Chapter 316: Who Should Be Worried

Silver Thread Garment: Green Grade (Durability 100/100);

Defense +3; Heart Defense +15;

Crafted with gold-and-silver thread workmanship, a symbol of status and prestige.

…

Golden-Thread Soft Armor: Green Grade (Durability 100/100);

Defense +10;

A masterpiece of craftsmanship with an extremely complicated production process—though in truth it is forged from brass wire.

…

Thousand-Forged Steel Saber: Green Grade (Durability 100/100)

Attack 28–32;

The blade is steady and refined, a master artisan’s work.

…

Thousand-Forged Token:

Front: Caobang Deputy Hall Master (Acting)

Back: Wangchuan!

Under the attentive service of several attendants, Wangchuan changed into this set of attire.

Although the Golden-Thread Soft Armor provided two points less defense than the Fish Scale Inner Armor, it seemed to fit the body far better when worn, complementing the Silver Thread Garment perfectly.

The Silver Thread Garment’s Defense +3 gave two more points of protection than ordinary clothing reinforced with leather armor. The gains and losses balanced out, but the protection over the heart was genuinely much stronger.

Not bad.

After putting on the Silver Thread Garment that symbolized his status, tying up his hair, fastening the Thousand-Forged Token at his waist, and picking up the sheathed Thousand-Forged Steel Saber, he looked like a figure straight out of a film—tall, handsome, elegant, and imposing. His presence completely overshadowed Cui Mingjue and the other Caobang members around him.

“As expected of the Deputy Hall Master—truly heroic!”

“Tsk, tsk…”

“They say clothes make the man and the saddle makes the horse. That saying could not be truer.”

“With this outfit, the Deputy Hall Master is simply unparalleled.”

“The entire Sanhe Commandery hall gains face just by standing beside you.”

Several Caobang disciples were very good with words.

Wangchuan slung the Yellow Dragon Bow and a quiver of arrows onto his back.

He quietly fastened a soft sword belt, wrapped a circle of throwing knives around his waist, and concealed a Tang Sect hidden crossbow beneath the sleeves at his wrists…

The crowd stared in stunned silence.

Their Deputy Hall Master…

had elevated Caobang’s cowardice to several entirely new levels.

Of course, no one dared to say that aloud.

Wangchuan had long grown accustomed to such shocked looks.

The Sanhe Commandery hall had reached its most dangerous moment. He had already become the tallest pillar of the hall. If he did not arm himself to the teeth now, was he supposed to regret it only when danger arrived?

Hmph.

Wangchuan calmly hung a Heart-Piercing Crossbow at his waist and fitted several Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolts into place. Only then did he turn to Cui Mingjue, who stood speechless.

“Let’s go.”

“Brother Cui.”

“Let’s go meet Hall Master Zhao’s men.”

Since he had accepted this hot potato, he would naturally take over all of Zhao Jinshan’s subordinates as well.

Cui Mingjue finally snapped out of his daze. He nodded and said in a low voice,

“Wangchuan… how should I put it? The men under Hall Master Zhao… you need to be careful. Most of them came from the greenwood. Each one is unruly and defiant. Aside from the three Hall Masters, they respect no one. You… should be mentally prepared.”

“…”

Wangchuan paused for a moment, then sneered.

“If they do not possess Luo Laoqi’s strength and skill, they had better not jump out to challenge me. Otherwise, when the new official lights his three fires, I will use them to establish my authority.”

Only then did Cui Mingjue suddenly remember that the man before him was the fierce warrior who had slain Luo Laoqi. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, nodded, and silently began worrying for Hall Master Zhao’s men.

…

Under Cui Mingjue’s lead, Wangchuan arrived at the hall’s training grounds with Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, and the others.

Normally, these greenwood fighters gathered in the training grounds to practice.

But “practice” covered all kinds of activities.

Drinking wine and playing drinking games.

Gambling with Pai Gow tiles.

Two Second-Rank Martial Artists had even summoned two courtesans from some brothel. They were flirting and laughing together, filling the place with utter disorder and decadence.

When Wangchuan saw the scene, his brows twisted into a deep frown. He turned to look at Cui Mingjue.

The latter explained in a low voice,

“Since the three Hall Masters were injured and disappeared from sight, no one has been keeping them in check. They have begun to indulge themselves. Usually it is not like this.”

Wangchuan nodded thoughtfully.

At that moment, many people in the training grounds began looking over.

Wangchuan’s attire made him stand out among the greenwood fighters and Caobang disciples like a crane among chickens.

A young gentleman with pale skin and red lips, well-proportioned in build, dressed in gold and silver thread, radiating extraordinary elegance.

Several courtesans stared at him in a daze, as if they had spotted a red-crowned crane inside a chicken coop. Their eyes sparkled, unwilling to blink.

The noise in the training grounds immediately dropped.

Wangchuan stepped down the stairs and walked into the training grounds.

As he moved, the Thousand-Forged Steel Saber brushed against the Silver Thread Garment with a dull, hoarse rasp, while the Thousand-Forged Token struck against his waist—tap, tap—with every step.

Inside the training grounds, everyone was deeply shaken by the three words “Deputy Hall Master.” Instinctively, they straightened their posture, put down what they were holding, stood upright, and fixed their gaze ahead.

Cui Mingjue, Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, and the others followed behind him in formation, like a disciplined army marching into a bandit’s nest.

Only five Second-Rank Martial Artists remained seated casually, showing no intention of standing up to pay their respects.

Everyone else had already recognized who had arrived.

The Helm Leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm—the man who had slain the Beggar Sect’s Dog-Meat Branch Master Luo Laoqi only a few days ago.

…

Lin Jie.

A martial artist of the Caobang Sanhe Commandery hall whose strength had already reached the peak of the Second Rank. In many aspects, his combat ability rivaled that of an ordinary Third-Rank Martial Artist. He had fought Third-Rank opponents multiple times before.

When the four major branch helms of Sanhe Commandery faced this crisis, Lin Jie had originally prepared to step forward after the four branch helms were defeated. As a Caobang disciple of Sanhe Commandery, he planned to challenge Luo Laoqi and win Old Seven’s recognition, then take command of a branch helm and achieve a leap in status.

But unexpectedly—

That useless Luo Laoqi had fallen at the final moment to a young man barely dry behind the ears. In doing so, he handed the opportunity directly to Wangchuan, allowing him to soar to the heavens in a single step and enter the hall as the Deputy Hall Master.

How could Lin Jie accept that?

As Wangchuan entered with his men, Lin Jie did not move. His gaze was dark and cold, his entire body radiating a rebellious aura that clearly declared: I refuse to acknowledge you.

His brothers naturally advanced and retreated together with him.

Among the five Second-Rank Martial Artists:

One did not even bother to look at Wangchuan directly.

Another wore a mocking, disdainful smile.

Another slid his hands beneath a courtesan’s clothes while staring provocatively at Wangchuan.

Cui Mingjue stepped forward and said,

“By order of Old Seven, I accompany Deputy Hall Master Wangchuan to take over the training grounds. From now on, all disciples of the main hall will follow Hall Master Wangchuan’s commands. Why have you not come forward to pay your respects?”

The last sentence was directed at the surrounding First-Rank Martial Artists.

Those First-Rank Martial Artists were all shrewd individuals. One after another, they glanced toward Lin Jie.

No one dared to step forward first and slap Lin Jie in the face.

Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu’s expressions darkened.

These people…

actually dared to give their Helm Leader a show of disrespect.

“Cui the Cripple, where is the Hall Master? We have not seen him for several days. Instead of coming to greet us brothers, he throws us to some brat whose milk has barely dried…”

“What did you say?!”

Before Lin Jie could finish speaking, Chen Ergou roared and drew his saber.

“Defying your superior! Are you courting death?!”

Chen Ergou’s sudden move caught even Wangchuan off guard.

Cui Mingjue did not even have time to warn anyone before Chen Ergou had already lunged forward like a loyal hound protecting its master.

Lin Jie clearly had not expected the other party to attack without a word. He immediately shoved the courtesan away.

Someone beside him tossed him a weapon.

CLANG!!

An arrow shot out from behind Wangchuan.

Zhao Heiniu’s precise and lightning-fast 《Five-Finger Rapid Shot》 not only knocked Lin Jie’s steel saber off course but also sealed his retreat, disrupting his movement.

Chen Ergou’s blade came down with terrifying speed.

《Parting-Waters Saber Art》!

The blade swept past Lin Jie, who stood unarmed.

When he attempted to block—

his severed arm flew high into the air.

“AHHH!!!”

Blood sprayed everywhere as Lin Jie was kicked to the ground. Clutching his severed arm, he screamed in agony.

The entire training grounds fell into deathly silence.