Chapter 86: Union

Chen Ren moved through the corridors of the building with steady steps and entered the one in the middle. Inside, a man from the Tang Clan was already waiting for him. As he stepped inside the room, the man, who’d been leisurely sipping tea, raised his head to look at him. Almost immediately, he set the cup down and bowed. “You are Young Master Chen Ren?” he asked, his voice surprisingly stern despite him looking like a young man around his age. He nodded. “Yes. And you are?” The man straightened and presented a small crest bearing the insignia of the Tang Clan. “I’m Tang Boming.” Chen Ren took the crest, examining it to make sure it wasn't fake while keeping his eye out on the man. There was something about him that stood out from the ordinary subordinates he had dealt with till now. His eyes held a certain feeling of authority. After spending so much time in this world, Chen Ren had learned to distinguish between an ordinary person and a cultivator. Tang Boming was undoubtedly the latter. His conjecture wasn't just based on his atmosphere, but also the fact that the man had come here alone. Normally, mortals would always travel in groups along the road due to the threat of beasts. Though he had never seen the man before, he wasn’t surprised. Tang Yuqiu has been gathering capable people over the past few months. This one must be one of them and by the way he shared her surname, he might just be a distant relative of sorts. Chen Ren moved to the seat across from him after making sure the crest was real, settling in. “I wasn’t expecting anyone so soon.” Tang Boming poured another cup of tea but didn’t take a sip this time. “Miss Yuqiu sent me at the first sign of trouble since things played out exactly as you predicted.” Chen Ren raised an eyebrow. “So the carriages were attacked?” Sёarᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tang Boming handed him a parchment. “Everything you need is in there.” Chen Ren took the paper. Before leaving Cloud Mist City, he had spoken to Tang Yuqiu about the possible obstacles they would face in Jingxi City. Both of them had known that the local powers would not welcome them with open arms and it was for them to guess how they would attack. According to Yuqiu, they had already attracted a considerable amount of attention. However, Jingxi City was an open market—laws prevented any direct suppression of new businesses. The city thrived on trade, even encouraging fresh merchants to set up shop. But that didn’t mean the established factions would sit idly by. Only a handful of clans and trade associations truly controlled the city’s commerce. And when something—or someone—threatened their position, they wouldn’t hesitate to act. He unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the contents. As he read, a wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips. One of the scenarios he had predicted had played out exactly as expected. While their new building was under construction in Jingxi City, Tang Yuqiu had arranged for materials and perfume bottles to be transported from Cloud Mist City. But, as anticipated, the carriages never made it to their destination intact. Bandits had attacked the convoy, destroying everything in their path and making off with whatever remained. The drivers had barely escaped with their lives, but the carriages were left in ruins. Chen Ren exhaled sharply and shook his head. "They’re using really really using cliché tactics." He looked up from the parchment, meeting Tang Boming’s gaze. "So, I’m assuming the only real loss we took was the perfume containers and the carriages?" Tang Boming nodded. "Just as you instructed, the carriages we used were old and worn, and were only carrying water in those bottles. The bandits smashed them to pieces. Aside from that, they destroyed some fabric—cheap enough that it won’t make a dent in our budget—and took a few common herbs." Chen Ren sighed. "We were lucky we ran this trial first to see how they’d react." Tang Boming inclined his head. "Indeed." "But this just confirms our concerns. The so-called 'bandits' are clearly working for one of the local clans, and they’re bound to come after us again. The real issue is, we still have a significant shipment to transport for our grand opening in a month." Tang Boming set his cup down. "I will personally escort the carriages along with a few other body forging realm cultivators." Chen Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, having not expected the man to reveal his identity so easily. "There's a whole group of them Tang Yuqiu hired?" The man nodded. "Yes. We were originally a mercenary team. The young miss gave us a good offer, and we agreed to serve for the next three years. I lead them and I have some relationship with the Tang Clan, so it was an easy decision." "A few body forging realm cultivators would certainly be helpful, but are you sure that’s enough? From what we know, they might send cultivators after us. Plenty of rogue cultivators would be happy to take the job and disappear afterward. Our real goal is protecting the materials, and that’ll be difficult since they won’t just steal them—they’ll try to destroy them." Tang Boming frowned. "That is a concern. We could try to fortify the carriages, but I doubt that will do much against cultivators." "It won’t," Chen Ren said simply. Silence stretched between them as he leaned back, deep in thought. Though this was just about safely transporting materials on the surface, he knew it ran deeper than that. There were layers of complications that could spiral out of control. He needed a foolproof plan. First, he needed to understand exactly who they were up against. Chen Ren turned his gaze. "Let’s start with the basics. Who, exactly, are the clans and trade associations opposing us in Jingxi City? I heard a bit from Yuqiu, but do you have any more information on them?" The latter nodded. "I do. We are trying to gather intel and we have found that rather than a collection of separate clans and associations, it’s more like a union." Chen Ren’s brow furrowed. "A union?" "Every major clan and trade association with influence is involved," he explained. "They compete with each other in business, but when it comes to outside threats, they work together. That’s why new businesses rarely succeed there unless they align with the right people.” Chen Ren exhaled sharply. "And out of all of them, who are our biggest problems?" "The Xueying Clan, the Jinshi Trade Guild, and Lotus Mist Fragrances," Tang Boming answered without hesitation. “All of them either have perfume businesses or clothing shops aimed at women. They’re definitely the most purchased in the city. At the same time, they’re the most shaken by our foray into the city. Miss Yuqiu believes that out of all of them, Xueying Clan are the most likely to send bandits since they have a mercenary business on the side. It’s easy to put two and two together; it’s not that hard for some mercenaries to act as bandits.” Chen Ren nodded, taking in the information about their competition. Previously, he’d faced a nuisance named Bai Hu Trade Association, and then there was the bun shop owner’s petty schemes that had been nothing more than a flickering candle in the wind. But this—this was different. Three opponents. A united front. And the merchant union lurking in the shadows, ready to tip the scales against him with a mere nod. A slow breath escaped his lips. Difficult? Yes. Unexpected? Hardly. Any growing business was bound to stir the hornet’s nest. Rather than diving headfirst into chaos, he broke the problem down. One step at a time. His thoughts turned to transportation. Too many unknowns. The roads would be their battlefield—ambushes, sabotage, hidden fees, and sudden "inspections." His rivals would exploit every trick in the book. But so could he. The corner of his lips lifted up as he looked at Boming. A plan was already forming in his mind. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. “I believe,” he said, “I have a way to deal with this.” *** A group of people sat in a wide room, the chairs arranged at equal distances, creating an atmosphere of order and restraint. Servants moved between them, their footsteps light and practiced as they poured steaming tea into fine porcelain cups. The rich scent of brewed leaves filled the air, yet most of the attendees barely acknowledged it. Their attention was drawn instead to the two figures seated at the far edge of the room—locked in yet another bickering match. "Yexuan, you really showed your fangs this time," The woman snapped, her eyes throwing daggers at him—so sharp and intense that any outsider would have flinched. "Poaching my spirit rice supply from White Bear Sect? And now, you're even sitting there with that smug little smile on your face?" The man across from her, Yexuan of the Jinshi Trade Association, merely sneered, his fingers drawing patterns against the lacquered armrest of his chair. "It's an open market, Wenqing. You can't do anything about it. They simply thought your offer was cheap—just like you." His smirk widened. "Would you like to file a complaint to the head? I’m sure he’d scoff just like I am now." Wenqing, the owner of a well-known chain of high-end restaurants, let out a laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Oh no, I’m not like you, scumbag, sending lavish gifts to the head just to curry favor. Must be nice, having your hands in so many pockets. I could never!" "Those sound like the words of someone who wishes they had the White Bear Sect’s rice supply. Wouldn’t you all agree?" Yexuan glanced around, an amused smile playing on his lips. The tension between them crackled, their rivalry long known among the union members. While the Jinshi Trade Association boasted a vast reach across multiple industries—including the perfume business—Wenqing had built her empire on her own. Without a powerful backer, she fought tooth and nail for every resource, and she wasn’t about to let Yexuan walk over her without a fight. The rest of the room merely sipped their tea in amusement. Their bickering was nothing new, and until the meeting officially began, there was no harm in enjoying the entertainment. Then, the doors to the chamber swung open. A hush fell over the room as an old man strode in, flanked by two guards. His presence commanded immediate respect, and without hesitation, everyone rose to their feet in acknowledgment of custom. The old man gave a single nod before lowering himself into his chair at the head of the room. He spoke. "I, Xueying Shenmu of the Xueying Clan, call this meeting to order." And just like that, all distractions were set aside. As the last of the servants filtered out of the room, the heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them, leaving only the select few in attendance. Even the guards, who usually stood watch outside, were dismissed for this meeting. The lanterns cast shadows across the table where the heads of the various businesses in Jingxi city gathered. The old man, a sharp-eyed figure with a long, silvery-streaked beard, was the first to break the silence. "Let's go over today's agenda. I trust everyone knows why we’re here," he said, his gaze sweeping across the room. Wenqing snorted loudly, earning a few confused glances from her left. “Do we really need a meeting for a new clan trying to enter Jingxi city? Happens all the time, doesn’t it?” She asked, stroking her slender chin. Yexuan, the burly merchant cut through with a scowl on his face. "This one's different," he said, his thick fingers steepling before him. "They’ve taken over half the market in Cloud Mist City, and their backing comes directly from a sect. That’s not just some merchant group we can ignore." She, in return, scoffed, her eyes narrowing in disdain. "You're only saying that because it’s a threat to your precious perfume business," she teased. Xueying Shenmu raised a hand to silence the fight. His gaze shifted to each person at the table before she spoke in a calm but firm voice. "I believe it's a threat to a lot of businesses.” That silenced everyone, including Wenqing. “Like Wenqing said, shops, merchant groups and clans entering our city isn't anything new. But we created the union for a reason. To maintain the balance and protect our interests. We can't afford another clan moving in. "From what we know, the Tang Clan and the Divine Coin Sect have big plans, and their actions up to now suggest they’re not here for just a piece of the pie. They won’t be happy with the bread crumbs we feed to other merchants who came here for business. They want it all. If we don't act, they’ll turn this place upside down." A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone considered Xueying Shenmu’s words. Most knew that the old man’s fervor had much to do with his own business interests, but no one dared to speak against him. The union had a structure, and words from the head carried weight. They had all seen what happened when someone disregarded that. Slowly, heads began to nod in agreement. The market was delicate—too many new variables could send it spiraling out of control. They couldn't afford to let another faction in, especially one with the backing of the Tang Clan. No one spoke up to challenge the old man, but the tension in the air was rough. The thoughtful silence was broken by the sharp voice of one of the men, a merchant who mostly dabbled in seafood. "So what are we going to do?" he asked and looked in between the head, Yuxuan and Wenqing. "Are they still trying to get into the city after their carriages were destroyed?" Xueying Shenmu's brows furrowed. "That was a trap," he said, the words tinged with frustration. "They wanted to see how we would react." A murmur of confusion spread through the room, and one of the younger merchants leaned forward. "How did you figure that?" Yexuan, his arms crossed and his eyes scanning the table, grunted before speaking. "The perfumes and herbs we found—" he paused, allowing the others to catch his meaning. "They were either fake or too common. Not the kind of materials you’d expect from a clan with such high aspirations. And even the driver, when we went to investigate, he ran at the first sight of the men we hired. He didn't even try to look at the carriage or material once." A few heads nodded in understanding. "It was all a test. A way for them to gauge what we would do, and they played right into our hands." Wenqing let out a low chuckle, a smile tugging at her lips. "Ah, so they’re smart and paranoid. The worst kind of people to deal with.” "It doesn’t matter. What matters is that now they know we’re aware of our little game. This just means they’re going to be more cautious. They’ll probably send a retinue of guards, maybe even cultivators. We’ll need to prepare,” Xueying Shenmu said. Wenqing scoffed, shaking her head. "Do we really need to? Although the Tang Clan can be formidable, they won't put all their manpower into getting a foothold here and this Divine Coin Sect doesn’t seem like much to me. It’s not even a real sect, just a fledgling group with no real weight behind it. I have looked into it and it's just an Emerging Sect." "It doesn’t matter," the head of the table cut her off. "They’ll still have cultivators at their disposal, and there are rumors—mysterious ones—about their leader. People in Cloud Mist City call him Dragonheart." The room fell silent for a moment as everyone digested the name. One of the men scoffed, breaking the silence with a dismissive sneer. "Dragonheart? That’s a stupid title. I bet he paid to spread those rumors to make himself feel important. I know enough cultivators who do that." "It doesn’t matter what you think of the title, Kian. What matters is that he won the Cloud Mist City tournament, and he defeated a demonic cultivator in the process. He’s dangerous. And they’re alert now, more so than before,” Shenmu said pointedly. “We can send more men to take care of their carriages, but there’s still a good chance they’ll manage to get into the city. They’re determined, and the girl from the Tang Clan is shrewd enough to have already taken care of the legalities. She’ll find a way in, regardless of what we do. We can only harm them with… tricks. Subtly. Not directly at all.” Yexuan cleared his throat. “Uh… Well, have you prepared any?” The old man sat up straighter, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "A few things," he said. "I called this meeting to discuss just that.” *** A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too. PS - Changed the gun designs to be muskets so there can be proper progression after looking into the comments. Thank you for advice. Read 15 chapters ahead HERE. Join the discord server HERE.