Chapter 280: The Branch Helm Expands

June!

The Sanjiang Branch Helm had carried out three rounds of recruitment before and after this, taking in more than two hundred probationary disciples from among the dock laborers. The total number of probationary disciples had now risen to over six hundred.

These people worked during the day. From the afternoon until evening, those who had time would go to the branch helm’s training grounds together to receive Zhao Heiniu’s instruction in 《Archery》, 《Basic Spear Technique》, and 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》. At the same time, they would also receive guidance from Yang Feiyue in cultivating 《Basic Saber Technique》, 《Basic Sword Technique》, 《Basic Fist Technique》, and several other First-Rank martial arts such as 《Wind-Splitting Sword Art》.

Yang Feiyue had originally belonged to the infirmary, but in the end he still could not endure the loneliness. So he took on the title of instructor within the branch helm and helped train its disciples.

On the one hand, this was to strengthen the foundations of the Sanjiang Branch Helm. On the other hand, it was to supply talent to the escort agency and help develop a second force.

Now, with the support of these two instructors, half of the Sanjiang Branch Helm’s probationary disciples had already broken through to become full-fledged Martial Artists. Their number had exceeded three hundred.

The number of First-Rank Martial Artists had also quietly surpassed one hundred.

Of the more than forty people Wangchuan had originally brought from the Huishui County hall, every single one had advanced into the ranks.

This included some of the Sanjiang Branch Helm’s original full-fledged Martial Artists, as well as part of the men under Li Qing and Fei Zai, all of whom had now entered the ranks one after another.

The Sanjiang Branch Helm of today was already completely different from what it had once been.

However, in order to keep a low profile, Yang Feiyue suggested that as many people as possible be assigned to the Qingfeng Escort Agency’s branch offices in Rongcheng County, Huishui County, and Heilong County to serve as a smokescreen.

Otherwise, a single branch helm hiding more than a hundred First-Rank Martial Artists was indeed a bit too shocking.

But!

The pressure on the Sanjiang Branch Helm was not small either.

A full-fledged Martial Artist’s monthly salary started at fifty taels of silver, triple that of a Quasi-Martial Artist;

A First-Rank Martial Artist’s monthly salary started at one hundred taels of silver!

Just keeping this group of people fed and paid required more than three hundred taels of gold every month!

Only a branch helm of the Caobang could afford that. Otherwise, the expense alone would be enough to terrify anyone—over three hundred million paid out in wages each month.

The branch helm’s greatly increased strength had eased the burden on Wang Yuehui, Bai Yuhui, Hong Kaibao, and the others considerably. Every night now, they no longer needed to personally keep watch over the branch helm. More than a dozen First-Rank Martial Artists, together with dozens of Martial Artists, patrolled the grounds, giving everyone an overwhelming sense of security.

But Wang Yuehui seemed to have run into some troubling matter recently. Every time he logged in, the first thing he asked was whether the Helm Leader was around.

After hearing Bai Yuhui mention it, Wangchuan deliberately found a time to log in and seek Wang Yuehui out.

“Yuehui, I heard you were looking for me. Is something wrong?”

“Helm Leader.”

“My younger sister entered 《spirit realm》.”

“Hmm?”

Wangchuan froze for a moment, then abruptly realized the seriousness of it.

This was no small matter.

In 《spirit realm》, Wang Yuehui had always been extremely steady and cautious because he was trying to take care of his sister and preserve his life. Now that his sister had entered the game, the impact on him was obvious.

Seeing that Wang Yuehui’s eyes were bloodshot, Wangchuan immediately pressed further.

“Do you know which studio recruited her?”

“Tianxia Studio.”

Wang Yuehui said,

“She joined the Gold-Farming Team. She still doesn’t know how serious 《spirit realm》 really is, and I don’t even know how to explain it to her.”

“Tianxia Studio is in our city, so that’s not too bad. Players from our city usually remain in Sanhe Commandery. We can send a team over, bring her to Hejiang Town, and arrange an identity for her as a disciple of the branch helm. What do you think?”

Wangchuan felt that since she was the younger sister of one of their own people, bringing her into the branch helm’s care was only proper.

“Thank you, Helm Leader!”

Wang Yuehui cupped his fist in gratitude.

He had wanted to arrange exactly this himself. The Sanjiang Branch Helm now had more than enough time and manpower to protect her.

Wangchuan patted him on the shoulder.

“The matter should not be delayed. Pick a squad and go quickly. Return quickly.”

“Yes!”

Wang Yuehui said no more. He immediately gathered the men he usually worked with, fully armed, and headed for the Qingfeng Escort Agency. After all, if one needed to find a person and trace a route, the escort agency was the right place for it.

Less than two hours later, they returned.

Wang Yuehui’s younger sister was named Wang Zixuan. She was only eighteen and had likewise been lured into the vast vortex of 《spirit realm》 by Tianxia Studio’s high salary. Even now, she still naively believed it was just an ordinary game. As she followed her elder brother all the way into the Sanjiang Branch Helm, she was startled again and again by the imposing high walls and great gate.

“Brother! Brother!! You work in here?”

“Wow! This is so cool.”

“The monthly pay here must be really high…”

“Brother! Are they all your subordinates?”

“You’re doing so well for yourself. Why didn’t you bring me here earlier? I thought you were doing hard labor outside every day and just built up all those muscles that way…”

Wang Zixuan chattered the whole way in, delighted and full of excitement, her mouth never stopping for a moment.

Everyone wore indulgent, gentle smiles as they escorted her inside the branch helm.

“Deputy Helm Leader, mission accomplished. We’re heading down now.”

“Thank you, brothers. You’ve all worked hard.”

Wang Yuehui nodded and led his younger sister deeper inside.

“Listen carefully. From now on, your task is to practice fist techniques properly inside the Sanjiang Branch Helm…”

“Brother, you’re being too much. I’m a girl, so why should I practice fist techniques? Ah!”

Before Wang Zixuan could finish speaking, she took a sharp knock on the head and cried out while clutching it.

“My HP dropped, Brother!”

“Enough of that!”

Naturally, Wang Yuehui could not possibly let his own younger sister go outside to do hard labor. He intended for Wang Zixuan to come into contact with martial arts directly, strengthen her body, improve her strength, and slowly come to understand and adapt to 《spirit realm》 through cultivation.

After all…

Since she had already stepped into the Jianghu, she had no choice but to adapt to the Jianghu.

“All right, all right.”

“I’ll practice, okay? I’ll practice. At worst, I’ll just come work with you from now on.”

“Oh, right. Where am I supposed to sleep later?”

“Log off in my room.”

“No way. I’m a grown girl already!”

“Then I’ll arrange for you to stay in the same room as Chen Hong and the others.”

“Who’s Chen Hong? The Helm Leader?”

“Our Helm Leader is called ‘Wangchuan.’ That’s our boss! Remember it. From now on, behave yourself.”

“Got it.”

Wang Zixuan followed her elder brother on a tour around the Sanjiang Branch Helm and then arrived at the training grounds.

The moment she entered, she was so shocked that her mouth fell open.

So many people!

A dense mass of men and women stood in neat ranks, moving in unison as they practiced fists and kicks.

Wang Yuehui placed his younger sister at the front and said to Zhao Heiniu,

“Captain Zhao, this is my biological younger sister. Could I trouble you to give her some guidance?”

“Of course.”

Zhao Heiniu had Wang Zixuan stand at the front and began explaining the key points of fist and footwork.

After only practicing for a short while, Wang Zixuan already felt that it was far too dull and exhausting. Miserable, she looked around everywhere for her elder brother…

But when she saw that more than two hundred people around her were all silently continuing their training, she could only grit her teeth and endure.

She could not understand why playing a game had to feel this real.

It was so exhausting!

She wanted to go home so badly!

But then, when she thought of how her elder brother had endured all of this himself, her gaze slowly became firm.