Merchant Guild, Agricultural School Dispute

Before long, at the Merchant Guild Headquarters in the Imperial City, Yun Ting looked gloomily at Shen Nong and said, "Agricultural School Master, do you believe there is a problem with our Merchant Guild? Could you speak plainly so we can properly debate the matter?"

Shen Nong chuckled and said, "Fine, then let us have a proper debate." As he spoke, he led Yun Ting to a teahouse and said, "Let me tell you what is wrong with the Merchant Guild..."

Yun Ting nodded. "Please, go ahead..."

Shen Nong chuckled. "Your Merchant Guild speculates for profit, passes off inferior goods as superior ones, and ships goods for every school. As they say, no merchant is without cunning. As a result, the Merchant Guild's disciples are all growing fat and prosperous, while our Agricultural School... what are we supposed to do? As the Merchant Guild's status rises, our Agricultural School disciples will only be treated as lowly laborers. Already, quite a few Agricultural School disciples have begun abandoning farming."

Yun Ting stroked his chin. "Oh? Shen Nong, I thought Senior Brother Xuandu had sent you to make trouble with me for fun. I did not expect you to really would get so hung up on this. Do not worry. Every school in the world might someday have no disciples, but the Agricultural School never will..."

Unconvinced, Shen Nong said, "Cloud Emperor, I am showing you respect, but the Merchant Guild has taken in far too many of our Agricultural School disciples. I cannot accept it..."

Yun Ting stroked his chin again. "Longing for wealth and honor is only human. There is nothing I can do about that. I cannot exactly ask the Human Emperor to issue a death order forbidding Agricultural School disciples from doing business in the future, can I?