Chapter 298: The Hour of the Dragon (1)

Chapter 298: The Hour of Chen (Part One)

As dawn approached, the streets of Edo Castle lay deserted, save for tireless shadows drifting in the ocean woven by neon lights.

The remnants of revelry littered the streets, and a lifeless, ice-cold body curled beneath the eaves.

A black carriage sped past, its engine's roar particularly jarring, traversing half the city before finally halting before a building aglow with lights.

"Boss, we've arrived at the magistrate's office."

The constable driving turned to glance at the ghost king Da seated in the back.

"Mm."

The feigning-sleep ghost king Da slowly opened his eyes, gazing through the window at the imposing, unmarked structure, his lips curling downward.

"Even back then, I said we shouldn't have placed the Thousand-Door Office at the heart of the city. A bunch of street ruffians dared mock me for being timid."

The ghost king Da turned to face the front, "Sha Gui, do you think I'm the sort to fear?"

"We're not like those lords who clock in for their shifts."

The young constable, posing as 'Sha Gui,' chuckled, "Others don't have to risk their lives on the front lines, don't even need aliases, and needn't worry about reprisals afterward. How could they fear drawing attention?"

"Your words hold truth. Not everyone craves the midnight patrols of the constabulary. If we don't flaunt our prowess in public, what's the point of being constables?"

The ghost king Da laughed heartily, "You brat, how long have you served in our office now?"

"Since the New Year's Festival of the eighth year of Jiaqi. Exactly four years."

"Time flies," the ghost king Da sighed, "What have you learned in all these years?"

"Brothels, sake houses, pleasure quarters, and debts. Skipping out on bills." Sha Gui solemnly tapped his fingers.

The ghost king Da's brow twitched, "What did you say? I didn't catch that."

"Kidding."

Sha Gui pressed a hand to the steering wheel, leaned sideways, and grinned, "If you insist, I'll say I've learned one phrase."

"What phrase?"

"Dare to fight or not, one's demeanor must be sufficient."

"What drivel!"

The ghost king Da laughed mockingly, "You brat, you're just like Fan Wujue—utterly infuriating."

Sha Gui's handsome face bore a simple smile, scratching his head, "I'm from the same place as him, after all."

"I didn't know which nerve was misfiring back then, but I actually entrusted one of our own to that bastard Fan Wujue, turning those righteous young men into this."

The ghost king Da muttered, reaching for the door handle.

But just as he was about to push it open, his movement froze.

"Still, Xiao Hei's words were sound—dare to fight or not, one's demeanor must be sufficient."

The ghost king Da smiled coldly, "Sha Gui, remember this: whatever happens next, even if we're felled before this building today, we cannot tarnish our office's honor!"

The door swung open, revealing a gleaming leather boot stepping out.

The night wind struck, and the intricate patterns along the hem of his robe shimmered with faint silver light.

The ghost king Da stood by the carriage, methodically adjusting his collar. Two embroidered flying fish swam across his shoulders, marking his rank as a hundred-house officer.

Inside the building, footsteps thundered, and dozens of fully armed constables surged forth.

The leader, gaunt-cheeked and fierce-eyed, bore two flying fish on his shoulders as well.

The ghost king Da met his gaze, seeing undisguised malice and hatred in each other's eyes.

"Zheng Kui!"

"Ghost King Da!"

When the tiger falls into the flat land, it is the moment for enemies to show themselves.

"Seize the criminal, Ghost King Da!"

Zheng Kui waved his hand, barking orders.

"I'll see who dares!"

Sha Gui stepped forward, blocking the ghost king Da, hands reaching to his sleeves, drawing two slender, custom-made Spring-Autumn daggers.

"Whoever moves, dies!"

Bone-chilling murderous intent wrapped in the cold wind surged forward, stunning over ten constables who had prepared to advance.

"Ghost King Da, no wonder you committed the outrageous crime of slaughtering the poor! You can't even control your subordinates—how dare you wear the flying fish robe as a hundred-house officer?"

Zheng Kui glared at Sha Gui, cold laughter spilling from his lips, "This is the Thousand-Door Office, not your hick town. How dare a minor figure like you run wild here?"

"What are you all standing around for? Seize him! Anyone who resists will be executed on the spot!"

The ghost king Da stood tall, hands clasped behind his back like a spear, shouting, "With these cowards who won't even step onto the front lines, hiding in the building? Sha Gui, whoever bares their teeth, cut them down!"

"Understood!"

Sha Gui grinned, holding the daggers inverted, his body slightly crouched, eyes scanning the surroundings with savage intensity.

"Ghost King Da, are you staging a rebellion?"

"If I were, I wouldn't be here."

The ghost king Da sneered, "It's you, Zheng Kui, who thinks I'm about to fall, eager to stomp on me first?"

"I act under the Thousand-Door Lord's command to arrest the criminal! You'd best understand, Ghost King Da, you bear grave charges. Those sensible enough should surrender immediately!"

"The Thousand-Door? Which one?" the ghost king Da retorted mockingly.

Zheng Kui's expression hardened, "Of course, Lu Chenjiang, the Thousand-Door Lu!"

"Oh, so it's the deputy thousand-door."

The ghost king Da's tone stretched long, cold laughter escaping him, "In a mountain without a tiger, the monkeys claim kingship. I'm merely here to present my case to the Thousand-Door Office, not to surrender. Even if I, Ghost King Da, fall today, it won't be someone like you who judges me!"

"Ghost King Da, don't push your luck!"

Zheng Kui's face flushed with rage, his body trembling slightly.

"If Zheng Kui lacks the right to judge you, then what of this 'monkey' you speak of—does he?"

A composed middle-aged man emerged from the building, his flying fish robe bearing three silver fish—Lu Chenjiang, the deputy thousand-door of the constabulary!

Qian Fengting, who had once met the ghost king Da in a dream, followed closely behind, his eyes blinking subtly toward him.

"Greetings, Deputy Thousand-Door!"

Before the Thousand-Door Office, the constables bowed in unison.

Unmoving was only the ghost king Da and the dagger-wielding Sha Gui before him.

"A mere local office's constable dares draw blades at the Thousand-Door Office's gates! How brazen—do you still grasp the hierarchy, the order of respect and rank?"

Facing Lu Chenjiang's furrowed brows and icy stare, Sha Gui remained indifferent, his twin daggers showing no sign of being lowered.

“What’s the matter, you little brat? Have you stuffed your ears with donkey hair and not heard the Deputy Thousand Commander’s words? Put your blade down at once!”

Ghost King Da lightly kicked Shagui the Demon’s buttocks, laughing and scolding, “You dare to flourish your sword and staff—do you think you can strike down the Deputy Thousand Commander?”

“I’ve never tried it—would it be thrilling?” Shagui the Demon squinted, chuckling with a sly grin.

“It would be thrilling, indeed, but you, boy, wish to test it? Wait until you rise to the rank of Hundred Commander. You’re not yet worthy.”

Ghost King Da clapped Shagui’s shoulder, “Mind the carriage well—this is our household’s sole means of travel. Should it falter, I’ll not spare you!”

“Understood.”

The two of them, as if no soul else existed, joked and cursed with reckless abandon.

Before the Thousand Commander’s office, Zheng Kui’s eyes burned crimson, while Qian Fengting clutched his throbbing temples.

Though Lu Chengjiang’s face remained impassive, his fists were already clenched within his sleeves!