Black Water Gang

In the afternoon, Ren Yan returned with information about the Black Water Gang.

Ren Yan's ability to handle affairs had always satisfied Chen Mu.

That was one of the reasons Chen Mu had kept him around.

After all, Chen Mu always needed someone by his side to handle things. Moreover, Ren Yan was very perceptive. From the moment he noticed his own changes, he had become honest and well-behaved, and to this day had not done a single thing out of line.

A man like that was unsuitable as a trusted aide, but very useful as a tool.

"Second Master, the Black Water Gang is a small gang on East Forest Street. It occupies four streets in the East Forest area and has around thirty members. They've extorted quite a bit of silver over the years, but most of it went toward greasing palms, so the Five Cities Garrison has turned a blind eye to them all these years."

Ren Yan had not asked why Chen Mu wanted him to investigate this. He simply recounted all the information he had gathered.

As a servant of the Xuanguo Estate, he naturally had his own network for gathering information among servants. He rarely used it under normal circumstances, but now that Chen Mu had tasked him with something, he had naturally spared no effort. Most of what he learned was reliable.

"The Black Water Gang has colluded with the Five Cities Garrison?"

Chen Mu listened to Ren Yan's account and asked calmly.

The Five Cities Garrison was responsible for the Capital's security. It was divided into five command offices—east, south, west, north, and central. The commanders of the eastern, southern, western, and northern offices were all Sixth Rank, while their deputy commanders were Seventh Rank.

The central office was one level higher, with a Principal Fifth Rank commander. That was already a very high position.

When Ren Yan heard Chen Mu's question, he immediately let out a scoff and said, "How could a mere Black Water Gang be worthy of colluding with the Five Cities Garrison? At most, their gang leader, Zhang Hai, gave some women and silver to some deputy commander and cultivated a good relationship."

Even the lower classes had their own chain of contempt. As a servant from a Duke's estate like Ren Yan, he looked down tremendously on disorderly gangs like the Black Water Gang. Half of that disdain came from envy.

As a servant of a Duke's estate, Ren Yan had status when he went outside. Everyone in the Black Water Gang would treat him with respect, but he could not live as freely as the gang members, spending all day wandering the streets and playing with women.

"Then I gave them too much credit."

Chen Mu withdrew his gaze.

For him now, even if the Black Water Gang had some connection with the Five Cities Garrison, destroying it would still be as easy as raising a hand. It would merely be slightly more troublesome.

Since that was the case, there was no need to think too much about it.

"You may leave."

Chen Mu waved for Ren Yan to withdraw, then began to ponder.

East Forest Street was not very familiar to him. The Capital was simply too large, with countless crisscrossing streets. The former him had rarely ventured outside and knew almost nothing about the more remote streets.

According to Ren Yan's description, East Forest Street was at the outermost edge of the Capital's outer city, one of the most remote districts. Without a doubt, it was also one of the most chaotic places.

The closer one got to the center of the Capital, the better the security. In places such as Apricot Flower House, many of the surrounding streets had patrols every day, precisely because they feared that something might happen to some wealthy young master and cause major trouble.

In remote areas, wealthy young masters and even the descendants of nobles and dukes were almost certain never to go there. No matter what happened to a few commoners, it was only a minor issue, so naturally there were no guards patrolling.

That was one of the reasons a small gang like the Black Water Gang could survive.

The main reason was that no one cared!

After pondering for a while, Chen Mu rose to his feet.

East Forest Street.

Compared to the broad avenue in front of Xuanguo Estate, this place was much narrower and more disorderly. The road was damaged everywhere, with muddy pits scattered throughout.

Most of the residents walking here had patches visible on their clothes. Many were splattered with muddy water as well. They spoke little to one another and hurried past.

Suddenly.

A clamor rang out.

In front of a low house, several men were forcibly dragging a woman outside, paying no heed to her cries.

A boy of around fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a worn cotton-padded jacket, rushed out of the house. He tried with all his might to pull the men away and shouted, "Stop! Let go of my sister!"

The commotion immediately drew the attention of many people on the street.

"Get lost!"

One of the men roared and suddenly shoved the boy to the ground.

Noticing many people nearby looking over, Liu San sneered and said, "Your family has owed us money for almost a year now. Our gang leader is kind-hearted and allowed you to keep delaying payment, yet you don't even know how to show gratitude. You've dragged it out until now!"

"Now our gang leader has given the order to collect the silver. We originally planned to sell your sister to a brothel, but our gang leader is benevolent. If your sister becomes a concubine, your family's debt will be canceled. And you're still here making a racket at me? You really don't know what's good for you!"

Those words immediately left the onlookers exchanging looks.

After all these years, who did not know what the Black Water Gang was like? But first, no one dared to offend the Black Water Gang casually. Second, the other side claimed they were owed money and had the moral high ground, leaving no room for anyone to argue.

Quite a few people shook their heads and turned away.

There were also some elderly people who sighed and looked pityingly at the struggling woman.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Ji Fang struggled to his feet from the mud. Gritting his teeth, he said, "It's only three taels of silver! How could we still not have paid it off after returning ten taels?"

Liu San gave a cold laugh and ignored him completely. Taking two of his men, he dragged the woman away.

With bloodshot eyes, Ji Fang lunged forward and grabbed Liu San. He pulled with all his strength. This time he failed to budge Liu San, but he did tear half the sleeve from Liu San's robe.

"Bastard!"

Liu San flew into a rage. He released Ji Fang's sister and kicked at him.

Ji Fang fought back with all his strength, but how could his thin, slight frame stand against Liu San? After being kicked down several times, he was beaten viciously, and blood soon began to flow from him.

"Don't! Stop hitting him!"

Seeing this, Ji Lan cried, "Stop! I'll go with you!"

"Hmph!"

"Don't know what's good for you!"

Liu San snorted coldly and added another kick before finally stopping.

Ji Lan still wanted to go over and check on Ji Fang, but before she could reach him, Liu San and the others dragged her away. She could only cry and look back at Ji Fang, sprawled in the muddy water, with every step.

Ji Fang lay face-down in the muddy water. After a while, he shook his head and slowly pushed himself upright. He looked utterly dazed, but more than anything, he was dispirited.

He stared blankly in the direction where Ji Lan had been dragged away. Then he slowly clenched his fists as tears streamed from his eyes. Biting his lip, he murmured, "Sister... Sister..."

The sky gradually darkened.

Seeing Ji Fang stand up, the few scattered people nearby quietly dispersed. Only one old man sighed, "Ji Fang is a good child," before returning to his own courtyard.

But at that very moment, a voice quietly came from behind.

"Were those people from the Black Water Gang?"