After a long pause, Bai Shao said, "Let them leave, but warn them. Some things are better not talked about. I believe they will understand!"
Bai Shao had no intention of killing to silence people, for the reason was simple.
White Jade Gang's primary business involved trading, where reputation mattered greatly. If they were to slaughter the delegation from Black Iron Manor after their usefulness ended, it would damage the White Jade Gang's credibility.
If Su Changkong, Yang Chao, and the others from Black Iron Manor were delayed in returning, surely someone from the manor would come asking. They couldn't possibly mobilize everyone and wipe out the entire Black Iron Manor, could they? That would only make matters worse and be counterproductive!
Besides, the matter of secretly keeping arms wasn't a big issue for White Jade Gang.
The White Jade Gang was forging armor to counter the threat posed by the Black Cavalry Gang, and the officials of Clearwater City would rather see the White Jade Gang clash with the Black Cavalry Gang, hoping both would suffer greatly. Even if they were aware of the situation, they would turn a blind eye.
Therefore, after weighing the options, Bai Shao did not decide to silence them through murder but chose to let them go.
After all, compared to the brutish and overbearing Black Cavalry Gang, the White Jade Gang still cared about their own reputation!
"Yes," Cai Tong nodded and accepted the order.
"Young Master Bai... is still not ruthless enough. If it were the old gang leader..."
Cai Tong shook his head inwardly.
As evening approached, in the forging workshop.
"These past four months, you have all worked diligently and have earned your wages. You may leave tomorrow morning."
Cai Tong informed Su Changkong, Yang Chao, and the others that their work was complete and they were free to go.
"We can leave now?"
Yang Chao and the others were undoubtedly overjoyed. They had been away from home for four months and hadn't been able to leave the White Jade Gang facilities once; they were all longing for their families.
"The White Jade Gang isn't planning to silence us by killing us?"
Su Changkong couldn't help but feel slightly surprised, but he didn't let his guard down. It was possible that the White Jade Gang had a different facade behind closed doors.
Su Changkong then saw Cai Tong pay everyone their full amount, 120 taels of silver each.
A sum of two to three thousand taels of silver was nothing for the wealthy White Jade Gang to fret over.
As for Su Changkong, he had all his remuneration exchanged for the medicinal ingredients for Vital Qi Spread.
"Additionally, when you go back, you should know what should be mentioned and what should not be mentioned!"
Cai Tong's tone carried an implicit warning.
"We understand... we understand..."
Yang Chao and the others nodded vigorously, promising to adhere.
Helping White Jade Gang secretly forge armor, they too were Forging Masters involved in the act. They knew talking carelessly about such matters would harm themselves as much as others; anyone with a bit of sense knew not to discuss it recklessly.
"Well, get some rest early."
Seeing this, Cai Tong nodded and turned to leave.
"We can go back now, that's great! With the money earned this time, I can afford to send my son to a private school!"
"I haven't returned for four months... my wife better not have done something unfaithful with Old Wang."
After Cai Tong left, the folk from Black Iron Manor were undoubtedly elated.
The hardships of those four months seemed to vanish in an instant! Being able to take silver home, they couldn't help but feel grateful that White Jade Gang hadn't made things difficult for them!
Seeing this scene, Su Changkong naturally let out a sigh of relief and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
If the White Jade Gang had indeed been planning to silence them, all Su Changkong could have done was to flee and save his own life. It wouldn't have been possible to ensure that Yang Chao and the others could escape unharmed.
The group rested for the night, and by dawn the next day, they had already packed up and gathered to leave. There was a hundred miles distance to Black Iron Manor, so they needed to hurry on their way.
After confirming the identity of Su Changkong and the others, the disciples from White Jade Gang also let them go, allowing them to leave the territory of the White Jade Gang.
"Haha! Having earned so much money this time, I should really take a good rest when I get back. How about we make a trip to the Spring Tower in Clearwater City to listen to some music?"
On the road, a burly and robust man excitedly said, earning over a hundred taels of silver in four months was equivalent to nearly ten years of their hard work!
"If you want to go, you go. I need to hurry back home and see my wife, buy her some gifts. She wasn't too happy when I left, and we even had an argument..." Another slightly shorter man shook his head and declined.
Su Changkong listened from the side, feeling quite good himself.
"Hm? Be careful!"
As the group walked on, Su Changkong's ears suddenly twitched upon hearing a faint rustling sound. Instinctively, a sense of alarm arose within him, causing his pupils to constrict as he shouted out loud.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
In the next instant, while the group was still confused, a series of whooshing sounds tore through the air.
From the right side of the road within the jungle, a barrage of arrows flew densely towards them!
"Thud, thud, thud!"
The short man from Black Iron Manor, who was just worrying about his wife, was struck by several arrows before he could finish speaking, hitting his throat, chest, and abdomen.
The short man opened his mouth, blood poured out profusely, his eyes filled with a hint of bewilderment as he collapsed to the ground softly.
"Ah!"
It wasn't just him; others also let out short screams as the arrows struck, some hit vitally and died instantly; others were lucky to have the arrows brush past them.
An arrow was also fired toward Su Changkong's face, but he instinctively tilted his head, causing the arrow to miss.
"White Jade Gang? Is White Jade Gang killing to silence us?"
Su Changkong was a mixture of shock and fury, his eyes tinged with blood as his rage peaked.
Soon after leaving the territory of White Jade Gang, the group was ambushed. Without a doubt, Su Changkong's first thought was the White Jade Gang!
Pretending to let them go, then ambushing halfway... One way to their face, another in the shadows!
"Old Sun, Old Liu!"
Yang Chao's forehead was covered in cold sweat; his eyes were wide with anger. Two of his comrades from Black Iron Manor lay on the ground beside him while he himself had an arrow in his shoulder, blood dripping down.
A volley of arrows and seven or eight people close to the right side fell to the ground, wailing, struck by more than one arrow, most hit vitally with no chance to survive!
The same group who had just been excitedly discussing how to spend their hard-earned money was now partially lying in pools of blood in the blink of an eye!
"Hm? They aren't from White Jade Gang!"
After the volley of arrows, a slightly surprised voice came from the right side's woods.
Looking in the direction of the sound, through the covering of trees, one could see a group of men dressed in black, riding horses. They all had fierce auras, fully armed, and were the ones who had just shot the arrows!
"They are... the Black Cavalry Gang?"
Seeing the attire of these men, Su Changkong's heart churned.
The Black Cavalry Gang had come to collect protection money from Black Iron Manor twice, so Su Changkong was naturally quite familiar with the Black Cavalry Gang. It wasn't White Jade Gang's people but the Black Cavalry Gang who were in those clothes!
"Old Liu!"
The remaining people from Black Iron Manor began to wail in grief, their friends who had been alive and well just moments ago were now lying in pools of blood, gasping for air.
"The Black Cavalry Gang?" Yang Chao's eyes turned red, also recognizing that the archers were from the Black Cavalry Gang!