I Want to Progress Righteously

The public procession spread incredibly fast.

Like a swarm of locusts, it stirred up waves of shock.

The citizens who learned of this incident found it unbelievable. Was there a mistake?

After repeated confirmations, They discovered it was indeed true.

The citizens remembered the name Lin Fan, a constable who dared to lay hands on the Hall Master of Loyalty Hall.

At the same time, the local powers-that-be in Yong'an City were also shaken.

Had those guys at the Security Bureau eaten something wrong?

In their eyes, He Sen was just some thug who wouldn't catch their attention. But regardless, He Sen was the Hall Master of Loyalty Hall, a local bully.

Had they truly eaten bear's heart and leopard's gall?

Li Residence.

"Please wait a moment, I'll go announce your arrival," a servant said before hurrying away, leaving Song Qing and Lin Fan standing at the entrance.

Lin Fan looked at the high walls and the two majestic stone lions at the gate, smiling, "Steward Li's residence is truly magnificent. If I didn't know better, I'd think I'd arrived at a prince's mansion."

"Grand, truly grand."

After the procession ended, he had Yang Ming guard the Security Bureau, while he asked Captain Song to bring him to see Steward Li. As the saying goes, it's best to be prepared. He needed to resolve some troubles.

He had beaten Chen Xingzhi in the street, which was satisfying, but once that guy woke up, he would surely bite wildly like a mad dog. Lin Fan wasn't afraid of Chen Xingzhi's mad dog-like antics; his only concern was if the other party would play dirty.

For instance, getting Steward Li to dismiss him and kick him out of the Security Bureau.

Captain Song reminded him, "Don't speak carelessly once we're inside. Steward Li is not easy to deal with. You must be careful."

Lin Fan didn't pick up the topic.

Anyone who understands, understands.

If one doesn't embezzle or take bribes, how could they afford such a luxurious mansion?

The servant who went to announce them returned quickly. "Follow me, our master is waiting in the living room."

Following the servant into the mansion, they passed through a luxurious courtyard and soon arrived at the living room. From a distance, they saw a figure sitting in a grand armchair, holding a teacup and leisurely sipping tea.

Upon entering the living room, a fragrance wafted into Lin Fan's nose – the scent of high-quality incense.

"Your subordinate, Song Qing, pays his respects to Steward Li," Song Qing said.

Steward Li did not get up, nor did he even raise his head. He merely glanced at Lin Fan and Song Qing from the corner of his eye, playing with a pair of well-worn walnuts in his hand.

The living room was quiet, with only the clacking sound of the walnuts rubbing against each other.

Song Qing felt extremely awkward, unsure of Steward Li's intentions.

Lin Fan cupped his fists, "Your subordinate, Lin Fan, greets Steward Li."

Damn it.

He's putting on an act.

Indeed, as Lin Fan greeted him, Steward Li slowly raised his eyelids and looked at Lin Fan with a scrutinizing and displeased gaze.

"Hmm..." Steward Li began, deliberately drawing out his tone, and pointed to a chair beside him, "Sit."

His emotions were unperturbed; he seemed even more relaxed than before, fully displaying the casual indifference of a superior towards his subordinates.

As Lin Fan and the others sat down, "I've heard about the matter," Steward Li said slowly. "Although I am the Steward, I have already handed over the affairs of the Security Bureau to you. I don't want to manage the disputes and grievances in Yong'an City, nor do I bother to. After all, I am leaving."

Song Qing lowered his head, listening.

Suddenly, Steward Li's tone shifted. He stopped playing with his walnuts and fixed his gaze on Lin Fan, with a look of displeasure and warning. "You are audacious. The commotion you caused was very noisy and has brought unrest to the once peaceful and harmonious Yong'an City."

Steward Li placed the walnuts on the tea table, gripped the armrests, and leaned forward.

"I dislike trouble the most, especially when I'm about to leave," a coldness and threat seeped from his eyes. "Some things should be done in moderation. If you push things too far, it won't benefit anyone. Yong'an may not be large, but its roots are like an old tree, intricately intertwined and deeply embedded."

"You will release He Sen and then go apologize to Headman Chen. I will step in to suppress the matter. Consider it me doing a good deed for you young man before I leave."

"One can be young and spirited, but being too spirited and sharp-edged is not a good thing."

"Do you agree?"

Steward Li chuckled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

He naturally knew Lin Fan was a good fighter, but what use was being able to fight? To survive in the Security Bureau, to rise through the ranks, one had to learn how to conduct themselves.

This was what he had learned in his twenty-five years at the Security Bureau.

From a handsome young man to his current appearance, every wrinkle on his face told a story.

Song Qing, with his head lowered, felt utterly helpless.

Even Steward Li had said this, what else could he do?

"I don't agree."

As soon as these words were spoken.

Song Qing looked up sharply.

Steward Li's smile froze, then vanished. He slammed the table in anger, shouting, "You're too presumptuous."

"Presumptuous?" Lin Fan stood up with a laugh, walked in front of Steward Li, and slammed his hand down on the tea table. With a bang, the walnuts were crushed into it, and the tea table fell apart with a clatter. "Steward, whether one is presumptuous or not depends on strength. Without strength, that's truly presumptuous."

Steward Li looked down at the shattered tea table, the handprint indented on its surface, his eyes wide with shock.

This was huanghuali wood, too tough to be cut by a knife, yet this person had caused such a commotion with just one palm strike.

At this moment, Song Qing felt his mind go blank, his throat dry. He had so much he wanted to say, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Lin Fan squatted down, picked out the crushed walnut kernels, put them in his mouth, and spat them out. They tasted bad.

He stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from them.

"Lord Li, haven't you ever considered adding a stroke of brilliant color to your resume before leaving Yong'an City?" Lin Fan asked softly. "You said a few days ago to remember the law and act impartially. I remember all of that."

"Based on you?"

Steward Li, after a brief moment of shock, recovered and questioned him.

He hadn't expected this brat to be so arrogant.

But he was very curious to hear what earth-shattering words this brat would utter.

Lin Fan tightly gripped the iron rod in his hand and suddenly exerted force, sweeping it across a support pillar as thick as a water bucket. With a bang, a roar echoed, and dust rained down like snow.

Crack!

The support pillar cracked, covered in lines.

The iron rod was even embedded in the support pillar. As he pulled the iron rod out, the cracks on the pillar became more obvious, as if it would break at any moment.

"Lord Li, what do you think of this one strike?" Lin Fan asked, looking back.

Steward Li's mouth hung open, completely stunned. If he could accept a tea table being smashed with a palm strike, then this strike was beyond his comprehension.

Superhuman strength.

Was this something a human could do?

Facing Lin Fan's question, Steward Li lowered his head in silence, analyzing the pros and cons. After an unknown amount of time, he looked up at Lin Fan.

He felt this was worth a gamble. Even if it failed, it would have nothing to do with him. But if it succeeded, the benefits would be immense.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Very simple. Turn a blind eye."

"Just like that?"

"Exactly."

"Alright."

Lin Fan smiled and walked out of the hall without another word. As he reached the doorway, Steward Li suddenly spoke.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Justice."

As soon as he said this, Song Qing felt Lin Fan's retreating figure was blindingly bright. What was that?

That was the light of righteousness!

But...

"Can you tell me the truth?" Steward Li didn't believe him.

Lin Fan stopped, his back to everything, his fists clenched, his body trembling.

"I really want to improve. Believe that now."

Steward Li laughed. "As expected. There are many ways to improve, and faster ones too."

"No, I want to improve honorably."

With that, he strode away.

Song Qing bowed and followed.

Steward Li stood in place, stunned for a moment. He walked to the shattered support pillar and touched the cracks. Suddenly, as if he had thought of something.

His face instantly turned pale.

"My house..."

Outside the mansion.

Song Qing looked up at the sky, feeling as if everything were a dream. He hadn't expected Steward Li to be persuaded.

Lin Fan looked down at his fist, smiling happily.

"This thing is really quite useful."

As expected, any problem that could be solved with a fist was no problem at all.