r18novel Chapter 162: Brothers United, the Escort Agency Calls
Chapter 162: Brothers United, the Escort Agency Calls
Wangchuan logged back into the game.
The moment he stepped out of his room, he saw Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao sitting on the stone stools in the courtyard, their eyes dull and lifeless.
“Hall Master!”
“Hall Master!”
At the sound of movement, it was as though their souls had returned to their bodies, and a flicker of light reappeared in their eyes.
“Instructor Yu…”
“Will he die?”
The two of them had also logged out, but they had encountered the same situation as Wangchuan. A robotic guard had blocked the door and forbidden anyone from entering or leaving.
They did not have anyone else’s contact information. All they could do was return to the game and wait for news.
Seeing the hope and anxiety in their eyes, Wangchuan thought for a moment before saying, “Since you have already noticed, then from now on, you must do everything you can to avoid putting yourselves in danger. Do not follow Instructor Yu’s path and let this tragedy repeat itself.”“…”
It was as though the last shred of strength had been drained from them. The two of them sank back down onto the stools.
“It is just a game. Why would we die?”
“I only came here to work. I only came here to earn money.”
“What should we do, Hall Master?”
Wangchuan took a deep breath.
“You both know that I have not been in spirit realm any longer than you have. What I understand is limited. Ever since Heipi and Old Li died, I have been living cautiously as well. I train desperately every single day for one reason—to grow stronger and stay alive.”
“But in Jianghu, one cannot always act freely.”
“In Blackstone Village, you could be torn apart by wild beasts or cut down by bandits. After coming to Huishui County, there are all kinds of dangers as well.”
“If you want to tuck your tails between your legs and live quietly, I can arrange for you to transfer to the outer sect. As long as I remain Hall Master, you can stay at the dock as outer disciples handling cargo. There should not be too much risk…”
“…”
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao exchanged a glance, hesitation rising in their eyes.
For Wangchuan to go this far was already more than benevolent.
Outer disciples at the dock truly faced no threats. With the Hall Master backing them and Chen Ergou keeping watch, no one would dare to cause them trouble.
But they could not bear the shame.
After all, they followed the Hall Master, and they were already official martial artists.
“Hall Master.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“Grow stronger.”
Wangchuan’s words rang out like steel striking stone.
“Since I have already taken the position of Hall Master of the Yulong Gang, there is no turning back for me. I can only move forward. I cannot retreat. I will first break through to Second Rank, and then see if I can become someone like Captain Bai.”
“Captain Bai…”
Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao’s eyes lit up.
During the operation against Blackwind Stronghold, Bai Jingtang had left an indelible impression of a true expert in everyone’s hearts, including theirs.
“Hall Master!”
“I will follow you!”
Bai Yuhui clenched his teeth.
“Since we cannot escape anyway and still have to keep living in the game, then so be it. At worst, we die!”
“That is right!” Hong Kaibao’s courage surged as well. “The Hall Master has treated us so well. We cannot shrink back at a time like this. If there is danger, we will face it together!”
The two of them regained their spirit.
Wangchuan also felt a weight lift from his heart and revealed a relieved smile.
To be honest, he had truly been afraid that the two of them would throw in the towel at this moment.
He had painstakingly nurtured these two junior brothers, raising them to the strength of official martial artists. They were just about to gain the ability to stand on their own. He could not afford to sever his own arms now.
Fortunately, they had held firm.
“Good!”
Wangchuan placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
“From now on, the three of us brothers will carve our path through Jianghu together!”
“Brothers united, we can cut through gold!”
Wangchuan continued, “From now on, do not hand over all your silver to the studio. Just submit a fixed portion each month. Keep the rest to buy martial manuals and weapons!”
“I will also ask the Gang Leader for merit on your behalf and try to secure a few more martial manuals and reward silver for you! Do your best to break through to First Rank as soon as possible!”
“Yes!”
“We will listen to you, Hall Master!”
They were fully invigorated now. At this moment, they finally had a clear goal to strive toward once more.
As usual, the two of them took turns standing night watch.
Wangchuan sent a carrier pigeon message to the Gang Leader, requesting merit for the eight brothers under his command.
Early the next morning, Fei Zai arrived with a heavy chest filled to the brim with martial manuals—every single one of them First-Rank martial arts.
Yang Feiyue knew that these men had joined forces to deal with Feng Shaoguang. He had acted generously.
Wang Yuehui, Bai Yuhui, Hong Kaibao, Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, and the rest of the eight inner disciples were all included—every First-Rank martial art in stock was distributed!
Each person was rewarded with twelve martial manuals. Converted into silver, that was at least five or six hundred taels per person. On the black market, the value would double.
At the same time, Fei Zai also brought Yang Feiyue’s reward for Wangchuan.
He had captured Feng Shaoguang alive, killed eight Qingyi Sect martial artists, and shot down many disciples of the Five Poison Sect, helping the Yulong Gang regain its footing. The merit was not small.
Yang Feiyue not only sent a gold note worth one hundred taels of gold, but also delivered a promise:
For the next several years, all of Qingfeng Escort Agency’s profits, as well as its personnel and land deeds, would be placed entirely under Wangchuan’s authority.
This meant that in addition to controlling the dock and shipping affairs of the Huishui County hall—with two to three hundred inner and outer disciples under his command—Wangchuan would also gain Qingfeng Escort Agency’s manpower. In the escort agency’s name, he could recruit and expand his forces further.
Among the Yulong Gang’s four halls, Wangchuan’s manpower and real authority had long surpassed that of Song Minshu of Heilong County and Qin Ming of Rongcheng County, second only to Yang Feiyue.
If the halls were considered separately by scale, Wangchuan was now feeding more than four hundred men—already exceeding Yang Feiyue.
That morning, Qingfeng Escort Agency arranged a funeral procession. All the brothers of the escort agency were sent up the mountain together and laid to rest.
In the afternoon, He Yuanshan arrived for a visit, accompanied by two capable escort agency men.
Wangchuan was training 《Qilian Mountain-Sundering Axe》 at the training grounds.
DUANG!
DUANG!
The battle axe smashed heavily into the iron dummy stake, biting in more than three cun deep.
The ground nearby was littered with broken iron dummy stakes and wooden blocks—he had cleaved through countless of them.
When He Yuanshan’s group followed Chen Ergou inside, the first thing they saw was Wangchuan gripping the battle axe. His sharply defined muscles were coiled with terrifying tension. He spun and unleashed a burst of force, and the axe hacked into the iron dummy stake with a deep, thunderous impact. The sight was overwhelming.
“Hall Master!”
“Escort Leader He has arrived.”
Chen Ergou reminded him.
Wangchuan released the axe and turned around, taking the towel handed to him by Ergou. As he wiped the sweat from his body, he apologized to He Yuanshan.
“My apologies. Because we must remain on guard against a possible attack from the Five Poison Sect, I was unable to attend Escort Leader He Han’s burial. I ask for your understanding.”
“You are too courteous, Hall Master.”
He Yuanshan bowed deeply.
“In such a dangerous situation, you captured Feng Shaoguang alive and brought back my brother’s body. Everyone in Qingfeng Escort Agency is already overwhelmed with gratitude. We would not dare to ask for more.”
“You have come this time for…?”
Wangchuan asked knowingly.
He Yuanshan hurriedly replied, “In accordance with Gang Leader Yang’s instructions, I have specially come to deliver Qingfeng Escort Agency’s land deeds to you, Hall Master. In addition, here is the roster of all one hundred and twenty-seven members of Qingfeng Escort Agency… and… the list of those personnel and family members still awaiting pension compensation.”
Qingfeng Escort Agency simply could not continue operating.
The moment He Han was buried, creditors flooded to the door, nearly emptying all of Qingfeng Escort Agency’s silver reserves.
Even the two hundred taels of silver Yang Feiyue had given yesterday for funeral expenses had been spent completely. If they did not seek help from the Yulong Gang immediately, more than a hundred people would soon be left with nothing to eat.
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