When Song Changming followed Liang Chuan Mountain out of the Patrol Armor Bureau, he saw several other Patrol Captains leading their men out as well.
Clearly, they were all looking to get a share in the upcoming action.
If it were just an ordinary minor gang being destroyed, it wouldn't warrant such a grand turnout from the Patrol Armor Bureau.
This conflict between the Qinghe gang and Nine Bends Association, however, involved the largest two gangs in the local urban area, with enough spoils to entice the watchful eyes of several Patrol Captains from the bureau.
Song Changming adjusted his helmet and lit a torch for his crew.
Suddenly, he felt someone watching him, and when he looked in that direction, it was his brother-in-law, Zhao Huaiming.
He was following behind his father Zhao Dezhi, serving as his assistant.
Seeing Song Changming glance over, Zhao Huaiming smiled a little and gestured, signaling him to be careful.
Zhao Dezhi, who had a perpetually stern face, seemed to notice his son's gesture beside him. He glanced coldly at Song Changming in the team but said nothing.
The Patrol Captains exchanged a few words, maintaining a relatively cordial tone.
Even Liang Chuan Mountain and Sun Wenyan, who were rivals, didn't break their facade and merely exchanged a few barbed pleasantries.
No one wanted to ruin tonight's good opportunity.
Soon, the team of nearly a hundred patrol guards set off, quickly advancing until they stopped at a fork in the road.
Song Changming knew the path to the left led to the Qinghe gang's stronghold, while the right would take them to the Nine Bends Association headquarters.
In the dead of night, the intersection stood silent except for the patrol guards present; no one else roamed here.
Faintly, the sounds of distant cries and fighting occasionally drifted over.
Soon after, a few gang members being chased burst out of a nearby alley.
When they were suddenly illuminated by the torchlight and saw the ready-to-go patrol guards waiting, their expressions changed drastically. Realizing the bad turn of events, they tried to run back to warn others, but already a few figures from the patrol team, including Lv Gang and brother-in-law Zhao Huaiming, were charging forward with swords drawn.
The patrol guards were all quite capable, especially in speed when they sprang forward.
Those gang members couldn't return to the alley in time before being caught and knocked down by the patrols pursuing them.
Just then, a scout came with a report.
The Qinghe gang has lost.
"Let's go to the Qinghe gang." Upon hearing the news, Liang Chuan Mountain raised his hand and quickly led his patrol guards there.
"Old Liang is really impulsive." Sun Wenyan remarked blandly, but he also brought his men along.
"Are you sure?" Zhao Dezhi asked the scout again for confirmation.
"There's no mistake. The Nine Bends Association's power overwhelmingly defeated the Qinghe gang, especially with their nine Qu Xing members, each skilled and talented. Even Qinghe gang's leader Du Yuantian only held out for a few rounds before being surrounded by them and losing his head!"
Further, the Nine Bends Association leader still hasn't revealed himself in this battle." The scout reported the situation in detail.
"I didn't expect the Qinghe gang, which had dominated the urban area for years, to just be gone like that." Lv Gang said with a sigh, overhearing the news as he followed the team.
"Times change, nothing stays the same forever. You've just witnessed the downfall of one major gang, whereas I've served in the Patrol Armor Bureau for over twenty years, from a mere night patrol to a Patrol Captain. Gang like Qinghe have fallen in front of my eyes more times than I can count with one hand." Liang Chuan Mountain laughed lightly.
"This time, it's the Qinghe gang; next time, it'll be the Nine Bends Association. Glory only lasts for a while when the days grow long."
Song Changming contemplated this at the back of the team.
Everything has an end, whether these surviving gangs or the rise and fall of nations, eventually reaching their limit.
But only he has a chance to transcend it all!
The torchlight illuminated the streets and alleys, revealing a self-built manor surrounded by many low houses deep within the alley.
This place was the Qinghe gang's base.
"The patrol guards are here!"
Before the firelight had even reached the depths of the alley, some Qinghe gang members guarding the area already noticed the approaching patrol team, becoming somewhat panic-stricken.
"Why are the patrol guards coming at this time?!"
"It's not good! Not good at all! They must have gotten wind and come to settle accounts!"
"Now the leader and others are all absent, what do we do?!"
"Damn it!"
"..."
Chaos ensued within the Qinghe gang's headquarters due to the lack of the leader and other core figures.
Some members, realizing things were off, chose to flee directly, while others wanted to seize the opportunity to grab some gang perks amidst the chaos.
"Humph, a rabble and troublemakers, capture them all. Anyone who resists, kill!"
Upon entering the deep alley and seeing the state of things, Liang Chuan Mountain gave the order.
Immediately, the patrol guards behind him charged forward like a pack of freed wolves, storming into the Qinghe gang's domain.
"You damned bastards, my Qinghe gang has been supplying money and silver annually—all fed to dogs!"
A burly man with a blue cloth headwrap was surrounded by several patrol guards and couldn't help but let out an angry roar, cursing the Patrol Armor Bureau from top to bottom.
"Enough chatter. For your past crimes, you can reflect in prison." Wang Xianwen snorted coldly, stepping forward with his sword.
This burly man was quite capable. Even as the patrol guards besieged him, he managed to hold his ground and even injured two of them.
With a swift movement, he broke through the encirclement and fled towards a courtyard wall, turning around to fling two throwing knives to obstruct Wang Xianwen's pursuit.
"Damn it!" Wang Xianwen's face darkened, watching as the burly man disappeared from view.
The man was clearly a big catch, and letting him escape dissatisfied him greatly.
After deftly vaulting over the wall, the burly man planned to dash into a nearby alley for escape. He caught sight of a patrol guard's back not far off.
Below the guard's feet were several corpses of gang members who had similarly climbed over the courtyard wall.
Weighing the three extra bags in his hand, he heard the sound of coins clinking inside.
There's no denying that this operation had yielded plenty of spoils.
Possibly due to the downfall of the nest, human nature dissipated, and most of those fleeing carried bags of money and silver, intending to make a quick getaway. The amount was substantial.
By the time this task ends, the benefits he gained might equal several months' salary.
Just as he considered the timing for procuring funds, another gang member scaled over the courtyard wall, scrambling to flee.
No doubt he had chosen an exceptionally strategic position to block the escape route.
In this short time, his rewards were quite bountiful.
Quickly reacting to the situation, the burly man's instincts kicked in. Before Song Changming could step forward to block him, the man lunged with his sword towards Song Changming, taking the initiative.
"Die!"
The burly man shouted angrily, his sword aimed powerfully without holding back.
In this dire situation, he disregarded Song Changming's official status and just focused on striking him down, even if it meant being wanted with a bounty, leaving Donglai County City.
Song Changming responded by stepping forward and greeted the attack with his own sword.