Chapter 456: The Situation Heats Up

In the Capital, at Caobang headquarters,

Luo Tiancong was so anxious his throat felt scorched.

These past few days, aside from gathering the elders and senior figures at headquarters to discuss how to pull Shenyu Commandery out of its predicament and restore the shipping business of the Shenyu Commandery Hall, he had been running from department to department without pause.

He had gone to the Six Gates, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Transport Commission. He had come within a step of paying a visit to the directors of the Eastern and Western Depots themselves.

Shenyu Commandery could not be lost!

Shenyu Commandery sat at the pass between the south and the north, pinching the very throat of the Caobang’s shipping routes.

If Shenyu Commandery fell, then from that point onward, all of the Caobang’s shipping business could be threatened by the Beggar Sect.

And once that main artery of water transport ran into trouble, the very survival of the Caobang would be at stake!

But those Beggar Sect beggars seemed to have prepared everything perfectly. The people of the Beggar Sect Main Altar had all broken apart and vanished into Jianghu!

A group of experts at the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Ranks had disappeared without a trace, clearly taking the stance that they meant to fight to the bitter end for Shenyu Commandery. At that point, even the Six Gates, who normally intervened the most deeply, had grown cautious and no longer dared move openly against the Beggar Sect.

Because several constables from different commanderies had already vanished under mysterious circumstances!

“Gentlemen!”

“It has been many days already! It is time to make a decision!”

“How exactly are we going to solve the problem in Shenyu Commandery?”

“The three elders stationed there cannot hold the line forever.”

“The moment all four branch helms are lost, everything we have in the waterways there will be uprooted completely. To rebuild from scratch would take at least one to two years.”

Luo Tiancong stared at the gathered elders below him.

Twelve elders. Two at the Sixth Rank, ten at the Fifth Rank, and several of them were wounded.

The elders looked left and right at one another, whispering among themselves.

“Gang Leader,”

one of them finally stood and said,

“the Beggar Sect has, after all, been building up its network in Jianghu for many years. Its Jianghu connections, its retired experts, and its higher-ranked figures are all stronger than ours. Once the struggle reaches this level, we no longer hold any real advantage.”

“If the court were willing to help us, we could still keep the Beggar Sect under pressure. But before and after the New Year, the court was locked in deadly conflict with the Crimson Pavilion and lost many capable people. Their strength has been diminished... The Beggar Sect saw clearly that the court is short-handed right now. That is why they dared to take the risk and force this final-confrontation posture on us.”

“Since the court cannot currently send aid, we might as well temporarily give up Shenyu Commandery, or else send someone to negotiate peace with the Beggar Sect.”

The Caobang did not lack capable people, and a solution had indeed been proposed.

Luo Tiancong’s brows drew together.

If someone had suggested that a few days earlier, he would have thrown the man straight out.

But now...

they truly were running out of options.

“Shenyu Commandery absolutely cannot be abandoned...”

“And if we negotiate peace with the Beggar Sect, it will inevitably involve Elder Zheng’s case and the cases of several Beggar Sect elders. We would have to release the Beggar Sect disciples from prison as well. On top of that, we would have to pay out a very large sum.”

Luo Tiancong wavered.

In truth, he also leaned toward negotiation. Stabilize the situation first, then wait until the court had freed up its hands before dealing with the Beggar Sect.

But the Beggar Sect had mobilized with such force this time...

He was worried that they would open their mouths like lions and demand an outrageous price.

“This subordinate is willing to go and speak with the Beggar Sect’s higher-ups, to sound them out and see what conditions they want.”

The elder who had made the suggestion cupped his fists and volunteered.

“Good.”

“It would be fine for you to test their attitude first, but you must not appear too weak. Make sure they do not think they can ask for the sky.”

“This subordinate obeys!”

The elders gradually withdrew.

Luo Tiancong leaned back wearily in his seat and said to Lin Zhentao at his side,

“Tell me, why is it that these seasoned Hall Masters, each one in charge of a commandery hall, cannot compare to a single young junior?”

Lin Zhentao blinked.

The Gang Leader was obviously comparing Yin Xingtian to Su Wangchuan.

“This subordinate has heard that Hall Master Su Wangchuan has already broken through to the Fifth Rank. Congratulations, Gang Leader. You are about to gain an excellent disciple,” Lin Zhentao said, tactfully changing the subject.

Luo Tiancong’s heavy mood finally eased by a fraction.

“Wangchuan does indeed have talent, and he is highly capable.”

“The key point is that after he took over the position of Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery, he still went twice to aid Ghost Old Seven. That proves he is a loyal man, not the sort who repays kindness with ingratitude.”

To take in a disciple of that disposition was indeed something to be pleased about.

“Give him a few years, and he may well become a Seventh-Rank expert.”

The smile that had just begun to appear on Luo Tiancong’s face quickly faded again into solemnity.

“Wangchuan has shown too much of his edge in Sanhe Commandery, and the Beggar Sect already hates him deeply. I have already sent him a carrier pigeon letter to remind him that he must heighten his vigilance and beware of the Beggar Sect storming his hall again.”

“Indeed,” Lin Zhentao said softly with a nod. “If the situation in Shenyu Commandery cannot be brought under control, then Sanhe Commandery may very well be the next target. Hall Master Su Wangchuan’s situation will become extremely dangerous...”

...

Three days later, Bai Jingtang returned exactly as promised.

Captain Bai had also, along the way, brought back a batch of martial arts manuals that Sanjiang Studio had purchased from the Capital.

Su Wangchuan found among them a niche Agility-type cultivation method, 《Linked-Ring Whip Art》, a balanced Fifth-Rank saber art, 《Two Principles Saber Art》, and a Fifth-Rank lightness skill, 《Eight Steps Chasing the Cicada》.

The path to the Sixth Rank had long since been laid flat;

now the road to the Seventh Rank was beginning to extend forward, little by little.

“Hall Master!”

“This subordinate has broken through!”

Zhao Heiniu came in from outside and delivered the excellent news.

Zhao Heiniu had become the fourth martial artist to break through to the Fourth Rank, after Bai Yuhui, Wang Yuehui, and Lin Jiahe.

Everyone immediately offered their congratulations.

Su Wangchuan beamed.

With Deputy Hall Master Zhao Heiniu breaking through to the Fourth Rank, the hall’s strength had risen yet again.

“I’ll send word to headquarters right away and apply for Fifth-Rank cultivation methods for both of you!”

Su Wangchuan laughed aloud.

“I can pass on 《Raging Tide Sword Art》 to you, so I’ll ask the headquarters armory vault for two other Fifth-Rank cultivation methods... What do you want?”

“《Golden Bell Shield》!”

Zhao Heiniu cupped his fists.

Wang Yuehui followed at once:

“This subordinate also wants the Fifth-Rank body-protection technique 《Golden Bell Shield》. With that cultivation method, our ability to preserve our lives will rise, and when we practice it day to day, it can also help the brothers below us train as well. It kills two birds with one stone!”

“Good!”

Su Wangchuan immediately wrote a letter, had someone copy it onto a strip of paper, tied it to a carrier pigeon, and sent it off to the Capital.

In the letter, he specifically stated that everyone in the Sanhe Commandery Hall was training diligently and making preparations to face the enemy, that several of the hall’s third-rank martial artists were on the verge of breaking through to the Fourth Rank, and that he believed the Gang Leader would surely be willing to bestow cultivation manuals to help strengthen the hall.

Another day passed.

At last, Su Wangchuan heard the system prompt from his bitter training in 《Thirteen Overlapping Waves Spear》:

“Ding!”

“《Thirteen Overlapping Waves Spear》 has risen from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: +2 Strength.”

He opened the details and saw:

《Thirteen Overlapping Waves Spear》:

Current Realm: Practice Makes Perfect;

With double internal-force buildup, Attack +180. If the spear tip lands on the body, it inflicts an additional Armor Break +1 effect. Critical hits deal double damage!

If the spear tip lands on a vital point, Armor Break +2, unleashing triple fatal damage!

Next Realm: Entry-Level Mastery;

With double internal-force buildup, Attack +240. If the spear tip lands on the body, it inflicts an additional Armor Break +1 effect. Critical hits deal double damage!

If the spear tip lands on a vital point, Armor Break +2, unleashing triple fatal damage!