Chapter 304: The Hall Takes Action

The atmosphere in the Caobang council hall was heavy and oppressive.

Old Seven had proposed taking action against the Beggar Sect and launching a counterattack, only to be met with opposition from the two Deputy Hall Masters.

The various Helm Leaders and Island Lords all remained silent.

Although Wangchuan was somewhat tempted, when he saw that the Leishui and Jinhe Branch Helms—whose situations were even worse than his—still said nothing, he naturally had no need to stand out and speak first.

The situation at the Sanhe River Branch Helm was still manageable…

It could endure better than the others.

If none of you are in a hurry to change the status quo, why should I be afraid?

Wangchuan lowered his gaze, watching his nose and minding his own thoughts.

As Old Seven’s trusted subordinate, Cui Mingjue naturally stepped forward to speak at this moment.

“Everyone.”

“According to what I have learned, the Beggar Sect’s sub-branch is currently recruiting manpower at a rapid pace, and they have already begun infiltrating and influencing our dock plazas.”

“At present, at the Main Helm, the Beggar Sect knows exactly how much cargo arrives each day and what it is worth. With the people they have secretly arranged to cooperate from the shadows, the hall’s losses will only grow greater and greater. Once the hall can no longer cover its expenses and falls into heavy debt, and the shipping business worsens by the day… then that will truly be the hall’s darkest hour.”

These words moved Lin Cunxin.

The Money God was visibly shaken.

Money!

That truly was enough to move him.

Cui Mingjue struck while the iron was hot and continued:

“As everyone knows, our Caobang has always had money. The reason we can answer every call for aid, gather Green Forest heroes and Jianghu fighters to support us, and openly challenge the Beggar Sect, is because we have money—we can afford the rewards and the bounties! But if the hall runs out of money, then the experts and Jianghu toughs we have hired—will they turn around and bite us instead, becoming accomplices of the Beggar Sect?”

The moment these words were spoken, Zhao Jinshan’s expression changed drastically.

He himself controlled a group of Green Forest fighters and Jianghu men, all of whom had been bound to him with money.

He knew their temperaments all too well.

When you have money, they call you “sir.”

When you do not, they call you a fat lamb.

The two Deputy Hall Masters fell silent.

The various Helm Leaders and Island Lords all began to show thoughtful expressions.

Even Wangchuan was moved by Cui Mingjue’s words, inwardly thinking:

Old Seven really does have capable people under him.

Cui Mingjue had indeed hit the nail on the head.

The Caobang’s current situation was dangerous, but at least it still had some foundation left and still held a large reserve of silver.

But once that silver turned into compensation payments and was handed away, the Caobang would be hollowed out.

Completely hollowed out.

“So, everyone!”

At this moment, Old Seven raised his voice.

“The silver in our hands—should it be used to recruit troops and become the backbone that helps us rise again? Or should it become compensation money that flows into other people’s pockets? Speak your minds.”

Wangchuan’s heart tightened.

Old Seven was forcing everyone to take a position.

There was only one correct answer.

Fight!!

Anyone who chose the latter option would face disastrous consequences.

They might even be dragged out and killed as a sacrifice to the banner.

Everyone present was shrewd.

The moment they heard Old Seven demand a stance, the two Deputy Hall Masters decisively changed their position.

“Fight!”

“Old Seven is right! The one thing the Caobang never lacks is backbone!”

“Even if all the money has to be spent in battle, it must never be spent on compensation!”

“Old Seven! We fight!!”

Cui Mingjue and the other Helm Leaders all voiced their agreement.

Wangchuan was no exception and joined the chorus.

“Good!”

Old Seven revealed a satisfied smile.

“However…”

Old Seven lowered his voice and said:

“The various Branch Helms and the dock halls below them are short-handed, so this is not the time for a large-scale personnel transfer. In this operation, we must eliminate four key figures!”

“First, the three Third-Rank Martial Artists who were newly assigned to the Beggar Sect’s sub-branch! And also the Beggar Sect’s Branch Master, Zhang Ye! Once these four people are removed, the Beggar Sect’s forces in Sanhe Commandery will be leaderless and scattered like loose sand!”

Old Seven’s words were astonishing.

Wangchuan’s gaze turned grave.

Old Seven had chosen not to speak unless it was decisive—and once he did, he intended to wipe out the entire Beggar Sect sub-branch in one strike.

Old Seven gave everyone no time to sit in shock and think. He directly issued his orders.

“We have already located these four men, and we have also arranged for our informants inside the Beggar Sect to keep watch on them. Tonight, we act!”

“I will personally deal with the Beggar Sect’s Branch Master.”

“The two Deputy Hall Masters will lead men to surround and kill the other two Deputy Branch Masters.”

Lin Cunxin and Zhao Jinshan silently nodded.

At last, Old Seven looked toward Wangchuan and asked in a deep voice:

“Zhang Ye is always surrounded by a group of Beggar Sect disciples. More manpower will be needed to surround and kill him.”

“Among the four Branch Helms, only the Sanjiang Branch Helm currently has sufficient manpower.”

“Wangchuan, you have dealt with Zhang Ye before. Do you have confidence in taking him down?”

“Ten times out of ten.”

Wangchuan did not hesitate in the slightest.

He knew that, at a moment like this, even the slightest sign of hesitation would be noticed by the three Hall Masters and would disappoint them. Since this was a mission he could not avoid, he might as well accept it cleanly and think of a solution afterward.

“Good!”

Old Seven shouted loudly and burst into delighted laughter.

“As expected of the man who fought beside me to kill a Silver-Ranked assassin from the Crimson Pavilion! A newborn calf does not fear the tiger! With a young hero like you in the Caobang, the future is promising indeed!!”

“Exactly!”

“If this operation succeeds in reversing the hall’s situation, we must report the merit upward!! We must request even greater rewards for Helm Leader Wangchuan!”

“Hahahaha… yes! Absolutely!”

The two Deputy Hall Masters also laughed and echoed their approval.

Everyone present revealed expressions of envy.

They all knew that if Wangchuan succeeded in this mission, he would certainly win the full trust of Old Seven and the two Deputy Hall Masters, becoming the most important Helm Leader in the hall.

But Wangchuan’s eyes brightened, and he immediately spoke up:

“Old Seven!”

“Does our gang still have treasures like the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill? I would like to purchase some, to accelerate my breakthrough in the Black Tortoise Art.”

“No problem!”

“Although the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill is precious and extremely expensive, our gang happens to have some influence. Every year, we are able to obtain a few from Shaolin, Medicine King Valley, and Emei… When this matter is settled, I will report your merit upward and request one Lesser Rejuvenation Pill for you!”

Old Seven agreed on the spot.

Wangchuan cupped his fists.

“Many thanks, Old Seven!”

“Enough.”

“Now let us discuss the specific details of tonight’s operation.”

“Wangchuan.”

“You should prepare as well. Do you want to transfer a batch of men from your Branch Helm to lie in ambush inside the city?”

Old Seven asked.

Wangchuan shook his head.

“I have a rough understanding of the strength of the Beggar Sect sub-branch in Sanhe Commandery. Aside from Zhang Ye, they have seven or eight First-Rank Martial Artists and a dozen or so full-fledged Martial Artists… The men I brought with me will be enough to deal with them.”

He was not confident without reason.

At all times, he kept Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, and Hong Kaibao by his side.

As for the men on his transport fleet, their composition had long since changed from Quasi-Martial Artists and regular Martial Artists into a force made up purely of First-Rank Martial Artists.

Inside a single large ship, more than thirty First-Rank Martial Artists were hidden. Every one of them had cultivated the lightness technique 《Green Robe Dance》, the body-protection technique 《Iron Shirt》, and 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》. They had survived Blackwind Stronghold, the Earthfiend Sect, the Five Poison Sect, the civil war within the Sanjiang Branch Helm, and the Blood Moon Incident.

So long as they were not facing those few Third-Rank Martial Artists, this force was enough to handle everyone in the Beggar Sect sub-branch.

“Good!”

“Then stay at the hall and wait for nightfall.”

With a single order from Old Seven, everyone in the hall fell silent and awaited the coming operation.