Chapter 116

“I remember you. Weren’t you working as a miner over at the Water Stronghold? When did you enter the Inner Sect?”

After recognizing Wang Yuehui, Su Wangchuan looked him up and down.

Wang Yuehui was dressed in the uniform of a Yulong Gang Inner Sect disciple. He answered respectfully, “Reporting to Hall Master, after I returned from the Water Stronghold that day, I soon paid my respects and entered the Inner Sect. I have been working under Hall Master Song.”

“So that is how it is.”

Su Wangchuan nodded. “I remember you as a fairly sharp one. You said you had something to report… What is it?”

As he spoke, he waved his hand and dismissed everyone around them.

Only after the nearby people had all moved away did Wang Yuehui lift his head. A keen light flashed in his eyes as he said, “Hall Master, do you still remember those remnants of the Nu Tao Gang?”

“Do not beat around the bush.”

Su Wangchuan frowned slightly.

Wang Yuehui immediately lowered his head, his tone even more deferential. “It is like this. After I returned from the Water Stronghold, I have been investigating the water gear those six used to infiltrate the Water Stronghold. Then, at a tailor shop, I discovered that the water gear they used was exactly the same as the water gear made by that tailor shop. And that shop’s owner has, at night, burned joss paper in his courtyard. His behavior is suspicious. He may be a remnant of the Nu Tao Gang.”

He paused, then continued, “I think that if Hall Master thoroughly investigates that tailor shop, you should gain something.”

Only then did Su Wangchuan realize what was happening. Wang Yuehui had seen that he had been promoted to Hall Master and now held real power, so he was bringing a pledge of loyalty to attach himself to Su Wangchuan.

Su Wangchuan showed a faint smile and said, “I remember you are from a studio. Since you have a studio behind you, why do you not contact them and find a way to take over that tailor shop?”

“Hall Master, I will not hide it from you. Our ‘Lingji Studio’ does not have its main base in Huishui County. We were randomly born into this area. There are only seventeen of us, scattered across different villages. We are nowhere near as influential as the Warring States Game Studio. Especially now that you have risen so high, Hall Master—the Warring States Game Studio’s position in Huishui County is already unshakable.”

There was some exaggeration in those words, but Su Wangchuan still found them pleasing. He nodded and said, “So, what do you want from me in exchange for this information?”

“I hope to work under you, Hall Master. In the future, no matter what errands you assign—whether in reality or in the game—I am willing to serve you with all my strength.”

Those words startled Su Wangchuan.

Even in reality, he could be of service?

“Is it really necessary to stake that much?”

“Hall Master is too modest.” Wang Yuehui smiled. “Ever since I cultivated martial arts and became a Quasi-Martial Artist, I have found my physical qualities improving day by day… I believe your improvement is even more obvious. After all, you are already a First-Rank Martial Artist. In the real world, your abilities must be formidable as well.”

Wang Yuehui’s bluntness made Su Wangchuan’s expression grow solemn.

As expected!

Everyone who entered spirit realm became stronger because of spirit realm’s martial arts—and also sharper, more sensitive.

Wang Yuehui’s tone turned heavy. “During that operation at the Water Stronghold, one of our miners died… He was a colleague from our game studio… After he was dismissed, he died within two days. He died in a public rental housing unit. The cause of death was that a sharp weapon pierced his heart and lungs, but there were no signs of forced entry on the doors or windows. The surveillance cameras did not capture anything suspicious either. In the end, it was classified as suicide.”

Wang Yuehui let out a mocking smile. “Ridiculous, is it not? I never imagined that playing a game could get someone killed…”

“You want to follow me? What can you bring me? Keeping you is not as good as keeping an NPC—at least an NPC is not afraid to die.” Su Wangchuan’s question was cruel, and it was practical.

That was right.

Since he knew Wang Yuehui feared death, Wang Yuehui must be hoping that when real danger arrived, someone would step in front of him—like Chen Ergou did.

Chen Ergou had, in recent days, under Su Wangchuan’s guidance, cultivated 《Basic Saber Technique》 and 《Whirlwind Saber Art》 to the realm of Practice Makes Perfect. He had even begun training 《Archery》 and 《Lightfoot on Grass》. No matter how one looked at it, Chen Ergou was more reliable than Wang Yuehui.

Wang Yuehui fell silent. He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up again, determination shining in his eyes.

“I do not want to lie to you, but I still have a younger sister. I cannot die. I cannot help you by dying for you, but I can help you manage the Inner Sect and handle daily affairs. That is something an NPC cannot match.”

“I have people in my studio who can do those things too.” Su Wangchuan’s face remained expressionless, his arms folded across his chest.

Wang Yuehui sneered. “Which studio member does not want to line his own pockets and secretly grow stronger? I can guarantee this: as long as you let me live, aside from my monthly stipend, I will take none of the extra oil. Any gifts and tributes, I will turn in to Hall Master in full… I only want to live!”

Those final words moved Su Wangchuan deeply.

He was silent for a long time before he said, “Tell me what you know about the Inner Sect’s affairs.”

Wang Yuehui’s eyes brightened. A smile spread across his face. He knew the Hall Master had been moved. At once, his spirits lifted, and he began to explain in a steady, detailed manner.

“Our hall’s business is divided into three parts.”

“The first is shipping operations. Usually, that refers to transport within the county seat of Huishui County, as well as outside ships temporarily renting boats… All business within the county seat is monopolized by our gang. They contact us on their own… Every clan and shop receives a certain discount, but casual customers are different—they pay the full price.”

“Over a month, even in the worst case, the profit is at least two thousand and a few hundred taels of silver. When it is good, I do not yet know the exact amount.”

“The second part is escorting goods… Ordinary passengers and small amounts of cargo usually do not require guards for escort duty, but for large ships’ cargo, we arrange an appropriate scale of guards based on the cargo’s type and value.”

“Over a month, that can also bring in three thousand taels of silver.”

“The last part is the protection fee for the waterways. Usually, only a small number of ships need to pay this—most often large merchant caravans, ships escorting valuable cargo, or certain clans’ important personnel… In such cases, the fee is comparatively high.”

“That depends on circumstances, but last month, we should have collected over two thousand taels of silver.”

Just the Inner Sect side of their hall brought in seven or eight thousand taels of silver per month. Even if half was turned in to the gang, what remained—after expenses—still amounted to dozens of taels of gold. The profits were several times those of the Outer Sect.

Su Wangchuan fell into deep thought.

Adding in the dock branch helm’s monthly income of a few thousand taels, he could probably take in around fifty taels of gold each month.

The profit was enormous!

Just then, Instructor Yu came walking over from the direction of the county seat.

“Hall Master!”

An Inner Sect disciple hurried over to report. “Instructor Yu has brought Constable Yu.”

Su Wangchuan waved his hand. Wang Yuehui cupped his fists and withdrew.

Instructor Yu strode over, looking both hurried and delighted. He grabbed Su Wangchuan and pulled him toward a secluded spot.

“Congratulations.”

“I heard from Lin Xun that you have been promoted to Hall Master! Hahaha… What an unexpected blessing!”

Instructor Yu’s smile grew even wider when Su Wangchuan spoke.

“Instructor Yu, your news travels fast indeed. Are you here to stuff people under me again? How many? Say the word—I will take them all. My hall is desperately short on manpower.”

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