The sight of the blood-soaked ground and the headless corpse sent a chill through the residents of Locust Tree Lane. The legs of the more timid among them trembled uncontrollably.
The cut was clean and decisive. The thief's gruesome state was no different from a criminal beheaded by an executioner at the market square.
Everyone looked at Chen Cheng with dread. The handsome youth, his face now a stern mask, seemed like Yama, the king of hell, come to claim a soul, inspiring a fearful reverence.
Of course, no one sympathized with the thief. In their hearts, they were secretly cheering. At the same time, they felt a sense of relief; it was a good thing the intruder had targeted Ah Cheng's home. If it had been theirs, there was no telling what might have happened.
"Ah Cheng, what happened?"
The commotion in Locust Tree Lane had long since alerted the constables of the City Guard Department on night patrol, and they had rushed over at once.
Chen Cheng recognized the head constable. It was An Shichang, the same constable who had been with Liu Yunfeng last time.
"Brother An, my home was broken into."
After carefully examining the scene, An Shichang couldn't help but draw a sharp, cold breath.
Upon further inquiry, he learned that there had been two intruders armed with sabers who, after being discovered, had tried to kill the occupants. He was secretly alarmed.
If an ordinary person had encountered these two, their entire family would likely have been wiped out.
Yet Chen Cheng had emerged completely unscathed, having wounded one and killed the other. Such courage and strength were truly terrifying.
'No wonder Mr. Liu thought so highly of Ah Cheng before!' An Shichang thought to himself.
"Does anyone recognize this man?"
An Shichang raised his torch, illuminating the intruder's severed head.
"He looks like he's from the Flying Eagle Gang. I saw him a few days ago when he came to collect protection money."
Someone in the crowd muttered under their breath.
"The Flying Eagle Gang?" An Shichang's expression darkened.
Although members of Jianghu Gangs were tyrannical and bullied the common people, they usually didn't dare to commit crimes like breaking into homes at night to murder people. That was the bottom line for the City Guard Department's tolerance of their existence.
If any Jianghu Gang crossed that line, the consequences would be severe.
"Zhou Biao of the Flying Eagle Gang is at Widow Tian's house tonight. I saw him."
Another person in the crowd spoke quietly, disguising their voice.
When their lives and property were threatened, the common folk showed a surprising unity.
"Let's go!"
An Shichang said coldly, leading his group of constables toward Widow Tian's house.
Chen Cheng followed at the rear, secretly kicking the Long Saber dropped by the other intruder under the firewood rack.
In this day and age, a Long Saber wasn't cheap. A single one could cost over a dozen taels of silver.
...
At Widow Tian's house.
Inside,
...
"Master Biao, I have served you. Are you satisfied?"
Widow Tian said with a flirtatious charm.
"You little vixen, you're not bad at all," Zhou Biao chuckled sleazily.
A flash of hatred suddenly crossed Widow Tian's eyes. Nuzzling against his chest, she whined, "Master Biao, I'm your woman now. That Chen Er bullied me, but I haven't seen you stand up for me!"
Zhou Biao patted her. "You've said that many times, and of course I've taken it to heart. Chen Er is just a lowly Prison Guard. Crushing him is as easy as crushing an ant. I've already sent two of my men to take care of him for you tonight."
"Did you hear the commotion outside just now? Chen Er must have started fighting with my men. Those two have killed plenty of tough guys. They brought Long Sabers with them tonight. For that Chen Er to dare fight them, he's simply courting death. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be crippled for life."
"Tomorrow, you can just wait and see what a horrible death Chen Er meets."
Widow Tian was overjoyed. "Really?"
Zhou Biao replied with extreme confidence, "When I, Master Biao, decide to act, blood is always shed."
Just then, a loud BANG BANG BANG sounded from the door outside.
"Open the door! Open up now!"
...
"No need to wait for tomorrow. You'll probably see in a moment."
"Go open the door. If anyone asks, just say you don't know anything."
Zhou Biao said.
Widow Tian got up, dressed, and went out to open the courtyard gate. She scanned the crowd for a long while but didn't see Chen Cheng among them. Assuming he had been killed, she felt a surge of glee. Her face, however, feigned surprise. "Lord Officer, what's happened so late at night?"
"Tell Zhou Biao to come out," An Shichang said, his face grim.
"What is it?" Zhou Biao asked, slowly walking out while tying his pants.
An Shichang said coldly, "Your men broke into a home at night and tried to commit murder. You're coming with us."
"Lord Officer, I was sound asleep in my home. What my men do has nothing to do with me. Besides, how can you be so sure it was my men?" Assuming Chen Cheng was dead, Zhou Biao spread his hands with an innocent look on his face.
"Then take a good look and see if this is one of your men." An Shichang waved his hand, and a constable immediately brought the intruder's head over.
"Th-This is Tian Qi, isn't it? How did he die?" Zhou Biao's face turned pale with shock.
An Shichang snorted coldly. "As long as he's your man, that's enough. Come with us."
But Zhou Biao had already prepared for this. "Lord Officer, there's something you don't know. Tian Qi caused some trouble a couple of days ago and was already 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 status. If you at the City Guard Department have no evidence, you can't just arrest people indiscriminately."
An Shichang frowned. The deceased Tian Qi's clothes bore no Flying Eagle Gang markings. Now, with the man dead, there was no one to testify. For the moment, there was truly nothing he could do.
"There was another intruder. Once we catch him, we'll see what you have to say!"
"Then wait until you have your evidence. It's the middle of the night, and I have no mind for idle matters. Sleep is more important."
With that, Zhou Biao turned and headed back into the inner room.
An Shichang hesitated but didn't arrest Zhou Biao. Arresting him would be easy, but without evidence, he'd just have to be released. It would be a wasted effort.
Zhou Biao was a member of the Flying Eagle Gang. The man could run, but the gang couldn't hide. There was no need to worry about him escaping.
"Zhou Biao, you'd best restrain yourself. Starting tomorrow, Brother Ah Cheng will be one of us in the City Guard Department. If you dare to touch one of our own, you know the consequences better than I do!"
An Shichang added. As a veteran constable, he knew that tonight's events had been aimed at Chen Cheng.
Just then, Widow Tian finally caught sight of Chen Cheng at the back of the crowd. His face was stern, his eyes like daggers. She shivered in fright and hastily shut the courtyard gate.
An Shichang offered a few words of comfort to Chen Cheng, then had the constables drag away Tian Qi's body. The neighbors all returned to their own homes as well.
After washing the courtyard clean, Chen Cheng knocked on the bedroom door.
"Brother Cheng, what just happened?"
Mu Xiaowan, who had stayed in her room as Chen Cheng had told her, opened the door and threw herself into his arms, her voice full of worry.
Chen Cheng gently stroked her head and said softly, "It's nothing. Two intruders came, but I chased them off."
Mu Xiaowan was perceptive and knew Chen Cheng didn't want to worry her, so she didn't ask any more questions.
"Brother Cheng, there's blood on your clothes. I'll wash them for you."
She had still smelled the scent of blood on him.
...
The next day, Chen Cheng, with a Long Saber at his waist, hurried to the City Guard Department's Ruyi Square Sub-Office, located in the center of Ruyi District.
Liao San was already waiting at the Government Office entrance.
"Ah Cheng, there might be a complication with the Preparatory Constable position," Liao San said, his voice filled with righteous indignation.
Seeing his serious tone, Chen Cheng frowned and asked, "What's happened?"