Caobang, Sanhe Commandery Hall.
Hall Master Yin stood within a stone pavilion, sipping tea and practicing calligraphy, entirely at ease.
“Hall Master.”
A man in black silently vaulted over the wall and arrived outside the pavilion, bowing his head in greeting. “The Branch Master of the Beggar Sect’s sub-altar has been confird dead.”
This black-clad man was the one Hall Master Yin had arranged to monitor the Earth God Temple. He was also the contingency Yin had prepared for Wangchuan.
After all, the young man was still green and ca from a small place. If sothing went wrong and trouble was brought upon the Caobang, it would be undesirable.
Thus, Hall Master Yin had secretly dispatched a Third-Rank martial artist to follow at a distance.
If Wangchuan failed to kill Branch Master Chen, he would finish the job.
If any other mishap occurred…
He would eliminate Wangchuan.
Upon hearing the report, Hall Master Yin allowed a faint smile to curve his lips.
“Not bad.”
“He is rather capable.”
“A re First-Rank martial artist, yet able to kill a Beggar Sect branch master under the noses of two Second-Rank deputy branch masters. He has a mind.”
“Where is he now?” Hall Master Yin asked.
The black-clad man replied, “He boarded a pre-arranged vessel and followed the current downstream, leaving Sanhe Commandery.”
“This little fox,” Hall Master Yin said, the amusent in his eyes deepening. “He not only fears being targeted by the Beggar Sect, he also fears that I, the one who gave the order, might silence him to eliminate loose ends.”
He set down his brush.
“Interesting… What do you think, Old Seven?”
He turned to the man in black.
After a mont of thought, Old Seven replied, “This youth is young, bold, and decisive, with both courage and strategy. He would make a sharp blade. However, he is overly cautious in his conduct. Whether that is a blessing or a flaw remains to be seen.”
Hall Master Yin smiled faintly and dismissed the concern.
“In the Jianghu, caution carries one safely for ten thousand years. Especially for a mud-legged boy from a small place. As long as his background is clean, we will take him in.”
“You will personally make a trip to Heilong County. Help Yang Feiyue through this crisis, and at the sa ti, give the Beggar Sect’s beggars a warning.”
“As for that young man, let him wait a month. Once the storm has passed, have him co to the commandery seat.”
“This subordinate obeys!”
Old Seven vaulted over the wall and disappeared into the night.
Hall Master Yin lowered his gaze to admire his painting and murmured to himself, “What position should I assign him? Fourth Helm? Third Island? Seventh Mine? Or perhaps have him manage the businesses on the ground in Sanhe Commandery?”
…
The ship cut through the night, gliding silently over the dark waters with the current.
Sailing at night was dangerous.
But for the Yulong Gang’s inner disciples, it posed no problem.
They were intimately familiar with these waters, and each of them was skilled in swimming. The ship encountered no trouble and entered the territory of Heilong County by midnight.
They quietly docked and returned to the hall.
Wangchuan went directly to see Yang Feiyue.
Yang Feiyue, wrapped in an outer robe, listened gravely as Wangchuan recounted what had transpired in Sanhe Commandery.
When he learned that the one who had attacked him was Branch Master Chen of the Beggar Sect, his expression trembled slightly, though he remained silent.
But when he heard that Divine Physician Shen had managed to preserve Branch Master Chen’s life, his gaze turned razor-sharp.
He knew that if Branch Master Chen survived, he would inevitably oppose him at every turn. The Yulong Gang would know no peace.
When Wangchuan revealed that he had concealed himself and waited patiently for a long ti before joining forces with Captain Zhao Heiniu to shoot and kill Branch Master Chen, Yang Feiyue’s hand trembled involuntarily.
The heavy stone in his heart finally fell.
“Good!”
“Well done!”
A flush of color rose to Yang Feiyue’s face as he declared forcefully, “Wangchuan, you have removed a grave threat from the Yulong Gang! Excellent! There shall be a reward!”
This was money well spent.
Yang Feiyue imdiately produced a square bundle. Upon opening it, two martial arts manuals were revealed.
Wangchuan’s heart stirred.
《Snake Fist》!
《Snake-Driving Staff Art》!
Yang Feiyue then withdrew two gold notes from his sleeve and pressed them firmly atop the manuals. Fixing Wangchuan with a steady gaze, he enunciated each word carefully.
“No one else knows of this matter, correct?”
“Captain Zhao and I. And Hall Master Yin.”
“Good.”
“Since Old Zhao personally took part, he understands the weight of it and will not speak carelessly… What happened today must not spread further. The Beggar Sect’s reach is vast. If word leaks, neither you nor I will survive.”
“Take the money and the manuals. From this point on, we will not speak of it again.”
Yang Feiyue understood clearly. Killing a Beggar Sect branch master was no small matter. The Yulong Gang could not withstand the Beggar Sect’s edge. The best course was to act as though nothing had happened.
Wangchuan nodded firmly.
“This subordinate understands the gravity of the situation.”
“Good.”
Yang Feiyue pushed the manuals and gold notes toward him, then picked them up and placed them solemnly into his hands.
“This is what you deserve.”
Wangchuan’s heart surged with excitent, but he suppressed his joy. He carefully stored the two manuals and the two hundred taels in gold notes.
“I did not return to inform Hall Master Yin. I ca back directly,” he explained. “I feared that if the Beggar Sect suspected the Caobang and moved to surround their hall, I would have no easy ans of escape.”
“It is fine.”
Yang Feiyue nodded.
“With Hall Master Yin’s reach in Sanhe Commandery, nothing you did escaped his notice. There is no need to report back. Caution carries one safely for ten thousand years. It was wise of you to return.”
He smiled.
“You handled this task well. You have likely entered Hall Master Yin’s line of sight. If nothing unexpected occurs, news will soon arrive reserving a position for you in the Caobang hall.”
“Wangchuan, you are the most capable hall master of the Yulong Gang. Sending you to the Caobang… I admit I am reluctant.”
“If the Gang Leader ever has need, just give the word. Wherever required, Wangchuan will return at once.”
Wangchuan’s declaration made Yang Feiyue’s smile broaden further.
“Good!”
“Oh, by the way.”
“With your departure, the position of Hall Master of Huishui County will be vacant. Do you have a recomndation?” Yang Feiyue asked.
Wangchuan had already considered this on the journey back.
The Huishui County hall was a lucrative post.
Yang Feiyue would not wish to let it slip away, nor would he truly desire Wangchuan to install his own man there.
“Everything will be arranged according to the Gang Leader’s will.”
“No.”
“Huishui County has been doing well. That is your achievent. I wish to respect your opinion… Who do you believe is most suitable? I see that you have cultivated quite a few talents under your command. One by one, they have advanced from Quasi-Martial Artists to full-fledged martial artists.”
Yang Feiyue chuckled.
“I would not want to disrupt the current montum of Huishui County.”
“Since the Gang Leader insists, this subordinate recomnds Elder Lin Xun for the position of hall master.”
Wangchuan presented his chosen candidate.
“Old Lin? Elder Lin?”
Yang Feiyue looked sowhat surprised and blinked.
“…Explain your reasoning.”
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