Gang Rivalries

2024-07-31

Gang Rivalries

"Get lost!"

Suddenly, a sharp rebuke came from the other end of the alley. Song Changming strode over with a grim expression.

Seeing the Patrol Guard uniform on Song Changming, the men in straw rain capes ultimately gave up and hurried away.

"Father, Mother, are you all right?" Song Changming watched the men disappear into the alley before entering the courtyard and asking.

"We're fine. Good thing you came back." Father Song shook his head, then said angrily.

"Those people should be the Incense Lighting Gang that's sprung up on Baiyi Street lately. Bah, what a bunch of scoundrels who bring harm wherever they go!"

"How did the Incense Lighting Gang set its sights on our family?" Song Changming put down the wine and meat in his hands and asked.

He had heard a little about the Incense Lighting Gang as well. They had appeared from who knew where some time ago and had been active around Baiyi Street ever since.

Since Baiyi Street was not within his jurisdiction, he did not know much about the Incense Lighting Gang.

He only knew that they often gave incense to the poor residents of Baiyi Street, making all sorts of extravagant promises. Yet it was said that every household that had lit their incense eventually suffered misfortune.

Either someone in the family lost their mind, or the entire family was ruined, or they simply vanished without a trace.

As a result, most people on Baiyi Street now avoided the Incense Lighting Gang like the plague.

"If I wasn't mistaken, that old woman who spoke to me seemed to be Granny Li from the corner of the alley. Her voice sounded very familiar," Mother Song suddenly said.

"Granny Li? Didn't she disappear a long time ago? Even the father and son left in the Li Family moved away ages ago." Father Song looked rather surprised.

The other woman had worn a bamboo hat, so he had not recognized her just now.

"If it really was Granny Li, why would she join the Incense Lighting Gang?" Father Song shook his head, deeply puzzled.

"Forget it, forget it. At least Changming is a Patrol Guard now. I doubt they'll come again."

"Father, Mother, you still need to be careful when I'm not around. Don't bring strangers of unknown origin into the house, and don't go wandering about carelessly. I always feel there's something off about this Incense Lighting Gang lately," Song Changming warned.

Elsewhere.

"Granny Li, didn't you say the Song Family only had a Night Watchman? How did he become a Patrol Guard?" One member of the Incense Lighting Gang could not help complaining.

"The Song boy was still a Night Watchman before, and he'd only been one for less than two years. How strange..." Granny Li stammered, seeming to explain herself while also muttering to herself.

"In any case, the Song Family has an official Patrol Guard. Don't touch them. Pick another target and continue," another member of the Incense Lighting Gang said. The others silently accepted his words.

Granny Li lowered her head and remained silent as well.

That evening, a newly hatched brood of chicks in the courtyard continued to frolic about, chirping endlessly.

Now, all the neighbors knew that the Song Family's younger son had become a Patrol Guard. Even if a brood of chickens was left unconfined in the courtyard, no one would dare steal them.

After finishing his blade practice and body tempering, Song Changming lay on his bed, still thinking about the Incense Lighting Gang.

This elusive gang, with its bizarre way of doing things, made him instinctively wary.

No matter what, he did not want too much contact with them.

Perhaps it's time to consider moving. Song Changming thought to himself.

Baiyi Street was not only remote and underdeveloped, but its public security was also poorer in every respect. Moreover, it was far from Houli Street, where he worked.

Even for the sake of his parents, they should move somewhere else.

However, buying a house in another district would require no small sum, at least several dozen strings of copper coins.

And if they wanted somewhere nicer and more comfortable, the price would naturally be even higher.

I should save up some more money first, Song Changming calculated.

He still had more than half of Chen Beihu's bounty unused. It was enough to buy an ordinary commoner's house on Houli Street. But if he did that, he feared he would not have enough money for his upcoming body-tempering cultivation.

Thus, he decided to wait a while longer.

It would be great if he could get another bounty.

At midnight that day.

Patrol Guard Headquarters was brightly lit. Liang Chuanshan and several other Patrol Captains waited in their respective small courtyards, clad in armor, helmets, and hats, fully armed.

The Patrol Guards below were also ready to depart, sitting or squatting as they rested.

Song Changming leaned against a gatepost in the courtyard, one hand rubbing the patterns on his sword hilt as he looked up at the night sky.

[Today's Evaluation: A somewhat meaningful day. Lifespan +3. Obtained the limited-time status 'Single-Minded Focus.']

Today's evaluation appeared right on time, adding another three days to his lifespan.

But tonight, he paid no attention to his evaluation reward. Instead, his gaze fell on Liang Chuanshan, who sat on a long bench.

The Patrol Captain had suddenly summoned them all in the middle of the night, not leaving a single person out.

It was not only Liang Chuanshan's Patrol Guard Team, either. Several other Patrol Captains from Houli Street had also brought their men to Patrol Guard Headquarters.

With such a display of force, this could not be a simple night watch.

Clearly, Patrol Guard Headquarters was making a major move tonight, and it was likely no trivial matter.

Liang Chuanshan also looked at the sky and asked, "What time is it?"

"Midnight, the Hour of the Rat," his deputy Lu Gang replied.

"It's about time." Liang Chuanshan slowly rose from the long bench.

Seeing this, everyone else stood as well, waiting for their superior to issue orders.

"I summoned everyone tonight because I received word that the Qinghe Gang and the Nine Bends Society will fight tonight." Only then did Liang Chuanshan explain the matter to his men.

"The reason I only told you now is because I was afraid word would leak beforehand. If it were merely an ordinary clash or brawl, there would naturally be no need for such a grand mobilization. Tonight, these two gangs will settle things once and for all. The loser will be swallowed up.

"The Director instructed us that we may normally leave gangs that follow the rules alone, but we cannot allow them to suddenly grow too powerful overnight, step over our heads, and run wild.

"Therefore, it doesn't matter who lives or dies between the two gangs tonight, but we cannot let them merge into one. Understand?"

Lu Gang had served as Liang Chuanshan's deputy for many years and quickly understood the deeper meaning in his words. His eyes immediately lit up.

"Captain, you mean we're going to pick up the spoils?"

Liang Chuanshan smiled and cursed, "What do you mean, pick up the spoils? Those gangs have been growing ever more rampant. We have plenty of evidence of their crimes in hand. We're merely going over to convict and arrest them."

"Yes, yes. The Patrol Captain is right." Lu Gang chuckled.

The other Patrol Guards who understood the way of things also seemed to realize what they would be doing shortly. They laughed along, unable to hide the excitement in their smiles.

Only Song Changming, who had joined recently, was somewhat confused.

"Since you all understand, let's move out." At Liang Chuanshan's command, he led his Patrol Guards out.

As Lu Gang passed Song Changming, he noticed his confusion and quietly explained, "When a gang is destroyed, the deeds to their houses and land will be confiscated and turned over to the state. Other assets are no exception; once seized, they must be handed over to the government.

"But before they're seized, no one can know exactly how much property that gang possesses. Understand?"

Lu Gang did not put it too plainly, but Song Changming already understood what he meant.

Simply put, before the seizure, there was profit to be skimmed—possibly quite a lot. That was why all the Patrol Guards were so excited.