Chapter 34: The Ways of the World

“What’s this?” Li Mu’s mind stirred, and he asked the middle-aged man beside him.

The middle-aged man came back to himself, glanced at the situation over there, and then whispered to Li Mu, “Those are people from the Firewood Gang.”

“The Firewood Gang?”

Li Mu’s thoughts turned again. He’d traveled through villages and hamlets lately, learning much, and knew the Firewood Gang was one of the three major factions in Wugong County, alongside the Dock Gang and the Fishers’ Gang.

But beyond that, he wasn’t too clear on the details.

The middle-aged man saw Li Mu’s curiosity and quietly explained, “There are actually four groups within the Firewood Gang: the Axe Gang, the Azure Dragon Gang, the Clear River Gang, and the Peach Blossom Society… The two groups here are the Axe Gang and the Clear River Gang.”

“The Firewood Market is divided into four, each occupied by one of these factions, and they’ve set strict rules: anyone trading timber must do it here, and private deals elsewhere are forbidden… The Axe Gang and Clear River Gang control neighboring territories, and in past years, there have been large-scale clashes—they’re old rivals… So there are frequent skirmishes.”

He paused for a moment, then continued in a low voice, “If you plan to stay in the county, you’ll need to be careful. The Firewood Gang, Dock Gang, and Fishers’ Gang aren’t like us in the Tooth Gang… They seized their turf by force and love fighting. If you encounter their people, it’s best to be cautious, and don’t provoke them.”

“I see you’ve got cattle. If you ever want to do business at the docks, be careful. Once you choose a territory, it’s hard to change. If the Dock Gang doesn’t recognize you, it could spell trouble…”

The middle-aged man warned him.

Li Mu listened, somewhat stunned. He’d known Wugong County was dominated by gangs, but the way the man spoke, it was even worse than he’d imagined…

It seemed the fate of ordinary folk was completely at the mercy of these gangs, decided with a word.

He looked again at the confrontation between fifty or sixty men, and felt a secret shock.

Such matters…

Was no one overseeing them?

The thought gnawed at him, and he finally voiced the question he’d been wanting to ask.

“What about the authorities? Don’t they intervene?”

“The authorities?” The question seemed to startle the man. He looked at Li Mu strangely. “You mean the magistrate’s office? Aside from collecting taxes, what else do they do?”

“Hmm?” Li Mu was taken aback.

The magistrate’s office… only collects taxes? Nothing else?

…What kind of arrangement was this?

Before Li Mu could recover, the man continued, “And even commercial taxes are collected by the gangs. The Firewood Gang takes a fifty percent cut, the other half is the official tax. They pay it to the magistrate’s office every year, on schedule…”

At this, the man’s face showed a hint of envy, as if he saw mountains of silver.

Li Mu was bewildered.

The Great Yu Dynasty… what kind of dynasty was this?

The authorities, the court… what sort of management was this?

Judging from the man’s reaction, for the people here, the fact that the authorities ignore the gangs seemed to be an accepted, commonplace fact.

Li Mu felt it pointless to ask further. Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t get more answers.

He could only bury his doubts for now.

“That’s the second-in-command of the Axe Gang and the second-in-command of the Clear River Gang… With both leaders present, it shouldn’t turn violent.”

The middle-aged man spoke suddenly.

Li Mu looked up.

He saw two groups emerge from the Firewood Market, each escorting a leader to the front of their ranks. The shouting and cursing men parted when they heard the commotion, bowed respectfully, and let their leaders step forth.

Li Mu didn’t know anyone from the Clear River or Axe Gangs, but seeing their weapons, he could guess—those all wielding axes were clearly the Axe Gang.

The Clear River Gang’s leader was a massive, burly man, easily over six foot three, with dark skin and a face full of coarse flesh, his arms thicker than most men’s thighs.

His head was bare as a hard-boiled egg, veins faintly visible beneath the sun, gleaming copper-bronze, as though cast from metal.

His neck was thick, making his head seem small, and with his barrel chest, he looked for all the world like a black iron statue.

Yet, despite his coarse, fierce appearance, his eyes were sharp and piercing, not at all wild or crude—hawk-like, and unforgettable.

The Axe Gang’s leader was a middle-aged man, not as striking as the black iron giant, but equally imposing.

He stood about six foot one, just a touch shorter than his rival, but his build was lean and agile, exuding a sense of deadly vigor. His skin was bronze, his sleeveless shirt revealed muscular, well-proportioned arms with clear strength.

His eyes were chilling, his lips thin, giving him a ruthless, cold-blooded air.

With both leaders present, the shouting subsided, and the two began to speak.

Li Mu was too far to catch their words, only the faintest murmur reached his ears. He could not make out the details.

He only knew that after some exchange, both seemed to ponder, finally reaching a tacit agreement. The two groups then dispersed and withdrew…

Just as the middle-aged man predicted, there was no outbreak.

The man glanced at Li Mu’s dazed expression and laughed, “You’re surprised it didn’t turn into a fight? In fact, it would be stranger if they did. These Firewood Gang folks love fighting, but only when victory is assured. If not… they won’t risk major conflict. It’s taken years for the Clear River and Axe Gangs to grow this big—they treasure it.”

“After all, the two are evenly matched. If conflict erupts, both will suffer, and the Peach Blossom Society and Azure Dragon Gang could swoop in to devour them. So, minor scuffles happen, but major clashes… only as a last resort.”

“Right now, they’re probably heading off to negotiate over drinks.”

Li Mu was stunned.

In his previous life, he’d watched many movies and shows about gangs—worlds of violence, vengeance, and swift justice.

But reality was not a film.

The true underworld seemed…

Much more grounded.

Survival and profit…

Those were their chief concerns.

“Come on,” said the middle-aged man, glancing at the sky. “We’re not far from the courtyard.”

Li Mu snapped out of his reverie, cast another look at the Firewood Market, where copper-skinned villagers milled about.

He even spotted a few familiar faces—people from Li Family Village.

But since he was far from the market, no one noticed him.

Timber trade could only happen in the Firewood Market, subject to the Firewood Gang’s exploitation.

For fish, one had to go to the Fish Market.

To work at the docks, the Dock Gang was inescapable.

And now, he was accompanied by the Tooth Gang’s middle-aged man…

He’d heard much during his travels, but only upon reaching the county seat did he truly grasp what it meant for every trade to be dominated by gangs…

It was no exaggeration.

And the authorities, they only collected taxes—nothing else.

This world…

Li Mu pressed his lips together, feeling for the first time the weight of his environment.

But soon, he exhaled softly, his eyes flashing.

In a world like this, personal strength mattered even more.

Martial cultivation…

He clenched his fist.