Chapter 61: Such Proactive Performance Is Rare
The constables were startled; in their decades of service, they had never encountered anyone who dared to provoke them directly.
Constable Wei shook his head and smiled. With his extensive experience, he had seen all sorts of situations, but this was just a group of fools looking for trouble. Such cases that fell into their lap were rare even in a lifetime of being a constable.
“Who’s afraid! Let’s go!”
The thieves were eager to make a statement. Being new to the area and aspiring to join the demonic sect, they knew they couldn’t make a name for themselves just by stealing. It was time for a dazzling debut!
Then the thieves saw a group of constables, armed with official swords and waist badges indicating their authority, storm into the room.
The constables were shocked to see tables laden with gold, silver, jewels, rare medicinal herbs, and spirit stones and crystals.
Aren’t these the very items that were reported stolen just a while ago?
The constables: “……”Constable Wei: “……”
The thieves: “……”
“If I say I found these by the roadside, would you believe me?”
Constable Wei had never encountered such a scene before; this was his first time seeing criminals literally walk into their own trap.
The thief’s younger brother, still unaware of what had happened, continued to shout for their leader to take action.
“Boss, show them what we’re made of!”
While ranting, he also made bold claims: “See my boss’s thinning hair? He plucks a hair for every person he kills! He’s known in the underworld as the harbinger of gloom!”
“See the one wearing an eyepatch? That’s my second brother. He lost his eye fighting a late-stage Foundation Building powerhouse. That powerhouse didn’t fare much better, ending up blinded by my brother! He’s known as the desperate second brother!”
“And my third brother’s leg? He was surrounded by over a hundred royal guards while stealing from the palace and escaped at the cost of his leg! He’s known as the swift flier!”
The thief leader, along with his second and third in command, kicked the talkative subordinate over. Quiet, you talk too much.
“So, who was it that said anyone who doesn’t show up is a coward?” Constable Wei asked with a menacing smile, blaming them for his consecutive night shifts.
“I’m the coward, I’m the coward,” stammered the thief leader, trembling with fear.
The thieves dared not fight back, seeing the constables blocking the door. They crashed through the walls and ran towards the hall, their specialty being speed rather than combat, especially since none of them were even at the Foundation Building stage, with the leader only at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.
“You run through the front door, the rest follow me through the back!” commanded the thief leader, directing his men to split up and escape.
Lu Yang, noticing the commotion, quickly grasped the situation and found it amusing.
“Thieves and constables separated by just a wall, and the thieves even challenging the constables?”
“Wait, if they try to escape through the backyard, what if the constables discover the specters?”
Lu Yang quickly realized the implications; if the specters were destroyed, who would do the grilling, and how would they continue to run the barbecue shop and monitor Qin Yuanhao?
The thief leader, seeing Lu Yang seemingly frozen in shock at the back door, reached out to throw Lu Yang aside.
Lu Yang, holding a pot of dumpling soup, spilled it as the thief leader approached menacingly.
The thief leader, not anticipating this turn of events, raised a shield of spiritual energy to block the dumpling soup.
Delayed by this moment, Constable Wei pulled out a chain, slithering like a snake, and ensnared the thief leader.
“Go, bring the rest of them back. This meal was truly worth it.” Constable Wei’s mood lifted, feeling refreshed and as if the world had broadened before him.
The troublesome gang of thieves was finally apprehended, a stroke of good fortune.
Constable Wei patted Lu Yang on the shoulder, laughing heartily, “If it weren’t for your intervention, that kid might have actually gotten away!”
“Acting bravely for a just cause, wait for it, I’ll bring you a banner of honor tomorrow!”
Lu Yang hurriedly waved it off, saying it wasn’t necessary, but Constable Wei, insistent in his joy, insisted on presenting one.
The scuffle between the constables and the thieves was so intense it damaged a wall, leaving the entire hall in disarray, filled with dust.
The patrons had to leave early, but witnessing the constables catching criminals firsthand was worth it.
“This barbecue shop really is a great place, huh? The constables can catch people just by sitting here.”
“It was worth the visit; you can’t buy this kind of entertainment with money.”
“This place must be a nexus of good fortune, for the business to boom in such a short time. Even if it’s delicious, the level of popularity is somewhat exaggerated; there must be a certain degree of luck involved.”
“Seeing the constables catch someone today proves it.”
“Looks like I need to come here more often, to rub off some of that luck.”
“Sounds like a plan, let’s come together next time.”
Listening to the gradually fading discussion of the people, Lu Yang felt a sense of pessimism about the future of the barbecue shop—it was destined to grow bigger and stronger.
“I’ll bring the money for the wall repairs along with the banner tomorrow!” Constable Wei waved at Lu Yang, leaving this message before escorting the unlucky thieves away.
Lu Yang stood at the doorway, sighing, then noticed Qin Yuanhao leaving his residence once again.
“Brother Lu, Qin Yuanhao has left his house again,” Barbarian Bone transmitted from the second floor. He was diligent in his duties, unconcerned with the commotion downstairs, always keeping an eye on Qin Yuanhao’s movements.
“I saw it. You and Jingzhou fix the damaged wall, I’ll follow Qin Yuanhao.”
“Understood.”
Lu Yang used the ground-shrinking technique to follow Qin Yuanhao once more.
Meng Jingzhou lamented from behind, “Lu Yang’s talent for spells is really something, huh? I’ve been trying to learn from him for half a day and haven’t picked up a thing.”
“And I always feel like the incantations he teaches me are related to spatial spells, is it just my imagination?”
Meng Jingzhou didn’t dwell too much on the issue. Lu Yang’s spellcasting talent could only be described as “outrageous.” Hoping to learn spells from him was nothing but a daydream.
Even he, with his single spiritual root, couldn’t manage it, let alone others.
…
Lu Yang followed Qin Yuanhao for quite a distance, not hearing Meng Jingzhou’s words. He noticed that this time, Qin Yuanhao walked with an air of confidence, even humming a cheerful tune, as if he was about to undertake something significant.
Qin Yuanhao arrived at a large mansion and, instead of knocking, cast a spell at the door.
Soon after, a tall, thin man came out and immediately asked, “Is it the day?”
“Today’s the day.”
“I’ve been preparing for today for a whole half month.”
“Who hasn’t? This time, we must make a big score. I’ve been so frustrated these past days with no action! Once we pull this off, you have to help me spread the word; let’s see who dares to look down on me again!” Qin Yuanhao said, revealing a cruel smile.
“Absolutely.” The tall, thin man was known in the Yanjiang Rudder for being a big talker.
The conversation was cryptic, with their laughter carrying a cold edge.
Lu Yang was alert, unsure of what the two were planning.
They walked into a bustling district, where one building, decorated in bright, eye-catching colors, stood out.
Qin Yuanhao and the tall, thin man entered, receiving a warm welcome.
Lu Yang looked up at the signboard, “Brothel.”
(TL Note: So much for being an “upright novel” smh)