In the week that followed the fall of the Bandit King, the fortress in the Ironmaw Range was a hive of activity. The very air, once thick with the scent of spilled blood and fear, now buzzed with the energy of creation and commerce. Under Kui's masterful direction, the grim fortress began its transformation. Crude defensive walls were torn down, the foundations for a grand, welcoming inn were laid, and plans for a bustling central marketplace were drawn up.
Xylia, in her own domain, was equally productive. The thirty new recruits from the bandit army were being systematically broken down and reforged in the crucible of her brutal training regimen. Their undisciplined, chaotic energy was being hammered into the sharp, lethal cohesion of a true fighting unit. The howls of exertion and the clash of steel became the new, constant soundtrack of the mountain peaks.
Li Yu, his own part in the conquest complete, remained in seclusion within the fortress's main tower, content to observe and focus on his own cultivation. He was the unseen foundation upon which this new enterprise was being built, a role that suited him perfectly.
It was during a late-night strategy session, with Kui and Fat Pig poring over architectural blueprints, that the next phase of the plan was initiated.
"The construction is proceeding ahead of schedule, Big Brother!" Fat Pig said, his voice full of an eager, sycophantic energy. He pointed a chubby finger at a section of the map. "With the new road we are carving here, we can cut travel time through the pass by a full day! The tolls we can charge for such a convenience… the profits will be astronomical!"
Kui nodded, a pleased smile on his face. He was impressed by his new subordinate's avarice and quick grasp of logistics. The pig was a natural merchant, just a rough, uncut gem that needed a master's hand to polish it.
"Indeed, little brother," Kui said, his eyes twinkling. "But profit is not just about what you take. It is also about what you build. And the most valuable asset a merchant can build is a good reputation. It is time we paid a visit to our neighbors."
Fat Pig looked confused. "Neighbors? You mean the Iron Heart Sect? But… we have no business with them. They are weak and impoverished now, thanks to my… ah… former enterprise."
"Precisely!" Kui declared cheerfully. "They are weak, impoverished, and they hold a grudge against this mountain. An angry neighbor is a future problem. A grateful neighbor, on the other hand, is a future customer. Today, you will learn your first great lesson in the art of righteous profit: sometimes, the most profitable thing you can do is give money away."
The next morning, a small, professional-looking delegation departed from the fortress. It was not a war party, but a proper diplomatic envoy. They traveled not on monstrous beasts, but in two sturdy, well-appointed carriages, flying the official banner of the Golden Shell Guild—a gleaming golden turtle shell backed by the ominous, shadowy silhouette of a great black crab's claw. Kui and Fat Pig rode in the lead carriage, their merchant robes immaculate. They were escorted by a dozen of the most disciplined former bandits, now clad in the smart, clean uniforms of the Guild Guard.
Their journey to the Iron Heart Sect's territory was a quiet one. The lands they passed through were scarred by the recent chaos, the villages tense, the fields fallow. When their convoy, flying the banner of the new masters of the Ironmaw Range, was spotted, the common folk would scurry into their homes, their faces pale with fear.
Their arrival at the gates of the Iron Heart Sect was met not with welcome, but with the cold, hard steel of a hundred drawn swords. The sect's disciples lined the walls, their expressions a mixture of fear, hatred, and grim determination. They were a righteous sect, and though they had been defeated and humiliated, they would not bow to a new bandit king without a fight.
The Sect Leader, a proud, middle-aged man named Jian Tai, stood at the gate, his face a mask of weary fury. He was the 1st-level Core Formation expert who had been so soundly defeated by the former Bandit King.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jian Tai's voice was a low, dangerous growl. "Have you come to demand the rest of our treasury, monster?" His eyes were fixed on Fat Pig, a deep, personal hatred burning within them.
Kui, his face a perfect picture of cheerful, disarming goodwill, stepped out of the carriage. "Sect Leader Jian! A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance!" he boomed, offering a deep, respectful bow. "I am Kui, Guild Master of the Golden Shell Guild. And I assure you, we have not come to take anything. Quite the opposite! We have come to return what is rightfully yours."
He produced a high-grade storage ring from his sleeve and held it out. "A gesture of goodwill and a symbol of the new order in these mountains."
Jian Tai and his elders stared, their minds unable to process the sight. Their suspicion was so deeply ingrained that they could only assume it was some kind of trick. He cautiously took the ring and sent his spiritual sense inside. He gasped. Inside was a mountain of high-grade spirit stones.
"This… this is a portion of the tribute that was extorted from my sect," Jian Tai said, his voice tight with confusion and disbelief.
"Indeed!" Kui confirmed. "We, the Golden Shell Guild, have recently… acquired the assets and territory of the former, misguided ruler of the Ironmaw Range. In our accounting, we discovered this unjustly taken tribute. The Golden Shell Guild is a legitimate, righteous business! We cannot, in good conscience, profit from the suffering of our neighbors. Therefore, we have come to return it."
The Iron Heart Sect elders began to whisper among themselves, their expressions a mixture of shock and dawning, incredulous hope.
Jian Tai, however, was a seasoned leader. He looked at the ring, then back at Kui, his eyes narrowed. "This is not the full amount. A significant portion is missing."
Kui's cheerful smile did not waver for a second. "Ah, yes," he said, his tone one of a patient teacher explaining a simple concept. "The original sum was indeed larger. However, one must account for the considerable expenses incurred in the… hostile takeover and recovery of said assets. Dangerous work, I assure you! The remaining twenty-five percent has been retained as a standard 'handling and recovery fee.' A perfectly reasonable price for our services, I'm sure you'll agree!"
The logic was so shameless, so perfectly, unapologetically mercantile, that Jian Tai was left utterly speechless. He was being charged a fee for the return of his own stolen money by the very people who had just conquered the thieves. It was absurd. It was insulting. And yet… he was getting half of his sect's entire treasury back, a treasure he had been certain was lost forever. The relief and gratitude he felt far outweighed the insult.
He finally let out a long, slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time in a month. "Your… your business practices are certainly unique, Guild Master Kui."
"We pride ourselves on our efficiency!" Kui beamed.
Jian Tai's gaze then fell upon Fat Pig, and the hatred returned. "And what of him? You bring the very monster who defeated me to my gate? Is this some kind of mockery?"
"Mockery? Heavens, no!" Kui said, putting a friendly arm around Fat Pig's shoulders. "This is my esteemed colleague, Vice Guild Master Zhu! He has seen the error of his previous, brutish ways and has been enlightened by the righteous path of legitimate commerce! He is a new man, dedicated to the principles of mutual profit and regional stability under my… brotherly guidance."
Fat Pig, who had been well-coached, immediately stepped forward and gave Jian Tai a deep, sincere bow, his face a mask of remorse. "This one was a fool, blinded by greed and ignorance. Under the wise tutelage of my Big Brother, I now understand that building a prosperous community is far more profitable than tearing it down. I hope Sect Leader Jian can find it in his heart to forgive my past transgressions."
The sight of his former vanquisher, the arrogant Bandit King, bowing and speaking like a reformed disciple was so surreal that Jian Tai's anger simply evaporated, replaced by a weary, bewildered acceptance. The world, it seemed, had gone mad.
"Come," Jian Tai said finally, a gesture of weary resignation. "Let us speak inside. It seems we have much to discuss."
They were escorted into the Iron Heart Sect's main hall. Once tea was served, Kui, the master merchant, made his move. He spoke of his grand vision for the Ironmaw Range, transforming it into a thriving, secure commercial hub called 'Traveler's Rest.'
"Our new city will be a nexus of trade for the entire northern region," Kui explained, his eyes glittering. "The Golden Shell Guild is not just a simple beast trader. We deal in all manner of goods. We have already secured a major trade alliance with the Asura Demon Clan to our west, giving us access to their unique demonic herbs and volcanic ores. From our southern branches, we can bring in rare oceanic treasures. We intend for Traveler's Rest to be a place where goods from every corner of the region can be found."
He leaned forward, his smile full of a promise of shared wealth. "I propose a formal, long-term trade agreement. Your Iron Heart Sect sits upon lands rich in high-quality iron ore and unique mountain herbs. These are resources that are in high demand in both the demonic territories and the southern seas. You will be our first honored righteous sect partner in the north. We will grant you preferential rates and first right of purchase on all goods and services in Traveler's Rest. We will help you rebuild, and in turn, you will help us prosper. It is a partnership of mutual benefit, a chance to turn the ashes of the past into the foundation of a golden future."
Jian Tai and his elders listened, their expressions shifting from skepticism to dawning, unbridled hope. The deal Kui was offering was not just fair; it was a lifeline. He wasn't just offering to buy their goods; he was offering them entry into a massive, new trade network that included a major demonic clan and more, something they could never have achieved on their own. It was a chance to not only recover what they had lost but to become stronger and more prosperous than ever before.
"We… we accept," Jian Tai said, his voice thick with an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time: hope. "Guild Master Kui, your Golden Shell Guild is a true and righteous friend to our Iron Heart Sect."
A new, powerful alliance was forged.
On the journey back to the Ironmaw Range, Fat Pig was unusually quiet, his mind reeling from the day's events. "Big Brother," he finally said, his voice full of a new, profound respect. "We went there, gave them back their own money, and they called us their friends and saviors. Then they agreed to a trade deal that will make us a fortune. How…?"
Kui let out a hearty, booming laugh. "Because, my dear little brother," he said, patting Fat Pig's knee, "we did not just give them back their spirit stones. We gave them back their hope and their honor. And those are commodities for which a proud man will pay any price. Plus we gave them good terms, they can make good money and we can make more." He leaned back, a look of deep satisfaction on his face. "That, my boy, is the art of righteous profit."