Tiger Demon Assaults

Cloud City was only a small city in the entire Great Chu Kingdom. Yet even as a small city, its permanent population exceeded a hundred thousand. To facilitate administration, besides the inner city, Cloud City was divided into four districts—east, west, south, and north—with a clerk in charge of each district to assist the city lord in governing.

Below the clerks were district heads, chief constables, squad leaders, and constables, who assisted the clerks in administration.

The area where Wei Fan served was the East District.

Early in the morning, at the East District Yamen of Cloud City.

At this moment, aside from the night-shift runners, every runner in the East District was gathered here. Not a single one had gone out on patrol.

All the runners stood in the courtyard before the duty room, each face uglier than the last. Some were even terrified.

Because the Fierce Tiger Gang had just sent a letter demanding that the East District Yamen hand over Wei Fan, who had killed the Tiger King's young son, before lunch today. If they failed to do so, once lunchtime had passed, the tiger demon would charge into the East District and begin killing.

Never mind how many people would die if the tiger demon entered the East District—those of them who were Wei Fan's colleagues would certainly receive the tiger demon's special attention.

"I propose that we hand Wei Fan over. We cannot endanger the entire city's people for one man."

One of the constables, Wang Meng, spoke up.

The moment he opened his mouth, he immediately gained the support of many people.

The tiger demon wanted only Wei Fan. Hand Wei Fan over, and every calamity would vanish without a trace.

They had no real friendship with Wei Fan. There was no need for them to live and die alongside him. Besides, they had no desire to go to war against demons. Handing Wei Fan over was the best solution.

They could also stand on the side of righteousness. It was not that they feared death; they simply did not want innocent commoners to be dragged into it.

Luo Wen glanced at Wang Meng, seemingly unsurprised that he would say such a thing.

Hu Qing could not help saying, "Wei Fan killed a demon—that is a meritorious deed. If we hand him over and compromise with demons, how will the yamen answer to the people afterward?"

Killing demons was a merit. This had been common knowledge since ancient times.

Wang Meng said gravely, "Do you know how many people will die if we do not hand Wei Fan over? Besides, we are protecting the people. Hand Wei Fan over and spare them from a demon calamity—they will be delighted beyond measure.

"We yamen runners and constables are duty-bound to protect the people. To die for them is to die where one belongs.

"One man's death in exchange for the peace of the whole city—I believe that if Wei Fan were here, given his character, he would agree as well."

As soon as he said this, many more people voiced their agreement.

Hu Qing snapped, "So what you mean is, if demons demand that you be handed over in the future, everyone should hand you over too? Right, I forgot. A spineless coward like you would never dare oppose demons in the first place, so that day will never come."

If Wei Fan had said those words, Hu Qing would have looked at him with worship written all over her face. But she knew exactly what sort of man Wang Meng was. No matter how righteously he dressed up his words, they could not hide his cowardly, life-clinging nature.

Wang Meng's expression did not change. With an air of lofty righteousness, he said, "If that day truly comes, and my life, Wang Meng's life, can be exchanged for the peace of the whole city, I will step forward without hesitation. I will never be a turtle hiding its head in its shell.

"Hu Qing, if you lack such awareness, I advise you to leave the yamen immediately. Do not bring disgrace upon Instructor Hu someday."

"You... you're talking while standing, so of course your back doesn't hurt!"

Hu Qing's face flushed red with anger. Although she knew Wang Meng was feigning benevolence and righteousness, he had seized the moral high ground, and for the moment, she did not know how to refute him.

"Enough! Shut up, all of you!"

Squad Leader Luo Wen interrupted Wang Meng and Hu Qing's quarrel. "Wei Fan cannot be handed over. Last night, the clerk promoted him to one of the East District's eight constables and assigned him the area previously managed by Li Shen.

"The demons issue one threat and you hand over one of our own? Wang Meng, how can you say such things as a constable?"

Wang Meng's expression changed, and disbelief appeared on his face. "How is that possible? Wei Fan caused Captain Li's death and brought about such a huge disaster. How could the clerk promote him to constable?"

Luo Wen's gaze turned cold as he barked, "Insolence! You dare question the clerk? Did you see Wei Fan kill Captain Li with your own eyes?"

He was becoming more and more disappointed in Wang Meng.

If Wang Meng had not, like Li Shen, latched onto the Fierce Tiger Gang, then with that kind of intelligence, he would never have become a constable.

No matter how rotten the yamen was, no matter how much the city lord feared demons, such things could never be brought out into the open.

No matter how great a disaster Wei Fan had caused, killing that demon was a meritorious deed within the yamen. If meritorious deeds went unrewarded, who would risk their lives for the clerk and the city lord in the future?

Hand Wei Fan over?

The moment he handed Wei Fan over, the clerk could have him thrown into prison the next.

Even letting the East District be ravaged by tiger demons would be better than such a pig-brained idea.

Wang Meng's expression shifted. He knew he had misspoken.

At present, everyone knew that Li Shen's death was related to Wei Fan, but no one had said it openly.

By saying it aloud, he had effectively questioned both the clerk and the squad leader for being old and blind.

Luo Wen waved his hand. "Dismissed. Everyone, strengthen your patrols. The moment a tiger demon is discovered entering the city, no one is permitted to avoid battle."

One could never be vague about one's attitude toward demons. Having risen to the position of squad leader, Luo Wen understood that much.

As for what his subordinates would actually do after he gave the order, that was their business.

In any case, someone like him, who merely issued orders, did not need to risk his life on the front lines.

"When Wei Fan arrives, have him come see me."

Wei Fan arrived late.

"Wei Fan, congratulations. You've become a constable. From now on, we'll have to call you Constable Wei!"

The moment he entered, he heard Zhou Qi telling him that he had become a constable.

Whether or not he became a constable did not matter much to him, but he still smiled.

It was not because he had been promoted, but because becoming a constable would give him more freedom than before. When he earned merits, the martial arts he could choose would also be of a higher grade and greater variety.

"Oh, right. The squad leader said to see him as soon as you arrived!"

Zhou Qi did not mention the tiger demon. As they passed each other, he whispered into Wei Fan's ear, "Be careful of Constable Wang Meng."

Wei Fan nodded and quickly made his way to Luo Wen.

"These are your constable's uniform and saber. Go change into them, then come back!"

"Alright!"

Wei Fan nodded. He quickly changed into the constable's uniform. The clothes were not much different from his previous outfit, but the saber was far superior to the ones he had used before. It was an excellent treasured blade.

Wei Fan drew it, and cold light immediately spilled in every direction.

"You certainly look much more spirited. In all of Cloud City, you are now the youngest constable."

Luo Wen revealed an approving expression, but then his tone changed. "I will not investigate how Li Shen died. We are all smart people. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

Wei Fan nodded lightly. "Thank you, Squad Leader!"

In truth, he was not particularly afraid of people learning that he had killed Li Shen. If he had been afraid, he would not have openly had Li Shen lead him to Jiang Chuan, then swept them all up in one net.

That confidence came from his strength.

Why was the Fierce Tiger Gang so arrogant? Was it not because the tiger demons behind them possessed strength?

Now that he had strength as well, why should he leave a grudge unavenged?

Still, Luo Wen had shown him respect and even promoted him to constable. A word of thanks was necessary.

Luo Wen shook his head. "Do you know that last night, the Fierce Tiger Gang's leader died? He was eaten alive by the tiger demons behind them!"

Wei Fan froze, then immediately understood.

The Fierce Tiger Gang was imposing and domineering in Cloud City, but in essence, it was merely a dog raised by the tiger demons within the city.

Now that this dog had caused its master's son to die, it naturally had to be slaughtered. At most, they would raise another one.

Just as the yamen regarded its runners: there were plenty of oxen and horses. If one did not work, replace it with another.

Although he had killed the Tiger King's young son, the root cause was that Jiang Chuan had wanted to use Master Hu Jiu to get rid of Wei Fan, only to be killed instead.

Now that Jiang Chuan and Li Shen were both dead, those tiger demons could only vent their anger on the gang leader first.