Chapter 17

"Ping'an, Dashan, have they left?"

Houzi held his blade, maintaining a fierce and ruthless demeanor. To be honest, in that moment, he did have an imposing presence.

"They're gone," Chen Ping'an said calmly as he watched the figures disappear into the distance.

Hearing this, Houzi instantly deflated. He bent over, resting one hand on his knee, breathing heavily.

"Huff! Huff! Huff! They finally left! If they had stayed any longer, I wouldn't have been able to hold it in!"

At this moment, Houzi looked completely terrified, completely different from his earlier domineering stance.

"Ping'an, let me tell you, my legs almost started shaking back there. Those were thugs from the Tiger Head Gang! I can't afford to mess with them! I was thinking, if they refused to back down and started a fight, what would we do?! If it really came to blows, we wouldn't stand a chance!"

Looking at Houzi's disheveled appearance as he rambled on, Chen Ping'an felt a warmth in his heart.

This version of Houzi—this was the real him.

"Houzi, there were four of them and three of us. I could take two, and you each take one. If a fight broke out, we might not necessarily lose."

Dashan spoke in his usual muffled voice, sounding rather confident.

"You idiot, Dashan! Do you even know who that thug was?!"

"Who?"

"That's Liuzi from the Tiger Head Gang! One of Young Tiger Master's trusted men, a small leader in the gang! I heard he's already started martial cultivation and has reached the first level of Qi and Blood. Don't be fooled by your big size. If you fought him, you wouldn't stand a chance!"

"Even if you're strong enough to go toe-to-toe with him, Ping'an and I wouldn't be able to take on the other three."

"So that's how it is!"

Dashan looked shocked, then turned to Houzi with a look of admiration.

"Houzi, you were really impressive just now."

Hearing this, Houzi straightened up, his back suddenly stiff with pride. He grinned smugly.

"Of course I was! Impressive, right?"

"Yeah, really impressive! When you drew your blade, even I got startled."

Dashan admitted honestly.

"Hah! Of course! I'm a veteran of the Nanquan Alley Patrol Bureau! I've seen my fair share of these situations! One draw of my blade, and who dares defy me?!"

Houzi's face was glowing red with pride. Looking at his smug expression, one wouldn't be able to tell he had been so terrified just moments ago.

"Ping'an, I was really impressive just now, right?"

As if seeking validation, Houzi turned to Chen Ping'an.

Afraid of getting an undesirable response, he quickly added,

"Ping'an, I was standing up for you just now!"

"Yeah, impressive. Extremely impressive."

Chen Ping'an replied.

Hearing this "official recognition," Houzi was instantly invigorated. He sheathed his blade, then dramatically unsheathed it again, mimicking his earlier actions.

"'What do you mean, Chen family brat? Call him Master Chen!'"

"Heh heh~"

Houzi chuckled gleefully.

"That felt amazing! So damn satisfying!"

After repeating his moves a few more times, Houzi finally got his fill of enjoyment. But then, he suddenly seemed a little deflated.

"Ahh… If only we were official constables! Then I wouldn't even need to draw my blade—just showing up would make them stop!"

"Official constables, huh…"

Houzi let out a long sigh toward the sky.

Indeed, official constables were at least at the peak of the first level of Qi and Blood. In terms of both status and martial strength, they were enough to intimidate small-time thugs.

And that was just for regular constables. If a constable leader arrived, those thugs wouldn't just stop—they'd be scrambling to apologize, or even kneeling to beg for mercy.

If the gang was in the wrong, even the Tiger Head Gang's boss wouldn't want to make an enemy out of a patrol bureau leader.

"Alright, Houzi. Let's continue our patrol."

Chen Ping'an patted Houzi on the shoulder.

"Yeah, patrol!"

Houzi quickly perked up again.

"Oh, right, Ping'an—about what Liuzi said earlier, the debt?"

Houzi recalled what Liuzi had mentioned and looked at Chen Ping'an curiously.

"It's nothing. I've got it all prepared," Chen Ping'an replied indifferently, brushing the topic aside.

"Good, that's a relief. Let's go, then."

The man who had been beaten up earlier was already gone. He had slipped away quietly the moment the thugs left.

The three of them didn't pay much attention to it.

Situations like that were commonplace in Tiger Run Alley, both openly and in the shadows. They had only intervened because they happened to be there and it was their duty.

As for what happened afterward, that was up to the man himself.

This was the consequence of his own choices. Whether he could bear it or not, he had to take responsibility for it.

As the saying goes—every sip, every bite, all is preordained.

After that incident, the rest of their patrol went smoothly. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, though they had less time to slack off today—only managing to rest for less than half an hour.

As their shift was about to end, Chen Ping'an ran into a familiar face in Tiger Run Alley.

It was Old Gao from the southeast corner!

When he saw him, the old man was heading excitedly toward a gambling den. Judging by the place's grandeur, it seemed to be quite a high-end establishment.

"Uncle Gao, you're…"

Chen Ping'an called out.

"Oh, it's Little Brother Chen."

Old Gao was a wiry man with a ruddy complexion. He recognized Chen Ping'an immediately.

"I'm here for some fun."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Old Gao quickly scurried into the gambling den.

—

Inside a small courtyard, Chen Ping'an continued to practice Iron Shirt.

With each movement, he could feel his Qi and Blood surging, flowing throughout his body. As he practiced more, he grew increasingly proficient.

Chen Er'ya rested her chin on her hands, sitting on a wooden stool, silently watching her brother.

For a time, the small courtyard was filled only with the sounds of Chen Ping'an's heavy breathing and the friction of his movements.

Time passed. Finally, as a "+1 EXP" notification flashed before him, Chen Ping'an stopped.

Name: Chen Ping'an

Realm: First Level of Qi and Blood

Martial Art: Iron Shirt (Entry Level: 15/15)

"That's enough experience points!"

Chen Ping'an was ecstatic.

He had been waiting for this moment for seven days.

Without hesitation, he focused his mind and pressed the faintly glowing plus sign.

Whoosh—

Tiny specks of light swirled around him before surging into his forehead.

As the light entered his body, a flood of complex knowledge filled his mind.

He saw himself practicing Iron Shirt, felt his insights after training, and recalled moments of applying it in combat…

All of it revolved around this martial art.

Chen Ping'an closed his eyes and immersed himself in it.

This wasn't just information—it was also a tide of vigorous Qi and Blood.

It wasn't forced upon him. It felt as though he had spent years mastering Iron Shirt himself.

Name: Chen Ping'an

Realm: First Level of Qi and Blood (Peak)

Martial Art: Iron Shirt (Small Accomplishment: 0/40)

At that moment, Iron Shirt reached Small Accomplishment!

For someone of above-average talent, this would take years of dedicated practice.

Yet Chen Ping'an had done it in less than ten days.

"This is only the beginning…"

Feeling the surging power within him, Chen Ping'an was filled with excitement and anticipation for the future.