Chapter 38

What? 

Shift Leader Zheng's voice echoed in Chen Ping'an's ears, leaving him completely stunned. 

I provided the effective leads, and Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong killed Patchy Fish!? 

Is this some kind of joke!? 

In an instant, Chen Ping'an's expression darkened. 

The situation was clear. Whether it was Tan Huacong teaming up with Zheng Shiyong or Zheng Shiyong teaming up with Tan Huacong, the two of them had conspired to steal his credit. 

What a bunch of scoundrels! 

Chen Ping'an couldn't believe their audacity! 

They actually dared to mess with him! 

A surge of anger welled up in Chen Ping'an's heart. He had the urge to storm onto the platform and confront Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong directly. 

Who really killed Patchy Fish!? 

But reason forced him to calm down. 

Even if Chen Ping'an was slow to react, he realized that these two must have had Shift Leader Zheng's backing. Otherwise, things wouldn't have moved so quickly. 

"The corresponding rewards will be distributed at tomorrow's pre-shift meeting. Now, let's congratulate the three of them." 

As Shift Leader Zheng's voice fell, cheers erupted from the constables. 

"Shiyong, impressive!" 

"Constable Tan isn't bad either." 

"Amazing, amazing!" 

"..." 

"Ping'an, congratulations! You'll have to tell me all about it later," Houzi, standing beside Chen Ping'an, couldn't help but congratulate him with a smile. 

"Ping'an, well done," Dashan chimed in, his face also lit up with a grin, revealing a set of yellow teeth. 

"Mm," Chen Ping'an forced a smile. 

With Shift Leader Zheng's announcement concluded, the pre-shift meeting was effectively over. The constables would now disperse to receive their tasks and begin their day's work. 

"Houzi, Dashan, you two go ahead and get your assignments. I need to take care of something first." 

With that, Chen Ping'an walked away, heading toward the front where Shift Leader Zheng and the other two shift leaders were conversing as they made their way to the shift leader's office. 

"Shift Leader Zheng." 

Chen Ping'an quickened his pace, trying to keep his tone respectful. 

"It's Chen Ping'an. What's the matter?" 

Shift Leader Zheng stopped and turned, his tone still friendly, a smile on his face. 

"Shift Leader Zheng, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the announcement you just made. I was the one who killed Patchy Fish on the spot," Chen Ping'an said, his gaze steady as he looked at Shift Leader Zheng. 

Seeing Chen Ping'an's serious expression, Shift Leader Zheng's smile faded slightly. He gestured to the other two shift leaders to go ahead without him. 

"Oh? Do you have any proof?" 

"The details of the kill were recorded by Tan Huacong last night. The records will show the truth. Additionally, Constable Tan gave me this as proof." 

With that, Chen Ping'an pulled out the black seal from his pocket. 

"Is that so?" Shift Leader Zheng looked surprised. "In that case, I'll need to look into this further." 

"Xiao Zu, go fetch Tan Huacong and Shiyong!" Shift Leader Zheng called out to a young constable standing nearby. 

"Yes, Shift Leader Zheng," the young constable, Xiao Zu, replied respectfully. 

"Let's go to my office to discuss this." 

With that, Shift Leader Zheng strode toward the back. 

Chen Ping'an followed, keeping his head down and remaining silent. 

Soon, they arrived at the shift leader's office. Shift Leader Zheng took a seat without paying Chen Ping'an any further attention. 

After a short wait, the young constable returned with Tan Huacong and Zheng Shiyong in tow. 

"Shift Leader Zheng," Tan Huacong and Zheng Shiyong greeted respectfully. 

"Mm," Zheng Zhenwu, Shift Leader Zheng, nodded slightly as the two entered. "Chen Ping'an claims that he was the one who killed the Green Fish Gang remnant, Patchy Fish. He says the two of you stole his credit. Is this true?" 

"Shift Leader Zheng, that's absolutely not true!" Tan Huacong cried out in protest. 

"That's right, Uncle... I mean, Shift Leader Zheng, Patchy Fish was killed by me and Constable Tan working together! How could it have been Chen Ping'an!? No matter how injured Patchy Fish was, there's no way a temporary constable with no martial arts training could have killed him!" 

Zheng Shiyong spoke with fervor, acting as if he had been wronged. 

"Chen Ping'an, what are you trying to pull, slandering me and Constable Tan like this?" 

"Shiyong has a point. Chen Ping'an, how could someone without martial arts training kill Patchy Fish?" Zheng Zhenwu turned his gaze to Chen Ping'an, his expression puzzled. 

"Shift Leader Zheng, the details were recorded by Tan Huacong last night. Here's the proof he gave me after recording the information," Chen Ping'an said, handing over the black seal. 

Zheng Zhenwu took it and examined it. "The pattern matches. It is indeed a proof seal. Tan Huacong, what do you have to say?" 

"Shift Leader Zheng, this is a misunderstanding! I did give Chen Ping'an this seal. The records were indeed made. But what they document is Chen Ping'an reporting the effective leads! This seal doesn't prove that he killed Patchy Fish!? The two things are completely unrelated! Please, Shift Leader Zheng, review the records and see for yourself!" 

Tan Huacong spoke urgently, his tone agitated. 

"Then go fetch the archived records!" Zheng Zhenwu ordered. 

"Yes," Tan Huacong replied and quickly left the office. 

"You were already rewarded for reporting the leads, and now you're trying to claim credit for the kill too? Chen Ping'an, what are you thinking? How could an ordinary person like you, with no martial arts training, kill a second-level Qi and Blood martial artist?" 

Zheng Shiyong looked at Chen Ping'an with a mocking expression. 

Chen Ping'an's expression remained unchanged. He didn't respond, simply standing there quietly. 

Seeing Chen Ping'an ignore him, Zheng Shiyong felt as if he had been slighted, like punching cotton. This feeling was even more frustrating than being argued with. 

It didn't take long for Tan Huacong to return with the archived records. 

"Shift Leader Zheng, the records are sealed with glaze. There's no chance they've been tampered with. Please take a look," Tan Huacong said, handing the records to Zheng Zhenwu. 

"Mm," Zheng Zhenwu nodded. He tore open the glaze and began reviewing the records. After a dozen breaths, he looked up, his expression calm, and tossed the records onto the table. In a cold tone, he said to Chen Ping'an, "Come here and see for yourself." 

Chen Ping'an stepped forward and picked up the records. As he read, he realized that the information written there was completely different from what he had described and confirmed the night before. Clearly, Tan Huacong had swapped the records. 

But he had no evidence. 

Fine! 

This is really something! 

Chen Ping'an's heart burned with anger, but his face remained eerily calm. He put down the records and looked Shift Leader Zheng in the eye. 

"In that case, I must have been mistaken." 

"Know your place! Don't go around making wild claims!" Zheng Shiyong sneered. 

Chen Ping'an glanced at Zheng Shiyong, then at Tan Huacong, but said nothing. He simply turned and walked away. 

"Uncle, look at his attitude! He didn't even say goodbye. That's so disrespectful to you!" 

Zheng Shiyong fumed. 

"Young people tend to be hot-headed. He'll come to his senses." 

Zheng Zhenwu spoke indifferently. 

"But you..." 

"What about me?" 

Zheng Shiyong shrugged, unconcerned. 

Zheng Zhenwu stared at Zheng Shiyong for a long moment, making him increasingly uncomfortable. 

"Don't let it happen again!" 

"Huh?" 

"Alright, everyone, leave now," Zheng Zhenwu said, dismissing them. 

"Thank you, Shift Leader Zheng, for standing up for us," Tan Huacong said gratefully. 

"Uncle, I'll take my leave," Zheng Shiyong said, then left with Tan Huacong. 

Once outside the shift leader's office, Tan Huacong's face showed a hint of worry. He whispered to Zheng Shiyong, 

"Shiyong, are you sure this is okay?" 

"You burned the previous records, right?" 

"Burned them." 

"Then there's no problem. A temporary constable with no martial arts training killing a second-level Qi and Blood expert like Patchy Fish? That's just not plausible. Besides, with my uncle backing us, even if this goes all the way to the Constable, we're in the right. Don't worry, it's fine!" 

Zheng Shiyong spoke with absolute confidence.