sixin immediately waved a hand. "What are you saying, Director Liang? With the private friendship between us, how could I accept that from you?"

Listening from the side, Song Changming could tell that although Zhou Sixin spoke politely, he still had not completely agreed.

"Friendship is friendship. I cannot let Brother Zhou work for nothing."

As Liang Chuanshan spoke, he took a small brocade box from his sleeve and slowly pushed it before Zhou Sixin.

"This is a small token of my sincerity. Once the matter is done, there will only be more, never less."

Seeing that Zhou Sixin still showed no intention of taking it, Liang Chuanshan simply opened the brocade box for him.

Inside were more than ten gleaming gold coins, arranged neatly in a row. The words Zhou Sixin had meant to use to decline caught in his throat, and he could not bring himself to continue.

Song Changming also saw the gleaming coins.

They were Great Han gold coins. Though there were not many of them, a single one was worth a hundred silver coins!

It had to be said that Liang Chuanshan had truly spent heavily to secure the private assistance of this Capital City Patrol Captain.

All to ensure that the coming operation to destroy the Nine Bends Society would be foolproof!

This concerned whether he could firmly hold onto the Director's position he had only just obtained. He could not afford to take it lightly.

The drinking continued until late into the night before Liang Chuanshan saw off the thoroughly satisfied Zhou Sixin.

Inside the carriage, Liang Chuanshan, who had been reeking of alcohol, regained much of the clarity in his eyes.

Song Changming, seated beside him, had only drunk a few cups from start to finish.

"This Zhou Sixin is an old fox too. He won't act until he sees the bait. No amount of friendship is as useful as money." Liang Chuanshan gave a soft snort, his tone calm.

"But if we can make a big haul from the Nine Bends Society, this money will come back to us.