William Brooks's small eyes flashed with a strange light. He smiled at Henry Webb, then turned his head and started talking to his two followers.

Henry Webb's heart tightened.

He knew this guy was waiting for big sister to come back. The reason big sister Charles Webb came home on time every day probably had a lot to do with this guy.

People in gangs are always surrounded by trouble and danger; who knows what kind of accident might happen one day.

So William Brooks definitely had some bad intentions.

‘This is trouble.’ Henry Webb quickened his pace, walked out of the alley, and headed familiarly toward the Blackwater Gang branch where his big sister was.

Big sister Charles Webb looked different from the rest of the siblings—naturally tall and burly, with a strong build, a hot temper, and considerable strength. So she had a bit of a reputation in the Blackwater Gang branch.

The Blackwater Gang branch was a small courtyard at the crossroads. In the yard, a few men were lifting stone locks, while a man with a small braid stood to the side yawning.

“Charles Webb? She took a job this morning. She said that after this run, she’d earn enough for the family to move to the inner city, and even save enough for her little brother to learn martial arts.

It’s supposed to be a pretty important job. Why, didn’t she tell you?”

“No.” Henry Webb shook his head, but his heart sank.

“A lot of brothers were fighting for that job, but the branch leader only picked about ten skilled hands. Your sister was one of them, so don’t worry.” The man replied with a smile.

“Do you know when they’ll be back?” Henry Webb asked.

“No idea. Important jobs like this usually don’t end quickly, so don’t worry. Anyway, I’m still training here. You go home and wait. When they’re back, I’ll let your sister know first thing.” The man waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

Henry Webb knew that was all he could find out; the man wouldn’t say more.

He turned and slowly walked out the courtyard gate.

Standing at the entrance, he looked back at the sign hanging above, which read “Blackwater Branch.”

‘The Blackwater Gang is just a small-time gang. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of such gangs in the outer city. Where could they find a job that pays so much?’

Henry Webb felt heavy-hearted.

He had a bad feeling.

He wasn’t like those other uneducated, inexperienced poor folks—he knew there was definitely something wrong here.

But now that she was gone, he was just a sixteen-year-old boy who didn’t know anything.

He could only recognize a few words—what could he do?

When he got home, Henry Webb didn’t see William Brooks and his group at the alley entrance.

But when he opened the door, he saw second sister Emily Webb looking pale, with a panicked and suppressed expression.

When she saw him come back, Emily Webb seemed to let go of a heavy burden and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

“Xiao He… how’s big sister?”

“Did William Brooks come by just now?” Henry Webb asked in a low voice.

“He did. I hid and didn’t make a sound. He thought no one was home and left.” Emily Webb stammered, clearly frightened.

Henry Webb noticed some faint yellow dust on the door, as if it had been kicked, and knew there must have been quite a commotion just now.

“Big sister went out on an important job and won’t be back for a while. Let’s eat first.” He tried his best to stay calm.

Now it was just him and second sister at home. If he, as the only male, panicked, timid second sister would be even more scared.

“Mm.” Emily Webb replied softly.

The two of them closed the door and windows, and, by the faint light coming through the window crack, sat down in silence and slowly started eating.

The food was stir-fried carrots with bean dregs, and cabbage tofu soup. The rice was mostly corn mixed with wheat bran.

No meat—ordinary families couldn’t afford it. Big sister Charles Webb grew so robust because of her large frame and because the gang provided her with better food than the family could.

But the Wei family, like their neighbors, ate at this level. A bit of oil was already considered good.

After dinner, Emily Webb went to wash the dishes, while Henry Webb spread out his homework on the only table and started doing the little kids’ assignments.

Only then did he dare to use a flint to light the oil lamp and write by its light.

Emily Webb sat to the side, carefully mending clothes with needle and thread. Neither of them spoke much.

At night, they each went to bed.

The next day, Henry Webb returned the homework and got paid. He finally saved enough money to start learning martial arts.

Big sister Charles Webb still hadn’t come back.

Even their parents, Thomas Webb and his wife, still hadn’t sent any word.

Emily Webb no longer dared to go out to find work. She could only wait at home all day for Henry Webb to come and go, bringing back any news.

Henry Webb went to the branch again, but the man who had been willing to talk to him before was gone—maybe he didn’t want to waste words with him anymore.

He was stopped at the door.

Another three days passed.

No news from their parents or Charles Webb.

Meanwhile, at the alley entrance near their home, William Brooks and his gang started showing up more and more often. They watched the Wei house for longer and longer periods.

Henry Webb's heart had sunk to rock bottom.

He knew that the worst-case scenario he’d feared might have happened.

So he knew he had to think of something fast.

In these times, people disappearing suddenly was all too common—maybe they ran into bandits, wild beasts, or fell ill and died on the road.