Chapter 382: Go to the Capital to Study

The martial tournament had officially ended.

That very night, Wangchuan received reports from the people below him.

In a single day, the hall had recruited more than three hundred formal martial artists, one hundred and twenty-seven first-rank martial artists, and forty-four second-rank martial artists!

As well as five third-rank martial artists who had not cultivated an internal cultivation method and had been eliminated in the very first round.

Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, and Gao Quan had already registered and compiled all of these people’s information into records and sent them to the Six Gates for verification. As long as there were no problems with their identities or backgrounds, they could be incorporated into the hall.

Wangchuan was in a good mood.

But when Lu Ping’an and Lu Ningshuang came to bid farewell, his mood could not help but sink and grow heavier.

“Hall Master Wangchuan!”

Lu Ping’an said in a relaxed tone,

“This time, many thanks to you for letting me smoothly win the one thousand taels of gold and the championship of this martial tournament! If you ever have the chance to come to Qinghe Commandery in the future, allow me to play the host properly.”

“Certainly! If I have the time, I will definitely come pay a visit.”

Wangchuan smiled and returned the salute with cupped fists.

“By the time you come over, the two of us will probably already both be fourth-rank martial artists,” Lu Ping’an said meaningfully.

Wangchuan smiled and nodded.

“Of course. Young Master Lu already overwhelms ordinary fourth-rank martial artists. Breaking through to fourth rank will be effortless for you... Wangchuan certainly will not fall behind. I will strive to break through to fourth rank as soon as possible, and when that time comes, I’ll serve as your sparring partner again.”

“Good! Then when the time comes, we’ll have a proper match.”

Lu Ping’an cupped his fists and said,

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Lu Ningshuang also cupped her fists.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, we have troubled you greatly during this period. Farewell... If you ever have the time, you must come to Qinghe Commandery and have some fun.”

“Certainly!”

Wangchuan led people to see Lu Ping’an and his sister off.

By the time he returned to the hall, it was already late.

Cui Mingjue was waiting at the entrance and stepped forward respectfully to receive him.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, Old Seven, Elder Wan, and Elder Hu are waiting for you in the council hall. They said that the moment you returned, you were to go over at once.”

“Good!”

The moment Wangchuan heard that the three big shots were waiting for him, he hurried over at a quick pace.

Wan Xiwen and Hu Weicheng were standing there with smiling faces, examining that giant bear pelt.

At the side, Old Seven was recounting to the two elders how the giant bear pelt had come to be.

“Two Elders!”

“Old Seven!”

As Wangchuan stepped inside, he respectfully offered his greetings.

All three turned around at once, smiling broadly.

“Wangchuan is here.”

“Our Caobang’s youngest and most promising Deputy Hall Master! A man of merit indeed. Come over and let us get a proper look at you.”

This was Wan Xiwen’s first time formally meeting Wangchuan, yet he spoke in the tone one would use with a junior, his smile kind and amiable.

Hu Weicheng wore an equally warm and familiar smile.

“A hero truly does emerge in youth!”

“This time, our Caobang was able to take third place because of you, Wangchuan. You really made our Caobang feel proud and triumphant!”

“Exactly!”

“Especially when you dealt with those three fellows from the Beggar Sect. You acted decisively and ruthlessly, injuring the Beggar Sect’s pride badly while still leaving enough leeway that none of the other parties could seize a pretext against you! You understand the measure of things very well. Excellent.”

The two elders praised Wangchuan until he felt somewhat embarrassed.

“In truth, it was only because the two elders were here to oversee things and protect us that this subordinate dared act so boldly.”

Wangchuan responded with cupped fists.

At the side, Old Seven smiled and nodded in approval.

Wangchuan had answered well.

Sure enough!

Wan Xiwen’s and Hu Weicheng’s smiles grew even brighter.

“Not bad.”

“No wonder Ghost Old Seven and Yin Xingtian have both strongly recommended you and spoken well of you.”

“You are young and promising, daring in battle, yet you also possess breadth of mind and strategy. You truly can take charge of a region and sit in command of a hall.”

Wan Xiwen’s appreciation for Wangchuan was plain to see.

Hu Weicheng nodded repeatedly.

“This time, Wangchuan was able to defeat Xue Lingsong from the capital. His strength is already no weaker than that of ordinary fourth-rank martial artists. He truly can bear great responsibility. If a hall position opens up in the future, your name will be among those nominated.”

“Many thanks to the two elders for your recommendation! This subordinate will never forget it for the rest of his life!”

Wangchuan cupped his fists in salute.

The two elders held considerable influence within the Caobang. If Yin Xingtian and the important figure backing him were also willing to speak on Wangchuan’s behalf, then his chances really would be very great.

At this time, Old Seven interjected,

“Two Elders.”

“The martial tournament has already concluded successfully.”

“In both the second-rank and third-rank competitions, our Caobang achieved results and rankings. The hall has now given those above a satisfactory account.”

“I wonder whether it might be possible to arrange for Wangchuan to go to the capital and spend some time studying and cultivating at our headquarters?”

Old Seven’s proposal caused Wangchuan to freeze for a moment.

Wan Xiwen and Hu Weicheng, however, immediately understood Old Seven’s meaning. The two looked at one another and burst into laughter, pointing at him.

“You sly Ghost Old Seven, you’ve got plenty of tricks.”

“Hahahahaha...”

Hu Weicheng laughed and said,

“You call this sending Wangchuan to headquarters to study and cultivate? What you really want is to seize this chance to bring him before the Gang Leader and request credit for him. We already heard about how Wangchuan cultivated 《Poison Sand Palm》 to draw the poison out of your body. Are you really that eager to push him into a Hall Master’s seat?”

Only then did Wangchuan understand.

Old Seven wanted to strike while the iron was hot and create an opportunity for him, so that the Caobang’s Gang Leader and more of the important figures above would remember his name.

With the credit of the martial tournament, his third-place finish in the third-rank competition, and his record of heavily injuring three third-rank martial artists from the Beggar Sect, those above would certainly have to grant some sort of reward.

Wangchuan cast Old Seven a grateful glance.

Old Seven pretended not to notice and said to the two elders,

“Wangchuan is a talent, but if he continues to remain in Sanhe Commandery, it is quite possible that he will attract retaliation and targeting from the Beggar Sect. This subordinate is only a third-rank martial artist and truly has no confidence in my ability to protect him. So I am shamelessly begging the two elders to take Wangchuan back with you when you return to the capital. At the very least, let him safely break through to fourth rank and cultivate at headquarters for a while, studying fifth-rank martial arts and mastering some means of self-preservation.”

Old Seven’s words were heartfelt and sincere, and the two elders immediately grew serious.

A grave look entered Wan Xiwen’s eyes as he nodded and said,

“In Sanhe Commandery, the Beggar Sect first lost two fifth-rank elders, and then had three third-rank fighters crippled as well. During the martial tournament, they lost face completely.”

“And the Lu Family’s young master, Lu Ping’an, became the champion of this martial tournament!”

“With the narrow-mindedness of those Beggar Sect beggars, the chances are very high that they will retaliate against Sanhe Commandery before long!”

“Wangchuan...”

“is indeed in a dangerous position.”

“Very well!”

At this point, Wan Xiwen nodded and agreed.

“Tomorrow morning, when we return to the capital, we will take Wangchuan with us! Wangchuan may use one of Sanhe Commandery’s study-and-cultivation quotas and stay at headquarters with us for a time. At the same time, the Gang Leader can take a look at this rising talent from Sanhe Commandery.”

Hu Weicheng smiled and nodded in support.

Old Seven and Wangchuan both cupped their fists in thanks at the same time:

“Many thanks, Elder Wan! Many thanks, Elder Hu!”

“Many thanks, Elder Wan! Many thanks, Elder Hu!”

Wangchuan was elated.

The capital!

He had long heard that the capital was where countless disciples of famous sects and experts from the major schools of the Jianghu gathered, and that all kinds of rare, high-grade equipment and martial arts manuals could be found there.

This trip to the capital was his opportunity!

“Wangchuan, go and make your preparations.”

Old Seven instructed Wangchuan,

“Settle the matters of the Sanjiang Branch Helm and the hall first.”

“Yes!”

Wangchuan accepted the order with cupped fists and withdrew.