Changes to the Quota

At the sight of blood all over the ground and the headless corpse, the people of Locust Tree Alley were terrified. Some of the more timid ones had their calves trembling uncontrollably.

That slash had been clean and decisive. The thief's miserable state was no different from a criminal beheaded by an executioner at the marketplace.

Everyone looked at Chen Cheng with fear. This handsome young man, his face now stern, was like Yama come to claim lives, inspiring both awe and dread.

Of course, no one sympathized with the thief. Deep down, they were all secretly cheering, while also feeling fortunate. Luckily, the thieves had targeted A-Cheng's home. If they had come to their homes instead, who knew what might have happened.

"A-Cheng, what happened?"

Such a commotion in Locust Tree Alley had long alerted the City Guard Office night patrols, and they rushed over at once in a great bustle.

Chen Cheng recognized the constable leading them. He was the one who had accompanied Liu Yunfeng last time, An Shichang.

"Brother An, my house was burglarized."

After carefully inspecting the scene, An Shichang could not help but draw a sharp breath.

After questioning them in detail, he learned that there had been two knife-wielding thieves who had even attempted murder after being discovered. He was secretly alarmed.

If ordinary people had encountered those two thieves, their whole family would likely have been wiped out.

Yet Chen Cheng had emerged completely unscathed, wounded one of them, and killed the other in return. Such courage and strength were truly frightening.

No wonder Chief Liu valued A-Cheng so highly before! An Shichang thought to himself.

"Does anyone know this man?"

Holding up a torch, An Shichang illuminated the thief's head.

"I think he's from the Flying Eagle Gang. I saw him when they came collecting protection money a few days ago."

Someone in the crowd spoke in a low voice.

"The Flying Eagle Gang?" An Shichang's expression darkened.

Though people from martial world gangs were overbearing and tyrannical, oppressing the common folk, they rarely dared to do things like breaking into homes at night and committing murder. This was the bottom line that allowed the City Guard Office to tolerate the existence of martial world gangs.

Once a martial world gang crossed that line, the consequences would be severe.

"Zhou Biao from the Flying Eagle Gang is at Widow Tian's house tonight. I saw him."

Someone else in the crowd pinched their voice and whispered.

When their lives and livelihoods were threatened, poor commoners became remarkably united.

"Move!"

An Shichang said coldly, leading the constables toward Widow Tian's house.

Chen Cheng followed at the very back, quietly kicking the long knife dropped by the other thief beneath the firewood rack.

These days, long knives were not cheap. Any random one cost over a dozen taels of silver.

Widow Tian's house.

Inside the room,

"Master Biao, was this servant's service satisfactory?"

Widow Tian asked in a seductive voice.

"You're quite something, woman." Zhou Biao chuckled.

Hatred suddenly flashed through Widow Tian's eyes. Nestling in his arms, she whined coquettishly, "Master Biao, this servant is yours now. Chen Er bullied this servant, yet I haven't seen you stand up for me!"

Zhou Biao patted her and said, "You've said that many times. Naturally, I've kept it in mind. Chen Er is nothing but a lowly jailer. Crushing him is as easy as crushing an ant. I've already arranged for two of my men to deal with Chen Er for you tonight.

"Did you hear the commotion outside just now? Chen Er must have clashed with my men. My two subordinates have killed plenty of tough men. They brought long knives with them tonight. For Chen Er to dare fight them is simply courting death. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be crippled.

"Tomorrow, just wait and see how Chen Er dies."

Widow Tian asked delightedly, "Really?"

Zhou Biao answered with absolute certainty, "When Master Biao does not strike, that is one thing. But once I strike, blood must be spilled."

Just then, heavy pounding sounded outside the door.

"Open the door! Open it now!"

"No need to wait until tomorrow. You'll probably see it soon enough.

"Go open the door. If anyone asks, say you know nothing."

Zhou Biao said.

Widow Tian got up and dressed, then left the room and opened the courtyard gate. After looking around for a while and failing to spot Chen Cheng among the crowd, she assumed he had been killed. A surge of satisfaction rose in her heart, but she put on a surprised expression and said, "Officer, what has happened in the middle of the night?"

"Tell Zhou Biao to come out." An Shichang's face was cold and stern.

"What is it?" Zhou Biao slowly walked out while fastening his waistband.

An Shichang said coldly, "Your men broke into a home at night and attempted murder. Come with us."

"Officer, I've been sleeping peacefully at home. What my subordinates do has nothing to do with me. Besides, how can you be sure it was my men?" Believing Chen Cheng to be dead, Zhou Biao spread his hands with an innocent look.

"Then look closely. Is this your man?" An Shichang waved his hand, and a constable promptly brought over the thief's head.

"Th-this... isn't this Tian Qi? How did he die?" Zhou Biao's face changed drastically.

An Shichang snorted. "As long as he's your subordinate, come with us."

Zhou Biao had long prepared a fallback. He said, "Officer, you may not know this, but Tian Qi committed an offense two days ago and was kicked out of the Flying Eagle Gang by our gang leader. Whatever he did has nothing to do with me.

"I, Zhou Biao, am a man of standing. If your City Guard Office has no evidence, you can't just arrest people at will."

An Shichang frowned. There was no Flying Eagle Gang insignia on Tian Qi's clothes, and now the dead could not testify. For the moment, there was indeed nothing he could do.

"There was another man who broke into the house at night. Once we catch him, let's see what you have to say then!"

"Then wait until you have evidence. It's the middle of the night. I have no interest in meddling in idle matters. Sleep is more important."

After saying that, Zhou Biao turned and headed back into the inner room.

An Shichang hesitated for a moment but did not arrest Zhou Biao. Arresting him would be easy, but without evidence, they would still have to release him. It would only be wasted effort.

Zhou Biao was from the Flying Eagle Gang. A monk could run, but the temple could not. There was no need to worry about him fleeing.

"Zhou Biao, you'd best rein yourself in. Starting tomorrow, Brother A-Cheng will be one of our City Guard Office men. If you dare lay a hand on someone from the City Guard Office, you know the consequences better than I do!"

An Shichang added. He was an experienced constable and knew that tonight's incident had been aimed at Chen Cheng.

Only then did Widow Tian catch sight of Chen Cheng behind the crowd. His expression was stern, his eyes like blades. She shuddered in fright and hurriedly shut the courtyard gate.

After comforting Chen Cheng for a while, An Shichang led the constables away with Tian Qi's corpse. The neighboring residents also returned to their homes one after another.

Chen Cheng washed the courtyard clean before knocking on the bedroom door.

"Brother Cheng, what happened just now?"

Mu Xiaowan had stayed in the room as Chen Cheng had instructed. The moment she opened the door, she threw herself into his arms and asked anxiously.

Chen Cheng gently stroked her little head and said softly, "It's nothing. Two thieves came into the house, but I drove them off."

Mu Xiaowan was clever and perceptive. Knowing that Chen Cheng did not want her to worry, she did not ask any further questions.

"Brother Cheng, there's blood on your clothes. I'll wash them for you."

She had still caught the scent of blood on Chen Cheng.

The next day, Chen Cheng arrived at the Ruyi Ward branch office of the City Guard Office, located in the heart of Ruyi Ward, with a long knife at his waist.

Liao San had already been waiting outside the office.

"A-Cheng, I'm afraid there may be some changes regarding the reserve constable quota." Liao San said indignantly.

Seeing how serious he was, Chen Cheng frowned and asked, "What happened?"