Inside the cabin, everyone tacitly withdrew, leaving only Bai Jingtang and Wangchuan alone.
With practiced ease, Wangchuan counted out three gold notes worth one hundred taels each, placed them on the tea table, and pushed them toward Bai Jingtang.
“A share for those present. This is for you and the brothers of First Team.”
“Only giving us the remainder?”
Bai Jingtang frowned slightly.
Wangchuan calmly began spinning his own crooked logic.
“I already said everyone present gets a share. There are over forty people on this ship. I have to ensure it is evenly distributed, do I not? First Team has five people—three hundred taels of gold is already the lion’s share.”
“Besides…”
“I am the future helm leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm. This money is effectively the property of my Sanjiang Branch Helm. Taking out three hundred taels already pains greatly.”
“…”
Bai Jingtang cast him a sidelong glance, looking him up and down as if seeing him anew.
She had finally witnessed Wangchuan’s sharp tongue.
Yet sohow, there was a trace of twisted logic in his reasoning.
Silently, she accepted the gold notes and said,
“This ti, it was fortunate your Captain Zhao discovered them. Otherwise, if the ship had been chiseled and sunk, there would have been no chance to obtain that one thousand three hundred taels of gold as ransom.”
Wangchuan broke into a smile.
“Captain Zhao Heiniu truly is my lucky general. That is why I will invest more resources in him and do my best to raise him to a Second-Rank Martial Artist.”
Nodding, Bai Jingtang suddenly changed the subject.
“Releasing Zhang Cha’er was the correct move.”
Her gaze deepened.
“Because of the Imperial Commissioner’s assassination incident, the Caobang hall master was transferred away. Many elites below were killed or wounded. Now only Lord Seven remains as acting hall master, stabilizing the Sanhe Prefecture branch. At this ti, he needs to recruit and consolidate forces to steady the various branch helms and smaller halls. If you had publicly executed twenty gang mbers and implicated their families, it would have shaken morale and easily given outsiders the impression that the Caobang is in internal turmoil.”
“You might have established authority by doing so and entered the Sanjiang Branch Helm, but Lord Seven would have lost face and struggled to answer to his superiors. One misstep, and your promotion to helm leader would encounter obstacles.”
“Captain Bai is perceptive.”
Wangchuan smiled.
“Indeed. Lord Seven did say that stability is paramount in Sanhe Prefecture right now—stable business, stable hearts. If I failed to see the bigger picture and instead caused trouble for Lord Seven and the branch helm in handling this matter, this ‘thigh’ I am relying on might very well slap hard in the face.”
“Releasing them is a small matter. Delaying our plans would be a greater one.”
Bai Jingtang’s eyes held approval.
“You may not have been in the ga long, but you are ticulous. You are well suited to the ways of Jianghu. I believe that one day, you will rise to prominence in the Caobang.”
“That will depend on Captain Bai’s guidance and support… When I was cultivating 《Qingcheng Sword Technique》 last ti, I benefited greatly from your instruction. I have not yet had the chance to thank you.”
“In the future, if I guide you, I will rember to charge a fee.”
“…Captain Bai, have you cultivated an internal cultivation thod?”
“You have co into contact with an internal cultivation thod?”
Bai Jingtang was startled, clearly surprised.
An internal cultivation thod was not like sothing ordinary such as 《Underwater Breathing Technique》, which was rely a breath-holding skill. Nor was it like 《Qingcheng Heart thod》, which focused on accelerating tabolism, healing injuries, and restoring vitality. A true internal cultivation thod allowed one to generate inner breath, transform it into inner force, and unleash internal energy.
“In the Caobang’s armory, I found a thod called 《Black Tortoise Art》. Yang Feiyue recomnded it to .”
Bai Jingtang nodded.
“I know 《Black Tortoise Art》. It is indeed the internal cultivation thod practiced by Caobang experts. Although it cannot compare with the internal thods of prestigious sects, it is still a legitimate mid-tier thod. The further you cultivate it, the greater the improvent it brings.”
For once, emotion flickered in her voice, and her eyes shone brightly.
“An internal cultivation thod is the core technique of a sect. It is not easily obtained.”
“Even on the black market, sect internal thods do not circulate. If they did, it would provoke relentless pursuit from that sect.”
“In the entire Zhanguo Studio, up to now, aside from the Boss and myself, probably only Su Wan has cultivated an internal thod. However, Su Wan’s thod is rather special and not suited for actual combat. It is of little practical use.”
The information Bai Jingtang revealed made Wangchuan value 《Black Tortoise Art》 even more deeply.
He had not expected internal cultivation thods to be so precious.
“Captain Bai, is there any shortcut to cultivating internal force?”
Wangchuan asked.
Bai Jingtang shook her head.
“Very few people cultivate internal force. From what I understand, no shortcut has been found yet. Progress is slow. One must diligently practice daily. Circulating a single great cycle takes more than ten minutes. In a full day, gaining one or two experience points is already considered good.”
“What?”
Wangchuan was stunned.
“That slow?”
Bai Jingtang nodded and stood.
“Do not underestimate the slowness. Once you truly enter the path, its advantage becos obvious. Among Martial Artists of the sa rank, one who has internal force will certainly defeat one who does not.”
“Because of inner force?”
Wangchuan reacted quickly.
“Exactly.”
Bai Jingtang explained,
“Once the internal thod reaches entry level, inner force will be generated within the body. Each move and stance will carry internal energy. At the lighter end, it deepens wounds inflicted upon the enemy. At the heavier end, it allows you to strike through barriers. Even ordinary moves can break tendons, shatter bones, or even kill.”
“And you, Captain Bai? What internal thod do you cultivate? To what level?”
Wangchuan’s curiosity was plain.
“Our Qingcheng Sect has 《Qingcheng Heart thod》 and 《Qingyun Art》. The forr is for daily cultivation, healing, and strengthening the body. The latter is for tempering internal force and accumulating inner breath. At present, I have only cultivated 《Qingyun Art》 to Minor Accomplishnt.”
As she spoke, she raised her palm and threw a straight punch.
A fierce current of air sliced through the space, carrying with it a chilling surge of force.
“A Minor Accomplishnt internal thod grants an additional twenty percent attack power. It is equivalent to having an extra weapon’s destructive force.”
She withdrew her strength and cautioned,
“Since you have begun cultivating 《Black Tortoise Art》, you will soon experience its wonders. Accumulate it daily. Over ti, you will leave many Caobang Martial Artists of the sa rank far behind. It will also beco your greatest reliance in 《Lingyu》.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Captain Bai.”
Wangchuan nodded silently.
Truth be told, the absence of a shortcut left him faintly disappointed.
At that mont, Chen Ergou’s voice ca from outside.
“Hall Master!”
“We have reached Hejiang Town!”
The docks were in sight. The Yulong Gang’s ship was about to dock.
The two of them stepped onto the deck together.
Hejiang Town’s docks were more than twice the size of Huishui County’s. Ships ca and went in endless streams. The dock square bustled with people. Laborers carrying cargo moved like swarms of ants.
Hejiang Town had arrived.
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