Chapter 147 - 111: Shoot, Kill! (2)

Chapter 147: Chapter 111: Shoot, Kill! (2)

Lu Jing’an had long expected this, so he remained untroubled and simply watched.

Bai Lang was tall and lean, standing about half a head taller than Lu Jing’an.

He wore a slightly oversized black uniform, the insignia on his left breast looking ferocious.

He looked to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a sun-deprived pallor.

His eyes were slightly sunken and his cheekbones high. His thin lips were pressed into a severe, straight line.

What was most striking were his eyes; their pupils were a shade lighter than average.

His gaze held the cold, calculating quality of a predator sizing up its prey.

His aura was contained, but with his perception, Lu Jing’an could clearly sense the condensed, circulating Inner Breath within the other man. He was a Martial Artist of the Inner Breath Realm.

’An Inner Breath Realm propped up by Medicinal Power. His aura feels hollow, his foundation unsteady.’

The thought crossed Lu Jing’an’s mind as he quickly assessed their respective combat strengths.

’If it really came to a fight, I could handle two or three like him.’

The thought passed in a flash, but Lu Jing’an’s expression remained serene.

Bai Lang was also sizing up Lu Jing’an.

He had already read the detailed report about how Lu Jing’an killed Leopard One with a single Fist Skill, leaving him utterly unable to retaliate.

But seeing the man in person, he felt there was quite a gap between reality and his imagination.

The young man before him was impeccably dressed, with a refined, noble air and a handsome face.

Standing there, he looked like a meticulously painted portrait of a young master from a Noble Family, a far cry from the fierce and savage image of a Martial Cultivator he had in mind.

However, Leopard One’s death was no fabrication.

Bai Lang quickly suppressed the flicker of contempt Lu Jing’an’s appearance had inspired, his gaze growing even sharper.

Bai Lang walked to the edge of the steps and looked down condescendingly at Lu Jing’an.

His tone was icy, like the clash of iron and stone in the dead of winter.

"Lu Jing’an, didn’t you receive the order? The Water Patrol Bureau has now been taken over by the Wolf Camp."

Lu Jing’an gave a calm nod. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone present. "I did."

Bai Lang raised an eyebrow and retorted, "If you did, then what are you doing here?"

The question was blunt, dripping with provocation.

Upon hearing this, Lu Jing’an actually let out a soft chuckle.

There was no trace of anger in his chuckle, only a hint of amusement.

Lu Jing’an said no more. He turned around decisively and said to Chen Xuan, "Master, let’s go."

As he made to leave, Lu Jing’an shook his head inwardly. ’This Bai Lang might have some strength, but his brains...’ ℯ

’I’m already standing right here. If you want to put on a show to establish your authority, just get on with it.’

’Why did he have to ask such a pointless question? Isn’t he just making things awkward for himself?’

Sure enough, as Lu Jing’an turned to leave without the slightest hesitation, it took Bai Lang two or three seconds to react. His face darkened, and he barked, "Stop!"

His primary mission here today was to take over the Water Patrol Bureau.

His secondary goal was to publicly put Lu Jing’an down and knock the Lu Family down a peg.

If Lu Jing’an was allowed to just walk away, who would this show be for?

Who would he be posturing for?

Lu Jing’an stopped but didn’t turn around. He merely glanced back over his shoulder, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Weren’t you the one who said I shouldn’t be here?

What, so now I *should* be here?"

The corner of Bai Lang’s eye twitched, and he cursed inwardly.

But he quickly adjusted his expression, his cold, hard mask falling back into place.

His voice boomed as if he were making an important announcement. "Since you’re already here, you might as well complete the handover."

Only then did Lu Jing’an turn around. He nodded, his tone flat. "Fine."

Bai Lang, however, showed no intention of letting Lu Jing’an enter the Government Office for the handover.

Instead, he began the so-called handover right there at the main entrance, in front of his many subordinates and the crowd of onlookers.

Under the watchful eyes of Bai Lang’s men, several original clerks from the Water Patrol Bureau nervously carried out ledgers, documents, seals, and other items.

On an old wooden table that had been temporarily moved to the entrance, they began the inventory check and handover with the person Bai Lang had designated.

Lu Jing’an didn’t seem to mind. He stood to one side with his hands clasped behind his back, watching quietly.

Chen Xuan stood warily half a step behind and to his side, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the surrounding Wolf Camp members.

The murmurs from the surrounding crowd gradually grew louder.

"What on earth did Director Lu do? How could he be suspended just like that?"

"Director Lu is such a good man! The docks used to be so chaotic, and now they’re much more peaceful. Isn’t that all thanks to him?"

"Exactly! Are the higher-ups blind or something? Kicking out the man who actually gets things done and replacing him with this bunch of... just looking at these fellows gives me the creeps."

"I’m afraid life is going to get a lot harder for us boatmen from now on..."

...

These murmurs were just loud enough to drift into the ears of many people present.

Lu Jing’an listened, his expression unchanging, but he felt a slight sense of comfort inwardly.

Justice resides in the hearts of the people. The common folk could see things clearly.

Bai Lang heard them too, of course. A flicker of impatience and cold anger crossed his face, but for the moment, he didn’t lash out.

In his eyes, the opinions of this rabble were worthless.

’Just wait. When the rules of the docks change, business becomes difficult, and jobs become scarce—all because of the trouble their beloved Director Lu has caused—let’s see if they still sing his praises then.’

’For these struggling masses, whoever puts food on their table is their god.’

’Anyone who takes it away is their mortal enemy.’

’He had plenty of ways to make these people "understand" the truth.’

The tedious handover of documents was finally nearing its end.

Lu Jing’an chose this moment to speak, his tone as flat as ever. "Since the handover is complete and there is nothing left for me to do here, may I leave?"

But Bai Lang’s lips curled into a smile, a mixture of mockery and cruelty. "No rush.