Novels like The Underworld: A Life in the Jianghu
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Underworld: A Life in the Jianghu, best match first.
- 51 Underworld: The City's Dragon Overlord 黑道江湖：都市枭龙 [Urban] [Rousing] [Male-Oriented] [Feel-Good] [Urban Life] After two years in prison, today is the first day I’m free! I grew up in an orphanage and have my own household registration, but no connections. The moment I decided to make my way in the underworld, I set foot in a turbulent era and began building a towering legacy! 57Reads—Score—14d adds
- 52 My Thirty Years 我这三十年 You can take this seriously, or just read it for fun. From one era to the next, the world has changed many times over. We can leave the public upheavals aside for now. How much of what happens in the city after dark can ordinary people like us really know? After the 1979 self-defense counterattack ended, Qichao's father, Qilin, took advantage of the call to support local economic development and volunteered to leave the military and return to civilian life. He brought along Qijing, who was alrea 11Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 53 It's Tough Making It in the Jianghu 江湖社会不好混 The underworld isn't just about fighting. It's also about human relationships and social savvy. Charging in thoughtlessly is what amateurs do. Planning and strategy are both essential. Strength is a prerequisite. Watch the protagonist climb to the top. P.S. This old hand at reading novels is writing one for the first time. I hope you'll support and encourage me. Please forgive me if it's not well written, and go easy on me in the comments. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 Legend of the Black Flag 黑旗传说 A bloody journey through the underworld, alongside a band of passionate young men who live for vengeance and loyalty. Who says the modern city has no underworld? When Wei Tianyi was born, strange signs appeared in the heavens, and his mother died in childbirth. A wandering fortune-teller declared that he was born with the Three Extinctions fate. His father feared being dragged down by him and fled to another land. Wei Tianyi was raised by his grandmother, and after she died, he and the brothers 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 55 Godfather of the Club: My Life in Japan's Underworld 社团教父：我的岛国黑道生涯 [Fast-paced + ruthless + domineering + no holier-than-thou heroics + decisive and merciless + Japanese womanizer] No System. The good stuff starts after chapter five! Li Yi was lucky enough to be reborn! Unfortunately, he was reborn in a place where the locals were having a pretty good time! But that wasn't the worst of it! The worst part was that this godforsaken place had only recently lost a war. The economy was in a deep depression, and forget living well, even getting enough to eat was a pr —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 Back Then, We Were All Bad Kids 那些年，我们曾是不良少年 That year, we were young and reckless. Back then, we feared nothing. Looking back, we can't help but sigh and shed tears. Time flies by in the blink of an eye. Do you still remember the brothers who fought by your side? Do you still remember being a delinquent? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 Reckless Years, 轻狂岁月， The little brother I used to look down on has suddenly become the big boss... Chase the campus belle, take down the school bully! A legend in the west of the city is still a legend in the east! I, Chen Han, never hold a grudge, because I get my revenge the very same day! I charge across the battlefield for no reason but to live out my wild, reckless youth! —Reads—Score114d adds
- 58 The Power of the World 天下势 The martial world stirs, and heroes gather at the Chan Monastery! Blades and spears in hand, they show their mettle, every stance and seat exuding grace. Before the Tianlong Chan Monastery, let us chase the dream of a life of adventure in the martial world. Witness this clash of heroic figures as we continue our own legend of passion and courage! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 59 Underworld Storm: Southeast Asia 黑道风云之东南风云录！ In the 1990s, the southeastern provinces were a chaotic mix, with criminal gangs flourishing everywhere. They controlled the underworld, disregarded the law and morality, and kept crime rates high… In Min City, Minzhou Province, Li Tianju is forced back onto the road of no return after getting out of prison. He rises like a storm, crushing all challengers until he becomes a crime boss in his own right! (This book has no harem, no formulaic tropes, no invincible protagonist, and no filler. It’s h 140Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 60 I Tore Open the City's Dark Curtain 我撕开了都市黑幕 [Ensemble cast + underworld] This isn’t a power fantasy or a mindless story. Every character is fleshed out, and there are no absolute heroes or villains. People can be good and evil alike. All that matters is human nature and self-interest. If that bothers you, don’t read. A seemingly ordinary workplace dispute pushes a group of everyday people into the eye of the storm. Caught in the depths of this vast, dark whirlpool, where will they go from here? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 Zhang San, the Top Dog of Jiamusi 佳木斯张三一霸 This story does not glorify criminals. It is meant to warn readers not to break the law, or they will surely face severe punishment. Justice may be delayed, but it will come. When the time comes, no one can escape the law! 1.1kReads8.4Score13114d adds
- 62 Flowers Blooming in the Mud Will One Day Turn Toward the Sun 泥泞里的花朵，终会向阳开 Watch an ordinary man rise step by step from a pathetic weakling to a godfather of the underworld. Feel the thrill of every bone-crunching punch and experience the ruthless art of scheming for power. There are no absolute protagonists, and no absolute supporting characters. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 63 The Jianghu: A True Account of Half a Life in the Underworld 江湖：混社会的半生真实经历 A chaotic age, filled with flashing blades and clashing steel! The martial world is like a cup of tea. Everyone tastes it differently. My name is Zhao Long. Back then, most people called me Long Si, Brother Si, or Fourth Master! I'm not exaggerating when I say my reputation back then was almost as great as that of the famous Fourth Master Qiao up north! I was a poor kid who couldn't afford a meal. Through sheer grit and ruthl 4.7kReads7.1Score20114d adds
- 64 He and His Thousand Brothers 他和他的一千个兄弟 A sweeping crackdown on organized crime by the municipal Party committee and government brought Kangcheng ten years of peace. But after a decade, criminal forces sprang up like mushrooms after rain and returned in force. A breakup, having his identity stolen in the college entrance exam, and a construction boss’s schemes led Chen Li’an to give up on making an honest living. In the end, he went down a path of no return, turning against society. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 65 The Evil Lord Descends into the Abyss 邪主临渊 [Underworld] [Brotherhood] [Passionate] [The author is also a fan of Uncle Qin] I was bullied all through middle school. I thought things would get better in high school, but I was still bullied. Little by little, those people led me down a road of no return... My name is Mo Daoxie. Dao as in “principle,” and Xie as in “evil.” 5Reads—Score114d adds
- 66 A Ballad of Jianghu 江湖的悲歌 An accident took Man Cheng’s grandfather’s life, but it also introduced him to someone who would become very important to him. The incident changed the way he saw the world and set him on a path of no return. As more brothers joined him, ready to weather every hardship by his side, he found himself traveling farther and farther down that road. Looking back on his youth, some people are still by his side, some have ended up behind bars for good, and some he will never see again. 440Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 I'm a Hoodlum: Two Strokes, One Vertical, That's How We Do Things! 老子是流氓，两横一竖就是干！ “Hello, my name is Fang Xiu. The ‘Xiu’ in ‘to the bitter end’!” In this bloody underworld where people prey on one another, Fang Xiu is swept against his will into one whirlpool after another! Only after stepping into it does he realize that the underworld is a bottomless vat of dye, filled with schemes, treachery, and betrayal! By the time he wants to turn back, he’s already sunk deep into the mire, with no way out! All he has left are the few brothers at his side, standing shoulder to shoulder 31Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 The King Underground 地下的王 Who hasn't been reckless in their youth? Who hasn't burned with passion? That night, I too dreamed of a million soldiers! Yang Yan rose from obscurity to become a mob boss through sheer passion, a peerless tyrant whom the world looked up to! 4Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 69 Storm over Binhai 滨海风云 The jianghu isn't about fighting and killing. It's about human relationships and worldly wisdom. The underworld isn't about fighting and killing either. It's just a way for people to make a living by going down a dark path. Chen Mu, an orphan, was just an ordinary food delivery driver. One late-night delivery brought him together with Chu Wanyin, who had been hurt by love. At the same time, his biological father came looking for him. Liu Xie, also an orphan, chose a path entirely different from 32Reads—Score—14d adds
- 70 Countering the Black Tide (Complete in Four Volumes) 反黑风云（全四册） This collection covers a variety of genres. It tells the hidden twenty-year history of the modern Shandong underworld, charts the fierce lives of a group of unconventional young men, and explores a city of desire where politics, business, the underworld, and romance intertwine. In a hunting ground where predators abound and prey is scarce, survival means the strong devour the weak. Every established rule is shattered and reshaped here: only the fittest survive! 415Reads9.0Score3914d adds
- 71 Those Years, Those People, Those Things in the Underworld! 黑道那些年，那些人，那些事儿！ Someone once said, “The jianghu isn’t about fighting and killing. It’s about human relationships and worldly wisdom.” Countless people have quoted this line and hailed it as a classic. I picked it up from a TV drama, and it went to my head. But without fighting and killing, is the jianghu still the jianghu? Fighting and killing are the price of admission to the jianghu. Coercion and enticement are the means of making your way in it. Human relationships and worldly wisdom are the art of ruling 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 Central Plains Storm: Song Liugen, Godfather of the Underworld 中原风云之黑道教父宋留根 Since time immemorial, the underworld has been a bloody road forged through endless fighting. The warmth of its early days is slowly obscured by greed and sin. One slash on Youyi Road sent blood three feet high and made him famous across half the city. It also unleashed twenty years of bloodshed and terror. From a low-ranking punk collecting protection money on the street to the “underground emperor” of a vast empire built on crime and wealth. He trampled over corpses, recruited men, and swallow 3.6kReads8.4Score24214d adds
- 73 How the Bad Guy Was Made 2: The New Generation 坏蛋是怎样炼成的2：新世代 Ten years ago, Xie Wendong led the Wendong Association in sweeping through the underworld, bringing both the black and white worlds to heel. A decade later, the times have changed. Guns and blades have given way to capital, technology, and the dark web as the new battlegrounds. Just as the Wendong Association was going all-in on its transformation, Jiang Sen was assassinated, dark web forces began lurking in the city, and old allies suddenly returned. Under the surging undercurrents, a new gener 6.2kReads6.9Score59714d adds
- 74 The Underworld: From Errand Boy to Boss 黑道：从小弟到霸主 The light of this city can’t reach the shantytowns in the west. My name is Yao Lie. I have nothing but a ruthless streak and ambition. To survive, I stepped into the underworld. To keep from being trampled, I struck without hesitation. To reach the top, I planned every move and showed no mercy. I started out as a nobody, enduring humiliation, lying low, plotting, and striking back. I’ve seen brothers betray each other, witnessed the cruelty of human nature, and watched rivers of blood flow. I —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 The Boy Who Would Be King! 少年称王！ [Young and reckless, a boy rises to be king] [With lofty ambitions, dragons and tigers spread their wings] Time flies like a white pony passing through a gap. In the blink of an eye, several years have gone by. I remember how, three years ago, my good-for-nothing father brought me to a small county town. Back then, I hated his mediocrity. Whenever he went away, he’d be gone for years at a time, or at least several months. He was always telling me, “Our family doesn’t have much. Don’t get into fi 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 76 Underworld Chronicles: The Road Through the Gangland 黑道往事：黑道风云路 This book tells the story of Liu Yong, the Northeast underworld boss, and his years of turmoil in the jianghu. It blends fact and fiction, hearsay and rumor, with a touch of artful historical embellishment. Told as a novel, the story is entertaining and gripping, giving you something to pass the time with after a meal while offering a glimpse of what the real jianghu is like, and how complicated human nature can be. This book is a real thrill to read! Liu Yong is a name that carries weight. Whet 469Reads—Score—14d adds
- 77 My Underworld Wife Schemed to Get Me Reborn, So I Killed Her Whole Family 黑道妻子设计害我重生我杀她全家 [Underworld] + [Reborn] + [Revenge] + [Ruthless] + [Plenty of Brothers] + [Illustrations] In his previous life, Sun Sheng became the queen of Tianhai's underworld, only to be betrayed by the wife he had loved for over a decade. She joined forces with outsiders to frame him, and he was sentenced to death. Framed and condemned, he was reborn with his memories intact, back in time by more than a decade. This time around, he will personally punish those who betrayed him, solve the mysteries that ha 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 Starting in a County Town, I Build a Global Crime Queen 从县城开始，打造全球黑道女皇 [The rating just came in and will rise later] Right after transmigrating, he discovers he has become the useless live-in husband of the county's crime boss. From the start, his wife has a cold dagger at his throat, while hundreds of enemies gather outside, sharpening their blades and shouting for blood. His wife is about to be killed in the street! At this critical moment, the [Strongest Queen Support System] activates! “Ding! Host's wife, Qin Lengyue, is facing utter ruin. Beginner's gift pack 17Reads6.9Score314d adds
- 79 Where Do the Falling Leaves Drift? 落叶飘向哪儿 (Underworld, school life, mind games, high martial arts) In middle school, a misunderstanding made Jiang Wanlin the target of a gang of petty thugs. Just when things looked desperate, Brother Hao appeared and showed him that in a dog-eat-dog society, only the strong avoid being bullied. So when he started high school, Jiang Wanlin refused to be pushed around any longer. He clenched his fists and plunged into the world of street gangs, dragging his good brother Liao Linfeng in with him. From stre 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 80 The School Bad Boy 校园不良少年 First person + from weak to strong + not mindless In high school, I was the boy in class who got picked on the most. My teacher told me to look for the reasons in myself, and my parents told me to put up with it. I listened to them, but all I got was even more bullying. People who have never been bullied don't know how terrifying school violence can be, or how hard it is to summon the courage to fight back... From suffering in silence to standing up for myself, I never wanted to be the boss. 13Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 81 I Didn’t Tell You to Join the Underworld, Yet You Became the Boss 没让你混社会，你却当了大哥 [Not invincible, not brainless, no System, and full of passion] In the early 1990s, Li Luoyang was sentenced to three years in prison for accidentally killing a street thug while acting in self-defense. After his release, he chose to stay in the urban village, waiting for news of his girlfriend. Instead, he was unexpectedly drawn into one gangland feud after another. From disputes over table fees at a mahjong parlor to life-or-death fights at construction sites, he was repeatedly thrust into the 48Reads—Score—14d adds
- 82 Heading South in 1996: I Take My Young Aunt and Conquer the Underworld 九六南下：我带小姑奶闯江湖 [Period] [Fleeing an arranged marriage] [Heading south for work] [Passionate underworld] [Multiple heroines] New Year’s Day, 1996. Chen Yaozu, a poor lad from southeastern Henan, flees south overnight with his young grandaunt, who is being forced into marriage. As soon as they arrive in the Pearl River Delta, his classmate’s cousin kicks him out of her rental, leaving him homeless. He steps in to help someone, only to be hunted by gangsters. At the factory, he’s bullied, and people even set thei 802Reads—Score10114d adds
- 83 Schoolyard Storms, Northeast Underworld 校园风云，东北江湖路 [Wherever there are people, there will be a world of the underworld] [A Northeast underworld story] [Decisive and ruthless] [A road of no return] [First person] [Recollections] [This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.] My name is Han Tian. I was kidnapped by human traffickers as a child and forced to beg on the streets. It wasn't until Uncle Han rescued me from them that I was given a name. He showed me that a person could live like a re 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 84 The Underworld Boss Through My Eyes 我眼中的江湖大哥 When Zheng Hao stood up for his ex-girlfriend, Gu Xin, he took down Chengbei Laosi, a small-time thug with a bit of a reputation, twice. His own name soon began to rise. Later, he became enemies with Jin Changxu, a Korean-Chinese gangster, and beat up Chen Jianjun, an old-time thug who had just gotten out of prison. One brutal fight after another turned Zheng Hao into the big brother everyone talked about. But the arrival of Zhou Yunkang, son of veteran boss Zhou Wandai, presents Zheng Hao and h 13Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 85 I Took the Place of a Big Shot’s Most Loyal Lackey 我顶替了大佬的死忠小弟 Urban action + one female lead + the underdog rises among his brothers + power plays + personal growth + not invincible Because his face is identical to that of a missing underworld boss, he's forced to take the place of the boss's right-hand man. Alone and posing as a villain, he has no choice but to become one. Standing at the boundary between black and white, what should I choose? And who's pulling the strings? Who's really whose pawn? Stick with it for ten chapters, and things are su —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 Underworld King: From Fool to Tycoon 江湖枭雄：从傻子到首富 “No jumping into the river here. Violators will be fined 500 yuan!” From that moment on, Li Dongliang’s fate changes completely... [High-spirited Martial World] + [Decisive and Ruthless] + [Genius-Level Intellect] + [Fast-Paced] 47Reads—Score214d adds
- 87 Rise to the Top of the Underworld! 引领黑道巅峰！ [Power fantasy] + [Undercover agent] + [Clash of black and white] + [Decisive and ruthless] + [No System] + [Patriotic] Three years, then another three years, and another three years! Jiang Wuqing, you’re a cop! No! I’m the gang’s top enforcer! If you weren’t a cop, why wouldn’t they arrest you when they took down the gang? I play both sides! Years later… Please, when you take them down, take me with them. I can’t take it anymore! There’s really no crime left anywhere in the world. I’ 853Reads6.9Score10614d adds
- 88 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
- 89 Tale of the Twin Flood Dragons 双蛟记 [Brothers bound by deep affection, sharing life and death] [A flood dragon lies hidden in deep waters. After enduring bitter hardships, it can emerge transformed into a dragon.] 693Reads7.1Score10114d adds
- 90 The Underworld: I Make the Rules 黑道：我才是规矩 Two years in prison, and nothing is as it was. Wherever there are people, there are rivalries and power struggles. Schemes and betrayals are everywhere, and one careless move can destroy an entire family. No matter what, the strong can turn the tables against the odds. Starting today, I make the rules in Philadelphia! 2.4kReads—Score10414d adds
- 91 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
- 92 A Hero in Turbulent Times 乱世枭雄 "Dark clouds loom over the city, threatening to crush it; golden scales gleam on armor beneath the sun." I was just an ordinary student, but one upheaval after another gradually dragged me into an abyss of crime and punishment, and drew me into a world where I had no say in my own fate... 150Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 A Top Law-and-Politics Graduate Joins the Underworld: That's Normal, Right? 政法高材生，混个黑道正常吧？ A gambling-addict older brother drags Gu Tian into an accident. A top student at a university of political science and law, Gu Tian accidentally kills someone. In the process, he escapes detection by assuming the identity of his victim, Li Yu. From then on, he finds himself on a path that takes him further and further from his dreams! 17Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 94 Hong Kong Films: They Want Me to Do Hard Time in Stanley Prison from the Start? 港片：开局就让我在赤柱蹲苦窑？ Hong Kong crime films + Hong Kong cinema + triads + business + one female lead The protagonist transmigrates to Hong Kong in 1984, serving time in Stanley Prison. From the start, he gets 300 million in bearer bonds and joins the Hung Hing Society under Brother Ki. Hong Kong’s first major Western-style nightclub? He opens it… The first triad in Hong Kong whose underlings wear suits and ties? That’s his doing… Triad members aren’t allowed to touch drugs? He made that rule… The Hung Hing Society’s 351Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 95 Out of Prison, I Unlock the Underworld Overlord System! 出狱后，解锁黑道霸主系统！ “I'm finally out!” Qi Yuan had just stepped out of the prison gates. Bathed in brilliant sunshine, he savored the warmth and freedom he had missed for so long and greedily drew in a breath. “Kid, don't look back later. Just keep walking straight ahead.” As Qi Yuan looked out at the scenery by the window, a fragment of memory suddenly flashed through his mind. 301Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 Look, That's the World Beyond the Heavens 你看那叫，天外天 (This isn't a wish-fulfillment story, but one about an ordinary man's rise) (This story is completely made up! Don't overthink it!) A tribute to the classics: Brothers, let's go! A student at a university in Northeast China, he grows step by step into a local power player! Through connections, brotherhood, fate, and his own efforts! He bursts onto the scene and takes command of an entire region! Thousands roar his name: Beyond the Heavens! 101Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 97 The First Book by Moyou Lingling 魔幽灵灵的第1本书 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 98 The Golden Years of Wancheng 莞城流金岁月 [Underworld] [Realistic] [Ensemble Cast] [Passionate] [Not Mindless] At first, Zhao Qingfeng came to Guancheng at his mother's urging to seek refuge with Zhang Ting… Later, for certain reasons, he joined Dihao as a security guard and met a group of brothers who would stand by him through thick and thin… Thus began his journey through this perilous underworld. Watch as they make every faction stand in line, one by one. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 The Reckless Youth: A Passionate Heart 不良之热血方刚 Underworld + school life + passion + brotherhood + supremacy struggles + multiple heroines One day, I’ll rise like a dragon and conquer the underworld in a river of blood. Through flashing blades and piles of bones, I’ll stand at the front to shield my brothers. Shen Xiao, a freshman in high school, looked so frail that on his first day, a teacher made an example of him in front of the whole class. After class, he went to the restroom. As soon as he stepped out of a stall, he was kicked to the f 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 100 A Life Gone Awry 错乱的人生路 This book tells the story of a young man from a county town in the 1990s who accidentally ends up on a path that was never meant to be his. The old days of the underworld are gone. (This story is entirely fictional. Do not take it as fact.) The book warns readers never to set foot on such a path, no matter what. Good and evil bring their own consequences, and fortune and misfortune follow one another. You must bear the consequences yourself; no one can do it for you. —Reads—Score—14d adds
