There was no need to doubt it—the creditors who had co knocking had all been arranged by Yang Feiyue.
He could not allow He Yuanxin to think of another way out during this period and create further complications. So he had simply arranged for several of Qingfeng Escort Agency’s creditors to co to the door and drain the agency of every last coin.
After He Yuanxin finished handling the funeral arrangents, utterly exhausted in both body and mind, he had no choice but to seek help from the Yulong Gang at once.
As long as the land deeds in his possession, along with the roster of more than one hundred mbers of Qingfeng Escort Agency, were handed over to Wangchuan, the agency’s affairs would thereafter be taken over by the Yulong Gang.
Wangchuan had long been prepared. He accepted the land deeds and carefully checked the roster, the outstanding debts, and the required pension compensation.
The total pension compensation amounted to twenty taels of gold.
The debts consisted mostly of wages due this month to the escort agency’s skilled hands—seventy-five taels of silver in total—along with seventy taels of silver in remaining cargo paynts and thirty taels of silver in outstanding funeral expenses.
Wangchuan nodded.
With the land deeds in hand, once these people received their monthly wages, Qingfeng Escort Agency would stabilize. The rest would be manageable.
“Escort Leader He, from now on, you will serve as the agency’s manager. However, the escort agency needs to appoint four escort masters and one escort leader anew. Do you have suitable candidates?”
The two young n who had accompanied He Yuanxin involuntarily straightened their backs at these words.
He Yuanxin gave a bitter smile.
“According to our agency’s old rules, only official martial artists can serve as escort masters, lead a convoy independently, and they must have at least ten escort missions under their belts… As for the escort leader, the requirent is even stricter. He must be a First-Rank martial artist.”
The two n behind him imdiately wilted.
They were still just a hair’s breadth away from becoming official martial artists.
Wangchuan flipped through the roster in his hand.
“It does not matter. Official martial artists can be cultivated.”
“As for a First-Rank martial artist, I will temporarily serve in that capacity myself.”
“You may now bring over all of Qingfeng Escort Agency’s Quasi-Martial Artists, including anyone who wishes to beco an escort guard.”
“Yes!”
He Yuanxin was overjoyed. “I will go at once.”
Before long, the twenty-seven Quasi-Martial Artists of Qingfeng Escort Agency stood in orderly ranks before Wangchuan.
Wangchuan took the ti to understand each person’s level of martial proficiency.
Most of them had only cultivated 《Basic Archery》, 《Basic Saber Technique》, and 《Basic Fist Technique》…
Only three of the more seasoned guards had additionally trained in 《Basic Spear Technique》 and 《Basic Sword Technique》, and had brought them to the realm of Practice Makes Perfect.
These three were all hunters by trade. Their Strength and Agility attributes were close to twenty points. They were still so distance from First Rank, but very close to becoming official martial artists.
“Zou Ziheng, Wang Wentao, He Guang!”
“You three are veterans of Qingfeng Escort Agency. Your foundations are solid.”
Wangchuan gestured toward Zhao Heiniu at his side.
“From today onward, you will train under Captain Zhao Heiniu in 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》. Strive to break through to official martial artist as soon as possible and fill the escort master positions.”
“Yes!”
“As you command!”
The three n were naturally overjoyed and accepted the order respectfully.
Wangchuan had already discussed the matter of teaching martial arts with Zhao Heiniu.
After Instructor Yu’s death, he felt that, like Yang Feiyue, he needed to squeeze every last drop of advantage from himself to increase his strength.
He had specifically asked Zhao Heiniu whether 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》 could be taught to Yulong Gang disciples.
Zhao Heiniu had agreed, which ant he possessed the authority to teach 《Archery》 and 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》.
In his view, the existence of the Five Poison Sect was no longer rely a threat to the Yulong Gang. Blackstone Village would also suffer greatly. They had to cultivate more martial artists.
Thus, Zhao Heiniu assud the identity of chief instructor of the hall, responsible for guiding everyone in 《Archery》 and 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》.
With the three-point Strength bonus granted by 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》, so of Qingfeng Escort Agency’s and the hall’s inner disciples now had a shortcut to breaking through into official martial artists.
“The escort agency’s manpower is still too limited. He Yuanxin, take this money to clear the debts and pay the wages. Afterward, imdiately recruit under the escort agency’s na. Strive to restore the manpower to its peak period…”
He Yuanxin accepted the gold note. Though excited, he could not help asking, “Right now, escort operations are difficult to advance. Should we perhaps postpone the recruitnt for a while?”
Only when one managed a household did one understand the cost of daily necessities. He wanted to save expenses for the agency.
Wangchuan waved his hand.
“Recruit imdiately. Do not worry about saving money.”
After He Yuanxin left, the hall once again put up recruitnt notices, drawing Quasi-Martial Artists into the inner sect.
At present, the dock hall had just over ninety inner disciples.
If the Yulong Gang was to intervene and take control of all of Qingyi Sect’s territory in Heilong County, they would need a large number of n.
In a single day, Qingfeng Escort Agency recruited twenty Quasi-Martial Artists through its own channels.
On the dock hall’s side, more than thirty Quasi-Martial Artists were recruited from the outer disciples.
The number of Quasi-Martial Artists under Wangchuan’s command reached one hundred and eighty.
At the sa ti—
The Yulong Gang’s halls in Heilong County and Rongcheng County also accelerated their recruitnt.
Heilong County in particular.
After receiving official notice, the county magistrate of Heilong County ordered the entire city sealed and placed under ergency status. No one was allowed to enter or leave at will.
Song Minshu led n to seal off the docks, strictly forbidding anyone from leaving the county by water.
The news that Feng Shaoguang had been captured alive and that eight martial artists had died did not spread into Heilong County.
It was not until the Caobang and the Prefectural Governnt arrived in Heilong County and coordinated with the local hall that Qingyi Sect was swiftly brought under control—from upper managent to outer disciples, all were arrested and interrogated.
Qingyi Sect’s power in Heilong County was wiped out in one sweep.
The Yulong Gang, together with the authorities, divided all of Qingyi Sect’s properties among themselves, including brothels, gambling houses, restaurants, inns, and escort agencies.
According to Feng Shaoguang’s confession, so mbers within Qingyi Sect had been planted by the Five Poison Sect as informants.
Others had previously been wanted criminals who, after disguising themselves and obtaining legitimate identities, were likewise swept up in the purge.
Those remaining either awaited incorporation into the Yulong Gang to earn money for them, or were dismissed on the spot and expelled from the city, reduced to vagrants.
With the help of the governnt and the Caobang, Yang Feiyue quickly seized control of Heilong County’s underworld forces and completed his full control of the county.
Although the Five Poison Sect had looted a great deal of cargo and killed He Han and several official martial artists in Huishui County, the loss of Feng Shaoguang, a group of Five Poison Sect disciples, and the entire Qingyi Sect ant that, in truth, they had suffered a major defeat.
That night, a piece of news arrived from Lin Xun:
It was said that when Snake Elder and Lei Zhiyin learned of the upheaval in Heilong County, they were furious. They began mobilizing troops, preparing to launch a direct assault on the Yulong Gang’s main stronghold to rescue Feng Shaoguang!
Because most of the Water Stronghold’s forces had been transferred to Heilong County, the headquarters was left vulnerable. Yang Feiyue urgently ordered the Huishui County hall to dispatch reinforcents to the Water Stronghold, determined to ensure that Feng Shaoguang was not taken back.
In an instant, the storm clouds gathered.
The Sanhe River fell beneath the shadow of gang warfare.
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