Chapter 68: The Jianghu Isn’t Just About Fighting And Killing—the Jianghu Means Those With The Surname Lin Must Die For Me
“Thank you, Master Lin, for finding my daughter. Master Lin is truly the blue sky of our Yong’an.”
The old man was grateful to tears, emotionally agitated as he tried to climb down from the chair to kowtow to him.
Facing so many common people watching around.
Lin Fan supported the old man’s arm, soothing him, and said: “Punishing evil and eliminating wickedness, protecting the territory and securing the people, this is all within the duties of our Public Security Bureau.”
He looked around at the excited common people and said loudly:
“Serving the people, resolving the people’s worries, seeking justice for the people—this is our duty and our promise to all the common people of Yong’an. We will never let any criminal harm a single law-abiding common person.”
These words rang out with conviction and truly won popular support.
He had read plenty of news.
“Good, well said.”
“What do you mean well said? Clearly it’s Master Lin who did a great job, okay?”
“I didn’t say he didn’t do a great job.”
“I think you meant that.”
“Damn, are you deliberately picking a fight?”
The common people discussed, all giving a thumbs up.
Lin Fan waved his hand, and Xu Ming dragged the beaten Huang Wei, whose face was bruised and swollen, in front of him.
“Fellow villagers, look carefully. This is Loyalty Hall Hall Master Huang Wei, who specializes in trafficking people. Rest assured, the Public Security Bureau will interrogate him harshly and make him confess every single thing he has done.”
“Those who were sold off and want to find their children, don’t worry. Once the interrogation is done, I will personally lead a team to rescue them.”
Right now he had saved those who hadn’t been taken away yet.
Many more had been taken elsewhere.
Could he ignore them?
Of course not.
Having a chance to go out far for official business was something he eagerly sought.
Who knows, he might even encounter a master outside.
“Good.”
Another round of deafening applause and cheers erupted, nearly shaking the skies over Yong’an.
Today’s Yong’an was as lively as if it were New Year’s.
The constables on duty all puffed out their chests with pride, a sense of pride welling up. For some reason, they felt that getting real things done was truly satisfying.
……
In the office.
Squad Leader Chen was hunched over his desk, his pen heavy with ink as he wrote a resignation report.
He knew the tide had turned, he had no chance of turning things around, and the vast Public Security Bureau no longer had a place for him. Staying on shamelessly would only bring him torment and humiliation.
He had thoroughly lost in this struggle.
He didn’t think his painstakingly built network of relationships was fragile; rather, the opponent had used inhuman violence to smash his network to pieces.
Torn apart and trampled underfoot.
Prefect Li and County Magistrate Zhou had sided with the opponent.
He now understood why Prefect Li had let it slide—he was scared, and more than that, he was planning to transfer away and wanted to grab some merit before leaving.
As for County Magistrate Zhou, he had long planned to be county magistrate in Yong’an steadily for life, grabbing silver for life. He didn’t care who was in charge, as long as he got his share.
Squad Leader Chen looked at his confidant, his voice hoarse. “Wang Hai.”
Wang Hai, sitting there fuming, suddenly looked up, hope flashing in his eyes. “Squad Leader, have you made up your mind to go hard against that bastard?”
Squad Leader Chen shook his head bitterly, his tone laced with exhaustion and helplessness. “You, why are you still so clueless even now, unable to see the situation clearly? I have a good relationship with the envoy from the Tie Ye Office. I’m planning to transfer you there to work.”
He was arranging a way out for his follower.
Though the Tie Ye Office couldn’t compare to the Public Security Bureau, it was still decent in some ways.
“I’m not going.” Wang Hai stuck out his neck, eyes red. “I’m doing fine in the Public Security Bureau. I’m not going. I’m not afraid of that Lin guy.”
“Shut up and listen.” Squad Leader Chen raised his voice, issuing an unquestionable command. “Once you’re there, put in more effort, be smart, pay attention to the rules in every link. As long as you do well, your days won’t be hard.”
After explaining these matters, Squad Leader Chen stood up, preparing to leave.
Wang Hai seemed to think of something, his face changing abruptly.
“Squad Leader, are you…?”
“Mm.” Chen Xingzhi didn’t turn back, his voice low. “The Public Security Bureau no longer has a place for me. I’m preparing to resign and give him… the squad leader position.”
With that, he pushed open the door and looked at the empty courtyard. The cheers from the common people at the gate rang in his ears, sounding utterly piercing.
Now dressed in his dark squad leader uniform, he tightened his collar and lingeringly touched the cold saber hilt at his waist.
Finally.
He raised his head, no longer hesitating, and strode toward the Public Security Bureau gate, his back figure resolute yet desolate.
Inside the room, Wang Hai watched the squad leader’s back, which seemed to hunch over in an instant.
He opened his mouth.
He had many words he wanted to say.
But for a moment, gazing at the squad leader’s dejected back, he didn’t know what to say.
He clenched his fist tightly.
He lowered his head.
His eyes were full of rage.
He wasn’t angry for himself, but for the squad leader.
At the gate.
When Squad Leader Chen walked out, the cheers on site didn’t stop. Squad Leader Chen glanced at the crowd around, hunched his body slightly, and left along the wall.
Some constables saw Squad Leader Chen’s figure, not gloating but slightly lowering their heads in guilt.
“Bro, Squad Leader Chen just went that way.” Xu Ming had sharp eyes and whispered a reminder in Lin Fan’s ear.
Lin Fan glanced toward the direction Squad Leader Chen left, nodded, and indicated not to bother.
Then he escorted Huang Wei and the others toward the prison.
“Huang Wei, you’ve finally come.” He Sen grinned when he saw Huang Wei.
At this moment, Huang Wei was trembling with cold and didn’t want to say a word.
He Sen looked at Lin Fan.
“Lin, fuck your mother.”
Still very stubborn.
Even covered in whip marks all over, he didn’t flinch.
Hu Yu shouted, “Grandpa Lin, just let me go. I really know I was wrong. I’ll give you whatever you want, just let me out, wuwuwu…”
Hu Yu, spoiled and pampered, couldn’t endure such days.
It was simply like every day was a year.
Dad, where exactly are you?
Save me, save me.
While Xu Ming was putting Huang Wei on the rack, Lin Fan walked to He Sen and Yuan Jiang with a full smile.
“Don’t worry, once I send them all in, you can reunite properly.”
He Sen, “Lin, fuck your mother.”
Yuan Jiang, “Lin Fan, fuck your grandma.”
As gang hall masters, they had seen all sorts of things and weren’t scared easily. They knew the opponent was openly going to deal with them.
Beg for mercy and cower?
Would it work?
It was utterly useless.
Since it was useless, they had to be as arrogant as possible.
“Sigh…” Lin Fan sighed lightly, scratching his head in annoyance. He reached out, and Xu Ming understandingly handed over the whip. Then he loosened his wrist.
Time to cultivate.
He just liked those who were still stubborn now.
If they begged too quickly.
He might not even be able to bring himself to do it.
Before making a move, he swallowed some pinellia to boost his spirits, so his strikes later would be even more forceful.
……
Dusk.
Yong’an, a certain house.
Wang Hai sat at the dining table, wolfing down his rice, eating big mouthfuls. Wang Shi beside him was full of worry. After returning in the afternoon, he had stayed by his mother’s side for a long time. By evening, he had her prepare a table of dishes and a pot of wine.
“What’s wrong with you? Did something happen?” Wang Shi asked fearfully.
Wang Hai seemed not to hear, devouring the food in his bowl like a whirlwind, then grabbing the wine pot nearby, uncorking it, and gulping it down his throat.
He slammed down the wine pot and wiped the wine stains from his mouth with his sleeve.
“Woman, don’t ask so much.”
“Remember my words: take good care of my mother and raise the child.”
With that, he stood up to go out.
Wang Shi panicked and rushed forward, hugging his leg.
“Tell me, what exactly happened? If something happens to you, how are we womenfolk supposed to live?”
Wang Hai pried his wife’s hands off and angrily scolded, “I said, don’t worry about it. Stay home obediently.”
“Wang Hai, Wang Hai…”
……
Night fell.
Lin Fan came out of the Prefectural Office with Xu Ming and Yang Ming.
“Bro, Squad Leader Chen really resigned.” Yang Ming was quite surprised, not expecting Squad Leader Chen to give in like that.
“Mm…”
Lin Fan responded faintly. Prefect Li had called him there clearly hoping he would show mercy and leave Chen Xingzhi a way out.
No matter what, Chen Xingzhi had worked under Prefect Li for so many years.
Though Prefect Li had sacrificed Chen Xingzhi for self-preservation and merit, at the last moment, Prefect Li still stepped in to protect him.
“Bro, what do we do now…” Yang Ming didn’t finish before Lin Fan interrupted him.
Lin Fan looked at the night scene and sighed, “The jianghu isn’t just fighting and killing; the jianghu is human relationships and etiquette. Now he has bravely retreated from the rapids, willingly…”
Suddenly.
Lin Fan sensed movement behind him.
A person approached with head down at a fast pace. Just as he got close, he pulled out a gleaming dagger and stabbed toward his lower back.
“Lin, die for me.”
