Chapter 277: The Hunting Ground

The Hall of Master Artisans covered a vast area.

Inside, its layout consisted of ring-shaped corridors that divided guests into different sections. This design ensured that every counter could be fully utilized while also accommodating more visitors, making the place spacious and grand.

Behind each counter stood attendants dressed neatly in well-fitted clothing. They carefully introduced the goods under their responsibility to every guest, creating a very high-end impression.

Outside the entrance of the Hall of Master Artisans stood two teams of yamen officers from the Six Gates on standby. Inside the hall’s doorway, more than a dozen Second-Rank Martial Artists were stationed, making the security extremely tight.

“This thing dares to ask for one hundred taels of gold? No wonder it failed to sell in the capital. Just because it’s a thousand-forged craft, they dare to charge a sky-high price. Throw it into a small place like this and it still won’t sell!”

A martial artist carrying an Iron-Reinforced Bow on his back was haggling with the attendant at the counter.

“Will you sell it for fifty taels of gold or not? If not, forget it!”

Behind the counter stood the “Yellow Dragon Bow” that Wangchuan had taken a liking to.

What surprised Wangchuan was that the Hall of Master Artisans had actually displayed three Yellow Dragon Bows at once, and quite a few people had come over to ask about the price.

Most of them were driven away by the cost.

Spending one hundred taels of gold on a weapon was not something just anyone could afford.

“Sir, the price was set by the proprietor. Perhaps you would like to take a look at some other weapons? We have many more here.”

The attendant maintained a pleasant smile and responded with polished courtesy.

“Hmph!”

The Jianghu martial artist did not immediately leave.

Wangchuan did not linger near this counter. Instead, he gave Chen Ergou a glance. The latter immediately understood and stayed nearby to keep watch.

Wangchuan then went to inspect the Fish Scale Inner Armor and the Tang Sect concealed crossbow.

These items were all popular treasures, surrounded by many onlookers.

Seeing so many people crowding around the Fish Scale Inner Armor, touching and examining it, Wangchuan gave Bai Yuhui a meaningful look and nodded heavily.

Bai Yuhui immediately stepped forward and slapped three gold notes worth one hundred taels each onto the counter.

“I’ll take this.”

The attendant’s eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed repeatedly.

“Certainly, sir! Much obliged.”

“I’ll package the item for you right away.”

The Hall of Master Artisans had specially crafted boxes of various sizes, matched to different goods. They felt exceptionally refined to the touch.

The moment Bai Yuhui made his purchase, it immediately attracted the attention of many people.

Wangchuan quietly observed.

Some people’s expressions showed genuine envy, jealousy, and unwillingness.

But he also noticed that a few martial artists revealed rather intriguing looks in their eyes—as if they had discovered prey.

“Hmph.”

Sure enough, wherever money gathered, there would always be hidden currents and scavenging hyenas lurking in the shadows.

Wangchuan had long been prepared.

Anyone who obtained the goods would immediately return to the Caobang headquarters, completely cutting off those people’s thoughts.

Sure enough!

After Bai Yuhui carried the box out of the Hall of Master Artisans and headed straight for the Caobang hall, several people who had secretly followed him instantly wilted and returned cursing to the hall.

“Damn it.”

“I wonder which big shot from the Caobang this is. Buying something yet sending his subordinates to do it… A deal worth three hundred taels of gold, and they treat it so casually?”

“Forget it, forget it.”

Quite a few people abandoned their plans.

Local forces did not dare provoke the upper ranks of the Caobang.

And outsiders from afar did not have the time to sit and wait for prey.

Wangchuan was very patient. He slowly strolled through the entire first floor and found two more items that he might need.

One of them was a Third-Rank archery manual called 《Wind-Thunder Archery Art》.

It was actually a very good archery technique, but since his Five-Finger Rapid Shot was already approaching the Perfect Mastery realm, he did not think cultivating this technique would replace it. After thinking it over, he ultimately gave up and did not send anyone to purchase it.

The other item was a “Silver Thread Garment.”

It was a garment secretly sewn with gold and silver threads, with chest guard plates embedded in the front and back.

Overall Defense +3;

Heart Defense +15;

Price: eight hundred taels of gold.

Wangchuan originally wanted to buy it, but then he reconsidered. Wearing something so extravagant would practically be flaunting wealth. He might end up becoming someone else’s walking treasury.

After weighing it again and again, he decided to give it up.

After wandering around for a while, he returned to the Tang Sect concealed crossbow counter.

Many people were gathered there, looking.

“This thing…”

“It’s small and discreet, with decent killing power. Once coated with poison, it becomes quite a formidable trump card.”

“Five hundred taels of gold… tsk, tsk…”

“Using it once and losing five hundred taels of gold—why does it feel like cutting flesh off my own body?”

Many people only looked and did not buy.

“Back then, didn’t Yang Feiyue, the leader of the Yulong Gang, buy a belt from the Tang Sect for three hundred taels of gold? Although it repelled Old Chen of the Beggar Sect, Yang Feiyue still died in the end. So rather than buying something like this, it’s better to buy a protective treasure… or save up for a high-grade martial arts manual to improve one’s strength.”

“That makes sense.”

As these people discussed and belittled the item’s value, they were secretly observing their competitors.

Seeing Bai Yuhui return, Wangchuan quietly gave him a signal and then left the Tang Sect concealed crossbow counter.

Bai Yuhui stepped forward and slammed five gold notes onto the counter.

Under the complicated and unreadable gazes of the surrounding crowd, he lifted the box containing the Tang Sect concealed crossbow and hurriedly left the Hall of Master Artisans again, heading back to the Caobang.

“Caobang again…”

“Who is this guy?”

“At the Caobang hall, there’s a big shot who likes using crossbows.”

Someone in the crowd suddenly spoke.

Immediately afterward, everyone tacitly fell silent and changed the subject.

The one who liked using crossbows—wasn’t that Hall Master Old Seven?

First the Fish Scale Inner Armor, then the Tang Sect concealed crossbow…

Who knew what he would buy next?

Just then, someone spent one hundred taels of gold to buy a Yellow Dragon Bow.

The purchaser turned out to be Bai Jingtang.

Bai Jingtang already had a box in her hand. She directly sold her Iron-Reinforced Bow to the Hall of Master Artisans at a low price, then slung the Yellow Dragon Bow across her back.

White sword, golden bow.

She walked out of the Hall of Master Artisans with the unmistakable bearing of a true master.

At the moment Bai Jingtang left, Wangchuan noticed that several martial artists immediately followed her out quietly.

Wangchuan frowned slightly, and a trace of concern appeared in his eyes.

Bai Jingtang was a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist with formidable strength.

But those martial artists were not weak either. Some were Second Rank, some Third Rank, and no one knew whether there were more accomplices waiting outside.

The moment this thought arose, he decisively walked to the Yellow Dragon Bow counter and directly bought the second Yellow Dragon Bow, handing his Iron-Reinforced Bow to Zhao Heiniu.

“Let’s go!”

Chen Ergou and Hong Kaibao immediately noticed their Helm Leader’s signal and swiftly withdrew from the Hall of Master Artisans, following behind.

After leaving the hall, Bai Jingtang headed straight for the dock.

She boarded a boat alone and rowed toward the Sanhe River.

More than a dozen martial artists boarded three other small boats separately, trailing far behind her.

On the way, Wangchuan encountered Bai Yuhui returning from earlier. Their group quickly boarded a boat.

“Set sail!”

Wangchuan carefully removed the Caobang flag and instructed his men to follow the boats ahead from a distance.

On the river, boats moved back and forth along three major waterways. No one knew who might be following behind them.

Holding the Yellow Dragon Bow, Wangchuan’s gaze turned cold.

“Perfect. Today I can test whether this newly acquired weapon is sharp enough.”