Chapter 363: One of Our Own

“Hold the tournament!”

“Make this internal tournament a grand affair. Then make it a success—make it such a success that the big figures of the Caobang can take pride in it. If you do that, your name will have a chance to be known above.”

When Constable Captain He saw the change in Wangchuan’s expression, he knew Wangchuan had already grasped the trick hidden within it. So he continued, word by word:

“Of course!”

“One time alone will not guarantee your success. The key is to keep producing results, to keep blowing your name into the ears of the Caobang’s upper echelon, into the ears of the court, the Ministry of Revenue, the Transport Commission, and the other great men. Once your name is mentioned often enough, someone will remember you and give you that opportunity!”

The moment Constable Captain He finished speaking, Constable Captain Yu leaned in as well and added,

“In the Caobang, if you want to rise above the crowd, reputation is important! Jianghu Reputation is important! Why do you think there are so many fame-hungry frauds in the Jianghu? Their reputations are all blown into existence! But reputation truly can bring you real advantages. Never look down on fame and profit in the Jianghu!”

“...”

Wangchuan nodded silently.

Then he rose and poured wine for the two Constable Captains.

Raising his cup in invitation, Wangchuan said, “Hearing your words today is better than reading for ten years. Wangchuan will engrave today’s guidance from the two honored sirs in his heart and never dare forget it. I drink to you both!”

Constable Captain He and Constable Captain Yu rose at the same time and drank with him.

“Haha!”

“We only said so much because we found you pleasing to the eye and of a kindred temperament.”

“But as for what you do afterward and what path you walk, that is up to you. We can only say this much.”

“Please rest assured, honored sirs. Once I return, I will plan it all carefully. I will certainly not let your painstaking advice go to waste.” Wangchuan lifted his cup again in another toast.

When he left the restaurant and parted from the two Constable Captains, Wangchuan’s mind was completely clear.

Chen Ergou followed behind him with the others.

Wangchuan stepped over the bluestone paving of the street, letting the cold wind blowing in from the river wash over him.

After the beginning of winter, the weather had already turned cold.

Lanterns hung high over the main gate of the hall, and light blazed brilliantly inside.

“Hall Master!”

“Hall Master!”

The Caobang disciples on duty at the entrance all took the initiative to salute him.

Wangchuan nodded slightly and walked into the training grounds, his mind still occupied with how to make this internal tournament break beyond the ordinary circle, what would count as true success, and how he might win the attention of those great figures above.

“Hall Master!”

Cui Mingjue’s voice reached his ears.

When Wangchuan came back to himself, Cui Mingjue had already stopped nearby and cupped his fists.

“Old Seven has instructed that once you return, you are to go see him.”

“All right.”

Wangchuan immediately cast aside those thoughts and nodded seriously.

“You went to see the two Constable Captains?”

Old Seven was drinking tea in the pavilion while Cui Mingjue stepped forward to refill his cup.

Wangchuan nodded.

“The two Constable Captains had just returned from working a case outside, so I took the opportunity to deliver the Gold Notes to them... As expected, money really can make the devil turn the millstone. Constable Captain He and Constable Captain Yu personally hosted a banquet, and they were in excellent spirits the whole time. We talked about quite a lot.”

“Heh.”

“Those men of the Six Gates may look stern and upright on the outside, but once they’ve taken money, they’re not much different from wine sacks and rice bags.”

Old Seven was clearly deeply prejudiced against the Six Gates and had no interest at all in what had been said at the table. Instead, he changed the subject.

“I heard that Constable Captain He has been investigating the monster that appeared during the Blood Moon Incident. After all, he is the only one who has seen that thing. In the future, pay more attention to it. Perhaps he really will uncover something.”

Old Seven was clearly very concerned about the monster in the blood mist.

Wangchuan fell into thought and nodded.

“If the opportunity arises, this subordinate will sound him out.”

“Mm.”

“Have you drawn up the specific rules for the tournament yet?”

What Old Seven really wanted to know was the exact framework of the tournament.

Wangchuan had originally already formed a fairly concrete outline, but after speaking with the two Constable Captains, he had changed some of his ideas. So he replied,

“This subordinate will strive to produce the detailed regulations within the next two days.”

“Good. Move quickly.”

Old Seven did not press him too hard and only reminded him,

“This internal tournament will be the first of its kind in the Caobang’s history. If it is run successfully and with real highlights, it is very likely to attract the attention of the upper ranks and may even win rewards from above. Put your heart into it! I will do my best to push you upward and let those above see your ability.”

Old Seven’s words stirred Wangchuan’s heart.

He had not expected that Old Seven intended to use this opportunity to recommend him.

Old Seven continued,

“You are young, gifted, brave, and resourceful. In Hall Master Yin’s words, you can absolutely stand on your own in the future. If we can find a chance to push you forward and let you take charge of a hall, then when the time comes, if we join forces, our influence and voice within the Caobang will both rise.”

Old Seven and Yin Xingtian were clearly thinking very far ahead.

Wangchuan felt both moved and excited.

He knew that because of Poison Sand Palm and because of this entire Qinghe Commandery affair, he had completely won the trust and recognition of both Old Seven and Yin Xingtian. He had become one of their own.

Even so, he still did not reveal the guidance the two Constable Captains had given him. He merely cupped his fists respectfully and said,

“Many thanks, Old Seven!”

“Please rest assured, Old Seven! This subordinate will absolutely devote himself to this internal tournament and will never disappoint you!”

“Mm.”

Old Seven nodded and smiled faintly.

“When you handle things, I am at ease.”

Then he took out two martial arts manuals and a familiar little box from his robe and pushed them over together with the Gold Notes.

“The rewards from above have arrived. Two fourth-rank martial arts manuals, one Lesser Rejuvenation Pill, and two thousand taels in Gold Notes.”

“Many thanks, Old Seven.”

Wangchuan accepted the rewards.

One was the fourth-rank martial art 《Water Dragon Vortex Staff Art》;

the other was the fourth-rank martial art 《Thunderclap Hammer Art》;

both were strength-based martial arts, so there was some overlap.

No matter.

If he could not use them himself, he could always reward them to others.

He carefully put everything away. Then Old Seven drew a deep breath and revealed a piece of intelligence he had only just received:

“The operation against the Beggar Sect in Qinghe Commandery has provoked retaliation from them... The Beggar Sect has dispatched two martial artists of fifth-rank cultivation. In broad daylight on the street, they split two of our Caobang second-rank martial artists to death, as well as a third-rank martial artist from the Lu Family. Then, right in front of Six Gates law enforcers, they cut off heads and strode away.”

“...”

A chill ran violently through Wangchuan’s heart.

“Has the Beggar Sect gone mad? Are they trying to tear their faces with the court and go to war?”

“The Beggar Sect has already publicly announced that those two fifth-rank martial artists have openly renounced the sect. They claim that whatever those men do has nothing to do with the Beggar Sect, and they have also ordered all sub-branches not to provide any help. The authorities have no choice but to follow the rules, issue a Maritime Wanted Order, and place an enormous bounty on them.”

With a worried expression, Old Seven said,

“Now, the Qinghe Commandery hall, the Lu Family, and the Six Gates are all facing a great enemy. Every one of them fears that those fifth-rank martial artists may come to their doors. I’ve heard the Lu Family has already offered a sky-high price to hire a fifth-rank martial artist as a personal guard.”

This news shook Wangchuan deeply, and he could not help thinking how fortunate it was that Sanhe Commandery had not been dragged into the affair.

He still remembered vividly the disastrous aftermath caused by that single fifth-rank martial artist who had attacked the Imperial Envoy Dragon Boat.

And now two utterly unrestrained fifth-rank martial artists had appeared, men no one could stop...

Qinghe Commandery truly was a case of one wave not yet settled before another rose.