Killing

Liu Song shook his head. "Who knows what happened? Maybe he was ambushed, or maybe... Anyway, from now on, I'm afraid we'll have plenty of dealings with the Red Gold Gang."

Chen Mu could not help but ponder this.

To be honest, he had no interest in gang conflicts. But if the Red Gold Gang swallowed up the Black Snake Gang, the entire area where he lived would fall under the control of this new Red Gold Gang. He truly could not simply turn a blind eye.

The Black Snake Gang had been fairly reasonable with him, a Yamen Runner. They had never caused trouble at his doorstep or demanded any Protection Money from him. But if it were the Red Gold Gang, there was no telling what their attitude might be. Still, he now had some strength of his own, and with his identity as a runner, he was not overly afraid. He simply did not want to get tangled up in trouble.

"Such is the way of the world. It changes."

Chen Mu shook his head as he spoke.

If he had not been a runner and had no strength, this changing of gangs would have directly affected his survival.

"Brother Liu, do you know anything about the Red Gold Gang's background?"

Li Tie lowered his voice, cautiously glanced around, then whispered his question.

Liu Song shook his head. "I don't know much either. I only know that the Red Gold Gang does not have many members right now, but it has many skilled fighters. I heard there are two or three vice leaders alone who have cultivated 'force.' It wouldn't be appropriate to pry any further."

Li Tie also knew where the line was. Knowing too much could bring trouble. A little knowledge was enough. At the very least, judging by appearances, the Red Gold Gang's strength was no weaker than their City Guard.

Of course.

Above the City Guard was the General Office, while the Red Gold Gang was merely one gang in Nine Stripes Ward. Even if its strength surpassed the City Guard's, at most they would keep to their own waters and give each other some face.

The group chatted for a while longer. After finishing the fennel beans, they left the tavern, made another round of patrols, then finally returned to the City Guard to hand over their duty badges and turn them over.

At this time.

Yamen Runners were also returning to the City Guard in twos and threes to change shifts and take over.

But just as Chen Mu and Liu Song had exchanged farewells and were about to leave, a man in a blue runner's uniform walked over. Unlike the "gray clothes" worn by low-ranking runners like them, this blue uniform was clearly far more refined. Not only was the fabric of a higher grade, but the embroidered designs and patterns were different as well.

This was the uniform worn by a Head Runner of the City Guard. In all of Nine Stripes Ward's City Guard, there were currently only five Head Runners.

This man was named Qin Bei.

He was the direct superior of Chen Mu's shift of runners and managed their group.

"Lord Qin."

As Qin Bei walked over, the many runners present all respectfully bowed.

Qin Bei's gaze was stern. With measured, square steps, he walked steadily farther inside, then turned to face the runners. "I have something to say. Those who aren't here, make sure you inform one another."

The moment he spoke, everyone fell silent and waited for what came next.

"First, no one is to interfere in the conflict between the Red Gold Gang and the Black Snake Gang. Do not involve yourselves. Whether people die or not has nothing to do with you. Second, if you discover any other unusual activity from the Red Gold Gang, report it to me or to the Runner Office."

Qin Bei spoke in a deep voice.

At his words, some of the runners present showed strange expressions, while others remained unchanged, as though they had already known.

Chen Mu, Liu Song, and the others, for instance, had learned some news in advance and were not surprised. But with Qin Bei making such an announcement, it meant the Red Gold Gang truly was about to gradually take over the Black Snake Gang's position.

The first order—not to intervene or interfere—amounted to tacit approval of the two gangs' merger. The second was an attitude toward the newly replacing gang. The purpose was not truly to have them watch the Red Gold Gang, but to spread the word through them: the City Guard might keep one eye open and one eye shut, but the Red Gold Gang should not act too wildly. Otherwise, the City Guard would still step in.

"Yes."

Liu Song and the others answered in turn.

Only after seeing everyone respond respectfully did Qin Bei nod. He then put away his stern expression and looked toward Ren Yan, who had just returned in the distance. With a genial smile, he beckoned. "Ren Yan? Come, come. I have something to discuss with you."

Ren Yan immediately walked over as if flattered beyond measure, following Qin Bei into the duty room. Yet the faint self-satisfaction in his eyes as he swept them over the many runners outside could not be concealed.

Though they were both still Yamen Runners, Head Runner Qin Bei's attitude toward him was clearly different from how he treated everyone else.

The other runners were all filled with envy at the sight, but they could only envy him. After all, Ren Yan's family knew some important person from the Inner City, allowing him to study martial arts at an Inner City martial hall. Even if his talent and comprehension were ordinary, after several years of study he would certainly become a capable hand. His status would be vastly different. Perhaps he would become the next Head Runner in the future, so it was perfectly normal for Qin Bei to treat him differently.

Some of the younger runners who had previously been close to Ren Yan even hoped that once Ren Yan mastered martial arts and soared straight up into the blue clouds, he would take better care of them, giving them a chance to change their own fates as well.

After leaving the City Guard.

Chen Mu was still pondering the Red Gold Gang.

Judging by Qin Bei's attitude, the Head Runners above him might already have dealt with the Red Gold Gang. In any case, whatever changes came later, as a mere lowly runner for now, Chen Mu should do his best to keep to his own road—neither getting involved nor making connections.

By now, the sky had gradually darkened, and Chen Mu quickened his pace toward home.

But when he reached an alley he often passed through, Chen Mu suddenly wrinkled his nose. He caught a faint smell of blood.

Thinking of the Red Gold Gang's conflict with the Black Snake Gang today, he guessed it might have been caused by a brawl between members of the two gangs. He did not investigate too deeply and merely quickened his steps, intending to pass through quickly.

Yet just as Chen Mu was about to pass through the alley, a flicker of cold light flashed in the corner of his vision.

Almost by instinct.

In an instant, Chen Mu drew his Yamen Saber and unleashed a Gale Oblique Slash, sweeping horizontally toward his right.

The skill he had raised through experience points was not rootless duckweed. It had truly come through bitter cultivation and hard training. The skills that had appeared from nowhere even contained much experience fighting opponents, making his eyesight and hearing far sharper than before, and making him far more sensitive to sharp weapons such as blades and swords.

"Ah!"

A bloodstained chopping blade came at him from the right. Its wielder seemed to possess some skill with the blade as well, but he had not expected Chen Mu's attack to be so fierce and decisive, much less that Chen Mu's saber technique would be so practiced and profound.

With only a flash of cold light and a brief clash of weapons, the other man took a slash across the chest and abdomen.

Only then did Chen Mu clearly see him. He was a burly man in a coarse cloth robe, and Chen Mu actually recognized him. He seemed to be an incense master of the Black Snake Gang. Yet his appearance was utterly miserable now. There were several wounds across his shoulder and arm, and even his left eye was bleeding, seemingly having been gouged blind.

"M-Misunderstanding..."

The Black Snake Gang incense master endured the searing pain and rasped with difficulty.

His remaining eye revealed a trace of terror. He had never imagined that a mere "gray-clothed Yamen Runner" could suddenly display such saber skill. It felt as though, even at his peak without injuries, he might not have been able to defeat him.

Originally, he had been pursued by the Red Gold Gang, grievously wounded and blinded, already driven to the edge of despair. At this moment, evil sprang from his heart. Even in death, he wanted someone to accompany him to the grave. He did not care who it was. A runner coming along was even better—perhaps he could smear the Red Gold Gang's name and drag the City Guard into the mess, causing the Red Gold Gang some trouble. Instead, he had kicked an iron plate.

"A misunderstanding?"

Chen Mu's eyes were ice-cold.

If his saber skill had not reached Major Accomplishment, and if his reaction had been even a little slower, his throat might already have been cut. He might even have been separated from his head. The man had come wholly for his life.

Since arriving in this world, this had been the closest he had ever come to death. If he had not awakened the system, he would already be a corpse. No matter how calm and steady he usually was, his heart was now filled with cold dread, and he narrowed his eyes at the other man.

"Cough... I thought you were... Red Gold Gang..."

The Black Snake Gang incense master coughed up blood and struggled to explain. But halfway through his words, he suddenly raised his blade and viciously slashed at Chen Mu once more.

He had already been gravely wounded, and Chen Mu's counterattack had nearly cut off his last hope of survival. Even if the Red Gold Gang did not find him, he would bleed to death soon enough. Now, seeing that Chen Mu was so young yet possessed saber skill comparable to his own after so many years of bitter practice, jealousy and malice surged within him. He immediately sought to catch Chen Mu off guard and drag him down with him.

"Hmph."

But Chen Mu gave a cold snort. He had long been wary of him. With a single sidestep, he evaded the sneak attack, then swung his saber in a backhanded diagonal lift, countering with the second stance of Gale Oblique Slash, "Reverse Helm Rise."

The Black Snake Gang incense master was already badly wounded and at the end of his tether. Swinging that saber had exhausted his final strength. This time, he could no longer evade, and a line of blood immediately appeared across his neck.

"Hhk..."

The Black Snake Gang incense master stared unwillingly at Chen Mu, a trace of venom seeming to remain in his eyes. But then he fell, convulsed as his legs kicked twice, and soon lay still.

Looking at the corpse fallen before him, Chen Mu's hand gripping the Yamen Saber trembled slightly.

Though in the several years since coming to this world, he had handled no fewer than several hundred corpses, all manner of gruesome sights included, and could be said to have seen it all, this was the first person he had killed with his own hands. Moreover, they had been strangers without any grudge between them.

But Chen Mu soon came to terms with it.

This was simply how the world was. Even with no grudge, people killed for wealth. Some would even kill you merely because they disliked the sight of you... Without strength, he would be the corpse now. The man had wanted to kill him yet died beneath his saber instead; there was no justice to argue over.

After swiftly calming his emotions, Chen Mu became even calmer than before. He was already accustomed to handling corpses, after all. Not only did he no longer panic, he crouched down and quickly began searching the man's body.

Very soon.

Chen Mu found five silver ingots and two Gold Leaves in the man's robes. The silver was worth roughly fifty taels, while the two Gold Leaves were likely worth another twenty or thirty taels. Together, they came to around seventy or eighty taels—a huge sum he had never handled before.

"As expected of a firsthand corpse. This is the first time in all these years."

After all, he had been an incense master of the Black Snake Gang, someone with some standing. After years of extortion and accumulation, he had likely carried all his money on him in preparation to flee. Yet he had been chased all the way here by the Red Gold Gang, and now it had fallen into Chen Mu's hands.

After searching the body, Chen Mu looked around. Seeing no one nearby, he quickly vanished into the streets and alleys.