Chapter 13. Standing at the Post (6)

"…So that's how it turned out."

I finished the post-incident report in a state of utter exhaustion.

I'm so tired I could die.

I caused a commotion in the early morning, carried Senior Zou Junping on my back to the doctor, grabbed the sleeping doctor by the collar to wake him up, and waited for the treatment until dawn.

I thought about just going home and collapsing, but I felt I should at least give a report, so I went to the post office, only to find chaos.

It seemed the commotion from last night had already spread.

In any case, I killed him, and I'm so exhausted that I feel like I'm about to die, so I asked to be sent home, but they said the matter was too serious and made me wait. I had to wait until Bai Linghua arrived and give a face-to-face report.

Why don't they guarantee my rest time?...

I squeezed out all my remaining strength and somehow finished the face-to-face report, and Bai Linghua nodded as if she understood everything.

"You were lucky. Wasn't the one you called Fan Qianbai?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Wasn't the one who gave the advice called Iron Lion Fan Qianbai, a great hero? Indeed, he is one of the ten great masters of Hubei."

Bai Linghua sighed in admiration with a bright expression.

According to Bai Linghua, if Bai Shengyi used sword qi, even for a moment, it meant he had reached the initial stage of a first-class level.

For a third-class warrior like me to be able to face such a person, even for a moment, with accurate advice, was an incredibly difficult task.

That old man was indeed a great master.

"Jiang Baodou, prepare a separate gift. I will personally pay my respects later."

"Yes, I understand."

Bai Linghua, as expected, showed the seasoned business acumen of a businesswoman, not missing even this small business etiquette.

"Cheng Biao, you've also done a great job. Even if Great Hero Fan gave the advice, if Cheng Biao hadn't trained thoroughly, we would have lost two Biao."

"That's true. I'm glad I trained hard. If I followed the training of Baiyun Post Office, the junior members of Jiejian Sect are just nothing."

"…Arrogance is forbidden for a martial artist. You should think that this time was just very lucky."

I thought this was the perfect moment to flatter, but Bai Linghua sighed and pressed her forehead, as if she couldn't stop me.

"In any case, go home and rest today. You can take four days off.

We will give you a separate reward for your efforts this time."

"Thank you very much."

Of course, it must be a paid vacation, right?

"However, even though you are tired today, you must definitely review the fight. You will definitely gain some insight."

"Insight, you mean?"

"Yes. Review the fight. After a martial artist has a life-or-death battle, they can gain some insight, big or small. It's like inspiration. When the memory is still fresh, review the fight and reflect on it. You will gain something."

"But I'm already more awake than at 12 o'clock..."

Bai Linghua smiled. It was a radiant smile, as if a flower had fully bloomed.

"It's an order."

* * *

After Cheng Laizhun trudged back with his shoulders slumped, Bai Linghua turned to Jiang Baodou with a smile.

"You were really lucky."

"Yes, this way we can get the Zhengjiazhai-related business. Our branch will grow significantly."

"Right. It's a good opportunity for business expansion."

Bai Linghua's eyes sparkled.

Business expansion. What a sweet story.

The reason Baiyun Post Office had kept the Mayang County branch small was the lack of additional business opportunities.

Mayang County, though a small town, was still a county. There were certainly some business opportunities. However, all those opportunities were tightly held by the Jiejian Sect.

Although tempting, they weren't worth the friction and competition with the Jiejian Sect, so the branch's motto was to focus on the main business.

But now the situation has changed dramatically.

The Jiejian Sect made a self-defeating move.

This incident further eroded the Jiejian Sect's credibility with Zhengjiazhai. They might try to salvage the situation, but it won't be easy. If the previous period was like a divorce mediation, now it's almost a divorce.

The decision to cut ties with Bai Shengyi, though significant as a father's decision, was insufficient as a sect's decision.

Even if it was a difficult decision, they should have proven that Bai Shengyi was completely incapacitated and no longer a threat.

But they didn't, and instead almost caused more trouble for Zhengjiazhai.

Now it's a matter of trust.

Failing to maintain discipline among the disciples and giving a lukewarm punishment is a fatal issue for the martial world's reputation.

"Strictly disciplining a disciple who commits the sin of killing a knight has its reasons."

"You're right."

The silver that Zhengjiazhai paid to the Jiejian Sect for the protection of the main house and the trade convoy exceeded tens of thousands of taels. Even if they gave up on the main house's security, they couldn't let go of the trade convoy's protection, but now they can't.

Baiyun Post Office will take that seat.

"Even if we do nothing, it will soon fall into our hands... Now we need to give Zhengjiazhai a reason to trust us."

"Trust... you mean?"

"Yes. We should show them how much our new business will benefit them."

"Then, how about summarizing our post office's performance and showing it to them?"

"Hmm... I don't think that will have much significance."

Zhengjiazhai is in a situation where they have no other choice. Only the Jiejian Sect and Baiyun Post Office can mobilize over a hundred martial artists in this area.

Therefore, the contract itself with Zhengjiazhai is not difficult.

But the issue is the price.

'If we do nothing, we might face a price cut.'

Bai Linghua frowned, pondering.

Unfortunately, the current Baiyun Post Office is not a giant post office that operates throughout Central China.

It is a medium-sized post office with influence only in the Anhui-Hubei-Sichuan region.

Protecting a trade convoy is a natural duty for a post office, but an unknown post office is a very unsettling factor for merchants.

That's why Zhengjiazhai has entrusted the convoy's protection to the Jiejian Sect, despite knowing that Baiyun Post Office is nearby.

Now, it's clear that they will have to deal with Baiyun Post Office, but if we do nothing, we might face a price cut.

We need to do something that will create a strong impact, something that will prevent them from easily cutting the price.

After pondering, Bai Linghua proposed an idea.

"What about raiding the Wujiang Mountain Bandits?"

Wujiang Mountain Bandits.

Originally, they had a mutual assistance relationship, paying tolls and maintaining the road, but that relationship ended after the previous attack. Several attempts to restart the dialogue were met with no response.

Now, the justification is on our side. Even if we completely eliminate the bandits from Wujiang Mountain, the Green Forest won't have a strong enough reason to object.

After some thought, Jiang Baodou nodded.

"Indeed, raiding the Wujiang Mountain Bandits will create quite a stir in the Hubei region. It will also significantly reduce costs."

Raiding the Wujiang Mountain Bandits has a significant advantage.

The main advantage is cost reduction.

Most of the money used to feed over a hundred bandits came from the tolls collected by Baiyun Post Office. This cost can now be directly reflected as profit.

For a business leader, the word "cost reduction" is incredibly sweet, and it's no exception for Bai Linghua.

Moreover, raiding the bandits has other advantages. The harm caused by bandits to civilians is immeasurable.

Therefore, martial sects that raid bandits are usually highly praised.

"Since we've crossed a point of no return, it's best to eliminate them completely this time."

"But will it be okay?"

Jiang Baodou raised a cautious point.

"Given our current strength, it's not easy to engage in a full-scale battle with the Wujiang Mountain Bandits. The number and level of Biao we can mobilize from the branch are insufficient."

The bandits of Wujiang Mountain number over a hundred, while the Biao from the Mayang County branch can barely gather thirty.

Of course, if we bring in Biao from the headquarters, we can mobilize several times the force, but that's the current situation.

Even if the Biao are more skilled in martial arts than the bandits, the sheer number difference means casualties are inevitable, even with Bai Linghua's involvement.

Jiang Baodou finished his cold calculation.

"If we engage in a full-scale battle with just our branch, we will have at least ten casualties, which will result in a loss."

Biao are not marines that spawn with 50 minerals in a Barracks. They are precious human resources, carefully selected and trained over a long period.

A small branch like this will face significant disruptions in regular operations if just a few experienced Biao are lost. Disruptions in operations directly lead to a loss of trust in the post office.

Even without considering the post-incident costs, the loss of even a few Biao from the branch is a significant blow.

Jiang Baodou pointed this out.

But Bai Linghua said it was nothing to worry about.

"If we mobilize Biao, that would be the case."

"Then...?"

"Since they are just a band of bandits, I will personally go and swiftly behead their leader.

Then they will naturally disintegrate."

"A decapitation operation, I see."

A decapitation operation means quickly eliminating the enemy's leadership. For anyone else, it might be a concern, but with Bai Linghua's martial arts, there's no need to worry.

She may look young and delicate, but Bai Linghua is one of the Nine Dragons and Seven Peaks, a recognized rising master in the martial world.

She has the martial arts to eliminate the leader of a small bandit group at any time.

Until now, the reason Baiyun Post Office left the Wujiang Mountain Bandits alone was not due to a lack of strength but to avoid conflict with the Green Forest.

"Still, going alone is dangerous. We have no information on the new leader. How about getting support from the headquarters?"

"Since there's an alternative, support is not necessary."

Bai Linghua shook her head, thinking of the headquarters.

The headquarters—her family—are currently in a difficult situation, which is why she is on an involuntary vacation.

'But I can't rest with such a big opportunity.'

The engine in her heart, which had been idle, started to rev up.

"This time, a younger brother I know is coming to meet me. He also hates the Green Forest, so there's no need to worry if we go together."

"What is your friend's martial arts level?"

Bai Linghua answered as if to say there was no need to worry.

"You can trust him. He is from the Hubei Pang family."

"Indeed. I spoke unnecessarily."

Upon hearing the name of the Hubei Pang family, Jiang Baodou put away all his worries.

Who is the Hubei Pang family?

They are one of the Five Great Families that have ruled Hubei for hundreds of years. If he is from that family, his martial arts level is at least on par with Bai Linghua's.

"I'm looking forward to meeting him after a long time."

Bai Linghua smiled, filled with the anticipation of seeing her friend again.

Xuefeng (Blood Phoenix)

Pang Gui Ren (Pang Gui Ren)

That was the name of her friend.