Chapter 24: Chapter 24
Li Suifeng entered the branch’s council hall.
Elder Qi and four eighth-rank retainers were already seated.
“Boss Li!”
“Boss Li!”
“Boss Li!”
Three of the retainers rose and bowed as he entered, genuine respect in their eyes.
They were all past fifty. Li Suifeng was different — at twenty-three, he’d already reached seventh-rank.
A future transfer to headquarters was more than plausible. Getting on his good side now was simple prudence.
Previously, they’d had reservations about Li Suifeng’s killing of Retainer Jiang. Even as Li Suifeng’s star rose, they’d had no intention of currying favor.
But that was then.
To hell with Retainer Jiang.
“Mm.”
Li Suifeng gave a single nod, then found a seat in the council hall and sat down.
Qi Hu watched Li Suifeng stroll in without so much as a greeting. A shadow of displeasure flickered across his face and vanished.
Tearing off the mask already?
Zhou Chao’s heart drummed.
He was firmly on Li Suifeng’s side now — but he’d been with Elder Qi for so many years. If he were asked to lead the charge against his old master, he still wouldn’t dare.
Before long, the remaining two retainers arrived with Qin Wuyang.
Qin Wuyang spared Li Suifeng a single glance and said nothing.
Lei Yun, trailing in his shadow, fixed Li Suifeng with a venomous stare.
Yesterday’s kick had cost him every shred of face he had. If the opportunity ever arose…
The atmosphere in the hall was strange. No one spoke.
TAP TAP.
Then Liu Zhenhe strode in from outside.
“Helmsman!”
“Helmsman!”
Everyone rose — Li Suifeng included. He clasped his fists toward Liu Zhenhe.
He might be eyeing the chair beneath the man’s backside, but for now, the surface courtesies still mattered.
System — if I planted the Life-Death Talisman on Liu Zhenhe and forced him to hand the Helmsman seat to me, would that count as completing the task? Li Suifeng asked silently, watching Liu Zhenhe ascend to the head seat.
【The Host must be recognized as Helmsman through legitimate Canal Gang channels for the task to count.】
So much for that.
A twinge of regret. He’d been mulling the idea ever since breaking through to peak sixth-rank, but it seemed the loophole didn’t exist.
“A great deal happened in Nanyang last night.”
Liu Zhenhe stood at the head of the hall, his gaze sweeping the room.
“The Red Lotus Sect has been a thorn in my side. Now, someone’s pulled it out for us.”
“Yesterday, Li Suifeng killed dozens of Red Lotus Sect operatives at the docks — a victory that has brought real glory to our Nanyang Branch, and given us something tangible to report to headquarters.”
“Furthermore, he has reached seventh-rank cultivation. I believe Suifeng is ready to serve as an Elder of our Nanyang Branch.”
The hall erupted.
Even Qin Wuyang and Qi Hu stared in open disbelief.
Li Suifeng was how old?
Twenty-three. Talented or not — shouldn’t he at least rack up a few more achievements before being elevated?
Qin Wuyang shot to his feet, his voice like a blade:
“Helmsman — Li Suifeng may be strong, but he’s too young. He lacks real jianghu experience. He needs more seasoning.”
“If every seventh-rank fighter in the branch could claim an Elder’s seat, headquarters would send a genius around every other week and we’d be drowning in Elders.”
“Elder Qin makes a fair point.” Qi Hu added mildly. “This matter should be considered more carefully. Once Suifeng has matured a bit more, we can revisit the Elder question.”
The Canal Gang was one of the Seven Great Gangs, after all.
Its prestige had faded, yes — but in a major prefecture like Mingzhou, only a sixth-rank master could hold the Elder title.
Nanyang was smaller, but Qi Hu had shed blood for the Canal Gang for over twenty years before earning his seat.
Li Suifeng — a man who’d been eating from Qi Hu’s hand — on what grounds?
Liu Zhenhe’s eyes narrowed. He turned to the only person who hadn’t spoken.
“Suifeng — what do you think?”
He had his own calculations. Li Suifeng had hidden well, but now that the mask was off, a seventh-rank fighter of this age was certainly talented — yet posed no real threat to Liu Zhenhe in the near term.
What mattered was the escalating friction with the Divine Fist Gate.
Li Suifeng was a sharp blade — one that could carve away the Divine Fist Gate’s encroachments.
And seeing that even Qi Hu wouldn’t speak for Li Suifeng only made Liu Zhenhe more comfortable. A man without powerful backers was a man he could use — and discard.
“I defer to the Helmsman’s judgment.” Li Suifeng kept his voice even.
For fuck’s sake — whether I get the title or not, it’s your call, isn’t it?
He refused to believe a Helmsman couldn’t overrule two branch Elders.
Even if both Elders had some pull at headquarters — a Helmsman was bound to have pull of his own.
“Suifeng is indeed a bit young.” Liu Zhenhe nodded. “But what our Nanyang Branch needs right now is exactly this kind of energy.”
“As it happens, the intercepted herbs can be shipped alongside the mineral consignment we’ve been preparing for headquarters. Since we’ve now thoroughly antagonized the Red Lotus Sect, security is paramount. Suifeng — you’ll lead the escort. Deliver everything to headquarters safely, and when you return, the Elder’s seat is yours.”
“Helmsman—”
Qin Wuyang tried to object, but Liu Zhenhe cut him off with a raised hand.
“The matter is settled.”
“You leave in three days, Suifeng.”
【Ding!】
【Task issued: The Elder’s Seat.】
【Become an Elder of the Nanyang Branch within three months.】
【Reward: One-Finger Zen Art.】
A smile touched Li Suifeng’s eyes. Right on cue.
“Done.”
“Helmsman — I guarantee every last crate arrives safely.”
Liu Zhenhe nodded with satisfaction. He walked to Li Suifeng’s side and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“After this, stop by the branch treasury and draw five hundred taels. Keep half for yourself. Take the rest and treat your boys to a good time.”
…
Once Liu Zhenhe had finished, Li Suifeng headed for the treasury.
Five hundred taels was pocket change now — but free money was free money.
He collected the silver and made for the docks.
…
Fifty li outside Mingzhou Prefecture.
Ye Qingmei sat astride a white stallion. Riding beside her was a broad-shouldered young man in a battered black robe, thick-browed and keen-eyed, mounted on his own horse.
“I was just about to ride into Nanyang to help you, and you’d already gone and found someone else!”
The man’s face wore a trace of annoyance. “Damn it — another time you don’t need me. At this rate, I’ll never repay what I owe you.”
Ye Qingmei smiled faintly.
“Lucky you didn’t come, Shen Huchan. Otherwise, I’d never have known that a blade technique that terrifying could exist in this world.”
“And… a rather extraordinary person.”