Kicking the Damn Door? We're Here to Arrest Someone, Not to...

The bustling market.

"Run! I'll show you what happens when you run! Master Lin, the upright official, is here. Where do you think you can escape?"

Wu Yong caught a thief and beat him mercilessly, cursing as he went and taking the chance to spread Lin Fan's reputation.

At first, the common folk were frightened.

But when they saw the constables arresting evildoers and thugs, they stopped to watch.

"Good! Give him a good beating!"

"Is that Constable Lin, Master Lin, whose reputation has been growing lately?"

"That's him. A man of real renown!"

The common folk whispered among themselves.

They struggled to make a living, facing local ruffians and hooligans every day. Sometimes, it was unbearable. Those thugs had deals with the constables, so even if they were caught red-handed and hauled to the Security Bureau, they would be back out almost as soon as they were taken in.

And then the common folk would suffer their revenge.

Over time, everyone had learned to endure it.

But the result was that the thugs grew even more brazen. They dared to make lewd remarks to respectable young women in broad daylight.

"Yang Ming, my brothers are quick on their feet, aren't they?"

Lin Fan watched the scene before him and smiled.

"Brother Lin, they're so quick. If I didn't know better, I'd think they were real constables." Yang Ming had never imagined arresting people could be so easy. They only had to stand on the road with Brother Lin, and the brothers would charge forward, taking turns pummeling the thugs until they howled.

"They'll be real constables someday. I'll make sure they earn an honest place on the government payroll, in broad daylight." Lin Fan said.

Huh?

Yang Ming stared at Brother Lin in astonishment.

How could that be possible?

You had to pass an examination to join the Security Bureau. Those brothers might be quick on their feet, but they were all illiterate—not one of them knew a single character.

Before long, Wu Yong and Qian Tao came toward Lin Fan. They exchanged a glance, then quickened their steps, reaching his side at the same time.

"Brother Lin, we got them all. Four in total."

Wu Yong and Qian Tao spoke in unison.

"Good work."

Lin Fan nodded, quite satisfied.

Seeing the common folk watching, Qian Tao immediately called out, "Neighbors, don't be alarmed! Master Lin heard that thugs were bullying merchants and throwing their weight around here, so he brought men to arrest them. Wherever Master Lin goes, these scoundrels won't be able to hide!"

"Good!"

"Well done, Master Lin!"

"Master Lin is the common folk's savior!"

The people cheered.

Wu Yong stared blankly at Qian Tao. Damn, how were you so good at talking?

Just then.

"Master Lin, I've been wronged!"

A voice rang out at an inopportune moment. Everyone turned in unison to see a weary middle-aged man approach. He dropped to his knees with a thud, wailing that he had been wronged.

Lin Fan helped him up. The man looked familiar, but for a moment Lin Fan couldn't place him. "What's the matter?"

Old Wang recounted the whole story, from beginning to end.

Lin Fan suddenly remembered. The last time he and Wang Changhai had eaten at a restaurant, something had happened at a nearby liquor shop, and the constables had taken the owner's son away.

He'd been so busy beating people up lately that he'd completely forgotten about it.

After finishing his story, Old Wang dropped to his knees again. "Master Lin, everyone says you're an upright official. Please help me."

Yang Ming leaned close to Lin Fan's ear and whispered, "Brother Lin, the Hu family is a prominent local clan with plenty of connections. We can't act rashly. Shouldn't we go back and discuss it with the squad captain first?"

The people around them watched.

They knew the Hu family well. It was truly wealthy and powerful. One of its ancestors had passed the military examinations as a Martial Scholar, but rather than seek higher office, he had wisely retired at his peak and returned to Yong'an. The family had used its influence to build itself up.

A question arose in everyone's mind.

Would Master Lin really dare to take this case?

The Hu family commanded great respect among the common folk. It was one of the few great families in Yong'an that no one dared offend.

"Discuss my ass. Come on, let's go have a chat with Young Master Hu."

Lin Fan helped Old Wang to his feet and led his men toward the Hu family's estate.

The common folk were stunned.

They hadn't expected Master Lin to really take the case.

Wasn't that like throwing an egg against a rock, overestimating himself?

The brothel, upstairs.

"Master Qin Four, is that Silver Cudgel Lin Fan you told me about?"

The woman wore a long dress of brocade patterned with clouds. She looked about thirty—the age when youthful innocence had given way to full maturity. An air of elegance and nobility surrounded her.

Her phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward at the corners. Her gaze lingered on the figure growing more distant, then she turned back to Qin Si, who was drinking.

"Sister Yan, don't underestimate him. He's truly ruthless. Ask around about what's been happening lately. When has Yong'an ever seen the likes of this?" Thinking of Lin Fan's methods, Qin Si shuddered.

He'd thought himself fierce and domineering.

But next to Lin Fan, he felt like a child who knew nothing.

Sister Yan smiled, her smile utterly bewitching. Qin Si was briefly dazed. The woman was truly seductive and alluring; he wanted to have his way with her.

Of course, it was only a thought. He wouldn't dare act on it.

That woman was vicious.

Just like the two mounds of flesh on her chest—equally domineering.

"So you just watched your little brothers get arrested without stepping in?"

"Step in my ass. I realized this guy was serious, not playing around. He really arrests people and really beats them to death. I heard He Sen isn't getting out—he's going to be executed. The Loyalty Hall even summoned him for a talk, and he made such a scene that the place was turned upside down. He pointed at Chen Qingshan and cursed him to his face. He wouldn't even give Chen Qingshan any respect. Tell me, isn't he terrifying?"

Qin Si was trembling with fear.

That was why he'd been behaving himself lately.

He'd warned his men not to cause trouble.

If they got arrested, no one could save them.

Knock, knock!

"Come in." Sister Yan's voice was cool.

A young, beautiful woman said respectfully, "Sister Yan, Xiao Hong was deceived. Now she says she wants to die."

Sister Yan's expression remained unchanged. She told Qin Si to wait where he was. When she reached the room, she found many women gathered outside. The moment they saw her, they all bowed respectfully.

"Why aren't you resting? What are you doing here? All of you, go."

The crowd scattered at once.

Sister Yan entered the room and saw Xiao Hong sobbing face-down on the bed. She glanced at the scissors on the table and signaled to the woman beside her, who immediately understood and took them away.

She went to the bedside and gently patted Xiao Hong's back.

"Sister Yan..." Xiao Hong sobbed, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen, her heart shattered. "I'm sorry. I should've listened to you. I believed him, and he deceived me. I gave him money, and he took my body too."

Sister Yan said softly, "It's not too late to realize it. Wipe your tears. They're the cheapest thing in the world. Only after you dry them can you see the road ahead. You still have a long road before you."

"Mm. I understand."

Sister Yan comforted her a little longer, then left the room. Once outside, she beckoned, and a burly man immediately came up respectfully.

"Sister Yan."

"Take some men and find that sour scholar. Cut off the thing between his legs and feed it to the dogs. Throw him out of Yong'an. Otherwise... you know what to do."

"Yes."

Sister Yan stood in the upper-floor gallery, looking down. Lin Fan's face appeared in her mind.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were deep in thought.

Hu Mansion.

Lin Fan led his men to the Hu Mansion in a mighty procession, only to find their way blocked by the tightly shut gates.

"Brother Lin, I'll knock."

Yang Ming stepped forward as if to knock.

"What the hell do you mean, knock? We're here to arrest someone, not pay a social call."

Lin Fan strode forward and kicked hard. With a bang, the thick red-lacquered gates flew open.

"Come on, get inside."

Lin Fan swept a hand forward, looking every bit like he was about to sweep through the place.

The people behind him were stunned.

Was he always this violent?