Chai Rang of the Three Harmonies Gang

"Thank you, living bodhisattva, thank you..." Lin Qing strode on. Behind him, in the narrow alley, the old woman kept kowtowing and murmuring those words.

As Lin Qing walked farther away, her words still echoed in his ears. He sighed in silence.

"The Han Family is in league with the Bai'e Cult. Who knows how many ordinary people they've harmed in secret? As long as the Han Family stands, the people will never see the sun above their heads."

Lost in thought, Lin Qing headed home. Before long, he reached his door. He was about to push it open when he heard a man's shrill voice inside.

"Old Lin, I advise you to hand it over quickly. Otherwise, I'll break your legs!" In the courtyard, a yellow-bearded man in his forties, wearing a brown robe, glared viciously at Lin Cheng.

Beside him, Han Ying looked terrified and clutched Lin Cheng's arm. Lin Cheng kept his eyes on the yellow-bearded man and said slowly, "Gang Leader Chai, I don't have what you want. Please leave at once!"

Chai Rang frowned. "Old Lin, you must be tired of living."

At Chai Rang's side, a short, stocky man with a face as black as coal snarled, "Boss, don't waste your breath. I'll take one of his arms and see if he can still talk tough."

Outside the gate, anger surged through Lin Qing. The yellow-bearded man was no good. He was the leader of the Three Harmonies Gang. In his youth, he had loafed about, learned nothing useful, and often stooped to petty theft. He had been thrown in jail several times for stealing, then joined the Three Harmonies Gang. He had proved capable enough, becoming its leader in just a few years.

Lin Qing had always loathed people like him. Hearing Chai Rang threaten his parents now stirred a murderous urge in him.

With that, Lin Qing pushed open the courtyard gate.

"Chai Rang, disappear from my sight within three breaths, or I'll show you what the magistrate's Eight Strikes of the Spirit Snake can do."

Chai Rang spun around. Seeing Lin Qing, he smiled. "So Brother Lin is back. I heard your father once acquired an Eight-Armed Three-Faced Orchidwood Statue. Hand over that Wooden Idol, and I'll leave right away."

Lin Qing ignored him. "I'll say it again. Disappear from my sight within three breaths."

Chai Rang's smile vanished. "Lin Qing, don't think I'm afraid of you just because you work for the magistrate. The Three Harmonies Gang isn't easy to push around, either. The magistrate's office is offering four hundred taels for that Wooden Idol. I won't give up."

Lin Qing's expression remained unchanged, but something felt wrong. He was a Constable of the Soul-Calming Office and Yang Feng's direct disciple. Chai Rang had to know that. By rights, the leader of a small gang would not dare provoke him. Yet Chai Rang spoke as though he had nothing to fear. There had to be something behind this. Perhaps Jiang Baihe was stirring up trouble again.

As Lin Qing considered this, the burly, black-faced man behind Chai Rang said coldly, "Boss, enough talk. Let's all go at him. One good beating will make him behave."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Qing struck first. He flicked his hand, and several stones shot from his palm with a whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, fanning out toward Chai Rang and the others.

Chai Rang reacted fastest. He darted aside and dodged them.

His followers were not so capable. Stones struck them in the cheeks, and they toppled to the ground. Some clutched their faces and rolled about; others passed out on the spot.

Chai Rang stared hard at Lin Qing, his expression shifting. Then he burst out laughing. "What precise Flying Stone Technique. Impressive."

As he spoke, he kicked one of the unconscious thugs beside him.

"Useless, all of you. Can't even withstand a single stone. Let's go!"

Chai Rang turned and left the courtyard. The unconscious thug was carried out after him.

Lin Qing watched them go without striking again. It had only been a minor clash. If he killed them all in broad daylight, the magistrate's office would likely give him trouble.

But letting them leave now did not mean the matter was over.

His family had always been his reverse scale. No one was allowed to touch them. In his mind, Chai Rang and the others had already been sentenced to death.

"No rush. There will be plenty of chances," Lin Qing murmured.

Lin Cheng let out a breath of relief. "Ah Qing, it's a good thing you came back. We'd have been in serious trouble today. But that Wooden Idol..."

"Father, walls have ears. Don't speak carelessly. Keep this buried in your stomach forever. Let's talk inside," Lin Qing said.

"All right."

The three went inside, and Lin Qing sat down at a wooden table.

"How did Chai Rang find this place?" Lin Qing asked.

"Don't get me started. That bastard's gone mad lately. At the slightest scrap of rumor, he shows up to harass people. The day before yesterday, his men turned Old Qi's house next door upside down. The main reason is that the magistrate's reward keeps rising. It's reached four hundred taels. Chai Rang's a notorious gambler, and I heard he lost big again recently. He must be desperate for money," Lin Cheng said.

Lin Qing nodded slightly, took off his waist badge, and set it on the table.

"Keep this badge. It'll make any thugs who come knocking think twice," Lin Qing said.

"There's no need, Ah Qing. The thugs around here know who you are. Hardly anyone comes looking for trouble anymore. Today was the first time in a long while," Lin Cheng said, trying to decline.

"Take it. The outer city has grown even more chaotic. Other thugs might come. I'll find a way to buy a home in the Inner City as soon as I can," Lin Qing said.

"All right." Lin Cheng nodded and accepted the badge.

Elsewhere.

Not far from Lin Qing's home, a tall willow tree stood at the mouth of an alley. Chai Rang and a large group of his men had gathered beneath it.

"Boss, why didn't you cripple him?" one man asked.

"Cripple my ass! You idiot, are you trying to get me killed? Lin Qing can fight, and he has Yang Feng behind him. If we'd really gone at him, we'd have been the ones to suffer." Chai Rang glared at the man and gave him a hard kick.

"What do we do now?" another asked.

"Hou San, are you certain Old Lin once received a Three-Faced Buddha Statue?" Chai Rang turned to a thin man beside him.

"I saw it with my own eyes. Though I don't know if it's the one they want," Hou San said.

"Master Chai, why not let it go? That kid's no ordinary man," someone urged.

"An important patron specifically asked for that Wooden Idol. If I find it, I'll gain a tremendous reward," Chai Rang said grimly. "If we can't do it openly, we'll do it in secret. We move tonight."

Night fell.

In the rear courtyard of the Lin Family General Store, a pair of wooden doors was kicked open. Seven or eight men poured in.

"Search the place!" Chai Rang, at their head, waved a hand, and the seven men behind him started toward the courtyard.

Before they could enter, a figure leaped down from the roof and snapped out a hand.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

A series of dull thuds followed. All seven men fell, clutching their heads as they rolled and howled.

Chai Rang's heart jolted. He had not expected Lin Qing to be waiting there all along.

"You dare break into a private home at night?" Lin Qing stared coldly at Chai Rang.

Chai Rang's face turned savage. "I'll kill you!"