Chapter 220

As deputy helm leaders of the branch, Li Degui and Cao Xingwen personally came to invite Wangchuan to a welcoming banquet. In the eyes of the Caobang disciples, that counted as giving him plenty of face.

Wangchuan only cast a faint glance at the incense burner beside him.

The last ember finally died out, and the ash fell into the burner.

Wangchuan rose slowly. His face was expressionless as he announced,

“Today is my first day in office. There is no need to rush into drinking and entertainment. Once I have straightened out the branch’s affairs, we can discuss the welcoming banquet.”

“Helm Leader Wangchuan is truly devoted to the gang’s affairs. You are indeed our role model.”

“No wonder Lord Seven regards you so highly.”

“Haha… very well. Then we will choose another day.”

After being refused to their faces, a flash of displeasure flickered in Li Degui’s and Cao Xingwen’s eyes, but they immediately concealed it. They cupped their fists, laughed it off, and found themselves an excuse to step down gracefully.

There was nothing else they could do.

Zhang Cha’er had suddenly ordered all disciples of the downstream waters to obey the new deputy helm leader’s commands, catching the two men—who had been ready to sit back and watch the tigers fight—completely off guard.

They feared this newcomer truly had some deep connection with Lord Seven, so they hurried over to patch things up.

Wangchuan withdrew his gaze.

Seeing that the two deputy helm leaders had no intention of leaving, he did not bother with them.

“Next, all squad leaders step forward and report whether your squads are present.”

The moment his voice fell, a burly man at the front stepped out with cupped fists, his voice loud and clear.

“Upstream Waters, First Squad Leader Hong Biao—ten men in the squad, all present!”

Wangchuan looked over and nodded.

A lean man stepped out immediately after him.

“Upstream Waters, Second Squad Leader Liu Suifeng—ten men in the squad, all present!”

“Upstream Waters, Third Squad Leader Ge Hongshan—ten men in the squad, all present!”

“…”

As one squad leader after another stepped forward to report, Li Degui’s and Cao Xingwen’s expressions shifted slightly.

All the squad leaders of the upstream waters were here!

Whether they had assignments or not, every last one of them remained at the branch helm.

Then came what shocked them even more.

After the eight upstream squad leaders finished reporting, the first squad leader of the downstream waters stepped forward on his own.

“Downstream Waters, First Squad Leader Peng Yuying—ten men in the squad. By Deputy Helm Leader Zhang’s orders, we have come to receive instructions!”

An uproar rippled through the crowd.

Even Wangchuan could not help turning his head to look.

“Downstream Waters, Second Squad Leader Li Huan—ten men in the squad. By Deputy Helm Leader Zhang’s orders, we have come to receive instructions!”

“…”

All the downstream squad leaders were present as well.

Li Degui and Cao Xingwen’s eyes darkened with gravity.

The downstream waters had ten squads in total, yet every one of them had come to show support—speaking with a respect that those two had never once enjoyed themselves.

What was going on?

They exchanged glances, unable to make sense of what Zhang Cha’er was plotting.

These two rivals, who should have been locked in a brutal struggle for the helm leader position, had somehow ended up in this bizarre scene instead.

Were they really groveling that thoroughly?

Wangchuan understood perfectly. This was Zhang Cha’er’s response.

Wangchuan had spared twenty lives. Zhang Cha’er was grateful, and so he had ordered all squads under him to come and lend their presence.

If Zhang Cha’er’s legs had not been pierced by arrows, he would have shown up in person—obediently playing the role of stepping-stone to the very end.

Still…

This display was already more than sufficient.

All Caobang disciples of the Three Rivers Branch were present. Even the two deputy helm leaders stood below like ordinary subordinates.

Wang Yuehui and Zhao Heiniu traded a proud glance in secret.

Their hall master had truly established his footing in the Three Rivers Branch.

…

Wangchuan then announced that everyone in the Three Rivers Branch was to continue performing their duties as usual.

In addition, he assigned several people to oversee management and supervision.

The concrete responsibilities fell to Wang Yuehui and Chen Ergou.

With the two of them working together, the labor would not be too heavy.

Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao would continue handling night watch duties.

Zhao Heiniu would lead the branch’s idle disciples in training, drilling archery and various First-Rank techniques.

The more Li Degui and Cao Xingwen listened, the more something felt off.

What… was he trying to do?

He was not being polite at all. He was preparing to command the entire branch outright.

Was this really a deputy helm leader taking office? He was clearly charging straight for the helm leader’s seat!

But the two men were only First-Rank Martial Artists. The number of usable people under them was small. Under Wangchuan’s current momentum and pressure, they did not dare to voice a single objection.

When the eighteen squad leaders of the upstream and downstream waters—nearly two hundred men—responded in unison to Wangchuan’s orders, there was no longer any chance for the two deputy helm leaders to overturn the situation.

Near midday, once all arrangements had been declared, Wangchuan dismissed the assembly and everyone returned to their posts.

Wangchuan moved without the slightest restraint into the former helm leader’s residence, while assigning the deputy helm leader courtyards to Wang Yuehui, Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, and the others.

All the men he had brought from the Yulong Gang were settled in as well.

Squad Leader Hong Biao led his people in running errands and making arrangements.

Wangchuan asked, “Does our branch have a weapon room?”

“Yes, Helm Leader,” Hong Biao said, nodding hard. “The weapon room has a blacksmith and eight apprentices, but the brothers rarely go there in ordinary times.”

“…”

Wangchuan paused, then understood.

The Caobang’s reputation was formidable. Few dared provoke them, and disputes were scarce. Naturally, they did not need to repair weapons as frequently as the Yulong Gang did.

“Take me to have a look.”

“Yes.”

Hong Biao led the way.

Wangchuan brought Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu with him.

When he stepped into the weapon room, he almost thought he had come to the wrong place.

It was silent—cold and deserted.

If not for the fire stove that had not fully gone out, and the scattered placement of weapons and forging tables, one might truly have believed it was the wrong location.

“Heh.”

Wangchuan let out a cold laugh.

He reached out and touched the forging table. It was icy.

In such a vast weapon room, there was not a single attendant to be seen.

Hong Biao lowered his head, not daring to breathe too loudly.

“Where are the people?” Wangchuan stared at Hong Biao.

Cold sweat ran down Hong Biao’s forehead.

“Reporting to Helm Leader… I heard that Blacksmith Zhou’s third concubine fell ill, so he may have gone home to tend to her.”

“Third concubine?”

A sharp, amused chill surfaced in Wangchuan’s expression.

So this was another Room Master Zhang who had been siphoning profits.

Only this one could not even be bothered to keep up appearances.

That was going too far.

“Interesting.”

A smile appeared on Wangchuan’s face.

At last—he had found where to light his first fire as the new official.

“Ergou!”

“Take a squad with you. Go with Squad Leader Hong and make a trip. Invite Blacksmith Zhou over.”

Wangchuan’s words made Hong Biao tense.

He hurriedly lowered his voice to warn him.

“Helm Leader… Blacksmith Zhou’s status is not simple. He is a distant relative of Island Lord Lan.”

“By rank, he is on the same level as you… and he is also a Second-Rank Martial Artist.” Hong Biao wiped at his sweat as he explained.

Hearing that he was a Second-Rank Martial Artist, Wangchuan felt reassured.

“Even if he is an island lord, he has no right to meddle in my branch’s affairs.”

Wangchuan’s attitude was unyielding, his words decisive as he issued the order again,

“Ergou—take him.”

“This helm leader wants to see who dares stand up for him!”

Seeing the helm leader’s firm stance, Hong Biao’s gaze sharpened. He understood that Blacksmith Zhou was doomed this time. He immediately accepted the order and went to lead the way.

The First Squad, along with Chen Ergou’s men, formed a twenty-man party. Their momentum was fierce as they headed straight for Blacksmith Zhou’s home.