Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Reporting
In the courtyard, Chen Ping’an’s mind was racing.
’The fact that Hairy Fish died at my hands must never be revealed. I can’t withstand any deep investigation right now!’
’But if I want to get the medium merit from the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, I have to report Hairy Fish’s death!’
’Anyone who can kill or capture him on the spot will be credited with a medium merit... Kill or capture! Hairy Fish is already dead, so capture is impossible! Kill, kill...’
’But I can’t reveal that I was the one who killed Hairy Fish! This... it’s a dead end. There’s no solution! Hmm! Wait...’
’What if I say I happened to find a barely-breathing Hairy Fish, then seized the opportunity to sneak attack and kill him? Would that be more plausible?’
As Chen Ping’an thought this, he glanced at Hairy Fish’s mangled neck and couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile.
If he said that, one look at the scene would expose the lie immediately. An injury this horrific could never have been caused by someone like him, who hadn’t even reached the Entry Level of the Martial Dao.
’Not only that, even a barely-breathing Hairy Fish is still a Qi Blood Second Layer martial arts expert. There’s no way a temporary constable like me, who on the surface hasn’t even reached the Entry Level of the Martial Dao, could possibly handle him.’
’How do I handle this... No matter what I do, there seems to be some risk.’
Looking at Hairy Fish’s corpse, Chen Ping’an was caught in a dilemma.
’Dammit, if I want this medium merit, I can’t avoid all risk! I’ll risk it!’
Chen Ping’an hesitated for a long time before finally settling on a plan that was the most feasible, most plausible, and reasonably logical from all angles.
He had been tailing him just now and remembered a perfectly-sized rock not far from the courtyard.
First, he busied himself in the courtyard for a while, wiping away some tracks and cleaning up the scene. Then he quietly opened the courtyard gate, went to the nearby roadside, and carried the rock back inside.
Then, he picked up the rock and viciously smashed it against Hairy Fish’s neck, knees, and the top of his feet.
After covering the old wounds with new ones, he tossed the rock aside, closed the courtyard gate, and hurried excitedly toward the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
...
Late at night, the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office was still brightly lit.
According to the rules of the Garrison Commandant’s Office, even at night, at least one Constable had to be stationed inside to guard against any sudden illegal activities in the alleys. With a Constable overseeing the office and coordinating responses, the impact of any such incidents could usually be minimized.
Besides the presiding Constable, the Garrison Commandant’s Office also had others on night duty. Furthermore, there were the night patrol officers, who patrolled the streets and alleys in pairs.
Of course, Chen Ping’an had served as a night patrol officer himself, so he knew the ropes. Night patrol officers would only patrol diligently all night long if the Garrison Commandant’s Office issued a special mission or the entire city was under lockdown.
Otherwise, once it was the dead of night and the streets were empty, the patrol officers would usually find a secluded spot to take a nap. They weren’t foolish enough to actually patrol for an entire night.
"Who’s there?"
At night, two constables guarded the entrance to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. It was an important location in the alley, after all; people couldn’t just come and go as they pleased.
Seeing someone running toward the office from a distance, making no attempt to hide, one of them shouted out loudly.
"It’s me! It’s me, temporary constable Chen Ping’an."
Chen Ping’an shouted his reply to the two constables as he ran.
Hearing Chen Ping’an’s reply, the expressions on the two constables’ faces relaxed slightly. When he ran up and they saw it was indeed a familiar face they often saw, they relaxed completely.
"Oh, it’s Ping’an. What’s going on so late at night?"
Seeing how Chen Ping’an’s hair and clothes were soaked with sweat and how he was panting heavily, the two constables asked curiously.
"I have a major discovery to report to the Constable."
Chen Ping’an said as he ran into the Garrison Commandant’s Office.
The two constables exchanged a glance but didn’t stop Chen Ping’an.
"What’s the matter? Why the rush?"
"Not sure. Seeing him in such a hurry, it must be something big."
"His house get robbed?"
"Maybe."
The two constables chatted idly. Neither of them considered the Cyan Fish Gang, because in their eyes, Chen Ping’an was just an ordinary person who hadn’t even entered the Martial Dao.
If he’d really run into a remnant of the Cyan Fish Gang, how could he possibly still be alive?
Inside the main gate of the Garrison Commandant’s Office was a large open space. Further in, a door to the left of a high platform led to a long row of Task Rooms. People like the night duty staff and scribes would work in these rooms.
During the day, a Task Room would have several people in it. At night, however, there was only one person on duty.
Of course, Chen Ping’an wasn’t looking for the scribes or the night duty staff. He was looking for the Constable, so he had to go past the Task Rooms, further toward the back.
That was where the Constables had their offices.
However, just as Chen Ping’an reached the Task Rooms, he saw someone walking out of one.
They ran right into each other.
"And you are?"
The other man looked at Chen Ping’an with a puzzled expression.
"Constable Zheng," Chen Ping’an greeted.
He hadn’t expected to run into Zheng Shiyong here of all places. However, he had heard that Zheng Shiyong’s official assignment was night duty, so it was actually normal for him to be here now.
"Who are you looking for?"
Zheng Shiyong found him somewhat familiar. Seeing Chen Ping’an try to pass him and head toward the back, he immediately blocked his path.
"Constable Zheng, I need to see the Constable about something."
Chen Ping’an was preoccupied and had no time for pleasantries with Zheng Shiyong. He just wanted to find tonight’s duty Constable as soon as possible and report the matter of Hairy Fish.
"Looking for the Constable, are you? What’s your name?"
Zheng Shiyong’s tone was interrogative, his eyes scrutinizing.
It really showed. No wonder people said Zheng Shiyong was Constable Zheng’s nephew. He hadn’t been at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office for long, but he’d already perfected the authoritative tone of an official.
"Constable Zheng, my name is Chen Ping’an. I’m also a constable at our Garrison Commandant’s Office."
Chen Ping’an just wanted to get away from Zheng Shiyong quickly and take care of tonight’s business.
Hearing this, Zheng Shiyong finally remembered. He did indeed have such a colleague. It was just that the man was so unremarkable at the Garrison Commandant’s Office that he hadn’t recalled him right away.
"Well, spit it out. What’s your business with the Constable? I can pass it on."
Zheng Shiyong’s tone held a hint of arrogance, born from a deep-seated sense of superiority.
As someone on night duty, he was often in contact with the Constables. Compared to an unremarkable temporary constable like Chen Ping’an, he certainly had reason to feel superior.
’You bastard, this guy is so annoying!’
Chen Ping’an just wanted to get rid of him, so he suppressed his impatience and said in a steady voice.
"Constable Zheng, this matter is rather important. I need to report it to the Constable in person."
With that said, Chen Ping’an moved past Zheng Shiyong and headed toward the back.
Seeing Chen Ping’an act this way, Zheng Shiyong felt he had lost face, and his expression soured.
Watching Chen Ping’an’s back, he seemed to think of something. His eyes darted, and he blurted out.
"Chen Ping’an, none of the Constables are in tonight. It’ll be a wasted trip. If it’s really something important, you can tell me."
