Wang Chengen had never imagined that Jiang Che would actually dare to seal the goods directly. Naturally, he could not stand by and watch; otherwise, there would be bitter fruit waiting for him afterward.
So, he stepped forward to block the way.
So what if he was the Deputy Commander of the West City?
As Yanggu County's foremost gang, the Cao Gang was deeply rooted, its web of connections tangled and intricate. No one usually dared provoke the Cao Gang, and this had long nurtured Wang Chengen's overbearing temperament.
Just now, he had only spoken politely because Jiang Che was at least a minor official.
He had given him more than enough face.
But since the other side refused to give him face now, there was no need for him to keep his head lowered.
With a glance from Wang Chengen, the surrounding Cao Gang members swiftly gathered. Those holding blades formed a circle, their numbers slightly fewer than the men Jiang Che had brought.
Yet they were not afraid of the constables in the slightest.
"Cao Gang? That impressive?"
The corner of Jiang Che's mouth curled up. His arm holding the scabbard lashed out, striking Wang Chengen squarely across the face and sending him tumbling to the ground. Then Jiang Che raised his foot and planted it on the man's face.
"Do I need you to teach me how to do things?"
Arrogant!
Overbearing!
Jiang Che did not give him even a sliver of face. Their mortal grudge had long since been forged. Leaving aside the grudges in his memories, the mere fact that Wang Chengen had immediately called him Deputy Commander Jiang—
—was enough to show that Wang Chengen had specifically investigated his background.
Since that was the case, there was nothing more to say.
The atmosphere around them froze solid, and the Cao Gang members were all dumbfounded.
No one had expected Jiang Che to attack the moment he said he would, even stepping on Protector Wang's face and humiliating him beneath his foot.
"Jiang Che... you're courting death!"
Wang Chengen had been dazed by the blow just now and had only barely regained his senses. A vicious fire immediately rose in his heart. He glared at Jiang Che with a twisted expression while reaching out, trying to push Jiang Che's leg away from his face.
But—
His little bit of strength could not budge it at all.
With mediocre talent for martial arts, the only reason he had become a Protector was because his brother-in-law was the Hall Master of Blackwater Hall. Meanwhile, after several sacrifices, Jiang Che had long since been reborn and transformed.
"Kill them! Kill every last one of them!"
Wang Chengen roared, nearly out of his mind.
But Jiang Che dismissed him with contempt. At a glance from him, every soldier around him drew a long blade. If the other side dared make a move, then today he could charge them with rebellion.
And that was Jiang Che's true purpose in stepping on Wang Chengen's face and humiliating him.
Wang Chengen did not have enough prestige, much less any trusted subordinates. Yet by Cao Gang rules, if they did not act, they would face harsh punishment upon returning. Therefore, under his orders—
—even though they were unwilling, the surrounding Cao Gang members still drew their weapons and prepared to attack.
Seeing that the situation was on the verge of erupting, all the laborers and common folk hurried backward, clearing out a large open space.
"The Cao Gang intends rebellion, privately stockpiles weapons, and defies the authorities. By my order—kill!"
Before Jiang Che could utter the final word, a loud shout rang out.
"Stop!"
More than ten yamen runners surged over. At their head, Captain Chen frowned deeply as he tried to force his way inside, but Geng Dabiao and Xu Chenghu blocked his path, making his expression turn increasingly ugly.
"Let Captain Chen come in."
Jiang Che said in a low voice.
Captain Chen entered the inner circle with a grim face. He looked down at Wang Chengen, whose face was filled with humiliation as he struggled incessantly, then drew a deep breath and looked at Jiang Che.
"Brother Jiang, what are you doing?"
"I was ordered to conduct a search. This Wang Chengen actually dared defy the authorities and intended rebellion, so I took him down myself. It's that simple."
Jiang Che looked utterly unafraid.
"Ordered to conduct a search? By whose order? Brother Jiang, this is Cao Gang territory."
Captain Chen stepped forward and lowered his voice in warning.
At the same time, he was deeply puzzled.
At the banquet before, Jiang Che and Kou Yuansheng had been chatting merrily, nearly becoming sworn brothers. How had they gone from that to turning their backs on each other after only a few days? It was truly strange and abnormal.
"Captain Chen, if you said that outside, it would be a capital offense. What do you mean, Cao Gang territory? Under all heaven, is there any land that is not the king's land? Every inch of this realm belongs to the imperial court."
Captain Chen opened his mouth. Knowing he had misspoken, he quickly tried to smooth things over.
"What I meant was—"
"I understand what you mean. But today, the West City Martial Camp is conducting official business. Brother Chen, you'd best not interfere."
"The Cao Gang's side..."
Captain Chen's brows were tightly furrowed. He also had a relationship of mutual interest with the Cao Gang, so when he heard Jiang Che had led men straight to the docks, he sensed something was wrong and hurried over with his men to stop it.
"This matter is far too serious. Brother Chen, let me give you one piece of advice: it would be best not to get involved."
Jiang Che looked at him with a faint, knowing smile.
Captain Chen's pupils contracted, and he immediately understood.
"It was Zhu—"
The instant the word "Zhu" left his mouth, he swallowed the rest.
He belonged to Magistrate Zhao's faction, but he was also Captain Zhu's direct subordinate. When the two sides clashed, he would be at the front of the line—and the first to die. He had long been worried about this.
Otherwise, he would not have deliberately approached Jiang Che earlier to build a closer relationship.
It was to leave himself a way out.
"Take your men and go back."
Jiang Che patted Captain Chen on the shoulder.
In terms of their normal official ranks, he was actually somewhat lower than Captain Chen. But who could blame him for having such powerful backing?
"You can seal the goods and take them away, but can you leave the man behind? Otherwise, this big brother of yours will have a hard time explaining himself." Once Captain Chen guessed that Captain Zhu had instructed Jiang Che, he no longer dared stop him and could only try his best to keep the man.
"This..."
Jiang Che looked down at Wang Chengen beneath his foot and smiled.
Of course not.
"Deputy Commander Jiang, aren't you being a little too arrogant? You came here and seized someone outright. It seems you don't take my Cao Gang seriously at all."
A low shout rang out, and everyone turned to look.
They saw a middle-aged man in a brocade robe approaching like flying. With several borrowed steps, he shifted and leaped, crossing several zhang in the blink of an eye before landing steadily in front of Jiang Che, his gaze gloomy.
Not far away, more than ten Cao Gang members swiftly closed in.
"Brother-in-law!"
Seeing the newcomer, Wang Chengen was like a man spotting a savior. He hurriedly called out.
"Hall Master Yu."
Captain Chen clasped his hands in greeting, clearly recognizing the man.
Yu Zongping gave a slight nod, his eyes fixed directly on Jiang Che.
"Shouldn't Deputy Commander Jiang give Yu an explanation?"
"You think you deserve one?!"
Jiang Che snorted coldly, giving him no face whatsoever. Right before him, Jiang Che stomped down. If that foot landed solidly, Wang Chengen would undoubtedly die with Jiang Che's strength.
The next moment, Yu Zongping moved. His palm transformed into a claw, like a black tiger clawing out a heart, lunging for Jiang Che's chest.
Bang!
Jiang Che struck back as well. The other used a claw, so he used a fist. The inner breath within him circulated and gathered in his right arm as he met the attack head-on, producing a dull explosive impact.
Under the powerful recoil, both men retreated.
Jiang Che took one step back, while Yu Zongping took two.
The difference in strength was obvious at a glance!