The news of the parade spread like wildfire.
Like a swarm of locusts sweeping through, it stirred up a storm of shock.
The common folk who heard about it could hardly believe it. Had they gotten it wrong?
Only after checking again and again
did they discover it was actually true.
The people remembered the name Lin Fan: a constable who dared lay hands on the head of the Loyalty Hall.
The local powerful families of Yong'an City were shaken, too.
Had that bunch at the Security Bureau lost their minds?
In their eyes, He Sen was nothing but a street thug, beneath their notice. But no matter what, He Sen was the head of the Loyalty Hall, a local tyrant in his own right.
Had they truly grown a bear's heart and leopard's gall?
The Li residence.
"Wait here. I'll go announce you." A servant hurried off, leaving Song Qing and Lin Fan standing at the entrance.
Lin Fan looked at the high walls and the two imposing stone lions at the gate, then smiled. "Steward Li's home is truly magnificent. If I didn't know better, I'd think I'd come to a prince's manor."
"Such grandeur. Truly impressive."
After the parade ended, he had Yang Ming stay behind at the Security Bureau while he asked Captain Song to bring him to meet Steward Li. As the saying went, it was better to prepare for a rainy day. He needed to take care of a few potential troubles.
He'd enjoyed beating Chen Xingzhi in the street, but once that fellow woke up, he'd surely snap and bite at anything in sight like a mad dog. Lin Fan wasn't afraid of the mad dog's teeth. The only thing he needed to guard against was a dirty trick.
For example, having Steward Li strip him of his post and kick him out of the Security Bureau.
Captain Song warned him, "Once we're inside, don't say anything careless. Steward Li's not easy to deal with. Be sure to watch yourself."
Lin Fan didn't respond.
Some things went without saying.
Without embezzling or taking bribes, how could anyone afford a mansion like this?
The servant who had gone to announce them soon returned. "Come with me. Our master is waiting in the reception hall."
They followed the servant into the residence, crossing its luxurious courtyards before soon reaching the reception hall. From a distance, they saw a figure seated in a grand chair, holding a teacup and leisurely sipping his tea.
As they entered the hall, a waft of fragrance drifted into their noses. It was the scent of the finest incense.
"Your subordinate Song Qing pays his respects to Steward Li," Song Qing said.
Steward Li didn't rise. He didn't even lift his head, merely casting a sidelong glance at Lin Fan and Song Qing as he toyed with a pair of patinated walnuts in his hand.
The reception hall was silent, save for the clack-clack of the walnuts rubbing together.
Song Qing felt awkward. He couldn't tell what Steward Li was thinking.
Lin Fan cupped his hands. "Your subordinate Lin Fan pays his respects to Steward Li."
Damn.
Putting on airs, are we?
Sure enough, only after Lin Fan greeted him did Steward Li slowly raise his eyelids. His gaze lingered on Lin Fan, full of scrutiny and displeasure.
"Mm..." Steward Li drawled, deliberately dragging out the sound. He pointed at a chair nearby. "Sit."
His mood didn't change in the slightest. If anything, he seemed even more relaxed than before, perfectly displaying the careless indifference a superior showed toward his subordinates.
Once Lin Fan and the others sat down,
"I've heard about what happened," Steward Li said unhurriedly. "Though I hold the post of steward, I've already handed the Security Bureau's affairs over to you. I don't want to meddle in Yong'an City's feuds, or in its public order—or lack thereof. I can't be bothered, either. After all, I'm leaving soon."
Song Qing lowered his head and listened.
Then Steward Li abruptly changed the subject. He stopped fiddling with the walnuts and fixed his gaze on Lin Fan, displeasure and warning in his eyes. "You've got a lot of nerve. The commotion you've stirred up is deafening, and you've thrown the usually peaceful Yong'an City into turmoil."
Steward Li set the walnuts on the tea table, gripped the armrests, and leaned forward.
"I hate trouble more than anything, especially when I'm about to leave." A chill and a threat seeped into his gaze. "Some things should be done in moderation. If you insist on making this ugly, nobody will benefit. Yong'an may be small, but its roots run deep and twist together like those of an old tree."
"Release He Sen, then go apologize to Headman Chen. I'll step in and smooth things over. Consider it a favor to a young man, before I leave."
"A young man can be fiery, but letting that fire burn too fiercely is no good."
"Don't you agree?"
Steward Li chuckled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
He knew Lin Fan was a strong fighter, but what good was that? If he wanted to survive in the Security Bureau and rise through the ranks, he had to learn how to handle people.
That was what he'd learned over twenty-five years in the Security Bureau.
He'd gone from a handsome young man to what he was now. Every wrinkle on his face marked something he'd been through.
Song Qing kept his head bowed, feeling utterly helpless.
Even Steward Li was saying this. What could he possibly do?
"I don't agree."
At those words,
Song Qing jerked his head up.
Steward Li's smile froze, then vanished. He slammed the table and snapped, "You're outrageous!"
"Outrageous?" Lin Fan smiled as he stood and walked over to Steward Li. He raised his hand and brought it down hard on the tea table. With a bang, the walnuts sank into the wood, and the table collapsed with a crash. "Steward Li, whether someone's being outrageous depends on their strength. Without strength, that's when you're truly outrageous."
Steward Li stared down at the shattered table and the handprint caved into its surface, his eyes wide with shock.
It was made of huanghuali wood. Even an axe couldn't chop through it, yet the other man had made such a mess with a single palm strike.
Song Qing's mind went blank. His throat was parched. He had so much he wanted to say, yet for a moment, he couldn't think of a thing.
Lin Fan crouched down, picked out the crushed walnut kernels, and put them in his mouth. He spat them out with a "ptui." They tasted awful.
He clasped his hands behind his back and turned away from Steward Li.
"Steward Li, have you never considered adding one final, brilliant stroke to your record before you leave Yong'an City?" Lin Fan asked softly. "A few days ago, you told us to abide by the law and act impartially. I remember every word."
"You think you can do that?"
After a brief moment of shock, Steward Li recovered and challenged him.
He hadn't expected the kid to be so arrogant.
But he was curious to hear what earth-shattering words the kid had to say.
Lin Fan tightened his grip on the iron rod and suddenly swung it at a supporting pillar as thick as a barrel. With a bang, a thunderous crash rang out, and dust showered down like snow.
Crack!
The pillar split, cracks spreading across it.
The iron rod had sunk into the pillar. When Lin Fan pulled it free, the cracks grew even more pronounced, as if the pillar might split apart at any moment.
"Steward Li, what do you think of this strike?" Lin Fan asked over his shoulder.
Steward Li stared, mouth agape, completely stunned. He could still have accepted a palm strike shattering the tea table, but this blow was beyond anything he could accept.
Inhuman strength.
Could a human really do that?
At Lin Fan's question, Steward Li lowered his head and fell silent, weighing the pros and cons. After some time, he looked up at Lin Fan.
He felt it was worth a gamble. Even if it failed, he wouldn't be implicated in any way. But if it worked, the benefits would be immense.
"What do you want me to do?"
"It's simple. Don't interfere."
"That's it?"
"Exactly."
"Fine."
Lin Fan smiled without another word and headed for the hall's entrance. Just as he reached the doorway, Steward Li suddenly called out.
"What are you doing this for?"
"Justice."
At those words, Song Qing felt that Lin Fan's back was almost dazzling. What was that?
That was the light of the righteous path!
"But... Can you tell me the truth?" Steward Li didn't believe him.
Lin Fan stopped. With his back to them, he clenched his fists, his body trembling.
"I'm desperate to get ahead. That I believe?"
Steward Li laughed. Just as he'd thought. "There are faster ways to make progress."
"No. I'm going to get ahead fair and square."
With that, he strode away.
Song Qing bowed and followed him.
Steward Li stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then walked over to the cracked pillar and ran his hand over the fissures. Suddenly, it seemed he realized something.
His face turned deathly pale.
"My house..."
Outside the residence,
Song Qing looked up at the sky. Everything still felt like a dream. He hadn't expected Steward Li to be persuaded.
Lin Fan looked down at his fist, grinning happily.
"This thing really is useful."
Sure enough, if you could solve a problem with your fists, it wasn't a problem at all.
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