Wangchuan had the Snake Elder’s corpse salvaged from the river.
After soaking for over an hour, the body had swollen slightly.
The Snake Elder’s back had been hunched in life, yet in death his fra seed oddly more relaxed. Wangchuan peeled back the many layers of clothing and found quite a few valuables hidden within.
A money pouch containing three gold notes worth one hundred taels each, and four ten-tael gold notes.
A deerskin pouch filled with strange, pungent powders.
A small lidded tripod, heavy and solid, faintly fragrant, wrapped carefully in silk and clearly precious.
Five Poison Cauldron: Green-grade (Durability 100/100)
Equipnt crafted from Five Poison Yin-Yang Wood. When placed in an open outdoor area, it emits a scent that attracts venomous insects, with a certain chance of drawing highly poisonous creatures.
Rember to wrap it before sleeping! Never place it by your bedside—you would not want sothing crawling over you in search of a place to bite.
Snake Venom Powder: Highly toxic substance (99/100)
Can be applied to weapons or mixed into food. A drop of blood seals the throat.
After reading the feedback, Wangchuan calmly rewrapped the Five Poison Cauldron in silk and stored it together with the Snake Venom Powder.
The cauldron was the first green-grade equipnt he had ever seen. It had to be worth a fortune and could be saved for future exchanges.
As for the venom powder…
That was a true treasure.
During the ambush on the official road, many martial artists and quasi-martial artists had died instantly because their attackers had coated arrows with venom.
Applied to Armor-Piercing Arrows, it would beco a devastating weapon.
Just then, Wang Yuehui and Zhao Heiniu led n over with more corpses.
“Hall Master.”
“This is what we found on them.”
There were over ten taels of gold notes, more than three hundred taels of silver, and several refined steel weapons.
“Very good. That will cover your bonuses. Record it and store it in the treasury.”
Wangchuan waved generously, planning to distribute rewards from the spoils.
Between gang rewards, hall inco, the Black Panther land-clearing team’s loot, and the Snake Elder’s possessions, he now held more than eight hundred taels of gold in total.
After handling affairs here, he intended to et Su Wan.
There were many matters he needed clarified.
Dawn approached.
More than two hundred outer disciples had been summoned. Snake corpses were piled into small mountains along the docks.
So n washed the docks using river water, while Doctor Liao treated the area with dicinal powder to prevent poisoning fish and shrimp downstream.
The docks bustled with activity.
At last, Yang Feiyue arrived after receiving the news.
“Wangchuan!”
“Gang Leader!”
“Where is the Snake Elder’s corpse? Is he truly dead?”
Yang Feiyue rushed forward urgently. The two elders behind him were equally shaken, eager to see the body.
Wangchuan led them inside.
The Snake Elder and fourteen Five Poison Sect disciples were laid out in two rows.
Beside them lay the four massive python carcasses.
“Good!”
Yang Feiyue recognized the Snake Elder at a glance and burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! You Snake Elder! You tried to lure the tiger from the mountain, drawing our forces toward the Water Stronghold, only to strike our old hall in Huishui County!”
“And now you have fallen!”
“Excellent! Wangchuan, you have rendered a great service to the Yulong Gang!”
“Well done!”
“Congratulations, Gang Leader, on eliminating a major threat!”
“With the Snake Elder dead, the Five Poison Sect branch will lose considerable strength. They will have to keep a low profile for so ti.”
The two elders praised Wangchuan warmly.
“Ask for whatever reward you desire.”
Yang Feiyue was clearly elated.
The Snake Elder’s death avenged fallen elders and disciples alike, and greatly weakened the sect’s threat over both water and land routes.
Wangchuan cupped his fists.
“This victory was the result of unity and cooperation among all the brothers in the hall—”
“Enough modesty.”
Yang Feiyue cut him off, pointing at the arrow wound in the Snake Elder’s forehead.
“You shot that arrow, did you not?”
“…Yes, I did.”
“Then do not stay humble. In Jianghu, reputation matters! The Snake Elder’s martial skill may have been diocre, but he was widely recognized as comparable to a Third-Rank martial artist and carried a respected na. We cannot say he fell to naless nobodies. You must beco known—at least within Sanhe Commandery.”
Ding!
System Notification:
“Killed Third-Rank martial artist ‘Snake Elder.’ Sanhe Commandery reputation increased from ‘Obscure’ to ‘Sowhat Known.’”
Wangchuan was stunned.
He had not expected killing a renowned figure to increase reputation.
Reputation was no small thing. It smoothed interactions with the outside world.
Of course, for the Five Poison Sect, it also painted a target on his back.
Overall, the benefits outweighed the risks.
Yang Feiyue declared firmly:
“Even I might not have been able to defend against a direct assault by the Snake Elder, Lei Zhiyin, and the snake swarm. You have proven yourself. With you guarding Huishui County, I can rest assured. We can now focus on consolidating Black Long County and controlling the Azure Robe Sect’s industries.”
“From now on, Huishui County Hall will no longer remit its inco to the main hall. You may decide all personnel matters yourself.”
In other words, Yang Feiyue would not interfere excessively.
From now on, he retained only control over martial arts manuals. Whenever Wangchuan needed new techniques, he would purchase them.
Most revenue would remain in Huishui County, doubling monthly inco at minimum.
Yang Feiyue had not only granted authority—he had granted enormous benefit.
Wangchuan’s heart stirred uneasily.
Why would a man so protective of power relinquish such control?
Then he understood.
The Snake Elder had been Third Rank.
Yang Feiyue was rely a newly advanced Second-Rank martial artist.
If Wangchuan could shoot down a Third-Rank martial artist, then strictly speaking, he now possessed the strength to stand on equal footing.
Moreover, he was young.
Yang Feiyue was binding him with tangible benefits, securing his loyalty to the Yulong Gang.
“Thank you, Gang Leader.”
Wangchuan understood and expressed gratitude.
“I also obtained this from the Snake Elder.”
He produced the Five Poison Cauldron.
Yang Feiyue’s expression turned serious.
“This is a secret treasure of the Five Poison Sect. It attracts venomous creatures, but is useful only to those cultivating poison techniques. For most Jianghu martial artists, it has little value…”
Though he spoke dismissively, his eyes lingered on it.
“However, I can use it to curry favor with a hall master from the River Transport Gang. I will buy it for one hundred taels of gold.”
“Gang Leader jests. It has little use to . Consider it my tribute.”
After receiving such generous benefits, Wangchuan would not take paynt.
Yang Feiyue smiled broadly and accepted it.
“Wangchuan, barring unforeseen circumstances, by sunset today we should be able to deal a heavy blow to the Five Poison Sect branch and take the head of Blackwind Stronghold’s chief, Lei Zhiyin.”
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