"Today we're going to the Qingchuan Merchant Association."
"Our Thunderfire Hall has some dealings with them. The association regularly transports supplies and merchandise to other market towns, and they may run into Bandit Cultivators along the way. More dangerously, some routes pass close to the Black Rain Zone and may even draw attacks from Rain Spawn. That's why merchant associations choose to work with Divine Ability Halls, which provide people to guard them."
"The Divine Ability Halls can earn a substantial reward in return, while also finding work for some of the disciples who have left their halls."
A Crimson Horse Beast with four fiery-red hooves pulled the carriage at an unhurried pace along a busy bluestone street. Inside, Lu Qingyan told Lu Ming the purpose of their trip.
Lu Ming nodded. Tasks guarding merchant caravans required at least three rounds of bone refinement, and the main members of the escort needed to be Great Divine Ability Practitioners at the Dharma Rune Realm. Although Thunderfire Hall had only two Great Divine Ability Practitioners, Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei, it had naturally trained quite a few over the years since its founding. Some had left Qingyuan Market, while others had remained and become part of Thunderfire Hall's network of contacts.
So after negotiating with merchant associations, Thunderfire Hall would seek them out to form escort teams and take on the business together.
"Dad, has something changed with our usual arrangement? Is that why we're going to the Qingchuan Merchant Association?" Lu Ming asked. If everything had been going smoothly, there would clearly have been no need to make a special trip.
Lu Qingyan's expression darkened slightly as he nodded. "It's still because Zhang Yue left the hall. After all, everyone in Qingyuan Market knows that Thunderfire Hall poured its resources into training him to uphold the hall's standing. He has a High-Grade Divine Ability Bone, and there was a strong chance he would become our second Divine Ability Master and help Thunderfire Hall advance to a fourth-rank Divine Ability Hall."
"With that kind of potential, Thunderfire Hall naturally received respect from all sides. But who could have thought Zhang Yue would suddenly leave, and sever his ties with Thunderfire Hall in such a way..."
Lu Ming remained silent. Thunderfire Hall had invested enormous resources in Zhang Yue, depleting its own reserves to do so. Everyone in Qingyuan Market knew it. Now that Zhang Yue had left, and Jiang Ling of the Great Golden Crow Hall had been spreading slander about the matter, Thunderfire Hall's reputation had naturally suffered.
"Thunderfire Hall and the Qingchuan Merchant Association had been working quite well together, but after this happened, they began to have some doubts. With Red Sand Hall stirring up trouble as well, the association started thinking of changing partners. I'm going there to talk to their steward. I couldn't very well bring your second uncle along for something like this. With his fiery temper, any negotiation could fall apart." Lu Qingyan rubbed the spot between his brows, looking harried.
Lu Ming sighed inwardly as well. His grandfather had most likely sent him along with his father so that he could learn about Thunderfire Hall's current predicament and temper his state of mind at the same time.
This predicament, however, was easy enough to resolve.
Once he became a Divine Ability Master, Thunderfire Hall would naturally regain its former glory and even rise to greater heights.
The Qingchuan Merchant Association was located in the northern district of the market town. It occupied a large area, with rows of buildings and a constant stream of people. It was a bustling place.
Lu Ming followed Lu Qingyan there. After they announced themselves, they were courteously shown into a reception area on the second floor, where a window overlooked the people coming and going on the first floor.
The two sat down, and someone brought them tea. But even after the tea had gone cold, the association steward Lu Qingyan had arranged to meet still had not appeared.
Lu Ming frowned slightly and glanced at Lu Qingyan, who gave him a small shake of the head, signaling him to stay calm.
Only after an hour had passed-
"Hehe, Brother Qingyan, my apologies. There's been a lot to do at the association, and I'm late." A voice came with an apologetic laugh. Lu Ming looked over and saw several figures striding toward them. At their head was a thin man wearing the robes of the Qingchuan Merchant Association.
"Steward Xu."
Lu Qingyan rose with a smile and cupped his hands.
But when Lu Qingyan saw the person behind Steward Xu, his smile gradually faded.
Lu Ming glanced over and saw a man in black standing behind Steward Xu. The man was watching them with an amused expression. "Lu Qingyan, been sitting here long?" he asked with a faintly mocking smile.
Lu Qingyan said coldly, "Zhu Lian, Red Sand Hall has overstepped the rules by reaching in this far."
On hearing the name, Lu Ming knew who the visitor was. Zhu Lian of Red Sand Hall was also a Great Divine Ability Practitioner who had entered the Dharma Rune Realm. His position in Red Sand Hall was second only to that of its master, Shi Tong.
Zhu Lian smiled. "What rules? The Qingchuan Merchant Association isn't subordinate to your Thunderfire Hall. Are others not allowed to look for a more stable partner?"
A chill flashed through Lu Qingyan's eyes. He turned to the steward from the Qingchuan Merchant Association and said, "Steward Xu, our Thunderfire Hall and the Qingchuan Merchant Association have worked together smoothly all these years. Are you really going to change that now?"
Steward Xu hesitated, then said awkwardly, "Brother Qingyan, our association has heard about what happened at Thunderfire Hall. People in the association are worried that without Zhang Yue, Thunderfire Hall might not be able to carry out some escort missions safely."
Lu Qingyan said in a low voice, "Once Thunderfire Hall accepts a task, we will see it through. If an escort ever does go wrong because of a mistake on our part, we will naturally take responsibility."
"Besides..."
Lu Qingyan glanced at Zhu Lian. "Whatever else may be said, Thunderfire Hall holds the second-ranked hall seat among Qingyuan Market's Divine Ability Halls. If we can't guard them, I'm afraid Red Sand Hall, which holds the third-ranked seat, won't do much better."
Zhu Lian's face darkened. "Lu Qingyan, without Zhang Yue, can your Thunderfire Hall even hold on to its second-ranked seat at next month's hall gathering?"
"Your Red Sand Hall is welcome to try us then!" Lu Qingyan replied firmly, refusing to give an inch.
Seeing the two at daggers drawn, Steward Xu looked somewhat helpless. Finally, he said, "Please, there's no need to argue. The Qingchuan Merchant Association works with both your halls. The association has said that if you two disputed the matter today, it should be decided in the manner used between Divine Ability Halls. We won't interfere."
Lu Qingyan narrowed his eyes. The manner used between Divine Ability Halls was simple and brutal: naturally, they would use divine abilities to decide who was superior.
"I'd like to see whether your Red Sand Banner has improved, Zhu Lian!" Lu Qingyan stared at him and spoke in an icy voice.
But Steward Xu quickly waved his hands. "Ah, you two are Great Divine Ability Practitioners at the Dharma Rune Realm. A fight between you would cause too much of a commotion and reflect poorly on us, so let the disciples under you spar instead."
Lu Qingyan frowned. "I didn't bring any disciples who have completed three rounds of bone refinement with me today."
Steward Xu smiled and pointed at Lu Ming. "Isn't there one right here?"
Then he pointed behind Zhu Lian. "Zhu Lian also happened to bring a disciple from his hall."
Lu Qingyan looked over and saw a tall, burly youth behind Zhu Lian. The youth's hands were red, and heat rose from them.
"Luo An of Red Sand Hall has completed two rounds of bone refinement and is proficient in the Lower Divine Ability Blazing Fire Palm. It's said that he has shown faint signs of reaching Major Accomplishment." Lu Qingyan was quite familiar with the disciples of their rival, Red Sand Hall, so the moment he saw the youth, information about him came to mind.
The information made Lu Qingyan's face darken despite himself. Lu Ming had yet to complete his second round of bone refinement, and the Flame Blade he practiced had not reached the Major Accomplishment Realm either. Though his potential was extraordinary, he had only opened his bones and begun cultivating less than half a month ago.
"Lu Ming opened his bones less than half a month ago. A match like this wouldn't be fair. If you're not in a hurry, Steward Xu, I can arrange for a disciple of equal skill to come here," Lu Qingyan said.
Steward Xu shook his head with some regret. "The higher-ups are waiting for the result. I can't very well keep them waiting."
The implication was that there was only one choice.
Lu Qingyan's expression completely darkened. He stared at Steward Xu, then glanced at Zhu Lian's amused smile. He understood: clearly, the Qingchuan Merchant Association had already made its choice between Thunderfire Hall and Red Sand Hall.
This so-called way of settling matters between Divine Ability Halls was merely a pretext to make Thunderfire Hall give up on its own.
But if they really abandoned their cooperation with the Qingchuan Merchant Association, Thunderfire Hall would not only lose a source of income, but also disappoint the former disciples who had left the hall. After all, personal ties were one thing, but a suitable share of the benefits was the foundation of maintaining relationships.
If they drew too heavily on those personal ties, people might no longer answer when Thunderfire Hall called on them in the future.
Red Sand Hall understood this very well too.
So what they were trying to seize was not just the partnership; they also wanted to strike at Thunderfire Hall's prestige.
As Lu Qingyan's expression shifted, he felt someone tug at his sleeve. He turned and saw the youth's exceptionally bright eyes. Smiling at him, Lu Ming said softly, "Dad, why don't you let me try?"