The journey to Jade Moon Vale was, for Kui, a revelation. For millennia, his perception of the world had been filtered through the senses of a titanic tortoise. Now, in the guise of a portly, mortal merchant, the world was a riot of sharp, vibrant, and utterly intoxicating sensations. This human form, so fragile and fleeting, was a masterpiece of sensory input. The Wise Host had truly given him a magnificent gift.
But beneath the cheerful, bumbling exterior, the ancient beast sovereign remained. His spiritual sense, vast and deep, extended for miles, a silent, invisible net that monitored every leaf that fell. He was a mountain disguised as a pebble. He observed the cultivators on the road, none of whom could fathom the terrifying power that lay dormant beneath the merchant's easy smile.
After three days of leisurely travel, Jade Moon Vale appeared before him, nestled between two towering, emerald-green cliffs. It was a place of breathtaking beauty, the ancestral home of the Clearwater Jade Carp Clan, a place renowned first and foremost for their unique, spiritual carp, and more recently for their exceptionally vibrant Moon-Fin Trout.
Yet, as Kui approached the grand, moon-shaped gate, his ancient eyes noted the dissonance. The spiritual energy of the vale was agitated, like a calm lake with a fierce undertow. The guards at the gate were tense, their gazes fixed on a procession of cultivators camped just outside. These cultivators wore grim, iron-grey robes, and their auras were sharp and aggressive. A large banner, depicting a raging, black river, snapped in the wind beside their main tent. The Iron River Sect. It seemed he had arrived at a most opportune moment.
"Greetings, stalwart gentlemen!" Kui boomed, his voice full of jovial bonhomie as he approached the gate. "This humble one is an emissary from the Deepwater Menagerie! I am here to speak with the esteemed Clan Head Feng regarding our continuing and prosperous partnership!"
The guards' weary expressions shifted to confusion, then a flicker of hope. Before they could speak, a harsh, grating voice cut through the air.
"Deepwater Menagerie? Never heard of it. The Clearwater Carp Clan is in the midst of important negotiations with my Iron River Sect," a man sneered, stepping forward from the encampment. He was tall and thin, his grey robes marking him as an elder. This was Elder Jin, his peak Foundation Establishment aura pressing down on the surroundings. "They have no time for some backwater beast-peddlers. Scuttle along, fat man, before you get caught in matters beyond your station."
"Ah, but the affairs of our partners are of the utmost importance to the Menagerie," Kui replied, his smile unwavering. "And we are most interested in ensuring the health of our investments."
A wave of spiritual pressure, sharp as a thousand tiny needles, rolled off Elder Jin, directed squarely at Kui. It was an unsubtle attempt at intimidation.
Kui did not even blink. To his senses, it was like being hit by a gentle spring breeze. The pressure vanished as if it had hit a shoreless ocean.
Elder Jin's eyes widened slightly, but before he could escalate, a dignified voice came from the gate. "Elder Jin, that is enough. He is an honored guest." Clan Head Feng stood there, his face etched with worry, but his eyes lit with a desperate hope. "Emissary, please, come in. Forgive our… inhospitable welcome."
With a final, venomous glare from Elder Jin, Kui waddled through the gate.
"Clan Head Feng, a pleasure!" Kui exclaimed with a deep bow.
"Your timing is a relief, Emissary," Feng said, leading him along a beautiful stone path. Once they were out of earshot of the gate, his voice dropped. "The Deepwater Menagerie… that is Young Master Li's venture, is it not?"
"The Wise Host is indeed the master of the Menagerie," Kui confirmed with a proud, conspiratorial smile. "He sends his warmest regards and was concerned when he heard rumors of trouble."
They arrived at the main clan hall, a beautiful open-air pavilion overlooking the largest lake. Feng gestured for Kui to sit.
"Your Young Master's concern is timely," Feng sighed, slumping into his chair. "The Iron River Sect is demanding a full third of our prized Clearwater Jade Carp hatchlings for the next ten years. They also demand we sever all ties with the Green Mountain Sect. It is not a negotiation; it is a death sentence for our clan's independence."
"A poor business decision on their part," Kui said, his smile returning as he placed a high-grade storage ring on the table. It slid across the polished surface and stopped in front of Clan Head Feng.
"Young Master Li does not abandon his friends. In fact, he wishes to deepen our partnership. The Deepwater Menagerie is prepared to enter into a formal, exclusive trade agreement. We wish to purchase sixty percent of your clan's annual Clearwater Jade Carp yield for the next thirty years."
Feng's eyes widened. "Sixty percent? For thirty years? That… that is an unprecedented proposal."
"The Menagerie has grand ambitions," Kui said with a proud chuckle. "And we pay our partners well. Please, inspect the ring. You will find a formal contract for your review, along with a down payment, a token of our sincerity to secure the deal."
Hesitantly, Feng picked up the ring and infused it with his spiritual energy. His hand began to tremble. Inside was a mountain of shimmering, mid-grade spirit stones. It was a very generous amount of liquid wealth, a powerful show of good faith for the start of their partnership. There was no sign of any other items, just the pure, undeniable weight of wealth and a magically sealed scroll detailing the contract.
"This… this is an incredibly generous down payment," Feng stammered, his mind reeling from the implications. This wasn't just help; it was a powerful alliance forged through commerce.
"The Young Master believes in rewarding his allies," Kui stated simply.
Just as a genuine, hope-filled smile touched Clan Head Feng's lips for the first time in weeks, Elder Jin's harsh voice echoed from the entrance of the hall.
"Feng! I am growing impatient! What is taking so long?" He strode into the pavilion, his eyes falling on the storage ring in Feng's hand. A greedy light flared in his eyes. "What is this? Hiding your clan's wealth? That ring will serve as a fine first payment on your tribute!"
He reached for the ring, his hand a claw of metallic Qi.
Clan Head Feng paled, but before he could react, Kui moved.
It was not a fast movement. The portly merchant simply raised a hand, his cheerful smile never leaving his face. He made no grand gesture, unleashed no terrifying aura. He simply intercepted Elder Jin's hand with his own.
The moment their hands met, Elder Jin's face went from arrogant greed to pure, abject terror. He felt his metallic Qi, his spiritual pressure, his very life force, being swallowed by an endless, silent void. It was like trying to punch the ocean. He was completely, utterly, and effortlessly neutralized.
"Now, now, Elder Jin," Kui chided gently, his grip deceptively light. "It is impolite to interfere in a signed business deal."
With a gentle flick of his wrist, he sent the elder stumbling backward. Jin crashed into a pillar, his face ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably, staring at the smiling merchant as if he were a ghost.
Kui turned back to the stunned Clan Head Feng, his demeanor once again that of a harmless, jovial trader. "My apologies for the interruption. Now, Clan Head, I believe you have a prior engagement to terminate. You can inform the Iron River Sect that you are unfortunately unable to meet their demands, as the majority of your clan's future production has just been sold."