Chapter 237

Old Seven was wary.

This time, the Crimson Pavilion had dispatched four third-rank assassins to Sanhe Commandery in one stroke.

If Wangchuan had not discovered one of them in advance, leading to all four being captured in a single sweep… the Sanhe Commandery hall would have fallen into chaos!

Old Seven’s position in Sanhe Commandery would have suffered a direct blow. He might even have been held accountable by his superiors. And if shipping operations were disrupted, the consequences would have been even more severe.

Therefore…

Old Seven was deeply apprehensive about the Crimson Pavilion’s next act of revenge.

Right now, he only wanted to cover this fire with a lid.

As long as Crimson Pavilion did not learn that the four assassins had been captured, if he could buy some time…

Perhaps the authorities and the Caobang could draw Crimson Pavilion’s attention elsewhere.

After giving strict instructions to the eight people present, Old Seven bestowed Wangchuan’s rewards.

Five hundred taels of gold;

And a “Heart-Piercing Crossbow”!

Heart-Piercing Crossbow: Green Grade (Durability 100/100);

Armor Penetration +1;

Attack 100–100;

Compatible with specially crafted Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolts. A true killing weapon!

As it happened, Old Seven also provided him with ten “Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolts.” These were slender bolts forged from Hundredfold Steel, each possessing Armor Penetration +1 and Attack +20—far more domineering in attributes than the standard Armor-Piercing Arrows.

“Wangchuan.”

“Stay behind.”

As the others took their leave, Old Seven deliberately called him back.

“Among the four helm leaders, you are the sharpest and most perceptive.”

Old Seven looked at Wangchuan with undisguised approval.

“Tell me—how did you discover the Crimson Pavilion assassin?”

“Yes!”

Wangchuan did not conceal anything. He explained that he had arranged a squad at the branch helm’s dock specifically to shadow suspicious individuals, analyze their identities and origins, and focus on investigating every unfamiliar martial artist’s movements. He laid everything out in full.

Old Seven’s eyes lit up.

“Good!”

“You had such foresight even though you had just arrived. No wonder the Crimson Pavilion assassin fell into your hands.”

“I will arrange for every branch helm to follow your plan—planting watchers and informants, strengthening vigilance! Hopefully next time we can detect danger in advance and eliminate the threat.”

After offering further words of encouragement, Old Seven finally dismissed him.

Wangchuan then went to the armory. Using his helm leader status, he intended to browse through every martial manual he had not yet cultivated. Instead, he was informed that each visit allowed him to review only one manual.

Damn it!

Even the armory had a cooldown.

He spat in annoyance.

In the end, Wangchuan selected a third-rank body-protection technique, 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》, and left the hall.

…

Not long after stepping outside, Zhao Heiniu’s cautious voice sounded beside him.

“Helm Leader, someone is following us.”

“It’s a beggar.”

Wangchuan immediately noticed a filthy beggar holding a broken bowl and a bamboo staff. Instead of begging amidst the bustling crowd, he had been silently trailing their entire group down the street. No wonder Captain Zhao had spotted him so quickly.

A member of the Beggar Sect?

Wangchuan had no desire to entangle himself in any grievance with them.

“Ignore him.”

Wangchuan led his men straight to the dock. Under the beggar’s watchful gaze, they boarded a boat and set off for Hejiang Town.

Soon, more people gathered around the beggar, all standing on the dock and staring out toward the river.

Among them was a man with deep, piercing eyes.

“He is Wangchuan. Former hall master of the Yulong Gang’s Huishui County branch. Now the helm leader of the Caobang’s Sanjiang Branch Helm.”

“I heard Feng Shaoguang was captured alive by him, which led to the complete purge of the Qingyi Sect and the expulsion of all Beggar Sect disciples from Heilong County.”

It was precisely because of the incident in Heilong County that Branch Master Chen of the Beggar Sect had attacked the Yulong Gang’s leader, Yang Feiyue. The result had been tragic—poisoned and gravely injured, then shot and finished off, dying within his own branch hall.

The Beggar Sect had never ceased investigating the true culprit behind Branch Master Chen’s death.

Some suspected it had been ordered by Yin Xingtian of the Caobang…

Others suspected Old Seven!

The only party no one suspected was the Yulong Gang.

After all, Yang Feiyue had been gravely injured and could not possibly have possessed the resolve to seek revenge in the prefectural city.

That, however, did not prevent certain Beggar Sect disciples from seeking opportunities to stir up friction and fistfights with members of the Caobang and the Yulong Gang.

Wangchuan was clearly someone they bore resentment toward.

Unfortunately for them, Wangchuan was no soft persimmon.

A second-rank martial artist, surrounded by a group of capable fighters…

The Beggar Sect members could only trail him from a distance and watch as he departed.

“Hmph.”

“Find an opportunity. Let the brothers in Heilong County meet him properly.”

“I heard that the Sanjiang Branch Helm is currently left with only Zhang Cha’er—and he is a sickly one at that… It is the perfect opportunity.”

…

By the time Wangchuan returned to the branch helm, it was already afternoon.

He deliberately summoned Li Qing, Chen Ergou, and the others.

He rewarded Li Qing with fifty taels of gold and Chen Ergou with twenty taels, then instructed everyone to seal their mouths tight and never speak of the Crimson Pavilion assassins to anyone.

Overjoyed, Li Qing swore repeatedly that he would ensure the brothers below him kept silent.

“Use this reward money as much as possible to purchase martial manuals and push toward first rank! Share whatever remains with your subordinates.”

“Yes! This subordinate will follow the helm leader’s instructions.”

“And…”

“Do not relax your daily surveillance! The Crimson Pavilion assassins may return at any time. Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

Li Qing’s expression sharpened as he nodded firmly.

He then withdrew.

Wangchuan turned to Chen Ergou.

“I have already inquired at the armory. With the identity of a deputy helm leader in the Caobang, one may freely obtain second-rank martial manuals from the armory. I intend to recommend you, Captain Zhao, and Wang Yuehui to fill the three vacant deputy helm leader positions in the branch helm. You can then study at the armory and strive to break into second rank.”

“Many thanks, Helm Leader!”

Chen Ergou was overjoyed.

“For the coming period, I will continue to cultivate in seclusion and focus on training 《Xuanwu Art》. You few will keep watch over the branch helm. If anything happens, notify Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao…”

“Yes!”

Chen Ergou clasped his fists respectfully. He was already accustomed to this method of communication.

After Chen Ergou withdrew, Wangchuan went to the training grounds.

In his hand was the “Heart-Piercing Crossbow” bestowed by Old Seven.

He carefully and methodically loaded one of the two-finger-long Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolts into the groove, raised his arm, steadied his aim at the Iron Dummy Stake, and pulled the trigger.

The bolt shot forth like lightning, instantly piercing straight through the Iron Dummy Stake and emerging from the other side in a flash of cold light.

Wangchuan’s eyes widened as he inspected the Iron Dummy Stake.

Impressive.

One hundred and twenty attack, plus two armor penetration.

So vicious?

Far more destructive than the standard Armor-Piercing Arrow!

If this struck a human body, would it not punch two holes clean through?

The key point was that anyone could use this thing.

A mass-killing weapon with no threshold whatsoever.

One hundred and twenty attack—completely independent of the user’s strength.

Suddenly, Wangchuan understood how Old Seven had killed that fifth-rank assassin in the water.

With this weapon combined with Underwater Killing Techniques, it was an absolute execution!

Still astonished, Wangchuan took the Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolt to the weapon room and placed an order with the two master blacksmiths:

“Forge a batch of Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolts following this design.”

“Yes!”