Chapter 356: Triumphant Return, Good News

On the return voyage,

Wangchuan was still wearing the same filthy clothes smeared with bits of venomous snake flesh and blood. All sorts of things were wedged into the gaps between the scales of his Thousand-Forged Battle Armor, and the stench was overpowering.

To avoid making the cabin unbearably foul, he simply stood at the bow on the deck, letting the wind wash away his fatigue.

Zhao Heiniu and Ye Baiyi stood beside him.

“Hall Master.”

“Your spirit looks completely different now.”

“You gained quite a lot this time?”

Zhao Heiniu said with a grin.

The smile on Wangchuan’s lips would not go away. Facing the fresh river wind, he said with a laugh, “Real combat brings enormous benefits. I’ve never gone through such a long stretch of actual fighting before... I came away richly rewarded today, and I also have the two of you to thank for standing guard for me. And you especially, Ye Baiyi—you made the greatest contribution. Ask for whatever you want.”

Zhao Heiniu looked toward Ye Baiyi.

After spending a whole night with him, Ye Baiyi already understood what sort of man the Hall Master and boss was. Cupping his fist, he said, “This subordinate asks for nothing else. I only wish to remain at the Hall Master’s side.”

At first, Ye Baiyi had only felt that the connections, influence, and future of Sanjiang Studio far surpassed those of Black River Studio, and that it could offer him a brand-new and much broader platform, one better suited to his future development.

But now!

After witnessing the strength Wangchuan had displayed in the middle of the snake swarm, he was genuinely filled with admiration. He now understood deeply that the Hall Master’s future achievements would be beyond measure, and he had resolved to remain in Sanjiang Studio and follow him.

Wangchuan was not surprised by his answer or his choice. Smiling faintly, he asked, “What are your three core attributes?”

“Strength 34, Agility 42, Stamina 33,” Ye Baiyi replied.

Wangchuan then asked about the martial arts he currently knew, and after that he said to Zhao Heiniu, “First, study 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》 under Captain Zhao. After that, I’ll arrange 《Underwater Killing Techniques》, 《Water-Submerged Breath Regulation Art》, 《Green Bamboo Staff Art》, and 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 for you. With Captain Zhao guiding you, you should be able to advance to second rank in about three days.”

“...”

Shock appeared in Ye Baiyi’s eyes.

Wangchuan continued, “After second rank, I’ll help you obtain the third-rank internal cultivation method 《Xuanwu Art》, the third-rank body-protection technique 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》, and 《Water Strider》! The hall happens to need an extra hand, so from now on, you’ll stay with me and help coordinate matters between the hall and the studio.”

Any outsider seeking refuge had to present a pledge of loyalty.

The pledge of loyalty Ye Baiyi had offered... carried enough weight.

He had drastically shortened Wangchuan’s road toward fourth-rank martial artist, and he had also left behind a batch of niche cultivation methods. In the future, even Wangchuan’s path toward fifth-rank martial artist would become broad and smooth.

That was a major contribution.

He had to be rewarded properly.

“Many thanks, Hall Master!”

Ye Baiyi was overjoyed.

He could make use of the resources at the Snake Dens, but that did not mean he actually dared to use them.

Now, however, the martial arts manuals the Hall Master had promised were solid value in hand. A third-rank internal cultivation method, in particular, was something even the Five Poisons Sect could not get hold of. Naturally, he was more than satisfied.

“Focus on breaking through to second rank at full speed.”

“In the future, if the Five Poisons Sect makes a comeback, we may have to go back and kill our way in again... and take another look at those Snake Dens.”

“Yes!”

Every word Ye Baiyi spoke rang like iron as he cupped his fist and said, “This subordinate will definitely break through as quickly as possible and will not disappoint the Hall Master’s expectations.”

“Good.”

Wangchuan turned and announced, “Every brother who came out on this trip will receive a reward of five taels of gold each. This matter is not to be spread outside.”

“Yes!”

The elite Caobang men all answered in unison, their voices perfectly aligned.

...

The group returned to the hall in Sanhe Commandery.

They had only just stepped into the hall when Chen Ergou came hurrying over behind them.

“Hall Master!”

“Deputy Hall Master Lin requests your presence.”

Then he lowered his voice and added by way of explanation, “Last night, this subordinate received a carrier pigeon message from Old Seven, saying that he had already received your warning and the Hundred Poisons Detoxification Pills. At an inn, they discovered a group from the Five Poisons Sect on the spot and completed the kill. Hall Master Yin and Old Seven are both very pleased and said there will be a heavy reward when they return.”

Hearing this, Wangchuan let out a sigh of relief.

That was good news!

He knew the truth of it.

Once Xiao He died, his character in 《spirit realm》 was no better than a walking corpse and naturally possessed very little combat strength. Eradicating him was easy enough.

Now, the Five Poisons Sect’s forces within Sanhe Commandery and Qinghe Commandery had all been wiped out in one sweep. They would not be able to stir up trouble again anytime soon.

Without the support of the Five Poisons Sect, the Beggar Sect still held the initiative and the advantage, but at least it would no longer be as overwhelmingly dominant as it had been at the start.

“I understand.”

“What does Deputy Hall Master Lin want with me?”

Wangchuan asked.

Chen Ergou blinked and said, “You were gone for a whole day. Deputy Hall Master Lin didn’t dare close his eyes all night.”

“...”

Wangchuan smiled faintly and immediately went to see him.

As expected!

Lin Cunxin was sitting grandly in the training grounds, half dozing with narrowed eyes, surrounded by quite a few guards.

“Hall Master Lin!”

Walking into the training grounds, Wangchuan called out with a loud laugh, “My apologies! I had to go out suddenly to carry out a mission and did not have time to inform you. Wangchuan has come specially to apologize in person.”

He still held great respect for the hall’s God of Wealth.

“Hall Master Wangchuan!”

“Greetings, Hall Master.”

In the training grounds, the Caobang disciples were all intimidated by the bloody stench clinging to Wangchuan and respectfully cupped their fists in salute.

Lin Cunxin had originally wanted to say something, but when he saw how filthy Wangchuan looked and was hit by the reeking stench, he woke up considerably. Looking more closely, he could even see that Wangchuan’s leather armor was covered with all kinds of snake bite holes, and the gaps in his battle armor were full of scraps of flesh and blood...

“No, no.”

“You are too polite, Hall Master Wangchuan.”

“You look as though you’ve just come back through dust and hardship. Where did you go? You’re not hurt, are you?”

More than half of the resentment in Lin Cunxin’s heart had already vanished, and what remained was pure curiosity.

Wangchuan gave him a mysterious smile and said, “I heard that the Five Poisons Sect was causing trouble, so I took some brothers into the mountains and burned down their branch helm.”

“...”

Lin Cunxin was shocked from brow to eye. He sucked in a sharp breath and looked Wangchuan up and down.

“Hall Master Wangchuan truly is a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. There are countless poisonous insects, snakes, and centipedes in those mountains, and yet you dared... You really burned down the Five Poisons Sect branch helm?”

“I did!”

Wangchuan nodded forcefully, his gaze steady.

“The people of the Five Poisons Sect were blind enough to attack Old Seven and Hall Master Yin! I had to make them understand the power of the Caobang! Now, the Five Poisons Sect branch helm no longer exists! Old Seven has already dealt with their branch helm leader as well. This year, we should finally be able to have a good New Year.”

“Excellent!”

Lin Cunxin grew excited as well and slapped Wangchuan hard on the arm. Then he suddenly noticed that Wangchuan’s physique seemed even stronger than before.

“After the battle at the Five Poisons Sect branch helm, Hall Master Wangchuan has grown stronger again. Just as expected—when people say battle can make a man grow quickly, they’re speaking the absolute truth!”

“If Deputy Hall Master has no further business, I’ll go wash up first and then come back later so we can talk properly?”

“No need, no need. Hall Master Wangchuan, you must be tired too. After you wash up, go get some rest first! I’ll keep watch over the hall for you tonight.”

“Then Wangchuan will accept your kindness.”

Wangchuan cupped his fist in salute. After Lin Cunxin returned the gesture, he turned and left the training grounds.