When Chen Cheng returned to Locust Tree Lane, Zhou Biao of the Flying Eagle Gang was just leaving Widow Tian's house. He seemed reluctant to part, lingering at the gate and getting intimate with her.
"Master Biao, I'll leave the door open for you tonight." Widow Tian brushed a stray strand of hair from her temple, her hips swaying gently. Her alluring, watery eyes gazed at Zhou Biao.
Zhou Biao adjusted his belt, intending to leave, but Widow Tian's teasing made a flame of desire surge within him. He stepped forward again and pulled her into an embrace, his rough, large hands freely squeezing her ample backside.
"You little vixen. It seems I didn't satisfy you just now. Once I'm done with my business, I'll deal with you properly tonight!"
Even in broad daylight, Widow Tian was shameless, pressing herself against him and giggling. The two acted as if no one else was around. The neighbors, fearing Zhou Biao, kept their doors tightly shut, and no one dared to utter a word of criticism.
Suddenly running into this despicable pair, Chen Cheng could only curse his bad luck under his breath and quicken his pace.
"Well... if it isn't Chen Er. In such a rush. In a hurry to die?" Widow Tian said sarcastically.
The last time they met, Chen Cheng had kicked her, and she had been forced to pay back her debt with interest.
On top of that, Chen Cheng had broken Ma Liu's arms and legs, and Ma Liu had then freeloaded at her house for over a month, making her life miserable.
Her hatred for Chen Cheng ran bone-deep.
This time, when the Flying Eagle Gang came to collect the example money, she successfully seduced their leader, Zhou Biao, and had him drive Ma Liu away.
With Zhou Biao backing her up now, she naturally wanted to take this chance to get back at Chen Cheng and quench the hatred in her heart.
Chen Cheng, of course, knew what Widow Tian was thinking, but he couldn't be bothered to deal with her and only walked faster.
"Master Biao, that Chen Er is so arrogant. I was just trying to be nice and greet him, but he ignored me. Ignoring me is one thing, but he doesn't even show you any respect, Master Biao," Widow Tian said, her voice dripping with seduction as she wrapped her arms tightly around Zhou Biao's neck and whispered in his ear.
The wicked woman was, of course, fanning the flames.
Completely bewitched by her, Zhou Biao was ready to stand up for her. He was already arrogant and domineering, enjoying bullying the weak. And since Chen Cheng was just a Little Prison Guard, he was the perfect target. Zhou Biao immediately turned to Chen Cheng and barked, "Stop!"
Chen Cheng halted, his expression calm. "Is there something you need, Master Biao?"
Zhou Biao, wanting to show off in front of Widow Tian, widened his eyes and snarled, "Lady Tian called out to you. Are you deaf?"
Chen Cheng frowned. He had expected Widow Tian to stir up trouble now that she'd latched onto Zhou Biao, but he hadn't thought it would happen so quickly.
His recent drinks with Liao San were partly to build a better rapport with him, and partly to find out more about the Flying Eagle Gang and Zhou Biao so he could be prepared.
He had learned from Liao San that the Flying Eagle Gang was one of the four major gangs in the Ruyi District. Its Gang Leader, Cao Fei, was a Martial Artist who had reached Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm, and he had two to three hundred members under his command.
The Flying Eagle Gang was known for being rampant and tyrannical, committing all sorts of evil.
Zhou Biao was Cao Fei's top enforcer. Although he hadn't entered the Skin Grinding Realm, he had cultivated a set of Thirty-Six Earth-Crawling Saber Techniques to Great Success, making him incredibly powerful.
The man was ruthless and vengeful, seeking retribution for the smallest slight. He had personally killed many leaders from rival gangs.
During a recent clash with the Chishui Gang, Zhou Biao had killed two of their Incense Masters. As a result, Cao Fei promoted him to Incense Master and gave him control over the Chishui Gang's former territory. He was currently riding high.
Even Liao San couldn't do much about him; the two simply stayed out of each other's way.
Facing such a ruthless man, Chen Cheng knew his own strength was lacking. It was best not to provoke him if he could help it. He immediately adopted a placating tone.
"I just came back from drinks with Brother Liao San of the City Guard Department. My head's a little fuzzy, so I hope you'll forgive me, Master Biao."
Liao San was a constable of the City Guard Department and a Great Success Blade Master. Bringing him up was an act of desperation on Chen Cheng's part.
But Zhou Biao clearly wasn't buying it. He snorted, "What's your point, bringing up Liao San to me? Don't tell me you think I'm afraid of him?"
Chen Cheng smiled. "That's not what I meant. I also have some dealings with Chief Constable Liu Yunfeng."
Turning to Widow Tian, Chen Cheng continued, "Lady Tian, when you paid me back last time, Chief Liu himself was there to witness it. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
Since Liao San's name wasn't working, Chen Cheng had no choice but to bluff by using Chief Constable Liu Yunfeng's authority.
Hearing that Chen Cheng actually had a connection to Liu Yunfeng, Zhou Biao instantly grew wary.
As an Incense Master of the Flying Eagle Gang, he could rely on his own strength and disregard Liao San.
But Chief Constable Liu Yunfeng was different. Even the Gang Leader of the Flying Eagle Gang had to be respectful in his presence.
"Lady Tian, is this true?" Zhou Biao's dark face twitched, his gaze turning incomparably cold as he looked at Widow Tian.
As a gang leader, he had always bullied the weak and feared the strong. He wasn't about to offend Chief Constable Liu Yunfeng just to stick up for Widow Tian.
Widow Tian felt a pang of fear and subconsciously said, "Well, it is true, but..."
"You don't need to say another word," Zhou Biao interrupted her. He turned to Chen Cheng, his face now a mask of smiles.
"So, Chen Er is acquainted with Chief Liu. I was just joking with you earlier. I have some other business to attend to, so I'll be on my way."
With that, Zhou Biao cupped his fists in a brief salute, ignored Widow Tian, and strode away.
"Chen Er, we'll see about this!" Widow Tian spat hatefully, then entered her courtyard and slammed the gate shut with a dull THUD.
Clearly, that wicked woman wasn't going to let this go.
'The tree wants to be still, but the wind won't stop. I just want to live a quiet life, but in this world... I'm afraid that's impossible.'
Chen Cheng sighed to himself and headed for his own home.
Using Liu Yunfeng's name had scared off Zhou Biao, but it wasn't a long-term solution.
Now that Widow Tian had hooked up with Zhou Biao, she would inevitably whisper poison in his ear during their intimate moments. Zhou Biao would probably still come after him.
Even if he didn't dare to attack openly, he would likely take action in secret. He had to be on his guard.
After all, people from Jianghu Gangs were not to be trifled with. Killing a person or two was a common affair for them.
To make the Jianghu Gangs wary of him, his only option was to join the City Guard Department and become a constable.
Chen Cheng had long intended to quit his job as a Prison Guard and seek a future in the City Guard Department. He had just expressed this desire to Liao San at the dinner table.
Liao San was a righteous man and had promised to see what he could do, telling Chen Cheng to wait for his news.
...
[Wind Chasing Saber Technique Cultivation Progress increased.]
[Skills: Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Beginner Level 18/100)]
In the afternoon, after cultivating for more than two hours, his Wind Chasing Saber Technique Cultivation Progress rose to 18.
He was still a long way from reaching Small Success in the Saber Technique, but Chen Cheng could feel his own progress. His blade work was becoming more and more proficient.
'Zhou Biao has achieved Great Success in Saber Technique, while I'm only at the Beginner Level. That's a whole two tiers of difference. But I've reached Small Success in the Skin Grinding Realm, so my Realm is higher than his, and my strength and speed are greater. If we were to fight head-on, I wonder who would come out on top.'
Chen Cheng made a quick mental comparison and felt a little uncertain.
He was currently at Small Success in the Skin Grinding Realm. His skin was tougher and more resilient than an ordinary Martial Artist's, like cowhide, but it was far from being impenetrable. In a direct fight, he estimated that Zhou Biao, with his Great Success in Saber Technique, would likely have the advantage.
"My strength is still too weak!"