At this thought, Gu Chang'an spoke, his voice low and ringing like iron:
"I don't know how this Zhang Qiang died. If you insist on making a move—"
His gaze sharpened. His hand pressed against the hilt, and a cold gleam flashed.
"Then don't blame me for showing no mercy."
The air suddenly congealed.
"Brat, you're too arrogant!"
Someone in the crowd roared, drew a short blade, and suddenly lunged at Gu Chang'an!
A glint flashed in Gu Chang'an's eyes. His feet did not move, yet the Blade Light arrived first—
"Clang—!"
He drew his blade with a jerk, its icy light whipping through the air like a bolt of silk.
After a deafening blade cry, the short blade in the attacker's hand flew free, and his fingers dropped to the ground as blood gushed forth.
"Thud—!"
Then, with a muffled groan, he collapsed onto the ground and could not get up for a long while.
"Ah—!"
Clutching his steadily bleeding hand, he wailed in agony.
One move had subdued the enemy.
The entire narrow alley suddenly fell silent.
The Firewood Gang members' expressions changed. They tightened their grips on their weapons, and some shifted their feet as if preparing to charge again. The atmosphere was on the verge of exploding.
"Stop!"
Liang Biao raised a hand. His voice was not loud, yet it landed like an iron hammer, instantly suppressing everyone's killing intent.
His eyes narrowed as he fixed them on Gu Chang'an, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into a smile.
"Well, well—"
"Just as I thought. You're a trained fighter."
"Your blade is fast, your force steady, and with one move you disarmed a man. Your technique is ruthless and clean."
He slowly took two steps forward. His footsteps were light, but his tone abruptly sank.
"My cousin Zhang Qiang was a stray cur of the lowest sort, but even so, he lived and kicked for more than a decade. Yet he died without even leaving a complete corpse behind."
"You said you don't know how he died. I—don't believe you."
Gu Chang'an looked at him and slowly raised his blade, the tip pointing at the ground. His tone was as cold as ice.
"I don't care whether you believe me or not. But I won't let anyone bully me as they please."
"If you truly want revenge, then try it. See whether you really... have the ability."
The moment these words left his mouth, everyone was shocked.
The smile on Liang Biao's face slowly faded. His gaze seemed to scrape across Gu Chang'an like a knife, but in the end, he did not give the order.
It was not because he was afraid. He knew that now was not the time.
Nanning County was currently under intense scrutiny. If someone died here now, then even though the Firewood Gang was deeply rooted in Nanning County, it would inevitably suffer broken bones and shattered tendons.
Liang Biao was no fool either.
Even if this young man before him was very likely the murderer who had killed Zhang Qiang, he understood that if a life were truly lost here now, the Firewood Gang would gain nothing—and he himself might be ruined beneath Nanning's laws.
Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, a creaking sound suddenly came from the side as an adjoining courtyard gate opened.
A white-haired old woman came trembling out. Her voice was hoarse yet firm.
"He's a good child. Whenever our family was short of firewood or rice, he helped carry it back for us. He never once complained."
As she spoke, she stubbornly stepped in front of Gu Chang'an.
Then another small courtyard door opened. A gaunt middle-aged man came out leaning on a cane.
"He once helped me get to the clinic. He's my lifesaver. If you want to touch him, you'll have to get past me first."
For a time, the neighbors poured out of their homes. Some carried brooms, while others held woodcutting knives. Though none of them were trained fighters, every one of them stood ramrod straight, their expressions resolute.
"If the Firewood Gang has any sense of justice, go argue your case with the authorities! Don't bully a child at the mouth of this alley!"
"No matter how run-down our alley is, it's not a place where you can run rampant and throw your weight around!"
"..."
The crowd chattered over one another, growing increasingly furious. Their momentum actually overwhelmed the Firewood Gang.
The Firewood Gang members could not help looking grim. Facing this group of impoverished refugees whom they usually did not even deign to look at, they found themselves unable to move for a moment.
At that moment, a cold, stern voice rang out.
"People of the Firewood Gang, do you dare kill someone in broad daylight?"
The crowd parted, revealing a burly man carrying a longbow.
He wore hunting clothes and a bone knife at his waist. Frost tinged his temples, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. He was none other than Liu Hong, one of the leaders of the Hunter Gang.
Liu Hong swept a glance at Liang Biao and snorted.
"Our Hunter Gang doesn't cause trouble, but we aren't afraid of it either. If you want to touch him, you'll have to get past me first."
"Besides, if you truly believe this child killed your man, you can report it to the County Office. Why surround his home?"
Seeing that public sentiment was on their side, and that the Hunter Gang had also stepped forward, Liang Biao knew that there was no way to make a move today.
He glared fixedly at Gu Chang'an, his gaze as cold and sinister as a venomous snake, and spoke one word at a time.
"Good... very good. You're Gu Chang'an, right?"
"Remember this—"
"Don't go out alone from now on... Otherwise, I swear I'll chop you to pieces with my own hands."
After saying this, he violently flung his robe around and swung the black-iron cudgel in his hand, producing a heavy clang.
The other Firewood Gang members wore unwilling expressions, but they did not dare disobey. They could only put away their blades and scatter, retreating beneath everyone's watchful eyes into the shadows at the end of the alley until they slowly vanished around the street corner.
The night wind gradually died down, and the tense atmosphere at the alley mouth slowly relaxed.
Gu Chang'an watched those people leave, but a shadow darker than the night surfaced in his eyes.
He muttered in a low voice, carrying a ruthlessness he had never shown before.
"The Firewood Gang, is it..."
"You're finished. You and I... have just started."
A moment later, he sheathed his blade, clasped his hands, and bowed to the neighbors. His voice was deep as he said:
"Thank you all for speaking up for me today. Chang'an will remember this."
The old woman hurriedly waved her hands.
"Child, leave quickly. Don't come back tonight. The Firewood Gang has no sense of justice. Who knows, they might still have men lying in ambush."
Another person also urged him:
"You've offended them now. You should hide somewhere else and wait for the storm to pass. There are plenty of places to hide outside. The Firewood Gang won't be able to find you."
Gu Chang'an shook his head, his tone firm.
"No need."
"I already work for the authorities. Starting today, I am officially a constable."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this, then a burst of exclamations erupted.
"Chang'an, you're a constable now?"
"That's wonderful! Our alley has someone to rely on now!"
Liu Hong also revealed a faint smile. He stepped forward and gave Gu Chang'an a hearty slap on the shoulder.
"Kid, you've got some skill. If you ever can't continue doing this job, the Hunter Gang's gates will always be open to you."
Gu Chang'an returned the salute with clasped fists. "Thank you for the offer, Brother Liu. Now that I'm wearing the constable's uniform, it is only right that I protect the neighbors here."
Before his voice had even faded, he suddenly smiled and called out loudly:
"Today I became a constable, and all of you came to my aid. Why don't I treat everyone— to a meal!"
"Tonight, at the old Wang Family tavern at the mouth of the street. The drinks are on me!"
Everyone was stunned at first, then erupted into laughter.
"Then we have to drink a couple extra cups!"
"I love hearing that! Come on, come on!"
"Tonight, we drink until we're all drunk!"
Surrounded by the crowd, Gu Chang'an strode toward the alley mouth. His slender, youthful back now seemed as steady as a mountain.
From this day forward, he was no longer merely a refugee.
He was a constable of Nanning County.
Before you continue