The entourage was led by a stern-faced man, flanked by burly men in orderly blue uniforms. The black flag banner had an emblem of a shield circled by swords.
“Who dares make a scene in Captain Kun’s area?” the tall vice captain said, narrowing his eyes at Sheng Xuan. The trailing enforcers quickly surrounded them, pointing their sabers at them, spirit qi surging in their bodies.
Neither Sheng Xuan nor Wei Rou responded, irritating the vice captain.
“Don’t resist it, otherwise the end will not be good at all!” the vice captain said in a menacing voice.
The captain calmly observed the scene, as if it were beneath him to speak.
Getting no response from the hooded pair, the vice captain’s voice grew fiercer. “Show your face, at once!” He pointed his large saber at him, ready to strike.
“So noisy.” Sheng Xuan pulled down his hood and took out a token, his face deadpan.
The vice captain felt like Sheng Xuan was talking to a mosquito, his face twisted in anger.
“Courting death!” he roared, about to leap toward them when the captain placed his hand on his arm, keeping him down. The vice captain turned toward him, puzzled.
Captain Kun narrowed his eyes at the token, pure white backed with golden symbols: Sheng. His eyebrows violently twitched. He let out a cough, a smile curling his lips.
“Ah, it’s Young Master Sheng!” he said, politely stepping forward and cupping his fist.
His men were dumbfounded. Especially the vice captain, who suddenly felt cold from top to bottom. Having been an enforcer for a while now, he recovered quickly and hastily bowed, cupping his fist.
“My apologies, Young Master! I did not know it was you!”
Sheng Xuan skimmed an arrogant look over them. “What enforcing are you doing? These hooligans don’t know what’s good for them, daring to offend me. What in the damn are you lot doing?” His voice dripped with disdain.
Everyone around found it difficult to stay steady on their feet, evading his piercing eyes. The captain’s face turned stiff. He said, “I beg your pardon, Young Master. I was not aware hooligans dared to make a ruckus here.”
He scanned his subordinates angrily and vigorously said, “I had ordered these incompetent lot to always clean up the streets. It seems these lot have been slacking on their duties!” He especially made his face appear grim.
Despite wanting to speak out, no one dared, looking down and elsewhere, nervous.
“Whatever, I don’t care. Since they dared to block my way, they need to be punished,” Sheng Xuan arrogantly said.
The captain’s heart skipped a beat. Were things about to go out of control?
“Take me to see your commander,” Sheng Xuan said.
“Young Master-”
“Right. Now,” Sheng Xuan haughtily emphasized.
The captain’s heart sank. He gritted his teeth and led the way, his heart racing. If he lost this job, how was he going to answer to his wives and concubines? Even more importantly, his enemies would dice him up. He shivered.
The crowd hidden behind pillars, shops and alleyways watched the scene in awe. This was what dominance looked like. What true power was. Even the cultivators’ hearts burned with envy.
Most of them had faced exploitation from the enforcers. If someone did not listen or fought back, they could just frame them or call on backup, totally crushing them. It was scary. They lived their lives with their backs bent, exploited till some were forced to sell themselves.
Now to simply please a young master, they were going above and beyond. Some people’s resolve to work at a clan like this grew fervent, whereas a few tagged along, hoping to chance upon a meeting with this young master.
The enforcement station was in one of the nicer areas. Tall, clean and well-decorated. Several enforcers stood guard outside. Some diligent, others dozing off, chatting and eating.
Seeing one of the captains return, they quickly cleaned up or jumped to their feet, saluting vigorously. “Captain Kun!”
The man in question had no time to reply. He quickly made his way inside with Sheng Xuan. Wei Rou was beside him but she was somewhat reluctant, hoping instinctively he would not make a big scene.
In a large, well-decorated room, the enforcement commander sipped wine from a cup, only to be interrupted by Captain Kun’s knock. His face wrinkled. Did I not tell him not to disturb me?
“Come in,” he said, not masking his annoyance.
Sheng Xuan trailed behind without hesitation, his eyes falling on the strict-faced man on the large seat. A sweet smell of wine lingered in the air. The open window let in fresh air alongside warm sunlight.
“What’s going on, Captain Kun?” Commander Zhan asked, scanning the strangers as spirit qi surged in his body.
“Commander-”
Sheng Xuan interrupted him. “I am Sheng Xuan.” He pushed the token in front.
Commander Zhan closely studied the token. Only after he made sure it was not a fake did his usually strict face relax into a smile. “Oh, it’s a junior from the clan,” he said. “I am Commander Zhan, what’s your name?”
“Sheng Xuan, my father is Sheng Bo,” he politely said.
“Ah, it’s Brother Bo’s son,” Commander Zhan said. “Did you have any trouble?”
Sheng Xuan’s face morphed dramatically. “Where do I even start, Uncle Zhan? I did not expect to encounter some hooligans the instant I got here. They dare block my path, demanding spirit stones! I could not believe it. I wondered if this was even our Sheng Clan’s territory or the enemy’s!” he said with righteous anger.
Wei Rou blinked her eyes, astonished. Her face was still veiled.
Captain Kun’s face was ashen. It was like someone had left him to fend for himself in the icy desert. What rotten luck! Why did he have to tag along with his squad today?!
Commander Zhan was at a loss for words too. Especially the last few words, they were too damning. It concerned the face of the clan. If this wet-behind-the-ears boy complained upward, his opponents would not hesitate to give him trouble.
“How dare they!” Commander Zhan slammed his hand on the table. He glared at Captain Kun. “What’s happening? How dare these roadside rats trouble my clansmen?”
“Commander-”
“Stop. I don’t want to hear a single explanation,” Commander Zhan waved his hand. “It appears too many people are slacking. I should not have been so patient with you lot.”
Captain Kun trembled under his pressuring gaze.
Commander Zhan turned toward Sheng Xuan. “Little Xuan, I will make this right. You must be out and about for something, right? Tell Uncle. See what I do.”
“Ah, that would be very nice of you, Uncle Zhan,” he said. “I am just looking for some Sun Dew.”
Sun Dew? Captain Kun was shocked. It was a great elixir for cultivators. Sadly, it was very expensive.
“Sun Dew…” Commander Zhan murmured, tapping the table. “I know someone who might have some. Let me call them.”
“Sure, Uncle Zhan.”
He sat on the chairs with Wei Rou and waited.
Soon, a broad figure in a red robe entered the room. A large scar was on his left cheek.
“Commander Zhan!” He cupped his fists in salute.
“Fellow Daoist Tong,” Commander Zhan lightly nodded. “If you did not already know, some people from your hunting group troubled this junior from my clan, ruining his plans for the day.”
“That’s…” Tong was caught off-guard. He had been out and about when his jade token warmed up and he rushed toward the station. He found it hard to believe his men would be foolish enough to offend a Sheng member.
He mulled over his options. Suppose he argued it was a lie.
Pointless.
Even he never cared whether the ones he hurt were innocent, so what was he to these noble clan folk?
When his eyes focused on the people, he noticed they were just calmly staring at him, waiting for a response. Their gaze… they did not take him seriously.
Tong held his breath and cupped his left fist with his right palm.
“My apologies, Commander Zhan and Junior Sheng,” he deeply said. “Is there a way I can make it right?”
Commander Zhan nodded. “Yes, Little Xuan is looking for some Sun Dew. I believe you might have some. Just give it to him.”
Tong wanted to refuse right away. He wanted to use them himself. He did not speak for a while, seemingly thinking. He wanted to lie, but that would mean an unresolved knot. He had just stabilized the gang and did not want to lose it. “I did have some but I used most of it. Now, I just have these three drops.”
He took out a transparent glass vial with bright yellow liquid.
“That’s alright.” Sheng Xuan faintly smiled.
Tong glanced at the commander who gave a nod. He could only sigh inwardly and place it on the desk. The lingering warmth on his right palm quickly cooled, reminding him of the loss. He resented this whole exchange, Zhan, Xuan and Sheng Clan.
“You may leave,” Commander Zhan said.
Without any further words, after a cupped fist salute, Tong left.
Commander Zhan looked at the bottle on the desk, tempted. Despite being a late-stage cultivator, it was still quite usable for him. Some resources tended to be useful throughout the rank.
Noticing it, Sheng Xuan was annoyed. He wanted it all. Who knew if three would even be enough to calm down all the problematic wisps. But he knew he could not just not give something after making use of someone. Suppressing his greed, Sheng Xuan said, “Uncle Zhan, I won’t feel okay just taking it like this. How about you take a drop from it?”
Commander Zhan chuckled. “No, no. I don’t need it. You can have it.”
“Uncle Zhan, if you don’t, I won’t take it!” Sheng Xuan firmly said, and poured some into another bottle and pushed it toward him.
“Little Xuan…” Commander Zhan sounded hesitant, only for his hand to move a little too quickly.
“Thank you, Uncle Zhan, for your help today. I will come see you another time!” Sheng Xuan politely said, and stood up.
“No problem, Little Xuan. You can come anytime,” Commander Zhan said. “Also, Uncle will do a deep clean up soon. You don’t need to inform anyone else.”
“Of course. I believe in Uncle. Rest assured,” Sheng Xuan seriously said.
Commander Zhan smiled, watching them leave. After a while, he resumed sipping his wine, not as flavorful as before. He was not very fond of this feeling of being used.
He huffed.