Acting Deputy Branch Leader

Hearing that an elder from the Black Tiger Gang's main headquarters had arrived, Lu Hao, Shi Kang, and Qian Hao headed to the council hall together.

Upon entering the council hall, they saw a tall, thin middle-aged man around forty seated in the guest's chair. His skin was waxy yellow, and a strip of handlebar mustache rested above his lips.

Seeing the three enter, Han Zheng introduced him. "This is Elder Cao Ling from the main headquarters."

Cao Ling looked over the three of them, his gaze finally settling on Lu Hao.

"You are Lu Hao?"

"Greetings, Elder Cao. I am Lu Hao."

Cao Ling stared at Lu Hao for another couple of moments, nodding repeatedly. "Who would have thought our Black Tiger Gang had such a promising young man? As an ordinary gang member, you killed Zhou Zhennan with one blow, then punched Liu Zimu to death with several more strikes. Truly young and accomplished!"

Having said that, he turned to Qian Hao.

"Qian Hao, how are your injuries?"

"Reporting to Elder Cao, they should not be anything serious," Qian Hao answered respectfully.

Cao Ling gave a meaningful look to someone beside him. That person immediately walked over to Qian Hao, examined him carefully, then gently pressed beneath his ribs.

"Deputy Branch Leader Qian, there is a slight fracture in your ribs. You only need to rest in bed and recuperate for some time."

Cao Ling stroked his handlebar mustache, pondering for a moment.

"It takes a hundred days to heal injured sinews and bones. Qian Hao, since you have hurt your bones and muscles, rest in peace for a while. Lu Hao will temporarily act in your position."

Though Qian Hao felt somewhat disappointed, he also knew this was the most suitable arrangement at present. He immediately clasped his fists. "Yes, Elder Cao!"

Cao Ling looked at Lu Hao again.

"Lu Hao, you have already advanced to the Third Gate-Knocking Realm. By rights, strength like yours should earn you a branch leader's post. But every branch is currently fighting the Golden Saber Gang with all its strength. Replacing a commander in the midst of battle would inevitably cause disorder, so remain at the Everjoy Hall Branch for now and assist Branch Leader Han."

"Yes," Lu Hao replied.

Cao Ling then looked at Shi Kang. "You are Shi Kang?"

"Elder Cao, I am Shi Kang."

"Today, during the negotiations with the Water Serpent Gang, I heard you also won a match and rendered meritorious service to the gang. You are a Martial Apprentice of the First Gate-Breaking Realm already?"

"Yes, Elder Cao. A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to break through the gate and awaken my Qi-Blood."

Cao Ling stroked his handlebar mustache again. "In that case, take up a minor leader's post at the Everjoy Hall Branch."

"Thank you, Elder Cao!" Shi Kang was so excited that he suddenly raised his voice, startling Cao Ling.

Everyone in the council hall froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Cao Ling shook his head and laughed as he scolded, "You brat!"

Cao Ling then looked at Han Zheng and Chen Xuan. "Since the Water Serpent Gang has agreed to a truce, the Everjoy Hall Branch must gather its manpower and prepare to go to war with the Golden Saber Gang."

After speaking, he glanced at the person beside him. That person took three ten-tael silver ingots from his robe and placed them on the long table.

"These are the gang's rewards for the three of you—ten taels of silver each. In recent fighting with the Golden Saber Gang, many brothers have been killed or wounded, and the compensation expenses are enormous. There is no extra silver to spare, so do not take offense."

The three hurriedly clasped their fists and said in unison, "Thank you, Elder Cao!"

Cao Ling gave a few more instructions before leaving the Everjoy Hall Branch with his men. Before departing, he even patted Shi Kang on the shoulder and told him, "Kid, work hard!"

After seeing Cao Ling off, everyone returned to the council hall.

Han Zheng looked at Lu Hao and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "Congratulations, Deputy Branch Leader Lu!" He placed special emphasis on the words "Deputy Branch Leader."

"Since Elder Cao has given the order, tomorrow's fight against the Golden Saber Gang will be led by you and the branch brothers. Chen Xuan and I will hold down the rear. You are young and accomplished; this is precisely your chance to earn some merit for the gang."

Chen Xuan echoed from the side, "That's right! Deputy Branch Leader Lu is young and accomplished. I'm sure you can lead the brothers to defeat the Golden Saber Gang!"

Lu Hao had intended to decline, but he saw Qian Hao give him a slight nod.

After a brief thought, he replied to Han Zheng, "Yes, Branch Leader."

After leaving the Everjoy Hall Branch, Shi Kang supported Qian Hao as he and Lu Hao accompanied him to Qian Hao's home.

Qian Hao's home stood in an alley behind Joyful Street, with a spacious courtyard. The blue-brick, gray-tiled house had three rooms: a central sitting room and two bedrooms on either side. It was countless times better than the tiny mud house where Lu Hao lived.

When Qian Hao's wife saw that he had brought people back, she washed a plate of fruit, carried it into the sitting room, and then withdrew.

Qian Hao looked at Lu Hao. "Haozi." The three had lived and died together at the Water Serpent Gang today, so Qian Hao's form of address had become much more familiar.

"Do you know how many deputy branch leaders our Everjoy Hall Branch has?"

Shi Kang hurriedly answered from the side, "I know this. Our branch has three deputy branch leaders. Besides Deputy Branch Leader Qian and Chen Xuan, there is also Deputy Branch Leader Wan Shuijiang."

Qian Hao nodded slightly. "That's right. Chen Xuan oversees internal affairs. Wan Shuijiang is responsible for collecting protection fees from the merchants on Joyful Street and maintaining order on the streets. I mainly handle external affairs, which was why I was sent to negotiate with the Water Serpent Gang this time. Now that you have taken over my post, you naturally must take the lead in the fighting against the Golden Saber Gang."

Only then did Lu Hao and Shi Kang understand. They nodded together.

Qian Hao lifted his teacup, drained the cold tea in one gulp, then wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"A deputy branch leader receives twenty taels of silver each month. Shi Kang, as a minor leader, you will receive ten taels each month as well."

When Lu Hao and Shi Kang heard the amount of their monthly pay, their eyes lit up.

Lu Hao calculated swiftly. One copper coin was equivalent to one yuan from before his transmigration, while one tael of silver was a thousand yuan. Twenty taels meant twenty thousand yuan.

He could not help drawing in a sharp breath. No wonder Qian Hao could afford such a residence. An income of twenty taels of silver a month was enough to live quite comfortably in Bluestone County.

However, Lu Hao had no intention of spending his future salary on buying property.

What he had in mind was buying meat with richer Qi-Blood, or equipping the Golden Blade Method and then finding a way to obtain a good saber.

That morning, Feng Feiyi had told him that Zhou Zhenbei was a Martial Artist, and an invisible pressure had risen in his heart. He had to break through to become a Martial Artist as soon as possible. Otherwise, if Zhou Zhenbei truly came to kill him, with his current strength, he feared he would not have the slightest chance of victory.

"Han Zheng has asked you to lead men into battle against the Golden Saber Gang. I have a suggestion." Qian Hao interrupted Lu Hao's thoughts.

"The Golden Saber Gang calls roll every day at the hour of the Snake. You can lead men to lie in ambush near their branch and charge in a moment before roll call. At that time, the Golden Saber Gang will have the most people gathered, yet their guard will be at its loosest. When they answer roll call, they will not be holding their sabers."

Lu Hao nodded after listening and calculated inwardly. The hour of the Snake was nine o'clock in the world before his transmigration.

Like the Black Tiger Gang, the Golden Saber Gang held roll call at nine o'clock.

Lu Hao's workplace before his transmigration had also started work at nine. At eight forty-five, only some people had truly arrived. And at that time, people were still slack and loose in spirit. It really was the perfect time for a surprise attack.