Novels like Reckless Youth
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Reckless Youth, best match first.
- 51 Tales of the Second High School 二中之风云往事 For all three years of middle school, my whole class ostracized me. Second-year students cornered and humiliated me, and everyone treated me like trash and walked all over me. They thought I was weak and easy to bully, but they didn’t know that a boy backed into a corner has nothing left to lose. From this day on, I’ll give my life to anyone who protects me, and pay back anyone who bullies me twice over. This isn’t a novel. It’s the bloody path of my youth, the one I truly walked. “My name is Ba 258Reads—Score10914d adds
- 52 Turbulent Times: Stories of Our Fathers' Generation 疯狂年代之父辈故事 It was a crazy, absurd, and bizarre age. Those who came of age in those years knew the thrill of creating opportunities and seizing them. Some said, "Coming through that era, we truly took our fates into our own hands!" Others said, "We made it through those years, but we had no choice in the matter!" In those wild years, three men with different destinies either banded together for warmth, sharing life and death, or went their separate ways and fell apart! There was a nerve-racking politica 833Reads9.0Score10114d adds
- 53 Bandit City 匪城 [Not a wish-fulfillment power fantasy, and the protagonist isn't invincible: a comeback story + underworld conflict + a rock-bottom start + personality reversal + ruthless decisiveness + brains and brawn + ruthless bandits and war criminals abound] I'm Shen Liu. Ever since my father was imprisoned for seriously injuring someone when I was seven, I've endured humiliation at every turn. Then a girl appeared, and my life began to change... Once again, they knocked me down. As they unzipped their —Reads—Score2.2k14d adds
- 54 From School Bully to Big Shot, I Fought My Way to the Top 从校霸到大佬，一路杀疯了 The rating is still low, but it will rise as more people rate it. Read without worry: the characters won’t suddenly become stupid. [Underworld fiction + play the pig to eat the tiger + master strategist + resource consolidation] Lin Feng was born the second young master of an underworld family, yet he was determined to conquer the world through his wits. He gathered his brothers, advanced step by step, and struck decisively. Just as everyone thought he was aiming to become the school’s top bully 93Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 55 Tales from the Lower Streets (Complete in Three Volumes) 下街往事（全三册） An unforgettable memory of raw courage, a brutally honest chronicle of human nature: sharp, wild, and burning hot. The shock forged from love, hate, and passion swells through every line, leaving you breathless. The novel’s protagonist spends his entire childhood surrounded by frenzied violence and bloodshed. The decade of disaster leaves an indelible mark on him, leading him to believe that violence is the best way to protect himself and that he can make something of his life through force. Ins 153Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 56 The Days I Lived with My Cousin 我和表姐同居的日子 His life has been full of hardship, yet he stands proud beneath the open sky. He is an honored guest in several countries and ranks among the top three on the world's most-wanted list. He was once the "King" of the underworld, but he went into hiding in the city, biding his time. Now a new chapter of showing off begins! 37Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 The Underworld Is a Road of No Return 江湖是一条不归路 [Underworld + Passion + Jianghu + Comedy + Comeback + No Ensemble Cast + First Person] What is the jianghu? Some say it’s all about human relationships and social conventions. But I, Deng Chengpeng, know only this: the jianghu is a road of no return. Once you enter, there’s no turning back. I went from an ordinary boy to a bloodied fugitive, step by step entering this so-called jianghu. There was no good fortune falling out of the sky, and no strength gained without effort. Every bit of streng 39Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 King of the Underworld: I Rule with Unmatched Power 黑道之王：权势滔天我为王 [Urban + underworld + feel-good power fantasy + big shot + no System + two heroines + mildly risqué] This novel is also known as "After Storming the Prison, I Became the Underworld Emperor" and "The Underworld King Who Rose from the Dark Zone", the first part. This is the second part and can be read on its own. Two chapters are all it takes to get your fix. Qin Shiyi came from the Dark Zone. He brought his brothers to Pearl City in District Two, hoping to make something of themselves. By fightin 833Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 59 Shan Jin Underworld: I Took Down the Whole Jianghu 山晋黑道，我打爆了江湖 [Underworld, passionate, multiple heroines, first-person] My name is Xu Haoqiang. I live in Longcheng, Shan Jin, a coal-producing region. In 1997, at the age of twenty, I joined the underworld. I let money do the talking, and even the truth has to bow its head. I let the rules of the underworld do the talking, and both the legitimate and criminal worlds have to make way. From there, my influence spread across Shan Jin and beyond… 861Reads6.4Score10314d adds
- 60 I Said I'd Just Be a Nobody, but You Became the King of the Underworld 说好当混子，你却成江湖天花板 In bloody times, the underworld is a world of its own. Do you choose loyalty or profit? The passion we felt back then was all for standing shoulder to shoulder with our brothers, blades in hand, singing at the top of our lungs! We once swore we would build a glorious future together! But time flies by in the blink of an eye. How many people still dare to shout those bold slogans from back then? Do people change society, or does society change people? Perhaps some will forget what they set out to 893Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 61 Oh No, This Mob Boss Can Tank a Nuclear Bomb 坏了，这黑老大能硬抗核弹 [Gangsters + No Goody-Two-Shoes + No Mindless Protagonist + Invincible in the Later Stages] Qin Dong transmigrates to the year 2004 in a parallel world, taking over the body of a small-time gangster who has done every evil imaginable and is hated by everyone. He also awakens a System that makes him stronger every time he kills someone. He can increase his strength just by devouring evil people! Infinite toughness! Infinite heat resistance! Infinite bone strength! ... Gangsters hunting him down: 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 62 1980: A New Order in the Underworld 一九八零：江湖新秩序 What is the martial world? Wherever there are people, there will be conflict! The strong survive, and the weak perish. That is the martial world! Relive the 1980s and pay tribute to a youth long gone! This is the story of Han Yue, and how he rose from the bottom to the top of the provincial capital, only to fall again! The road through the martial world is treacherous. Everyone survives by their own wits! Hold on, and you can make something of yourself. Give up, and you're out... (This book is p 4.4kReads8.7Score28314d adds
- 63 Tales of Black and White: Leaping Through the Dragon Gate 黑白往事之跃龙门 (Hardcore underworld, a rise from humble beginnings, ensemble cast, smart characters, a realistic coming-of-age style, not a mindless power fantasy, not first-person! Readers under 18 should exercise caution!) How much impact can one misunderstanding have? Enough to change someone's entire life! Can someone with a damaged brain still be a gang boss? Not only can he, he can be a great one! In the early 1990s, the tide of the market economy swept across all of China, stirring up everyone just like 2.4kReads7.0Score14714d adds
- 64 1998: My Bloody Era! 1998：我的血色年代！ When I hit the streets, I rely on just three things! Being ruthless, having money, and having tough brothers! These are passionate, fiery times! These are times when tough guys are everywhere! The moment I picked up a three-edged military dagger, I was destined to spend my life battling through the underworld! Don't talk to me about big shots in the underworld. That won't work on me! Welcome to my story of life on the streets! 6.3kReads8.5Score45314d adds
- 65 Southwest Storm: Turmoil on the Black Sea 西南风云：黑海沉浮 When I was eighteen, I met someone who led me down a certain path. Some describe this path with the idealistic word “jianghu.” But the jianghu you actually find yourself in is better summed up by a rather funny saying: “After all this time, I’ve made no friends, only learned lessons.” My name is Lin Dongxia, and I’ve learned my fair share of lessons. 33kReads9.3Score3.2k14d adds
- 66 Don't Call Me Boss, I'm a Law-Abiding Entrepreneur 别叫我大哥，我是守法人民企业家 [Reborn + Reformed Gangsters + Business Empire + A Cast of Drama Queens] Jiang Che is reborn on the eve of the Green Dragon Gang's bloody killing spree. He tears up their machete permits and declares, "From today on, anyone who talks about fighting and killing again gets their performance bonus docked!" While his rivals wait for him to make a fool of himself: • Three hundred underlings sweep the streets before dawn and land a contract to supply disposable tableware to restaurants across the city 104Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 Hong Kong Films: Handsome, I Run Tsim Sha Tsui! 港片：靓仔，尖沙咀我话事！ [Invincible from the start, decisive and ruthless, hard as nails, no System, no saintly protagonist.] Su Dingwen transmigrates into a Hong Kong action movie as a police cadet. After bravely stopping a gang of violent criminals, he's repaid with betrayal: tycoon Li frames him! Expelled from the police academy, he goes undercover in a gang, then buys a Han sword and carves his way through the underworld! Others worship Lord Guan. I charge into battle alone as Lord Guan! By day, he's the gangland b 3.2kReads6.1Score—14d adds
- 68 Underworld Turmoil in Yunnan and Guizhou 滇黔黑道风云 Even with nothing to your name, you can still shape the world! A poor boy can become a lord! People love reading face-slapping stories about rich families. I, however, want to write an inspiring tale of a poor boy facing one twist in the road after another, surviving countless brushes with death before rising to power! Life never goes exactly as you wish. In all things, be content if things go even halfway your way. Follow the eventful rise of a young man from Nanguang, from hauling bricks to ru 5.2kReads6.6Score24114d adds
- 69 Blood Prison's Mad Overlord 血狱狂枭 The down-and-out youth Zhao Tian suffered the slaughter of his entire family as a boy. After vanishing for many years, he returned to exact revenge, rise to power, establish the Blood Prison, and dominate the world. With a band of brothers who would lay down their lives for him, he embarked on one journey after another, stirring up waves of bloodshed across the martial world… 15.7kReads8.5Score1.1k14d adds
- 70 The Pinnacle of Dark Martial Arts 黑武之巅 Sorry, everyone, for posting the prologue so late. You can skip ahead to the beginning of Chapter 102 first, then come back and start reading from Chapter 1. Apologies. A novel featuring the underworld, supernatural abilities, the city, and campus life. He and his friends will rise together to the pinnacle of the Black Martial Path. This is the story of his growth... People are often at their most brash and carefree when they are young. That’s what it means to be young and reckless. This is an e 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 Dark Glory: Twenty Years in the Underworld of Northeast China 黑暗荣耀：东北江湖二十年 1.3kReads8.8Score10614d adds
- 72 Tales of the Southern Underworld 南方黑道往事 A highly realistic and utterly authentic autobiographical story about the underworld. Many readers who have started reading have already been drawn deep into it. Open this book, and you'll see a real underworld: helplessness and betrayal, a deeply immersive world of bloodshed and brotherhood. 5.7kReads8.9Score44114d adds
- 73 Reborn: It All Began When I Went to Visit My Brothers’ Graves 重生：从给兄弟们上坟开始 [Reborn + no System + fiery action + brotherhood + invincible] The first thing Yi Hui did after getting out of prison was visit the graves of his dead brothers. In that gang fight, all his brothers died except him. He survived, but was sentenced to life in prison. Later, his life sentence was commuted to a fixed term, and he was finally released. Guangzi, A Long, Debao, Feifei, I’m sorry. If only we could do it all over again… Yi Hui was reborn in 1998. In this life, he would make good money wit 450Reads7.4Score—14d adds
- 74 Storms in the Southeast: The Crime Boss 东南风云：大角头 [Southern underground world + a clash of black and white, a slow-burn story with a fresh premise] [No System, not brainless, not a power fantasy. Read with caution if that's not your thing.] Local Bosses, the Youth Association, and the Grand Temple Council. Together, these three groups form the Fengnan Clan Association. Though outsiders have never heard these terms, they describe Fengnan's true uncrowned king, the sole ruler of its underground order. [The only gangland novel online centered on l 9Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 75 Twenty Years of Gangland Turmoil 黑道风云二十年 I had just gone to prison when my girlfriend got together with my big brother. My name is Wang Chao, a street punk who takes loyalty seriously. The passion of the 1990s is my dream. And the youth an entire generation can never get back. With my story, I’ll look back on the glorious years we shared! 507Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 76 Gangland: Starting by Winning Over a Stunning Beauty 黑道：从拿下极品红颜开始 [The short drama adaptation of this novel, Urban Good Guys, is now streaming. It’s exciting and thrilling, so come watch!] [Urban life + underworld + mature beauties + conquest + multiple heroines + comedy + feel-good power fantasy + period setting + underdog comeback] An underdog comeback story with multiple heroines! In 1990s Donghai, country boy Chen Feng starts out guarding a nightclub. With his fists and his brains, he carves out a bloody path, gathering brothers, seizing territory, taking 64.9kReads8.3Score4.9k14d adds
- 77 Selfish Desires: Tales of the Underworld 私欲：江湖往事 [This book is based on a true story] Three years ago, I was convicted of intentional assault and sent to prison. After getting out, I wanted to live an ordinary life. But then my younger sister went down a path of no return. For her sake, I had no choice but to return to the underworld! This book is packed with thrilling action and satisfying moments! 1.1kReads7.5Score11114d adds
- 78 The Godfather of the Underworld 黑道教皇 Brothers for a day, brothers for a lifetime. Their vow of loyalty rings out amid the fanfare of youth: impulsive days, blazing passions, love that lasts until death, and brothers who stand together for life. Whose youth isn't filled with fire? “What do they call you?” “Long.” “I asked for your name.” “People like me don't have names.” “But one day, the world will tell you mine.” “People today don't recognize a tree that will reach the clouds, only praising it once it has grown that tall!” 648Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 79 Legends of Jiangbei 江北风云传 Jiangbei is a tangled city, its underground forces deeply entrenched in a balance of power that no one has been able to shake for decades. No one could have guessed that the person to stir up this muddy pond would be a transfer student at a vocational high school. Su Yan transfers in and plunges straight into a school rife with conflict and chaos. Faced with the law of the jungle, he neither hides nor backs down. He makes his fists his blade and his courage his edge, carving out a place for hims 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 Neither Black nor White? A Quack Doctor Twice Over 亦黑亦白？双料庸医 I'm a clinic owner. One act of justice made me enemies with the underworld, and from then on I began walking a path where I could operate in both the criminal and legitimate worlds. The world isn't simply black or white. It's both black and white. This isn't exactly a power fantasy. There are gangs, passion, and humor, as well as brotherhood between men who support one another and rise to the top together. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 Hong Kong Crossover: Starting in Tsuen Wan, Rebuilding a Money Empire 港综：从荃湾开始，重铸金钱帝国 “Big D, you're a big shot now. Stop going around hacking people up, and try to be a little more level-headed.” White smoke rose from the cigarette between Zhang Zhen's fingers as he spoke with a hint of teasing. “Out here, if you don't hack people up or fight for territory, how are you supposed to make money? Ah Zhen, didn't you say there were three things you needed to make it big: people, money, and the guts to take risks?” Big D said from the sofa, holding a glass of liquor. “Remember this, B 43.3kReads5.6Score2.5k14d adds
- 82 Underworld Tales: One Hand Shrouds the Heavens 黑道往事之只手遮天 [Realistic, not overpowered, no harem, no System, not reborn] A novel about the southern underworld, telling the story of several young men who avenge their brother and gradually rise to become crime bosses. Whether it is the underworld or organized crime, it is all just a game of chess, a set of rules, fraught with danger and human cunning, and driven by power and desire. Behind the bustling city lies a shadowy underworld filled with darkness and desire, where power and money intertwine, and te 413Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 83 Are You Crazy? You Dare Mess with Brother Long? 你疯了，敢惹龙哥？ The underworld is rife with temptations of money, profit, power, and women. It’s not just about fighting and killing, but also about the ways of the world. But human hearts are treacherous, and the ways of the world are ever-changing! After getting out of prison, Li Hailong uses his bloodstained hands to carve out a world of his own and become a fearsome dragon of the underworld! 285Reads7.4Score—14d adds
- 84 The King of the Underworld, Forged in the Dark District 从暗黑区走出的黑道之王 (Tough gangsters + big shots from every walk of life + rich young heirs in the capital + starts at school + ruthless + a thrill ride from start to finish) The first book, The King of the Underworld: From the Dark Zone, is complete. Read with confidence, there isn't a dull moment. The sequel, King of the Underworld: I Rule with Unrivaled Power, is currently updating. The author can post ten thousand words a day, so remember to threaten him in the comments. One day, twelve young men came from the 414Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 85 Reborn as a Jianghu Boss, Starting with Obeying the Law 重生江湖大佬，从遵纪守法开始 [Tycoon Godfather] [Humorous and easygoing] [Satisfying and funny] In my previous life, I was a ruthless underworld big shot who killed countless people! But in the end, I was betrayed! I could have accepted my own death, but my parents were angered to death, too. In my final moments, I thought, if I could do it all over again, I'd become a good person. Heaven heard me, and I really was reborn. Looking at my young bros, I had an idea! I'd teach them the law and get them to start being go 28Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 86 Tales of the North: A New Storm Rises 北方往事之风云再起 [Multiple heroines + no harem + big sisters on the dark side of society] A group of little nobodies from the bottom of society climb their way up, step by step. Brotherhood means everything. Their lives are full of grit and heart, and the life they fight their way into is bound to be exciting! Note: This story is entirely fictional! 12kReads7.7Score64814d adds
- 87 My First Half of Life: A Bloody Underworld 我的前半生：血色江湖 [The rating just came in and it’ll keep rising, so don’t let it scare you off! This book is entirely handcrafted, and writing it isn’t easy. Hope you enjoy it!] Eight years in the army, decorated for valor, only to have his future stolen by a substitute! He moves to the city for work and tries to keep his head down, but is forced into a dead end! His brother goes to prison, and his sworn brother dies a tragic death. Good people have no way out, while the wicked run rampant! He abandons the strai 1.4kReads8.4Score13714d adds
- 88 Lone Wolf of the Underworld: I Came from Hell 黑道孤枭：我从地狱来 Orphaned at eight, I spent eight years keeping my head down. I came from hell, and I came for revenge. When the lone wolf strikes, the underworld runs red with blood. Those who owe me will repay me tenfold. Those who wrong me will be ground to dust! 201Reads—Score—14d adds
- 89 The Days We Spent Running Wild Together 那些年我们一起混的日子 Those were the days we spent together. I want to say that no matter what happened, we were brothers. Later, some of us went our separate ways, and some of us died. Only then did we understand that we were true brothers. The wind carries the words we never got to finish. “Either win on your feet or die lying down. That’s our rule.” “Hello, everyone. I’m one of those guys from back in the day.” 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 My Days of Being Bullied at School 校园被欺负的日子 The main characters are Wu Ming, Zhang Qiang, and Zhou Yao. This isn’t a brainless power fantasy, but a bumpy story of growing up. When my brothers fight, I run; I’d never touch a friend’s wife, but if my friend’s away, anything goes. A life of gaming on credit and gambling for tokens in the arcade. 11kReads8.2Score67114d adds
- 91 The Days We Spent Running with the Wrong Crowd 那些年混过的日子 Young and reckless, we chased nothing but our ideals. The storms we weathered in those years, the roads we walked together, and the days we spent making our way through life. The old generation's feuds and entanglements, the younger generation's rivalries: an unknown nobody gradually grows stronger, overcoming hardship after hardship without ever giving up. 3.8kReads7.2Score17814d adds
- 92 The Peerless Young Master 公子无双 Lin Qi seems like an ordinary delivery driver, but in this city, whether they are business tycoons, renowned doctors, or underworld bosses, everyone treats him with the utmost respect and calls him, "Young Master!" 334Reads9.1Score—14d adds
- 93 The Thirteen Hawks of the Underworld 黑道十三鹰 He was once a shining star in the military, rising to prominence through his fearlessness. But fate took a sudden turn during a brutal battle with drug traffickers. In the midst of a fight to the death, he had no choice but to kill a captured drug lord, a decision that forced him to leave the military. From then on, he entered the underworld, burying his former glory and sense of duty deep within. Like a lone wolf, he roamed the world of darkness and began a life in the criminal underworld that 878Reads—Score—14d adds
- 94 Bad Boy: King of the Streets 坏小子：街道之上，我为王 Li Yizhen was an ordinary student at Jiangchuan No. 1 High School. But the school bully, He Min, singled him out, teasing and tormenting him as she pleased. Too timid to fight back, he endured group beatings and was even forced to eat ice pops mixed with dirt. She also led him astray, getting him to smoke and drink. Day after day, year after year… Then, when Li Yizhen finally confessed his feelings to the school belle, she mocked him in front of the whole class. He Min joined in, too. Overcome w 285Reads—Score—14d adds
- 95 Black Shark 黑鲨 I can’t stand you, so I’ll beat you up! You made me unhappy, so I’ll make you pay! White can be black, and black can become white, because even under the brightest lights, shadows are always there. Blunt and revealing, but not judgmental. This may not be the pinnacle of crime fiction, but it is absolutely a trailblazer in the genre! Just wait and see! 557Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 96 What Gang Boss? Call Me a Philanthropist 什么黑老大？叫慈善家 The ratings have just come in, so feel free to give it a try! Rebirth + business + lots of loyal followers + staying on the straight and narrow + law-abiding + women, but no female lead! A top underworld boss is reborn. He rises from humble beginnings, making use of every resource around him. He brings along the brothers who followed him in his previous life and were forced to take the fall and go to prison! He founds the Hanhai Group! Drinks the strongest liquor! Dates the wildest women! Yet no 125Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 97 The Underworld as Seen Through a Madman's Eyes 疯子眼中所谓的江湖 His father goes bankrupt overnight. His mother receives a notice that she is critically ill. A carefree young wastrel stumbles into the world of the martial underworld! Confronted with all the different lives in the martial world, and one situation after another where he has no choice, the young man, already mired in the quagmire, gazes around in confusion. The martial world is a road of no return. You have to go mad to become a demon. An unseen hand pushes him ever onward... Can this dashing yo 768Reads7.0Score10314d adds
- 98 I Started High School as a Good Girl and Became a Crime Boss 上了高中，我从乖乖女变成黑老大 When I started high school, I went from a good girl to a crime boss. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 Who Cares About Being Young and Reckless? Only the Victor Reigns Supreme 什么年少轻狂？我只知道胜者为王 [Campus Drama]+ [Street Toughs]+ [School Beauty]+ [Underworld]+ [No System]+ [One Heroine]+ [Not a wish-fulfillment story] Original title: Those Wild Years of Youth at School My name is Chen Qing. I never thought I’d end up going down this road after all… Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional and is not intended to encourage anything improper. Please do not relate it to real life! Reproduction without permission is prohibited and will be prosecuted. New book: "After Getting Out of Prison, 5.7kReads8.4Score36914d adds
- 100 The Hidden Dragon in the Mortal World 龙隐浮世 This world has always been a Game of Thrones, played with wealth and power. When the world's “golden finger” appears, the old rules of the game are shattered. As long as your “fists” are strong enough, even an ordinary person can become king. The story may not unfold as expected, but unexpected things are always bound to happen! 8Reads—Score—14d adds
