Chapter 385: A Minor Incident at the Armory Manual Vault

Caobang, Armory Manual Vault.

Under Lin Zhentao’s guidance, Wangchuan arrived at the entrance to the Armory Manual Vault in the inner hall.

There was a small practice ground outside the entrance, with weapon racks set out and a desk positioned by the door.

When the two of them went in, a Caobang disciple was sprawled over the desk, dozing. Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth and soaked the tabletop.

“Senior Brother Hong.”

Lin Zhentao quickly walked over and knocked on the table.

Senior Brother Hong sleepily opened his eyes and glanced over, his gaze stopping on Wangchuan’s face as he looked him up and down.

“This is Deputy Hall Master Wangchuan from the Sanhe Commandery hall. The Gang Leader has rewarded him with two fifth-rank cultivation methods. Senior Brother Hong, please notify Elder Cao.”

Elder Cao was that nephew of the Gang Leader’s wife, the one responsible for guarding the Armory Manual Vault and copying down cultivation methods.

The moment Senior Brother Hong heard that the visitor was a Deputy Hall Master, a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes. But when he heard the rest, he immediately realized something was off and could not help blurting out in surprise:

“The Deputy Hall Master from Sanhe Commandery? Then wouldn’t that be the one who took third place at the martial tournament?”

“That would be me.”

Wangchuan cupped his fists and smiled faintly.

The martial tournament in Sanhe Commandery had already gained some measure of fame in the capital.

The disciple surnamed Hong suddenly stood up and nodded.

“Please wait a moment, Hall Master Wangchuan. I’ll notify Elder Cao right away.”

Before long, a middle-aged man around forty years old walked out from inside the Armory Manual Vault, his eyes half narrowed. His sharp gaze landed on Wangchuan’s face as he looked him up and down.

“So you’re Hall Master Wangchuan, the one who defeated that young master of the Xue Family at the martial tournament?”

Once Elder Cao appeared, Lin Zhentao immediately shut his mouth and stepped aside.

He truly did not understand why, despite his clear warning, Wangchuan had not sought help from Elders Wan Xiwen and Hu Weicheng.

Of course Lin Zhentao would not understand.

Those in power most feared subordinates acting clever on their own or forming cliques and private alliances.

For a local hall master or deputy hall master to be on particularly good terms with certain elders...

that was not actually a good thing.

In particular,

from the very moment Wangchuan had entered headquarters to pay his respects to the Gang Leader, he had clearly sensed the Gang Leader’s indifference.

He had plainly rendered great service to the gang, so why had the Gang Leader treated him so coldly?

But the instant Wangchuan imagined himself in the position of the Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery, he immediately understood.

The move of relying on Elder Wan Xiwen and Elder Hu Weicheng was probably a bad move.

And if he now followed the expected route and asked Elder Wan to accompany him to the Armory Manual Vault to demand the manuals...

then he would be branded as belonging to Elder Wan’s faction, or Elder Hu’s faction, and would inexplicably have taken sides within the Caobang.

It would be like standing openly with Lin Cunxin or Zhao Jinshan in front of Old Seven back at the Sanhe Commandery hall.

Lin Zhentao could not see these things clearly.

But how could Wangchuan, a Deputy Hall Master, fail to see them?

Having realized the mistake, he corrected it at once.

He had already guessed that this Elder Cao at the Armory Manual Vault was very likely a hurdle deliberately placed here by the Gang Leader, meant to test whether these hall leaders from below stood closer to one side or another.

With that thought in mind,

Wangchuan remained utterly calm and offered a respectful salute with cupped fists.

“Wangchuan greets Elder Cao.”

Elder Cao narrowed his eyes as he looked Wangchuan up and down.

“The merit you earned at the martial tournament does indeed warrant the reward of two fifth-rank martial art manuals. It’s just that Cao truly did not expect that at your age, you would break through to fourth rank so quickly...”

As he spoke, he nodded and revealed a lukewarm smile.

“As it happens, both you and I are at the fourth-rank realm. How about we exchange pointers a little?”

“It would be Wangchuan’s great honor if Elder Cao were willing to instruct this subordinate in martial arts.”

Wangchuan cupped his fists and agreed on the spot.

“...”

Elder Cao had not expected Wangchuan to be so straightforward that he would actually agree.

He frowned slightly, then waved his hand with a smile.

“Forget it.”

“You’ve only just advanced to fourth rank. If I make a move against you now, that would be bullying the young with age. If the Gang Leader found out, he’d probably box my ears.”

With that one sentence, he displayed the intimacy of his relationship with the Gang Leader.

At just the right moment, the disciple surnamed Hong spoke up from behind in reminder:

“Hall Master Wangchuan, our Elder Cao is the nephew of the Gang Leader’s wife.”

“Too much talk.”

Elder Cao pretended to scold him in displeasure.

Wangchuan hurriedly cupped his fists.

“Wangchuan did not know. My apologies for the disrespect!”

“Heh, don’t pay attention to that brat...”

“That young master from the Xue Family throws his weight around all day long on account of his family background. He’s unbearably arrogant! I’ve long found him an eyesore. The fact that you beat him was very well done!”

Elder Cao pretended to be warm and familiar as he patted Wangchuan on the arm.

“Once you’ve learned your fifth-rank cultivation methods, we’ll find a chance to spar.”

“Certainly.”

Wangchuan used as few words as possible.

Elder Cao cast Wangchuan a glance. Seeing that the man remained impervious to either soft or hard pressure, he felt somewhat awkward and had no choice but to change the subject.

“Have you already decided which two fifth-rank cultivation methods you want to practice? I can fetch them for you.”

It sounded like a gesture of goodwill, but in truth there was a trap hidden within it.

Wangchuan answered respectfully,

“Elder, your affairs are countless and important. Wangchuan would not dare trouble Elder Cao. I can enter the Armory Manual Vault myself and search slowly, to see whether there are any cultivation methods that suit me better. At the same time, I can take the opportunity to admire our Caobang’s sacred treasury of manuals.”

Elder Cao would have liked to block Wangchuan.

But...

even while still at third rank, Wangchuan had already been able to shine at the martial tournament, defeat Xue Lingsong, and then voluntarily give up the fight for first and second place. He was already recognized throughout the Caobang as the most promising future hall master, with boundless prospects ahead of him. There was no way someone like Elder Cao—a fourth-rank martial artist propped up through backdoor connections—could casually push him around.

If he truly offended this man...

neither the Gang Leader nor the Gang Leader’s wife would let him off easily.

“All right, then.”

“Once you’ve chosen them, just bring them out.”

Elder Cao stepped aside.

Wangchuan nodded in thanks and entered the Armory Manual Vault.

The Caobang’s Armory Manual Vault contained every cultivation method gathered from the various commandery halls and major subordinate branches. There were twelve entire display walls devoted to first-rank cultivation methods alone, with more than sixty manuals on each wall.

There were more than two hundred second-rank cultivation methods.

There were over one hundred and twenty third-rank cultivation methods.

There were far fewer fourth-rank cultivation methods, only a little over seventy. Still, for every category, there were at least several choices. For a gang, that was already quite respectable.

Wangchuan’s goal this time was fifth-rank cultivation methods.

The Caobang did not have many of them.

There were only eighteen in total.

What Wangchuan wanted most, in order to quickly form real fourth-rank combat strength, were sword arts and hidden weapon techniques—because his current lightness skill, body-protection art, and internal cultivation method were already at very solid realms and were sufficient for the time being.

The Caobang had exactly two fifth-rank sword arts in its collection: 《Raging Tide Sword Art》 and 《Cloud-Rising Sword Art》.

The former was suited to water combat and was relatively well-rounded;

the latter had been seized from a declining family and did not possess many remarkable qualities.

Wangchuan chose 《Raging Tide Sword Art》 without hesitation.

Then he saw a manual titled 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》.

A fifth-rank hidden weapon art!

Wangchuan’s eyes lit up.

He already possessed a third-rank art called 《Star-Plucking Hand》, which was also a hidden weapon technique suited to Iron Caltrops, throwing knives, darts, and the like...

But the techniques and destructive power of a fifth-rank hidden weapon art were obviously much stronger.

One for close combat, one for long-range attack, the two would complement each other perfectly!

Excellent!

Wangchuan made up his mind.

He did not leave at once. Instead, he moved to the final display wall.

Sixth-rank cultivation methods!

There were only six in total.

As for seventh-rank cultivation methods...

there were none.

At that moment, Wangchuan felt that he was already close to touching the summit of the Caobang. Further advancement from here on would become more and more difficult, and opportunities to obtain martial art manuals would grow scarcer and scarcer.