Chapter 66 : Chapter 66
Chapter 66. A Huge Windfall
The oppressive darkness of night had yet to recede.
Hong Qianshan and Xu Yuan had already finished assembling and organizing their men, leaving Wang Huan behind with part of the force to garrison their own street and guard the captives.
Then, leading Yang Yan’s and Zhou Yu’s two squads, they charged straight toward the neighboring Changning Street. With Street Guard Qin Lie dead, its defenses were at their weakest.
Otherwise, once the Bai Family reacted, they would send another Fourth Meridian martial artist to take charge, and the situation would return to square one.
Hong Qianshan understood very well the principle of striking while the enemy was vulnerable. He gave the other side no chance at all to regroup.
Xu Yuan took the lead, no longer concealing his Fourth Meridian cultivation. With his Benlei Fist at the Small Success stage clearing the way, every bit of resistance he encountered melted away like ice and snow.
Hong Qianshan directed things from the center, issuing calm orders and making arrangements with ease, while Zhou Yu led her people in wiping out the remnants and securing the key points.
In less than half an hour, Changning Street, which had once flown the Bai Family’s banner, had already changed banners and masters.
...
“This is the place.”
The sky above was on the verge of dawn. Hong Qianshan and Xu Yuan were already standing outside the Hesheng Gang’s gates.
“Street Guard Hong, and... Captain Xu,” one of the Hesheng Gang’s elders said tremblingly as he opened a side door and forced out a smile. “May I ask what brings the two of you here so suddenly?”
“Where is your Gang Leader?” Hong Qianshan asked in a deep voice.
“The Gang Leader is... in seclusion.” The elder had already heard a few rumors, and his heart could not help but lurch.
“In seclusion?”
Hong Qianshan let out a cold laugh, his voice especially clear in the silent street.
“Go tell him this: Qin Lie is dead, and Changning Street has fallen into the hands of my Shangyang Residence. I advise you to open your gates and submit within one stick of incense. Otherwise, this Street Guard does not mind wiping the Hesheng Gang from history!”
“Please wait a moment.”
The elder’s face turned deathly pale as he shakily hurried back inside to report.
Xu Yuan stood quietly at Hong Qianshan’s side, feeling the killing intent and pressure that came with this moment of shifting power.
Strength truly was the most direct way to break a deadlock.
Before last night, the Hesheng Gang had still been wavering back and forth, waiting to see who would offer the better price.
But now, only two choices remained before them: kneel or perish.
BANG!
In less than half the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, the Hesheng Gang’s main gates thundered open.
The Gang Leader emerged with a group of upper-ranking members, wearing strained smiles as they welcomed the two of them and presented the gang register and other documents.
The Hesheng Gang had stayed neutral for a long time, but under the threat of overwhelming force, it was ultimately compelled to make a choice.
...
Two days later.
In Changlin Ward, the central sector of the Chang district, inside the Ward Master’s Office.
Within a simply furnished hall, Hong Qianshan and Xu Yuan stood solemnly below.
Seated at the head was a man around fifty years old, built like an iron tower. His face was stern and resolute, and a sharp gleam flashed from his eyes whenever they opened and closed. Six stripes were embroidered on his shoulder.
He was none other than Xue Zhan, the Sixth Meridian Ward Master in charge of this district.
Xue Zhan listened in detail to Hong Qianshan’s report, from discovering Hu Quanshui as the inside traitor, to Xu Yuan breaking through in the midst of battle and cutting down the enemy leader, to the two of them joining forces to take Changning Street and subdue the Hesheng Gang. Not a single detail was omitted.
As Hong Qianshan delivered his report, he remained completely honest and did not try to seize the credit for himself. He openly placed Xu Yuan’s contribution in full view, and there was no lack of praise in his words.
For most of the time, Xue Zhan’s gaze rested on Xu Yuan, carrying scrutiny and curiosity.
His first impression was that this young man was absurdly young, yet there was a steadiness between his brows. Even while facing a Sixth Meridian Ward Master like himself, Xu Yuan showed little nervousness or restraint.
“Xu Yuan,” Xue Zhan said slowly, his voice deep and powerful, “is there anything exaggerated or untrue in what Hong Qianshan has said?”
Now that Xu Yuan had reached the Fourth Meridian, he naturally had the standing to speak as well.
He stepped forward half a pace, cupped his fists, and bowed slightly, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. “Reporting to Ward Master Xue, every word Street Guard Hong said is true.”
“That night, this junior merely happened to be present and did what was within his duty. Being able to take Changning Street was all thanks to Street Guard Hong’s decisiveness and skill, as well as the diligence of our fellow men.”
Xu Yuan neither downplayed his own contribution too much nor acted arrogantly. Instead, he attributed the success to the group while also highlighting Hong Qianshan’s leadership.
As a newcomer, he could not have presented himself more properly.
A trace of surprise flashed through Xue Zhan’s eyes.
At such an age, reaching this level of cultivation was already rare. Rarer still was this kind of steady, seasoned temperament.
He had seen too many geniuses who made a name for themselves overnight, but in the end, most of them still met ruin halfway through.
“What a fine ‘merely happened to be present.’”
A faint smile appeared on Xue Zhan’s hard, stern face. “Breaking through to the Fourth Meridian in such a short time, and bringing your fist technique to the Small Success stage...”
“And then going on to earn no small amount of merit besides. If this is what you call ‘merely happened to be present,’ then my Shangyang Residence truly hopes for a few more such coincidences.”
Beside him, Hong Qianshan smiled at the right moment and added, “Ward Master Xue, Captain Xu truly is a talent. If he had not been there this time, then no matter how much planning we had done, things would never have gone this smoothly.”
Xue Zhan gave a slight nod. He did not ask any more about the details and instead said, “The Residence has its own rules for calculating merit.”
“Killing and capturing enemy martial artists, successfully taking a street, subduing a gang... the two of you have rendered considerable service this time.”
At that point, he paused briefly before saying, “Hong Qianshan, you have accumulated merit for many years already. Taking Changning Street this time will add another weighty entry to your record. As for Xu Yuan...”
Xue Zhan turned his gaze to Xu Yuan again. “A newly advanced Fourth Meridian martial artist who has already rendered such service. According to the rules, all the merit from this operation will be split equally between the two of you. Once it is fully calculated, each of you should receive roughly twelve hundred merit points.”
Twelve hundred merit points!
Both Hong Qianshan and Xu Yuan revealed looks of delight.
After becoming a martial artist, one could lack anything else, but resources were the one thing one absolutely could not do without. And these merit points were precisely what one used to exchange for high-grade cultivation resources.
“Besides.” Taking in their expressions, Xue Zhan dropped another bombshell. “The higher-ups will most likely also reward the two of you with a Meridian-Opening Pill. Taken when attempting a meridian breakthrough, it increases the chance of success by twenty percent.”
“This pill is in great demand within the Residence. Only those who have rendered merit can obtain it. In the future, you must remember the favor shown by the main house.”
A Meridian-Opening Pill!
Hong Qianshan’s breathing quickened slightly. He had been stuck at the Fourth Meridian for years. With the help of this pill, his chances of breaking through to the Fifth Meridian would rise considerably.
Still, if there was only one Meridian-Opening Pill, it probably would not be enough to be completely safe...
Thinking of that, he instinctively looked toward Xu Yuan.
When Xu Yuan saw that look, and recalled the rumors he had heard before about the Meridian-Opening Pill, he instantly understood Hong Qianshan’s meaning. He immediately cupped his fists and said, “This junior has only just entered the Fourth Meridian and is still far from the Fifth. But Street Guard Hong needs it urgently right now... How about this? This pill can be transferred to Street Guard Hong in exchange for the corresponding amount of merit points.”
He phrased it beautifully. It showed that he did not covet a precious pill he had no immediate use for, earned Hong Qianshan a favor, and at the same time made clear that it would be offset with merit points, so that he would not suffer any loss himself.
Besides, given the speed at which his aptitude let him improve, what even was a bottleneck? He had never heard of such a thing.
It would be better to trade it for goodwill.
Hearing this, the warmth and gratitude in Hong Qianshan’s eyes deepened even further. This kid really knew how to conduct himself!
‘He is actually giving away such a precious pill just like that?’
Even Xue Zhan was a little surprised. He slowly nodded and said, “Since that is the case, Hong Qianshan, both Meridian-Opening Pills will go to you. As for the distribution of merit points, the two of you may discuss it yourselves and report it to the Affairs Hall as soon as possible.”
“Many thanks, Ward Master Xue! Many thanks, Brother Xu!” Hong Qianshan quickly cupped his fists, his joy plain on his face.
“Xu Yuan, now that you have advanced to the Fourth Meridian, you must return to the Residence to register the advancement and exchange your waist token according to the rules.” Xue Zhan nodded, then added, “Oh, and after you return, you will become the Street Guard of a new street. The higher-ups will most likely assign Changning Street to you.”
A thoughtful look appeared in Xu Yuan’s eyes, and he cupped his fists again. “I will obey the family’s arrangements.”
“Mm. You may go.” Xue Zhan waved a hand and closed his eyes to rest.
“We take our leave!”
The two of them answered in unison and withdrew from the hall with bows.
After leaving the Ward Master’s residence, Hong Qianshan gave Xu Yuan’s shoulder a heavy pat and said with feeling, “Brother Xu, I truly owe you this time. Not only did you help me take Changning Street, you even yielded that Meridian-Opening Pill to me... I will remember this favor!”
“You are too serious, Brother Hong. We are only supporting each other,” Xu Yuan said with a faint smile. “It is just that these merit points...”
“Easy.” Thumping his chest, Hong Qianshan said straightforwardly, “A Meridian-Opening Pill is worth three hundred merit points, but the hardest part is that it usually takes a long time to even get one approved... How about this? I will only take two hundred merit points for each pill.”
Xu Yuan did not decline and accepted it frankly.
A thousand merit points was undoubtedly a huge windfall for him.
Once a martial artist reached the Fourth Meridian, the Shangyang Residence’s Instruction Hall would also open to him, and there were quite a few things he could buy there.
The two men discussed matters a bit more and agreed that after Xu Yuan returned to the Residence to complete his registration, he would come back to handle the transfer of certain affairs. Then they parted ways for the time being.