Yin Guan seemed amused and chuckled softly, “I seek you out, but only if you agree of your own volition.”

“As for the future…”

He gazed out the window, “Let’s talk about that when there is one.”

With the resources of the Four Seas Commerce Guild and the relationship with the Chongxuan family, the Desheng Merchant House was thriving in Yangdi. None of the regional commanders of the three counties in Yangdi would dare offend the current Chongxuan Sheng.

After the war, everything was being rebuilt. The people of Yangdi, as commoners, were beginning new lives, and the Desheng Merchant House was growing along with them.

It was no exaggeration to say that the Desheng Merchant House was the premier merchant house in Yangdi. Yangdi originally had no significant merchant houses, and had been economically and culturally eroded for many years, which was why it collapsed so easily in a single battle. After the Yang clan’s ancestral temple was destroyed, not even sporadic uprisings occurred.

The Desheng Merchant House’s operations remained within Yangdi. Chongxuan Sheng carefully controlled its scope. If the Desheng Merchant House’s business crossed the boundaries of Yangdi and began expanding within Qi, the cooperation with the Four Seas Commerce Guild would be immediately terminated.

Having finally witnessed the downfall of the Jvbao Commerce Association, the Four Seas Commerce Guild had no desire to cultivate another evenly matched rival.

Therefore, expanding trade routes outward became the natural course of action.

Desheng Merchant House caravans traveled not only to Rong, north of Yangdi, but also to the even more distant Zheng to the west.

The reason he chose the caravan going to Rong was simply that it happened to be departing that day. Jiang Wang wanted to leave no trace of his involvement, wishing to treat it as a casual inspection trip taken on a whim by the “owner” of the merchant house.

Before leaving, Jiang Wang spoke with Xiang Qian and Dugu Xiao.

“Xiang Qian, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving ahead of you. You can depart tomorrow, and we’ll meet in Zheng.”

They had agreed to travel together.

“What is it? Can’t I help?” Xiang Qian asked, somewhat disgruntled.

Jiang Wang smiled. “I’ve been asked to make a trip to the Hanging Temple. Is that convenient for you?”

“Uh, never mind then,” Xiang Qian immediately agreed.

His master had once challenged the Hanging Temple with his sword, defeating the Abbot of the Dragon Subduing Hall, the Suffering Disease Zen Master. It was certainly a display of power, but he imagined the Hanging Temple wouldn’t have a very favorable impression of him.

“Nothing else. Go to sleep. I’ll have a few words with Xiao,” Jiang Wang said, starting to shoo him away.

“What are you talking about, in broad daylight! It’s as if I have nothing to do but sleep.”

Xiang Qian grumbled as he walked out.

Although sleeping was indeed his primary occupation, he really didn’t want to sleep at the moment.

He was about to leave Qingyang Town, and he didn’t know for how long, so he wanted to see “an old acquaintance.”

Many people in the town hall knew that “Master Xiang’s” daily routine consisted of drinking and sleeping, but there was one thing he did without fail. Every five days, he would sit by a small grave outside the town. He brought no offerings, only a boiled egg.

Once Xiang Qian’s figure had left the courtyard, Jiang Wang said to Xiao, “Put aside the town affairs for a while and return to your hometown. Come back in a few days.”

Jiang Wang had asked Xiang Qian to wait in Zheng under the pretext of the Hanging Temple matter. He simply didn’t want Xiang Qian to follow him into danger. He had agreed to help Yin Guan, but there was no reason to put his friend at risk.

If all went smoothly, they would naturally meet in Zheng and leave together. If, unfortunately, something happened, Xiang Qian waiting in Zheng would know and could make his own arrangements.

He was sending Dugu Xiao away for the same reason.

If the worst happened, and Yin Guan couldn’t escape, and his assistance in getting Yin Guan into Linzi was exposed, then the people who remained in Qingyang Town who supported him would certainly be implicated.

This might not happen, but preparations had to be made. Otherwise, it would be irresponsible. These people were working here because they trusted him. He couldn’t cause trouble and have them bear the risks.

Chongxuan Sheng, on the other hand, didn’t need to worry. He currently had no rivals in the Chongxuan family. As long as Jiang Wang didn’t reveal that he helped Yin Guan enter Linzi, he wouldn’t be implicated.

And he certainly wouldn’t say anything, no matter what happened.

“Sir, is something wrong?” Dugu Xiao was intelligent and perceptive.

“Nothing’s wrong. Don’t overthink it. I just thought that after so long, it would be good for you to go back and visit your hometown. Draw some extra silver from the accounts, a triumphant homecoming, you know,” Jiang Wang said. “I remember your parents are still alive, and your family used to run a tailor shop?”

Because he was afraid of causing her pain, Jiang Wang had never inquired about Dugu Xiao’s past in detail. He had only vaguely heard her mention it a few times, so he couldn’t be sure.

“I will,” Dugu Xiao replied, though her expression clearly showed reluctance.

She couldn’t refuse Jiang Wang’s request.

And Jiang Wang would never know.

In fact, her “parents” had already come to see her.

More precisely, her stepfather and birth mother.

Her tailor father had died of a serious illness many years ago. Her mother had remarried, bringing her along.

Her stepfather was an alcoholic who would beat them both when he was drunk. Her mother was weak and dared not speak out, so she could only suffer along with her. Those days were worse than death, and she didn’t know how to keep living.

Later, her “stepfather” sold her off for three taels of silver. She was actually happy, thinking that she would finally stop being beaten.

Then she went to the mining area and met the cultivator who said he would take care of her. She briefly thought she had found happiness, but that cultivator suddenly disappeared one day and never reappeared.

After that, Ge Heng tried to force himself on her…

Of course, these things didn’t need to be said anymore.

Now that she had achieved transcendence and become the head of the town hall, her parents had actually come to find her.

The alcoholic, violent, and loathsome man, and the weak, irresponsible woman who didn’t even protect her own daughter.

She had seen them.

She had also given them some silver.

However, the unfortunate couple had encountered an accident on their way back and had been killed by bandits.

As for how the bandits knew they were carrying money, and why they insisted on killing them after robbing them, no one would ever know.

Because those bandits had also been wiped out soon after.

Dugu Xiao agreed to Jiang Wang’s request to return to her hometown, but she didn’t know what to see. Since she had to obey, she would just go back.

She had her own thoughts and feelings.

But she was unwilling to go against Jiang Wang’s decision.

With Xiang Qian and Dugu Xiao taken care of, there were no further matters in Qingyang Town.

All his belongings were in his storage pouch. Jiang Wang, alone with his sword, set out handsomely.

The caravan going to Rong had been waiting outside the town for some time.

The leader of the caravan was named Xiao, a very ordinary middle-aged man.

He was quite sensible. After Jiang Wang got into the carriage, he didn’t bother him further, never fawning over him.

Yin Guan, still wearing his stealth cloak, quietly hid in another carriage carrying goods.

The border was under martial law, meaning that everyone entering and leaving needed to have their identities verified and had to have a clean record. The previous practice of paying customs duties and leaving was no longer possible.

Every fortified city in Qi had formations dedicated to sensing auras. They were also part of the national protection array and were of high grade. Any fluctuation of Daoist techniques would immediately trigger a reaction.

The stealth cloak couldn’t even be considered a magical artifact, because its effect came from the natural stealth skin of the Stealth Serpent King, woven using the weaving method of celestial garments. The Stealth Serpent was a product of the Morihana Realm, and probably few people in the present world had seen one, so there was no defense against it.

This was Jiang Wang’s reliance in formulating the plan.

Despite making many preparations, it was difficult to remain completely calm.

After all, whether the stealth cloak could get them through the city gate was still unknown. And if they were discovered, he had to react immediately.

As he was mentally rehearsing every detail, the curtain of the carriage stirred slightly.

Yin Guan slipped into the carriage.

Jiang Wang didn’t like surprises, so he frowned.

But Yin Guan’s voice still rang out, “Jiang Wang, I have a new idea.”