Chapter 236

A fast boat sliced through the darkness, racing toward the prefectural pier.

Old Seven truly lived up to his reputation as an expert in dirty work. He had actually pried Tie Eleven’s mouth open and learned that three Crimson Pavilion assassins had come along with him.

That very night!

Old Seven launched a thunderous operation, dispatching a large force of Caobang elites along with the experts he had recruited. They successfully hunted down and killed the Crimson Pavilion assassins hiding in the prefectural city, then proceeded to track down and eliminate the assassins in the Leishui and Jinhe branch helms as well.

The four Crimson Pavilion assassins were captured in one net before they ever had the chance to make a move!

Wangchuan received Old Seven’s carrier pigeon message. The letter contained only a single line:

“The assassins are wiped out. Come to the prefectural city at dawn tomorrow!”

Wangchuan finally let out a long breath, relief washing over him.

The next day.

Wangchuan instructed Wang Yuehui and Chen Ergou to hold the branch helm, while he himself headed to the prefectural city with Captain Zhao Heiniu and a squad of subordinates who were all fully fledged martial artists.

When he saw Old Seven again, it was inside the Caobang’s main hall—its formal council chamber.

Old Seven sat upright in the seat of honor.

Four chairs stood on each side. Seven people were already seated, leaving only the seat closest to the door empty.

When Old Seven saw Wangchuan enter, a smile he could not suppress spread across his face. He rose and announced:

“Come!”

“Let me introduce him to everyone.”

“This is our newly appointed Helm Leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm—Wangchuan!”

“The great contributor of our hall!”

The seven who had been seated all revealed looks of astonishment. They immediately rose with Old Seven, putting on warm and friendly smiles.

Wangchuan was both flattered and alarmed. He hurriedly clasped his fists in salute.

“Wangchuan pays his respects to Old Seven!”

“And greetings to you all!”

“Come.”

Old Seven walked over and began introducing him personally.

“Yesterday, it was Wangchuan’s sharp eyes that exposed the Crimson Pavilion assassin’s identity. He delivered the man into our hall, letting us seize the initiative and wipe them out before the Crimson Pavilion assassins could strike!”

“If not for Wangchuan, three third-rank assassins would have launched a ruthless attack. Every helm leader seated here, and even the deputy helm leaders under you, would have faced uncertain life and death!”

At once, three men wearing helm leader identity tokens—just like Wangchuan—clasped their fists to him in unison.

“Helm Leader Wangchuan!”

“We owe you. You helped us escape a calamity.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

“Helm Leader Wangchuan, when you have time, come visit the main helm more often.” The speaker was a middle-aged man in a long robe, with a neat mustache shaped like the figure eight. He looked so refined that he hardly seemed like a gang member at all—yet he was the helm leader of the prefectural city’s main helm.

As for the other two helm leaders, one had only recently been promoted and held no prestige, so he spoke timidly. The other kept a trace of restraint and wariness hidden in his eyes.

The Helm Leader of the Jinhe Branch Helm?

What was his name again?

“Of course.”

Wangchuan kept his expression steady as he clasped his fists and returned each greeting in turn.

“Wangchuan, this time you rendered great merit. Old Seven is very pleased. With a wave of his hand, he is awarding five hundred taels of gold, along with an Inner Hall custom-made ‘Heart-Piercing Crossbow.’ Not just anyone receives treatment like this.”

The one speaking now was a middle-aged man standing beside Old Seven.

Wangchuan clasped his fists again, humility written into every movement.

“I merely had the good fortune to contribute. I am deeply uneasy at receiving such favor.”

“Hahahaha… do not be modest.”

“Come, let me introduce him to you.”

Old Seven pointed to the speaker. “Lin Cunxin, Deputy Hall Master Lin. He is the money god of our Sanhe Commandery hall. He oversees all shipping affairs across the prefectural city, and he controls all the hall’s funds.”

“Wangchuan, Old Seven is praising me too highly. Everything in my hands belongs to the hall. All of it was bestowed by the hall master.”

Lin Cunxin smiled warmly as he spoke.

“When the hall master left, he specifically instructed that you be rewarded with one thousand taels’ worth of gold notes. That shows how highly he values you.” The “hall master” he referred to was clearly the former hall master, Yin Xingtian.

Old Seven’s master!

And this man was also one of Yin Xingtian’s trusted confidants.

A chill ran through Wangchuan’s heart. He straightened and saluted.

“This subordinate pays respects to Deputy Hall Master Lin.”

Old Seven then pointed toward another man—an emaciated old elder with wax-yellow skin and a stern expression.

“This is Zhao Jinshan, Deputy Hall Master Zhao! Deputy Hall Master Zhao controls all martial manuals in the hall’s armory, handles the gang’s personnel matters, and maintains contact with the experts of all our affiliated branches. With a single mobilization order, every martial artist across the waters of Sanhe Commandery will bow their heads in obedience!”

“This subordinate pays respects to Deputy Hall Master Zhao.”

Wangchuan quickly saluted.

After that came two elders…

Elder Liao and Elder Long—both third-rank martial artists. They held no specific posts; they acted only when the gang required them to strike, serving as the hall’s visible power when it needed to step forward.

Wangchuan paid his respects to each of them in turn.

As for the three helm leaders…

Old Seven showed no intention of introducing them.

The three helm leaders, a little awkward, clasped their fists to Wangchuan as a greeting, treating it as a simple exchange of courtesies.

“Sit.”

At Old Seven’s signal, Wangchuan sat down on his own initiative in the last empty seat. Beside him was the refined-looking helm leader of the main helm—apparently named “Sun Wen.”

Old Seven returned to his seat. He coughed once, and everyone’s attention snapped to him.

“Gentlemen.”

“Everyone is here.”

“I summoned you today not only to report yesterday’s victory and to reward Helm Leader Wangchuan, but also to announce something of great importance to all of you!”

…

Wangchuan’s heart tightened.

Then he heard Old Seven declare:

“You all know that after the imperial envoy was attacked in our Sanhe Commandery, he returned to the capital. But not long ago, he was assassinated in his own residence! His Majesty was enraged and has ordered the Six Gates to issue maritime arrest warrants and hunt down every assassin of the Crimson Pavilion organization!”

“Yet many of the constable captains dispatched south by the Six Gates have already been killed or wounded. Even the county magistrates of some coastal county seats have had their heads taken!”

“This time, Crimson Pavilion arranged four assassins to enter our Sanhe Commandery, plotting to assassinate the helm leaders and deputy helm leaders of four branch helms simultaneously!”

“Not only are they openly challenging the authorities—they even dare strike at our Caobang!”

“Crimson Pavilion’s arrogance speaks for itself!”

Old Seven’s expression turned solemn.

…

Wangchuan listened intently, but he could not help interjecting with a question.

“Old Seven! Since you were able to obtain intelligence on the other three assassins from the Crimson Pavilion assassin, you must have learned the location of Crimson Pavilion’s overseas hideout as well.”

Regret flashed in Old Seven’s eyes. He shook his head.

“Crimson Pavilion is a very cunning organization.”

“All their assassins are taken to an island from childhood to cultivate. Travel on and off the island is handled by designated personnel. They do not know the island’s exact location! Of course, it may also be that these few were merely the lowest-grade ordinary assassins and were not privy to such secrets. In any case, we still do not know where Crimson Pavilion is truly based.”

Hearing this, disappointment surfaced in Wangchuan’s eyes.

He had originally hoped the court would follow the trail and wipe out Crimson Pavilion in one sweep.

But now…

It would be difficult.

Old Seven changed his tone.

“I summoned you here because all of you directly participated in the encirclement and extermination of the Crimson Pavilion assassins!”

“The news that the four Crimson Pavilion assassins were captured in one net is strictly forbidden to be leaked!”

“Using this Crimson Pavilion assassin Tie Eleven, I will contact experts within the gang and the constable captains of the Six Gates, and we will hunt down Crimson Pavilion’s assassins in secret, further weakening their strength!”

“And furthermore!”

“This will also prevent our hall from immediately suffering Crimson Pavilion’s retaliation!”

The moment he said this, everyone turned solemn.