Deterrence

The night grew deeper.

Lanterns hung high and the Wang Ji Restaurant on North Street in Nanning County blazed with light, bustling with lively activity downstairs.

Today was unlike usual, as all the vagrants, peddlers, and hunters of the entire street gathered in one place. Hot soup bubbled away, and earthenware wine jars stood one after another.

The restaurant was filled with long tables, and neighbors and townspeople sat clustered among them amid loud, cheerful chatter. The long-absent liveliness warmed the usually desolate alley until it was as blazing hot as a fire.

Gu Chang'an wore the official constable uniform he had just collected, with a standard-issue long saber hanging at his waist, and sat at the spot closest to the window.

He poured wine for an old man at the edge of the table while raising his eyes to look out.

He saw Liu Hong talking to the owner among the crowd, and before long, Liu Hong walked over carrying a pot of aged yellow wine.

"Little Brother Gu, you held your ground splendidly today. I toast you." Liu Hong smiled as he raised his cup, his face filled with open-hearted approval.

Gu Chang'an picked up his wine bowl and gently clinked it against his: "Brother Liu has extricated me from trouble many times, and Chang'an toasts you a bowl as well."

The two of them tilted their heads back and drained their bowls, the liquor carrying a deep, warming comfort as it hit their stomachs.

Liu Hong wiped his mouth and lowered his wine bowl: "You went up against Liang Biao today. You didn't come out the loser, did you?"

Gu Chang'an shook his head calmly, his gaze growing dark: "If it weren't for the sake of my position, I would have dealt with him right on the spot today."

Liu Hong laughed out loud, though a hint of gravity surfaced deep within his eyes:

"Little brother, you need to be careful. Even though that Liang Biao isn't a Ranked Martial Artist, he's considered quite an influential figure in the Firewood Gang. His older brother is the Left Protector of the Firewood Gang and a Ninth Rank Martial Artist. If they truly set their sights on you, they won't let the matter rest so easily."

Gu Chang'an raised his eyes, his voice as steady as still water:

"I was just about to ask you, Brother Liu, how much do you know about the Firewood Gang?"

Liu Hong paused, and seeing his gaze, calm and sharp, he felt a secret surge of astonishment—

How could this young lad look so much like a veteran who had long experienced the battlefields?

He lowered his voice and said:

"To put it bluntly, this Firewood Gang nonsense originated from a den of thieves. They started out as wandering bandits and later dug in and rooted themselves in Nanning County by relying on an out-of-town Daoist priest."

"Later on, that priest was granted amnesty by the County Magistrate, and he established this Firewood Gang right here in Nanning County."

"Now, the underground trade, black-market smuggling, and several gambling dens throughout the entire Nanning County are basically all under their control."

Gu Chang'an said in a deep voice:

"That priest is their gang leader?"

"Precisely." Liu Hong nodded.

"No one has ever seen him make a move, but legend has it that this person's strength is formidable."

"How many protectors and incense masters does the Firewood Gang have?"

"Mm. The left and right protectors respectively hold charge over punishment and wealth. The Punishment Hall specializes in killing, while the Finance Hall manages the ledgers."

"There are a total of ten Firewood Gang incense masters, each in charge of districts and affairs. Liang Biao is an incense master, a former enforcer with a ruthless and merciless disposition."

A flash of chilliness appeared in Gu Chang'an's eyes as he continued to probe:

"Do you know how many Ranked Martial Artists they have in their gang?"

Liu Hong was startled upon hearing this and furrowed his brows, seemingly failing to anticipate that what Gu Chang'an cared about was not the number of ordinary thugs, but the count of Ranked Martial Artists.

Could it be that he did not care about ordinary people, but rather cared about Ranked Martial Artists?

He set down his wine cup and spoke in a low voice: "That's rarely ever asked... Have you practiced martial arts?"

Gu Chang'an only gave a faint smile and offered no answer.

Liu Hong pondered slightly and said:

"According to the intelligence our Hunter Gang has investigated over the years, the Firewood Gang has at least seven or eight Ninth Rank Martial Artists, and their sect leader..."

He lowered his voice and compared three fingers: "Should be Eighth Rank."

Gu Chang'an listened quietly until he finished, then nodded.

"—Thank you."

His soft words of thanks carried a calm and unruffled tone, yet they felt like a falling stone dropping into a well—steady and forceful.

Liu Hong looked at him and fell silent for a moment.

He pressed down the shock and suspicion in his heart, changing the subject:

"Let's not talk about this for now. Today is the big day of your promotion. Come, drink! We toast you a bowl—from now on, with you watching over our neighborhood, we can feel much more at ease."

"Alright." Gu Chang'an smiled and raised his bowl.

Outside the window the wind rose, the night was like ink, and inside the restaurant the sounds of drinking grew more boisterous, the hot soup overflowed with fragrance, and bowl after bowl of unadorned liquor was emptied.

Late at night, in the west of Nanning County city, within a walled courtyard.

Tall walls stood all around, and the black banners with red flames belonging to the Firewood Gang pierced the rooftops.

The hall was brightly lit, the air permeated with a pungent smell of smoke and wine, and a huge wooden table was piled with teacups, wine pots, and several platters of cold meat.

Liang Biao sat in the main seat, his face ashen, his gaze like a wolf's, his entire body radiating an intimidating murderous intent.

He gripped a wine bowl in his hand and gulped down a few mouthfuls, the fury in his eyes still unquenched.

"Incense Master, that brat is too arrogant! He actually made a move in front of so many people, and even dared to threaten you!"

A solidly built subordinate with a face full of whiskers fiercely slammed the table, grinding his teeth.

"Exactly! Zhang Strong was your own cousin, and he's been dead for so long without a single person taking responsibility..."

"Now that we've finally managed to track down a lead, that brat openly provokes our Firewood Gang in the street. He simply has no regard for us whatsoever!"

"I say, let's just order people to make a move tonight, hack him down with a single blade, and see if he can keep running his mouth!"

"..."

The few of them chimed in one after another, their rage soaring as they had long since regarded Gu Chang'an as a mortal enemy.

Liang Biao did not speak immediately, only clutching his wine bowl with deeply knitted brows.

In his heart, he actually knew clearer than anyone else: the speed with which that brat drew his blade and the ruthlessness with which he struck were absolutely unmatched by ordinary vagrants.

If he wanted to make a move against him, he would have to bring a much larger group of people.

At that moment, a gang member dressed in black hurried in from outside, walked up to the front of the hall, and reported in a low voice:

"Incense Master, there is new intelligence."

"Speak."

"That Gu Chang'an... is no simple character."

Liang Biao raised an eyebrow, lightly tapping his fingers against the rim of the wine bowl as a trace of coldness surfaced in his eyes:

"In what way is he not simple? Could it be that he has some backing after all?"

The man nodded, his tone low and clear:

"He is a constable of the County Office. He officially took office today, brought personally into the yamen by Li Hongye, and received his official assignment."

"And furthermore..." The man paused. "He is a Ninth Rank Martial Artist, capable of putting up a hard fight against Yellow Wolf Lu Kai."

The hall instantly grew quiet.

A Ranked Martial Artist, even if only Ninth Rank, was not someone ordinary people like them could match.

Yet Liang Biao remained completely unconcerned. Even though he was not a Ranked Martial Artist, his older brother was. Moreover, his older brother had already slain no fewer than five Ninth Rank Martial Artists.

His combat prowess was extremely formidable.

"What's more crucial—" the man said in a low voice, "according to intelligence reported back by our informants, his master is Li Tianfeng."

"Li Tianfeng? That Li Tianfeng?"

Liang Biao finally spoke, his voice low and carrying a trace of disbelief.

"Li Tianfeng of the Sky Wind Martial Hall."

Liang Biao abruptly stood up, the wine bowl shattering against the ground with a snap.

"Li Tianfeng of the Sky Wind Martial Hall?! Are you certain?!"

"Absolute certainty."

The air stagnated, and the people in the hall fell silent one after another, their complexions shifting unpredictably.

This Li Tianfeng was truly no simple figure.

He was an Eighth Rank peak martial artist.

Even their gang leader would not dare claim he could defeat him with a hundred-percent certainty.

Someone asked in a low voice: "Incense Master... should we continue keeping an eye on him?"

Liang Biao's face alternated between pale and livid, his jaws clenching tightly for a few breaths before he finally flung his hand out and cursed angrily:

"Keep an eye on my ass!"

He turned and sat down, letting out a heavy breath. The murderous intent on his face vanished completely, though his brow remained blanketed in dark clouds.

"This Gu Chang'an... is not only someone trained in martial arts, but he also holds an official post and has Li Tianfeng shielding him."

"If we make any more trouble, our entire Firewood Gang will be skinned alive in Nanning."

The subordinate spoke in a low voice: "Then what about Zhang Strong's vengeance..."

"Shut your damn mouth." Liang Biao glared coldly at him.

"The man has been dead for a month. Bringing up old accounts now will only invite disaster upon ourselves."

"Pass down my order—from now on, give that kid a wide berth. If he actively picks a fight, we still cannot act rashly. Understand?"

"Understood..." Although the crowd felt resentful and aggrieved, they also understood that Liang Biao's decision was the correct one.

Liang Biao narrowed his eyes, muttering under his breath:

"This kid... I'm afraid he's going to soar to the skies in the future."

The lamps in the hall flickered uncertainly as everyone wore complex expressions.