I Grind to Martial Saint

In this world, the lines between black and white weren’t so clear.

The Government Office and the gangs weren’t always at each other’s throats. When it served their interests, they could sit down for a civil discussion.

Everything was about money.

This was basically an unspoken rule within the County Yamen.

Just as Han Yuan was leading his men toward Changfeng Street...

”Sir!”

”Sir!”

”Save my daughter!”

A woman suddenly rushed out from a side street, prostrating herself before Han Yuan and knocking her head on the ground.

BANG, BANG, BANG!!!

She slammed her head on the ground three times, hard enough to break the skin on her forehead.

Wang Changbai hurriedly pulled her back. If she kept that up, she might actually kill herself.

”Calm down. This is Constable Han. Tell us what happened,” Wang Changbai said.

The woman raised her head to look at Han Yuan.

Only then did Han Yuan see the woman’s face, covered in a mix of old and new bruises. She had clearly been beaten many times.

”Constable Han.”

”My husband fell ill, so we borrowed three taels of silver from the Black Snake Gang to buy medicine.”

”But in less than a month, the interest snowballed to thirty taels of silver.”

”How could a poor family like ours ever repay that much?”

”Then the Black Snake Gang sent men to our home. They not only beat my husband to death, but they also abducted my poor daughter.”

The woman’s eyes were red as she broke down in tears.

”Why not report it to the Government Office...”

As the words left his mouth, Han Yuan gave a small, bitter laugh.

”People said you’re Constable Han Jiudao’s younger brother, that you might be different from the other officials.”

”Constable Han, I truly have nowhere else to turn!!!”

The woman’s sobs grew louder.

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Loan-sharking was something almost every gang did.

But for three taels of silver to become thirty in less than a month... that was pushing it.

”Looks like this Black Snake Gang is no saint,” Han Yuan said softly.

”Gangs... they’re all like this,” Wang Changbai said, shaking his head.

He’d seen this sort of thing far too many times.

”What’s your daughter’s name?” Han Yuan asked the woman.

”Constable Han, her name is Xiaoling,” the woman answered hastily.

”I understand. You can go home for now,” Han Yuan said gently. ”I’ll ask about it.”

”Sir... I’m begging you.”

The woman knocked her head on the ground one last time before departing.

”Han Yuan, you shouldn’t have given her hope.”

”It will only lead to greater despair,” Wang Changbai said, shaking his head.

He knew Han Yuan was not Han Jiudao.

He wasn’t as righteous, nor did he despise evil with such passion.

”We’ll see,” Han Yuan said with a cryptic smile.

And with that, the group entered Changfeng Street.

The current scene on Changfeng Street had changed a lot from what Han Yuan remembered.

Changfeng Street used to be bustling, lined with shops, and crowded but orderly.

But now, it was desolate. Many of the shops on the street were shuttered.

And the streets were now home to more gang members and thugs.

”How did it get like this?” Han Yuan said with some surprise.

”After the Black Snake Gang took over, they’ve been bleeding the merchants of Changfeng Street and the common folk of the other three streets dry, constantly extorting money from them,” Wang Changbai sighed. ”That’s why it’s become like this.”

Just then, a man in blue clothes with a black snake embroidered on his chest walked over.

”Constable Han. Our Boss Kong heard it was your first day on the job, so he’s specially arranged a banquet for you at Changyun Restaurant.”

Not caring whether it was a trap, Han Yuan simply said, ”Lead the way.”

When Han Yuan arrived at Changyun Restaurant, he found the main hall filled with members of the Black Snake Gang. They didn’t say a word, just stared at Han Yuan, Wang Changbai, and the others.

Only at a large table in the middle sat a single person.

The man had a dark complexion and upturned, slanted eyes that made him look sinister and cunning.

When this man saw Han Yuan enter, he didn’t rise. He simply remained seated, offering a cupped-fist salute. ”I am Kong She. Greetings, Chief Constable Han.”

He spoke in a perfunctory, almost passive-aggressive tone.

Han Yuan walked calmly to the table and sat down opposite Kong She.

Wang Changbai, Wang Dahua, and the others stood behind him.

”Quite the welcoming party, Gang Leader Kong,” Han Yuan said calmly. ”I take it you’ve called out every member of the Black Snake Gang for the occasion.”

His calm demeanor for a moment left Kong She unable to read him.

He chuckled. ”Isn’t this Constable Han’s first day on the job? I just brought my men over so they could all meet you, to avoid any unfortunate misunderstandings down the road.”

Han Yuan smiled back. ”Are you implying, Gang Leader Kong, that you intend to make a move against the County Yamen?”

Kong She waved his hand dismissively. ”Constable Han, you misunderstand. I meant nothing of the sort.”

”Go ahead, ask around Changfeng Street... or any of the streets near Changhe Street, for that matter.”

”I, Kong She, am an upstanding, law-abiding citizen.”

Han Yuan nodded. ”I can see that, Gang Leader Kong. You do seem like a good person.”

Kong She smirked and shot a glance to the side.

Only then did a waiter come forward to pour Han Yuan a pot of tea.

”Constable Han.”

”I know how things work on the streets.”

”For the protection fees from the shops on Changfeng Street, I’ll give you a thirty-percent cut.”

Kong She held up three fingers.

”I heard that other places split it fifty-fifty.”

”Why aren’t you following the rules, Gang Leader Kong?”

Before they arrived, Wang Changbai had told Han Yuan about all these rules.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at Kong She.

”Constable Han, thirty percent isn’t a small amount,” Kong She said with a smirk.

The next moment, all the Black Snake Gang members stood up, glaring like hungry tigers at Han Yuan’s group.

Seeing this, Wang Changbai’s lips turned white with fear.

Even Wang Dahua and the others nervously gripped the hilts of their blades.

Only Han Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. He smiled. ”What’s this? Does Gang Leader Kong want to get physical?”

Kong She stared at Han Yuan for a long moment, then said coldly, ”Forty percent.”

Han Yuan shook his head.

”Fifty percent.”

”This is my bottom line.”

”Any lower, and I don’t think there’s any need for us to talk.”

Kong She finally held up five fingers, speaking through gritted teeth.

But Han Yuan still shook his head.

”Han Yuan, do you really think I’m afraid of you?!”

Kong She slammed his hand on the table.

BANG!

The entire table shattered into pieces.

The next moment.

SHING, SHING, SHING~~~

Numerous Black Snake Gang members drew their Weapons.

”Gang Leader Kong, I think you’ve misunderstood why I’m here,” Han Yuan said at that moment.

”What do you mean by that?” Kong She frowned.

”It’s simple. I didn’t come here to negotiate a cut.”

”Just now, on my way to Changfeng Street, I received a report.”

”It said that members of your Black Snake Gang murder with impunity and abduct young women.”

”I’d like Gang Leader Kong to come back with me to assist in the investigation.”

”Rest assured, if you’re innocent, Gang Leader Kong, I will certainly see that justice is done,” Han Yuan said with a slight smile.

Kong She’s expression turned strange, then he burst out laughing. ”Han Yuan, have you lost your mind?”

”Are you trying to copy your brother, Han Jiudao?”

Han Yuan shook his head. ”No...”

”I just... don’t like you.”

The next moment, Han Yuan suddenly drew his blade.

His movements were too fast for anyone to see clearly.

The people in the restaurant’s main hall only saw a flash of deathly cold light from a blade.

The air seemed to fill with the cry of a vicious bird.