“No matter what, this place is a pure land in this chaotic world for being able to shelter so many people.”
Like Shang Jie, Wen Hu also turned to look at the top of Chang’an Fortress. “I hope this place will last.”
“This place has saved your life, so it’s only right that you stay to repay the kindness.” Shang Jie smiled. “But our sect will always be your home. Remember to come back and visit when you have time.”
Wen Hu nodded with a sigh. “Please don’t worry, Aunt-Master. I dare not forget the kindness of my master’s upbringing for a moment.”
“We shall part here.” Shang Jie bade farewell to Wen Hu before turning around and walking along the simple road through the fields outside the fortress and into the forests of the White Cloud Abyss.
In the Great Ming Palace, Zhang Dongyun watched all this with a smile.
The Yellow River Dragon Gate was a suitable target to trade with.
Not only did the sect have the financial resources for the large number of turquoise crystals mined in Chang’an, but it also controlled the waterway traffic of the Yellow River and had excellent influence, so it could protect the trade.
Furthermore, its character and reputation seemed equally good.
However, Zhang Dongyun did not discuss this with the other party.
First, he did not want to appear too eager on his side.
Second, the other party was already in his pocket… Zhang Dongyun laughed quietly.
Shang Jie left the mountains and arrived at the nearest town at the bottom of the mountains.
A young man was waiting in the town.
The young man was relieved to see Shang Jie return. “Aunt-Master, you’re back.”
Shang Jie nodded. “Let’s go.”
“Aunt-Master, how is Senior Brother Wen?” the young man asked as he gathered his belongings.
“He’s fine, and so are the people.” Shang Jie smiled. “This Chang’an Fortress isn’t a dangerous place. On the contrary, the people there live in peace, work happily, and do not have to suffer from natural and man-made disasters.”
The young man packed up his belongings and started on the journey with Shang Jie.
He was full of curiosity. “Aunt-Master, why did Chang’an Fortress suddenly appear here? I’ve never heard of it before. It’s too sudden. What’s the background of this fortress?”
“I don’t know either.” Shang Jie gently shook her head. “Your senior brother Wen also doesn’t know. But for now, at least it’s good for the local people.”
The two of them immediately went on their way, leaving Qinzhou Prefecture along the Yellow River and heading east.
The boat traveled for several days and passed through the Tongzhou Prefecture boundary.
In the evening, the boat docked for rest.
While her disciple-nephew went to buy food and water, Shang Jie did not disembark from the boat and strolled to the deck to feel the blowing wind.
Late in the evening, a few words caught in the wind suddenly drifted into her ears.
“The Thunderclap Sect… suddenly contacted a turquoise crystal buyer… It seems to have something to do with that Chang’an Fortress… Let’s take down the Thunderclap Sect people first…”
Shang Jie frowned slightly as she gazed into the distance.
Tongzhou is a major transportation hub with a close business network, and Chang’an Fortress seems to have entrusted the local Thunderclap Sect to contact a buyer for turquoise crystals. But unfortunately, some people discovered it and are going to stop it… the Yellow River Dragon Gate elder thought.
She had strong cultivation and sharp ears and eyes.
The other party hidden on a distant boat was not aware of her, but she could hear the conversation intermittently.
“I heard the buyer is the Miao family from East River County…”
Shang Jie was startled.
The Miao family was a famous local family in East River County. Even though it was incomparable to the past Chen clan, it was still a prestigious family.
Most importantly, it had a close relationship with the Yellow River Dragon Gate, and it had always been following it, with many of the family’s children studying martial arts in the Yellow River Dragon Gate.
The Miao family’s wealth and power might not be enough to buy such a large amount of turquoise crystals from Chang’an Fortress alone.
At that time, it would definitely seek support from the Yellow River Dragon Gate.
Wu Qiong of the Thunderclap Sect had apparently considered this, which was why he had chosen the Miao family as the buyer.
However, the Miao family might not know yet that the Thunderclap Sect’s supply of goods came from Chang’an.
This is really… Shang Jie was dumbfounded.
I was wondering when it would be appropriate to ask Chang’an about the goods.
It turns out that both sides already have some connections.
I wonder if those people in Chang’an Fortress know about this.
On the sect’s side, what will Senior Brother and the others decide?
Shang Jie took out a brush and paper and quickly wrote a letter as she pondered.
After her disciple-nephew returned to the boat, Shang Jie handed the letter to him. “I’ll stay in Tongzhou for a few days. You continue on. Quickly return to the sect and give this letter to the sect master without fail.”
Upon hearing Shang Jie’s instructions, the young man was surprised.
But he did not ask any questions and immediately received the letter solemnly.
Instead of waiting for a passenger ship, the young man immediately went ashore and hurriedly bought a mount to return to the sect over land.
Shang Jie remained calm, stayed in Tongzhou, and looked for those people who were conspiring earlier.
Here, she indeed saw the Miao family.
The Thunderclap Sect had invited the other party to meet secretly.
“Elder Miao, please have a look.” In a quiet room, Wu Qiong smiled and pushed the brocade box on the table to the opposite side.
The old man sitting across from him opened the brocade box, and a fluorescent green light emerged from it.
Inside the brocade box, a palm-sized turquoise crystal was silently shining.
Inside the crystal, there seemed to be agate-like chalcedony swaying and flowing unceasingly.
“It is indeed a very fine turquoise crystal.” The old man surnamed Miao nodded slightly, then looked across the table at Wu Qiong. “Sect Master Wu, this is indeed good. But can you tell me its origin?”
Wu Qiong kept his smile. “Elder Miao, I won’t cheat you with fake goods.”
The old man shook his head. “Of course I trust you, but such a large number of turquoise crystals must have come from a new mine. If any problems arise regarding the ownership of the minerals, I don’t want to pay and have a problem with the goods.”
Wu Qiong still smiled. “You can rest assured there won’t be any problem with the supply of goods. Even the Eastern Tang Dynasty’s royal family can’t get involved.”
The old man raised his white eyebrows. “Longbei County and Tongzhou are both the lands of the Forgotten Truth Temple, and it may not dare to say anything. The royal family won’t even be given face. Sect Master Wu, are you trying to act as a go-between for that place?”
He pointed to the west while speaking.
Wu Qiong nodded with a smile. “Now Elder Miao should believe what I said earlier.”
The old man fell silent.
A long while later, the old man said slowly, “Sect Master Wu is deeply hidden, and I admire that, but I’m afraid it’s difficult to say what the future holds for that place in the mountains of Dragon Ridge…”
“An honest man says nothing deceitful.” Wu Qiong curbed his smile and looked grave. “With such a large quantity, as well as the midway transportation problems involved, the Miao family shouldn’t be able to buy everything, right? It has to involve the Yellow River Dragon Gate, doesn’t it?”
The old man surnamed Miao remained silent.
Wu Qiong added, “The Yellow River Dragon Gate and your Miao family have always been a thorn in the side of the royal family. But now that the King of Tang is becoming increasingly perverse, the pressure on both sides is increasing. You can join forces with Chang’an and fight against the tyranny of the Eastern Tang Dynasty.”
“As for the future of Chang’an Fortress…” Wu Qiong lowered his voice after a slight pause. “His Majesty, who is in the Great Ming Palace in Chang’an Fortress, is unfathomable.”
The old man looked at Wu Qiong, and Wu Qiong calmly looked at him. “Besides the surrendered Tang Dynasty soldiers, Chang’an Fortress will also detain the people of the Forgotten Truth Temple.”
“Oh?” Upon hearing that, the old man’s expression became more serious. He looked at Wu Qiong. “That region of Dragon Ridge is located within the Forgotten Truth Temple’s sphere of influence, so it’s not surprising if the two sides conflict.
“But the relationship between the Forgotten Truth Temple and the royal family is not beyond rapprochement. Chang’an has offended both at once, which can be detrimental to its future development…”
“Unless…” Wu Qiong said, “His Majesty has the strength to confront both the royal family and the Forgotten Truth Temple at the same time.”
The old man surnamed Miao took a deep breath, leaned back in his chair, and remained silent.
Wu Qiong said nothing more and just drank his tea lightly.
“I need some time,” the old man said a long while later.
“I look forward to your reply.” Wu Qiong knew he wanted to consult the family head of the Miao family and communicate with the Yellow River Dragon Gate.
The two men discussed and went out together.
As soon as they pushed open the door, Wu Qiong’s face suddenly changed. “Who is it?”
A figure flashed past, quickly climbing over the house and escaping across the alley.
The expressions of Wu Qiong and the old man surnamed Miao changed drastically, and they soared in unison to chase after that man.
The other man fled and finally escaped into a house.
After Wu Qiong and the old man caught up, they slowed down their pace.
The situation before them looked like a trap.
But they were reluctant to let the other party escape.
If people of the East Tang Dynasty heard their secret talk, it was hard to say what would happen to Chang’an Fortress and the Yellow River Dragon Gate, but the Thunderclap Sect and the Miao family would be unable to bear the consequences of failure.
At this moment, a woman’s voice suddenly came from inside the house. “Come in.”
Wu Qiong was stunned, and the old man surnamed Miao was even more surprised. “This voice sounds familiar. It sounds like… the Yellow River Dragon Gate’s Elder Shang?”
They hesitated for a while and entered the house.
They ended up seeing bodies all over the place.
The person whom the middle-aged woman had captured was the target that Wu Qiong and the old man were chasing.
“Elder Shang.” The old man surnamed Miao greeted her with a salute.
Wu Qiong also followed along to express his gratitude. “The Yellow River Dragon Gate is worthy of being unopposed in the Yellow River. Without Elder Shang’s help, we might have had a disaster this time.”
“You don’t have to be polite.” Shang Jie sized up Wu Qiong with an inexplicable look in her eyes. “It’s still Chang’an Fortress that has remarkable strategy and ingenious planning.”