CXnovel Chapter 174: Preventing Trouble Before It Starts
Chapter 174: Preventing Trouble Before It Starts
“Hah!”
“Hah!!”
On the hall’s Training Grounds, shouts rang out in crisp, disciplined unison.
More than sixty Inner Disciples and over forty guards from Qingfeng Escort Agency stood in orderly ranks, spaced evenly, filling the entire grounds as they practiced their punches together.
Black Tiger Fist!
Wangchuan had already passed down the key essentials of 《Black Tiger Fist》. Any disciple without an escort assignment remained at the Training Grounds, repeatedly drilling the dozen-plus movements and the full sequence of combinations.
In the past, when members of the Yulong Gang’s Inner Hall had no tasks, they would spend their time drinking in the city, frequenting brothels, and squandering money at gambling houses.
Wangchuan had already issued strict orders.
The threats from the Five Poison Sect and Blackwind Stronghold had not completely vanished.
Everyone had to seize every moment to cultivate. They were required to master 《Basic Fist Technique》, 《Black Tiger Fist》, 《Archery》, 《Hundred Paces Piercing the Poplar》, as well as 《Basic Saber Technique》 and 《Gale Saber Art》—to strengthen themselves as much as possible.Each day’s schedule was packed. Escort and transport duties were carried out in rotation. By the time evening came, everyone was exhausted from training and had no energy left to go out seeking pleasure. Complaints were common.
Yet Hall Master Wangchuan personally sat at the Training Grounds, cultivating alongside them.
Wang Yuehui, Chen Ergou, and Captain Zhao Heiniu—figures equivalent to helm leaders—trained alongside everyone as well.
No one could object.
After all, the Yulong Gang’s income was high, and bonuses had been distributed. At such a time, no one wanted to become a thorn in the Hall Master’s side.
With two hundred Quasi-Martial Artists in the hall, manpower was abundant.
Everyone could only grit their teeth and keep up.
After several consecutive days from dawn to dusk, the spirit and bearing of the Inner Disciples had completely changed.
This transformation was especially evident to the Outer Disciples and dock laborers. They gazed longingly at the activities within the Inner Hall, wishing they could witness it firsthand.
A few days later—
Wang Yuehui approached Wangchuan with a troubled expression.
“Hall Master.”
“This month’s expenditures are somewhat high.”
“Our total income this month was less than eight thousand taels of silver. We distributed three thousand five hundred taels in pensions and bonuses, fifteen hundred taels in wages, and nearly two thousand taels on goods, ship maintenance, and hall repairs. We also purchased a batch of martial manuals in the hall’s name. At present, there are less than three hundred taels left on the books.”
“…”
Wangchuan frowned.
“I understand.”
“This month, due to interference from the Five Poison Sect and the Qingyi Sect in our waterways, we indeed lost a considerable portion of shipping business. The hall’s income has been reduced by more than half.”
“Now, salary and bonus expenditures have more than doubled.”
“As long as waterway shipping returns to normal operations, our income will recover.”
Wangchuan had already considered this.
“In addition, Qingfeng Escort Agency’s escort business can take on a number of assignments each month. There will be additional revenue. Achieving self-sufficiency will not be a problem.”
If the frequency of missions decreased, bonus payouts would decline.
As external income increased, the hall could still maintain dozens of taels of gold in monthly surplus.
He personally held eight hundred taels in gold notes and more than one thousand taels in silver notes. For the time being, he felt no anxiety.
Wang Yuehui left the remaining silver notes for the month and withdrew.
Wangchuan then made a trip to the Weapon Room.
The Weapon Room was lively with the constant ringing of metal on metal.
Qian Sihai’s eyes lit up.
“Hall Master!”
More than thirty shop assistants in the Weapon Room set down their tools and clasped their fists in salute.
“Hall Master!”
The flourishing state of the hall and the Hall Master’s repeated victories against experts of the Five Poison Sect had instilled unprecedented admiration and trust in everyone. Their respect came from the heart.
“Continue your work.”
Wangchuan approached Qian Sihai.
The latter was forging Hundredfold Steel Sabers.
Three Hundredfold Steel Sabers were being refined at the same time.
Dozens of Hundredfold Steel Sabers had already been distributed among the Inner Disciples, yet the demand remained substantial. Every Inner Disciple took pride in owning one.
The Weapon Room’s business was thriving.
Each month, it generated around two thousand taels of silver.
This was one of the reasons Wangchuan felt confident. With money in hand, one’s heart remained steady.
“How are the newly recruited assistants performing?”
His tone was casual.
Qian Sihai nodded.
“They are doing fairly well. They start working early in the morning and continue until evening. Although they leave a bit early, it is already quite commendable.”
“Mm.”
Wangchuan nodded.
The original NPC assistants in the Weapon Room had also finished work after six in the evening and returned to rest.
Only after Wangchuan took over had everyone begun working diligently into the night for the sake of higher bonuses.
These newly recruited players from the Gold-Farming Team still needed time for leisure. They could not truly be treated as machines.
“Very well.”
“As long as they work diligently during the day, it does not matter if they leave earlier at night.”
As his words spread through the Weapon Room, many assistants revealed visible relief.
However—
Wangchuan then publicly announced:
“From this month onward, the top twenty assistants in monthly forging output will each receive an additional bonus of one tael of silver. The top ten will receive two taels. The top three will receive three taels.”
The assistants were stunned, hardly daring to believe it.
“Thank you, Hall Master!”
Those who had been working diligently each day were completely stirred into fervor.
Previously, with the arrival of new recruits, some had felt their hard work was being overlooked. Now the situation had reversed entirely. They hammered iron with renewed vigor, their strikes ringing out crisp and lively.
Qian Sihai smiled at Wangchuan.
The Hall Master truly had foresight. He had detected the subtle emergence of comparison and laziness within the Weapon Room and extinguished it immediately.
Now not only were the veteran assistants invigorated, even the newcomers’ eyes were reddened with excitement, as though fueled by adrenaline.
A bonus of one tael of silver—
That alone equated to three thousand yuan outside.
Combined with commission from overtime forging, it was a considerable income.
Clang!
Clang!!
The Weapon Room buzzed with heightened energy as everyone competed passionately.
Wangchuan smiled.
“Room Master Qian, how is the stockpile of arrows and Armor-Piercing Arrows in the treasury?”
“Arrows have been replenished to over forty thousand. As for Armor-Piercing Arrows, since I am the only one who understands the method, production is average. We currently have just over one thousand in stock.”
Qian Sihai replied.
“One thousand Armor-Piercing Arrows is already respectable. However, Room Master Qian, you should also observe whether there are any promising talents in the Weapon Room. Consider passing on 《Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique》. In the future, should something arise, there will be someone to help shoulder the burden.”
After saying this, Wangchuan quickly added,
“Of course, this person will bear the title of your disciple. Any Hundredfold Steel weapons he forges will grant you a share of the profits. However, you may accept at most two disciples. What do you think?”
“I will follow the Hall Master’s decision!”
Qian Sihai’s eyes shone as he agreed with a broad smile.
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