novelraw Chapter 229
Chapter 229
Zhang Cha’er had been the first to surrender and defect to their side. He had also been the generous patron who had funded Su Wangchuan. Naturally, Su Wangchuan made time to receive him.
During this period, the downstream waterways alone were bringing in at least thirty taels of gold each day.
All of that money flowed straight into his own pocket.
Su Wangchuan deliberately logged in to arrange the reception.
Zhang Cha’er arrived alone. His legs still seemed slightly stiff, as though his light injuries had yet to fully heal. However, he was capable of managing himself normally.
“Helm Leader!”
Upon entering, Zhang Cha’er cupped his fists in greeting, respectful to the utmost.
“Recovered from your injuries?”
“Almost.”
Zhang Cha’er kept his body slightly bent, maintaining an extremely humble posture.Over the past days, he had been quietly gathering information about the branch helm. He knew about what had happened to Blacksmith Zhou in the weapon room, as well as to Deputy Helm Leaders Li Degui and Cao Xingwen. He also knew that the branch helm had now fallen completely under the control of the man before him. The awe in his heart had only deepened.
“Sit.”
“I would not dare. I will remain standing.”
His voice was soft, tinged with flattery.
Su Wangchuan did not insist. He instructed Chen Ergou to pour tea and hand it over. “While you were away, the shipping operations along the downstream waterways have gone smoothly. That is all thanks to Ergou and Yuhui. You have heard about Li Degui and Cao Xingwen, I assume?”
“I have, I have.” Zhang Cha’er’s words came polished and refined. “It is widely said that Helm Leader survived an assassination attempt by a Third-Rank Martial Artist without injury and ultimately killed him. I have also heard that this assassin was the very same murderer who killed Brother Yan Jiang. I have not yet had the chance to congratulate you, Helm Leader, for slaying a Third-Rank Martial Artist, earning merit for the hall, and avenging Brother Yan.”
His phrasing was elegant—clearly rehearsed at length.
Su Wangchuan nodded slowly.
“With Li Degui and Cao Xingwen dead, and you severely injured and absent, I made the decision to assign your responsibilities to Chen Ergou, Wang Yuehui, and Zhao Heiniu. Now that you have returned…”
“My injuries have not fully healed. The shipping operations along the downstream waterways—please continue to manage them on my behalf, Helm Leader.”
Zhang Cha’er suddenly interrupted, his tone unexpectedly earnest.
“I have come to understand something. Money cannot be brought with us in life, nor taken with us in death. It is meaningless in the end. I still own several gambling houses, brothels, and restaurants in Hejiang Town. Those alone are enough for me to live comfortably.”
“From now on, everything at the branch helm will follow your lead, Helm Leader.”
Chen Ergou stared at Zhang Cha’er, astonishment plain on his face.
A Second-Rank Martial Artist, having faced death once, seemed to have lost his ambition and former sharpness.
Su Wangchuan was somewhat surprised as well.
“Deputy Helm Leader Zhang, if that is your decision, then so be it. From now on, you need not trouble yourself with branch helm affairs. However, your salary and bonuses from the branch helm—one hundred taels of gold each month—will not be reduced. Retiring early and enjoying your later years is not a bad choice. At least, compared to Li Degui and Cao Xingwen, you are far better off.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Helm Leader!”
Upon hearing that he would still receive one hundred taels of gold each month, Zhang Cha’er cupped his fists gratefully. “If there is ever a need for me, Helm Leader, I will answer the call without hesitation.”
“Very well. If there is nothing else, you may take your leave.”
“Yes!”
Zhang Cha’er withdrew respectfully.
Chen Ergou watched him leave before turning back to Su Wangchuan.
“Helm Leader, Zhang Cha’er has truly grown wiser. He voluntarily gave up all authority and benefits at the branch helm and chose to hide in the city collecting money. At least for the rest of his life, he will live in wealth and comfort.”
“He is one of only two Second-Rank Martial Artists in our branch helm. We still need to keep him close. If something happens and we lack capable martial artists to present, that would also be troublesome.”
At this, Su Wangchuan asked, “How are your Second-Rank martial arts progressing?”
“Reporting to Helm Leader,” Chen Ergou replied, “I have not dared to slack off these days. All the Second-Rank martial art manuals we brought from Yulong Gang have been cultivated to their bottleneck. It is difficult to improve further through training on the Iron Dummy Stake.”
“The 《Five-Finger Rapid Shot》 has also reached its bottleneck through fish-target practice. I have already had the brothers purchase 《Qilian Mountain-Sundering Axe》 and 《Green Bamboo Staff Art》 from Yulong Gang, and I am currently training those.”
Su Wangchuan nodded.
Chen Ergou’s progress was not slow. In another month or so, his weaknesses would become clear, and he could attempt to break through to the Second Rank.
At that time, Su Wangchuan would gather several targeted Second-Rank manuals for him.
“Helm Leader.”
Chen Ergou changed the subject.
“I have heard rumors from the dock.”
“Some speculate that the Third-Rank assassin who attacked you may have come from a southern coastal assassin organization known as Crimson Pavilion.”
Su Wangchuan’s heart stirred.
Old Seven had also mentioned Crimson Pavilion in his carrier pigeon message, even suspecting that it might have been responsible for the assassination attempt against the imperial envoy.
“Has the news spread?”
Su Wangchuan frowned inwardly.
The studio had no detailed intelligence on Crimson Pavilion. However, according to what was known in the Jianghu, the organization trained assassins of various ranks.
A Third-Rank Martial Artist assassin was merely the lowest tier—a common operative, unranked within the organization.
Moreover, Crimson Pavilion carried out its missions to the death.
If word spread that one of Crimson Pavilion’s assassins had been killed at the Sanjiang Branch Helm, that was not good news for him.
If the organization valued its reputation above all else…
The consequences would be severe.
With that thought, Su Wangchuan could only remind Chen Ergou, Wang Yuehui, and the others to heighten vigilance and guard against further incursions by Crimson Pavilion assassins.
“Rest assured, Helm Leader!”
“During this period, Captain Zhao has been training the branch helm brothers. Their archery has all passed inspection. Captain Zhao even had the weapon room equip everyone with Armor-Piercing Arrows. If an assassin dares to attack, we will turn him into a hedgehog!”
Chen Ergou himself now carried an Iron-Reinforced Bow and was brimming with confidence.
Su Wangchuan very much wanted to say that without Captain Bai’s presence, a Third-Rank Martial Artist could easily massacre the entire branch helm. In the end, however, he did not have the heart to dampen his subordinate’s morale.
Suddenly, he found himself missing the Snake Elder’s snake venom.
After the Fifth-Rank assassin incident, he had used up much of the venom. The remaining venom powder had been dissolved in water.
Without that trump card, he lacked confidence in facing a Third-Rank Martial Artist.
“Ergou.”
“Help me inquire whether there are any highly lethal poisons on the market suitable for coating weapons.”
“And one more thing.”
“Have a set of leather armor made for every brother, modeled after the one crafted for me before. Make sure it includes chest guard plates.”
Chen Ergou cupped his fists. “Yes!”
To Su Wangchuan’s surprise, Chen Ergou returned the very next day with news of poison.
The source was Zhang Cha’er. He said that at his own hall there was a physician who specialized in studying poisons. Before each operation, the branch helm would purchase poison from him to coat their weapons.
The poison might not be overwhelmingly fierce, but once afflicted, if no antidote was taken within the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, death was certain.
The only problem—
It was outrageously expensive.
One bottle cost ten taels of gold.