According to Chen You's explanation, the businesses of the various merchant guilds only operated within fixed regions.
That was equivalent to having a territory.
There would not be much danger within one's own territory.
For example, one merchant guild might specialize in trade between the Barren Ancient Continent and the Demon Realm, developing an exclusive route.
Along that route, how many forces, sects, lineages, and bandits they would encounter—all of it had been calculated with extreme precision.
Moreover, after establishing the route, the merchant guild would send envoys ahead to make arrangements and build relations with the various forces and sects. This ensured that when their caravans passed through, those forces and sects would not deliberately make things difficult for them. They might even open the way and escort them through their territory.
"Like the Shanhe Trading Company we're on now. They must have been trying to expand their trade route, which is why they were attacked."
Chen You spoke in a low voice.
Lin Bai asked curiously, "Brother Chen, do you know where the Shanhe Trading Company came from?"
Chen You shook his head. "I've never heard of this merchant guild. It should be a very small merchant guild within Chu."
"There are countless small merchant guilds in Chu, as numerous as carp crossing a river. They're impossible to count."
While Lin Bai and Chen You stood to one side chatting,
an old man dressed like a fisherman was leaning against the corner. He wore a shabby straw raincoat and a battered bamboo hat.
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "This little brother is right. The Shanhe Trading Company appeared this time precisely to expand its trade route."
Lin Bai and Chen You turned their eyes toward him, both looking puzzled.
It seemed this old fisherman knew