Glorious Tales

Chapter 0004: Mixed Blessings

"There's always someone better, and there are greater skies beyond the heavens," Yang Ning still agreed with this saying.

Although he was clear-cut when it came to grudges and favors, he was not one to stir up trouble. He had previously believed that the monkeys and others had truly been subdued by his beating. However, it now seemed that those individuals had ulterior motives.

Yang Ning realized that sometimes, it was best not to be overly pleased with oneself.

"Rest for a few days. I’ve already spoken to them and made sure they don’t tell anyone you're recovering," Old Tree Bark said with his usual melancholic expression.

Yang Ning asked in surprise, "Why is that?"

"Why?" Old Tree Bark chuckled bitterly. "If Boss Fang finds out you're recovering, do you think he’ll let you rest?"

"Boss Fang?" Yang Ning recalled hearing this name before and quickly remembered, "Wasn't it Boss Fang who took me in when I joined the Beggars' g**g?"

Old Tree Bark nodded. "Boss Fang is the leader of several hundred beggars in Huize City. He took you in because he saw your agility."

"Then, if he knows I'm better, will he cause trouble for me?" Yang Ning was curious about what kind of grudge Boss Fang might hold against him. "Why can't he know I'm recovered?"

Old Tree Bark sighed, "It's not about causing trouble; it’s about making you keep working. Do you think we can stay in this safe haven, the Earth Temple, because of anyone else? It’s all because of you."

Yang Ning was even more curious. How could I have contributed to staying here?

"Boss Fang saw your quick hands and feet, so he made you part of the Beggars' g**g. For the past six months, you haven’t made a single mistake. You’ve earned a lot of credit for him," Old Tree Skin explained as he sat on the threshold. "There are hundreds of beggars in the city, but not everyone can find a place to shelter from the wind and rain. It’s because of your accomplishments that we can rest here." His face twisted with anger. "But Boss Fang is truly heartless—when he saw you fall ill, he couldn’t even spare a few coins to help you. He probably thought you were dead."

Although Yang Ning also cursed Boss Fang in his heart, it seemed that his previous self, Little Weasel, was no simple figure. He had done much for Boss Fang, and his credit was undeniable. He sat on the threshold, asking, "By the way, what kind of things did Boss Fang have me do? What great achievements have I made?" Seeing Old Tree Bark staring at him, Yang Ning quickly pointed to his head, indicating he had forgotten many things.

Old Tree Bark chuckled bitterly, "What great things can beggars like us do?" He extended a withered hand, raised his middle and index fingers, and, mimicking a scissor gesture, moved them forward, glancing at Yang Ning without saying anything but clearly implying, Now you understand, don’t you?

Yang Ning paused for a moment, then imitated Old Tree Bark’s gesture. It felt so shameless that he quickly retracted his hand, frowning. "Why does this gesture feel like I’m picking pockets?"

He looked at Old Tree Bark, surprised. "Old Tree Bark, you mean... I helped Boss Fang steal things, right?"

Old Tree Bark nodded firmly. "You’re the fastest under Boss Fang!"

Yang Ning shuddered, unsure whether Old Tree Bark was praising or mocking him. He bitterly smiled to himself. He had never imagined Little Weasel had built his reputation through this.

"Is this how the Beggars' g**g survives?" Yang Ning’s opinion of the once-revered g**g immediately collapsed.

Old Tree Bark sighed. "If Old Boss Lu were still alive, things wouldn’t be like this."

"Who was Old Boss Lu?"

"Old Boss Lu was once the leader of the Beggars' g**g in Huize City. When he was alive, the rules were strict, and no one dared to engage in shady business." Old Tree Bark's eyes shone faintly. "When I joined the Beggars' g**g over twenty years ago, I had some standing. Old Boss Lu was kind to us older beggars. When something major happened, he’d gather us to discuss it." A rare look of pride appeared on his face.

Yang Ning couldn’t help but think, You’ve been in the Beggars' g**g for over twenty years, yet you're still in this state? No wonder those others didn’t respect him.

However, Yang Ning understood. Old Tree Bark was loyal and kind-hearted, and he disliked conflict. Where there are people, there’s always struggle. The Beggars' g**g was the largest, and within it, power struggles were inevitable. With Old Tree Bark's personality, he was indeed unsuitable for contention.

"Are you saying Old Boss Lu is dead?" Yang Ning frowned. "How did he die?"

"Old Boss Lu, when he was alive, even the constables wouldn’t dare touch our beggars," Old Tree Bark said with pride. "There were hundreds of beggars in the city because of him. When he was alive, even Xiao Yishui had to show him respect." He sighed. "Unfortunately, he died three years ago from a sudden illness."

"Xiao Yishui? Sudden illness?"

Old Tree Bark explained, "Xiao Yishui is the head constable of Huize City. This guy..." He shook his head and didn’t elaborate. "Old Boss Lu was in good health, but one day he suddenly fell ill. Boss Fang took care of him, but just a few days later, he passed away. Naturally, Boss Fang took over Old Boss Lu’s position."

Yang Ning noticed Old Tree Bark was being evasive, which made him feel suspicious, but he didn’t press further.

Old Tree Skin continued, "After Boss Fang took charge, he quickly allied with Xiao Yishui. Before, the beggars either begged or did physical labor in the city—anything but immoral acts... but after Boss Fang rose to power, the Beggars' g**g started..."

He sighed without finishing the sentence.

At this point, Yang Ning had already understood that the changes in the Beggars' g**g began after Boss Fang's rise to power.

Old Boss Lu died, and Boss Fang took over, quickly aligning with the head constable Xiao Yishui. When pieced together, these details led to many suspicions.

However, Yang Ning wasn’t too interested in the past affairs of the Beggars' g**g. Since he was now part of it, his focus was on the present situation. "What about the Beggars' g**g in Huize City? Aren’t they disorganized and full of rogues? Isn’t the branch master of the Snake branch doing anything about it? Doesn’t the g**g Leader care about Boss Fang’s tarnishing the Beggars' g**g's reputation?"

Old Tree Bark laughed bitterly. "The Beggars' g**g has twenty-eight branches across the world. Just our Snake branch alone has tens of thousands of members. In a small county, with only a few hundred members, the branch master can't control things here. Besides, who would dare report Boss Fang’s actions? As for the g**g Leader, we’ve only heard of him. We’ve never seen him. I’d say, we’ll never meet him in our lifetime."

Yang Ning nodded slightly. A g**g with hundreds of thousands of members was indeed a massive force. But its size also meant it was full of imperfections, and even the g**g Leader, no matter how capable, could never manage everything.

When the monkey returned to the Earth Temple, Yang Ning had already taken a refreshing bath in the pond outside the temple. His body, still marked by grime, couldn't be completely cleansed, but after the wash in the clear water, he felt revitalized and had regained some strength and energy.

The monkey, after some time, returned with a few pieces of wheat flatbread. Hungry, Yang Ning chewed on it, finding it dry and difficult to swallow, lacking any crispness. He thought to himself, It seems the use of wheat flour in this era isn’t refined. This flatbread clearly wasn’t fermented, which made it unpleasant to eat.

Yet, as the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," and Yang Ning accepted the situation.

After the rain, the air was crisp, but Yang Ning couldn’t help but think of Xiao Die. He had a deep sense of gratitude for her, as she had saved his life. From what Old Tree Bark had said, it was clear Xiao Die’s current environment was dire, which made Yang Ning eager to meet her and ensure her well-being.

Yang Ning had initially planned to head straight to the Dead Alley where Madam Hua resided, but the monkey, fearing the place, urged him to wait until later. Yang Ning, unfamiliar with Huize City, didn’t insist. He let the monkey lead him there at dusk.

As the sun set, casting its final rays over Huize City, Yang Ning observed the city. Though it was small, there was a distinction in the status of its people. Most of the stalls and shops were scattered throughout the front city, while the tea houses, restaurants, and a few brothels were located in the back city on a long street. The bustling street was lively, and Yang Ning walked along, noticing the chaotic and poorly-planned streets. The buildings lacked order, making the city resemble a maze. Without knowledge of the layout, it would be easy to get lost.

He had heard that the city was crowded with refugees, but when he reached the back city, it wasn’t as densely packed as he had imagined. The monkey explained that the refugees were housed in a corner of the county, a far cry from the more prosperous back city.

"Boss, do you see the alley ahead? Turn in, then go straight through the next street, and that alley will lead to Dead Alley," the monkey gestured as they reached a corner.

Yang Ning asked quietly, "Is the street behind just as lively?"

"No," the monkey shook his head. "It’s much quieter. It’s all residential... Wait, Boss, duck down quickly!" His tone grew frantic, and he turned to look behind him, lowering his head as if trying to avoid being seen.

Yang Ning glanced around, not noticing anything unusual, and asked softly, "What’s wrong?"

"Look at the Ten Li Fragrance across the street!" The monkey didn’t turn around but whispered, "Did you see the two people coming out?"

Yang Ning glanced at the two-story restaurant across the street, its prominent wooden structure and the "Ten Li Fragrance" plaque in gilded letters. Two people stood at the entrance, one in silver-gray attire, tall and elegant, the other slightly shorter but more solid, whispering into the taller one's ear.