Chapter 450: Persuading Captain Bai

“Hall Master, there’s something you may not know.”

Su Wan appeared behind Su Wangchuan. Dressed in Caobang disciple garb, she still carried that bright, lively charm about her. Folding her arms, she looked toward Yan Xiaobei on the training grounds and explained,

“From the very beginning, spirit realm did not allow Gaming Helmets to be issued to any boys or girls under eighteen. It was only after last year’s Blood Moon Incident that the age limit was lowered to sixteen. Xiaobei only entered spirit realm at that time.”

Su Wangchuan suddenly understood.

He remembered that he too had only been recruited into Warring States Game Studio after turning eighteen.

His gaze shifted to Madam Yan, who was seated nearby.

Madam Yan looked to be around forty, with a gentle, refined air about her. At a glance, she seemed no more than a delicate woman incapable of trussing a chicken.

“And Madam Yan?”

Su Wan lowered her head with a sigh.

“Madam Yan grew up in a powerful noble household. Let alone practicing martial arts, she’s spent her whole life surrounded by servants. She’s never done any real work and simply cannot endure the hardship of martial training.”

...

Su Wangchuan frowned slightly.

Yan Tiannan had protected his wife too well.

At a time when the game was encroaching on reality, that was not a good thing.

Su Wan seemed to understand what Su Wangchuan was worried about and explained,

“Boss, don’t worry. Madam Yan basically only logs in for her meals each day. Other than that, she hardly ever comes online. As long as the hall itself is not destroyed, her safety won’t be a problem. You only need to protect Yan Xiaobei.”

Hearing that, Su Wangchuan relaxed.

The hall being wiped out was basically impossible.

So all he really had to do was protect Yan Xiaobei.

Changing the subject, he asked,

“How did Yan Xiaobei react to his father being assassinated? What’s his state of mind now? He’s not thinking of going out to seek revenge, is he?”

“No.”

Su Wan shook her head and replied,

“The spirit realm Online Guidance Center hired a well-known psychologist to counsel him and help him come to terms with everything inside spirit realm. His mindset is normal now. Besides, the Crimson Pavilion has already been destroyed, and only the Pavilion Master’s whereabouts remain unknown. Even if he wanted revenge, he would have no one to find.”

Then she turned to look at him from the side.

“So letting Xiaobei train here in the hall and steadily raising his rank and cultivation is the best choice. Once he breaks through to the Third Rank, he should at least have some ability to protect himself.”

“Mm.”

Su Wangchuan nodded.

Then Su Wan pulled out a stack of Gold Notes from her robes.

“This is the remainder of Boss Yan’s estate. After selling the Capital residence, everything left is here. There are nineteen thousand taels of gold in total, and one Lesser Rejuvenation Pill.”

Su Wangchuan did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the “protection fee” and said to Su Wan,

“I’ll leave the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill for Yan Xiaobei. Before he died, his father gave me a great deal of guidance, so you don’t need to worry. I’ll take good care of his son.”

“You don’t need to keep such close watch in the game anymore either. Just stay in their courtyard day to day... and manage the Warring States Building and Red Moon Mall for me.”

“Understood, Boss!”

Once the handover was complete, Su Wan turned and left at once, quick and decisive.

...

After Su Wan left, Su Wangchuan found Bai Jingtang in his own courtyard.

She was sitting in the pavilion drinking tea.

Bai Yuhui stood at her side attending to her.

Su Yun and Su Qi were off to one side cultivating niche martial arts.

When they saw Su Wangchuan come in, Su Yun and Su Qi both stopped and saluted.

Bai Yuhui got to his feet and greeted him cheerfully,

“Senior Brother!”

Bai Jingtang had just started to rise as well when Su Wangchuan quickly walked in and said,

“No, don’t. Captain Bai, please sit. We’re all our own people here. There’s no need to be so formal.”

Bai Jingtang was indeed deeply shaken by Su Wangchuan’s changes. He had broken through the Fourth Rank and Fifth Rank at astonishing speed, cleanly surpassing her and leaving her behind.

The identity she had once held as a Qingcheng Sect disciple now seemed to have fallen behind even a Caobang disciple.

What made her sigh even more bitterly was this:

Between her and Su Wangchuan, Yan Tiannan had chosen Su Wangchuan without the slightest hesitation.

That meant Boss Yan had already concluded that, going forward, Sanjiang Studio was the safer place, as solid as a rock.

Su Wangchuan sat down opposite Bai Jingtang. Pretending not to notice the dazed expression on her face, he smiled and said to Bai Yuhui,

“Yuhui, you’ve been in Heilong County for half a year now. When are you going to break through to the Fourth Rank?”

“Senior Brother, how can I? I don’t even have any fourth-rank cultivation methods. I’m stuck right now.”

“When you went to the Capital, didn’t you buy any fourth-rank cultivation methods?”

Su Wangchuan asked with a puzzled look.

“The Heilong County Hall should be able to save up at least ten thousand taels of gold in a year. You don’t have to turn anything in to me, and you don’t have to pay tribute to the Yulong Gang either. Buying a few fourth-rank cultivation methods should’ve been easy.”

Bai Yuhui scratched his head awkwardly.

“Well... I was thinking that since you’re already the Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery, maybe I could buy some cheaper ones from you. If I spend all my money now, it’ll be hard to push for the Fifth Rank later.”

“You really do think far ahead.”

Su Wangchuan could not help but laugh.

“I don’t have any master copies of fourth-rank cultivation methods on hand either... Fine, I’ll take some time later and make you a fourth-rank sword manual.”

Bai Yuhui immediately stood up and poured tea for him.

“Many thanks, Senior Brother! As expected, Senior Brother still treats me the best.”

Bai Jingtang was startled and fixed her gaze on Su Wangchuan.

“You can already make fourth-rank sword manuals? Which sword art have you cultivated to Perfect Mastery?”

“《Water-Moon Sword Art》.”

Su Wangchuan took a sip of tea and said,

“That was also part of the fortune Boss Yan left me. His body-protection technique and inner cultivation method were perfect for sparring. Not only did they help me raise 《Water-Moon Sword Art》 to Perfect Mastery, but my 《Raging Tide Sword Art》 also broke through to Perfect Mastery. It’s a pity, Captain Bai, that you’ve already cultivated a fifth-rank sword art. Otherwise, you could have practiced another fifth-rank cultivation method as well.”

...

Bai Jingtang’s feelings became even more complicated.

Su Wangchuan’s fourth-rank sword art and fifth-rank sword art had both broken through to Perfect Mastery...

He had truly stepped into the ranks of the experts now.

The moment she thought about how she had been frustrated at every turn in Weihai Commandery, her mood became even more tangled.

Bai Yuhui was very good at reading the room. He immediately sat down and said to Bai Jingtang,

“Elder Sister! Why stay in Weihai Commandery? That place is too competitive, and the situation is too complicated. You might as well bring your people back to Sanhe Commandery! Join the Caobang! Right, Senior Brother?”

Su Wangchuan smiled.

“If Captain Bai is willing to come, I couldn’t ask for more! I’ve always hoped Captain Bai would come help me!”

To show his sincerity, he spoke plainly:

“Captain Bai has guided me in martial arts more than once in the past. If you’re willing to come, I’ll at least find you a hall of your own... The monthly income won’t be any lower than Heilong County’s! And besides, if you don’t like sitting in command of a hall, you could consider escort work instead. I can hand Qingfeng Escort Agency over to you.”

“If you don’t want to show your face too much, then you only need to hold the title. Fei Zai can handle the public-facing work. You would only need to take charge when especially valuable consignments come in and ensure their safety. The people in your studio could all be absorbed on our side as well.”

Su Wangchuan knew Bai Jingtang’s talent and comprehension were both excellent. Over the past half year, she had simply been dragged down by Weihai Commandery and her studio, forced to divide her attention, and had wasted too much time on cultivation.

If she were truly given the time to focus on martial arts, she would very quickly grow into a fifth-rank martial artist.

Of course he wanted to recruit Captain Bai over.