Chapter 295: Fei Zai — Loyalty and Righteousness

“Helm Leader!”

“Helm Leader!”

After returning to the game, Su Wangchuan arrived at the front hall and summoned Chen Ergou, Li Qing, and the others. As soon as they saw him, they immediately sensed a different aura from their Helm Leader and quickly bowed in greeting.

Yang Feiyue had also come. He stared at Su Wangchuan from head to toe, his eyes filled with shock and amazement.

“Wangchuan, you…”

“You broke through?”

Although Yang Feiyue’s rank was not particularly high, he was widely experienced. It did not take him long to sense the abnormality about Su Wangchuan. With every step he took, the powerful internal energy surging within him felt deep and forceful, creating an invisible pressure.

Su Wangchuan smiled faintly and nodded.

“The ‘Lesser Rejuvenation Pill’ granted by Hall Master Yin helped with the cultivation of internal techniques. I was fortunate enough to break through.”

Yang Feiyue immediately understood and smiled.

“Excellent. Hall Master Yin clearly intends to cultivate you. I knew it—you will not remain merely the leader of a branch helm. At such a young age, your internal energy has already reached this level. In the future, even becoming a seated hall master of the Caobang would not be impossible.”

“Old Yang, you should not say such things carelessly.”

Su Wangchuan raised a hand and ended the topic. Then he asked Chen Ergou, Wang Yuehui, and the others about the shipping situation in the upstream and downstream waterways.

“Reporting to the Helm Leader,”

Chen Ergou said,

“According to reports from the six dock halls, all six have resumed normal operations. The government is also investigating the murder cases with full effort.”

“The only remaining matter is the pension compensation for Brother Hong Biao and the others. We are waiting for your instructions.”

“Hong Biao died while serving the branch helm. Provide fifty taels of gold as compensation. As for the brothers in his squad, compensate each family with twenty taels of gold so they can arrange the funeral.”

Su Wangchuan sighed softly.

Then he asked,

“Has there been any new news from the dock hall?”

“Only a single carrier pigeon message arrived from the hall. They told us to stabilize the shipping operations in the upstream and downstream waterways. No other news.”

Chen Ergou replied.

Su Wangchuan felt relieved.

The Caobang was currently stable.

That was good.

He then instructed Li Qing to continue placing informants throughout the branch helm plaza and inside the city, maintaining vigilance so they could respond to any threat.

As a large number of branch helm disciples and probationary disciples had been dispatched on assignments, the training grounds had become empty, with no one practicing.

Su Wangchuan selected a long spear from the weapon rack and casually flicked the shaft, producing a sharp spear flourish before stepping into the training field.

Third-Rank Martial Art — 《Po Jun Twelve Spear》.

Since beginning cultivation, his Stamina had already exceeded sixty points.

By comparison, his Strength lagged behind at only forty-four points. He needed to raise it as soon as possible.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The spear moved fiercely through the air.

Thrust, lift, stab, slash—one sequence after another. Even though he had not yet reached mastery, the combination of 《Basic Spear Technique》 with his own Strength and Agility gave the movements a powerful battlefield presence.

After one hour of practice, the 《Po Jun Twelve Spear》 officially reached Entry-Level.

Since entering spirit realm, nearly a year had passed.

He had cultivated more than thirty martial techniques.

For most martial arts, he already had considerable experience in quickly identifying the key to improving experience.

Sometimes it required mastering the form.

Sometimes it required smooth continuity of movement.

Sometimes it required sufficient force behind the technique.

The most difficult one had been 《Qingcheng Sword Art》, which required all three elements to align perfectly.

The requirements for 《Po Jun Twelve Spear》 were clearly not so strict. As long as the force was sufficient, twenty attacks would increase experience by one point.

Training it was extremely efficient.

Thus, Su Wangchuan began practicing wildly on the training ground.

Thud!

Thud!

Heavy impacts echoed repeatedly against the Iron Dummy Stake.

Thud! Thud!

When he became tired, he circulated the 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 to dispel fatigue and restore his stamina.

When he grew hungry, he simply ate a few meat buns.

After roughly three hours, the system notification sounded.

“Ding!”

“The 《Po Jun Twelve Spear》 has advanced to ‘Minor Mastery.’ Reward: +1 Strength.”

The spear technique in Su Wangchuan’s hands became even more ferocious. The sharp whistle of the spear cutting through the air carried a smooth rhythm. Pull, thrust, lift, strike—each movement powerful.

With the increasing force of his attacks, the Iron Dummy Stake soon became twisted and damaged, its internal wooden core smashed into fragments and requiring frequent replacement.

After nightfall, Caobang disciples gradually returned.

They had already learned what had happened to the various branch helms of the gang.

They also knew that among the four branch helms, only the Sanjiang Branch Helm had survived the blood fog under the leadership of Helm Leader Su Wangchuan.

The exhausted disciples returned to the branch helm and walked directly into the training ground, beginning their own cultivation without being told.

Among the four branch helms, the Sanjiang Branch Helm now possessed the greatest strength.

But every disciple knew clearly:

Before Su Wangchuan had taken office, the Sanjiang Branch Helm had been weaker than the Main Helm.

The reason it possessed its current strength—

was entirely because of the Helm Leader.

The reason the branch helm had reached its current scale—

was entirely because of the Helm Leader.

Moreover…

everyone had personally experienced the Blood Moon Incident.

The strength of the Sanjiang Branch Helm had not truly been enough to defeat the monsters within the blood fog.

That was why their Helm Leader maintained such intense training.

Even after becoming a Second-Rank Martial Artist, he still cultivated day and night.

More and more people began training in the practice grounds.

Su Wangchuan occupied a corner, drenched in sweat as he practiced fiercely, his movements powerful and loud.

Meanwhile, the branch helm disciples trained in orderly formation under the guidance of Zhao Heiniu and Yang Feiyue.

“Ding!”

Late at night, another system notification sounded.

“The 《Po Jun Twelve Spear》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: +2 Strength.”

Su Wangchuan smiled with satisfaction.

Strength: 47.

Today’s goal was complete.

Tap… tap…

Just as he was preparing to return to his room to wash and rest, someone hurried in from outside.

“Helm Leader.”

“Someone sent by Fei Zai has arrived to report.”

“The dock hall in Rong County is operating normally. There are currently sixty-three Outer Disciples and thirty-seven Inner Disciples. Today’s remaining shipping profit is one thousand two hundred taels of silver. Here is the banknote.”

Su Wangchuan was slightly surprised.

He had not expected Fei Zai to send someone at night to deliver the day’s earnings to the branch helm.

“Mm.”

Su Wangchuan accepted the banknote.

Fei Zai clearly did not intend to remain in Rong County as the hall master of the Yulong Gang.

By sending the earnings in this way, he was expressing that he still belonged to the Sanjiang Branch Helm—that he remained Su Wangchuan’s subordinate.

A faint smile appeared on Su Wangchuan’s face.

Fei Zai…

He had judged him correctly.

Although his talent was average, the loyalty and righteousness in his heart had not changed.

He was a promising seedling worth cultivating.

No wonder Yang Feiyue had recognized his potential at a glance and recommended him to take charge of the Qingfeng Escort Agency.

Just as Su Wangchuan was smiling and putting away the banknote, another man suddenly rushed in from outside and hurried straight toward him.

“Reporting to the Helm Leader!”

“An urgent carrier pigeon message from the Hall Master!”

Su Wangchuan’s expression changed instantly.

“Bring it here!”