The Tiger Head Gang was located in Tiger Run Lane, with one main base and several outposts.

Among the many gangs in Nanquan Lane, the Tiger Head Gang was extremely powerful. Its Gang Leader, Master Hu, was a Martial Dao expert at the Qi Blood Fourth Level Bone Forging Realm. Although old and weakened by age, he was not someone a typical practitioner at Perfect Sinew Changing could handle.

The Vice Gang Leader, Master Qing, was at Perfect Sinew Changing. Among the three Protectors, apart from Young Master Xiao Hu who was at Perfect Muscle Training, the other two had both entered the Muscle Strengthening Realm. The seven leaders under them were all skilled Martial Dao practitioners who had reached the Qi Blood Second Level Muscle Training Realm.

In addition, there were over ten experts at the Martial Arts Introduction level.

The Tiger Head Gang was incredibly strong, but Chen Ping’an had long since made detailed plans to deal with them. He had already conducted a thorough investigation into the distribution of their forces and various other details.

Tonight, he and three other Constables each led a squad of men. Constable Li and Constable Huang each commanded a team to directly besiege the Tiger Head Gang’s main base.

Constable Liu led a team to maneuver within Tiger Run Lane, responsible for surrounding some outposts and being on standby for support.

As for Chen Ping’an himself, he led a squad of men to strike at Young Master Xiao Hu’s location.

...

Tiger Run Lane, a Tiger Head Gang outpost.

Though it was late at night, the innermost building was still brightly lit.

Young Master Xiao Hu sat on a large chair, gulping down wine. The table before him was laden with side dishes, and several ruffian servants stood waiting by his side.

GULP. GULP.

Draining the wine in his bowl in one go, Young Master Xiao Hu was seething with resentment.

"Damn lackey!"

He had tried to reach out several times in the past few days, hoping to ease the tension between himself and Chen Ping’an. But he never expected the man to be so unyielding, repeatedly disrespecting him.

’Honestly, if he wasn’t already a Preparatory Constable, I would have killed him by now.’

"Don’t be angry, Young Master Xiao Hu. That Chen Ping’an just got some dumb luck. The moment he became a Preparatory Constable, he started acting lawless, even disrespecting you!"

A ruffian servant, noticing Young Master Xiao Hu’s resentment, hurried forward to curry favor.

"Our Tiger Head Gang is powerful, and you, Young Master Xiao Hu, are the Gang Leader’s handpicked successor. In the future, he’ll realize that offending you was a foolish decision!"

"Yeah! That’s right! The streets around Tiger Run Lane and Pear Blossom Lane are ultimately our Tiger Head Gang’s territory! He’s just a mere Preparatory Constable with no real power. He has no idea who’s really in charge here!"

...

The other ruffian servants by his side chimed in.

Hearing this, Young Master Xiao Hu’s mood lightened slightly. ’Even though I know that’s not the whole story, it still feels good to hear!’

"Tomorrow, I’ll pay him another visit. It would be best if we can ease the tension! But if he keeps putting on airs and remains stubborn... Chen Ping’an! Don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

Young Master Xiao Hu sneered.

"More wine, Young Master Xiao Hu."

An obedient servant refilled Young Master Xiao Hu’s bowl with wine.

GULP. GULP.

Young Master Xiao Hu drained the bowl again and wiped the spilled wine from his mouth with his sleeve.

"Hm?"

Young Master Xiao Hu suddenly furrowed his brow.

"What’s wrong, Young Master Xiao Hu?"

The ruffian servant looked at Young Master Xiao Hu with some hesitation.

Young Master Xiao Hu had already sat up straight. "There’s a commotion outside! You, go see what’s happening."

"Yes."

The ruffian servant respectfully complied and headed outside.

Not long after the servant left, the commotion outside grew louder. Now, it wasn’t just Young Master Xiao Hu who heard it; even the ruffian servants behind him could hear the disturbance.

The men behind him exchanged glances, seeing confusion in each other’s eyes.

"Who is causing such a racket outside!"

Young Master Xiao Hu slammed his large bowl down with a CLACK. A glint of coldness flashed in his eyes as he shot up from his chair.

Young Master Xiao Hu had a powerful build, with the back of a tiger and the waist of a wolf. As he stood, he projected an immense sense of pressure. He shoved the door open and walked out.

The moment he pushed the door open, shouts from outside clearly reached his ears.

"The Garrison Commandant’s Office! It’s the Garrison Commandant’s Office!"

"Men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office are here!"

It was noisy and chaotic outside.

Young Master Xiao Hu’s face instantly froze.

’Why would the Garrison Commandant’s Office come here so late at night?’

’What’s going on?’

In that instant, several thoughts flashed through Young Master Xiao Hu’s mind. Forcibly suppressing the most terrifying one, he feigned composure. "Quick, gather our men! Assemble at once!"

"Yes."

The faces of the ruffians behind Young Master Xiao Hu had also turned pale.

Before Young Master Xiao Hu could even gather his men, the main gate of the Tiger Head Gang’s outpost was kicked open with a loud BANG.

Outside the gate, more than twenty constables holding torches and brandishing broadswords surged inside, their killing intent palpable.

"Who goes there!"

Young Master Xiao Hu’s Qi Blood surged as he roared.

No one paid him any mind as they all rushed in. A few Tiger Head Gang ruffians from outside were tossed in like sacks of garbage.

Only then did Young Master Xiao Hu get a clear look at the intruders.

’Constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office!’

In an instant, a cold sweat broke out on Young Master Xiao Hu’s back.

He was used to throwing his weight around, appearing completely lawless. But deep down, he always knew the bottom line—he knew who the real boss of Nanquan Lane was!

The Garrison Commandant’s Office!

’Why would constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office suddenly raid us?’

’What did we do?’

As Young Master Xiao Hu’s mind raced, the constables pouring in parted ways, splitting to the left and right. The figure of a man behind them came into his view.

"It’s you!"

"Chen Ping’an!"

Young Master Xiao Hu’s expression turned incredibly ugly.

No matter how stupid he was, he understood exactly what was happening now.

’This Chen Ping’an is so ruthless! He was only appointed Preparatory Constable a few days ago, yet he acts so swiftly! To bring so many constables here tonight... is he trying to wipe me out completely?’

Even in his wildest thoughts, Young Master Xiao Hu didn’t dare to imagine that Chen Ping’an was targeting the entire Tiger Head Gang. He assumed that making such a huge commotion was all just to deal with him. He had truly underestimated this man’s audacity!

’I don’t know how Chen Ping’an managed it, or how he convinced his superiors to dispatch constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office to deal with me. But at this point, a peaceful resolution is impossible.’

’If I had known this day would come, I would have killed Chen Ping’an long ago!’

"Fine, fine, fine!"

A murderous glint flashed in Young Master Xiao Hu’s eyes.

"You want me dead, is that it? Then I’ll take your life!"

"The Garrison Commandant’s Office is on official business! We only seek to punish the ringleaders! Drop your weapons and you may yet live!"

a constable shouted.

Before the constable could finish his sentence, Young Master Xiao Hu suddenly erupted into action. His goal was clear: capture Chen Ping’an and break through the encirclement.

The constables of the Garrison Commandant’s Office were nothing like the ordinary ruffians of the Tiger Head Gang. Some elite members might stand a chance, but the average gang member couldn’t even handle a single constable in a one-on-one fight!

What’s more, there were over twenty constables here! Among them, by a conservative estimate, were at least five or six official constables.

’If a real fight breaks out, even though I’m at the Qi Blood Second Level, Perfect Muscle Training, I’m no match for them.’

"Take him down!"

"Protect Constable Chen!"

Constables shouted loudly. Many of them still saw Chen Ping’an as he used to be.

Tan Huacong stood not far from Chen Ping’an. Watching Young Master Xiao Hu’s sudden attack, he shouted out loud, but his hands deliberately moved a half-step slower.

Ever since Chen Ping’an was promoted to Preparatory Constable, Tan Huacong had been living in fear, afraid that Chen Ping’an would retaliate against him at any moment.

’If Young Master Xiao Hu could just... take care of him... then all my problems would be solved!’

A dark thought flashed through Tan Huacong’s mind.