novelbin Chapter 225
Chapter 225
Sanhe Commandery. The Caobang.
A second-rank martial artist of the Caobang knelt on one knee, reporting grim news from the branch helms to Old Seven.
“Old Seven!”
“The newly appointed helm leader of Leishui Town, ‘Yan Jiang,’ was ambushed and killed today at a restaurant in the county seat. By the time the branch helm brothers rushed over, the murderer had already vanished without a trace.”
“Even though we immediately ordered everyone in the branch helm to seal every entrance and exit in the town, Leishui Town is built along the river. It is impossible to catch the killer.”
Old Seven lowered his eyes, his face shadowed with gloom.
“Do we know the killer’s identity?”
“According to the intelligence gathered by the four deputy helm leaders below, the killer looked ordinary and may have been disguised. It is of little use.”
This second-rank martial artist was one of those specifically tasked with handling dirty work, and he was a capable hand in the art of assassination. If even he said the clues were useless, then the case was likely extremely troublesome.
But he quickly added,“This subordinate suspects that Helm Leader Yan Jiang, being newly in office, may have touched local interests…”
“You mean turning blades inward?”
A flash of cold light passed through Old Seven’s eyes. Then he shook his head.
“Those four deputy helm leaders in Leishui Town? It is not that I overestimate them, but with me in command, no one should dare openly turn blades inward.”
The man below nodded. “Old Seven speaks truly. The likelihood is indeed small, but it cannot be entirely ruled out… There are also two other possibilities. Either the Beggar Sect is taking the chance to kick us while we are down and stir up chaos in our hall; or… this matter is connected to the recent assassination attempt against the imperial envoy.”
At that, Old Seven’s gaze cooled further. In a grave tone, he pressed,
“How is the investigation into the imperial envoy’s assassination progressing, on the government side and at the main hall? Any leads?”
“We mobilized every splinter gang and every branch helm hall’s brothers to search for traces of the assassin. We did find some information along the coast—someone saw the assassin at the seaside… This subordinate deduces that the assassin may have come from an island.”
“An island?”
Old Seven’s eyes erupted with a fierce, murderous light.
“The Crimson Pavilion?!”
In Jianghu, there was a legend of a Crimson Pavilion.
It was said that every year, they bought young men and women with exceptional bones and talent from all regions, took them to overseas islands to cultivate, and trained them into assassins of different ranks.
The Crimson Pavilion had four levels: gold, silver, bronze, and ordinary assassins.
The most ordinary assassins possessed the strength of a third-rank martial artist.
Bronze-ranked assassins were fourth-rank.
Silver-ranked assassins were fifth-rank.
Gold-ranked assassins were sixth-rank.
It was said the Pavilion Master himself was an existence beyond the sixth rank, accepting only enormous commissions worth ten thousand taels of gold.
“If the assassin was sent by the Crimson Pavilion, then this will be troublesome.”
“Yes, Old Seven.”
The man below nodded, his tone equally heavy.
“Once the Crimson Pavilion takes a contract, it is always a fight to the death.”
“And any individual or Jianghu force that obstructs their actions will likewise be listed as an assassination target…”
At that, Old Seven’s brows knit tightly. He felt an immense pressure settle on his shoulders.
Then he gave an order that rang like iron striking stone.
“Better to believe it exists than to dismiss it as nothing!”
“Send word at once. Notify every branch helm: be on guard against anyone speaking with an out-of-town accent! In particular, all branch helm leaders and deputy helm leaders must heighten their vigilance and protect themselves at all costs!”
One helm leader dying was not a major issue.
But if more casualties followed—if turmoil spread and shipping business was affected—then the livelihood of the entire hall would suffer, and his position in Sanhe Commandery would be shaken.
…
Wangchuan had not expected that the first carrier pigeon message he received from Old Seven would be a letter of warning.
“The Crimson Pavilion?”
His expression turned grave.
The letter spoke of Helm Leader Yan Jiang’s death in a restaurant ambush in Leishui Town, and instructed him to strengthen defenses and prepare for vigilance and response…
Cautious by nature—and afraid of dying—he quietly returned to his room, put on chainmail armor and specially made leather armor, then went to the training grounds to discuss the matter with Captain Bai.
It was rare.
Captain Bai had never even heard of the Crimson Pavilion.
She logged off to ask Su Wan specifically, and the studio likewise had no intelligence on the Crimson Pavilion at all.
“Then there is nothing else we can do.”
“Whether it is true or false, you must heighten your vigilance. If there is nothing urgent, go out of the branch helm as little as possible and wait for this storm to pass.”
Captain Bai was extremely cautious toward unknown forces and did not dare relax in the slightest.
Wangchuan nodded.
He immediately notified Wang Yuehui and the others to act as discreetly as possible and to bring more brothers with them when moving about outside.
Just as he was about to notify Li Degui and Cao Xingwen…
The two of them arrived at his door in person, carrying fine wine.
“Helm Leader Wangchuan!”
“Come!”
“We brothers have long wished to welcome you properly! Since fate has brought us together today, why wait for another? How about tonight? We have already booked a meal at Drunken Immortal Tower. It will arrive any moment.”
Wangchuan thought it would be the perfect opportunity to tell them about this matter, so he agreed.
His men immediately set out pastries and wine in the front hall and arranged fresh fruits.
“Helm Leader Wangchuan!”
Cao Xingwen personally poured him a drink. “From now on we are brothers in the same branch helm. We are family—no need for formalities. In the future, we brothers will rely on you, Helm Leader Wangchuan, to feed us. You must point us toward a bright road…”
“Exactly!”
Li Degui, his face full of coarse flesh, forced a sycophantic smile. “We guarantee that in the future, if you point east, we will never go west. Here at the branch helm, please leave us a mouthful of rice.”
As he spoke, he slid a gold note worth one hundred taels toward Wangchuan.
“Yes, yes.”
“Good things come in pairs, good things come in pairs.” Cao Xingwen also pushed over a gold note worth one hundred taels. In a low voice he added, “This is our filial offering to you, Helm Leader Wangchuan.”
Only then did Wangchuan see clearly what was happening.
These two were paying their respects and choosing a side.
Hah.
He had not expected them to buckle so quickly.
“Helm Leader Wangchuan, do not worry. The two of us mean what we say. We will never put on one face in front of you and another behind your back. In the future, just watch us!”
“Right!”
“Let us first toast you together!”
“We will drink it all!”
Afraid Wangchuan might refuse the money, they lifted a large bowl filled to the brim with strong liquor and gulped it down in great swallows.
The liquor burned.
In one go, each of them drank several taels. They bared their teeth, faces twisting.
“Impressive tolerance.”
Wangchuan praised them lightly, then—unhurried and unflustered—slipped the two gold notes into his robe, his face calm and his heart untroubled.
“Since you are both so sincere, come—let us drink a cup together.”
He raised his cup.
The two exchanged relieved smiles, hurriedly poured again, and filled another bowl to the brim.
“Wait.”
Wangchuan lifted a hand to stop them, his expression turning solemn.
“Old Seven has just sent a letter. Something has happened in Leishui Town. We must remain vigilant over Hejiang Town’s territory—do not drink yourselves drunk.”
“It is fine. This much liquor is nothing,” Li Degui boomed with laughter, striking the posture of a man with endless capacity.
Cao Xingwen, much steadier, slowed the motion of his pouring and leaned closer to ask,
“What instructions did Old Seven give?”
Li Degui pricked up his ears as well.
Only then did Wangchuan explain the matter of Helm Leader Yan Jiang being ambushed and killed in Leishui Town.
The two turned pale at once.
“Helm Leader Yan Jiang is dead?!”
“How could that be!”
No wonder they were so shocked. Yan Jiang had originally been a deputy helm leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm—someone who had come from their own side. They had not expected that after only a few days, he would already be lying dead in Leishui Town.
“Those little bastards in Leishui Town—what nerve!”
Li Degui’s loud voice rose in a furious bellow.
Just then, someone outside carried in two large food boxes.
The food and wine had arrived.