Accidentally invincible!-Chapter 50 - 0: I’m Interested in You as a Person, It’s Not About the Money

Chapter 50: Chapter 050: I’m Interested in You as a Person, It’s Not About the Money

Inside the dungeon.

"Don’t hit me anymore! I promise I’ll be a decent person in the future."

"Help!"

"Lord, spare me, please!"

Wang Baoliu and the others had been practicing their Head of Steel technique all this time but had only ever rammed into tree trunks. Now, hitting people... how should they describe the feeling?

It was simply exhilarating.

At this moment.

Zhao Desheng entered the dungeon and heard cries of agony from afar. As expected, the members of the Serpent Gang were tied up on wooden racks. But the actions of Bao Liu and the others puzzled him.

What kind of new punishment is this?

Headbutting people?

"Old Zhao, what brings you here today?" Lin Fan asked, knowing Zhao Desheng was a busy man. Last time, despite his severe injuries, Zhao woke up and immediately threw himself into work. This time, after a simple bandage, he was back at it again. His spirit was truly commendable.

Zhao Desheng glanced at the gang members who were still wailing, then approached Lin Fan and spoke quietly, "Lord Wang sent me to ask what you’re doing here. The Serpent Gang’s Mountain Opening Hall leader Ji Zhen has requested the government for an explanation. Fortunately, Lord Wang brushed it off to you and told them to talk to you directly."

Lin Fan replied, "Oh, nothing major. I just saw this group causing trouble on the street and decided to bring them in. Since I saw it with my own eyes, I couldn’t just turn a blind eye."

"Hmm, fair enough." Zhao Desheng approved of Lin Fan’s approach but, hearing the wrenching screams, couldn’t help cautioning him, "Just make sure no one ends up dead; it’ll be hard to explain otherwise."

"Relax, not only will there be no deaths, there won’t even be injuries," Lin Fan assured him. This was a method handed down by numerous predecessors, and he was merely using it to further refine and popularize it.

After giving a few more reminders, Zhao Desheng left.

He harbored a deep hatred for the Serpent Gang, so naturally, he wouldn’t speak up for them.

"Alright, everyone stop. Take their books off them. Later, we need pigs for slaughter," Lin Fan called out.

Reluctantly, Wang Baoliu and the others stopped their training. They were completely hooked on it and found it utterly euphoric.

Qiu Er, whose stomach churned after the headbutting, had been yelling non-stop. However, what happened next nearly pushed him to collapse. He might even disown all his kin.

A while later.

The government official guarding the dungeon’s gates rushed in hurriedly. "Lord Lin, someone outside requests an audience."

"Let them in."

Lin Fan knew that a Serpent Gang representative had arrived, likely Ji Zhen. He’d never heard of the man, but that didn’t matter. Last time, it was Tiger Hall; this time, it was Mountain Opening Hall. Lin Fan’s plan was to root out the Serpent Gang entirely, so he wasn’t the least bit concerned about making too many enemies.

Outside the dungeon, Ji Zhen stood waiting with crossed arms. His scholarly attire and refined demeanor made him stand out. Though middle-aged, he exuded a constant air of elegance.

How to put it?

He had flair.

The kind of presence that said, "Even if the heavens collapsed, I wouldn’t wet my pants."

"You may enter," the government official walked over and cleared a path for Ji Zhen to proceed.

Ji Zhen never expected he’d step foot here.

Even less did he expect to be here for a rescue mission—for members of the Serpent Gang, no less.

There’s an old saying, messing with the Tiger Hall is asking for trouble.

Ji Zhen knew of Lin Fan’s reputation but had never encountered him. Last time, Tiger Hall’s Lang Jun got his legs broken, and Gao Yixiong didn’t even utter a word of protest, which astonished Ji Zhen.

After all, Lin Fan was just a regular constable—nothing remarkable about him.

Soon, Ji Zhen snapped out of his thoughts and realized he’d unknowingly stepped inside. Looking up, he saw the gleam of Lin Fan’s bald head, followed by a smiling face below.

So this is the man I have to deal with today?

He appeared average—nothing particularly extraordinary.

Ji Zhen’s expression gradually changed as a smile emerged on his face. He cupped his hands politely, as though greeting an old acquaintance. "Lord Lin, I am Ji Zhen of the Serpent Gang’s Mountain Opening Hall. I’ve heard much about you, and seeing you today confirms your impressive reputation."

"Haha!" Lin Fan laughed. "Never thought I had such a big name out there—I wasn’t even aware myself!"

Ji Zhen’s smile froze slightly. It was just a pleasantry—did this guy really take it to heart? Shameless.

This won’t be easy.

"Please have a seat," Lin Fan gestured for Ji Zhen to take a chair.

Ji Zhen chuckled and nodded while glancing at Qiu Er and the others tied up on wooden racks. "Lord Lin, these young ones were rash and offended you. Allow me to apologize on their behalf this time."

Lin Fan waved his hand dismissively. "Offending me personally is no big deal, and I certainly wouldn’t abuse my position for personal gain."

"They violated the law on the streets, and as Jiangdu City’s arrest officer, I simply couldn’t let it slide. That’s why I had to bring them in for a little sit-down."

Ji Zhen responded, "Lord Lin, while the Serpent Gang is a gang, we are not lawless. We operate with strict discipline and a code of conduct. These individuals took advantage of the gang’s name to act recklessly in public—it’s truly shameful."

Lin Fan grinned. "No worries. Every group has its share of rotten apples. With a gang as large as yours, having a few is normal. Rest assured, my opinion of the Serpent Gang won’t be altered by the actions of these few."

"Don’t worry, I won’t do anything drastic. I’ll just hold them here for a month before personally returning them to you."

Ji Zhen’s aim this trip was to get his men out.

Not because they were particularly important.

But to protect the Serpent Gang’s reputation.

If word got out that Serpent Gang members were arrested and held for a month by the government, wouldn’t that make them a laughingstock? What would the citizens think?

"We’ll just report them to the authorities if they dare cause trouble again!" they’d say.

At this moment.

Ji Zhen took out a thousand-tael silver note, gently slid it onto the table, pressed it down with his fingers, then pushed it toward the center. His gaze was genuine as he said, "Lord Lin, I ask for your help. It’s just a minor issue, and I assure you they will be severely punished once I take them back."

Lin Fan locked eyes with Ji Zhen, then looked down at the silver note. He chuckled. "Ji Zhen, are you insulting me?"

"No, absolutely not. I only hope Lord Lin can make things easier. Consider these silver taels as a token for tea with your brothers." Ji Zhen pulled out another silver note and placed it in the center.

Lin Fan sighed. "Ah, you’re putting me in a tough spot here. They violated the law and were caught red-handed—I can’t just release them willy-nilly."

Ji Zhen wasn’t one to miss cues.

Being able to manage the affairs of Mountain Opening Hall so well already proved his competence. Lin Fan’s tone shift was certainly not lost on him.

If Lin Fan were truly incorruptible, the conversation wouldn’t have gone this far.

The situation clearly hinted: the price wasn’t high enough yet.

Ji Zhen took out yet another silver note and earnestly pleaded, "Lord Lin, please help."

"It’s not that I don’t want to help. But if I release them now, how will my brothers see me? I’d lose their trust," Lin Fan feigned hesitation.

Ji Zhen glanced at the constables standing behind Lin Fan and silently cursed to himself.

If you were so concerned, you wouldn’t have let your men witness this transaction in the first place.

After all, they’re your people.

Why pretend otherwise?

At this moment.

Ji Zhen stopped handing over notes one by one and instead pushed a sizable stack directly in front of Lin Fan. "Lord Lin, please show us some leniency."

"Ah, Brother Ji is truly generous! I’ll take the humiliation this time for your sincerity. However, Brother Ji must understand—it’s not about the silver taels, but about recognizing your person."

"But let me make one thing clear: this is a one-time deal. If they violate the law again, don’t blame me for being merciless."

"Bao Liu, release them."

Lin Fan stood and tucked the silver notes into his robe, feeling utterly pleased with himself.

Ji Zhen maintained a smile, though inwardly he was full of contempt.

I don’t buy your nonsense.

Yet, he outwardly expressed gratitude. "Rest assured, Lord Lin. If this happens again, feel free to take measures against them directly."

"Alright," Lin Fan replied.

PS: Wow, you all really do adore me. Kneeling on one hand and spinning 790 degrees, humbly asking for continued love!

PS: Come on, give me some votes, give me some tips. Sigh, without this Chapter’s comments, I don’t even know what to plagiarize. Feeling frustrated, grumpy.