Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Threat
Fang Rui, a Legitimate Son of the Fang Family.
Although he wasn’t among those the Fang Family was grooming to be a successor, his status was still far beyond what an ordinary person could imagine. He was incredibly prominent!
Now, Fang Rui had committed a crime and was being escorted to the South City Prison. A large contingent of Fang Family Guards had gathered, putting immense pressure on the prison guards and constables of the South City Prison.
As an Inner City Noble Family, the Fang Family’s Guards naturally possessed impressive Martial Arts Realms. Even the most ordinary among them had the strength of the Qi Blood Second Layer.
The one leading them was an expert at the Qi Blood Sixth Layer.
The prisoner cart arrived at the entrance of the South City Prison. The constables were about to unchain Fang Rui and lead him inside.
"Get your filthy hands off me! I’ll walk myself!"
Fang Rui shouted at the approaching constables, stepping down from the prisoner cart with an arrogant expression. Judging by his demeanor, he looked less like a prisoner under escort and more like a local tyrant throwing his weight around.
The surrounding Fang Family Guards stared with gazes so intense they felt tangible. The few constables trembled, not daring to step forward for a moment.
"Hmph! A bunch of useless, mud-caked peasants!"
Fang Rui’s face was full of contempt. ’To think that on a rare outing for some fun, I’d run into a few lowly commoners and have my mood ruined. I killed them on a whim, nothing out of the ordinary.’
’I can’t believe I actually got arrested by constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office.’
’Don’t they know who I am?!’
’Where did this Outer City Garrison Command get such audacity?! Who gave the order to arrest me?!’
’If I find out who it was, hmph, hmph...’
’I’ll show them a fate worse than death!’
Fang Rui stepped down from the prisoner cart like a triumphant hero. The prison guards of the South City Prison watched him nervously, not daring to make any sudden moves.
"A bunch of trash!"
Fang Rui sneered, looking at the surrounding prison guards.
Some of the prison guards’ faces flushed then paled, but they didn’t dare to react.
Seeing their reactions, Fang Rui grew even more smug.
He decided not to go inside after all and just wait there for word from the Outer City Garrison Command. His family was already handling the matter. He believed it wouldn’t be long before there was a result, and he could walk out with his name cleared.
’Might as well wait for the news right here!’
Fang Rui didn’t move, and the constables present didn’t dare to move either. For a moment, the scene fell silent.
"What’s going on? Why haven’t you brought the prisoner in yet?"
A voice rang out, breaking the silence.
Fang Rui looked up, wanting to see which audacious bootlicker dared to speak like that. As he raised his head, he saw a young man in Fish Scale Armor walking slowly out from the entrance.
"Lord Chen!"
"Lord Chen!"
One after another, greetings rang out. The prison guards on the scene looked at Chen Ping’an as if they had just seen their savior.
Fang Rui looked at Chen Ping’an with disdain. "And who are you?"
Chen Ping’an ignored Fang Rui and instead glanced around.
"The prisoner is at the gate, and you’re all just standing here watching?! Constable Min, seize him!"
Constable Min forced himself to reply, "Yes, sir."
With that, he stepped forward, his hands reaching directly for Fang Rui.
"Young Master Fang, my apologies."
"Get lost!"
When had Fang Rui ever been subjected to such disrespect?
Even the prisoner cart that had just brought him here, while called a prisoner cart, was in fact just a regular horse-drawn carriage!
As a Legitimate Son of the Fang Family, who would dare to humiliate him?
Fang Rui’s imposing aura flared, and for a moment, Constable Min found himself unable to act.
"Constable Min?"
A hint of displeasure had crept into Chen Ping’an’s voice.
Constable Min glanced at Chen Ping’an, recalled his usual commanding presence, and gritted his teeth. He mobilized his Qi and Blood Power and directly restrained Fang Rui.
Fang Rui, who was accustomed to a life of luxury, had never endured such hardship. He immediately cried out.
"Sir, you’ve gone too far!"
The leader of the Fang Family Guards threw a palm strike straight at Constable Min.
"Hmph!"
Chen Ping’an snorted coldly. He took a step forward and thrust out a palm to intercept.
BAM!
The two fiercely clashed palms in mid-air.
The immense force sent the attacker stumbling backward. He retreated a full five steps before he could barely halt his momentum.
Chen Ping’an, in contrast, didn’t move an inch after receiving the blow, standing his ground like a solid rock.
"You..."
The lead Guard felt his internal Qi and Blood fall into disarray.
’I’ve run into a tough one!’
"Are you trying to challenge the authority of the Daqian Law?"
Chen Ping’an looked at the lead Fang Family Guard expressionlessly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the other guards behind him.
"This is a major felon whose crimes are heinous. Anyone who dares to interfere again will be treated as attempting a prison break! According to Daqian Law, those who attempt a prison break are to be executed on the spot!"
"Take him away!"
"Yes, sir!"
Constable Min acknowledged the order and escorted Fang Rui into the prison.
"Let me go, let me go! I didn’t commit a crime! I’m innocent! The Outer City Garrison Command is about to declare me innocent!"
Fang Rui shouted at the top of his lungs.
The lead Fang Family Guard wanted to intervene again but hesitated, mindful of Chen Ping’an’s earlier words. After all, if he were truly accused of attempting a prison break, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough to pay the price.
’The Young Master is just going inside for a short while. He’ll definitely be out by the end of the day. There’s no need to risk everything.’
"Stop!"
A voice called out from a distance outside the prison.
Constable Min subconsciously began to stop. Chen Ping’an shot him a look, and a jolt went through him. He immediately continued walking through the gate without pausing.
At that moment, the speaker passed through the crowd of Fang Family Guards, revealing himself.
It was an acquaintance of Chen Ping’an: the Fang Family’s Steward, Fang Shicheng.
"Steward Fang, Steward Fang!"
Seeing the newcomer, Fang Rui yelled loudly.
"Let me go! I’m innocent! I’m about to be declared innocent!"
Chen Ping’an said nothing. Not daring to slow down in the slightest, Constable Min ignored Fang Rui and walked straight through the gate.
"Lord Chen, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to run into you here again."
Fang Shicheng said to Chen Ping’an with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He truly hadn’t expected that the young brat who had rejected the Fang Family’s recruitment offer would appear here.
Chen Ping’an’s expression was calm. "Ah, so it’s Steward Fang."
"Lord Chen, my Young Master’s charges will soon be cleared. The families of the victims are willing to forgive him, and the Outer City Garrison Command is already processing the paperwork to drop the charges. I hope you can be accommodating. Let our Young Master rest outside for a bit; there’s no need to lock him in a cell. My Fang Family would be eternally grateful."
Fang Shicheng spoke with an air of superiority. He had made the situation clear: the victims’ families weren’t pressing charges, and even the Outer City Garrison Command was willing to drop the case and was just going through the motions. He refused to believe that Chen Ping’an would dare to disrespect the Fang Family.
’If he takes the easy way out I’m offering, he, Chen Ping’an, can still save some face.’
’If not? Then don’t blame the Fang Family for being ruthless!’
"Steward Fang, I don’t care how you’ve communicated with the Outer City Garrison Command! As long as Fang Rui’s crimes have not been officially pardoned, he is still a criminal. And as a criminal, he must be locked in the great prison. It is my duty, so I’m afraid I cannot help you!"
"Lord Chen... having a sense of responsibility is a good thing, but sometimes, too much pressure on one’s shoulders can crush a man! This matter concerns my Fang Family’s Young Master. I hope you can be accommodating!"
Fang Shicheng’s eyes were fixed on Chen Ping’an. His tone carried a veiled threat.
Hearing Fang Shicheng’s words, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh.
’Never mind the fact that I’m about to break through to the Third Stage of Inner Qi, the Celestial Rain Falling Realm. Even with my current Martial Arts Realm, I’m not someone a mere steward from the insignificant Fang Family can threaten!’
"Heh, threatening me? You think you’re worthy?!"
Chen Ping’an shot Fang Shicheng a glance and a sharp rebuke, then turned and walked away without looking back.
He left Fang Shicheng standing there, his face dark and gloomy.
