Chapter 20: The Patrol Commander
Chapter 20: The Patrol Commander
"There he is!"
Wang Zhao led the group to the alley where Chen Mu's house was located and pointed to two houses in the distance.
Wang Zheng frowned and waved his hand, leading the group forward. Upon reaching the door, he raised his hand and banged loudly on it.
"Chen Mu, come out!"
"Where is he?!"
He shouted twice into the house, but there was no response.
Wang Zhao, standing beside him, spoke up, "Chen Mu is probably on patrol duty, but his sister should be home. Ni'er is likely inside too. They don't have anywhere else to go. Should we wait for them to return, or..."
"Hmph!"
Wang Zheng let out a cold huff. "Wait for what? Keep banging! If we're going to wait, we'll do it inside!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several men nearby turned grim-faced and followed his lead. They picked up the wooden sticks in their hands and slammed them against the dilapidated wooden door.
The door, already worn out, had a latch that was nothing but rotten wood. After a few hard hits, it creaked under the strain and then snapped with a loud crack!
Bang!
Wang Zhao kicked the door open.
Just as he was about to roll up his sleeves and rush in, a cold rebuke echoed from a distance.
"How dare you!"
The rebuke halted the group's actions, and they turned to see Chen Mu, wearing the patrol uniform and carrying the patrol saber, standing at the alley entrance. His face was cold as he walked towards them step by step.
It was just one man against two or three dozen, yet he showed no sign of backing down. With each step, a faint killing intent emanated from him—an aura born from the fact that he had personally killed and shed blood.
"Who gave you the guts to cause trouble here?"
Chen Mu's cold gaze swept over the crowd in front of the door, eventually settling on Wang Zhao.
Wang Zhao had expected the group to gang up on Chen Mu, forcing him to surrender and hand over the deed and Wang Ni. However, the situation took an unexpected turn as Chen Mu, with his patrol saber exuding a menacing aura, intimidated the group.
But Wang Zhao quickly recovered.
With over twenty people on their side, Chen Mu's saber was of little concern. It was just a scare tactic.
"Hmph! Don't think that being a patrol officer gives you the right to bully the weak! Taking advantage of my uncle's old age, you seized the deed and took my uncle's granddaughter. Even if we take this to the City Guard Headquarters or the Village Head, we'll still demand justice!"
Wang Zhao glared at Chen Mu and shouted.
In the past, facing such a situation, Chen Mu might have had no choice but to back down. However, the idea that a group of two or three dozen men could force him to surrender was absurd.
As Chen Mu pondered how to establish his authority, another calm voice echoed from a distance.
"Oh? I don't think such a minor matter requires involving the Village Head. Why don't we settle it here first?"
"Who?!"
Wang Zhao furrowed his brows, surprised that someone would meddle in their affairs. He turned around to look.
What he saw startled him so much that he almost sat down on the ground.
The other two or three dozen men, including Wang Zheng, who had been brimming with killing intent and aggression, also stared in shock at the figure walking down the alley in the distance. Their eyes widened.
A middle-aged man in a dark green flying fish robe, with a broad face and large ears, strode forward with a steady gait, his hands clasped behind his back. Behind him followed two men in blue patrol uniforms.
The City Guard Headquarters.
Gray uniforms for patrol officers, blue for patrol inspectors, and only one person in the Nine Streets Ward was allowed to wear the dark green uniform—the Patrol Commander, Min Baoyi!
Min Baoyi approached leisurely as if strolling through a courtyard, but with each step, the atmosphere in the area turned deathly silent. Even those in the distance, cautiously peering towards them, and the onlookers, including some hooligans, wore expressions of fear.
The Patrol Commander!
He was a true big shot in the Nine Streets Ward. Even the local gang leaders treated him with respect, and the village elders greeted him with smiles. In this world, he was like a local overlord, ruling over the Nine Streets Ward. A single word from him could send someone to hell!
"Goodness! Patrol Commander Min has arrived. What's going on here...?"
Several members of the Crimson Gold Gang, who had been secretly watching from a distance, now exchanged glances, their hearts filled with unease.
A big shot like Patrol Commander Min had personally come to this run-down alley—it was like a miracle!
Amidst the silence, Min Baoyi approached with a calm expression. He looked at Wang Zhao and the others, who were as stiff as wooden chickens, and spoke in a casual tone. "Well, do you think I'm not qualified to hear your case, and you need to bring the Village Head here?"
At these words, Wang Zhao and the others shuddered. They quickly bowed and said, "Patrol Commander, we dare not, we dare not..."
"If you have a case to present, then go ahead."
Min Baoyi stood with his arms folded, his expression indifferent. "Go ahead."
At this moment, Wang Zheng and Wang Zhao dared not mention the matter of Wang Ni and Wang Lao Han. They had only boasted about taking the issue to the City Guard Headquarters or the Village Head to intimidate Chen Mu. But now, facing a big shot like Patrol Commander Min, their case and logic held no weight. A single displeasing word could bring disaster upon them.
"We... we just had a misunderstanding..."
Wang Zhao stammered.
Min Baoyi glanced at Wang Zhao and the others, noticing their unease. He finally averted his gaze and turned to Chen Mu, standing by his side. The indifferent expression on his face finally softened into a kind smile as he said, "Little Chen, you truly live up to the saying, 'a real dragon among men, hidden in plain sight.' Even I, as a City Guard Commander, had no clue."
Chen Mu bowed respectfully, addressing him, "City Guard Commander."
By now, Chen Mu understood that Min Baoyi must have received a message from Xu Hongyu, prompting him to investigate his situation. Subsequently, he had learned about Wang Zhao's group gathering to cause trouble for Chen Mu, so he decided to come personally.
On one hand, Xu Hongyu's request carried significant weight, and on the other, she might have revealed some information about Chen Mu. It wasn't uncommon for someone his age to have achieved such proficiency in swordsmanship, and reaching the level of 'Muscle Tempering' by thirty was not an extraordinary feat. Once at that level, one would be fully qualified to serve as a City Guard Commander, making him, in all likelihood, Xu Hongyu's protege for the position.
This status naturally gave him the right to make a personal visit.
"Haha, no need for such formalities. From now on, just call me Elder Brother Min," Min Baoyi laughed, walking over and directly grabbing Chen Mu's arm, patting his shoulder as he spoke.
The two blue-clad Senior Patrol Officers behind Min Baoyi looked on with envy in their eyes, having learned a little about the situation from their proximity to him.
Although Chen Mu was only an Inspector, even these Senior Patrol Officers didn't have the privilege of such familiarity with Min Baoyi, let alone addressing him as 'Elder Brother.' This was an extraordinary honor.
On the other side.
Wang Zhao, Wang Zheng, and the others watched this scene, all of them stunned for a moment.
Over twenty men stood frozen, their eyes wide, as if turned to stone, some breaking into a cold sweat. Wang Zheng felt his spine chill as if winter had suddenly arrived.
But neither Chen Mu nor Min Baoyi paid them any attention.
Chen Mu looked at Min Baoyi, "City Guard Commander, this..."
"Hmm?" Min Baoyi feigned seriousness.
Chen Mu sighed, "Elder Brother Min... for such a trivial matter, I'm sorry to trouble you with a visit."
"Hahaha, I'm free, no trouble at all," Min Baoyi laughed heartily, then looked at Chen Mu's two small rooms, "This Huaju is not suitable for living. I have a vacant courtyard behind Zhenglili Jie, a two-section, three-room house. It's not grand, but it's clean. I'll give it to you, my younger brother. It's close to the City Guard Headquarters, making it convenient for me to visit and discuss matters over drinks."
"This..." Chen Mu hesitated.
But Min Baoyi wouldn't take no for an answer, insisting on the gift. Chen Mu had no choice but to accept.
It seemed like Chen Mu had gained a two-section courtyard for free, but in reality, this was a favor from Min Baoyi. In the future, if Chen Mu needed help, he wouldn't be able to refuse. Min Baoyi, the City Guard Commander, appeared straightforward but was actually quite meticulous.
At this point, Min Baoyi finally glanced at Wang Zhao and the others, smiling as he said, "These people are so rude and disrespectful. I think they should be taken to the yamen and given thirty lashes. If my younger brother still feels aggrieved, we can throw them into prison."
With a light sentence, he had just ordered the execution of over twenty people.
In this world, for Min Baoyi, twenty or thirty lives were not a big deal, just a matter of a few words.
Hearing Min Baoyi's words, Chen Mu secretly marveled. A year ago, he was just a lowly Inspector, unsure of his future. Now, with a single word, he could easily decide the fate of over twenty people.
"Commander, spare us, spare us..."
Wang Zhao and the others were pale, kneeling on the ground, crying as they repeatedly kowtowed to Chen Mu and Min Baoyi, their heads bleeding, all previous bravado gone.
A poor Inspector with no power or influence was nothing to fear with their numbers, but a Senior Patrol Officer was a different story, let alone a City Guard Commander, who was second only to the Village Head in terms of influence in Nine Li.
The men all cursed Wang Zheng and Wang Zhao in their hearts. If they had known that Chen Mu was on such good terms with Min Baoyi, they wouldn't have dared to cause trouble, even with ten times the courage!
Chen Mu gave them a cold look, then bowed to Min Baoyi, "Elder Brother, please handle it as you see fit."
Min Baoyi smiled, "That's good. Recently, the city walls need repairs, so we'll put them to good use."
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhao and the others slumped to the ground, their faces ashen. Only one thought rose in their minds.
It's over.
Wall repair was the heaviest labor in the city, almost a death sentence. Few returned from such work, and it was often done by prisoners.
Min Baoyi didn't seem to mind, and signaled to the Senior Patrol Officer behind him to take care of it. Then, turning to Chen Mu, he said, "It's still early. Younger Brother, let's go to the City Guard Headquarters."
"As you wish, Elder Brother, but my sister is scared. I need to comfort her." Chen Mu bowed.
Min Baoyi waved his hand, "Alright, then I'll take my leave. I'll wait for you at the City Guard Headquarters."
And with that, he turned and strolled away.
(End of Chapter)
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