Chapter 414: Hall Shadow Guards

The weather turned cold.

Cold air swept south from the north.

Day and night, a faint layer of mist now hung over the waters of Sanhe Commandery, greatly increasing the risk of river travel. Boats gradually became fewer and fewer.

The dockside businesses of the various Sub-Helms and branch factions throughout Sanhe Commandery slowly began to quiet down.

Everyone had started making preparations for the year’s end.

After a year of hard work, it was time to rest.

But Wangchuan had not forgotten Blackstone Village, far away in Huishui County.

Worried that wild beasts might come down from the mountains and harass the village, he specifically had Zhao Heiniu arrange a squad to go to Blackstone Village and protect it, ensuring the safety of both the village and Blacksmith Sun.

After all, the Hall now had more than enough manpower.

Lin Cunxin, Zhao Heiniu, and Chen Ergou kept Hall affairs in perfect order.

The various Sub-Helms and dockside branches were each peaceful and secure.

From time to time, Wangchuan also learned about developments in Heitu Commandery and Shenyu Commandery from Divine Physician Shen of Medicine King Valley.

Although friction between both sides continued, the overall situation had stabilized, so there was no need for too much concern.

Only Qinghe Commandery remained a problem. The two Beggar Sect Inner Elders they had sent, together with a group of Outer Elders, kept running back and forth between the two commanderies, searching for any trace left behind by Elder Zheng, Qiu Dahong, and the others.

But the Beggar Sect still did not seem to suspect Sanhe Commandery Hall. According to outside information, after Ghost Old Seven had left Sanhe Commandery Hall, only Wangchuan remained. In their eyes, he could never have been Elder Zheng’s match, nor could he possibly have taken down Zhou Yunhai and Guan Qifeng.

The Beggar Sect’s attention remained fixed on Six Gates and the Lu Family.

Taking advantage of this, Wangchuan consumed three more Three-Flavors Pure Yang Pills in one go, raising 《Xuanwu Art》’s experience to 8700/.

He was still a long way from breaking through to “Transcendent Mastery.”

Still, the benefits brought by the three Three-Flavors Pure Yang Pills were considerable. They added 6 points of Stamina and 6 points of Spirit, and his status panel had now become:

Wangchuan: Male (Satiety 72/100)

(Life Profession: Blacksmith)

(Combat Profession: Fourth-Rank Martial Artist)

Strength 91; Attack 30–31;

Agility 131; Defense 26.2; Speed +131;

Stamina 98; Health 980/980;

Spirit 47: Inner Force 470/470.

Free Attribute Points: 0 (Distributable)

(Folded)

He still had two Three-Flavors Pure Yang Pills left in hand.

But their cooldown period was one full year.

If he took them during that time, they would only add 2 points of Spirit...

There was no need to waste such precious medicine.

Tap, tap.

Steady footsteps quickly approached from outside.

Zhao Heiniu walked in, followed by a familiar face, and cupped his fists in greeting.

“Hall Master!”

“This subordinate pays his respects to Hall Master.”

The former First-Rank Martial Artist was now an experienced Second-Rank one. Even his bearing and manner had grown steadier and steadier, and he had begun to carry some of the aura of a seasoned senior member of the gang.

Wangchuan gave him a long look, then smiled.

“This year, you have done well.”

“Wang Yuehui has applied on your behalf in the year-end merit report for one Third-Rank martial art and ten taels of gold. In addition, he proposed that you fill the vacant position of Deputy Sub-Helm Master of Sanjiang Sub-Helm...”

Li Qing grew visibly excited and immediately cupped his fists.

“All of this was merely this subordinate’s duty. Back when Hall Master kept me behind, I did not dare forget your instructions for even a moment. I have worked diligently and never dared slack off.”

Wangchuan smiled faintly.

“In truth, I have two arrangements in mind for you.”

Li Qing’s eyes lit up, and he listened respectfully.

Wangchuan said bluntly,

“The first is to promote you to Deputy Sub-Helm Master of Sanjiang Sub-Helm, where you would continue assisting Wang Yuehui in managing the Sanjiang Sub-Helm. After all, now that your cultivation has risen, you are no longer a minor figure in Hejiang Town. Continuing to hide at the dockside square there no longer serves much purpose.”

Li Qing’s gaze burned with excitement.

What Caobang disciple did not want to rise in rank and make a name for himself?

But he did not respond immediately. He wanted to hear what the second arrangement was.

“As for the second choice... my original intention was that after the New Year, I would transfer you here to the prefectural city and have you lead a team at the dockside square of General Headquarters, where you would be responsible for identifying and monitoring outsiders entering Sanhe Commandery. In other words, you would go from being a hidden line in Hejiang Town to being a hidden line for the entire commandery.”

Li Qing had always been a clever man. He instantly understood that these two choices represented one proposal from Wang Yuehui, and the other was Hall Master’s own arrangement...

“This subordinate chooses to come to the prefectural city and follow Hall Master!”

Li Qing cupped his fists respectfully and said in a ringing voice,

“This subordinate is willing to come to the prefectural city and become Hall Master’s eyes.”

Smart.

Sooner or later, the Beggar Sect would suspect him. He needed a clever man to help him monitor the entire prefectural city.

Li Qing had rich experience, sharp eyes, and an exceptional memory. He was the ideal candidate.

Still, Wangchuan had needed to see whether Li Qing himself was willing to remain in the shadows as an unsung figure.

Now it seemed Li Qing understood perfectly well.

Wangchuan smiled and nodded.

“In that case.”

“Go back and make your preparations. You are permitted to bring a team with you to report here at the prefectural city.”

“And furthermore!”

“At the end of the year, every one of the men under you will receive two martial manuals and ten taels of gold as a year-end reward.”

“As for you, I will give you a position as one of the Hall’s Shadow Guards. From now on, when you enter or leave the Hall, you need answer only to me and Deputy Hall Master Zhao... As for the martial manuals in the Armory, you may consult them whenever you wish.”

The moment those words were spoken, Li Qing was overjoyed. His whole body trembled with excitement.

“Many thanks, Hall Master!”

Li Qing dropped to his knees in a bow.

“Though Hall Shadow Guard was only a newly created position, the privilege of consulting the Armory’s martial manuals at any time placed him on the same footing as the various Sub-Helm Masters, Island Masters, and Mine Masters.”

That carried far more weight than the position of Deputy Sub-Helm Master of Sanjiang Sub-Helm.

Moreover...

he would answer directly to Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master.

That meant he had become one of Hall Master’s trusted confidants.

“This subordinate is willing to die for Hall Master!!”

Li Qing understood the meaning behind it at once. His face flushed red, his blood surged, and his voice nearly shook apart with emotion.

Wangchuan grinned and said,

“The security of Sanhe Commandery will be in your hands from now on. As for how many men you need, and which men you want, you may recruit them yourself. You may draw people freely from the Sub-Helms, the Main Helm, and the Hall. Everyone under you will receive terms twenty percent better than what they currently enjoy.”

Li Qing grew even more excited.

Recruit freely!

That meant the team under him could expand from its original dozen or so men to a hundred, or even more. Was that not authority on par with the various heads of departments?

“Hall Master, rest assured!”

“Give this subordinate ten days!”

“I will make sure every household inside and outside Sanhe Commandery is accounted for. If even a fly enters, this subordinate will know at once which house it flew out of!”

Li Qing’s voice became increasingly fervent.

Wangchuan nodded and reminded him,

“Our current potential enemies are the Beggar Sect, the Five Poisons Sect, the Salt Gang, and the Honglou organization, which has gone silent for some time now.”

“After the New Year, business will recover, and the shipping trade of Sanhe Commandery must not suffer the slightest disruption!”

“This subordinate understands!”

“This subordinate will do his utmost and recruit men as quickly as possible, infiltrating every brothel, tavern, and inn in Sanhe Commandery, and building up the intelligence network.”