I achieved mastery of martial arts during the Republic of China era.

Chapter 47 Reactions from All Sides, A Thunderous Strike!

The police station is such a small place, and even the cracks in the bricks exude the cunning of its inhabitants. How could it possibly keep secrets?

The news that Zhou Tong sent people to "invite" the shopkeepers on Wenchang Street spread like wildfire, like water droplets dripping into boiling oil, and instantly reached the entire North City Branch Bureau.

Zhou Tong's move clearly indicates that he is going against Sun Wei.

For a moment, whispers floated in every corner, and the air was filled with a restless anticipation of a good show.

Office of the Third Squadron of the First Company.

Sun Wei sat imposingly in his wide-backed rattan chair, his boots propped up on the edge of his desk, toying with a pair of glossy walnuts in his hands.

The walnuts rolled around in his palm, making a smooth, grinding sound.

The door was pushed open, and a team member with a pointed face and monkey-like features strode in, a smile on his face:

"Boss, Chen Yan from the Second Squadron has taken two men to invite the shopkeepers of the dozen or so shops on the east side of Wenchang Street."

Sun Wei didn't even lift his eyelids, letting out a short, mocking laugh through his nose:

"Invite the manager? What does Zhou Tong want? To put on a show of force and reason with me? Does he think that by gathering those opportunistic managers together, presenting facts and rules, and using old grievances to pressure me, he can make me spit out the meat I've already eaten?"

He stopped turning the walnuts, picked one up, and slightly twisted his knuckles.

"Click."

With a crisp crack, he managed to pry open a small crack in the hard walnut.

He picked out a nut, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it slowly, his disdain deepening.

He stood up, his imposing figure almost blocking the light coming in through the window.

"Young man, you're still too green. You think you can force me to reason with you by calling everyone here?"

Sun Wei shook his head, a cold smile curving his lips:

"That's good. It'll let those shopkeepers see clearly who they should listen to and who they should curry favor with from now on."

As he spoke, he straightened the brass buttons on his uniform, went straight out, and knocked on the door of Liu Zhenshan, the captain of the first squadron.

"Enter."

A slightly deep voice came from inside.

Sun Wei pushed open the door and entered.

Liu Zhenshan was about forty years old, with a slightly yellowish complexion and two neatly trimmed short mustaches. He was writing something at his desk.

He was dressed in a similar dark-colored patrol officer's uniform to Qin Lie, with three bronze stars on his epaulets.

Upon seeing Sun Wei enter, Liu Zhenshan continued writing, only raising his eyelids slightly: "I've heard about everything."

Sun Wei stood ramrod straight: "Yes. Zhou Tong has made a scene, sending people to invite the shopkeepers on Wenchang Street. He wants to reason with me."

After writing the last few words, Liu Zhenshan put down his pen, picked up the purple clay teapot beside him, took a sip from the spout, and calmly said:

"Now that we've started, we must do it well, and do it beautifully."

Sun Wei puffed out his chest, his face full of confidence: "Don't worry, Captain! A mere Stone Muscle Realm brat can't cause any trouble."

If that kid just swallowed his anger, that would be fine. But he wanted to make a big scene, which suited me perfectly. It would let the bureau and the people on the streets know the weight of our First Squadron's words.

Liu Zhenshan nodded slightly, said no more, and picked up another file to read.

Sun Wei understood, saluted, and turned to leave.

……

Second Squadron Captain's Office.

Qin Lie stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the street outside.

The cigarette between his fingers was half-burned, and the bluish-gray smoke rose straight up, appearing particularly clear in the slanting beams of afternoon light.

The news naturally reached him as well.

He had assumed that Zhou Tong would come back to report and ask for instructions as soon as he encountered such a difficult situation, but he didn't expect that the other party would start doing things on his own.

Qin Lie brought the cigarette to his lips, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled.

Amidst the swirling smoke, instead of displeasure, a slow smile appeared on his face: "Quite clever..."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhao Han and Chang Xuan knocked and walked in one after the other.

Both of them had a hint of anxiety on their faces.

"Boss!"

Zhao Han, being impatient, went straight to the point as soon as she opened the door: "Brother Zhou's side has caused quite a stir. What were your instructions to him?"

If things get out of hand, how should Chang Xuan and I coordinate? Could you provide some guidelines?

Qin Lie turned around and stubbed out his cigarette in the enamel ashtray on the windowsill.

"Explain?"

He looked at the two of them, smiled, and shook his head: "It has nothing to do with me. The current situation was arranged by Zhou Tong himself from beginning to end."

"He arranged it himself?"

Chang Xuan was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Didn't he come to inform you first?"

Qin Lie walked back to his desk, sat down, took out another cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled.

"That's where his intelligence lies. When something happened, he didn't come to me crying and asking for help; instead, he took the initiative and took charge of the task himself."

Regardless of whether it succeeds or fails, this attitude is commendable.

Zhao Han's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood the meaning. He couldn't help but click his tongue and say, "Brother Zhou may be young, but he has a methodical approach to things."

In official circles, attitude and stance are often just as important as ability.

This is because the police force is a military force, and having a strong fist is fundamental. In contrast, in the civilian sector, attitude and stance are sometimes more effective than ability!

Chang Xuan realized what was happening, but then frowned again:

"Brother Zhou's attitude is fine, but what if he has to deal with that tough nut Sun Wei next..."

He was, after all, only at the Stone Skin level, while Sun Wei was a veteran who had spent many years fighting his way up in the Iron Skin level. How was he going to get past this hurdle?

Qin Lie waved his hand, his gaze drifting through the smoke, appearing somewhat distant:

"Everyone has their limits. Zhou Tong didn't back down when faced with trouble; he dared to rush forward, which makes him worthy of high regard."

As for whether he can get through... that depends on whether he has any other tricks besides his fists.

He flicked off his cigarette ash, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry:

"Actually, I'm quite curious about how this kid plans to perform this play next."

"My strength is clearly inferior, but if I can regain some face through some other means, or just a ruthless, death-defying spirit, that would be a great honor for me."

Zhao Han frowned slightly and replied, "He sent people to invite those shopkeepers. I reckon he wanted to use personal connections to get what he wanted."

But those shopkeepers are all seasoned veterans, adept at changing their tune with the wind. Sun Wei is clearly using force to intimidate; why would they offend him for Zhou Tong's sake? This tactic... seems unlikely.

Qin Lie remained noncommittal, looking at the two of them:

"Go down and keep an eye on things in a bit. Let Zhou Tong do whatever he wants, but if things get out of hand, don't give him a chance to use dirty tricks."

"Understood!" Zhao Han and Chang Xuan replied in unison.

Zhao Han took another half step forward and lowered her voice: "Boss, now that Liu Zhenshan has already reached out, what should we do next..."

Qin Lie's eyes suddenly turned cold, like a blade beneath a layer of ice.

"Liu Zhenshan?"

He gave a cold laugh, his voice not loud, but chilling:

"He really has the nerve to let his subordinates overstep their bounds and play such underhanded tricks."

He leaned forward slightly, looking at his two trusted captains: "I have my own arrangements for what happens next. Since he's already made his move, I'll naturally teach him a lesson he'll never forget."

Zhao Han and Chang Xuan exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding with fear. They knew that this seemingly forthright superior was truly enraged, and that something big was likely to happen next.

The two asked no further questions and bowed as they left the office.

……

Time passed slowly amidst a subtle restlessness.

The door to the second squad's office was flung open, and Chen Yan rushed in, panting heavily.

"Captain! As you instructed, everyone is here! All the shopkeepers are here, waiting in the courtyard!"

Zhou Tong, who had been sitting quietly behind his desk, put down the newspaper in his hand and slowly stood up upon hearing this.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass window, casting a pale gold hue on his indigo uniform.

He straightened his collar and cuffs, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Okay," he said, his voice steady. "Go and invite Captain Sun."

After saying that, he stopped looking at the team members with their various expressions inside the room, took the lead, and walked out of the office.

Everyone immediately got up and followed, their footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor, like the beating of an invisible war drum.

Go downstairs, pass through the slightly dim foyer, and push open the heavy iron-clad wooden door. The noise and sunlight rush in together.

The backyard was small, a patch of compacted earth, with an old well in the corner, its rim mottled with moss.

At this moment, a number of patrol officers and clerks had gathered around the courtyard, some standing and some leaning, watching the spectacle, whispering among themselves and staring intently.

Even more noticeable were the shadowy figures standing behind the windows of the offices in the backyard.

Some were leaning against the window watching, while others were peeking through half-drawn curtains.

This scene attracted the attention of almost half of the branch office.

In the center of the courtyard, a dozen or so shopkeepers dressed in silk shirts or cotton robes gathered together, each with an embarrassed and uneasy expression on their faces.

Upon seeing Zhou Tong emerge, the shopkeepers smiled broadly and tried to step forward to greet him and explain.

Zhou Tong merely raised his hand, his gaze calmly sweeping across their faces one by one.

Their gaze wasn't sharp, but it possessed a calm, penetrating power that made them swallow back the platitudes that were on the tip of their tongues.

"I'd like to trouble you shopkeepers to make this trip today."

Zhou Tong spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly drowning out the surrounding noise:

"Nothing much, I just wanted to invite everyone to see a play. We can talk about anything else after the play is over."

These words were spoken politely, yet they carried an air of unquestionable authority.

The shopkeepers looked at each other, could only force a smile, and retreated hesitantly to the edge of the courtyard.

At this moment, Zhao Han and Chang Xuan also came out of the office building.

Following Qin Lie's instructions, the two did not approach the center, but stood in the shadows under the eaves, nodding slightly to Zhou Tong as a greeting.

Zhou Tong nodded to them in greeting, his face showing no particular expression.

Just then.

"Wow! It's quite lively here!"

A rough, mocking voice broke the silence.

The crowd parted automatically to make way, and Sun Wei, accompanied by four or five of his men, swaggered in.

His face was filled with undisguised mockery. His gaze swept over the group of shopkeepers before finally settling on Zhou Tong's face.

"Captain Zhou."

Sun Wei stood opposite Zhou Tong, drawing out his words:

"Making such a big fuss, even inviting the manager to stand guard, what kind of show are you putting on? A joint trial, or a plea for forgiveness?"

His teammates behind him burst into laughter.

Zhou Tong remained expressionless, meeting Sun Wei's gaze calmly, and said:

"Captain Sun is joking. When something happens, it's best to invite all the relevant people over to explain things in person."

"Explain yourself? Haha!"

Sun Wei seemed to have heard a joke; his laughter suddenly rose, then stopped abruptly, and his face turned cold.

"Captain Zhou, are you still half asleep? What are the rules in this matter? Huh?"

He glanced around, a sneer playing on his lips: "Might makes right!"

Sun Wei spoke each word clearly and deliberately, his voice sharp and stern:

"You're not capable enough to handle things, so some things aren't yours! You have to let go of what you shouldn't have! Didn't your family teach you this simple truth?"

He scoffed, shook his head, and said with utter disdain, "You're still young, barely out of your teens, and already trying to make a living. Aren't you afraid of hurting your teeth?"

Behind him, laughter erupted again, even more unrestrained than before.

On the second team's side, Chen Yan and the others were so angry that their faces turned red, and their fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Zhou Tong listened quietly, without even a hint of anger on his face: "It seems Captain Sun thinks he has the stronger fist and is sure he can beat me."

Sun Wei stared at Zhou Tong with eyes as sharp as knives, and said nonchalantly, "That's right! I've got you figured out."

He admitted that Zhou Tong was a martial arts prodigy who could hold his own against the Flying Fox, something he certainly couldn't have done when he was at the Stone Muscle Realm.

But a Stone Skin Realm cultivator is a Stone Skin Realm cultivator; compared to his Iron Skin Realm cultivator, he was truly confident he could defeat him.

Zhou Tong remained calm and nodded, saying, "Whoever has the stronger fist is right. Very well."

Then, he pointed to the clear handprint on Chen Yan's face beside him:

"And what about this? Captain Sun hit one of my men. What kind of logic is that? Shouldn't you give me and my brothers an explanation?"

Sun Wei glanced at Chen Yan following his finger, and snorted coldly:

"Explanation? Some blind fool spouted nonsense in front of me. I hit him, that's enough. What explanation do I need?"

He twisted his neck, a soft cracking sound coming from his cervical spine, and looked down at Zhou Tong with an extremely disdainful tone:

"If Captain Zhou is dissatisfied, feels that I was wrong to hit your person, and wants to get revenge..."

He paused, then a defiant smile spread across his face:

"If you're so capable, come and ask for it yourself."

At this moment, Zhao Han and Chang Xuan exchanged a glance, both seeing disappointment in each other's eyes.

They had assumed that Zhou Tong's elaborate setup and the summoning of the shopkeepers meant he must have some unexpected tricks up his sleeve, perhaps he had some leverage over the shopkeepers, or some other secret.

Unexpectedly, after going around in circles, it still came down to the most powerless things: "reasoning" and "demanding an explanation."

Faced with Sun Wei's blatant use of force, these words seem ridiculously weak.

For a moment, the courtyard was so quiet that only the sound of the wind and the suppressed breathing could be heard.

Unbeknownst to them, Zhou Tong's seemingly drawn-out conversation was actually intentional.

He not only wanted to get back at his opponent, but he also wanted to win politely and respectfully, with dignity and integrity.

Every word Sun Wei says now will later turn into a slap in his face.

Now that Sun Wei has said what he wanted to say, it's time to...

Just then!

Zhou Tong's calm voice rang out again:

"That's what Captain Sun said..."

Before he could finish speaking...

He suddenly moved!

His body was like a bowstring stretched to its limit that suddenly snapped open!

The toes lightly touched the compacted mud, making a barely audible "tap" sound.

He was like a black lightning bolt, tearing through the short distance between the two of them, and rushed straight towards Sun Wei's face with a sudden burst of fierce wind!

"...Then I'll take it!"

The last two words, mixed with the gust of wind and the furious roar, exploded in everyone's ears!