Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Horizontal Training Entry Level
Once Constable Zheng’s three days of solitary reflection were up, he returned to duty at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. However, he wasn’t as brazen as he used to be; he had toned down his behavior considerably.
Chen Ping’an paid it no mind. For the past few days, aside from practicing his martial arts, he had focused all his attention on the Tiger Head Gang.
Over the past few days, Monkey Head, Da Shan, Zeng Jihe, and their associates had gathered a great deal of evidence on the Tiger Head Gang’s illicit dealings.
Once Chen Ping’an had compiled all the information, he went to see Inspector Shen Shikang.
The Tiger Head Gang was no small player in Nanquan Lane. Naturally, it was backed by various vested interests. A portion of the profits from these interests was funneled to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
And the largest share of that went to Inspector Shen Shikang!
After days of preparation, Chen Ping’an conferred with Shen Shikang for a full two hours, ultimately reaching a satisfactory outcome.
The animosity between him and Young Master Xiao Hu was long-standing. He certainly wasn’t going to let him off easy. As a Preparatory Constable of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, he planned to take him down through official channels, crushing him with the overwhelming weight of the law.
It wasn’t as if no one coveted the Tiger Head Gang’s profits. The Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office turned a blind eye and left the gang to its own devices for three main reasons.
First, the Tiger Head Gang knew how to play the game, regularly funneling a small portion of their profits to the various Constables and the Inspector.
Second, the Tiger Head Gang had powerful backers.
Third, without orders from higher-ups, no one in the Garrison Commandant’s Office wanted to disrupt the status quo.
But now, Chen Ping’an had stepped forward.
First, he laid out a grand plan, promising to cede a portion of the profits to persuade Constables Li, Huang, and Liu. Then, he used the Tiger Head Gang’s illegal activities to justify his cause. Finally, he invoked the name of the Chief of the South Town Garrison Command, which greatly intrigued Shen Shikang.
Furthermore, Chen Ping’an promised the Inspector wouldn’t have to get involved directly; he would shoulder all the responsibility. If the powers behind the Tiger Head Gang did seek retribution, he would bear the consequences alone.
All of this led Shen Shikang to give his tacit approval for Chen Ping’an’s plan.
Inside the Constables’ office, Chen Ping’an circulated his Qi Blood, practicing the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training.
+1.
An experience point notification flashed through Chen Ping’an’s mind.
’I have enough Experience Points for the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training!’
A tremor ran through Chen Ping’an, a look of excitement on his face.
’Breakthrough!’
WHOOSH~
As he focused his mind, the Experience Points stirred, transforming into motes of starlight that surged into the space between his eyebrows.
A massive influx of knowledge about the cultivation and practical application of the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training flooded his mind, feeling as real as if he had experienced it all himself.
Chen Ping’an closed his eyes, quietly absorbing the new insights.
Entry Level in the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training!
The Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training was a Mid-level Technique that was exceedingly difficult to practice. Even someone with exceptional talent would need months of arduous effort to reach the Entry Level. Yet, Chen Ping’an had just cleared that hurdle with ease.
At almost the same instant, the Qi Blood in Chen Ping’an’s body surged. It permeated his bones, continuously honing and strengthening them.
A moment later, Chen Ping’an slowly opened his eyes, a bright glint flashing within them.
’As expected of a Mid-level Technique. The Qi Blood boost is incredible! I was just shy of reaching Bone Forging Perfection in one go!’
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Qi Blood Fourth Layer
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt (Perfection), Flying Locust Stone (Great Success: 84/100), Public Door Thirteen Sabers (Great Success: 35/100), Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training (Entry Level: 0/30)
...
Chen Ping’an gazed at the status panel floating in the air before him, a sense of calm washing over him.
If he continued practicing at this rate, he would achieve Flying Locust Stone Perfection in just two more days. With the boost from its Qi and Blood Power, he would then smoothly reach Bone Forging Perfection.
At that point, in all of Nanquan Lane, the only people who could truly be considered stronger than him would be Inspector Shen Shikang and Vice Inspector Tian Fuliang.
Chen Ping’an composed himself and looked out the window, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
’Tiger Head Gang! Tonight, you will be annihilated!’
...
As the end of the workday approached, the constables began trickling back to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
Just as the constables were preparing to clock out for the day, they received news of an urgent mission that night.
"An urgent mission? What’s going on?"
"I don’t know. There was no warning at all."
"Look, the Constables are here."
As all the constables watched, Chen Ping’an and several other Constables slowly ascended the high platform.
The constables below whispered amongst themselves, realizing there were four figures on the platform: Constable Li, Constable Huang, Constable Liu, and the Preparatory Constable, Chen Ping’an.
Of the four, Constable Li was the most senior. Just as the constables expected him to begin, Chen Ping’an took a step forward, positioning himself before the crowd.
"Everyone, I’ve gathered you all on such short notice because we have an important mission."
Chen Ping’an’s sharp gaze swept over the crowd.
"It’s Constable Chen! Why is he the one speaking?"
"What’s happening?"
A new sense of awe crept into the way some constables looked at Chen Ping’an.
The Garrison Commandant’s Office was a place that ran on seniority. For Chen Ping’an to be the one speaking when other, more senior Constables were present, clearly said something about his new standing.
Standing on the high platform, Chen Ping’an announced the impromptu mission.
"The Tiger Head Gang has long preyed on our people, engaging in all manner of heinous, illegal activities. Our Garrison Commandant’s Office has gathered sufficient evidence, and tonight, we will see to the Tiger Head Gang’s destruction!"
"For this mission, against the ringleaders of the Tiger Head Gang, if they resist, you have authorization to use lethal force!"
"These are the primary targets. The Gang Leader, Master Hu; the Vice Gang Leader, Master Qing; Protector Young Master Xiao Hu..."
"..."
The constables below listened in silence.
’We’re going to raid the Tiger Head Gang?’ Tan Huacong was inwardly astonished. The Tiger Head Gang was no minor faction in Nanquan Lane; it had over a hundred members. Its Gang Leader, Vice Gang Leader, three Protectors, and seven lieutenants were all formidable figures.
’Why the sudden raid?’
Many other constables were as shocked as Tan Huacong, but they all kept their doubts to themselves, their faces betraying nothing.
Zheng Shiyong watched Chen Ping’an speak with such confidence from the platform, his heart burning with jealousy and resentment.
’That should be me up there!’
’How could it be that filthy peasant!?’
’Damn it!’
"Everyone, as planned! Follow me to Tiger Run Lane! We’re taking down the Tiger Head Gang!"
Chen Ping’an raised his arm with a cry, and a large number of constables moved to follow him.
"Yes, sir!"
Aside from a small group that stayed behind, most of the constables split into four squads and marched imposingly out of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
Shen Shikang stood on the corner of a roof, watching the dark, massed shadows move toward Tiger Run Lane, a faint smile on his lips.
The biggest reason he had agreed to Chen Ping’an’s proposal to raid the Tiger Head Gang was that, frankly, he’d been unhappy with them for a long time.
’Why should I only get a tiny fraction of the Tiger Head Gang’s immense profits?’ In his opinion, a thirty percent share was the only reasonable amount.
However, despite his dissatisfaction, he had refrained from acting, held back by the need to maintain the current balance of power and his apprehension toward the gang’s backers.
Now that Chen Ping’an was willing to take the lead, he was more than happy to let it happen. Besides, it was a good chance to test whether Chen Ping’an’s connections within the South Town Garrison Command were truly as solid as he imagined.
