Kui and Xylia remained in the sanctuary for three full days, a period of blissful rejuvenation. For Kui, it was a time of joyous indulgence. For Xylia, it was a silent, profound communion. She spent most of her time on the frosted peak with the two growing bear cubs, while Kui often floated lazily in the main spiritual lake.
On the third day, a brilliant streak of rainbow light zipped through the water near Kui. It was 'Little Rainbow,' the Seven-Colored Fish, who had taken to exploring every corner of Li Yu's vast inner world.
"Hoho! What a vibrant little one!" Kui's cheerful voice echoed in Li Yu's mind. "A fine addition to the Wise Host's collection! Her aura is quite unique."
Xylia, observing from her peak, added her own gruff thought. 'She is fast. And slippery. Good survival traits.'
Even the sorrowful, melodic voice of Lirael, the Naga princess, chimed in from the depths of her secluded grotto, a rare and welcome occurrence. 'Her colors are a memory of a peaceful dawn… She brings a little happiness to this place.'
On the morning of the fourth day, the two sovereigns presented themselves before Li Yu's pagoda. Their auras were noticeably more stable and potent.
"Wise Host!" Kui announced with a deep, respectful bow. "This old turtle is restored and ready to return to the mortal coil! The gears of commerce must be kept turning!"
"The company needs a commander," Xylia stated, her tone a low growl. "The whelps have had enough time to lick their wounds. They need to be sharpened."
Li Yu nodded. "Your foundations in Riverstone City are strong, but new. They require their masters' presence. The Iron Sky Sect and others will be watching."
He gestured towards the valley outside, where the Deepwater Menagerie thrived. "The Menagerie's stock is plentiful. The deacons have prepared a shipment of not only Azure-Jade Carp, but also Iron-Shell Shrimp and Golden-Spotted Eels. A diverse offering will solidify the Guild's reputation."
The unspoken purpose was clear: they were to return with a tide of wealth that would cement their position as the new, dominant power in Riverstone.
An hour later, the caravan departed with triumphant purpose. The White Paw mercenaries were now joined by a dozen fresh-faced Green Mountain Sect disciples, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. They had accepted the high-reward sect mission to guard the caravan, a perfect integration of Li Yu's enterprise with the sect's structure.
Li Yu watched them go, his expression serene. With his retainers handling that front, his thoughts turned to another long-standing ally. Kui's success had proven the value of a commercial arm, and to truly secure a steady stream of resources, he needed more branches. There was no better place to start than the coastal metropolis, Sunken Treasure City.
It was a place built on trade, a hub of commerce that dwarfed Riverstone. Critically, it was a major center of operations for the Jade Sea Pavilion, the powerful merchant sect led by Elder Quan. Li Yu had a strong, positive relationship with the elder, built on mutual respect and his status as their esteemed Guest Elder. To approach a friend with a mutually beneficial proposal was just good sense.
This time, however, he would not go solely as Guest Elder Li Yu of the Jade Sea Pavilion. That identity was for internal matters. He would approach this conversation as a formal business partner of the now-famous Golden Shell Guild. It was a perfect cover, allowing him to operate openly while still keeping his true status as the ultimate master hidden.
Having made his decision, Li Yu's preparations were simple. He informed Grand Elder Chen of his intention to travel to "foster business relations on behalf of his enterprise," a vague but satisfying explanation that the old man accepted with a knowing smile.
As he stood before his pagoda, preparing to travel, he focused his thoughts inward, into the sanctuary that was a part of him.
' I am leaving on a journey. Are you ready for an adventure?'
The fish's excited reply was instantaneous, a flash of pure joy in his mind. 'Yay! Adventure! Shiny things!'
She was already with him, a passenger within his very soul. She was as much a part of his journey as his own shadow.
With his compass secured, Li Yu called for Tempest. A shadow fell over the valley as the great leviathan descended from the clouds, his long, serpentine body weaving through the air with an ethereal grace. Tempest was a magnificent creature of horn and scale, more akin to a wingless dragon than any bird, and he moved through the sky as if it were water. He landed with a whisper-soft whoosh of displaced air before Li Yu, lowering his massive head.
"Let's go," he murmured, patting the smooth, powerful scales of Tempest's neck.
Li Yu swung onto a designated spot on Tempest's broad back. The leviathan let out a low, resonant hum that vibrated through the valley, then surged upwards, climbing into the sky in a powerful, serpentine motion, banking south towards the distant, coastal metropolis of Sunken Treasure City. Li Yu was, for the first time in a long time, venturing out into the world not because he was forced to, but because he chose to.