Yunfeng Takes Action

"Such a thing actually happened?"

Liu Yunfeng's expression darkened abruptly, his stern face tinged with anger.

In Linji Prefecture City, the City Guard Office was both the keeper of public order and the enforcer of the law, wielding supreme authority and prestige. No one was allowed to offend it.

Not to mention Catchers—even constables and reserve constables, once entered into the City Guard Office roster, became City Guard Office men and received its protection.

It had always been the City Guard Office that moved against others; never had anyone heard of someone daring to lay hands on a City Guard Office man.

"Do you know who they are?"

Chen Cheng answered truthfully, "The people who followed me before were all very careful and never gave me a chance to get close, so I had no way of knowing.

"However, the person following me on the street yesterday had his identity exposed by one of my tricks. His clothes bore the mark of the Flying Eagle Gang, so he should have been one of theirs."

"Flying Eagle Gang—what gall!" Liu Yunfeng's face turned even colder. His tall frame abruptly straightened, and the ferocious aura of a Skin-Tempering Realm martial artist at completion burst forth, like a savage beast ready to choose someone and devour them.

It was Chen Cheng's first time seeing the forceful side of this Catcher from the Ruyi Ward branch office, and he felt a measure of admiration.

Anyone who could rise to the position of Catcher was no ordinary person.

"The one targeting you must be that Hall Master Zhou Biao under Cao Fei, then?"

Liu Yunfeng naturally knew about Zhou Biao's men breaking into the Chen residence at night. But Chen Cheng had not yet been a City Guard Office man then, nor had he suffered any losses. Since the Flying Eagle Gang had remained well-behaved afterward, Liu Yunfeng had not pursued the matter.

But now, Chen Cheng was already a City Guard Office man—Liu Yunfeng's subordinate. If the Flying Eagle Gang still dared set its sights on Chen Cheng, it was no different from provoking Liu Yunfeng himself.

Chen Cheng nodded. "The only one who would want to deal with me should be Zhou Biao."

"Go notify Liao San. Have him gather every man in our squad." After only a brief moment of thought, Liu Yunfeng made his decision.

"Yes." Chen Cheng acknowledged and went out to find Liao San.

As one of the most formidable Catchers in the Ruyi Ward branch office, Liu Yunfeng had the largest number of constables under his command.

In only a quarter of an hour, nearly forty constables had assembled in the Ruyi Ward branch office, forming two rows with a great rustle.

All of them wore long sabers at their waists, stood ramrod straight, and bore solemn expressions, their imposing momentum bristling with aggression.

Seeing such a grand formation, the constables from the various squads in the Ruyi Ward branch office were secretly alarmed, wondering whether some major case had arisen.

Once his men had gathered, Liu Yunfeng said nothing. He merely waved his hand and took the lead in striding out of the office.

The Flying Eagle Gang's headquarters was not within the streets under Liu Yunfeng's jurisdiction. After crossing two main streets and turning through three alleys, the group arrived before a deep, secluded lane.

At the mouth of the lane, more than ten Flying Eagle Gang members in fitted outfits, long sabers in hand, stood guard.

When they saw so many government constables suddenly arrive, each one fierce as a wolf or tiger and brimming with murderous momentum, the gang members instantly went pale. Their legs trembled like sieves, and they could barely remain standing.

Could these constables be here to wipe out the Flying Eagle Gang?

One leading gang member immediately turned and sprinted into the alley.

Liu Yunfeng swept out a hand.

"Take them all down!"

The constables surged forward like a pack of wolves pouncing on prey. How could the Flying Eagle Gang members dare resist? They threw down their long sabers and fled in panic, clutching their heads.

But how could they compare to the elite constables of the City Guard Office? Before they had run more than a few steps, every one of them was brought down, followed by a vicious beating.

The City Guard Office constables were no soft targets. They struck with extreme brutality—fists to the heart, kicks to the head, even saber backs chopping down on arms and legs without the slightest restraint.

The Flying Eagle Gang leader who had tried to run back and raise the alarm was also caught by Liao San. Liao San was even more ruthless. One slash severed the man's lower leg, then another blow with the flat of the saber smashed across his cheek and knocked him unconscious. Liao San then drove several heavy kicks into his chest, breaking his ribs outright.

For a time, cries of agony, pleas for mercy, and wails of despair echoed through the entire alley.

Liu Yunfeng strode forward in great steps. After viciously beating the dozen or so gang members, the constables followed close behind.

The Flying Eagle Gang members guarding the gate had long since been scared out of their wits. They did not even have time to shut the gates before fleeing in panic into the compound.

Once inside, they saw sixty or seventy Flying Eagle Gang members holding long sabers and guarding the plaza in the front courtyard, every face grave as though confronting a great enemy.

"Who dares trespass into my Flying Eagle Gang's grounds?"

Just then, an angry roar rang out.

The Flying Eagle Gang members opened a path, and Gang Leader Cao Fei arrived from the rear courtyard with the hall masters under him.

Cao Fei wore a brocade robe and had a fat, broad-shouldered, thick-waisted build. His face was covered in a thick beard, and he carried an enormous demon-head broadsword.

A massive goshawk perched on his shoulder. Its gaze was sharp, and at a glance it was clearly a fierce bird of prey.

"So it was Catcher Liu who had the nerve to storm my Flying Eagle Gang's grounds. Cao Fei failed to welcome you from afar!"

After recognizing the visitor, Cao Fei cupped his fists. The flesh on his fat face quivered repeatedly, and beneath his bell-like eyes lurked both anger and confusion.

The Flying Eagle Gang had always stayed out of the City Guard Office's waters, and it paid every last coin of its customary dues to the City Guard Office.

He truly could not understand why Liu Yunfeng had suddenly brought men here.

Could the Flying Eagle Gang have offended the City Guard Office? That was impossible. The Flying Eagle Gang might dare provoke anyone, but it would never dare provoke the City Guard Office.

Even taking a step back, if some blind fool of a gang member had committed an offense, Liu Yunfeng should not have been the one to come.

After all, the Flying Eagle Gang's headquarters was not in Liu Yunfeng's jurisdiction.

Liu Yunfeng's expression was stern as he said flatly, "Gang Leader Cao, your Flying Eagle Gang is truly arrogant."

Cao Fei did not understand. "Catcher Liu, my Flying Eagle Gang has always followed the rules and treated the City Guard Office with utmost respect. How can you call us arrogant?"

Liu Yunfeng snorted coldly. "Gang Leader Cao, since you know to treat the City Guard Office with respect, then let me ask you this: where did your Flying Eagle Gang get the nerve to target one of my brothers?"

Cao Fei's brow twitched, and his confusion deepened. "Catcher Liu, could there be some misunderstanding?"

"Ah Cheng," Liu Yunfeng called.

Chen Cheng hurried forward. "Chief Liu."

Liu Yunfeng said, "Tell Gang Leader Cao. Was it the Flying Eagle Gang that tried to harm you?"

Chen Cheng glanced at Zhou Biao behind Cao Fei. "Not long ago, two of Hall Master Zhou Biao's men broke into my home at night. I killed one of them, while the other escaped wounded.

"Over these past days, Flying Eagle Gang members have frequently watched my movements in secret. If I had not been careful and cautious, I fear I would have already fallen victim to them."

When Cao Fei saw Chen Cheng's gray uniform, it was clear that he was merely a reserve constable. Liu Yunfeng had actually come to his doorstep over a reserve constable, and anger rose in Cao Fei's heart.

But if Zhou Biao had truly attempted to deal with a City Guard Office man, then Zhou Biao had indeed been in the wrong first.

"Zhou Biao, is this true?"

The moment Zhou Biao saw Chen Cheng, he knew matters had gone badly. He hurriedly leaned close to Cao Fei's ear and quietly explained his grudge with Chen Cheng.

After finishing, he added, "Gang Leader, when Tian Qi and the others broke into the Chen residence at night, Chen Cheng was not yet a City Guard Office man.

"As for what came afterward, I sought Zhao Catcher's instructions. Zhao Catcher said that as long as it was done discreetly, and Chen Cheng was killed without anyone knowing, naturally no one would find out.

"Even if the City Guard Office traced the matter back to us, Zhao Catcher could suppress it."

After hearing the full chain of events, Cao Fei was both shocked and furious, his expression shifting between light and shadow.