I'm Afraid Lord Zhao Will Misunderstand

"Lord Zhao, I'll never dare again, never again."

Ma Dazhong clutched his right hand, its knuckle bones shattered and wrist red, swollen, and congested with blood, begging for mercy through snot and tears.

Zhao Zhi looked down at Ma Dazhong from above. "Incense money? I never knew that, aside from the court's taxes, there was such a thing as incense money. Could it be that your Gray Snake Gang is even more formidable than the court?"

"No, no, no! I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

Ma Dazhong's expression changed drastically as he cried out.

How had collecting a little incense money become connected to the court?

In all of Qingfeng County, it was not only their Gray Snake Gang that collected incense money. The other gangs collected it as well.

The Gray Snake Gang was merely a small gang. It could not even compare to Qingfeng County's Evergreen Gang, much less be mentioned in the same breath as the court.

"Whether you dare or not isn't for you to decide." Zhao Zhi casually kicked Ma Dazhong to the ground. "Come. Take me to the Gray Snake Gang so I can meet your gang leader and see whether he has the nerve."

"Ow... huh?"

Ma Dazhong, baring his teeth in pain, froze when he heard Zhao Zhi's words.

Meet the gang leader?

Was Zhao Zhi courting death?

The gang leader had broken through to Postnatal Perfection the day before yesterday. In all of Qingfeng County, he could be considered a figure of some standing, and the entire Gray Snake Gang was riding high with soaring spirits.

That was precisely why Ma Dazhong and the others had come out to collect incense money again.

For a blue-uniformed constable to seek out the gang leader was nothing but seeking death.

Zhao Zhi said calmly, "Could it be that you don't know where your gang leader is?"

"I know. I'll take you there right away."

Ma Dazhong struggled to climb to his feet and headed outside.

[You stopped a thug from committing evil deeds. Merit +5.]

[You taught a thug to cooperate with a constable. Merit +3.]

Zhao Zhi glanced at the notifications on the panel, his expression calm as though nothing had happened.

A few points were still better than nothing.

He followed Ma Dazhong.

"Zhao Zhi, are you really going?" Luo Dashan grabbed Zhao Zhi by the shoulder.

Zhao Zhi smiled faintly. "I'm going to reason with them. It's nothing."

"Reason with them?" Luo Dashan frowned deeply and lowered his voice. "They're the Gray Snake Gang. If you get trapped in the Gray Snake Gang, given the magistrate's current relationship with you, he won't send anyone to save you."

"I know my limits."

Zhao Zhi smiled and walked forward.

Luo Dashan watched Zhao Zhi's departing back, his face conflicted.

No.

Uncle Zhao had shown me kindness. I can't let Zhao Zhi throw his life away.

I'll return to the yamen and bring reinforcements.

If the magistrate refuses, then I'll find whoever I can.

Luo Dashan hurried away.

As a small gang within Qingfeng County, the Gray Snake Gang controlled seven or eight streets. Its main businesses were collecting protection fees and running gambling dens.

Zhao Zhi stood before the Gray Snake Gang's grand residence, a ghostly glimmer flowing in the depths of his eyes.

Even a petty Gray Snake Gang could build such a large residence. What about the Evergreen Gang, Qingfeng County's number one gang?

Beyond the Evergreen Gang, there were also the various local gentry.

Ma Dazhong exchanged a few words with the two gang members at the entrance.

And so.

Zhao Zhi walked inside beneath the fierce, vicious stares of the Gray Snake Gang members.

Gray Snake Gang's main hall.

The gang leader, Lei Jue, was a middle-aged man with thick brows, tiger-like eyes, a broad mouth, and prominent teeth.

There was a scar at the corner of his eye, left behind from when he had fought others for the position of Gray Snake Gang leader in his youth. It remained there to this day.

First on the lower left sat the deputy gang leader, Wei Quan; second was hall master Yang Mingqi. First on the lower right was hall master Jiang Guang; second was hall master Zou Changqun.

Two other hall masters were absent, as they were not currently in the Gray Snake Gang.

Everyone turned to look at Zhao Zhi in unison, baleful light flickering in their eyes. An invisible pressure crashed down like waves, enveloping Zhao Zhi.

Only one person was an exception.

That was Zou Changqun.

The instant Zou Changqun saw Zhao Zhi, his expression changed drastically. Remembering how Zhao Zhi had casually slain Ge Zhou, the Fourth Chief of Cloudflight Mountain, yesterday, his legs began trembling uncontrollably.

Wu Meng, standing behind Zou Changqun, was likewise pale-faced and trembling with fear.

"You're the one who came to the Gray Snake Gang to demand an explanation?"

Lei Jue sat imposingly in his chair, his powerful upper body leaning slightly forward, like a towering mountain bearing down upon them. His gaze was sharp, his vicious aura surging forth as he stared straight at Zhao Zhi.

A blue-uniformed constable?

Though his Gray Snake Gang could not compare with the Evergreen Gang, it was not somewhere a mere blue-uniformed constable could humiliate.

It seemed that his period of seclusion had made the people of Qingfeng County forget what the Gray Snake Gang leader was capable of.

"Yes." Zhao Zhi's voice was calm. "Only the court has the right to levy taxes. There is no such thing as incense money. The Gray Snake Gang forcibly extorts incense money from the common people and disregards the court's laws. Are you trying to place yourselves above the court?"

He skillfully slapped a huge charge onto them.

As the Gray Snake Gang leader, Lei Jue had weathered many storms and was deeply shrewd. He would not rush to defend himself over a single sentence from Zhao Zhi like Ma Dazhong had.

He grinned, exposing rows of gleaming white teeth. "A mere blue-uniformed constable like you has no right to invoke the court. My Gray Snake Gang does forcibly demand incense money. What are you going to do about it?"

"It's enough that you admit it." Zhao Zhi shifted his gaze from Lei Jue to the other Gray Snake Gang members, slowly sweeping across them. "Did all of you participate as well?"

Deputy gang leader Wei Quan and hall masters Yang Mingqi and Jiang Guang met Zhao Zhi's gaze with cold smiles, offering no reply.

"I did not participate."

Zou Changqun immediately rose to his feet, righteous and stern.

He glanced at Zhao Zhi's expression again before adding, "I am Zou Changqun. From today—no, from this very moment onward—I am leaving the Gray Snake Gang. I will have no further ties with the Gray Snake Gang."

Wei Quan, Yang Mingqi, and Jiang Guang all stared at Zou Changqun in astonishment.

This man had done no small number of things lately in pursuit of the deputy gang leader position. Why was he suddenly declaring today that he wanted to betray the Gray Snake Gang?

Upon hearing this, Lei Jue's gloomy expression seemed capable of dripping water. He turned a frosty gaze toward Zou Changqun. "Zou Changqun, what did you say?"

"I made myself very clear." Zou Changqun drew in his stomach and puffed out his chest, looking righteousness incarnate. "I, Zou Changqun, am leaving the Gray Snake Gang from this day forth and will have no connection to it again. Gang Leader Lei, don't look at me. I'm afraid Lord Zhao will misunderstand."

Lei Jue's mouth twitched.

Afraid Lord Zhao would misunderstand?

"Lord Zhao?" Yang Mingqi stood up and curled his lip. "Zou Changqun, a mere blue-uniformed constable has frightened you into this state. You have no qualifications to be a hall master of the Gray Snake Gang, much less deputy gang leader." He then turned to Lei Jue and cupped his fists. "Gang Leader, allow this subordinate to seize Zhao Zhi and let him learn the Gray Snake Gang's power."

"Mm."

Lei Jue nodded coldly.

Yang Mingqi had also wanted to compete for the deputy gang leader position, but Zou Changqun had a good reputation in the gang and left a favorable impression on Gang Leader Lei. Yang Mingqi's chances had not been great.

Now that Zou Changqun had cut off his own retreat, he could hardly blame Yang Mingqi for rising to the top.

Yang Mingqi turned toward Zhao Zhi and said coldly, "Zhao Zhi, a mere blue-uniformed constable dares to run wild in the Gray Snake Gang. Then don't blame this hall master for showing no mercy."

The words had barely left his mouth.

Yang Mingqi suddenly moved, charging toward Zhao Zhi like a gale, intending to take Zhao Zhi down in a single move.

Yet unexpectedly.

Before his attack could land on Zhao Zhi, Zhao Zhi's sharply jointed fingers abruptly filled his vision. They clamped onto his face like iron pincers, swiftly dissolving all the force in Yang Mingqi's body before lifting him up like a torn sack.