The departure of the Iron River Sect from Jade Moon Vale was not a quiet affair. Elder Jin, his face still pale from his encounter with Kui, spat venomous threats of retribution, his words echoing with the hollow ring of impotence. He knew, Clan Head Feng knew, and every guard on the wall knew that the balance of power had irrevocably shifted. The Iron River Sect had come with the swagger of a predator, only to be sent scurrying away by a smiling, portly merchant who hadn't even broken a sweat.
In the clan hall, the oppressive tension that had plagued the vale for weeks had finally dissipated, replaced by an atmosphere of giddy relief and profound gratitude. Clan Head Feng held the magically sealed contract scroll as if it were a sacred scripture. It represented not just a business deal, but the salvation of his clan's autonomy.
"Emissary Kui," Feng began, his voice thick with emotion as he performed a deep, formal bow. "The words 'thank you' are insufficient for what you—and Young Master Li—have done for my clan today. You have not just offered a partnership; you have offered us a future."
Kui waved a dismissive hand, his jowls wobbling with amusement. "Nonsense, Clan Head! The Wise Host simply detests bullies who disrupt good business. This is merely the first step in a long and mutually profitable relationship. Our Deepwater Menagerie, you see, has grand ambitions."
"And the Clearwater Jade Carp Clan will be honored to be a part of them," Feng affirmed, his resolve hardening. He immediately summoned his elders, and with Kui observing with a benevolent smile, the contract was signed, sealed, and magically duplicated. An iron-clad, thirty-year exclusive trade agreement was now in effect. The Clearwater Jade Carp Clan was officially under the commercial protection of Li Yu's burgeoning enterprise.
With his mission accomplished more smoothly than he could have ever hoped, Kui spent a day enjoying the clan's hospitality before taking his leave. He traveled back to the Green Mountain Sect with the same leisurely pace, but his mind was buzzing. This venture had opened his eyes. Acting as the Wise Host's hand in the mortal realm was more invigorating than he had imagined. It required cunning, subtlety, and the occasional, shocking display of overwhelming power—a combination he found immensely satisfying. But it also took him away from the one place in the universe that truly mattered.
Upon his return, he bypassed the sect's main halls and went directly to Li Yu's hidden valley. His very soul yearned for the sanctuary. He found Li Yu meditating by the lake, the center of the valley's profound tranquility.
Before Li Yu could even speak, Kui gave a deep, eager bow. "Wise Host, forgive this old one's impertinence, but I must not waste a moment. Before I give my report, I must absorb the profound energy of your sanctuary. My bloodline craves it for advancement, and my body is ready to digest a new infusion."
Li Yu opened his eyes and gave a simple nod, a gesture of complete understanding. He willed it, and the shimmering, crimson-gold portal to the Koi's Sanctuary opened beside Kui.
The moment he stepped through, the portly merchant persona dissolved like mist in the sun. In its place stood the colossal, ancient form of the Black Tortoise. He lowered his immense head and let out a long, shuddering sigh of pure bliss. The golden light, saturated with the potent energy of the Koi and the profound Dao of his Wise Host, washed over him, purging the subtle taints of the outside world and nourishing the very core of his cultivation.
As he basked in the potent energies, his ancient, rumbling voice echoed directly in Li Yu's mind, who watched from just outside the portal. "Wise Host, your humble servant has returned with a triumphant report!"
While continuing to absorb the incredibly rich cultivation energy, Kui recounted the events at Jade Moon Vale, embellishing the tale with fawning praise for the Wise Host's brilliant, far-reaching strategy. Li Yu listened patiently, feeling his retainer's profound contentment through their soul-bond. The report and the absorption were happening simultaneously.
"The mortal realm is a delightful distraction," Kui's voice continued in his mind, a deep contentment coloring his tone. "But this sanctuary… this is the ultimate cultivation resource. The energy here is purer than anything in the natural world. To serve you best, and to continue growing stronger, I must be allowed to return here to absorb this energy. My body can store a vast amount, which I can slowly digest and refine while I travel for the Guild. It is the only way for me to advance."
Li Yu understood completely. This wasn't just about loyalty; it was a deep, symbiotic need for growth. Kui's service was predicated on his access to this unparalleled cultivation resource. It was a perfect, self-reinforcing loop.
After several hours, Kui's human form coalesced once more. He stepped out of the portal, his face glowing with a healthy, energetic sheen, looking ten years younger.
"You have done well, Kui," Li Yu said, his voice calm as Kui approached. "This is a good start. But if we are to expand, we cannot continue to operate as the 'Deepwater Menagerie.' It is too closely tied to our sect. We need a separate entity. A commercial front that can move through the world without carrying the banner of the Green Mountain Sect, even if it serves our interests exclusively."
Kui's eyes lit up, his mind, sharpened by millennia of patient observation, immediately grasping the strategic genius of the idea. "A shell, Wise Host! A shell to protect the delicate workings within! It needs a name! Something that inspires confidence, that speaks of wealth, reliability, and impenetrable strength!"
Kui stroked his chin, his mind racing. He thought of his own ancient, unyielding defense, of the wealth he was now tasked to accumulate.
"Let us call it… The Golden Shell Trading Guild!" he declared, his voice filled with inspiration. "Golden for the wealth we shall gather, and Shell for the unbreachable security and reliability we shall offer our clients and partners! It sounds prosperous, does it not? Grand!"
Li Yu considered the name. It was fittingly ostentatious for Kui's merchant persona, yet it held a deeper, truer meaning. He gave a single, assenting nod. "The Golden Shell Trading Guild it is. You will be its Guild Master. You will have full operational autonomy, but you answer only to me."
"Of course, Wise Host! It is my life's greatest honor!" Kui preened. "But… a Guild requires a structure. I will need to recruit my own people—clerks, agents, negotiators. People loyal to the Guild itself, who understand the art of the deal."
Li Yu approved of this foresight. "You will have the funds and the authority to recruit as you see fit. Choose them well. Loyalty is paramount."
With the plan solidified, the sect would provide missions to have disciples guard caravan routes and in turn be paid by the merchant company.
Li Yu made his way to the Sect Master's peak. He framed the proposal with the added clarification that the sect disciples would primarily serve as a highly-paid, highly-motivated security force for the Guild's caravans, leaving the internal operations to the Guild Master's own discretion.
The disciples would get real world experience and training and be paid for it. The sect would overall benefit from the influx of spirit stones and an increase in their overall fighting power.
The arrangement was even more appealing to the sect leadership, as it minimized their administrative burden while maximizing the benefits of experience and resources for their disciples.
"An outstanding proposal," the Sect Master declared. "Prepare the mission details. I will have them posted in the Mission Hall by morning."
They were starting to view him in another different light, not only was he himself getting stronger too, he was keeping the sect in mind and making it stronger as well.
The next day, a new, gleaming notice board appeared in the bustling Mission Hall. At the top, written in bold, elegant script, were the words: THE GOLDEN SHELL TRADING GUILD MISSIONS.
The first mission listed was simple: "Escort a shipment of Azure-Jade Carp to the Clearwater Jade Carp Clan. Rewards: A generous sum of spirit stones and sect contribution points. Requirements: Team of five, minimum cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Condensation."
A wave of excited murmurs swept through the hall. The lack of specific numbers only fueled their imagination. A new, powerful guild backed by the sect's highest authorities would surely not be stingy. The rewards were bound to be exceptional. Within an hour, dozens of teams had applied.
One week later, a long caravan departed from a newly established outpost at the base of the Green Mountain. At its head rode Guild Master Kui, his merchant robes fluttering in the wind. Flanking the precious cargo were twenty-five eager Green Mountain Sect disciples. As they traveled, Kui observed his charges.
They were disciplined, strong, and alert—perfect guards. But they lacked the merchant's eye, the hunger for profit, the subtle cunning needed to navigate the world of trade. They were the Guild's sharp sword, but he knew he would have to personally forge its clever mind.