Guilds, the Case Breaks

The Small Knife Society, as Lu Chen had mentioned earlier, was a gang formed by several highly experienced underworld bosses.

The leaders had all been brawling through alleyways since their teens. Though their martial arts were unremarkable, every one of them was a wily old hand who had seen it all. Over decades, the connections in their grasp had become tangled as roots and branches, long since spreading into every corner of Wen'an County.

This group had made its start by setting up gambling tables. Once they had amassed enough silver, they recruited men and hired skilled fighters to hold the fort.

Step by step, they had nibbled away at the competition until they held Wen'an County's entire gambling trade in their hands, becoming a force in North City that could not be underestimated.

The name Small Knife Society came from the Nangzi Knives commonly used by street toughs.

The society's older generation had carried these things as they fought their way up from roadside gambling stalls.

Over time, this small Nangzi Knife had become their emblem.

Many trades in the city had long since been carved up cleanly among the gangs and factions.

The meat trade had the Butcher Gang, the liquor trade belonged to the Broker Gang, and the rice trade was controlled by the Rat Gang.

Apart from special professions like the escort trade and the martial arts trade, nearly every line of business was controlled by gangs and guilds.

Only Lottery, this newly emerged line of business, had yet to establish its own hilltop. The position remained vacant.

That was precisely the opportunity Lu Chen had set his sights on.

He intended to use it as his foundation, seize the city's entire Lottery business, and become the guildmaster of this trade!

The next morning.

Lu Chen called for Blind Man, and the two sparred in the courtyard.

He deliberately activated the newly acquired trait card, Plum Branch Trembling Shadow, and his fist speed suddenly increased by thirty percent.

Yet what truly left Blind Man groaning in misery was the Cold Plum Bone-Piercing Force.

Every punch Lu Chen threw brought with it a biting chill.

Whenever Blind Man blocked, he felt the cold seep into his bones, his meridians pierced through as if by icy needles. His movements grew increasingly stiff.

"Big Brother, there's something downright wicked about your fists!"

Blind Man sprang back two steps, rubbing his bluish arm as he shivered. "One hit feels like falling into an ice cellar, cold seeping out from every crack in my bones!"

Lu Chen withdrew his stance and glanced at the white frost gathering on Blind Man's arm, immediately understanding.

This bone-piercing cold force was indeed far more vicious than merely fast moves.

Several more days passed.

Lu Chen's life gradually returned to peace.

With Han Lao Wu gone missing, the turf around Sheep Pen Street naturally returned to Lu Chen's hands.

Interestingly, word had now spread through South City about how Han Lao Wu had once set Lu Chen up and forced him to pay out thirty taels of silver.

Thirty taels was no small sum. In South City, it was enough to support an ordinary family of five for an entire year. Many laborers could work themselves until their sweat splashed into eight pieces for a whole year and still fail to save that much.

The news seemed to grow legs, passed from mouth to mouth through the streets and alleys. Everyone said:

Lu Chen was a man who followed the rules. When he lost, he admitted it and paid up. He was a real man.

As a result, Lu Chen's Lottery stall turned disaster into blessing, and its reputation grew even louder.

Many people would rather take a detour through two extra streets just to visit his stall.

With no more Han Lao Wu around to get in the way, business naturally became more prosperous than ever.

Lu Chen's days at the martial arts school also became regular.

Every day, he rose before dawn to practice his fists, polishing each movement with care.

Whenever he had spare time, he ran errands for his master's wife, buying rouge and cosmetics.

Just when Lu Chen thought Han Lao Wu's matter had been completely settled.

A sudden change arose.

Late at night.

He was abruptly startled awake from sleep.

Faint sounds came from the courtyard. Someone was climbing over the wall into his yard, and there was more than one of them.

Anyone sneaking into his courtyard in the dead of night—

Was either a thief or an enemy.

Lu Chen swiftly reached beneath his pillow and gripped the icy Bone-Carving Knife. He efficiently pulled on his padded trousers, tightened his coat, put on his shoes, then stuffed his money pouch into his chest.

The entire sequence was quick and silent, as though he had rehearsed it countless times.

He gripped the knife, a flicker of ruthlessness flashing through his eyes.

Tonight, blood would likely be spilled.

Bang—

The door was violently smashed open.

Several burly men stormed inside, all dressed in constable uniforms.

Two carried water-and-fire staves, while three held official sabers. Iron chains and shackles clinked at their waists, carrying with them the chill of the winter night.

The fingers clutching Lu Chen's knife stiffened slightly.

Han Lao Wu's case had finally come to light.

He cursed himself for being careless. So many days had passed that he had thought the danger had already blown over.

"Lu Chen!" The lead constable had a voice as fierce as it was rough. "You've committed a crime! Come back to the yamen obediently, and you'll suffer a little less flesh-and-blood pain. Otherwise..."

The constable suddenly slammed a palm onto the wooden table beside him. The three-inch-thick tabletop shattered beneath that blow. His Iron Sand Palm had clearly been tempered for no fewer than ten years.

Lu Chen slowly released his grip on the knife.

Constables could not be touched, especially not openly.

Once he tore his face from theirs, he would be setting himself against the entire county yamen. Wen'an County would no longer have room for him.

Lu Chen swept his gaze over them. These constables were all powerfully built, their tiger's mouths covered in thick calluses. Clearly, they were hard men who had seen real blades and real blood.

The only person who could summon so many capable men at once—

Was Master Feng of the county yamen.

Given these constables' nature, they usually shirked and dodged any case without profit in it.

Yet tonight, they had turned out in full force. If a heavy reward had not been pressed down from above, why would they risk their lives so eagerly?

Han Lao Wu had been a deeply calculating man, his schemes heavy.

He had taken several wives and concubines, single-mindedly hoping for a son to carry on his bloodline, yet he had fathered three daughters in succession.

His eldest daughter had been born foolish. He considered her a burden and simply threw her into the river to drown.

His second daughter was plain-looking, so he kept her at his side as a servant girl. At twelve, he raped her. Later, she died in childbirth, taking the child with her.

Only his third daughter was pretty. He treated her like a pearl in his palm, pampering her in fine clothes and rich food, never allowing her to suffer the slightest grievance.

Han Lao Wu cherished this third daughter only because he hoped she would one day climb a high branch and whisper in the ears of the powerful on his behalf.

Now that he was gone, the third daughter he had loved most in life had indeed become useful.

Surrounded by the constables.

Lu Chen knew he absolutely could not allow himself to be captured without resistance. If he were truly thrown into prison, he would become fish on the chopping block, his life and death at another's mercy.

With a clang, he tossed the pointed knife from his hand and squeezed a look of panic onto his face. "Mercy, officers. This little man admits defeat..."

"Hmph. At least you know what's good for you."

The lead constable sneered.

Just as another constable shook open the iron shackles and stepped forward to lock Lu Chen's wrists.

Lu Chen suddenly dropped his shoulder and sank his elbow, driving a fist straight into the man's heart. The constable let out a muffled groan and collapsed on the spot.

The remaining constables immediately erupted, staves and official sabers crashing down at him from all sides.

Lu Chen ducked beneath a sweeping staff, but his left shoulder took a saber blow squarely. His padded coat was instantly sliced open, blood pouring out.

He gritted his teeth and drove his right fist at another man's throat. The man immediately clutched his neck, fell, and began convulsing.

"You're courting death!"

The lead constable roared and struck with his palm.

This man specialized in the external hard art, Iron Sand Palm.

Lu Chen did not dare receive it head-on. He turned sideways and took it with his shoulder. With a bang, half his body went numb.

After withstanding that palm, he used the momentum to charge forward. He kicked over the constable blocking his path and broke toward the door, taking several more blows to the back along the way.

The lead constable struck with another palm. Lu Chen twisted aside to avoid the vital spots, and the palm wind scraped across his back.

He forcibly drew up a breath, rammed aside two constables blocking his way, and rushed out of the room.

With his high vitality stat, the several blows Lu Chen had taken hurt all the way to the bone, but they had not damaged his muscles or bones. He could still endure.