novelbin Chapter 219
Chapter 219
Hejiang Town might only have been a town in name, but as a vital water transport hub, it bore the shipping burden of several nearby counties. Moreover, being close to Sanhe Prefecture, the town had expanded continuously. It now boasted tens of thousands of households, and its prosperity rivaled that of an ordinary county seat.
The vast docks of Hejiang Town bustled with activity. People flowed like woven threads, and the place was lively and flourishing.
As the Yulong Gang’s ship approached the dock, it immediately drew the attention of many Caobang disciples and unloading laborers.
Their expressions were complicated.
The news had long spread through Hejiang Town that a hall master from the Yulong Gang was being parachuted in to seize a deputy helm leader position.
Now, seeing a great ship packed with muscular men in fitted attire, sabers at their waists and bows on their backs, who could fail to realize that the new deputy helm leader had arrived to assume office?
The laborers gathered at a distance to watch the spectacle.
The Caobang elites of the branch helm hurried over to secure ropes and assist with docking.
Several rumors were already circulating in Hejiang Town…
That this Yulong Gang hall master was highly favored by Lord Seven;That Lord Seven had boarded this hall master’s swift ship to personally behead a Fifth-Rank assassin;
Some even claimed they had seen Wangchuan receive recognition and collect a reward from the gang’s armory.
Thus, even though certain deputy helm leaders here felt sour and displeased, ordinary Caobang disciples did not dare to give the newly arrived deputy helm leader a show of dominance.
The ship stabilized, the gangplank laid firmly in place.
All the Caobang disciples near the dock had gathered to wait.
The crowd aboard the ship parted automatically to form a passage.
Wangchuan stepped down from the vessel, the Caobang deputy helm leader identity token hanging at his waist.
“Greetings, Helm Leader Wangchuan!”
The Caobang disciples cupped their fists in salute, respectful and courteous.
Though fewer than fifty had come, their momentum was not small.
Wangchuan led his entourage in grand procession onto the dock. After surveying the scene, he asked the nearest Caobang disciple,
“Where are Deputy Helm Leaders Li Degui and Cao Xingwen?”
The man, a Formal Martial Artist, shuddered slightly and replied with cupped fists,
“The two deputy helm leaders may have gone to the prefectural side. Would you like this humble one to send men to find them?”
“No need.”
Wangchuan was merely asking for form’s sake.
Even if those two deputy helm leaders were in Hejiang Town, they would not come to greet him.
A childish show of defiance.
“Notify all disciples responsible for the upstream waters to assemble immediately at the branch helm for a meeting! Those already assigned to escort duties may be absent. Everyone else who fails to appear within one stick of incense will be deemed to have forfeited their squad leader position. You—lead the way!”
The moment Wangchuan spoke, the surrounding Caobang disciples were stunned.
The branch helm had twenty squad leaders, each commanding a team responsible for escorting and protecting cargo ships. They wielded a measure of authority and enjoyed certain benefits.
A crowd followed Wangchuan in a surge toward the branch helm.
Across the square stood the branch helm itself.
Its grandeur did not fall short of the Huishui County hall—if anything, it surpassed it.
More than a hundred people poured inside without feeling cramped.
The Caobang disciples did not personally spread the message. In fact, they almost wished those absent would remain ignorant.
But the dock square was filled with eyes and ears. Many laborers had already passed the news to every Caobang disciple.
Inside Hejiang Casino.
A dozen Caobang disciples were gambling fervently when someone hurried in and whispered a few words into their ears. Their faces changed abruptly.
“The new official’s first three fires—damn, this one is burning at the perfect time… Let us go!”
“Do not leave! My luck is running hot!”
“If you do not leave now, you will lose your post… The deputy helm leader has arrived!”
“So what if he has arrived? I am on escort duty!”
“Fine! Have the courage not to go! When you lose your squad leader post, do not cry!”
“…”
In an instant, both gambling tables were empty.
In a brothel, several Caobang disciples scrambled out of their warm embrace, hastily dressing as they hurried down the corridor and stumbled downstairs, cursing under their breath.
“Damn it!”
“He goes straight for our squad leader posts.”
“He knows what he is doing.”
“Truly ruthless.”
“Hurry up.”
“…Bring my blade.”
“Had I known, I would not have worked so hard. Wait for me!”
One Caobang disciple finally rushed out of the brothel, clutching the wall as he ran in pursuit, looking utterly disheveled. Behind him, a group of courtesans pointed and giggled, thoroughly amused.
On the streets, small groups of Caobang disciples staggered out from various establishments, reeking of alcohol.
“My shoe! My shoe!”
“Wait for me…”
“Damn it, what kind of mess is this?”
When Wangchuan entered the branch helm’s training ground, he ordered a chair to be brought and sat down.
An incense burner was placed upon a nearby tea table.
At the center, a long incense stick was lit, thin blue smoke curling upward.
Below the steps stood five First-Rank Martial Artists, four Formal Martial Artists, and thirty-six Quasi-Martial Artists, chests lifted, hands resting upon the hilts of their blades, spirits high.
Opposite them, the Caobang disciples gathered in small groups across the training ground, whispering among themselves.
More and more disciples hurried in from outside.
Their number grew from fifty to over a hundred.
Before long, someone noticed something amiss.
“Was it not said that the upstream personnel were to assemble? Why are you downstream fellows here as well?”
“Exactly!”
“You belong to Helm Leader Zhang. What are you doing here? Off you go.”
“Heh, just came to have a look.”
“The new deputy helm leader has taken office. We came to see him and get acquainted. Is that not allowed?”
“Bah…”
“If your Boss Zhang finds out, he will peel your skin off.”
“He will not.”
“Speaking of which, it is strange. Our Boss Zhang suddenly reported sick leave to the higher-ups. For the coming period, downstream escort affairs are temporarily to follow the arrangements of the new Deputy Helm Leader Wangchuan. What is going on?”
“What? Since when?”
“Just now…”
“…”
News spread throughout the training ground that Deputy Helm Leader Zhang had taken sick leave.
Hearing that Zhang had instructed his men to obey Wangchuan’s orders, the Caobang disciples felt an even deeper sense of unease.
“How could this be?”
“Does Helm Leader Zhang know some inside story?”
“Could it be that the new deputy helm leader is truly the pre-appointed helm leader?”
The Caobang disciples’ gazes toward the young man seated above grew increasingly curious—and tinged with reverence.
As the incense stick neared its end—
Two more men entered from outside, accompanied by over a dozen Caobang disciples.
Both were First-Rank Martial Artists.
One was in his early thirties, tall and robust, with a burly build and a face full of fierce flesh.
The other was over forty. His neatly combed hair showed streaks of silver. A warm smile filled his face as he cupped his hands in greeting from afar.
“Helm Leader Wangchuan!”
“Apologies! Apologies! We are late by a step!”
“Had we known Helm Leader Wangchuan would assume office today, we would have waited at the dock to welcome you!”
“Yes! Old Li and I have already reserved a table at the finest restaurant in town to host a welcoming banquet for you!”
The two deputy helm leaders—Li Degui and Cao Xingwen—had arrived.