Advice

Long San drank a tonic broth that replenished his qi and blood, then lay wearily on the bed.

He wanted to sleep, but waves of pain from his left arm pricked like needles, making it impossible for him to close his eyes.

"Ding Feng, Ding Feng! A mere mud-legged nobody from the jianghu—if not for..." He gritted his teeth in secret, cold light flickering uncertainly in his eyes.

Knock, knock!

"Who is it?!"

Long San's expression changed as he gripped the hilt of the saber beside his bed.

He had already given instructions beforehand: any matters were to be handled by the stewards below. If anything major arose, they were to consult Elder Long Tianwu, who was stationed here. They were not to disturb him while he recovered from his injuries!

"Shopkeeper Long, it has been a long time. I have come especially to pay you a visit."

A cool voice sounded outside.

"Young Master Jiang?"

Long San was startled. To bypass all the defensive arrangements of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and reach this place without a sound—such lightness skill was simply shocking.

Long San said gravely, "Young Master, please come in so we may speak."

Creak~

The door opened, then closed again. A young man in blue robes slowly entered. Unlike other intruders, he wore neither a mask nor concealing garb, openly and boldly showing himself.

"Earlier, Ding Feng of the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce came here with Lu Hou, the 'Earth-Treading Tiger,' one of the Seven Tigers of Tiger Den," Jiang Ding said.

"So it really was him."

Long San sneered. "The Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce has always had shady ties with bandits like Tiger Den. Rather than a chamber of commerce, they are no better than a den of thieves. If they had not pulled strings with the higher-ups in Eastspirit Prefecture, they would have died without even bones left behind."

"People like that deserve to call themselves merchants?"

Jiang Ding neither agreed nor disagreed with the business principles of the two chambers. "I came this time to ask Shopkeeper Long about Tiger Den. There will surely be repayment in the future."

"No matter. It is only a small matter."

Long San unconsciously touched his missing left arm.

"Tiger Den rose to prominence ten years ago. Its chief, Lu Jingtian, the 'Eastern Mountain Flying Tiger,' has perfected his inner qi. His Flowing-Moon Saber is wielded with supernatural skill. He forcibly established himself at a vital point along the trade route between Eastspirit Prefecture and Chizhou, and every chamber of commerce passing through has to pay them a toll."

"Occasionally, they even disregard the rules and take both the people and the goods."

"The merchant caravans traveling through Eastspirit Prefecture have suffered terribly because of them."

Jiang Ding asked, "Doesn't the Prefect or the Zhendong Marquis Tang Family do anything?"

Blocked trade routes harmed the Tang Family's interests—and by far more than a few toll payments.

"They have acted before. The army surrounded them, but the people of Tiger Den fled at the first sign of trouble. Eastspirit Mountain is high and its forests dense; no one even knows where Tiger Den is hiding."

Long San said mockingly, "The only way would be to send out all their elite inner qi experts, choose the right moment, and storm the stronghold. Once the heads of the Seven Tigers fell, how would those mountain bandits dare keep resisting?"

"But the Eastern Pacifying Marquis's Estate has enjoyed wealth and privilege for more than three hundred years. The Marquis himself has only perfected his inner qi, while most of the inner qi experts beneath him are relatives by marriage or old retainers. Who would be willing to lead a small force deep into the mountains to suppress bandits?"

"Lu Jingtian is also sensible. From time to time, he sends tribute. And so the matter has remained as it is."

"The Blueglow Butterfly is in Tiger Den?"

"She must be there."

"Do you know Tiger Den's approximate location?"

Long San was startled. He carefully studied the blue-clad youth before him for a long while before saying, "After all these years, Tiger Den's general location is no secret. I can give it to you, Young Master."

"I have one word of advice. Your future is boundless, Young Master, and your background is deep. You must not easily place yourself in danger."

That was all he would say.

Just as Jiang Ding coldly regarded the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's casualties, Long San also hoped Jiang Ding could cause Tiger Den some trouble. As for the consequences, he did not care.

"Is the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce willing to accept this?" Jiang Ding asked.

Long San fell silent.

After a long while—

"We have no choice but to accept it."

His voice was dry as he shook his head bitterly. "Uncle Wu suffered internal injuries. More than half of the men he brought are dead, and those who remain are wounded. As for me, I am nearly crippled."

"For the time being, the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce has no choice but to submit."

"The Dragon clan built its fortune through trade. We do not need to exhaust everything like ordinary martial factions do merely to maintain our prestige, lest outsiders mistake us for having declined."

Jiang Ding pondered for a moment.

"I need some people. Just over twenty will do. Their strength does not matter; they only need to be able to transport some goods back. Would that be possible?"

"As long as they are not the chamber's elite, of course."

Long San's body jolted as he sat upright.

After arranging a time with Long San, Jiang Ding slowly strolled home. There were many pedestrians along the way, yet all of them unconsciously overlooked his presence.

When they recalled it afterward, they would only remember that a figure had passed by, without knowing what he looked like.

"The Minor Breath-Concealing Technique seems much easier to use now."

Jiang Ding circulated the complex inner-force route of the martial technique as bits of insight surfaced in his mind.

Cultivation realm truly was the foundation of all spells and techniques. As long as one's realm rose, learning and practicing anything would be noticeably faster.

By his estimate, it would not be long before the Minor Breath-Concealing Technique advanced from proficient to minor accomplishment.

Once it reached minor accomplishment, it would meet the basic requirements of a reconnaissance infantryman. Wearing Reconnaissance Camouflage, he would be able to initially conceal himself from cultivators' divine sense.

Not far from the little shop, Jiang Ding frowned.

A familiar, graceful figure stood there, about five feet tall, a snow-white sword hanging at her waist as she occasionally looked into the distance. Han Lin and Huang Deyou stood nearby, attending to her excitedly.

"Are you well, Young Master Jiang?"

Gong Caiyu's eyes brightened when she spotted him in the distance.

This was also one of the drawbacks of the Minor Breath-Concealing Technique. It could only make one inconspicuous, like decayed wood or withered stone; it could not make one optically invisible. If someone deliberately searched for him, it was still difficult to avoid being found.

"It has been a long time, Miss Gong."

Jiang Ding nodded and led her into the rear courtyard.

He had a somewhat favorable impression of this woman. After being saved, she knew to offer compensation. But she was clearly burdened by trouble, which would bring inconvenience to him, and so he did not particularly like her.

"Thank you again for saving me before, Young Master. I also knew you had come to Eastspirit Prefecture, but knowing that you preferred peace and quiet, I did not wish to disturb you too much." Gong Caiyu explained, then her little face turned serious. "Does Young Master know that danger is approaching?"

"The Blueglow Butterfly?" Jiang Ding was not surprised.

"That is right."

Gong Caiyu said softly, "My martial uncle told me that great profit moves people's hearts. Several famous figures in Eastspirit Prefecture City have become involved in this affair. Unless necessary, Young Master should move into the inner city, where troops are stationed. Even inner qi experts would not dare act recklessly there."

"If you are confident, it would be best to leave this vortex as soon as possible. My father once told me that those famous figures may look kind and benevolent, carrying themselves like respected seniors, but once given the chance, they devour people without even leaving bones behind."

Her expression was extremely earnest.

"Mm. Thank you for telling me, Miss Gong." Jiang Ding nodded.

If not for the Blue Gold Potion, he would have fled far away the moment he sensed hostility.

Gong Caiyu gave him a few more reminders before hurriedly taking her leave. It was clear she was very busy: she had to instruct the new disciples of the Seven Profound Sect while also maintaining her own uninterrupted cultivation.

"Boss, there may be trouble."

After she left, Huang Deyou hurriedly knocked and entered. "Young Miss Gong is the Little Marquis's fiancée. For her to rashly visit an unfamiliar man could become a great disaster with the slightest carelessness. Boss, you must not take this lightly."

"Prepare a gift for the estate steward and have it delivered. Mention this matter in passing."

Jiang Ding had not overlooked the risk either. "Gong Caiyu is the young sect master of the Seven Profound Sect, a jianghu person. Who knows how many men she encounters every day? It cannot mean something every time."

"Can you meet the estate steward?"

"I can, Boss. Ever since we began working with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce to open the mountain, many important people have regarded me more highly." Huang Deyou cupped his hands.