Chapter 41: Visiting in Person

Even without being involved in the gangs, Li Mu knew something was wrong. But at this moment, all he could do was remain steady. He asked in a low voice, “What about Uncle Nine? Any news?”

“No.” Uncle Four shook his head. “I only heard he went deep into Wo Niu Mountain. The Axe Gang led a group into the mountain to chase him, but aside from that, there’s been no other word.” As he spoke, worry deepened on his face, and he couldn’t help but say, “Mu, do you think Uncle Nine… could something really have happened to him?”

Li Jiu was the only martial man in Li Family Village, holding a crucial position among the villagers. Especially in times like these, a village with a martial man and one without are worlds apart. Perhaps it’s not obvious in ordinary days, but when trouble comes, that difference shows itself.

Simply put, in the county town, gangs are everywhere. You never know when you might provoke someone or break a taboo. If a villager has a martial man in the family, mentioning their background makes those gang members at least consider the martial man’s reputation, often turning major issues into minor ones, or dismissing them altogether. But villagers without a martial man—what fate awaits them then depends entirely on others’ whims.

There’s a real difference. Uncle Four and the others had lived through times when the village had no martial man, and they knew well that, especially at critical moments, having one made all the difference. To exaggerate, it could even determine the fate of some villagers.

That’s why Uncle Four and the rest cared so deeply about Uncle Nine’s situation. Li Mu knew something was amiss, but what could he do? Though his mood weighed heavy, he forced himself to stay calm. He asked Uncle Four for more details, and Uncle Four told him everything he knew, promising to keep searching for news before taking his leave.

After seeing Uncle Four off, Li Mu returned to Aunt Nine’s courtyard. Aunt Nine and Aunt Six were chatting in the yard, but kept glancing toward the gate, unable to hide their anxiety. When Li Mu entered, Aunt Nine quickly asked, “Mu, is there any news about your uncle?”

To avoid worrying Aunt Nine, Li Mu and Uncle Four had spoken outside. Seeing her anxious look, Li Mu hurried to reassure her.

“Don’t worry, Aunt Nine, there’s no news—but that’s the best news. If something really happened to Uncle Nine, the Axe Gang would be shouting it from the rooftops. Trust me, he’s fine.”

He could only comfort her. His words seemed to have some effect; Aunt Nine was still anxious, but finally nodded.

“All right, all right, nothing will happen to Old Nine. You mustn’t worry too much. If you fall ill from worry, what if Old Nine comes home and finds you sick? Look, you haven’t even gathered pig grass today. Come, I’ll go with you up the mountain to fetch it. The pigs can’t go hungry, or they’ll lose weight. If you don’t care for the livestock, I do. Come on, let’s go…”

Aunt Six saw Aunt Nine’s anxious state. She hadn’t gone home last night but stayed to keep Aunt Nine company, chatting with her late into the night until they finally managed some sleep. This morning, she was still worried, clearly not having rested well. Things couldn’t go on like this. Keeping busy might help ease her worries.

Aunt Nine hesitated. With her husband’s fate uncertain, she really didn’t feel like doing anything else. But Aunt Six made a good point—the livestock couldn’t be neglected.

As she wavered, Aunt Six added, “Besides, you can’t help with the men’s business. What good does staying at home do? Life has to go on. Even if Old Nine really is gone… would you just stop living?”

Those words made Aunt Nine’s heart tremble, but in the end, she nodded in resignation, her expression sorrowful. Aunt Six’s words were rough, but true. Life must go on. Aunt Nine forced herself to suppress her worry, and, half dragged and half pushed by Aunt Six, went out.

Seeing them leave, Li Mu felt a slight sense of relief. He fell silent for a moment, his brows knitting. The Qinghe Gang’s reaction was strange, but he didn’t know the details. Uncle Nine was now in Wo Niu Mountain, which Li Mu knew well—it was the largest mountain range in Wugong County, with deep forests, poisonous creatures, and fierce beasts everywhere. There might even be monsters.

The Third Boss of the Qinghe Gang being cornered like this was a blatant provocation, a blow to the gang’s reputation. For the sake of their prestige, the Qinghe Gang shouldn’t just stand by. Yet, that’s exactly what happened.

It seemed… there were deeper reasons behind Uncle Nine being trapped. Perhaps… the Qinghe Gang was involved!

A series of speculations flashed through his mind. But in the end, he could only take a deep breath and wait to see how things unfolded.

…

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, several days had gone by. Uncle Four went to the county town every day to seek news, but the situation only grew more confusing.

Rumors were everywhere—after all, Uncle Nine was the Third Boss of the Qinghe Gang, a figure of some standing, so all sorts of stories circulated. Some said the Third Boss of Qinghe Gang and the Second Boss of the Axe Gang had a personal feud; that he’d killed the Second Boss’s son, and now this was revenge. That the Second Boss of the Axe Gang had spent a fortune bribing the other three bosses of Qinghe Gang to abandon the Third Boss.

Others said the feud was nonsense, and the real mastermind was the Fourth Boss of Qinghe Gang, who wanted the Third Boss’s position and thus colluded with the Axe Gang to bring him down. The First and Second Bosses of Qinghe Gang, they claimed, were also held in check by the Fourth Boss.

Still others said the Third Boss had obtained some treasure, the news leaked, and both the other three bosses of Qinghe Gang and the Axe Gang coveted it, resulting in disaster.

There was talk of every kind, but all was speculation. Nothing was certain.

But one thing was clear—when Uncle Nine got into trouble, the Qinghe Gang kept their distance, showing no intention of standing up for him. Whether they were considering the bigger picture, fearing that a fight with the Axe Gang would let the other two gangs profit, or whether the Qinghe Gang really was involved in Uncle Nine’s downfall, was impossible to tell.

During these days, word of Uncle Nine’s misfortune had spread throughout the village. Grandfather Third had visited several times, asking about Uncle Nine and showing his concern. Aunt Nine was anxious every day, utterly at a loss, visibly thinner. If not for Li Mu, Aunt Six, and Aunt Stone keeping her company, she might really have fallen ill.

Yet still, there was no news from Uncle Nine.

Just when Li Mu was nearly unable to bear it, on the fourth day after Uncle Nine’s accident, Uncle Four and a few villagers rushed over.

His face was grim.

“The Axe Gang is coming to the village—they must be planning something against Aunt Nine!”

“What?!”

Li Mu’s expression changed dramatically.