Joining the External Affairs Hall

After hearing Li Si out, Lu Shaolin finally understood what had happened.

The three of them made a round of the docks before arriving at their usual teahouse to drink tea and chat.

As for the three large carp, Li Si simply found a place inside the teahouse to hang them.

While they were drinking tea and talking, a man in black approached. He cupped his hands to Lu Shaolin and said, "Leader Lu, Manager Yu invites you to the county town for a gathering."

Lu Shaolin glanced at his collar and confirmed that he was indeed from the gang. He said to Ma San and Li Si, "You two keep patrolling here. I'll make a trip there."

"Yes, boss."

Ma San and Li Si cupped their hands in acknowledgment.

"Let's go."

Lu Shaolin said to the man in black.

"Please."

The man extended a hand and led the way.

At the entrance to the docks, a carriage was waiting.

"Leader Lu, please get in."

The man said.

"Mm."

Lu Shaolin stepped into the carriage, with the man following close behind.

Once they were seated securely, the carriage headed toward the county town.

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of an elegant little courtyard.

Lu Shaolin stepped down from the carriage and looked toward the courtyard gate.

"Leader Lu, Manager Yu is waiting for you inside."

The man said quietly.

"Alright."

Lu Shaolin nodded and walked toward the courtyard.

Upon entering, he saw Yu Shan seated beneath a large tree, brewing tea. A burly man in black stood behind him.

"Little brother, you've come!"

Yu Shan stood up with a smile when he saw Lu Shaolin.

"Manager Yu."

Lu Shaolin cupped his hands.

"Have a seat first."

Yu Shan pointed to a chair beside the tea table.

"Why did you call me here, Manager?"

Lu Shaolin sat down and accepted the tea Yu Shan handed him.

"I heard about yesterday's battle as well. You greatly bolstered the Blackwater Gang's prestige."

Yu Shan said with a smile.

"Not at all. The Little Knife Society was simply going too far in bullying us."

Lu Shaolin shook his head with a smile.

"I truly did not expect you to possess such martial strength."

Yu Shan said with feeling.

"I was merely born strong. After entering the Skin Refinement Realm, my strength seems to have grown even greater."

Lu Shaolin used his old excuse to brush him off.

"You are exceptionally gifted. Very few people possess such talent."

"You flatter me, Manager."

"Let's get to the point. I called you here because word of yesterday's battle reached the External Affairs Hall manager as well. He learned that your strength is comparable to Perfected Skin Tempering, and that you even frightened off that fellow Liu Bao. He wants you to join the External Affairs Hall. The hall is short on manpower right now. Would you be willing?"

"What are the benefits in the External Affairs Hall?"

"The benefits are naturally generous. After all, the work is dangerous. A leader receives twenty taels a month, and there are additional rewards for killing demons, monsters, and strange entities, starting at no less than five taels."

"Manager, do you want me to go or not?"

"From my perspective, naturally I do not want you to go. Who would not want a fierce general under his command? But from the gang's perspective, and from yours, I still recommend that you go. Though it is dangerous, promotion in the External Affairs Hall is fast. It looks only at strength, not background!"

"If that is the case, then I am willing to go!"

Lu Shaolin cupped his hands. This was like being handed a pillow just when he was sleepy.

"Good! I, Yu Shan, truly did not misjudge you. Rest assured, the External Affairs Hall manager and I are old friends. Once you go, I will naturally ask him to look after you. If I could refuse him without losing face, I would not be willing to let you go."

Yu Shan said loudly.

"There is no need for special care. Treat me fairly like everyone else. I believe in my own strength."

Lu Shaolin said righteously.

He had better not receive special treatment. Otherwise, where would he go to kill demons, monsters, and strange entities? If they assigned him some logistics position, that would be utterly miserable.

"Ambitious!"

Yu Shan suddenly stood and patted Lu Shaolin's broad shoulder.

"Since that is settled, go report to the External Affairs Hall at headquarters this afternoon. I will make the necessary arrangements with them."

Yu Shan continued.

"Alright."

Lu Shaolin replied.

The two then chatted casually for a while before Lu Shaolin cupped his hands and took his leave.

Yu Shan had the carriage come over to take Lu Shaolin back to the docks.

After returning to the docks, Lu Shaolin nodded in greeting to those who greeted him as he walked toward the teahouse.

Sure enough, Ma San and Li Si were still at the teahouse, boasting and chatting.

Lu Shaolin walked over, and the two stood up and called out, "Boss!"

"Mm, sit."

Lu Shaolin said with a smile.

The three sat around the table.

"Boss, what did Manager Yu want with you?"

Li Si did not hide his curiosity and asked directly.

"He wanted me to go to the External Affairs Hall."

Lu Shaolin replied.

"Did you agree, boss? The External Affairs Hall may pay more each month, but it is work done with your head tied to your belt. It is extremely dangerous!"

Li Si said urgently.

"For me, the more dangerous it is, the more I can improve my strength. The docks may be comfortable, but they are too peaceful."

Lu Shaolin shook his head.

He had already wanted to enter the External Affairs Hall. He could earn monthly pay and Source Points at the same time—a perfect arrangement!

"Would you two be willing to go with me? I will still be a leader after I go, and the External Affairs Hall happens to be short on manpower. You can continue following me."

Lu Shaolin asked.

"Boss, I'll pass. I have a wife and children. I do not want them worrying and living in fear."

Li Si said apologetically, lowering his head and not daring to look at Lu Shaolin.

"No matter. That is only human nature!"

Lu Shaolin waved it off indifferently.

"Boss, I am willing to go with you. I am alone and have no attachments."

Ma San said in a deep voice.

"Good! This afternoon, you will go to the External Affairs Hall with me."

Lu Shaolin said with a smile.

"Li Si, you will be transferred under Leader Wang. I specifically mentioned it while talking with the manager just now."

Lu Shaolin looked at Li Si again.

"Thank you, boss!"

Li Si cupped his hands in thanks.

He had feared being transferred under She Jiang. If that happened, he would inevitably suffer abuse and be deliberately made to feel unwelcome.

As they talked, it became time for lunch. Li Si proposed treating Lu Shaolin and Ma San to a meal, but Lu Shaolin stopped him outright and said he would pay. As their boss, he naturally had to pay for their farewell meal.

Li Si had no choice but to agree.

The three hailed a carriage and headed straight for the county town.

After arriving in the county town, they picked a restaurant at random and began eating and drinking.

Lu Shaolin only drank a few cups lightly, while Ma San drank heartily with Li Si.

Once the meal was over, Li Si had drunk himself unconscious.

The two brought Li Si home, then walked toward the docks to sober up along the way.

After walking for half an hour, the two reached the docks.

Without lingering there, they headed directly for the Water Fortress.

At the Water Fortress entrance, Lu Shaolin did not even need to show his token. The guards recognized him immediately.

After all, he was still wearing that Daoist robe.

They entered the Water Fortress and arrived at the External Affairs Hall.

Behind the counter sat a dark-faced burly man.

Lu Shaolin explained his purpose, and the dark-faced man expressionlessly told him to take out his token.

Lu Shaolin took out his token. The dark-faced man accepted and put it away, then took a pitch-black token from a drawer and handed it to Lu Shaolin.

Lu Shaolin accepted it and examined it. The token was the same as before, except it was entirely black. In addition to a number at the bottom, it bore the three words "External Affairs Hall."

"With this token, you may go to the warehouse in the back to claim a fine horse."

The dark-faced man said quietly.

Ma San then handed over his token as well, and the dark-faced man exchanged it for a pitch-black token.

However, instead of the words "leader" on the back, his token bore the words "gang member."

Like Lu Shaolin, he could go to the rear warehouse to claim a horse.

After registering the two of them, the dark-faced man informed Lu Shaolin to return to the External Affairs Hall before tomorrow morning. The manager would assign subordinates to him and tell him where he would be stationed.