The shadow shook nodded and Shou Xin's Sanguine Sword Qi warmed the cup to a simmer before sending over to the shadow with a flick of his wrist.
"...Ho, Little Master is not quite talented, something else with this power and control?" The shadow turned his gaze unto Shou Xin, whose foggy eyes were dissecting him.
As he watched Shou Xin do so, he flinched slightly when he gave a seemingly short look and then turned back to Wo Yiyu.
"Little Master has his sight?" The shadow asked calmly taking a sip of tea.
"The world is grey." Shou Xin replied casually putting down his cup of tea, "My terms are simple."
At his sudden words, the eyes of each one sitting at the table shifted slightly, no matter how cordial they were, they each had their factions benefits and costs to keep in mind as the first priority!
"The underground will belong to the Shou Clan and managed through the Sea Spring Merchant Union which will take a cut for the operation until our Treasury Department can handle it, and even then, they will still receive a cut, albeit smaller, for their efforts. In this, the External Affairs Branch may give their help, and in return, the Shou Clan will act in favor of the External Affairs Branch when they need a hand for subtle matters." Shou Xin spoke slowly and paused to allow them to soak up all of the information before continuing.
"In regards to the Tai School. We will host them as great allies, and once the entirety of Sea Spring is put to heel, we will give our assistance to resist the Yan, and should it call for it, we will hid them here, or fight there. In return, I hope for the same, for my clansmen."
"These terms are acceptable to the Tai School, however, we would also like if Young Master Shou, would in time, come to the Tai School to pay a visit to the Grandmaster, he is curious of you whom his old rival chose as a disciple." Elder Yu smiled kindly.
"Naturally." Shou Xin smiled politely.
"My union is willing. However, the cuts for profits made in the underground are to be split eighty twenty, myself to yourself. As we are the ones managing it all, we should naturally get the higher share. Though, if we are given a few permanent business' in Shokin, then, it could be negotiated." Guo Long's eyes were like a wily coyote.
"We are willing to split Shokin according to contribution," Shou Xin's smile did not falter his empty gaze turning, "The Sea Spring Merchant Union assisted in the spreading of information, and Union Leader Guo has even assisted in the combat. As such, we are willing to, out of the fifty businesses owned by the underground, give away twenty and expect a fifty fifty split of profit during the management period."
Shou Xin who had been taught the basics and advances of business when he was far young within the Shou Clan naturally knew by heart the number and successfulness of the many businesses owned by the various underground syndicates as well as what was most fair.
Guo Long's eyes narrowed.
"Sixty forty, we are after all, also managing the account books and such, as well as the training of your Shou Clan people."
"We are providing security for all the businesses here in Sea Spring Town, above ground. Our Shou Sword Band is quite beloved by the merchants." Shou Xin slowly raised his cup, "Fifty fifty is generous, as we are quite close. Consider it a present for joining hands."
"Hm, then, I will have to try out the Shou Sword Band." Guo Long's gaze normalized and he smiled, "It is settled then, twenty establishments will go to us, and the split of the income of the remaining thirty will be split down the middle."
Tap.
Shou Xin settled the tea cup on the table, his empty gaze landing on the two feeling the most pressure at this moment.
Wo Yiyu and the shadow sat across from them, all eyes locked onto them as they were the last to speak.
The shadow looked over to Wo Yiyu, his eyes saying to make up for her failure and guide the negotiation from here on.
Wo Yiyu turned her gaze to Shou Xin, her eyes quaking slightly.
"We-, we will accept the terms however, a few things must be clarified. When speaking of favoring the External Affairs Branch, I assume you don't mean that you will follow orders, correct?"
"Balance is a necessity." Shou Xin said calmly, "After all, I'm certain they also thought of this deal as favorable."
Naturally, Wo Yiyu knew to who he meant and felt a slight bit of astonishment.
"It is true, we've had contact with the other clans," Wo Yiyu's statement made the shadow peek at her coldly, "However they became corrupt. Will you become corrupt?"
This time, it was Shou Xin's turn to think as saying he would not, is tantamount to saying he would lower his head to the External Affairs Branch, and saying he would was naturally stabbing onself in the foot.
"...Who chooses what is corrupt?" Shou Xin said slowly and carefully, "Have emperors not made mistakes? Have gods never fallen from grace? Who dares decide what is corrupt, or evil? Is it you?"
Wo Yiyu's pupils shrank.
If she said yes, then she was putting herself above the gods, and if she said no, then her previous statement would become invalid.
"I am no judge. Nor do I dare call myself jury," Shou Xin did not let her reply, "I am but a little man, with little dreams. I only seek for this grey life of mine to have some color, and my clansmen to live far longer than I, the insignia on my back as proof of my pledge to see them through, be it through the netherworld or the infinite chaos, till my last breath."
His words carried cooly over the winds which cleared the room, flowing through the bamboo forests.
His gaze, despite being clouded by the fog of blindness, were clear as sunrise and sharp as an early morning bell, cutting over the town.
There was not a shred of contemplation, nor thought to be found in his eyes, not a hint of trickery.
Wo Yiyu slowly nodded.
"Indeed. Who are we to judge? We only follow the laws and nothing dares say to abandon ones family," Her words were sharp and decisive, "We, the External Affairs Branch of the Sea Spring Province, will continue our work, and accept the creation of a relationship with the Shou Clan."
Shou Xin calmly nodded and so began to time to iron out the finer details.
—
"The Young Master of the Shou Clan defeated a Third Chain whilst a Second Chain, and crippled at that!" Juon An shouted as she got onto the ship, only to promptly get a chop to the top of the head, tears swelling in her eyes.
"Do not gossip." Juon Kang said coldly, "It is not certain Young Master Shou would have won had Gou Lian taken it seriously. The battle was decided too fast, and his opponent was far too stupid to truly bring out the abilites of a Third Chain Expert."
Many looked at Juon Kang, and remembered how he had ran from Young Master Shou just days prior, dismissing her words as that of a sore loser, but Juon An listened intently.
"Then, is he not as strong as a Third Chain?" Juon An asked carefully.
"Of course not, that would be madness. The difference between small realms is a ten fold gap. Even if one with cursed chains could survive and break through, they would still be nine fold weaker in overall power," Juon Kang looked over the side of the large passenger ship back at Sea Spring Town, "The secret to his immense strength… is density. However, I do not know how he could make his Qi so fine, and dense whilst carrying so much."
"A supreme sword law?" Juon An asked innocently, and immediately everyone within earshot turned to her, and started laughing.
Juon Kang quietly watched this unfold, taking his little sister away.
—
"Young Master Shou has defeated the Provincial Clans attack force without spilling a single drop of blood!" Announcer's rushed through the city and word spread like wildfire!
"The Shou Clan is reborn, stronger and better!" Many said, though many others, mostly those who lived in Shokin the underground city beneath Sea Spring, were skeptical.
They were not so easily convinced.
—
The Hidden Spring, Shokin.
Within this underground world where syndicates vie for power, and the people are cutthroat as rovers, there is not much to shake them.
However.
News of the death's of the syndicate bosses spread like wildfire, burning many, but also opening opportunity to others.
Opportunists swarmed.
Yet, as they arrived at those business' they sought to ransack they were stopped in their tracks by a single symbol.
The blade and platform.
The Shou.
All around Shokin, these uniformed clansmen of the Shou appeared almost in unison, as though they'd been prepared beforehand to completely take over every business left behind by the now fallen syndicates.
At the same time, within those bases of the syndicats within Shokin, fires erupted burning all traces of anything ever standing there!
In a single day, Shokin was cleansed of the traces of the syndicates almost as though they were all just a bad dream.
Amidst this, the one responsible was sitting alone atop a majestic pagoda made of stone brick and layered with green awnings which shone like emerald under the mid morning sun.
Dense Qi gathered at the top of the Heart Mind Pagoda like a crimson fog amid the mid day sunlight breaking through the clouds.
Hair white as snow and silken as though of the finest material, eyes seemingly filled with an ashen fog devoid of anything, yet full of hidden intricacies.
A long breath.
Black smoke flew out, carrying along with the breeze out from the balcony.
The youth's nose twitched.
Rain.
His ashen gaze cast itself towards as window, though his gaze seemed to reach for beyond than even that.
"Come in." The youth said calmly.
Two people entered at once.
With black hair and equally dark eyes, the Guard Commander, Liu Gang.
With hair as dirty blonde as an eclipse, the Treasury Head, Yui Luo.
The youth calmly closed his eyes, as he listened to the reports.
"As you ordered, the clansmen we hid in Shokin have moved immediately upon news reaching of victory. The entirety of their business' have been taken, and no bloodshed was needed. Currently, Honorary Elder Guo has sent his own people down to begin dividing it out." Liu Gang said calmly with his hands drawn behind his back tightly, "The clan's also appear to be beginning their movements unfazed."