The Sky Wolf Gang

Mo Yun left the Mountain Manor at a brisk pace.

His steps were swift, his thoughts racing.

Commander Li said things weren't too serious yet, which means Sis isn't in danger for now. But if the manor sent someone specifically to notify me, it can't be a small matter either.

He analyzed the situation as he walked, his brows tightly knitted.

Good thing I took precautions last time and paid someone to keep an eye on Sis before I left. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened...

When Mo Yun had last left Yellow Maple Town, he had spent a little money at the brokerage to have someone keep an eye on his sister and send word to the manor promptly if any problems arose, to prevent anything unexpected.

That precaution had finally proved useful.

Of course, Mo Yiyi knew nothing about it.

At the foot of the mountain, Mo Yun hired a carriage, jumped aboard, and urged the driver to hurry.

The driver was an old man in his fifties. Seeing Mo Yun's grim expression, he asked no questions and cracked his whip to get moving.

The mule cart jolted along. Mo Yun leaned against its side with his eyes closed, resting, but his mind kept working.

Shopkeeper Zhao's business should have been settled when I went back last time. Second Uncle was reluctant, but he agreed to return the family property to my face. Knowing him, even if he wanted to pull something, he wouldn't turn on us this quickly.

Recalling his second uncle Mo Feng's face, he sneered inwardly.

Unless he's found someone new to back him? Could Mo Fan have returned?

The carriage raced along the main road, trailing a cloud of dust.

A little over two hours later, the outline of Yellow Maple Town appeared in the distance.

Mo Yun jumped off the mule cart, tossed the driver a dozen or so copper coins, and strode into town.

Rather than going straight home, he first headed to the shop his sister ran.

The cloth shop stood on the town's East Street. It was one of the family properties they had reclaimed from their second uncle.

From a distance, Mo Yun saw that the shop's door panels were open, and his heart eased a little.

It's still open for business. That means she's all right.

He quickened his pace and entered the shop.

The shop was deserted, without a single customer.

Behind the counter, a tall, slender figure had her head lowered over an abacus, moving its beads and murmuring to herself.

"Sis."

Mo Yiyi looked up and saw Mo Yun standing in the doorway. She froze for a moment, then broke into a delighted smile.

"Little brother? What brings you back?"

She set down the abacus and came out from behind the counter, looking Mo Yun up and down with concern in her eyes.

"You look a little tired. Haven't you been sleeping well lately? You need to look after yourself while training, little brother..."

Mo Yun shook his head. "Sis, I'm fine. What about you? What happened?"

Mo Yiyi's smile stiffened, and her gaze shifted evasively. "N-nothing happened. What could happen to me? Why are you asking?"

Mo Yun looked straight into her eyes and said earnestly, "Sis, don't hide it from me. I already know."

Mo Yiyi fell silent for a moment, then sighed.

"I didn't want to worry you..."

She pulled Mo Yun over to sit down and poured him a cup of water before slowly explaining.

"Here's what happened. A few people came yesterday, saying they were from some Sky Wolf Gang. They wanted to buy our shops."

"Buy our shops?" Mo Yun frowned. "Which ones?"

"This one." Mo Yiyi pointed beneath her feet. "And the grain shop and tea shop next door. They want them all."

"Did you sell them?"

"No." Mo Yiyi shook her head. "Dad left us these properties, and business is doing well now. How could I sell them?"

She paused, her voice dropping. "But they wouldn't let it go. They came to make trouble in the shop and scared all the customers away. Yesterday, they even threatened that if we didn't sell within three days, they'd..."

"They'd what?" Mo Yun's voice turned cold.

"They'd make it impossible for us to stay in Yellow Maple Town." Mo Yiyi bit her lip.

"The Sky Wolf Gang?" Mo Yun's expression hardened.

He had heard of the Sky Wolf Gang. It was the largest gang in Yellow Maple Town.

Letting out a slow sigh, Mo Yiyi continued:

"Let's not talk about that anymore. I went to the brokerage this morning and hired some fighters. They should arrive later. With them here, those Sky Wolf Gang people shouldn't dare try anything. Don't worry, little brother."

As she spoke, Mo Yiyi set down the abacus in her hands and pulled Mo Yun outside.

"Little brother, you must be worn out from the journey. You haven't eaten yet, have you? A new restaurant opened nearby, and I've heard the food is delicious. Let me take you there for something good!"

Mo Yun nodded and let Mo Yiyi lead him along by the hand.

It reminded him of his childhood. Whenever his sister discovered something fun or tasty, she would pull him along just like this.

After shutting the shop's main doors, they walked for roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, and Mo Yiyi brought Mo Yun to a rather impressive-looking restaurant.

"Eat as much as you like, little brother. The shop made some money this month." Mo Yiyi's smile bloomed like a flower.

Mo Yun did not hold back. He ordered several plates of meat, a plate of greens, a pot of tea, and a plate of pastries. The total came to half a tael of silver, noticeably more expensive than the restaurant at the foot of Crouching Tiger Manor's mountain.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the two returned to the shop.

As Mo Yiyi poured Mo Yun tea, she told him about recent events, explaining how she had steadily improved the once-failing shop and made its business flourish.

Mo Yun noticed that her eyes seemed to shine as she spoke, and a smile never left her face.

"Ah, who would have thought that just as business started picking up, the Sky Wolf Gang would set its sights on us..."

At the mention of the Sky Wolf Gang, Mo Yiyi deflated like a punctured ball, all her energy draining away.

By the end, she was seething:

"We already pay so much in taxes to the authorities, yet these gangs still come to peel another layer off us. And even that isn't enough for them-they want to gobble everything up and take the shops too!

"I reported it to the authorities, but they wouldn't do anything. They said it was an ordinary business transaction and they had no right to interfere..."

Mo Yun exhaled without saying much.

That was how the world worked. The moment ordinary people earned a little money, others would set their sights on them, exploiting and oppressing them.

Then they would be devoured until not even their bones remained.

For those at the bottom with neither power nor influence, earning a little money was far too difficult.

If luck allowed them to make some, it might not be a blessing at all, but the beginning of a disaster.

That's why I have to train hard and grow stronger. Only then can I give Sis a good, peaceful life!

Seeing Mo Yun frowning in thought, Mo Yiyi assumed he was worried about the shop and hurriedly said:

"Don't worry, little brother. The people I hired are all capable fighters. If the Sky Wolf Gang dares come again, they'll bite off more than they can chew!"

Before long, the fighters Mo Yiyi had hired arrived.

There were five in all, each broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with brutish faces and bulging temples. One glance was enough to tell they had trained.

Their leader was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties, dressed in a coarse-cloth fighting outfit.

His build was only average among the five, but his eyes were sharp, and he radiated an unapproachable air.

"Greetings, employer!" The five bowed to Mo Yiyi and spoke in unison.

"No need to be so formal. Come in and have some tea." Mo Yiyi put on no airs as their employer and invited them inside for tea.

The men gave Mo Yun a once-over.

Mo Yun likewise studied them carefully.

He could tell all five had some training in hand-to-hand combat. Apart from their leader, however, none possessed the bearing of a Martial Artist. Most likely, they had not mastered their blood qi and refined force energy.

Even their leader's aura lacked refinement. He had probably only just reached the threshold of bright force.

At that thought, Mo Yun could not help frowning slightly.

This group probably won't be able to keep the Sky Wolf Gang in check...

While Mo Yun was pondering, their leader looked at him in puzzlement and asked, "Is this gentleman here to lend a hand as well?"

Mo Yiyi hurriedly said, "No, he's my younger brother."

The man nodded without asking further, then smiled and said:

"I have a general understanding of your situation. We'll stay at your shops for the next couple of days to keep the Sky Wolf Gang from causing trouble, and do our best to help you settle this."

He paused, then continued, "But let me make this clear beforehand. I have a little standing with the Sky Wolf Gang, but they won't necessarily listen to me. I can only do my best."

"If nothing else works, give them some money to send them on their way. That's better than having them come here causing trouble all day."

"Well..." Mo Yiyi hesitated briefly before finally nodding. "All right, then."

This was already the best solution available.

Whatever happened, she could not actually sell the shops.

According to the deadline they had given, the Sky Wolf Gang would certainly come tomorrow.

I hope this can be settled. Whatever happens, I have to keep the shops and earn more money. I need to find my little brother a beautiful wife, and leave him something to support him in his old age... Mo Yiyi silently told herself.