4: Chapter 4 Black Tiger Gang Leader? Kill him!

The southern part of Qingyang County was like a festering sore on the entire town.

The streets here were narrow and muddy, sewage flowed freely, and the air was perpetually filled with the sour, rotten stench of cheap alcohol, sweat, and despair.

This was a gathering place for thugs, hooligans, gamblers, and all sorts of riffraff; it was also a recognized 'forbidden zone' for the county yamen's constables.

The so-called forbidden zone didn't mean it was particularly dangerous, but rather that it had the least profit and the most trouble.

The previous constables responsible for this area were either old slackers waiting for retirement who turned a blind eye to the darkness or even colluded with it.

Or they were unlucky souls who had offended their superiors and been banished here, spending their days sighing and putting in no effort.

Therefore, when Lin Feng appeared on the streets of the southern district dressed in a brand-new constable's uniform, with a Hundred-Refined Steel Saber at his waist and looking full of energy, he immediately attracted countless gazes.

Among those gazes, there was curiosity, numbness, and contempt, but mostly a kind of pity as if they were looking at a fool.

"Hey, a new greenhorn?"

"Looking at that delicate skin and tender flesh, isn't he some young master here to experience life?"

"Shh... keep it down. I heard this kid hit the jackpot. He happened to find the heads of One-Eyed Dragon and a dead zombie at the mass grave, which is how he got promoted to a regular position."

"Tsk, just good luck. In our southern district, even a Dragon has to coil up! Pockmarked Liu of the Black Tiger Gang won't care if you're on the official payroll or not."

Lin Feng turned a deaf ear to these discussions. He walked with steady steps, feeling the power surging within his body after reaching Body Tempering Third Stage Major Achievement, feeling refreshed and alert.

In his eyes, this so-called chaotic land was nothing more than a Dungeon Instance.

Mobile Experience Packs and critical hit points were everywhere; what was there to be afraid of?

He came today specifically to establish his authority.

A new official sets three fires upon taking office?

No, that was the bureaucratic way.

Lin Feng's style had always been to act rather than argue if possible.

If it could be solved with one strike, he would never use a second.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse in the southern district, Chief Constable Li Gang was leisurely sipping tea while listening to a report from his subordinate.

"Boss, that kid has already entered the southern district."

A constable with sharp features and a monkey-like Face smiled flatteringly.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Li Gang's mouth. "Hmm, have you sent word to the Black Tiger Gang?"

"Don't worry, Boss, it's all arranged. I told Pockmarked Liu that this newcomer doesn't know the rules and asked him to 'give him some pointers.' Pockmarked Liu was delighted, saying he guarantees the kid will be crying as he crawls out of the southern district today and won't dare set foot here again."

"Very good."

Li Gang nodded with satisfaction and took a sip of tea. "Young people are arrogant and don't know the heights of the heavens; they always need to suffer a bit to learn to follow the rules. Keep an eye on it, just make sure nobody dies, and give him a lesson he'll never forget."

"Understood!"

...

Lin Feng patrolled the streets at an unhurried pace. His eyes, tempered by Spiritual Qi, were several times sharper than an ordinary person's; no subtle movement could escape his observation.

Soon, at the entrance of an alley, he spotted his 'target' for the day.

Seven or eight thuggish men were surrounding a small wonton stall.

The leader was a burly man with a Face full of pockmarks and a hideous scar on his neck.

It was the tyrant of the southern district, Hall Master 'Pockmarked Liu' of the Black Tiger Gang.

"Old man, is this month's protection money ready?"

Pockmarked Liu stepped onto the bench of the wonton stall, shaking his leg as he asked arrogantly.

The wonton sellers were an elderly couple. The old man tremblingly fumbled a dozen copper coins from his robe and pleaded, "Lord Liu, this... business hasn't been good this month, this is all I have. Please, show some mercy..."

"Bullshit!"

Pockmarked Liu slapped the copper coins to the ground. "Is this pittance enough to even get stuck in Lord Liu's teeth? I'm telling you, if you don't hand over three hundred wen today, I'll smash your stall!"

The surrounding citizens were angry but didn't dare to speak out, detouring away for fear of bringing trouble upon themselves.

Right then, a clear voice rang out.

"Extorting protection money in broad daylight, and right in front of me, an official officer. You Black Tiger Gang people have quite a lot of nerve."

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Lin Feng standing at the alley entrance at some unknown point, his hand on his saber hilt, looking at them calmly.

Pockmarked Liu froze for a moment, then let out a sneer.

"Oh, I was wondering who it was. It's the new Constable Lin. What, trying to meddle in Lord Liu's business on your very first day?"

The thugs behind him all burst into laughter.

In their eyes, this was just another 'one of them' who wanted a piece of the pie.

In the past, which constable hadn't put on a show of shouting a few words, only to turn a blind eye after receiving benefits privately?

Pockmarked Liu picked his ear and said slowly, "Constable Lin, seeing as you're young, I'll teach you a lesson. The southern district has its own rules. We in the Black Tiger Gang share the yamen's burdens by managing these unruly citizens; isn't it only right to collect a little for our hard work? How about this, for Chief Constable Li's sake, this much..."

He held up three fingers. "From now on, you give me three taels of silver every month, and we'll each mind our own business. How about it?"

This was a blatant attempt at bribery.

In the distant teahouse, Li Gang's informant saw this scene and smiled with satisfaction, preparing to go back and report. In his view, the kid would definitely take the bait.

However, Lin Feng's reaction exceeded everyone's expectations.

He smiled, a very bright smile. "That's too little. How about I give you something instead?"

"Oh? What is it?"

Pockmarked Liu asked with great interest.

"I'll send you on your way!"

Before his voice had even faded, Lin Feng's gaze suddenly turned cold!

Hum!

The saber at his waist gave a light ring and was out of its sheath in an instant!

Everyone present, including Pockmarked Liu, didn't even see Lin Feng's movement clearly.

They only saw a silver flash of light moving at extreme speed, like a fleeting glimpse of a startled swan, vanishing in the air!

Pfft!

A fine head, bearing an expression of unbelievable shock, soared into the sky.

Blood surged like a fountain from Pockmarked Liu's headless neck, staining half the alley red.

Thud!

The headless corpse crashed to the ground. The head that had rolled away still had its eyes wide open, as if questioning the world: why did this happen?

One strike!

Just one strike!

The Black Tiger Gang Hall Master, who was insufferably arrogant just a second ago, was decapitated the next!

The entire alley was dead silent.

Everyone was stunned by this bloody, ruthless, and decisive scene.

The elderly wonton-selling couple collapsed to the ground in terror, and the remaining Black Tiger Gang thugs were trembling so hard that a foul smell of urine came from their crotches.

Lin Feng slowly sheathed his saber; not a single drop of blood remained on the blade.

He didn't even look at the corpse on the ground. His gaze swept over the terrified thugs, and he said calmly, "Pick up your boss's corpse and go to the county yamen to report the case. Say that Constable Lin Feng decapitated the vicious bandit Pockmarked Liu in the street in the southern district."

"Also, go back and tell your gang leader that from today on, I have the final say in the southern district."

[Ding! Killed a person of extreme evil!]

[Critical Hit Multiplier increased to 2.7x! Obtained 50 critical hit points!]

The System's notification sounded in his mind, and the corners of Lin Feng's mouth curled up slightly.

He turned around, ignored all the terrified and reverent gazes around him, and continued his patrol.

It was as if he had just swatted a fly, rather than cutting off a man's head.

In the teahouse, the informant rushed into the private room, his Face pale as ash.

"Boss... no... this is bad!"

Li Gang frowned. "What's the panic? Did that kid give in?"

"No... no..."

The informant stammered, his voice trembling. "That... that Lin Feng... he... he killed Pockmarked Liu with one strike!"

"What?!"

Li Gang stood up abruptly, the teacup in his hand slipping and shattering on the floor with a 'crack'.