Jiang Dao's ruthless methods threw everyone into panic.
They found it hard to imagine what kind of demon he was.
Everyone present searched their consciences; it was not as though they had never done evil before.
But people like Jiang Dao, who killed at the drop of a hat—they truly had never seen the like.
For a time, no one dared say another word.
Yang Xu, standing to one side, was utterly shaken.
Unbelievable!
This nephew of his was truly unbelievable.
A hall full of thorns and troublemakers had been subdued by him in an instant?
"By the way, you rendered meritorious service by reporting them just now. What was your name again?"
Jiang Dao suddenly looked calmly at the man who had named the others and asked.
"Th-this lowly one is Wang Bao!"
The man answered in a trembling voice.
"Mm. From today onward, you are promoted to helmsman. Go bring me the roster!"
Jiang Dao said.
"Yes, yes!"
The man was both delighted and terrified, his heart trembling as though he were dreaming. He hurried into the room and fetched a thick roster.
There were more than six hundred members listed in the roster.
Most of them were usually active outside and could not make it back.
Only around a hundred regular members were stationed at the hall.
Jiang Dao scanned it quickly and discovered that Flying Eagle Hall had eight helmsmen in total. Without exception, every one of those he had sent to clean horse dung had been a helmsman.
"And you still say you got in without connections? Eight people serving as helmsmen at the same time—there must be something fishy going on. In my Flying Eagle Hall, what I hate most is people pulling strings!"
Jiang Dao's face was cold as he looked at the crowd. "There are now seven vacant helmsman positions. Let us settle it by martial prowess—let the capable take the posts. Whoever believes his strength far surpasses his peers, step forward yourself. I will appoint him as a helmsman!"
The remaining people were all shocked and delighted at these words.
He was going to appoint them as helmsmen?
They had just started to step forward when their scalps suddenly prickled, and they shrank back again.
If they became helmsmen, would that not mean offending the Left Guardian from then on?
Everyone knew that the Left Guardian had previously arranged for many trusted subordinates to enter Flying Eagle Hall and take important positions. If they obtained those positions now, would the Left Guardian let them off easily?
For a moment, everyone trembled and lowered their heads.
"What? No one wants the lofty position of helmsman?"
Jiang Dao frowned and stared at the people with bowed heads.
They still did not say a word.
Suddenly, Jiang Dao understood. He revealed a cold smile and said, "Rest assured. As long as you take this helmsman position, you will be one of my own from now on. No one else has the authority to deal with you. Whoever dares deal with you is picking a fight with me, including the Left Guardian. Well? Are you still hesitating? The opportunity is before you now, so you had better seize it. After all, when one walks through life, such chances do not come every time!"
Their expressions shifted as they struggled inwardly.
Before long, someone boldly stepped out and clasped his fists. "Hall Master, this lowly one is Guo Dutian. I am willing to take a helmsman position. I practice swift saber techniques—sixty-four forms in all. In terms of strength, I can rank among the best in Flying Eagle Hall. I hope Hall Master will grant my wish!"
"Swift saber? If you possess such skill, why did you not hold an important position before?"
Jiang Dao asked.
"Because... because this lowly one had no connections behind me, so... I could only run errands."
The man said softly.
"So that was it!"
Jiang Dao smiled. "Very good. From now on, you are the East Entrance Helmsman of Flying Eagle Hall, responsible for the East Entrance Street area!"
"Thank you, Hall Master!"
Guo Dutian was overjoyed and solemnly kowtowed.
When the others saw this, their hearts shook, and they immediately stepped forward one after another to recommend themselves.
These people were basically no weaker than Guo Dutian. Like him, they had no connections behind them and thus no path to promotion. But now that Jiang Dao had cleared away the obstacles for them, they immediately saw hope again.
Jiang Dao was exceedingly satisfied and appointed them one by one.
Very quickly, all the vacant helmsman positions were filled.
"Rest assured, as long as you follow this Hall Master honestly, I naturally will not treat you poorly. Today is this Hall Master's first day taking office, so everyone will receive celebration money. Each person will be rewarded ten taels of silver, while helmsmen will receive one hundred taels!"
Jiang Dao announced.
Ten taels of silver already amounted to four or five years of income for an ordinary person.
Many servants in the Jiang household earned only two qian of silver a month, so ten taels was already a small fortune to these people. As for one hundred taels for a helmsman, that was wealth enough to make oil flow from one's pockets.
Everyone was immediately overjoyed again. They hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, becoming utterly devoted to him.
"A dragon and phoenix among men, truly a dragon and phoenix among men!"
Yang Xu sighed inwardly from the side.
First, he used thunderous methods to intimidate them; then, he used heavy rewards to gather their hearts!
The tightening and loosening were wielded with consummate mastery!
The Left Guardian's trusted subordinates had not lost unjustly.
"Third Uncle, nothing more should happen here for the time being. If you are busy, you can head back first."
Jiang Dao turned around and said.
"Fine. I had been worried that you would not be able to completely win over Flying Eagle Hall, but it seems I worried for nothing!"
Yang Xu sighed.
He immediately mounted his fast horse and swiftly departed.
"Everyone else, disperse. The eight helmsmen, come inside with me!"
Jiang Dao gave the order and headed toward the main hall. Suddenly, he paused and turned to look at the helmsmen he had dismissed. He said coldly, "Keep watch over them. Do not let them leave. Whoever lets them escape will answer to me!"
The group of sect members hurriedly nodded, promising not to let a single person go.
On the ground, the dismissed helmsmen all wore bitter expressions, their hearts filled with stifled grievance.
Had they known this would happen, they would never have dared agree to help the Left Guardian deal with Jiang Dao.
Inside the main hall.
Jiang Dao sat quietly. Dressed in a snow-white sable coat, he had a burly frame, broad shoulders and back, thick black hair, and a fair complexion. He looked like a wealthy young master.
He gently picked up a teacup, blew on it lightly, and said indifferently, "Everyone, I hear that our Blazing Flame Sect has hidden away quite a few martial arts manuals. Where exactly are these martial arts manuals? Are there any restrictions if one wishes to study them?"
"Reporting to Hall Master, those manuals are all in the Martial Repository Pavilion at headquarters. It contains everything under heaven—saber, spear, staff, sword, and all manner of techniques. Entry and exit require contribution points for exchange. However, Hall Master naturally does not need to go through such trouble. Generally speaking, every Hall Master may enter twice a month, and can browse manuals below the third floor free of charge."
Guo Dutian said.
"Browse them free of charge?"
Jiang Dao's eyes flickered.
"Yes, but manuals above the third floor require contribution points."
Guo Dutian replied.
"Does the Blazing Flame Sect have internal cultivation methods?"
Jiang Dao asked.
"Yes. Our Blazing Flame Sect has two internal cultivation methods, both profound and unfathomable. One is the Blazing Sun Divine Skill, which only the Sect Master may cultivate. The other is the Black Heart Poison Palm, which only the Sect Master and Deputy Sect Master may view!"
Guo Dutian said.
"Only the Sect Master and Deputy Sect Master can practice them? Are there no internal cultivation methods for someone at the Hall Master level?"
Jiang Dao frowned.
"Apparently not!"
Guo Dutian smiled bitterly.
Jiang Dao pondered inwardly.
This had become somewhat troublesome.
He had originally thought that once he entered the Blazing Flame Sect, he would quickly obtain an internal cultivation method.
But now, it seemed completely useless.
Just as Pang Lin had said, the importance of such things was beyond imagination.
Unless one became Sect Master or Deputy Sect Master, one had no right to view them.
"Tell me roughly about the territory under Flying Eagle Hall's jurisdiction."
Jiang Dao asked casually.
He began making plans inwardly, preparing to visit the Martial Repository Pavilion at headquarters tomorrow to select manuals.
Even without an internal cultivation method, learning a few more saber techniques and external cultivation methods would still be good.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Guo Dutian clasped his fists.
A day passed swiftly.
Flying Eagle Hall, from top to bottom, had been completely taken over by Jiang Dao.
When the news reached the Left Guardian's ears, it once again sent him into a towering rage.
With one palm strike, he split a wooden post apart. His sleeves billowed, his hair stood on end with fury, and his gaze was grim.
"This is going too far! Simply going too far!"
"Protector, do not be angry. Jiang Dao is merely a young man. It is nothing for young people to be a little high-spirited; we cannot deal with him by force."
A dog-headed strategist beside him spoke calmly. "I have a plan to eliminate him. Not long ago, did a batch of sect members disappear from Greenstone Town, within our Blazing Flame Sect's territory? It is suspected that a Malevolent Spirit is causing trouble. Recently, the Sect Master has been looking for someone to investigate it. Why not recommend Jiang Dao, Protector? Send several trusted subordinates with him, then kill him along the way. Even if he dies, he will have died in vain."
The Left Guardian drew a slow breath, his eyes dark and gloomy as he nodded.
"Good. Exactly what I want. Let Hu Biao and Fan Hu handle it..."
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