Jian Xuan and Kui's flying sword passed through the shimmering, now-open gate of the capital's grand formation. The transition from the chaotic, tense atmosphere of the besieging army to the grim, desperate order within the city was jarring.
The wide boulevards, normally teeming with the life of a bustling metropolis, were now filled with makeshift barricades, which wouldn't do much during an attack but gave people some peace of mind. Disciplined patrols of the Queen's royal guard were seen all around.
The faces of the soldiers were etched with exhaustion and fear, but also a sliver of a new, bewildered hope as they watched the two figures descend from the sky. Civilians peeked from behind shuttered windows, their expressions a mixture of terror and awe at the being who had single-handedly silenced a war.
The duo flew directly towards the city's commercial district, a testament to Kui's intimate knowledge of the capital's layout. They landed softly in the main plaza before a grand, imposing building adorned with the emblem of a golden shell. This was the Guild's northern headquarters.
The moment they landed, the massive, reinforced doors of the building opened, and a group of heavily armed White Paw mercenaries took up defensive positions. They were followed by a man in his late middle-age, his elegant merchant robes looking worn and frayed.
He was pale and had dark circles under his eyes, but his back was straight and his gaze was sharp and resolute. This was Director Orson, the man in charge of all of the Guild's operations in the Boreal Empire.
"Guild Leader Kui!" Orson exclaimed, his voice cracking with a profound, overwhelming relief. He rushed forward, bowing deeply. "We… we saw the path open. We did not dare to hope…"
"Hope is a fine thing, Director Orson, but the Guild prefers guarantees," Kui stated, his presence immediately injecting a sense of order and command into the desperate situation. "This is Grand Elder Jian Xuan. He has ensured our safe passage. Now, is everyone accounted for?"
"Yes, sir," Orson said, his voice regaining its professional composure. "All Guild employees and their registered families have been gathered here since the siege began. We have been preparing for the worst."
"You prepared well. Now, prepare for departure," Kui commanded. "Gather your families, take what you can carry in your storage rings. We are leaving. The ship is on its way."
A wave of joyous, tearful relief washed through the assembled staff who had been listening from the doorway. They had been trapped for so long, listening to the constant beat of war drums, feeling the grand formation tremble under the relentless assault of the enemy.
They had feared the inevitable moment when the shield would break, and the city would be overrun. To them, Kui and Jian Xuan's arrival was nothing short of a miracle. The fact that they had indeed kept their words, their grand promise of protecting their own. Many would say such things but here they were following through. What a joy it was to work for such an organization.
As the Guild members rushed to enact their final evacuation protocols, a new group approached the headquarters. It was a royal delegation, led by the Captain of the Queen's Royal Guard, a stern, battle-hardened woman who was the Queen's most trusted commander. They stopped before Kui and Jian Xuan, their expressions a mixture of deep gratitude and nervous apprehension.
"On behalf of Her Majesty, the Queen," the Captain began, giving a formal, respectful bow, "I offer our most profound gratitude. Your arrival has granted our city a desperately needed respite. Your power is… beyond anything we could have imagined."
"The Golden Shell Guild was merely seeing to the safety of its own people," Kui replied, his tone polite but distant. He could guess why they were here and he wouldn't bother with them.
"Of course," the Captain said, though her gaze lingered on Jian Xuan with undisguised awe. "Her Majesty understands. However, she believes this could be an opportunity for a mutually beneficial arrangement." She straightened up, her voice taking on a formal, official tone.
"The Queen offers a formal, lasting alliance. In exchange for your aid in repelling these usurpers, Her Majesty is prepared to offer the Golden Shell Guild three entire northern provinces as your personal, sovereign territory, exclusive, tax-free trade rights to all northern resources for the next century, and a royal treasury of enough spirit stones to justify you taking action our behalf."
It was a staggering offer, material wealth that could elevate the Golden Shell Guild from a powerful commercial entity to a true kingdom in its own right. The sheer value of the goods offered was enough to make any merchant's heart stop.
But Kui did not even hesitate, doing so would be going against the established rules that the Golden Shell Guild was known for. Breaking it for such little benefits in the long run didn't seem worth it. They would be able to make much more from keeping with those rules, everyone would know they could be traded with and they wouldn't interfere with internal politics.
If they could turn down such a deal, their words were gold.
"We are grateful for Her Majesty's generous offer," he stated, his voice calm but absolute. He acknowledged the immense value with a slight nod. "The assets you propose are indeed substantial. However, the Guild is, and always will be, a neutral entity. We are only here for our people. We do not fight in the wars of others when not protecting our interests."
"But think of the profit!" the Captain pressed, a note of desperation in her voice. "With such a territory, your Guild's wealth would multiply!"
"A merchant who only thinks of short-term profit is a poor merchant, Captain," Kui corrected her gently. "The Guild's greatest asset is not its wealth, but its neutrality. It allows us to operate everywhere, to trade with everyone. To tie our fate to a single empire, no matter how generous the offer, would be to sacrifice that long-term, foundational principle. Our self-interest lies in remaining free and independent. I am sorry, but the answer is no. We will be departing as soon as our ship arrives."
The Captain's face fell, but she nodded in understanding. The Guild's policy of armed neutrality was already becoming a thing of legend, and she had not truly expected any other answer. She gave another bow and retreated with her delegation, leaving them to their preparations.
It was not long before the massive transport ship, with Li Yu and Cyra on board, descended through the open gate in the formation, its shadow falling over the plaza. The boarding process was swift and orderly. Hundreds of people—workers, mercenaries, and their families—streamed onto the ship, their faces etched with the joy and relief of their miraculous rescue.
The citizens of the capital and the Queen's soldiers watched the grand evacuation from the streets and the walls. They saw entire families, clutching their children and their belongings, being led to safety. And once again, the sight was met with a complex tapestry of emotions.
There was envy from those who were being left behind, a bitter jealousy for those who had the good fortune to work for such a powerful and loyal organization. There was a simmering resentment from others, a feeling that this great power was selfish, a force that could have saved them all but chose only to save its own.
While those on board were extremely happy with their decision to be with such a guild, they truly followed through with their words.
With everyone on board, the ship's ramp began to rise. As it did, Jian Xuan walked to the prow of the ship, standing proudly with his hands clasped behind his back, a clear and visible symbol of the indomitable power protecting the vessel.
He was actively basking in the potent emotional energy radiating from the tens of thousands of cultivators below—the fear and humiliation of the besieging army, and the awe and reverence of the city's defenders. He could feel it nourishing his dao heart and soul, a tangible reward for this display of absolute strength.
The ship ascended, rising above the city. As it cleared the walls, the ancient formation behind them flickered back to life, the gate sealing itself once more.
The ship did not immediately flee. Instead, it turned and began to fly slowly, deliberately, over the massive enemy encampment. Jian Xuan's 1st level Soul Formation aura was still blazing, a silent, suffocating pressure that kept every soldier and commander below frozen in a state of absolute terror. It was a final, undeniable display of dominance, a warning to anyone who might even think of attacking.
The ship passed over the central command tent, and General Zong could only watch from within, his fists clenched, his face pale with a mixture of humiliation and sheer relief that this terrifying deity was finally leaving.
Once they had cleared the enemy camp, the ship accelerated, becoming a swift-moving speck heading south. Their mission, for now, was complete. They had rescued their people and were now taking them back to safety.
They had come out of nowhere and left just as quickly, an untouchable, neutral power that had bent an entire war to its will for a single afternoon, all for the simple purpose of bringing its people home. Their story would slowly spread throughout the land, drawing even more people to the company.