Chapter 419: Feelings Thaw

Cui Mingjue was Seventh Master’s most trusted confidant.

Not only was Cui Mingjue both emotionally intelligent and sharp-witted, he was also considered one of the better Second-Rank Martial Artists. He had even served as the Main Helm Master before, which was proof enough that he was the sort of capable man who could stand on his own.

When facing the Beggar Sect’s challenge earlier, he had stepped forward without hesitation.

And this time, he had taken a blade for Seventh Master...

He was loyal to the core.

And yet a man like that was now going to leave Jianghu at the age of thirty, falling from a period of rapid ascent straight into the abyss.

No wonder Cui Mingjue had collapsed in spirit and was still bedridden with severe injuries.

If he still had even a little fighting spirit left, he should have already improved simply by actively circulating his Inner Power to heal himself.

Wangchuan fell silent.

Seventh Master was equally weighed down. He lifted his tea and said in a heavy voice,

“The situation in Heitu Commandery is complicated. The Beggar Sect could strike back at any moment, and the danger here is extreme. Quite a few brothers from the Hall have already died. For Cui Mingjue to withdraw from Jianghu at a time like this may actually be the one way for him to meet a peaceful end.”

He drained the scalding hot tea in one gulp.

Wangchuan sighed and said,

“So the situation in Heitu Commandery is truly this dangerous. No wonder the Gang Leader sent both you and Hall Master Yin here to turn the tide. If there is anything Wangchuan can do to help, please say so.”

The moment those words were spoken, Seventh Master waved a hand dismissively.

“Sanhe Commandery has only just stabilized with great difficulty. You should focus on holding the situation there steady and managing it well. First secure the removal of the word ‘acting’ from your title, and Hall Master Yin and I will both be at ease... In the future, if we run short of money, we can still borrow from you to tide us over.”

“Oh, right. At present, the Hall here truly is at the end of its rope. The twenty thousand taels of gold we drew from Sanhe Commandery—I’m afraid there’s no way to return it to you anytime soon.”

Seventh Master gave Wangchuan the warning in advance.

Wangchuan nodded, then took an oilcloth-wrapped bundle from his robes and pushed it toward Seventh Master.

The latter froze.

“This is...?”

“Ten thousand taels of gold in Gold Notes.”

Wangchuan explained,

“After dealing with Lin Cunxin, the year-end shortfall in Sanhe Commandery has been filled. There’s still a bit left over. Take this and use it for now. Once the accounts improve after a while, I’ll have more money sent over.”

Seventh Master was desperately short of money at the moment, so he quickly opened the bundle.

Inside, as expected, were ten Gold Notes, each worth one thousand taels of gold.

“Wangchuan!”

“This money of yours came at exactly the right time.”

“With this sum, our Hall can continue recruiting manpower, hold the Beggar Sect at bay for a while longer, and endure until spring next year!”

During this period, Seventh Master had experienced firsthand the agony of having no money.

The money Wangchuan had brought completely relieved his most urgent need.

“Seventh Master.”

“If you need money in the future, send word.”

“As long as it is something Wangchuan can do, I will support you with all my strength.”

Wangchuan made his position clear.

Seventh Master burst into laughter.

“Good!”

“Hahahaha...”

“I knew I hadn’t misjudged you.”

At that moment, Seventh Master found Wangchuan particularly pleasing to the eye.

“In that case.”

“This is your first time visiting my Heitu Commandery Hall today.”

“As Hall Master here, I cannot be stingy. I’ll give you a gift as well.”

Still smiling, Seventh Master walked into the bedroom.

Wangchuan heard the sounds of drawers being opened and boxes being moved.

A moment later, he saw Seventh Master return carrying a martial manual.

Wangchuan was startled and slowly rose to his feet.

“This is...?”

The moment he saw the large characters written on the cover, his pupils contracted slightly.

Seventh Master smiled and said,

“This is a martial manual we took from a Fourth-Rank Beggar Sect Martial Artist during a joint kill.”

“《Golden Bell Shield》 is a Fifth-Rank body-protection art. Among the hard-body护体 arts, it counts as an excellent one... Even on the black market, this manual would fetch quite a sum... If you hadn’t come, I would only have tossed it into the year-end auction to exchange it for money.”

Wangchuan was secretly overjoyed.

A Fifth-Rank body-protection art!

Two full ranks above 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》.

A true treasure!

“Hall Master, you do not want it for yourself?”

Suppressing the urge to claim it for himself at once, Wangchuan asked Seventh Master.

The latter shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Where would I find the time or energy for that now? If I can make it through this phase alive, that will already be a blessing! You, on the other hand, love studying all sorts of martial arts. This manual makes the perfect return gift. Take it back, cultivate it well, and do not disappoint me.”

“Then Wangchuan will respectfully accept it.”

Wangchuan took 《Golden Bell Shield》.

The value of a Fifth-Rank body-protection manual, even a relatively common one, was at least several thousand taels of gold.

After chatting a while longer, Wangchuan rose to take his leave.

“Seventh Master.”

“Wangchuan still has important business to attend to. When I have time, I will come visit again.”

Seventh Master nodded.

“This time, you traveled to the capital alone. The risks are not small. Do you want me to arrange an escort?”

“Many thanks for Seventh Master’s kindness, but acting alone is actually safer for me now. A smaller target is harder to track... Oh, right. If Seventh Master is willing, send Cui Mingjue back to Sanhe Commandery. That is his homeland, after all. With Divine Physician Shen there to treat him, he should improve quickly.”

Seventh Master thought for a while.

“That works.”

“I’ll ask him what he wants. If he is willing, I’ll send him back to Sanhe Commandery. When the time comes, I’ll trouble you to settle him in.”

“Seventh Master, rest assured. Wangchuan will handle it properly.”

Wangchuan smiled and cupped his fists in farewell.

“Mm. Be careful on the road.”

Seventh Master did not even dare escort Wangchuan out through the front. Instead, he ordered someone to see him out through the back gate.

...

Wangchuan set off alone, leaving Heitu Commandery behind. Concealing his identity, he boarded a ship north and, after a tiring journey by boat and road, arrived in the capital, heading straight for Caobang Headquarters.

At the entrance, he happened to run into Lin Zhentao, who was seeing someone out.

“Hall Master Wangchuan!”

Lin Zhentao hurried over in a trot and bowed.

“When did you arrive in the capital...?”

“Heh, just now.”

Wangchuan said to Lin Zhentao,

“Before the end of the year, the Hall has to turn in the second half of its profits. I’m also here to report on the Hall’s condition over the past year to the Gang Leader and listen to the Gang Leader’s instruction.”

“Hall Master is truly diligent.”

Lin Zhentao immediately led him inside headquarters.

The first time he had come to Caobang Headquarters, he had only been a Deputy Hall Master, frightened and cautious at every step.

Now, the second time he came to Caobang Headquarters, he did so as an Acting Hall Master. He was clearly far more composed. Even when facing the elders of headquarters and Fifth-Rank Martial Artists, he could remain calm and self-possessed, neither servile nor overbearing.

After Lin Zhentao went inside to report, he soon came back out with the message:

“Hall Master Wangchuan, the Gang Leader says you may enter now.”

“There are still two Hall Masters inside the Main Council Hall reporting on their Halls’ situations. Once they finish, the Gang Leader will likely have you speak.”

“Very well. Many thanks, Brother Lin.”

After thanking him, Wangchuan quickly entered.

The solemn Main Council Hall was filled with a grave atmosphere.

Gang Leader Luo Tiancong sat high in the seat of honor.

Below him stood two Hall Masters.

One of them wore an outer robe threaded with gold and silver. He was handsome and imposing. After finishing his report, he stood quietly to one side.

The other was a thin old man with a hoarse voice, giving his report at an unhurried pace:

“Gang Leader.”

“This is the ten thousand two hundred taels of gold our Nandian Commandery Hall is turning in for the second half of the year.”

A Caobang disciple silently took the Gold Notes and presented them to Luo Tiancong.

The latter frowned slightly and was just about to speak when he saw the travel-worn young Hall Master Wangchuan enter in armor. He held back what he had been about to say and tipped his chin.

“Who enters?”

Wangchuan had not expected his turn to come so quickly. He did not dare delay and immediately stepped forward to answer:

“This subordinate, Wangchuan, Acting Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery, has come to the capital to turn in the Hall’s profits.”

“Oh?”

Luo Tiancong naturally recognized Wangchuan, but he feigned contemplation and said,

“Acting Hall Master? When Ghost Old Seven took up his post, he did not empty out the wealth of Sanhe Commandery Hall? And yet your Sanhe Commandery can still主动 turn in silver and gold profits? You’ve got some heart.”

There was no lack of teasing in his tone. Clearly, he knew perfectly well how these Hall Masters acted when transferred away, and he also knew how dire the situation in Heitu Commandery had become.

Wangchuan cupped his fists and said,

“The profits of Sanhe Commandery this year are indeed far below last year’s. It is only thanks to Gang Leader’s grace in allowing the second-half remittance to be halved that Sanhe Commandery could barely fill the gap. Otherwise, there truly would have been no way.”

Luo Tiancong’s eyes lit up, and he became interested.

“You mean to say that the profits from your final two months in Sanhe Commandery were enough to fill the entire shortfall for the second half of the year?”

The expressions of the other two Hall Masters changed at once.