Chapter 51: Confrontation (Please keep reading)

Chapter 51: Confrontation (Please keep reading~)

"Who the hell did it!?"

Inside a house in Hupao Alley, Little Tiger Lord was fuming with rage. Several thugs stood to one side, trembling in silence.

When he learned of his confidant Liu'er's death during the day, Little Tiger Lord had been stunned for quite a while! Especially since Liu'er had died right here in Hupao Alley.

He had gone to the scene to inspect it carefully. Based on the circumstances, the two thugs had lost their combat effectiveness almost instantly upon contact. Liu'er, however, had reacted extremely quickly; seeing that things were going south, he had attempted to escape through a window. But the moment he broke the window, he was subdued. The opponent was experienced and ruthless—definitely a professional!

Furthermore...

Although Liu'er's strength was mediocre, he had at least entered the threshold of martial arts. Being pinned down by two thugs while in Hupao Alley, even if facing a second-level Qi and Blood practitioner, he shouldn't have been so helpless as to choose fleeing through a window immediately. The opponent was very likely a master at the peak of the second level, or even the third level of Qi and Blood!

The third level of Qi and Blood!

A martial arts expert of such a realm would not be an unknown name in these Nanquan Lane alleys!

"The Iron Ox Gang? The Wild Wolf Gang? Or the Flying Sand Gang?"

Various gang names flashed through Little Tiger Lord's mind, but he eventually ruled them out one by one.

Among these three, only the Flying Sand Gang had influence comparable to his own Tiger Head Gang. The strength of the other two was far inferior to theirs.

The various protectors within his gang were well-known figures. It was unrealistic for them to send a second-level peak or a third-level Qi and Blood expert just to assassinate Liu'er!

Moreover, although there were conflicts of interest between the gangs, killing Liu'er would yield no benefit to them from a practical standpoint.

"Who could it be?"

Little Tiger Lord felt a knot of frustration in his chest.

It wouldn't have been such a big deal if not for the timing. Among the three Great Protectors of the Tiger Head Gang, he was the only one with a cultivation at the peak of the second level of Qi and Blood; the other two were both third-level masters. In this regard, he was already the weak link. He was frequently teased by the other two protectors.

A few days ago, his foster father, Lord Tiger, had spent a considerable price to obtain a bottle of Qi and Blood Pills, intending to bestow them upon him so he could break through to the third level in one go and match the other two protectors.

However, this matter had met with significant resistance!

A little resistance wasn't a major problem. With his foster father's support and his own hard work, that bottle of pills would eventually reach his hands in due time!

But who could have known... his confidant Liu'er would die in Hupao Alley last night!

Because of this, the other two protectors had found a pretext, making it the greatest obstacle to him obtaining the Qi and Blood Pills.

"Damn it!"

Thinking of this, Little Tiger Lord couldn't help but curse in hatred.

Just then, urgent shouting came from outside the door.

"Little Tiger Lord! Little Tiger Lord!"

Already irritated, the shouting only fueled the nameless rage rising in Little Tiger Lord's heart. Just as he was about to lash out, several people entered the room. One of them was his confidant, Fei Zi.

Seeing Fei Zi, Little Tiger Lord managed to suppress his anger.

"What is it? Being so frantic, have you no manners!"

"Little Tiger Lord," Fei Zi ran to his side, "It's that kid from the Chen family!"

"The Chen kid?"

"Liu'er had just collected a batch of monthly payments yesterday and visited many households. After the brothers heard this, we went door-to-door to inquire about the situation. We didn't expect that when we reached the Chen kid's house, there would be trouble!"

"What kind of trouble?" Little Tiger Lord's eyes sharpened, exuding an aura of authority.

"We intended to question him about Liu'er's whereabouts, but he rebuked us. He even used the Great Qian Laws and the Suppression Division to pressure us. That kid isn't an ordinary commoner; he holds the status of a temporary constable for the Suppression Division. Thinking that a real conflict might cause significant trouble, we had no choice but to run back and ask you to step in, Little Tiger Lord."

Fei Zi briefly explained the course of events, intentionally or unintentionally omitting his own bullying behavior.

"Useless!"

After hearing this, Little Tiger Lord barked at the men.

"When the Tiger Head Gang does business, since when do we care about so many rules? To dare threaten my Tiger Head Gang, that kid has some nerve!"

Fuming with rage, Little Tiger Lord stood up abruptly from his chair.

"Move! Take me to that kid!"

"Yes, Little Tiger Lord," Fei Zi and the other two thugs responded respectfully.

Watching Little Tiger Lord storm out of the room, the men exchanged glances, each seeing the schadenfreude in the other's eyes.

With Little Tiger Lord stepping in, that Chen kid was likely in for a rough time.

Hmph!

Let the people around here know the consequences of offending my Tiger Head Gang!

Leading seven or eight thugs, Little Tiger Lord arrived at the Chen family courtyard in a whirlwind of fury. What greeted them was an open courtyard gate and Chen Ping'an, sitting steadily in a chair facing the main entrance.

Little Tiger Lord froze for a moment at the sight, his gaze falling on the wood-chopping knife in Chen Ping'an's hand.

The Chen kid... is he planning to fight to the bitter end!?

In his impression, the Chen kid understood social graces and possessed a bit of wit, but when had he ever possessed such courage?

Where did he get such guts!?

Was it based on that unrecorded status of a temporary constable for the Nanquan Lane Suppression Division!?

"Good! Good! Good! It seems any stray dog dares to offend our Tiger Head Gang now!"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, a cold sneer appeared on Little Tiger Lord's face.

Since he had come here, he could not back down. He represented not just himself, but the Tiger Head Gang behind him.

Though no one was standing around, the neighbors were all secretly watching the situation.

His purpose here was to establish authority, to use reality to show these commoners exactly what the consequence of offending the Tiger Head Gang would be!

"Chen kid, you've grown quite bold lately! You even dare to block people from my Tiger Head Gang."

Little Tiger Lord walked toward Chen Ping'an with a fake smile.

Holding a wood-chopping knife—who is he trying to intimidate?

When I was playing with blades, you weren't even born yet! Trying to scare me, Little Tiger Lord!? Don't make me laugh!

"Oh, it's Little Tiger Lord," Chen Ping'an said upon seeing him approach, showing no intention of standing up. "Little Tiger Lord, you should control your men. They dare to barge into my home in broad daylight. If they are this arrogant now, wouldn't they dare to exterminate my entire clan once night falls!"

As soon as he spoke, Chen Ping'an threw a massive accusation at him.

"Anyone who doesn't know better would think the heavens of Nanquan Lane aren't governed by the Suppression Division, but by the Tiger Head Gang!"

"What a sharp-tongued brat!"

Little Tiger Lord sneered and strode forward.

Unfortunately, no matter how sharp the tongue, it couldn't withstand many blows.

He wondered if this kid would still be this tough after he gave him a severe beating.

"Little Tiger Lord!" The wood-chopping knife in Chen Ping'an's hand tilted upward. "Take a few more steps and you'll be in my courtyard. Entering a courtyard without my permission is considered trespassing under the Great Qian Laws; the punishment is twenty strokes of the cane and three years in prison!"

Little Tiger Lord did not stop, a cold smile on his face.

*Thwack!*

Chen Ping'an's wood-chopping knife swung down heavily, stopping in mid-air, pointing directly at Little Tiger Lord.

"If you take one more step, it becomes a fight to the death."

There was no screaming, no loss of emotional control—only a face of indifference. Chen Ping'an looked at Little Tiger Lord with a calm expression.

He was serious!

Hearing this, Little Tiger Lord froze, and his footsteps came to a halt.