I Fear Lord Zhao Might Misunderstand

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

Ma Dazhong clutched his right hand, its joints shattered and wrist swollen red with pooled blood, and begged for mercy through snot and tears.

Zhao Zhi looked down at Ma Dazhong. "Incense money? I never knew there was such a thing besides the taxes collected by the imperial court. Could it be that your Gray Snake Gang is even more powerful than the court?"

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

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

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

Throughout Qingfeng County, it was not just the Gray Snake Gang that collected incense money. Several other gangs did so as well.

The Gray Snake Gang was merely a minor gang. It could not even compare to Qingfeng County's Evergreen Gang, much less be mentioned in the same breath as the imperial 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. I want to meet your gang leader and see whether he has the nerve."

"Ow... huh?"

Ma Dazhong, who had been baring his teeth in pain, froze upon hearing Zhao Zhi's words.

Meet the gang leader?

Was Zhao Zhi courting death?

Their gang leader had broken through to the Postnatal Perfection realm the day before yesterday. In all of Qingfeng County, he could be considered a minor figure, and the entire Gray Snake Gang was riding high on the wind.

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 no different from 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 his feet and headed outside.

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

[You taught a hooligan 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 no matter. 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'll be fine."

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

"I know what I'm doing."

Zhao Zhi smiled and walked forward.

Luo Dashan watched Zhao Zhi's departing back, his face twisted with conflict.

No.

Uncle Zhao had shown me kindness. I can't let Zhao Zhi go to his death.

I'll return to the yamen and bring reinforcements.

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

Luo Dashan hurried away.

The Gray Snake Gang, as one of Qingfeng County's minor gangs, controlled seven or eight streets. Its main business was collecting protection fees and running gambling dens.

Zhao Zhi stood before the Gray Snake Gang's grand residence, a faint gleam shifting deep within his eyes.

Even a tiny Gray Snake Gang could build such an enormous 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.

Zhao Zhi then walked inside beneath the fierce, evil-eyed stares of the Gray Snake Gang members.

Inside the Gray Snake Gang's main hall.

Gang leader Lei Jue was a middle-aged man with thick brows, tiger eyes, a broad mouth, and sharp teeth.

A scar marked the corner of his eye. It had been left behind when he fought others for the position of Gray Snake Gang leader in his youth, and it remained there to this day.

The first seat on the lower left belonged to deputy gang leader Wei Quan, while the second belonged to hall master Yang Mingqi. The first seat on the lower right belonged to hall master Jiang Guang, while the second belonged to hall master Zou Changqun.

There were two other hall masters, but neither was present in the Gray Snake Gang.

Everyone turned to look at Zhao Zhi in unison. Fierce, baleful light flickered in their eyes, while an invisible pressure rolled down like tidal waves and engulfed him.

Only one person was an exception.

That person was Zou Changqun.

The instant Zou Changqun saw Zhao Zhi, his face changed wildly. Recalling how Zhao Zhi had effortlessly slain Ge Zhou, the fourth master of Cloudflight Mountain, yesterday, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

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

"So you're the one who came to the Gray Snake Gang seeking an explanation?"

Lei Jue sat in his chair with the bearing of a great general. His powerful upper body leaned slightly forward, as if a towering mountain were crushing down upon Zhao Zhi. His gaze was icy, his ferocity bursting forth as he stared fixedly at Zhao Zhi.

A blue-uniformed constable?

Though the Gray Snake Gang could not compare to the Evergreen Gang, it was not something some insignificant blue-uniformed constable could humiliate.

It seemed that his period of secluded cultivation had made the people of Qingfeng County forget the capabilities of the Gray Snake Gang's leader.

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

He expertly slapped a huge accusation onto them.

As the Gray Snake Gang's leader, Lei Jue had weathered many storms and was deeply calculating. Unlike Ma Dazhong, he would not rush to argue merely because of one sentence from Zhao Zhi.

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

"An admission is enough." Zhao Zhi's gaze shifted from Lei Jue to the other Gray Snake Gang members and slowly swept across them. "Did all of you take part 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 response.

"I did not participate."

Zou Changqun immediately rose to his feet, speaking with righteous indignation.

He glanced once more at Zhao Zhi's expression, then added, "I am Zou Changqun. From today—no, from this very moment onward—I leave the Gray Snake Gang. I will have no further ties with the Gray Snake Gang."

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

This fellow had done no small number of things recently in hopes of becoming deputy gang leader. Why was he suddenly declaring today that he wished to betray the Gray Snake Gang?

Lei Jue's face darkened as though water could drip from it. His gaze turned icy as he looked at Zou Changqun. "Zou Changqun, what did you say?"

"I was perfectly clear." Zou Changqun drew in his stomach, puffed out his chest, and spoke with awe-inspiring righteousness. "I, Zou Changqun, am leaving the Gray Snake Gang from this day forth and will have no connection with it again. Gang Leader Lei, don't look at me. I fear Lord Zhao might misunderstand."

Lei Jue's mouth twitched.

He feared Lord Zhao might misunderstand?

"Lord Zhao?" Yang Mingqi rose to his feet and curled his lip. "Zou Changqun, a mere blue-uniformed constable has frightened you into this state. Someone like you is utterly unqualified to be a Gray Snake Gang hall master, much less deputy gang leader." He then looked to Lei Jue and cupped his fists. "Gang Leader, allow this subordinate to take Zhao Zhi down and let him learn the Gray Snake Gang's might."

"Mm."

Lei Jue nodded coldly.

Yang Mingqi had also wanted to contend for the deputy gang leader position. Yet Zou Changqun had a good reputation within the gang and made a favorable impression on Gang Leader Lei, so Yang Mingqi's chances had not been great.

Now that Zou Changqun had cut off his own retreat, no one could 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 act recklessly in the Gray Snake Gang. Then don't blame this hall master for showing no mercy."

The moment his words fell, Yang Mingqi's body moved abruptly. He charged toward Zhao Zhi like a gale, intending to take him down in a single move.

But unexpectedly—

Before his attack could land on Zhao Zhi, Zhao Zhi's five distinct-knuckled fingers suddenly filled his vision. Like iron pincers, they clamped onto his face, swiftly dissolving all the strength in Yang Mingqi's body before lifting him like a tattered sack.