Zhou Hongda popped a grape into his mouth while Li Hu, the Gang Leader of the Tiger and Leopard Gang, stood bowing in the hall. Li Hu briefly explained the purpose of his visit, which was about the situation at Qingshui Pier. He was afraid Chief Constable Chen Cheng would cause trouble for the Tiger and Leopard Gang and was requesting the Zhou Family’s protection.

When Chen Cheng killed Ren Fei, Zhou Hongda’s men, the Black and White Double Slaughter, had been watching from nearby. Therefore, Zhou Hongda already knew the full details of their fight.

The fact that Chen Cheng could kill Ren Fei, a Beginner Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm, had clearly exceeded Zhou Hongda’s expectations.

According to his intelligence, just a few months ago, Chen Cheng had only been a mere Preparatory Constable. He had only reached Great Success in his Saber Technique when he competed against Zhou Fang for the position of official constable.

’This young man’s talent for the Martial Dao is truly terrifying. He absolutely cannot be left alive.’ But Zhou Hongda clearly didn’t dare to brazenly dispatch the Black and White Double Slaughter to assassinate him. After all, Chen Cheng was a Chief Constable of the City Guard Department and had the Shen Family’s protection.

With his Saber Technique at Perfection, strength comparable to a Beginner Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm—or even a Small Success Martial Artist—and his position as a Chief Constable of the City Guard Department, Chen Cheng was a major headache for Zhou Hongda.

As for Chen Cheng wiping out the Tiger and Leopard Gang by himself, Zhou Hongda wasn’t worried. Even if Chen Cheng was a Small Success Martial Artist, ’how could he possibly destroy a gang of over a hundred men all by himself?’

Li Hu was simply worrying over nothing.

"Enough. Chen Cheng is just a junior Chief Constable. Your Tiger and Leopard Gang has so many men, and you and Zhang Bao have the fighting strength of Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artists. What are you so afraid of him for?"

"Even if he really does come after the Tiger and Leopard Gang, with his reputation at the Lishui Sub-Department, do you think he could even get any officials to back him up?"

After a moment of thought, Zhou Hongda said reassuringly.

Li Hu was still uneasy. "Second Master," he asked, "I’ve heard Chen Cheng is a ruthless man who’ll stop at nothing. I’m just afraid he’ll actually make a move."

"The Tiger and Leopard Gang is just a Jianghu Gang. How could we dare to attack a Chief Constable of the City Guard Department?"

Zhou Hongda suddenly snorted. "And why wouldn’t you? So what if Chen Cheng has Shen Qingshuang, the Chief of the South City Guard, backing him? Do you think the Zhou Family has no one? My nephew, Zhou Xu, is an Official at the South City District City Guard Headquarters. He’ll naturally find a way to back you up. And Ji Jingbei, the Lishui Division Chief Constable, won’t side with Chen Cheng either."

"Just kill him and don’t worry about it. A City Guard Chief Constable gets killed while oppressing the common folk... it’s not like it hasn’t happened before."

Li Hu cursed silently. ’He’s telling me to kill an official! If I really kill Chen Cheng, I’ll have to flee and spend the rest of my life on the run.’

"Second Master, perhaps we could invite Master Ruan or Master Tang to stay with the Tiger and Leopard Gang for a few days?"

The "Master Ruan" and "Master Tang" he mentioned were none other than the guards in the Zhou Family’s service, Ruan Gaolou and Tang Youming, also known as the Black and White Double Slaughter.

With just one of the Black and White Double Slaughter present, they could easily handle Chen Cheng even if he came to their door. The Tiger and Leopard Gang would then have nothing to worry about.

Zhou Hongda instantly grew impatient. "You want my Black and White Double Slaughter to deal with a single Chen Cheng?" he said coldly. "If word got out, I’d be a laughingstock!"

"If you can’t even handle Chen Cheng, what right do you have to be a Gang Leader?"

"I was wrong, please forgive me, Second Master!" Li Hu jumped in fright and hastily vowed, "Rest assured, Second Master. If Chen Cheng really dares to come after the Tiger and Leopard Gang, I, Li Hu, will kill him even if it costs me my life."

"Hmph! Now that’s more like it. That’s how one of the three fiends of Qingshui Pier should act!" Zhou Hongda nodded slightly, then immediately asked, "Why hasn’t this month’s example money been delivered yet?"

Li Hu quickly explained, "Second Master, it’s because of that bastard Yang Xingyao. The Tiger and Leopard Gang collected twenty percent less example money, so our income is down. Zhang Bao and I are scrambling to get the silver from the gambling dens and brothels. We’ll send it to you in a few days, and your share of the example money will be paid in full."

"Excellent." Zhou Hongda nodded again. "Yang Xingyao is just using Ji Jingbei’s name as a bluff. You don’t need to pay him any mind from now on. Collect the same amount of example money as before. The Zhou Family’s payment cannot be delayed again."

"Yes, I’ll see to it at once!" Li Hu hastily replied in a respectful voice.

Zhou Hongda waved his hand. "You may go," he said dismissively.

"Yes!" Li Hu bowed respectfully and headed out of the hall. As he passed through the doorway, he made sure to cup his fists in a gesture of respect toward the Black and White Double Slaughter, who stood at the entrance dressed in matching black and white outfits.

Once he was out of the Zhou Mansion, Li Hu’s face darkened. He cursed inwardly, ’That dog Zhou Hongda. He demands every coin when it’s time for the example money, but when I’m in trouble, he stays out of it. What a despicable bastard.’

’He still wants his example money? He can just wait. As long as my safety isn’t guaranteed, he won’t get a single coin.’

He returned to the Tiger and Leopard Gang’s headquarters in a foul mood. Li Hu dismissed his men and met privately with Zhang Bao in the main hall. They plotted to come up with excuses to delay the Zhou Family’s example money until this crisis passed.

"Big Brother, you always think things through," Zhang Bao said in agreement. "Otherwise, if we ended up in a conflict with Chen Cheng and killed him, we’d probably have to leave Linji City and flee. How would we manage without any silver coins on us?"

Li Hu sighed. "That’s the worst-case scenario. Chen Cheng might not even show up. And even if he does, he might not dare to make a move. Between the two of us and all the brothers in our gang, he’d just be committing suicide if he tried anything."

Zhang Bao nodded. "Exactly. Let’s hope Chen Cheng knows what’s good for him."

Just then, a gang chieftain came rushing in to report, his face pale with panic.

"Gang Leader, Vice Gang Leader! This is bad! That Chief Constable from the City Guard Department, Chen Cheng, he’s here with his men, fighting his way in!"