Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Interlude
In an office in the South City Prison, Zeng Jihe was reporting to Chen Ping’an about what happened last night.
Upon hearing what happened to the two, Chen Ping’an nodded slightly and offered Xiaozeng a few words of encouragement.
"It’s all part of the job, Chief. It was my duty."
Chen Ping’an had assigned them to protect Chen Erya, so of course they were present when classes ended last night. After seeing Chen Ping’an’s hand signal, they knew exactly what to do.
Chen Erya, however, knew nothing about this.
Nor did Chen Ping’an want her to know. It was best for him to handle some things himself.
’She’s a child; all she needs to do is focus on her studies. Let the adults deal with all the messy business!’
’I wonder what she’ll think when she goes to Cangsong Academy today and finds that Winter Flower is "on leave."’
"Keep an eye on the situation and eliminate any potential threats immediately."
"Yes."
"Alright, you’re dismissed."
Chen Ping’an said with a wave of his hand.
Zeng Jihe bowed and left the office, carefully pulling the door shut behind him.
’Power...’
Chen Ping’an shook his head, putting the matter out of his mind.
...
「Half a month flew by in the blink of an eye.」
In that time, Chen Ping’an’s power had become increasingly consolidated. With Mu Wanjun’s support, the last vestiges of Zhu Qirong’s influence were completely erased.
However, his feud with Fu Yuanming was now set in stone.
The South City Prison Chief needed to go to the South Town Garrison Command every few days to report on his work.
The South Town Garrison Command also held a mandatory monthly meeting, which was attended by the heads of every department, from the Inspectorates of the various neighborhoods to the major Task Rooms.
Chen Ping’an had attended one such meeting during this time.
At this meeting, he ran into Tian Fuliang again. Judging by his energy and demeanor, something good was clearly on the horizon for him. It likely wouldn’t be long before the word "acting" was dropped from his title of acting Inspector.
After the meeting, Tian Fuliang was exceptionally courteous to Chen Ping’an. Unlike before, his politeness now seemed genuine, not merely a formality.
It seemed word of what happened with Zhu Qirong had spread throughout the entire South District.
A young man who had just come of age yet had already reached the Qi Blood Sixth Layer—his future was clearly limitless.
As long as there were no conflicts of interest, most would be eager to get on the good side of such a man.
"Lord Chen, you should come back and see us more often."
"Of course, I will."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they went their separate ways.
As Chen Ping’an was leaving the Garrison Commandant’s Office, he happened to run into Fu Yuanming, who was also just leaving. Fu Yuanming’s expression showed nothing out of the ordinary as he looked at Chen Ping’an.
But Chen Ping’an could feel the chill emanating from the man.
Their animosity was now out in the open, a tangible thing between them. Even so, Chen Ping’an was a master at keeping up appearances and still cupped his fist in salute.
"Lord Fu."
"Hn."
Fu Yuanming gave a slight nod in reply.
There was no room for compromise in the conflict between Fu Yuanming and Mu Wanjun. It naturally followed that there was no possibility of compromise between Chen Ping’an and Fu Yuanming either.
Of course, in the eyes of most, Chen Ping’an and Fu Yuanming were not even in the same league.
This was for the best, as it gave Chen Ping’an plenty of time to grow stronger.
With his current Cultivation, he might have a slight edge over Fu Yuanming, but he held no absolute advantage. Moreover, when it came to power and influence, he was still no match for him.
Two days after the South Town Garrison Command’s monthly meeting, Chen Ping’an happened to meet Xu Jin-kui again.
That day, as he was heading home after finishing his duties, he ran into Xu Jin-kui at the entrance to a restaurant. By the looks of it, Xu Jin-kui was waiting for someone.
"Landlord Xu!"
Chen Ping’an greeted him with a smile.
"Young Master Chen!"
Xu Jin-kui looked up, saw Chen Ping’an, and replied with a smile. It seemed forced, however, and he looked preoccupied with worry.
Chen Ping’an asked, "Waiting for someone, Landlord Xu?"
Xu Jin-kui cupped his fist. "Indeed, Young Master Chen. I am hosting a banquet today for an important figure from the South City Prison."
"An important figure from the South City Prison?"
Chen Ping’an’s curiosity was piqued.
Since this involved the South City Prison—his own jurisdiction—he was interested in finding out more.
’And besides...’
’Logically, there was no reason for a man like Xu Jin-kui to have any connection to the South City Prison. Why would he be meeting with a so-called "important figure" from there?’
At the mention of this, a bitter look crossed Xu Jin-kui’s face.
"It’s a long story."
"Oh?"
Chen Ping’an looked at him, all ears.
And so, Xu Jin-kui began to pour out his troubles to Chen Ping’an.
It turned out that, in addition to a daughter, Xu Jin-kui also had a son named Xu Renchang. In sharp contrast to his well-behaved daughter, his son was a delinquent who spent his days indulging in debauchery and idleness.
Just the other day, his son had gotten into a street brawl. Apparently, it was over a woman from a brothel. Xu Renchang and his servants had gotten into a fight with the other party.
The commotion got so big that the patrolling constables had to step in and restrain them.
Both parties were injured in the fight, but nothing was too serious—mostly just cuts and bruises.
Normally, it wouldn’t have been a huge deal. Both sides would have been held at the local Garrison Commandant’s Office for a few days and then released.
Who would have thought, however, that the other party’s family had connections in the Garrison Commandant’s Office. That, combined with the fact that Xu Renchang had thrown the first punch, led to the situation escalating. He didn’t know how they’d pulled it off.
The other man was merely detained at the local Garrison Commandant’s Office, but Xu Renchang was thrown into the South City Prison.
The South City Prison... what kind of place was that?!
Being held at the local Garrison Commandant’s Office was just a temporary measure, a slap on the wrist. But the South City Prison... that was for serious criminals. Who knew when, or if, he’d ever be released.
Besides, the South City Prison had its own set of rules. Having clawed his way up from nothing, Xu Jin-kui knew all too well how dangerous the inner workings of a place like that could be.
If you didn’t grease the right palms, your food and water could be cut off. A perfectly healthy man could be locked up for a few days and turn into a bag of bones, barely breathing.
In a worse-case scenario, it wasn’t unheard of for someone to simply die in the South City Prison.
Prisoners dying in the South City Prison was a perfectly normal occurrence!
If that happened, it would be too late for Xu Jin-kui to even cry!
How could Xu Jin-kui remain calm at that thought?
Having clawed his way up, he had naturally built a considerable network of contacts. From the moment he learned Xu Renchang had been thrown into the South City Prison, he had been calling in every favor he could to try and get his son out.
After pulling several strings, he finally found an in with a Constable from the South City Prison.
That was why he was here today, hosting a banquet for that very Constable from the South City Prison.
A Constable!
With twenty to thirty strong men under his command and the authority of a Steward over his own section, he was a true figure of power.
Even though Xu Jin-kui had connections on both sides of the law and possessed considerable wealth and influence, he wouldn’t dare show the slightest disrespect to a Constable.
That was why he had been waiting at the restaurant’s entrance so early, awaiting the arrival of the Chief.
