novelraw Chapter 86
Chapter 86
The constables of Huishui County were no fools.
It did not take long for them to verify that Su Wangchuan’s testimony was entirely truthful.
At the inner lake, there were numerous fish pierced clean through by arrows.
Half of the arrow wounds on the black-clad men had struck from behind.
The Poplar Wood Bow in Su Wangchuan’s hand and the arrows carried by Chen Ergou were all evidence. Even the footprints he had left in the forest matched perfectly.
Not to mention the large number of witnesses.
“Wangchuan.”
“You have done well.”
“You avenged our two county constables.”
“Later, the county office will deliver the bounty for these six wanted criminals to the Yulong Gang.”Constable Liang’s expression softened after clearing Su Wangchuan of all suspicion.
The bounty for each Martial Artist was one hundred taels of silver.
Each Quasi-Martial Artist carried a bounty of fifty taels.
That meant Su Wangchuan would receive four hundred taels in total.
The miners behind him were practically glowing with excitement. Even Instructor Yu and Lin Xun could not conceal a hint of envy.
This was no small sum.
“Thank you, Lord Liang.”
After bowing to Constable Liang, Su Wangchuan returned with Chen Ergou aboard the Yulong Gang’s fast boat to Huishui County.
Wang Yuehui and the other miners were less fortunate. Even at a time like this, they still had to return to mining. They would leave with the cargo ship, hauling all the ore they had extracted.
Fate treated different people differently.
……
On the return journey, Su Wangchuan checked his Status Panel.
The Experience Values for Archery and Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar had both increased.
In addition, Black Tiger Fist had progressed from 0/500 to 15/500. That gain had come from life-and-death combat.
The surge of adrenaline from that moment was still vivid in his memory.
At one point, he had even prepared to allocate all four Free Attribute Points into Strength or Agility. If Second had proven too strong, he would have relied on brute attribute suppression.
Fortunately, the arrow wound had weakened the opponent and limited his performance. At the same time, the man had not realized he was facing a fully-fledged Martial Artist.
Su Wangchuan had won.
All in all, the day’s harvest was immense.
Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar had advanced smoothly to Practice Makes Perfect.
His Strength had broken past twenty points, officially placing him within the Martial Artist sequence and unlocking the Martial Artist profession.
He had survived a life-and-death duel between Martial Artists.
He had obtained five Hundredfold Steel Blades.
And four hundred taels of silver in bounty money would soon be credited to him.
Standing at the prow, Su Wangchuan let the cool river wind wash over his face.
Before him stretched green mountains and clear waters.
The world felt vast and boundless.
So this was what it felt like to fight a Martial Artist.
So this was what life-and-death struggle in the Jianghu felt like.
Behind him, Chen Ergou lovingly polished one of the Hundredfold Steel Blades, unwilling to put it down.
“Room Master.”
“We were truly impressive this time.”
“The remnants of the Nu Tao Gang were all cut down by you. Once word spreads, the entire gang will respect our Weapon Room even more.”
Su Wangchuan smiled faintly.
“When fame rises, so do troubles. After we return, keep a low profile. Do not forget—we are merely blacksmiths.”
“Yes! I will listen to you.”
Chen Ergou obeyed more than ever.
“By the way, Room Master… will we place all five Hundredfold Steel Blades on the counter for sale?”
“Why? Do you want one?”
Su Wangchuan could see the desire in Chen Ergou’s eyes.
Embarrassed, Chen Ergou scratched the back of his head.
“When that black-clad man rushed at us, I was too frightened to move. I shamed you, Room Master… I would like to keep a blade and practice martial arts. If we ever face enemies again, at least I can help share the burden.”
“Do not think too much. You were already very brave today.”
Su Wangchuan praised him.
“For an ordinary person, fear is natural when facing a Martial Artist. If you wish to keep a Hundredfold Steel Blade, that is fine. But as for manuals and how to train—that will depend on you.”
“Really?”
“Thank you, Room Master!”
“Although I am not yet a Quasi-Martial Artist, I have loved playing with blades since childhood. I do have some understanding of saber techniques.”
Overjoyed, Chen Ergou flourished the blade, cutting twice through the air in crisp, decisive motions. The blade sang sharply, revealing a hint of sharp momentum.
Su Wangchuan blinked.
Basic Saber Technique?
Chen Ergou had genuinely grasped it, and not at a weak level either.
Interesting.
Su Wangchuan smiled.
“I did not expect you to have such foundation. Good. Skills never burden the body. Train diligently.”
“Yes! I will not disappoint you.”
Chen Ergou was ecstatic.
Su Wangchuan withdrew his gaze.
Chen Ergou was his most capable subordinate in the Weapon Room.
Though only an NPC, his temperament was commendable. In life-and-death combat, he had not fled. That alone proved he was no coward. If nurtured into a Quasi-Martial Artist, he could become a reliable aide.
Su Wangchuan even considered whether he should teach Chen Ergou Archery to help him break through more quickly.
With that thought in mind, the fast boat entered the dock.
The two returned to the Yulong Gang and to the Weapon Room.
News had already reached the gang.
Barely had they stepped inside when Fei Zai rushed in to summon them to meet the Gang Leader.
Su Wangchuan did not dare delay.
He went to the Gang Leader’s residence for the first time.
Two Inner Disciples guarded the gate. Inside the courtyard stood two more. Even the maidservants and the steward seemed trained in martial arts; thick calluses lined the tiger’s mouth of their hands.
Yang Feiyue sat at a table, sipping tea.
“Gang Leader, the Weapon Room’s Room Master, Wangchuan, has arrived.”
“Enter.”
Yang Feiyue’s voice was deep and resonant, filled with robust energy.
Su Wangchuan stepped forward and bowed.
“This subordinate greets the Gang Leader.”
“No need for ceremony. Sit.”
Yang Feiyue smiled kindly.
“Hall Master He sent word by carrier pigeon. He has described the attack on the Nu Tao Gang water stronghold. Though we suffered heavy losses, you turned the tide at the final moment, preserved our miners, and killed all six remnants of the Nu Tao Gang. You are clearly a man of courage and strategy.”
“You overpraise me, Gang Leader. I merely took advantage of their inattention and released a few cold arrows from the shadows. It was largely luck.”
Su Wangchuan had no desire to be reassigned to another hall, living a life of constant combat like Lin Xun.
It was far too dangerous.
Yang Feiyue nodded.
“Hall Master He examined the two Martial Artists’ corpses. One had all his ribs broken and two fractures in the skull. His conclusion was that he was beaten to death by the heavy strikes of Black Tiger Fist executed with Martial Artist-level strength.”
He looked directly at Su Wangchuan.
“You… have already attained the strength of a Martial Artist, have you not?”
……
Su Wangchuan froze slightly.
How had he forgotten that detail?
These NPCs…
They were not easy to deceive.
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