8 Chapter 8: Killing

Liu Song shook his head and said, "Who knows what happened? Maybe he was ambushed, or maybe... Anyway, we will probably have to deal with this Red Gold Gang in the future."

Hearing this, Chen Mu couldn't help but ponder.

To be honest, he wasn't really interested in gang struggles. However, if the Red Gold Gang were to annex the Black Snake Gang, the area he lived in would be under the control of the newly arrived Red Gold Gang. It was indeed something he couldn't ignore.

The Black Snake Gang was relatively easygoing with him, a constable. They never caused trouble in front of his house nor demanded protection money from him. However, he didn't know what the Red Gold Gang's attitude would be. Now that he had some strength and his status as a constable, he wasn't too afraid, but he just didn't want to get involved in trouble.

"The world changes like this," Chen Mu said, shaking his head.

If he wasn't a constable and had no strength, this kind of gang change would directly affect his livelihood.

"Brother Liu, do you know the background of this Red Gold Gang?"

Li Tie lowered his voice, carefully glanced around, and then asked quietly.

Liu Song shook his head, "I don't know much either. I only know that the Red Gold Gang doesn't have many members right now, but there are many skilled fighters in the gang. It is said that there are two or three vice leaders who have cultivated 'intent'. It's not appropriate to inquire about anything more."

Li Tie also knew his limits. Knowing too much could cause trouble. It was enough to know a little. At least for now, the Red Gold Gang's apparent strength was no less than that of their City Guard.

Of course, the City Guard had the General Administration above them, while the Red Gold Gang was just a gang in Nine Streets. Even if their strength surpassed the City Guard, they would at most maintain a peaceful coexistence and give each other face.

The few of them chatted for a while longer, finished their fennel beans, and then left the restaurant. After another patrol, they finally returned to the City Guard and turned in their duty tokens.

At this time, constables were coming back in twos and threes to change shifts at the City Guard.

Just as Chen Mu said goodbye to Liu Song and the others and was about to leave, a man in a blue constable uniform walked over. Unlike the 'gray clothes' worn by the low-ranking constables, this blue uniform was obviously more refined. Not only was the fabric of higher quality, but the patterns embroidered on it were also different.

This was the uniform worn by the constable leaders. In the entire Nine Streets City Guard, there were currently only five constable leaders.

This one was named Qin Bei.

He was the direct superior of Chen Mu's team of constables and was in charge of their group.

"Sir Qin."

As Qin Bei walked along, the constables present all saluted respectfully.

Qin Bei, with a serious expression, walked inside with steady steps, then turned around to look at the constables and said, "I have something to say. If anyone is absent, please inform each other."

As soon as he spoke, everyone fell silent, waiting for what he had to say.

"First, regarding the fight between the Red Gold Gang and the Black Snake Gang, everyone is to stay out of it and not interfere. Whether there are casualties or not, it's none of your business. Second, if you discover any other unusual activities by the Red Gold Gang, you can report to me or Sir Cha Si."

Qin Bei spoke in a deep voice.

As soon as he said this, some of the constables present showed surprised expressions, while others remained expressionless, as if they had already known.

For example, Chen Mu, Liu Song, and the others, who had learned about the situation in advance, weren't surprised. However, Qin Bei's announcement meant that the Red Gold Gang was indeed going to gradually take over the Black Snake Gang's position.

The first point of non-interference meant tacitly acknowledging the merger of the two gangs. The second point was an attitude towards the newly transitioned gang. The purpose wasn't really to have them monitor the gang, but to convey a message through them, telling the Red Gold Gang that although the City Guard would turn a blind eye, they shouldn't act too recklessly, otherwise the City Guard would still intervene.

"Yes."

Liu Song and the others responded.

Seeing that everyone had responded respectfully, Qin Bei nodded, then put away his stern expression and turned to look at Ren Yan, who had just returned. He smiled and beckoned, "Ren Yan? Come here, I have something to talk to you about."

Ren Yan immediately walked over as if flattered and followed Qin Bei into the office inside. However, the look in his eyes as he glanced at the other constables outside couldn't conceal a hint of smugness.

Although they were all constables, Constable Leader Qin Bei's attitude towards him was clearly different from his attitude towards the others.

The other constables, seeing this, were all envious for a moment, but they could only envy. After all, Ren Yan's family had connections with nobles in the inner city and he was able to learn martial arts at a martial arts school in the inner city. Even if his talent and comprehension were average, after a few years of study, he would definitely be a skilled fighter and his status would be vastly different. Perhaps he would become the new constable leader in the future, so it was normal for Qin Bei to treat him differently.

Some of the young constables who had been close to Ren Yan before even hoped that Ren Yan, after mastering his skills and rising through the ranks, would be able to take care of them and give them a chance to change their fate.

...

Leaving the City Guard, Chen Mu was still thinking about the Red Gold Gang.

From Qin Bei's attitude, it was likely that the constable leaders above had already dealt with the Red Gold Gang. In any case, regardless of any subsequent changes, for now, as a small constable, he should try to stay out of it and not get involved.

At this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and Chen Mu quickened his pace on his way home.

However, as he walked through an alley he usually took, Chen Mu suddenly wrinkled his nose, smelling a faint scent of blood.

Thinking of the fight between the Red Gold Gang and the Black Snake Gang today, he figured it might be from their scuffle and didn't dwell on it too much. He quickened his pace again, wanting to pass through quickly.

But just as Chen Mu was about to leave the alley, a glint of cold light suddenly flashed in the corner of his eye.

Almost instinctively, Chen Mu drew his constable's saber in an instant and slashed diagonally towards the right with a 'Wild Wind Slash'.

His skills, enhanced through experience points, were not rootless duckweed. They were the result of true hard work and training. There was even a lot of experience in fighting enemies in the skills that had appeared out of thin air, making his eyesight and hearing much sharper than before, and his sensitivity to sharp weapons like swords and sabers even more so.

"Ah!"

What attacked from the right was a bloodstained machete, seemingly also possessing some skill in blade techniques. However, the attacker didn't expect Chen Mu to strike so fiercely and decisively, nor did he expect Chen Mu's blade technique to be so skilled and refined.

With just a flash of cold light and a brief clash of blades, the opponent was struck in the chest and abdomen.

At this time, Chen Mu also saw the attacker's appearance. It was a burly man dressed in a coarse cloth gown. He actually recognized the man. He seemed to be a leader of the Black Snake Gang. However, at this moment, his appearance was quite gruesome. Not only did he have several wounds on his shoulder and arm, but his left eye was also bleeding, seemingly having been stabbed blind.

"Mis... misunderstanding..."

The Black Snake Gang leader, enduring the intense pain, struggled to speak.

In his remaining eye, there was a hint of shock. He never imagined that a small 'gray-clothed constable' could suddenly display such blade skills. He felt that even in his prime, without injuries, he might not have been able to win against him.

He had been chased by the Red Gold Gang, seriously injured and blinded, and was already on the verge of death. At this moment, he was desperate and wanted to take someone down with him before he died. He didn't care who it was, and a constable was even better. Maybe he could even drag the City Guard into the mess and cause some trouble for the Red Gold Gang. However, he had kicked an iron plate.

"Misunderstanding?"

Chen Mu's eyes were ice-cold.

Just now, if it weren't for his mastery of blade skills and his quick reaction, he might have had his throat slit or even been beheaded with the slightest misstep. The opponent had completely intended to take his life.

This was the closest he had come to death since coming to this world. If it weren't for the awakening of the system, he would already be a corpse by now. No matter how calm and composed he usually was, his heart was filled with chills at this moment. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the opponent.

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

The Black Snake Gang leader coughed up a mouthful of blood and explained with difficulty. However, halfway through his words, he suddenly raised his machete and viciously slashed at Chen Mu again.

He was already seriously injured and had just taken a counter-attack from Chen Mu. He was practically at his wit's end. Even if the Red Gold Gang didn't find him, he would bleed to death in a short while. Now, seeing Chen Mu so young but with blade skills comparable to his own after years of hard work, his heart was filled with jealousy and malice. He wanted to take Chen Mu down with him by surprise.

"Hmph."

However, Chen Mu snorted coldly, having been on guard against him all along. With a slight sidestep, he dodged the sneak attack, then countered with a backhand diagonal slash using the second form of the 'Wild Wind Technique', 'Rising Helmet'.

The Black Snake Gang leader, already seriously injured and at the end of his rope, had exhausted his last bit of strength with that swing and could no longer dodge. A blood line immediately appeared on his neck.

"Ugh..."

The Black Snake Gang leader looked at Chen Mu unwillingly, his eyes seemingly filled with resentment. But then he fell to the ground, twitched his legs, and soon stopped moving.

Looking at the corpse lying in front of him, Chen Mu's hand holding the saber trembled slightly.

Although he had dealt with no less than hundreds of corpses in the few years he had been in this world, with varying degrees of gruesomeness, it could be said that he had seen a lot. However, this was the first person he had personally killed, and someone he had no prior enmity with.

But Chen Mu quickly came to terms with it.

This world was like this. People killed for wealth and treasures even without any grudges, and some even killed just because they didn't like the look of someone... Without strength, he would be a corpse right now. The man who wanted to kill him had died by his blade, so there was no reason to dwell on it.

After quickly calming down, Chen Mu became even calmer than before. After all, he was used to dealing with corpses. At this moment, not only did he not lose his composure, but he bent down and quickly searched the body.

Soon, Chen Mu found five silver ingots and two gold leaves in the man's bosom. The silver was about fifty taels, and the two gold leaves were probably worth twenty or thirty taels as well. In total, there were about seventy or eighty taels, a huge sum that he had never handled before.

"As expected of a 'first-hand' corpse. This is the first time in years."

After all, he was a leader of the Black Snake Gang and had some status. He had probably accumulated all this money over the years and hidden it on his body to escape. However, he was chased down by the Red Gold Gang all the way, and now it had all fallen into his hands.

After searching the body, Chen Mu looked around and, seeing no one, quickly disappeared into the streets and alleys.