"It seems a level-two faction carries more weight than I imagined."
Looking at the mountain scenery before him, Qin Shujian sank into thought.
From beginning to end.
He had been testing where Gu Feng's limits lay.
Unfortunately.
No matter how he probed, the other man never gave anything away.
This also made Qin Shujian realize something: as a level-two faction, Liangshan Stronghold held considerable importance even in the eyes of Chengyun Trading Company, whose operations spanned the Thirteen Prefectures of Great Zhao.
No.
To be more precise.
It held considerable importance within the Mortal Domain.
Qin Shujian was not arrogant enough to think that a group of Entering Martial Sixth Layer bandits, along with a bandit chief like him at the Martial Entry Tenth Level, could truly reign supreme in the outside world.
The only place where he could truly reign supreme.
Was this little patch of land in the Mortal Domain.
And even that.
Was only because no expert beyond the Martial Entry Tenth Level could appear in the Mortal Domain.
Otherwise, whether a level-two faction could maintain its current standing would remain an open question.
Still.
Gu Feng's visit had shown Qin Shujian a few positive things.
The antiques, calligraphy, and paintings that had been sitting in storage finally had a use.
Five thousand taels of silver had been exchanged for grain. Given Liangshan Stronghold's current population, it would last a considerable time. Even if their numbers continued to grow, it would still hold out for quite a while.
At the thought of expansion.
A sudden flash of inspiration struck Qin Shujian.
Inside the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.
Qin Shujian summoned Zheng Fang and the others directly.
"Stronghold chief, what have you summoned us for?" Everyone exchanged glances before Zheng Fang took the lead and asked.