Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 123: Chapter 102: Taking Office

In a standard two-courtyard home in South City.

A woman was sobbing softly.

Beside her stood a sturdy-looking young man with a bandaged head. His face was pale as he said with a bitter smile, ”Dad, what are we going to do?

The men from the Dog Fighting Gang said I either have to hand the restaurant over to them, or they’ll beat me to death.”

”Cry, cry, cry! All you do is cry! Do you think crying will solve anything?”

Zheng Wang snapped in frustration, slamming his palm on the table with a loud SMACK.

Loyalties fade when power is lost. He had only just taken off his Official Uniform, and the Dog Fighting Gang was already at his door.

And he knew all too well that this was just the beginning.

Those gangs could smell blood in the water from a mile away.

Back when he was a squad leader, he’d given them plenty of grief. Now that he was down on his luck, how could they possibly pass up this opportunity?

Besides, by targeting him, they could also curry favor with Hu Guangshao.

At this thought, Zheng Wang couldn’t help but feel a flicker of regret. ’I’ve been cautious my whole life, so why did I have to be so impulsive this one time?’

’Couldn’t I have just held back? I’ve been enduring my whole life, why couldn’t I hold back this time?’

Zheng Wang sighed to himself. ’But I just couldn’t endure it anymore. I’ve lived like a dog my whole life; for once, I wanted to be a man.’

It was just that the price was a little too high.

The sobbing woman was his wife, and the sturdy young man was his only son.

His son had no talent for martial arts but had a passion for cooking. He’d opened a restaurant in South City, and under his father’s protection, business had always been good.

But now that he had offended Hu Guangshao and been stripped of his Official Uniform, the gangs had caught the scent and come running.

A restaurant raking in money and a disgraced old squad leader—no matter how you looked at it, they were a fat sheep ripe for the slaughter.

Zheng Wang’s Cultivation was at the Second Stage of Body Tempering. It would have been fine if he were still in his prime.

Bully the old, not the young.

But he was old now, his qi and blood already beginning to wane. Without his status as an Official, he had no way to intimidate those gangs.

”Husband, why don’t we just give the restaurant to them? We can take the silver and start a new life somewhere else.”

Zheng Wang’s wife knew her husband had made many enemies over the years as an official; they definitely couldn’t stay in South City any longer.

Thankfully, they still had some savings. Even if they moved to the countryside, they could live as a wealthy family.

”You think those people will actually give us any silver?”

Zheng Wang sneered. ”They won’t let us leave South City with the silver.”

His expression shifted, and he grit his teeth, his face hardening.

The only thing to do now was to abandon these worldly possessions and escape South City with his wife and son.

It was just a shame to see all his years of hard work go to waste.

He heaved a long sigh. ”Pack your things. Only the valuables. We leave at dawn, get out of South City.”

Before Zheng Wang’s words had even faded, there was a sudden muffled BANG.

Zheng Wang’s face fell. He snatched up the steel saber by his side and rushed into the courtyard in a few great strides.

The courtyard gate had been kicked open from the outside, and seven or eight men were swarming in.

They were all dressed in tight-fitting martial attire, tall and heavily built.

”Lv Xingmin! This is breaking and entering! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Seeing the leader of the group, Zheng Wang’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach.

It was Lv Xingmin, Gang Leader of the Dog Fighting Gang, a Martial Artist at the Third Stage of Body Tempering. He was ruthless and vicious, known to all as ”Mad Dog.”

Most importantly, Lv Xingmin had a younger brother who had died at Zheng Wang’s hands while causing trouble in South City.

Back when Zheng Wang was the constable leader for the South City Bureau, Lv Xingmin wouldn’t have dared to seek revenge, no matter how much he wanted to.

But now, not only had Zheng Wang been stripped of his Official Uniform, he had also angered the Sima of the South City Bureau.

Lv Xingmin was the first to pounce.

”Zheng Wang, you think you’re still that high-and-mighty squad leader?

There’s no South City Bureau to back you up now.”

Lv Xingmin sneered. ”Old man, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll let me take your head quietly. Otherwise, I’ll chop off your limbs, throw you in a dog cage, and let the fighting dogs tear you apart, bite by bite.”

”Lv Xingmin, don’t push me too far!”

An unnatural flush appeared on Zheng Wang’s face as he suppressed his fury. ”I, Zheng Wang, am not just a fish on a chopping block for you to slaughter! If you really push me to the edge, I still have a few good friends. It’s not impossible for us to take your Dog Fighting Gang down with us!”

”Haha! And who do you think is going to help you now?”

Lv Xingmin laughed maniacally. ”Those old squad leader buddies of yours can’t even look after themselves right now!

You old fool, you won’t shed a tear until you see your own coffin.

You’ve got a wife, don’t you? A bit past her prime, but... This Gang Leader will open your eyes for you today.

Come on, bring Old Hei over! Our dear Sergeant Zheng has never seen how Old Hei mounts a woman.”

Lv Xingmin clapped his hands, and one of his underlings walked in, leading a large black dog.

Zheng Wang’s chest heaved violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

”I’ll fight you to the death!”

He let out a furious roar and raised his saber, chopping down at Lv Xingmin.

BANG!

Lv Xingmin dodged Zheng Wang’s slash and followed up with a kick to his chest, sending him flying backward.

”The only reason I never laid a hand on you before was that uniform. Did you really think I couldn’t take you?”

Lv Xingmin sneered, taking a few steps forward and viciously stomping on Zheng Wang’s chest.

”Men! Drag that old hag out here! Let’s give our Sergeant Zheng a good show!”

”Husband!”

”Let go of my mother!”

Cries and screams echoed through the small courtyard.

The surrounding neighbors were all as silent as cicadas in winter; not a single one dared to step forward.

Zheng Wang’s eyes threatened to split from their sockets with rage.

”Lv Xingmin, you animal! If you want someone, come after me! Don’t touch them!”

Zheng Wang roared desperately.

Two members of the Dog Fighting Gang grabbed Zheng Wang’s wife by the arms. The large black dog whined as it approached her, her face a mask of terror.