Chapter 39: Identity

Uncle Nine was someone who could toss two or three hundred pounds of stone blocks around as if they were balloons... What trouble could possibly befall him?

Even Li Mu was a little shocked.

But as Aunt Nine finished her sentence, tears welled up uncontrollably, and she could no longer speak.

"Let me explain," a middle-aged man standing nearby said solemnly.

Li Mu looked over—it was Uncle Four.

"Uncle Four, what's going on?" Li Mu asked in confusion.

Uncle Four immediately began to recount the events, and Li Mu listened calmly, piecing together the sequence of what had transpired.

Uncle Nine had been gone for several days. On the first day of his absence, a message was sent back, saying his employer had urgent matters and he might not return home for a few days.

That was normal; after all, Uncle Nine worked for others, earning over ten taels of silver a month. He certainly wasn’t kept for nothing. When his employer had business, it wasn’t unusual for Uncle Nine to be away for ten days or even half a month.

This time seemed no different, so Aunt Nine and the others hadn’t thought much of it.

But today, while working at the docks, Uncle Four heard news about Uncle Nine.

"Old Nine hasn’t been with his employer at all recently. It seems he’s gone into the mountains. Someone from the Dock Gang told me that the Ax Gang blocked Old Nine a few days ago. The second-in-command of the Ax Gang personally led men up Wo Niu Mountain and cornered Old Nine. A fierce battle broke out, and Old Nine was said to have been seriously wounded. Though he escaped, his fate seems grim."

The Ax Gang?

Li Mu’s heart gave a jolt.

He instantly recalled the group he’d seen six days ago at the timber market gate that morning.

The second-in-command...

That cold-eyed, sharp-featured middle-aged man!

Back then, the Ax Gang was facing off against another group called the Qinghe Gang. Wang Xiaoqi’s second uncle had remarked that with both gangs’ second-in-command present, there would be no fight.

Though five or six days had passed, Li Mu remembered it vividly...

The second-in-command of the Qinghe Gang was a burly man, like a black diamond.

The second-in-command of the Ax Gang was that cold, severe middle-aged man!

And Uncle Nine had been cornered by the Ax Gang’s second-in-command on Wo Niu Mountain?

This...

"Why would they block Uncle Nine?" Li Mu asked, still stunned.

"Actually... Old Nine was himself a leader in the Timber Gang," Uncle Four replied, hesitating before delivering a revelation that left many present dumbfounded. "There are four major factions in the Timber Gang: the Ax Gang, the Azure Dragon Hall, the Peach Blossom Society, and the Qinghe Gang... Old Nine is the third-in-command of the Qinghe Gang."

Qinghe Gang... third-in-command?

That burly black diamond was the second-in-command.

Uncle Nine, the third-in-command?

Li Mu was so shocked he was almost dazed.

He had long suspected Uncle Nine had some other enterprise in the county and probably held a high status.

But he never imagined it would be so extraordinary!

Third-in-command of one of the county's four major Timber Gangs—the Qinghe Gang!

Such a position was indeed significant.

Through Wang Xiaoqi, Li Mu had gained a rough understanding of the county’s factions.

He knew the Timber Gang was one of the three biggest groups in the county.

To be among the largest three, there had to be a reason.

If their strength weren’t considerable, they would have long since been overtaken by other county gangs.

Wugong County, nestled by mountains and rivers, was thriving in timber trade—not just locals but people from surrounding villages and towns. With the river nearby, transport was easy, and merchants from other counties often came to buy timber.

The profits were enormous.

The four Timber Gangs could coexist most of the time because their power was balanced—not too disparate. Otherwise, they’d have started swallowing each other long ago.

Uncle Nine holding the third seat in one of these gangs spoke volumes about his strength—he was certainly a notable figure in the county.

As for the Qinghe Gang’s third-in-command...

No wonder he could eat ten pounds of meat at every meal.

Li Mu was still digesting this shocking news when Uncle Four, seeing the stunned and bewildered expressions on Li Mu, Aunt Nine, Sixth Aunt, Aunt Shi, and others, sighed.

"Actually, anyone who frequents the county to make a living knows about this... But Old Nine told us not to spread it after returning to the village, so we kept quiet."

"In the past, many villagers selling firewood in the county have been helped by Old Nine..."

He glanced at the other villagers nearby.

They all nodded silently, lost in thought.

Li Mu immediately recalled that day—he’d seen several villagers there.

Now that he thought about it... the Qinghe Gang and Ax Gang clashed in that area, meaning their territories must overlap there.

The villagers' location was likely within the Qinghe Gang’s domain.

But...

"Why did the Ax Gang block Uncle Nine?" Li Mu still couldn’t understand.

Uncle Four looked confused and finally shook his head. "I don’t know the details. I only heard the Ax Gang and Qinghe Gang have always been at odds, since their territories are close. There are frequent small and large conflicts. This time... I guess it’s probably because of that?"

Li Mu immediately dismissed Uncle Four’s reasoning.

That day, Wang Xiaoqi’s second uncle had explained clearly: the Qinghe Gang and Ax Gang were evenly matched in power; unless absolutely necessary, they would never really fight.

Like that day—they postured for hours, but it was all just verbal sparring.

Even their underlings hadn’t come to blows.

How could they suddenly, without reason, attack a gang leader?

That would surely ignite a full-scale war between the two gangs!

Unless the Ax Gang was confident they could completely absorb the Qinghe Gang, they would never act so recklessly.

Could it be that the Ax Gang... had gained such confidence?

Li Mu was dazed.

There seemed no other explanation.

But after thinking it over, he realized there was no way to reach a conclusion and decided not to dwell on it—it wasn’t important.

What mattered was...

"What’s Uncle Nine’s situation now?"

Uncle Four shook his head. "I don’t know. The Dock Gang member who told me was from Luo Village—he knew Old Nine was one of us, so he made a point to inform me. As soon as I heard, I hurried home. I only know Old Nine was blocked on Wo Niu Mountain, but nothing more specific."

"And what about the Qinghe Gang? How have they responded?" Li Mu pressed.

"The Qinghe Gang?" Uncle Four hesitated, then awkwardly shook his head. "I was so anxious to get home, I forgot to check on the Qinghe Gang’s situation."

He felt a bit ashamed—Mu, still a child, immediately thought to look into the Qinghe Gang’s movements.

Uncle Nine, after all, was a warrior who could toss two or three hundred pounds of stone blocks around as if they were balloons!

What trouble could have befallen him?

Even Li Mu was a little shocked.

But as Aunt Nine finished her sentence, tears welled up uncontrollably, and she could no longer speak.

"Let me explain," a middle-aged man standing nearby said solemnly.

Li Mu looked over—it was Uncle Four.

"Uncle Four, what's going on?" Li Mu asked in confusion.

Uncle Four immediately began to recount the events, and Li Mu listened calmly, piecing together the sequence of what had transpired.

Uncle Nine had been gone for several days. On the first day of his absence, a message was sent back, saying his employer had urgent matters and he might not return home for a few days.

That was normal; after all, Uncle Nine worked for others, earning over ten taels of silver a month. He certainly wasn’t kept for nothing. When his employer had business, it wasn’t unusual for Uncle Nine to be away for ten days or even half a month.

This time seemed no different, so Aunt Nine and the others hadn’t thought much of it.

But today, while working at the docks, Uncle Four heard news about Uncle Nine.

"Old Nine hasn’t been with his employer at all recently. It seems he’s gone into the mountains. Someone from the Dock Gang told me that the Ax Gang blocked Old Nine a few days ago. The second-in-command of the Ax Gang personally led men up Wo Long Mountain and cornered Old Nine. A fierce battle broke out, and Old Nine was said to have been seriously wounded. Though he escaped, his fate seems grim."

The Ax Gang?

Li Mu’s heart gave a jolt.

He instantly recalled the group he’d seen six days ago at the timber market gate that morning.

The second-in-command...

In his mind’s eye, that cold-eyed, sharp-featured middle-aged man appeared.

Back then, the Ax Gang was facing off against another group called the Qinghe Gang. Wang Xiaoqi’s second uncle had remarked that with both gangs’ second-in-command present, there would be no fight.

Though five or six days had passed, Li Mu remembered it vividly...

The second-in-command of the Qinghe Gang was a burly man, like a black diamond.

The second-in-command of the Ax Gang was that cold, severe middle-aged man!

And Uncle Nine had been cornered by the Ax Gang’s second-in-command on Wo Long Mountain?

This...

"Why would they block Uncle Nine?" Li Mu asked, still stunned.

"Actually... Old Nine was himself a leader in the Timber Gang," Uncle Four replied, hesitating before delivering a revelation that left many present dumbfounded. "There are four major factions in the Timber Gang: the Ax Gang, the Azure Dragon Hall, the Peach Blossom Society, and the Qinghe Gang... Old Nine is the third-in-command of the Qinghe Gang."

Qinghe Gang... third-in-command?

That burly black diamond was the second-in-command.

Uncle Nine, the third-in-command?

Li Mu was so shocked he was almost dazed.

He had long suspected Uncle Nine had some other enterprise in the county and probably held a high status.

But he never imagined it would be so extraordinary!

Third-in-command of one of the county's four major Timber Gangs—the Qinghe Gang!

Such a position was indeed significant.

Through Wang Xiaoqi, Li Mu had gained a rough understanding of the county’s factions.

He knew the Timber Gang was one of the three biggest groups in the county.

To be among the largest three, there had to be a reason.

If their strength weren’t considerable, they would have long since been overtaken by other county gangs.

Wugong County, nestled by mountains and rivers, was thriving in timber trade—not just locals but people from surrounding villages and towns. With the river nearby, transport was easy, and merchants from other counties often came to buy timber.

The profits were enormous.

The four Timber Gangs could coexist most of the time because their power was balanced—not too disparate. Otherwise, they’d have started swallowing each other long ago.

Uncle Nine holding the third seat in one of these gangs spoke volumes about his strength—he was certainly a notable figure in the county.

As for the Qinghe Gang’s third-in-command...

No wonder he could eat ten pounds of meat at every meal.

Li Mu was still digesting this shocking news when Uncle Four, seeing the stunned and bewildered expressions on Li Mu, Aunt Nine, Sixth Aunt, Aunt Shi, and others, sighed and said, "Actually, anyone who frequents the county to make a living knows about this... But Old Nine told us not to spread it after returning to the village, so we kept quiet."

"In the past, many villagers selling firewood in the county have been helped by Old Nine..."

He glanced at the other villagers nearby.

They all sighed softly and nodded in agreement.

Li Mu immediately recalled that day—he’d seen several villagers there.

Now that he thought about it... the Qinghe Gang and Ax Gang clashed in that area, meaning their territories must overlap there.

The villagers' location was likely within the Qinghe Gang’s domain.

But...

"Why did the Ax Gang block Uncle Nine?" Li Mu still couldn’t understand.

Uncle Four looked confused and finally shook his head. "I don’t know the details. I only heard the Ax Gang and Qinghe Gang have always been at odds, since their territories are close. There are frequent small and large conflicts. This time... I guess it’s probably because of that?"

Li Mu immediately dismissed Uncle Four’s reasoning.

That day, Wang Xiaoqi’s second uncle had explained clearly: the Qinghe Gang and Ax Gang were evenly matched in power; unless absolutely necessary, they would never really fight.

Like that day—they postured for hours, but it was all just verbal sparring.

Even their underlings hadn’t come to blows.

How could they suddenly, without reason, attack a gang leader?

That would surely ignite a full-scale war between the two gangs!

Unless the Ax Gang was confident they could completely absorb the Qinghe Gang, they would never act so recklessly.

Could it be that the Ax Gang truly had such confidence?

There was simply no other explanation.

But after thinking it over, he realized there was no way to reach a conclusion and decided not to dwell on it—it wasn’t important.

What mattered was...

Uncle Nine’s current situation.

"What’s Uncle Nine’s situation now?"

Uncle Four shook his head. "I don’t know. The Dock Gang member who told me was from Luo Village—he knew Old Nine was one of us, so he made a point to inform me. As soon as I heard, I hurried home. I only know Old Nine was blocked on Wo Long Mountain, but nothing more specific."

"And what about the Qinghe Gang? How have they responded?" Li Mu pressed.

"The Qinghe Gang?" Uncle Four hesitated, then awkwardly shook his head. "I was so anxious to get home, I forgot to check on the Qinghe Gang’s situation."

He felt a bit ashamed—Mu, still a child, immediately thought to look into the Qinghe Gang’s movements.

And he himself had rushed back in a panic, neglecting to gather critical information.

He really shouldn’t have.

Li Mu frowned deeply, but said nothing more.

His mind raced.

At that moment, Aunt Nine’s tears slid down her cheeks once again.

She clutched Li Mu’s hand, trembling, and pleaded, "Mu, what do we do now? Your uncle, he..."