You Really Think I'm Going to Eat Shit?

It was nearing noon.

The townspeople stopped in their tracks, staring in shock at the large group marching down the street.

Lin Fan wore a saber at his waist and carried a silver-white iron staff on his back. He strode with his head held high, while his brothers marched in two neat rows behind him, backs straight as they met the townspeople's curious gazes.

Jin Biao and the dozen or so others, however, followed along in a daze. Even now, they still had no idea what had happened.

The townspeople murmured among themselves.

"What's going on?"

"The leader's a constable—but wait, isn't that Jin Biao? He works for Master Qin Four. How come his face is so swollen?"

"Who doesn't know that Master Qin Four has a pretty good relationship with the Security Bureau? I saw him drinking with Headman Chen at a restaurant just the other day."

As they talked, a head suddenly poked into their huddle.

"I know a little about what's going on."

"Oh? Then tell us about it, brother."

"I'll tell you. That constable leading them is called Lin Fan. He just joined the Security Bureau. He heard there was a gang of local thugs bullying the townspeople, so he went to arrest them on his very first day. Look, he's got a whole bunch of them!"

"Wow! He's that bold? He just started the job and already dares to do this? Doesn't he know Jin Biao works for Master Qin Four, a man with deep connections?"

"Deep connections? Heh. There's something you don't know. If we're talking connections, this Lord Lin is no less impressive."

"What do you mean?"

"You know Master Lin of Loyalty Hall and Jili Pier?"

"Sure. I've heard what he's done. He's formidable, and now he's famous in the underworld."

"Look. Isn't that him?"

"Ah... So he's that Master Lin! He really does look distinguished and talented."

In ancient times, news traveled slowly, and there were no photographs. It was genuinely difficult for townspeople to know what the people in the rumors looked like.

But if you kept spreading the word and showing your face, soon everyone would know you. It wasn't just a dream.

When they reached the Security Bureau, Lin Fan called Wu Yong over, took out some silver, and handed it to him. He told him to take the brothers out for a good meal, then waved them off.

But just as they were about to leave,

a voice rang out, brimming with displeasure.

"What's going on?"

Chen Xingzhi approached from a distance, his face cold, with an attendant at his side. When he spotted Jin Biao in the crowd, his expression shifted slightly. He remembered that Jin Biao worked for Qin Si.

When he looked at Lin Fan, he quickly guessed what had happened. But he hadn't expected this kid to be such a troublemaker, arresting so many people as soon as he took the job.

No. Absolutely not. He had to put the kid in his place.

"Lin Fan, give me an explanation. What do you think you're doing?" Chen Xingzhi demanded.

Lin Fan smiled. "Headman Chen, what do you think I'm doing? This bunch of local thugs were disturbing the townspeople and extorting them. I happened to catch them at it, so I brought them back to question them."

"Outrageous!" Headman Chen snapped. "The Security Bureau's resources aren't for you to waste like this. At most, the thugs were disturbing the peace. You could've reprimanded them on the spot. Now you've brought them back—where do you plan to lock them up?"

Chen Xingzhi knew Lin Fan was a thorn in his side and belonged to Song Qing's faction.

If the man hadn't joined the Security Bureau,

Chen Xingzhi wouldn't have had many ways to deal with him.

But now that he had joined the bureau, whatever his previous status or connections, he would have to keep his head down around Chen Xingzhi.

"Let them go. All of them. Then go back and write a three-thousand-character self-criticism and bring it to my office." Chen Xingzhi wielded the authority of his position as headman.

This tactic never failed at the Security Bureau.

The bureau had practically become his personal fiefdom.

The clerk had been unwell and recuperating at home for nearly two months. Given the current situation, it was hard to say whether he would return.

As for Steward Li, he had handed over his authority long ago, leaving the Security Bureau in the hands of Chen Xingzhi and Song Qing. There were even rumors that Steward Li might be transferred to a higher post.

If that happened, his position would become vacant.

With his standing in the Security Bureau and his ties to the city's various power brokers, the post of steward was his for the taking.

Hope flickered in Jin Biao's eyes. But he wasn't foolish enough to cry out, "Headman Chen, save me! Our Master Qin even invited you to dinner!"

He wasn't that stupid.

"Let them go? Headman Chen, what nonsense are you talking about? Everything these thugs did violated the law. According to..."

He deliberately raised his voice and began reciting the relevant statutes again.

He knew them by heart.

Chen Xingzhi was left dumbfounded.

Even his attendant was at a loss. Seriously... was this guy's head made of iron? He'd just joined the Security Bureau, and instead of trying to get on Headman Chen's good side, he was humiliating him in front of this entire crowd.

Did he really not want to make life easier for himself?

"Enough! Are you really determined to make trouble?" Chen Xingzhi said coldly.

Lin Fan was utterly unafraid. He replied without so much as a hint of deference, "Make trouble? I don't know what you mean by that, Headman Chen. These thugs were extorting people in the street and even beating townsfolk. Yet in your eyes, they're no big deal. Perhaps they really are small matters to you, but..."

His voice suddenly thundered at full volume.

"To me, Lin Fan, nothing concerning the people is trivial. Their affairs are matters of the utmost importance. I joined the Security Bureau to stand up for them. Steward Li told me to remember the law and act impartially—and that if I neglected my duty, I'd be punished without mercy."

His words rang out like thunder, striking the hearts of the onlooking townspeople.

They stared blankly at Lin Fan, who dared to defy Headman Chen's authority.

Nothing concerning the people is trivial.

Their affairs are matters of the utmost importance.

His words plucked at the helpless, fragile strings of their hearts.

When had they ever heard anyone speak like that?

"Well said! Lord Lin speaks the truth!"

A voice rang out from a corner of the crowd. There was a rustle and the sound of running, as if the speaker had changed position. It sounded like a whisper, yet rang out clear and loud.

"I heard Headman Chen and Master Qin Four have some unspoken dealings. He clearly saw that Jin Biao works for Master Qin Four and wants to save him!"

"Alas, officials and bandits really are in league with each other."

At those words,

Chen Xingzhi's face turned livid. His eyes darkened frighteningly as he looked toward the crowd, as if he wanted to drag the speaker out.

But he didn't lose his temper. Instead, he looked at Lin Fan.

"Good. Good. Very good."

He said it three times.

Was he praising him?

Obviously not.

This was the moment he and Lin Fan became true enemies. He flung his sleeve and strode into the Security Bureau without another word. But everyone could see that Headman Chen had a serious grudge against Lin Fan.

Lin Fan watched Headman Chen walk away, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

So what if you're a headman?

Did he look like a coward to you?

If Chen Xingzhi had been a martial arts expert, someone stronger than him who could kill him with one hand, then Lin Fan really would have had to tread carefully and use his wits to outmaneuver him.

But right now, he could kill fifty of you with one man and one staff. No... a hundred.

And you still wanted him to swallow his pride, bow and scrape, and speak nicely?

You really thought he was going to eat shit?