Chapter 204: One Arrow Piercing the Clouds

“Let me introduce you.”

Yang Feiyue had not expected Su Wangchuan and Captain Zhao Heiniu’s instincts to be so sharp. He immediately brought the two of them before the boatman and lowered his voice.

“This is Seventh Master of Caobang. A Third-Rank Martial Artist. He follows Hall Master Yin and is one of his most trusted confidants.”

“Seventh Master.”

Su Wangchuan and Yang Feiyue watched as Old Seven walked away, their hearts shaken.

Yang Feiyue’s expression was especially grim.

During this period, he had relied entirely on Seventh Master’s protection to sleep soundly at night.

Now that Seventh Master was leaving, his own safety would no longer be guaranteed.

“Let us go.”

“Escort me back to Huishui County.”

Yang Feiyue decided to change his location.

The branch in Heilong County was clearly not as secure as the one in Huishui County.

At the very least, Huishui County now had a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

However, not long after the fleet began its return journey, a blinding red flare exploded in the distant sky.

BANG!!

The piercing sound made everyone in the fleet turn their heads at once.

Yang Feiyue’s face darkened.

“Damn it!”

“Something has happened!”

“That is Caobang’s distress signal!”

“One arrow pierces the clouds—thousands of troops gather at the call!”

“Turn around!”

“Everyone, turn around!!”

Yang Feiyue shouted at the top of his lungs.

More than a dozen fast boats swung around, their sterns becoming their bows as they rowed with all their strength against the current.

Su Wangchuan and Captain Zhao Heiniu exchanged a glance, seeing the tension in each other’s eyes.

They had not expected that someone would truly dare to strike at the imperial envoy’s fleet.

This was a direct affront to Caobang!

Could it really be the Beggar Sect?!

The two men silently took up their Iron-Reinforced Bows.

After breaking through to First Rank, Captain Zhao Heiniu had also switched to an Iron-Reinforced Bow.

The fast boats were agile and swift.

Before long, they sighted the attacked fleet.

Of the five great ships, four had already snapped in the middle and sunk into the river, leaving only broken sections protruding above the surface.

All four of Caobang’s escort ships had sunk.

Many people had fallen into the water. The scene was utter chaos.

Su Wangchuan had been somewhat startled earlier by Seventh Master’s identity and had respectfully clasped his fists in greeting.

A Third-Rank Martial Artist, and merely one of Hall Master Yin’s subordinates.

One could imagine how formidable a hall master of Caobang truly was, and how deep their foundation ran.

Old Seven had naturally recognized Su Wangchuan at once. His gaze moved slowly over him from head to toe, and he nodded.

“Not bad.”

“In just ten days, your bearing has risen to a new level. You have fully stepped into the realm of a Second-Rank Martial Artist. You are qualified to enter the prefectural seat and stand on your own under Hall Master Yin.”

Su Wangchuan hurriedly replied,

“I dare not forget Hall Master Yin’s teachings for even a moment. I would never slacken.”

“Hall Master Yin has said—one month. After that matter’s commotion passes, you may enter the prefectural seat and formally join Caobang. Until then, remain at your branch and cultivate in peace.”

“Yes.”

Before a Third-Rank Martial Artist, Su Wangchuan conducted himself with utmost respect.

Only now did he fully understand why Yang Feiyue had dared to remain in Heilong County until today—because he had a Third-Rank Martial Artist guarding him.

“That is enough.”

“The fleet sets off.”

“Treat Seventh Master as nothing more than an ordinary boatman aboard our vessel…”

“Today, escorting the imperial envoy’s fleet, I have a faint sense of unease. With Seventh Master’s help, there should be no mishap.”

Yang Feiyue’s words tightened Su Wangchuan’s heart once more.

Yang Feiyue felt it too.

Was this the intuition of Martial Artists?

Regardless, Su Wangchuan had to make every preparation.

He entered the cabin and began coating his Armor-Piercing Arrows and Hundredfold Steel Throwing Knives with poison.

Old Seven watched in silence.

Yang Feiyue, however, could not help laughing.

“The snake venom of Snake Elder from the Five Poison Sect is potent indeed. You have hidden quite a few good things.”

Su Wangchuan gave a faint chuckle.

“Just something for self-defense.”

He continued applying the poison.

After finishing his own weapons, he prepared some for Captain Zhao Heiniu as well.

When everything was ready, the fleet had already entered the territory of Heilong County.

They docked near the pier for a while, then continued upstream into the waters of Sanhe Commandery.

The moment they crossed out of the waters under the Yulong Gang’s responsibility, ships of Caobang appeared along both banks of the river.

Hall Master Yin arrived in person, accompanied by a group of Second-Rank Martial Artists, to oversee the escort.

Yang Feiyue’s lead vessel approached first to complete the handover.

Hall Master Yin stood high above, his gaze sweeping across the men aboard Yang Feiyue’s ship.

Old Seven.

Su Wangchuan?

A flicker of something passed through Hall Master Yin’s eyes. He nodded imperceptibly. Whether he was pleased at Su Wangchuan’s breakthrough to Second Rank or commending the safe completion of the escort was unclear.

At that moment…

The faint unease that had lingered around Su Wangchuan seemed to dissipate entirely.

With Caobang’s experts gathered in force, the Yulong Gang’s escort was no longer needed.

The two sides completed the transfer of responsibility.

All personnel of the Yulong Gang withdrew from the escort formation.

Caobang’s ships took up position before and behind the dragon boat.

Old Seven pushed the pole, and their vessel began drifting downstream on the return journey.

Yang Feiyue finally allowed himself a relieved smile.

“Excellent.”

“This escort went smoothly from start to finish. Nothing happened. That is truly fortunate.”

“…Indeed.”

Su Wangchuan nodded in agreement.

“If anything had happened to the imperial envoy in our waters, the consequences would have been severe. Fortunately, security was properly arranged along the route, and no mistakes occurred.”

“Our mission is complete.”

“When we return, reward every brother who participated.”

“For each of you hall masters—ten taels of gold apiece…”

Yang Feiyue was exceedingly generous.

Su Wangchuan suddenly turned his gaze toward Seventh Master.

The man stood staring at the river’s surface, as though observing something.

“What is it, Seventh Master?”

Yang Feiyue sensed the change as well.

Old Seven shook his head.

“For some reason, I cannot shake this sense of foreboding… The imperial envoy must not meet with misfortune in Caobang’s waters.”

“How could that be?” Yang Feiyue laughed heartily. “So many of Caobang’s experts have gathered. If someone wished to strike at the envoy, it would have been far easier to do so in the Yulong Gang’s territory. Why wait until Caobang has taken over?”

Su Wangchuan nodded.

That reasoning was sound.

The Yulong Gang had only so many Ranked Martial Artists, and their strength was modest.

Caobang’s escort alone had deployed at least twenty Second-Rank Martial Artists. Who would be foolish enough to chew on the harder bone?

Old Seven clearly saw further. He shook his head.

“If someone merely wishes to strike and smear mud upon Caobang’s face, they do not necessarily need to harm the imperial envoy. The mere act of attacking would be enough to place our branch in grave danger.”

At those words, Yang Feiyue and Su Wangchuan’s expressions changed drastically.

They spoke at the same time.

“The Beggar Sect?!”

At present, the faction in the most severe conflict with Caobang’s branch was indeed the Beggar Sect’s sub-branch.

Striking at the imperial envoy now would certainly cause Caobang to lose tremendous face.

“You two row back on your own.”

“I will go ashore and take a look.”

With that, Old Seven tossed aside his pole hat and leapt seven or eight meters in a single bound. His feet lightly tapped the river’s surface, drawing a streak of water as if suspended by invisible wires. He skimmed across the water and swiftly reached the shore, vanishing without a trace.