Chapter 150: Why Not Let Them Stay?

After a full day and two nights of cleanup, the Yulong Gang’s Huishui County hall was finally more or less restored to order.

Su Wangchuan stood upon the steps before the main hall. Below him were more than eighty Inner Disciples, along with the entire Weapon Room staff.

Farther off, the Outer Disciples from the dock sub-helm had also gathered, resting but watching intently.

Su Wangchuan steadied his breath and projected his voice so that every person present could hear him clearly.

“On the night before last, Xu Zhen of the Five Poison Sect’s sub-helm commanded a swarm of snakes to attack our Huishui County hall! It was only because all of you stood united and fought together that this hall was spared disaster.”

“Today, this Hall Master will distribute rewards according to merit.”

“All Inner Disciples, who faced the snake swarm without fear, fought bravely, and defended the hall—each of you shall receive five taels of silver!”

A wave of jubilation surged through the Inner Disciples below, their cheers shaking the courtyard.

“Thank you, Hall Master!”

“Thank you, Hall Master!!”

“The Hall Master is wise!!”

Five taels of silver was equivalent to an extra month’s wages.

Who would not be delighted?

In the distance, the Outer Disciples paused in envy.

“Five taels each in a single reward—that is equal to two months of our hard labor!”

“It truly is better to be an Inner Disciple.”

Su Wangchuan raised his hand, quieting the swelling noise, and continued loudly:

“During the battle, ten Inner Disciples risked themselves multiple times to carry arrows and realgar powder to the front lines and to rescue fellow brothers. Each of them shall receive an additional five taels of silver!”

Among the crowd, ten disciples stared in astonishment, clearly not expecting their instinctive acts of courage to have been noticed.

“Thank you, Hall Master!”

Su Wangchuan continued:

“Sixteen Inner Disciples who were bitten by venomous snakes while cleaning the battlefield shall each receive five taels of silver for medical treatment!”

Good-natured laughter rose from below.

“Next!”

“Chen Ergou!”

“Your subordinate is here!”

Su Wangchuan smiled.

“For meritorious service during the night watch and assisting this Hall Master in killing a large number of venomous snakes, you are awarded twenty taels of silver.”

“Thank you, Hall Master!”

Chen Ergou accepted the reward with a grin.

“Bai Yuhui, Hong Kaibao, Wang Yuehui—each of you rendered merit in standing guard and issuing warnings. Each shall receive twenty taels of silver!”

The three stepped forward, smiling broadly.

“Thank you, Hall Master!”

“All members of the Weapon Room, step forward.”

At Su Wangchuan’s command, Qian Sihai led over twenty Weapon Room staff—more had been added later—to step forward.

“The Weapon Room maintained sufficient stockpiles of arrows and Armor-Piercing Arrows. Your diligent forging contributed greatly to breaking the enemy. Each of you shall receive ten taels of silver. Qian Sihai, you shall receive an additional fifty taels. Continue your good work.”

Qian Sihai and his group beamed with delight.

“Thank you, Hall Master!”

Among all those rewarded, only Zhao Heiniu was not publicly honored.

Su Wangchuan had already explained matters privately to him, gifting him one hundred taels of silver and securing several First-Rank Martial Arts manuals for him, including Basic Saber Technique, Wind-Splitting Sword Art, and Lightfoot on Grass.

If Captain Zhao was willing, he could rise to become a First-Rank Martial Artist within a short time.

Su Wangchuan had just distributed nearly a thousand taels of silver in one stroke—but his prestige among both Inner and Outer Disciples rose dramatically.

The silver had not been spent in vain.

In the future, if a similar crisis arose, the Inner Disciples would fight even harder to defend the hall.

The Outer Disciples, too, would step forward.

This was preparation in advance for the Five Poison Sect’s inevitable return.

After the reward assembly concluded, the crowd dispersed.

Su Wangchuan saw Instructor Yu striding toward him and was momentarily surprised.

“Instructor Yu.”

“Wangchuan, let us speak inside.”

Instructor Yu’s expression suggested urgency.

Su Wangchuan nodded and led him into his courtyard residence.

Though the battle had ended, arrow holes still scarred many parts of the hall.

After taking a seat, Instructor Yu spoke gravely, revealing that Lin Dahai and his group had been taken to Blackwind Stronghold by the Five Poison Sect.

Su Wangchuan was stunned.

“What? When did this happen?”

“Yesterday.”

Instructor Yu frowned deeply and sighed.

“After they were captured, they entered a forced state and could not log out until nightfall, when they contacted us. There are eight of them in total. The only good news is that no casualties have occurred so far.”

“What is the Five Poison Sect trying to do?”

Su Wangchuan was visibly shaken.

Instructor Yu said,

“After discussing with the Land-Clearing Team, we suspect this is because your Yulong Gang destroyed the Five Poison Sect’s footholds in three counties, cutting off part of their income and external resource channels. Rebuilding Blackwind Stronghold may serve two purposes—first, to reestablish external influence; second, possibly to target the Yulong Gang.”

Su Wangchuan frowned.

Instructor Yu’s reasoning was not without merit.

The Five Poison Sect had suffered losses and lost three external footholds. Reorganizing Blackwind Stronghold as a shell for operations beyond the mountains was indeed plausible.

“If that is the case, we truly must be cautious.”

He then said,

“But right now, the most urgent matter is how to rescue Brother Lin and the others.”

Instructor Yu nodded heavily.

“Blackstone Village currently has only Lin Dahai as a senior player. If the seven newcomers he brought are lost, our foothold in Blackstone Village will be ruined. The losses would be significant. It would be best to find a way to rescue them.”

“Captain Bai is still carrying out a mission at the Prefectural Government and cannot leave. Monk Dalong has returned to Kongming Temple—too far to help in time. Old Lin and I discussed this. Blackwind Stronghold still lacks manpower. They may descend the mountain again to capture more laborers. We plan to take men to the mining area and launch an ambush.”

Only now did Instructor Yu reveal his true purpose.

“Old Lin has just assumed the position of Helm Leader of the Rongcheng County dock sub-helm. The distance is great; he cannot leave. Wangchuan, could you lead a team and come with us? With the two of us—two First-Rank Martial Artists—we can support one another.”

Instructor Yu had finally broken through to First Rank.

Su Wangchuan immediately offered congratulations.

“Congratulations, Instructor Yu, on advancing to First Rank. That is truly cause for celebration.”

As for joining forces to go to the Blackstone Village mining area…

He hesitated slightly.

He had originally planned to focus on cultivating Iron Shirt today.

“Instructor Yu, the ones descending the mountain to capture people are merely minor lackeys—Outer Disciples of the Five Poison Sect. At most they are Formal Martial Artists, and their numbers are not great—perhaps a dozen. With you and me each leading a team, there will be no real danger.”

Instructor Yu knew Su Wangchuan disliked unnecessary risk and patiently explained,

“Moreover, the company has decided to offer a one-million bonus for this operation.”

Su Wangchuan waved his hand dismissively.

“The bonus is irrelevant. Brother Lin was my guide when I first entered the game. Whether for public or personal reasons, I cannot stand idly by.”

He paused, then said thoughtfully,

“I was just considering—since ambushing the Five Poison Sect will not directly rescue Brother Lin and the others, why not let them remain within the Five Poison Sect, at Blackwind Stronghold… and serve as our informants?”

…

Instructor Yu stared at him, momentarily stunned.

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