Chapter 9 Sudden Change (1/2)

Chapter 9 – Sudden Change

…

…

…

But what he lacked was actual combat experience. If he were to truly fight, his opponent surely wouldn’t stand around like a stone block and allow him to freely strike them. Thus, if he were to fight someone on the level of Ma Junmo, his chances of winning would only be around 70-80%.

Li Mu objectively judged his strength.

“How strong is the Divine Orchard Gang in the county? Do they have any powerful masters in their ranks?” Li Mu also asked.

Ma Junmo’s thoughts skipped a beat as he heard this.

News of what happened yesterday in the court hall had already spread through all the high level circles of Alabaster County.

Many people thought that this new young county magistrate was crazy and all of them were waiting to see what kind of joke he would make of himself.

But for the lord county magistrate to ask such a question, could he really be planning on moving against the Divine Orchard Gang?

“The Divine Orchard Gang was founded over 20 years ago. They were a gang formed from various medicine, agriculture, hunting, and alchemy industries. The gang has thousands of members, and although most of these people are ordinary citizens, they can still be considered a considerable influence in Alabaster County City. The gang has over 10 beginning-level masters at the Strength Unity realm and at least two third-class masters of the Energy Unity realm: the gang leader Sikong Jin as well as their guest Fan Changan.” Ma Junmo was clearly a proficient county guard chief captain. He had a great deal of information about these matters.

But at the end, the straightforward chief captain couldn’t help but add on, “The Divine Orchard Gang has been operating in the county for dozens of years already. They have formed all sorts of intertwined connections with different officials and merchants; they cannot be underestimated.”

This could be called an extremely vague reminder.

Ma Junmo thought that this was the very least he could do.

As for whether or not this young county magistrate listened to him, that was his own business.

Although Li Mu was his boss, his foundation was too shallow and he possessed too much of a youth’s impulsiveness. He wouldn’t accompany Li Mu to his death.

As Li Mu heard this information, his heart began to race.

So, it seemed that the Divine Orchard Gang’s influence was a bit greater than expected. This would be a little troublesome.

Should he first endure for a year or so until his strength increased before he did something?

But thinking about it, this was not a feasible idea.

He had already put forth an act. Even if he must cry, he had to play the role until the end.

Otherwise, wouldn’t he really become a joke?

At this time, the sound of rapid footsteps came from outside. A county guard rushed in, panicked, “My Lord, My Lord, things are bad! Some thugs attacked the medical hall and captured Zhang Li and her daughter! Zhang Ru has also been killed…”

“What?” Ma Junmo’s complexion changed and he stood up.

Li Mu was stunned before immediately understanding what happened. He took a few steps forwards and grabbed onto the county guard. “What did you say? What is going on?”

“People from the Divine Orchard Gang attacked the medical hall…” The county guard’s voice shivered as he replied. He was also wounded from the fight.

Li Mu had sent the plaintiff Zhang Li and her daughter Little Kin to the medical hall for their wounds to be healed. At the same time, he assigned the county guard Zhang Ru to protect the plaintiff. However, only a day had passed and a bunch of hoodlums from the Divine Orchard Gang had been prompted to attack. They said that Zhang Li had falsely accused Divine Herb Hall and was colluding with the dog officials from the County Administrative Hall, and that all of this was done to ruin their livelihoods. Then, they forced their way into the medicinal hall and captured the plaintiff. As for the county guard Zhang Ru who worked for the County Administrative Hall, he had even been beaten to death…these actions were simply overturning the heavens.

“Motherfucker!”

Li Mu’s anger suddenly erupted.

They dared say he was a dog official?

Then he would kill those bastards.

…

…

Alabaster County’s official administrative medical hall –

The front doors had been broken in and even the signboard had been pulled down and torn apart. The entire courtyard was in tatters and pained groans echoed out.

Of the medical hall’s four doctors, three had been knocked unconsciousness and another had a broken leg and blood dripping down his head. He was being supported by an apprentice whose face was beaten black and blue. They sat at the entrance of the medical hall, their faces numb as they gazed at the chaos.

The people from the Divine Orchard Gang had already left.

Li Mu had come one step too late.

The air was filled with the smell of blood.

Li Mu had sent four county guards to protect Zhang Li and her daughter. Besides the one that had returned to report this incident to him, two of them were lying unconscious in the lobby with broken hands and feet.

But, the only county guard that Li Mu knew by name was that young and strong Zhang Ru. It seemed that because he had resisted, someone had shoved a sharp medicine scoop through his chest, pinning him to the dark wooden screen doors of the medical hall. His eyes were wide open and he held a long service saber in his hand. A pool of blood had formed beneath his feet, and his eyes were filled with pain and anger as if he had died with deep injustice and unsatisfied grudges.

This was the first time Li Mu had seen a corpse at such a close distance.

But he didn’t feel fear.

What had been a living person yesterday had become an icy cold corpse today.

Li Mu lifted his hands and brought down Zhang Ru’s corpse. He gently laid him down, stroked his face and closed his eyes.