A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Chen Dongquan crossed his arms, slightly raised his chin, and a sneer curled at the corner of his mouth. He glanced sideways at Su Bai, especially at the black belt around his waist that signified a formal constable.

"Isn't this our constable Su?" Chen Dongquan took a few steps closer, deliberately looking Su Bai up and down, raising his voice to make sure his colleagues who hadn't completely dispersed could hear him.

"How impressive! Congratulations to Constable Su on your promotion." He paused deliberately, drawing out the words, and gestured with his finger to indicate a tiny distance. "You're only 'a tiny bit' slower than me. Tsk, not bad, finally caught up."

His henchmen behind him let out a few low sneers in perfect unison, their eyes scanning back and forth between Su Bai and his men, with an air of anticipation for a good show.

Su Bai's expression remained calm and unwavering, without even a flicker of his brow. He turned around to face Chen Dongquan directly, his gaze meeting the other's provocative stare without flinching.

"So it's Constable Chen." Su Bai spoke, his voice neither loud nor soft, his pace even, revealing no hint of anger, yet possessing a calm strength. "Thank you for your congratulations."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping lightly over Chen Dongquan's black robes, which were identical to his own, before continuing in that indifferent tone:

"Officer Chen, you must work hard. Strive for another opportunity like last time, so that you can advance further as soon as possible. Then... I can come and congratulate you on your promotion to officer."

These words sounded like polite wishes, but combined with Su Bai's calm and expressionless expression and the deliberately emphasized word "promotion," they sounded strangely jarring to Chen Dongquan and his henchmen.

After all, both of them understood what was really going on with Chen Dongquan's promotion.

Chen Dongquan's fake smile froze for a moment, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

He clearly understood the underlying meaning in Su Bai's words.

Su Bai no longer looked at him, as if he had just made a casual remark.

He certainly didn't take Chen Dongquan seriously at all.

He's just a nobody who relies on his father's legacy.

Competing based on family connections? Su Bai can't afford that.

But he has his own path.

This path, perhaps in the future, will allow those who want to be his father to turn around and call him father instead.

"Let's go." Su Bai ignored Chen Dongquan's changing expression, gave a simple instruction to Cheng Hu and the other two, and took the lead in stepping out of the Zhenfu Division gate.

"etc!"

Chen Dongquan took a step to the side, blocking Su Bai's path. The smile on his face vanished, replaced by embarrassment at being mocked. His face was so dark it could drip water.

But he quickly forced a smile, making it even more exaggerated and hypocritical.

"Is Constable Su... jealous of me? Oh dear, I'm truly sorry." He deliberately tilted his head, his tone exaggerated.

"However, you never know, I might actually need your auspicious words, Brother Su! When I get promoted someday, then... I'll really appreciate your 'guidance,' Brother Su! Hahaha..."

He let out a dry, deliberate laugh, but his eyes were cold and devoid of any smile.

After laughing, he glanced past Su Bai and then fixed his gaze on Cheng Hu and Zhao An behind him. His voice rose a few decibels, carrying a clear hint and warning:

"Cheng Hu, Zhao An! You two, you'd better work hard under Constable Su!" He emphasized the words "work hard," his gaze sweeping over the two men's faces.

"As long as you listen to the rules and behave well, you might have a chance to be promoted to a regular constable like Constable Su and me in the future! Isn't that right?"

Cheng Hu and Zhao An, who were named, visibly stiffened for a moment.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two quickly put on extremely unnatural smiles, smiles that looked like they were glued on, their mouths twitching, their eyes flickering, not daring to meet Su Bai's gaze, and could only nod and bow repeatedly to Chen Dongquan.

"Yes, yes, yes... Constable Chen is right!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Constable Chen! We will definitely work hard!"

Their voices, tinged with panic and ingratiation, sounded particularly jarring in the quiet courtyard of the early morning.

"Hmm, not bad, keep up the good work."

Seeing this, Chen Dongquan seemed to have won a great victory, and the smug look on his face could no longer be concealed.

He glanced at Su Bai with disdain and snorted.

Then he turned around, arrogantly leading his henchmen away.

Watching Chen Dongquan's arrogant figure disappear,

Su Bai's face darkened completely, as if covered with a layer of frost.

His gloomy gaze lingered in that direction for a long time, his chest heaving slightly.

After a long while, he slowly turned his head, his gaze like a cold knife, landing on Cheng Hu and Zhao An, who stood behind him with their hands at their sides.

The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Zheng Shijie quietly took half a step back, keeping his eyes down and his mind focused.

"You two," Su Bai's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling undercurrent, "what do you mean?"

Cheng Hu and Zhao An lowered their heads even further.

Cheng Hu's face flushed red and then paled, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and his lips trembled as he finally managed to squeeze out broken syllables:

"Um... Boss Su, we... we didn't mean anything... really, really nothing..."

The two were rambling incoherently, inwardly groaning in despair.

Chen Dongquan and his group are indeed not to be trifled with. He is the son of Chief Chen, and his influence in the Southern District Town Government is considerable.

However, Su Bai and his group also did not want to offend him. The attitude of the Chief Constable that day was obvious to all, indicating that this newly appointed Chief Su might not be without powerful backers.

Caught between two ends, it felt like being roasted over a fire.

But they were already tied to Chen Dongquan's ship; it was an indelible mark.

Moreover, in this small territory of the Southern District Town Pacification Office, Chief Chen is their superior who holds the power to decide their fate, promotion, and demotion. With his authority pressing down, how could these small fry dare to resist?

Although Su Bai has potential, the General Affairs Department is ultimately high and mighty, and it's difficult to provide immediate relief. Who can say for sure how much support he will receive?

At this tense juncture, hoping to please both sides is simply wishful thinking.

Cheng Hu, in particular, still harbored a trace of resentment and pride deep in his heart.

He was just one step away from reaching the Skin Refining Realm. Once he broke through, his status would be completely different, and he would be able to stand on his own.

In his view, although Su Bai was his superior at the moment, he only had the upper hand, and he might have the chance to surpass him later.

Maintaining basic respect on the surface is sufficient; there is no need for complete subservience.

Su Bai took in the awkwardness and hesitation of the two men, as well as the complex look that flashed across Cheng Hu's eyes.

He didn't speak again, but the temperature in his eyes seemed to drop even further.

He could understand some of the situations.

But he cannot and will not accept such behavior of publicly swaying and almost tacitly acquiescing to the other party's provocation.

Silence weighed heavily on the four of them like a boulder.

After a long while, Su Bai slowly turned his head away, no longer looking at them.

He took a deep breath of the cool morning air and slowly exhaled, as if releasing the pent-up frustration in his chest.

"Alright," his voice returned to calm, devoid of any emotion, "Let's go."

After saying that, he didn't hesitate any longer, took a step, and walked straight towards Dadong Street.