Chapter 148: Reinforcements Arrive

Kill!

With a saber in one hand, Su Wangchuan walked through every corner of the hall.

There were moments when a snake that had slipped through the net managed to bite him. But the specially tailored beast-hide lining of his clothes blocked the fangs, and his own defensive protection was high enough that the venomous snakes failed to break his skin or draw blood.

After nearly half an hour, the hall was finally cleared completely.

“Wangchuan!”

“Are you all right?”

Instructor Yu arrived at that moment with a hastily assembled team. They stepped carefully over the piles of snake corpses outside the hall, blades stained with snake blood—clearly, they had encountered venomous snakes on the outskirts as well.

Behind him were Constable Wu and a group of yamen constables and runners. When they saw the densely packed snake carcasses inside the hall, each of them frowned, unsure where to place their feet.

Su Wangchuan stepped forward to greet them with a smile.

“Fortunately, Captain Zhao detected something amiss in time. It was a close call, but we made it through.”

“Hall Master Wangchuan truly has Heaven’s favor! Impressive!” Constable Wu cupped his fists, his eyes filled with admiration. “The Five Poison Sect truly has vast capabilities—to gather so many venomous snakes from who knows where… astonishing.”

“So many venomous snakes entering the city without our knowledge. What exactly is the Five Poison Sect trying to do? This matter cannot simply be let go.” Instructor Yu gritted his teeth. “It must be reported to the Prefectural Government. We must ask those above to suppress the Five Poison Sect.”

“That is true.”

“However, the Five Poison Sect is entrenched deep in the mountains… and the mountains are precisely where venomous insects and snakes are most easily concealed. This matter must be considered carefully and in the long term.”

After saying this, Constable Wu turned to Su Wangchuan.

“Since the snake swarm has retreated, we should hurry to clear all the snake corpses from the hall and the city. Otherwise, when dawn breaks, it may alarm the entire city and cause unrest…”

“Constable Wu speaks wisely.”

Su Wangchuan immediately ordered Chen Ergou and the others:

“All disciples, clean the hall at once! Be cautious of snakes that are not fully dead. Watch out for venom!”

“We have fought side by side tonight and survived this ordeal. Each of you will be rewarded with one tael of silver!”

“Yes!”

“Many thanks, Hall Master!”

The disciples’ morale soared, and they sprang into action.

At that moment, Physician Liao from the infirmary stepped out.

“If you find any snakes that are not completely dead, leave them for me! Snake gallbladders and shed skins can be used in medicine, and the venom can be refined into poison! Do not waste them! I will pay—fifty copper coins per gallbladder.”

A group of players immediately grew excited.

In a single night, not only had they gained Experience Value from killing snakes, but they would also receive two separate rewards.

The fright of the night had not been in vain.

However, earning that money was no easy task.

The hall and its surroundings were littered with snake remains. The stench was overwhelming, and some snakes were indeed not fully dead. Several people were bitten by twitching, half-severed snakes.

Although Physician Liao was nearby to administer antidotes in time, being bitten in the middle of the night by a snake whose body had already been cut apart would likely leave a lifelong psychological shadow.

After much effort, they cleared all the snake corpses. Then they had to fetch water and thoroughly wash the hall’s floors and walls inside and out, flushing away venom and eliminating the foul odor.

They worked until dawn and were still not finished.

Only then did the fast boats from the water stronghold arrive.

As He Haisheng led his team onto the docks, they instinctively covered their noses. Their eyes fell upon the mountain-like piles of snake carcasses, and their scalps tingled.

“How can there be so many?”

“My heavens!”

“Did the Five Poison Sect launch an overnight assault?”

They hurried into the hall and found Su Wangchuan. Only after hearing the full account from him did they understand what had transpired.

He Haisheng drew a deep breath, lingering fear still in his eyes.

“Who would have thought that a mere Deputy Helm Leader could mobilize so many venomous snakes and unleash such an assault?”

“Fortunately, Captain Zhao detected it in time. Otherwise, disaster would have struck.”

Su Wangchuan nodded.

“Captain Zhao’s identity should not be exposed. I intend to request a few martial arts manuals from the Gang Leader as a reward for him.”

“Yes, he deserves to be rewarded.”

He Haisheng nodded and said,

“You captured the Medicine Fragrance Pavilion and the Five Poison Sect’s Deputy Helm Leader, Xu Zhen, killed four Martial Artists, and eliminated so many venomous snakes in one stroke. You have struck the Five Poison Sect hard and vented our anger. The Gang Leader will surely reward you generously. Allow me to congratulate you in advance, Wangchuan.”

Su Wangchuan smiled bitterly.

“I am only worried that the Five Poison Sect will return… By the way, what plans does the Gang Leader have?”

“The Five Poison Sect’s footholds in Rongcheng County and Heilong County have already been destroyed by us. Only Huishui County has suffered retaliation. The Gang Leader believes that since the Five Poison Sect is hidden deep in the mountains and has now lost three footholds and their sources of income, they will not be able to endure for long…”

At this point, He Haisheng’s gaze sharpened.

“As long as the Five Poison Sect leaves the mountains and enters our territory, their advantage will vanish completely!”

…

Su Wangchuan nodded silently.

The Yulong Gang did not have the strength to attack the Five Poison Sect in the mountains.

They could only wait for the enemy to leave the mountains and reveal an opening.

Yet he reserved his judgment regarding He Haisheng’s words.

Once the Five Poison Sect left the mountains, they might not lose all their advantages.

A mere Deputy Helm Leader had been able to mobilize thousands of venomous snakes and nearly turn the hall upside down. If the Snake Elder himself had come…

If those giant pythons comparable to First-Rank Martial Artists had been driven into the city, last night would have been an entirely different scene.

“I actually came this time with another order from the Gang Leader,” He Haisheng said to Su Wangchuan.

“Yesterday, the water stronghold suffered heavy losses. Sixty-two inner disciples were killed. Now both the water stronghold and Rongcheng County are short of manpower. We hoped to transfer some men from Huishui County to provide support.”

“This…”

“Hall Master He, you have seen Huishui County’s situation with your own eyes. We have incurred the Five Poison Sect’s hatred. With Xu Zhen dead, we do not know when they may return for revenge against the hall. We must also send disciples out to escort and guard shipments. If we draw manpower away now to support the water stronghold and Rongcheng County, this hall will be left empty. That would play directly into the Five Poison Sect’s hands. We would struggle even to protect ourselves.”

Su Wangchuan naturally refused, arguing his case firmly.

“How about this—Hall Master He, you might visit Heilong County. Perhaps Hall Master Song can spare some manpower.”

“…Very well. That seems the only option.”

He Haisheng surveyed his surroundings and sighed.

The entire hall was riddled with arrow holes and bloodstains. A faint stench lingered in the air. The disciples looked exhausted, and more than a dozen lay pale-faced in the infirmary, receiving treatment for venom…

Miserable was too mild a word.

He could not in good conscience force them to transfer men.

Nodding, he stood.

“I will go to Heilong County.”

“Hall Master Wangchuan, remain vigilant. If anything happens, send word by carrier pigeon at once. Farewell!”

“Very well. Safe travels, Hall Master He.”

Su Wangchuan personally escorted He Haisheng to his boat.

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