First Patrol Chief Yang Erlang

The arrival of Gong Tian and the exclamation from Qin Yurong caused the Kuotian Chamber to fall into an instant silence.

Everyone's gaze first focused on the stern, black-clad Patrol Commander.

But the next moment, almost everyone's eyes were firmly drawn to the young man in the Patrol Chief uniform standing behind him.

The air seemed to solidify for a brief moment.

Gong Tian cupped his hands slightly and said:

"I am Gong Tian, greetings to you all.

I just returned from the government office and came straight here before I could even tidy up.

The man behind me is the newly appointed First Patrol Chief of our East Street Jingan Bureau, Patrol Chief Yang Ning.

He performed meritorious service during the Blood Ape Gang incident, so I brought him along to get acquainted with everyone."

A flash of rapid surprise crossed Qin Yuwei's eyes, and he immediately stood up to greet them first.

"Brother Gong, your presence brings light to my humble dwelling! Please, take a seat!"

His gaze naturally fell upon Yang Ning, and he nodded in greeting:

"Patrol Chief... Patrol Chief Yang, please, join us."

He changed his form of address very quickly; from "guest" to "Patrol Chief," those two short words acknowledged and emphasized the fundamental change in Yang Ning's status.

Qin Yurong stared blankly at Yang Ning, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise, joy, and a trace of inexplicable loss.

She had seen him wear a porter's sweat-stained shirt, and she had seen him in ordinary cloth garments, but she had never imagined that the Jingan Bureau uniform would suit him so perfectly.

Calm and upright, he possessed a bearing as steady as a deep pool and as imposing as a mountain.

She stood up subconsciously, her lips moving, but she didn't know what to say for a moment.

Qin Yuhui, on the other hand, widened her eyes, her small mouth slightly agape, her face clearly expressing "incredulity."

Yuan Qi and Ning Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing deep surprise and suspicion in the other's eyes.

They knew Yang Ning was a guest of the Qin Family.

They also knew Yang Ning had decent martial arts skills and had made it onto the Top Hundred Ranking.

But in just a few short days, this man had transformed into a Patrol Chief of the East Street Patrol Bureau?

And he was brought to an occasion like this by Gong Tian himself?

What did this imply?

The relationship between Gong Tian and the Qin Family was likely much deeper than they had imagined.

And this Yang Ning was definitely not just some "lucky kid from the outer city."

The two men's minds raced, and they quickly adjusted their expressions, putting on polite yet probing smiles.

The one who reacted the most was Shen Lian.

The moment Yang Ning stepped inside, the color drained from his face, and the wine cup in his hand trembled imperceptibly.

Shock, annoyance, wariness, and a sense of humiliation from being silently slapped in the face in public gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

Just moments ago, he had spoken with absolute certainty that if Gong Tian were promoted, the outer city would be "left without support."

Yet in the blink of an eye, Gong Tian had brought this outer city kid—whom he had looked down upon and belittled—directly to a banquet representing the elite circle of the outer city.

This was not just an introduction; it was more like a declaration, a transfer of power, and an endorsement.

Gong Tian was using his actions to tell everyone:

Even if I leave East Street in the future, I have already chosen my successor for who holds the authority here.

Shen Lian felt his cheeks burning, as if he had been struck hard by an invisible palm.

He forced the corners of his mouth to move, trying to squeeze out a smile, but it looked worse than crying.

Gong Tian observed everyone's reactions, his expression remaining indifferent.

He first nodded slightly to Qin Yuwei as a return gesture, and after taking his seat, his gaze swept calmly across the people at the table, finally resting on Shen Lian's face for a moment.

This made Shen Lian's heart jump, and he couldn't help but avert his eyes.

"Young Master Qin is too kind."

Gong Tian's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"I came to the banquet today for two reasons. First, to thank Young Master Qin for the invitation.

Second, to introduce my subordinate, Yang Ning, to everyone.

He is the newly appointed First Patrol Chief of East Street, and in the future, he will inevitably have dealings with your families while carrying out his duties in East Street.

Consider today a chance to get familiar with one another."

"Newly appointed East Street Patrol Chief," combined with the "meritorious service in destroying the Blood Ape Gang" that Yuan Qi had just revealed.

These wealthy youths understood everything; this was no ordinary promotion, but a legitimate appointment based on hard-earned military merit, one that no one could question.

Qin Yuwei was shaken inside, yet his smile grew even more hearty:

"So that is how it is!

Young Hero Yang... no, Patrol Chief Yang is truly young and promising.

To have achieved such a great merit is truly worthy of celebration!

This banquet today is perfectly timed to toast to Patrol Chief Yang's success!"

Yang Ning stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute toward Qin Yuwei and the others at the table, his voice steady and neither servile nor overbearing:

"My qualifications are still shallow. Thanks to the favor of Senior Brother Gong and my superiors, I am merely acting in the position of First Patrol Chief.

In the days to come on East Street, I will need everyone's kind guidance."

"Patrol Chief Yang is too modest!"

"Congratulations, Patrol Chief Yang!"

"Young and promising, you deserve this honor!"

Yuan Qi, Ning Yuan, and the others immediately chimed in, their faces full of smiles and their tones warm.

Even if they still harbored doubts and schemes in their hearts, they had already done their due diligence on the surface.

This Yang Ning was no longer a rootless drifter they could judge at will, but a new power on East Street who held real authority and had the backing of Gong Tian.

Shen Lian's face turned from white to red, then from red to green.

In the end, under the secret tugging of Shen Jie, he reluctantly raised his wine cup and squeezed a few words through his teeth:

"Con... congratulations, Patrol Chief Yang."

Every word seemed to be laced with thorns.

Only then did Gong Tian seem satisfied, taking his seat at the head table arranged by Qin Yuwei alongside Yang Ning.

The atmosphere of the banquet became somewhat subtle.

The previous lighthearted banter had vanished, replaced by a complex air mixed with surprise, curiosity, flattery, and a hint of wariness.

The conversation naturally revolved around the eradication of the Blood Ape Gang, the security of East Street, and the distribution of interests following the gang's demise.

Qin Yuwei and Gong Tian chatted and laughed with ease.

Yuan Qi and Ning Yuan interjected from time to time, skillfully blending flattery with probing questions.

Shen Lian was much quieter, simply drinking in silence, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Yang Ning with an incredibly gloomy look.

Qin Yurong's gaze, however, could not help but drift toward Yang Ning, who sat diagonally across from her.

He sat upright, listening and occasionally answering with concise, steady words that made him seem unlike a young man who had just received a promotion.

That official uniform seemed to have coated him in a faint barrier.

It created an imperceptible distance between him and the young man in her memory—the one who drank tea calmly in the eatery and stood before her like a fierce tiger in times of danger.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table eased slightly.

Qin Yurong finally found an opening and, under the guise of pouring wine, walked over to Yang Ning's seat.

"Yang..."

She paused, then said softly:

"Patrol Chief Yang."

Yang Ning looked up at the sound of her voice, and seeing it was Qin Yurong, he stood up and said:

"Please, just call me Yang Ning, Miss Qin."

As their eyes met, his gaze remained as calm as ever, though the previous detachment had faded, replaced by a hint of warmth.

"I haven't officially congratulated you yet, Yang Ning."

Qin Yurong smiled faintly; her smile was still bright, but it seemed to hold something more:

"The position of Patrol Chief carries heavy responsibilities, but with your abilities, you will surely be up to the task."

"Thank you for your kind words, Miss Qin."

Yang Ning nodded:

"A while back, it was also thanks to the care of you and Young Master Qin that my family and I were able to remain secure."

"That was only what the Qin Family should have done."

Qin Yurong shook her head, hesitated for a moment, and lowered her voice even further.

It carried a hint of melancholy that only the two of them could detect:

"It's just that I didn't expect Young Master Yang... no, Patrol Chief Yang, to have found a new path so quickly.

The position of guest advisor for the Qin Family..."

Yang Ning caught the complex meaning in her words and smiled slightly:

"Miss Qin, you are too kind. The position of guest advisor is a great honor bestowed by the Qin Family and yourself, and I will keep it in my heart."

I am currently a Patrol Chief of the Patrol Bureau, yet I remain a guest advisor for the Qin Family; the two roles do not conflict.

"Should you have any needs in the future, as long as it is within my power, Yang Ning will not shirk from the duty."

Qin Yurong was incredibly sharp and immediately understood what he meant.

The faint sense of disappointment in her heart suddenly dissipated, and a feeling of joy surged up in its place.

As expected, he is still the same Yang Ning who has his own plans and refuses to easily rely on others. Even with a change in status, he still strictly adheres to his own principles.

"With those words from Patrol Chief Yang, Yurong can rest easy."

She smiled radiantly, her expression much more relaxed this time:

"In the future, I will likely have to rely on Patrol Chief Yang to look after things on East Street."

"It is my duty."

Yang Ning raised his cup in a gesture of acknowledgment.

The two clinked their cups together, everything understood without a word being spoken.