Knowing the path like the back of his hand, Shou Xin quickly arrived back at the Shou Pavilion where the hundred followers all worked diligently for their pay… meat.
As soon as he arrived, he tossed the few Giant Rabbits over and as they prepared the meat and dishes, he took a small stroll.
It had been a week since he had begun travelling from the cottage to the town regularly and the people had made significant progress in clearing rubble and housing.
No one else had dared to enter the territory he had established within the town for fear of being dismembered, their fear leading them away to try and escape to other towns and cities.
The streets which were once rife with all sorts of merchants and stalls, peoples and beasts were not desolate as any who could had left, and those who couldn't naturally were forced to stay starving.
The cobblestone roads were cracked from the fighting and blood flowed through those very cracks.
However, he soon arrived at a place without a single blemish.
"The harbour." Shou Xin calmly cast his gaze over the long stretch of docks and warehouses.
He could sense several powerful aura's seemingly bursting at the seams hidden around.
Though he had not yet called down the Mortal Tribulation, due to his overly dense foundation he was more acutely aware of aura's and powers.
He took a deep breath and proceeded down the harbours east-end where if he arrived at the end and then went straight south it would be a straight shot to the pavilion.
'It reeks.' Shou Xin thought calmly, his eyes narrowing slightly, 'The warehouses are full of all sorts of goods, be they weapons or food. Demons attacked and now they all flee and try to use me as a scapegoat, these cowards.'
His gaze swept over the warehouses, he learned enough.
Soon he left, arriving in an area of town where the homes were more like mansions and the energies around were thick.
He stood before one of the smaller gates, quietly staring within.
'I'm being looked at,' Shou Xin quietly looked around locking eyes with a young creature, a half-beast, 'Tragic.'
Shaking his head he tossed it a little food and spoke quietly, "Run away now lest the people treat you as a demon as well. Head south."
Shou Xin's gaze turned back to the gate before him where a man in luxurious robes had come out followed by two Peak Martial Artists.
"To what do we owe this visit, Executioner Shou-, ah, Boss Shou?" The merchant slightly smiled, "I am Guo Long, the head of the Sea Spring Merchant Guilds."
'Though you likely know that', is what his gaze told.
"I am the Boss of the Shou Family, Shou Xin." Shou Xin said calmly.
Catching on quickly, Guo Long replied, "Then, let's find a place with fewer prying eyes to chat."
--
Within the modest mansion, Guo Long slowly sat down, his generous facade vanishing as countless guards swarmed out, none of them the least bit weaker than the two guards.
"Now, tell me why a dragon worshipper, a demon, would have business with myself? Do you believe I wouldn't kill the one who caused all of this?" Guo Long's gaze narrowed as a dark expression crept into his face, "Tell me, are you a fool?"
Shou Xin calmly glanced around the room before turning back to Guo Long, an uncaring gaze met his own wrathful one.
"Guo Long. You have been giving aid to the people even after the demon attack. But you know that others are taking advantage of the situation to milk the people you have carefully nurtured for decades. I have seen it and know you are enraged," Shou Xin calmly spoke, "I have a proposition, but I suppose I have to show evidence I am no demon."
Guo Long coldly looked forward.
Several men entered the room, with them was a long metal rod shining like starlight.
"The Burning Branch. If not extinguished, it will at least reveal a demon's soul." Guo Long coldly explained, "Grab it."
Without hesitation Shou Xin grabbed the burning branch and… nothing.
There was no burning, no pain.
Guo Long's cold features slowly lessened until he simply looked like any other old man save for the nice robes.
"Pardon, we had to make sure," Guo Long bowed his head slightly, "To a merchant, the truth is very important just the same as trust. Now, what is your proposition?"
Guo Long waves his sleeve and the guards left, a sort of energy rose from the floor in the center of the room enveloping such that no sound could escape.
"I seek cooperation. Bounty hunter's, warriors seeking glory, and all sorts of people will come for me, but I am not strong enough yet. In return for your assistance, I will in turn get rid of the people within your Merchant Guild who have turned their backs."
Guo Long frowned.
"I have heard of your deeds. You killed the hungry, though I also know they tried to steal, but such actions were ruthless," Guo Long's frown remained, "However, we don't have much of a choice. The rest of the Merchant's Guild seeks to escape and abandon everything, but I cannot so easily pack up and leave as someone with roots dug far too deep here."
"Those within the Merchant Guild, I will assassinate, your men will go and confiscate their goods at the harbour once they've died. However, I need to ask for one more thing." Shou Xin said as he got up.
"What?" Guo Long raised a brow.
"Food." Shou Xin said, "My Shou Family has to hunt everyday just to survive. We need a steady source of food."
Guo Long's eyes narrowed, "Do you know how much that would take? Even now the farmers out in the countryside are terrified and won't sell at Sea Spring, making it hard to come by. Why not sell us your hunts and we will give you a portion of the meat alongside some coins."
"Why not instead send out caravans to the villages to buy their wares, I will act as an escort." Shou Xin glanced at Guo Long.
Naturally, they both understood the underlying meanings.
Guo Long naturally did not wish to send out caravans or anything of the sort since his income had been cut off, that would likely simply mean a faster ruin, especially if demons were truly running along the countryside, even a Third Chain Expert would not necessarily be safe.
Shou Xin's suggestion was naturally out of the question in his mind.
"I know of secret passageways in the forest," Shou Xin paused for a moment as though taking a moment to gather his thoughts, his tone dropping slightly, "...they are the methods I used to avoid detection the last few months."
Guo Long raised a hand, leaning his head on it as his eyes flashed like lightning bolts travelling the horizon, countless numbers running through his mind.
"...We are willing to split food, and give you assistance in your name. However, we will not send out a caravan," Shou Xin looked over at his calm cracking for a moment but before he could say anything his eyes widened, "This, judging by your reaction you know what it is, right?"
In the palm of his hand, a ring sat.
To the average person such a thing might have looked like any other ring albeit a small bit fancy, but to Shou Xin who had been a part of one of the top underground families as a child, he knew it well.
"I will go alone to these places and return with the wares, as well as assure them that all is well. Bringing it all back in the ring." Shou Xin immediately saw through his intentions, "What is the price?"
"Hohoho... " Guo Long grinned like a happy old man, "One golden phoenix for each of your successful trips. That also includes any information you receive during the trips."
"How do you know I won't simply run away with your money?" Shou Xin felt things were not simple, "Who is coming with me."
"Ho! A sharp young man is hardly found, I must say, you are also quite brave," Guo Long snapped his fingers, "This is Li Tiyan."
Shou Xin's calm gaze twitched for a moment.
It was the half-beast he had seen outside previously.
"I am Li Tiyan, I will be in your care!" The malformed little half-beast bowed deeply.
"It is actually because of this child that I did not simply kill you." Guo Long said casually.
Shou Xin calmly looked between the two feeling that he heard something very scary quite casually just there.
"I see, then, first I will go prepare for the execution of the traitors." Shou Xin calmly smiled, taking his leave.
"...What do you think?" Guo Long spoke to no one in particular.
"He is not a demon. It seems someone within the Exiled Court is trying to cover this up," A tall dark shadow appeared from the cracks of the room, "We owe you a great deal for not abandoning Sea Spring. Should he satisfy his end of the deal, we will have his bounty removed."
Guo Long, who had long stood up, bowed, "Thank you, Branch Manager."
The shadow however, had long vanished.
---
Shou Xin soon arrived at the cottage, his very being a haggard mess.
"...so it was a front after all, disgraceful." Vienna's voice rang in his head clear as a bell, "And here I was, betting you had changed!"
"No you weren't." Shou Xin replied coldly, "Where is Feng Wuqing? I have to speak with her."
Vienna grinned eerily.
Shou Xin feeling a gaze teetering on his throat turned around, his entire body screaming in a matter only an ancient instinct could.
"Bladesmen! Where have you been?" It was Feng Wuqing.
But she was not talking to him.
There were many people at the entrance of the cottage. Their bodies exuded the faint pressure of Low-Class Practitioners.
(Author's Note: Martial Artist Realm is changed to Practitioners henceforth for ease of use.)
That alone did not make his instincts scream, but rather the sheer number. On their bodies were various crests of the Sea Spring Merchant Guilds.
He swiftly charged forward but before he could take more than a step, Feng Wuqing had been captured, a dagger at her throat.
"Now, now," The man in the lead said, "Guo Long that bastard has hired you and your little gang to try and eliminate us, right? Word travels fast on coin, after all. We will pay you the same, and let this little lass go unharmed, if you do as we say and kill him."
A stale air flooded the clearing where the cottage lay.