Chapter 296: Turmoil at the Water Stronghold

Yin Xingtian’s handwritten message was brief:

“The fleets of the Leishui Branch Helm and the Jinhe Branch Helm have been attacked. Dozens of disciples are dead or wounded, and a significant amount of cargo has been lost. Wangchuan, remain vigilant!”

Su Wangchuan immediately understood.

Trouble had arrived for the Caobang.

Various forces, seeing that the Caobang had suffered severe losses, were taking advantage of the weakness—raiding ships, killing crews, and looting cargo.

The two branch helms were already short of manpower and could barely provide escorts. After suffering such heavy losses, the situation had only become more difficult.

Su Wangchuan immediately sought out Yang Feiyue and invited him to discuss the matter in his courtyard.

Yang Feiyue glanced at the note Su Wangchuan handed over and sighed softly.

“This was inevitable.”

“The Caobang’s control over these three waterways originally came from the four branch helms and more than twenty dock halls up and down the rivers… When our forces were strong, the local factions hidden in the wilderness and the cities had to behave carefully. At most, they could only collect a little profit each month.”

At this point, his expression grew complicated.

“But now that so many people have died, the fierce tiger has turned into a sick cat. Those people must be shining with excitement, eager to seize the chance to take a huge bite out of the fat meat.”

“Aren’t they afraid the Caobang will settle accounts afterward?”

“You are underestimating them.”

A cold light flashed in Yang Feiyue’s eyes.

“These water bandits and local forces within the cities also have their own sources of intelligence and backing.”

“Every dock hall of the Caobang generates enormous daily profits! The shipping business here has been flourishing, and all the money flows into the Caobang’s pockets. Do you think those local clans and factions are not envious? The Beggar Sect is certainly envious! The Caobang’s reputation is already close to surpassing the Beggar Sect’s title as the largest gang under heaven.”

When Yang Feiyue said this, Su Wangchuan suddenly realized something.

Ordinary minor factions probably still did not know how severe the Caobang’s losses were. The real enemies preparing to strike were likely the Beggar Sect and the major local powers.

When a great whale falls, countless creatures feed.

The shipping trade extended across the entire Nanyu Kingdom.

If the Caobang were dragged down, many gangs would profit enormously.

At that moment, Su Wangchuan suddenly realized that the Caobang was standing on the edge of a dangerous cliff.

Behind those water bandits and gangs stood powerful forces waiting to carve up the Caobang’s shipping business and assets.

A chill ran down his spine.

It was not only the Caobang of Sanhe Commandery and the Sanjiang Branch Helm that were in danger.

The entire Caobang would soon face hard times.

“Ergou.”

“Continue recruiting probationary disciples tomorrow.”

“Notify Fei Zai and Bai Yuhui, as well as the captains in the upstream waterways. Tell them to keep recruiting. The Sanjiang waterways must remain stable.”

Su Wangchuan issued the orders.

Chen Ergou, who was standing nearby, immediately nodded solemnly.

“Yes!”

After Chen Ergou left, Su Wangchuan asked another question.

“In the Sanjiang waterways, the largest water bandit stronghold is the Nu Tao Gang. That place has dense aquatic plants and constant fog. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. I worry someone may occupy it and use it to choke our downstream routes, causing trouble for the Sanjiang Branch Helm.”

According to reports from the downstream waterways, the Water Stronghold was empty. The Yulong Gang disciples previously stationed there had all been killed by the blood fog—no bodies, no survivors.

“You want to take it?”

Yang Feiyue asked.

Su Wangchuan nodded.

“Instead of letting someone choke us, it is better to strike first and seize it.”

“If you truly want to do this, I can go personally.”

Yang Feiyue volunteered.

“I know a hidden water route that can quickly scout the stronghold. I am also familiar with the area and know many hiding places.”

“Take advantage of the night. I will go now. Even if I encounter a Third-Rank Martial Artist, they will not be able to stop me.”

“Then I will trouble you, Gang Leader.”

Su Wangchuan clasped his fists.

“You can take a few brothers skilled in swimming with you.”

Yang Feiyue shook his head.

“I will go alone. A smaller target is harder to detect. If something happens, it will also be easier to escape.”

The two agreed that if anything occurred, Yang Feiyue could pass intelligence through Fei Zai or Lin Xun.

Soon after, Yang Feiyue fully armed himself. Under the cover of a moonless night and strong wind, he boarded a fast boat and rowed downriver.

Unexpectedly, that very night, after entering the Yulong Gang’s Water Stronghold, Yang Feiyue discovered a group of martial artists hiding in the nearby mountains.

Six First-Rank Martial Artists and more than a dozen full-fledged Martial Artists were secretly gathered inside the mine tunnel, eating and drinking while discussing which section of the river they would raid the next day.

From their clothing and speech, they appeared to be disciples of the Beggar Sect.

Without hesitation, Yang Feiyue quietly left the stronghold and sought out Fei Zai.

There was no need to notify the Sanjiang Branch Helm.

Fei Zai immediately gathered more than forty skilled fighters. Under Yang Feiyue’s guidance, they silently infiltrated the mine tunnel and surrounded the entire group.

The next night, because nothing unusual had happened in the waterways, a Beggar Sect disciple came to check the stronghold.

When he entered the mine tunnel, he saw blood everywhere. It looked like the scene of a brutal massacre—yet not a single body remained.

The Beggar Sect disciple was terrified out of his wits and fled the stronghold in panic.

Soon afterward, rumors spread across Sanhe Commandery that the ruins of the Nu Tao Gang Water Stronghold might contain a blood-fog beast.

Su Wangchuan later learned from Yang Feiyue that he had deliberately arranged the stronghold to appear extremely bloody, even creating the illusion that corpses had been dragged into the surrounding forest.

This made everyone believe that a blood-fog beast was lurking there.

Except for true experts, no water bandits dared approach the stronghold or attempt to seize control of that section of the waterway.

Taking advantage of the situation, Su Wangchuan cultivated the 《Shaolin Subduing Tiger Fist》 and gained another three points of Strength.

His Strength attribute reached fifty.

The shipping business of the Sanjiang Branch Helm continued operating normally.

However, grim news kept arriving from Sanhe Commandery.

Almost every day, water bandits attacked ships belonging to the Leishui Branch Helm and the Jinhe Branch Helm.

Although Yin Xingtian and Old Seven had recruited more martial artists to rebuild the three branch helms, the water bandits specifically targeted weaker vessels. Every day, casualties occurred—men thrown into the river to feed the fish.

Shipping profits plummeted.

The Caobang also had to compensate for lost cargo.

Increasingly, families and merchants began hiring escort caravans to transport goods instead of relying on the Caobang.

Even the business in the Sanjiang waterways was affected. Daily income dropped by at least twenty percent.

Su Wangchuan did not panic.

Although the Sanjiang Branch Helm’s income had decreased somewhat, the revenue from Rong County filled the gap.

Meanwhile, some of the lost shipping business shifted to the Qingfeng Escort Agency.

When the escort agency’s business improved, the profits still ended up in his hands.

In fact, his daily income had not decreased at all. Instead, it had increased by nearly ten to twenty percent.

Therefore, even if the Caobang eventually collapsed, he was not afraid.

As long as he had money and loyal people under his command, he could continue cultivating every day without interruption.