Volcanic Age

Chapter 28: It's Dark Under the Lamp (1)

The banquet continued for two days. The first day was solely held for the cultivators. Visitors weren't allowed, and they celebrated throughout the night.

On the second day, it was bustling with activity as merchants and wanderers flocked in.

"State your purpose of visit."

"To congratulate the warriors on their victory. I'd like to send a gift to the Fourteenth Sword Hero."

An Absolute Realm expert wasn't someone common, especially if it was someone affiliated with a large sect like the Mount Hua sect. Being able to make such people remember their names would be a huge benefit to the visitors.

Not just Qiu Feng, they would also be able to establish connections with individuals from the Zhuge Family or the Lotus Pavilion if they were lucky. It would definitely be beneficial in the future. Visitors came with all sorts of riches, so they would make a lasting impression.

Some even brought pretty daughters from their hometowns. If they could secure a marriage with the Zhuge Family, they would rise the social ladder.

Mount Hua was a little more obscure in that sense, but not entirely out of the question. The members of the sect had children if they didn't take a major position in the sect. However, they were forbidden from teaching their own kin martial arts as rigorously as the official disciples, regardless of talent. The children of the members of the sect were only taught what the secular disciples could learn.

Although the Mount Hua Sect had relatively secular traits compared to the likes of the Wudang Sect, it wasn't loose. They had their own restrictions.

Regardless, despite those restrictions, marriages weren't entirely unheard of and happened occasionally. The visitors tried their best to flaunt their wealth so that they wouldn't miss an opportunity like that.

"Today, I'll teach you how to handle people," Qiu Feng said, having gathered the members of the Lotus Pavilion.

It would be very problematic if a disciple of the sect they had painstakingly raised was seduced or blinded by wealth. Sure, each person was free to fall in love with others, but what would these children know? It would be problematic if they fell victim to schemes when they hadn't matured yet.

For this, Qiu Feng faced dozens of people on the same day despite the trouble. The disciples of the Lotus Pavilion did not say much behind Qiu Feng and just introduced their names and ages.

"You're free to accept gifts, but it's better to refuse if they ask you for a favor. Also, material desires are taboo for a cultivator. Just receive what is acceptable as a token of gratitude. People will look at it differently if it's too excessive."

"Understood."

"Also, avoid anything with a promise. Promises carry as much weight and importance as paying back graces and resentment for us cultivators of the Orthodox Faction."

"We'll bear that in mind."

Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen concentrated and committed everything to memory. Zhou Xuchuan, on one hand, only pretended to listen.

He was originally one of the Five High Elders of Mount Hua. He had his fair share of interacting with other people. In fact, he was more experienced with conversing than fighting.

'Hm, Senior Uncle is truly quite something.'

His martial prowess aside, his sociability was also on the level of an Absolute Realm expert. He was so flawless that Zhou Xuchuan couldn't help but be surprised.

"I am from Sichuan and…"

"The Lotus Pavilion of Mount Hua! I have heard of your feats in Kai'An."

"People praise Martial Dragon Hall of the Wudang Sect as being the best, but the Lotus Pavilion is the best after all."

"I was once again deeply impressed by the sword of…"

They listened to dozens, if not hundreds, of compliments daily. Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen seemed proud at first, but they were exhausted after a while.

Among the visitors were those from smaller sects of the Orthodox Faction residing in Guizhou, not just wanderers and merchants. Sometimes, even sect masters brought their sons and daughters to introduce them.

Where is he…

Zhou Xuchuan was eagerly looking for one person while Zhang Hong, Zhang Xuen, and even Qiu Feng were exhausted to death. He pretty much ignored the wanderers and local sect masters. He just listened to their names, relaxed his mind and rested.

However, he concentrated whenever merchants arrived and paid attention to what they said.

He must be here somewhere.

Li Yicai, the Merchant King!—he tried shouting the name and title in his heart.

From what he knew, the Merchant King was definitely in the Guizhou province around this time. He was a merchant without funds, so he was looking for a sponsor. That was the reason he was in a dangerous place like the Guizhou province without any proper guards. Because of how dangerous it was, many martial artists came to visit. If he managed to catch just one of them, he would have the opportunity to display his skills in full.

Dammit, I've made preparations to help you. Now appear in front of me.

The sun had started setting as well. Time was running out and it wouldn't take long for them to stop receiving visitors. Although there were many people waiting, there was a limit to the number of people they could meet.

Zhou Xuchuan couldn't exactly sneak out at night to find visitors either. Qiu Feng had a firm eye on him because he thought that he had almost lost Zhou Xuchuan due to what happened in Weng'An.

He couldn't have gone to the Zhuge Family, could he?

The Zhuge Family had also accomplished great feats in Kai'An, but it was insignificant compared to what Qiu Feng did. Zhou Xuchuan was sure that the Merchant King would visit the Mount Hua Sect first since he cared much about profits.

So he was very surprised. Not to mention Li Yicai, he hadn't seen anyone with a similar name. As time passed, Zhou Xuchuan began to feel anxious.

"Hehehe, greetings everyone. Nice to meet you all again."

By the time the sun had almost set, a familiar-looking man made a visit. He was overly subservient, both in looks and attitude. He made them uncomfortable.

The little merchant, he called himself, huh? It's definitely not him.

It was the excessively humble solicitor they had met when they just arrived in Kaiyang Town.

Zhou Xuchuan predicted that the Merchant King might have changed his name. Because of this, he mentally listed some well-known traits of the Merchant King and compared them to the people he met.

The Merchant King was supposedly as fat as his obsession with wealth. His spirit was one that reached the skies and never yielded even in front of the Head of the Martial Alliance.

As a result of his arrogant attitude, despite being a merchant, both cultivators both Orthodox and Evil criticized him. At least, he wasn't like the little merchant, who was excessively subservient and had an ordinary stature.

Zhou Xuchuan immediately lost interest and started thinking about other things.

Since it's like this, I should check the guest book after this.

If the Merchant King didn't come to them, he must have gone to the Zhuge Family. Otherwise, things would be very problematic.

With no sign of the Merchant King, Zhou Xuchuan prayed for this visitor event to finish quickly.

"As expected of the members of Mount Hua. This little merchant was deeply impressed after hearing the news a while ago. The Mount Hua sect is truly renowned for its prowess in the sword, it must be the first and most powerful sect in the ten major…"

The little merchant kept flattering without getting to the point. They were all words of praise towards Qiu Feng or Mount Hua. The problem was that his intentions were so obvious it made them tired instead.

"Excuse me, Mr. Little Merchant. Could you wrap it up and leave? I have spoken to too many people today and I am quite fatigued. I hope you can understand."

Ultimately, even Qiu Feng interrupted his words.

"P-please don't say that. Can you spare me just a moment?"

The little merchant was visibly flustered. He seemed to be saying, "I have prepared a lot of things and cannot leave empty-handed." His eyes looked desperate.

"I'm sorry. You should return." Qiu Feng's intent was clear, prompting the cultivators at the entrance to step in.

"Please wait a moment! I have a lucrative business proposal. Just spare me fifteen minutes, no, just half that! You won't regret it!"

"Can't you just scold someone like that?" Zhang Hong interjected.

Qiu Feng was feeling exhausted so there was no way Zhang Hong wasn't. He had an annoyed expression on his face.

"Come over here!"

"You lunatic! You should consider your identity before behaving recklessly!"

There were levels to the visitors as well. The order of their visits depended on their reputation. The fact that he was late in that order meant that he was insignificant. That was why the cultivators dragged him out without hesitation.

"Let me go! Do you know who I am?"

"And do you know who I am? I'm a cultivator of the Martial Alliance, Kaiyang branch!"

"Tsk, tsk."

The cultivators clicked their tongues and dragged the merchant away.

"Gold Will Merchants!"

Zhou Xuchuan halted abruptly just as he was following Qiu Feng. He saw Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen following Qiu Feng to leave.

No way.

Time seemed to slow down all of a sudden. All of his cultivation was focused on his hearing. The last word echoed in his mind.

Zhou Xuchuan abandoned thoughts of the guest book and turned around slowly.

His eyes were filled with greed and desperation. The greed was so overflowing that any cultivator would click their tongue. For some reason, Zhou Xuchuan felt that his eyes saw gold.

"This little merchant runs a small merchant company named the Gold Will Merchants. My name is Li Yicai…"

His voice became more indistinguishable the further away he went. Zhou Xuchuan watched as the man was dragged away and let out a chuckle, feeling absurd.

"It sure is dark under the lamp. Who would've known that I have met him already?"

*

Being fat meant being prosperous. Those who possessed more were fatter. This trait was more pronounced in merchants.

However, Li Yicai was lacking. He was looking for sponsors so there was no way he would spend much money on food. Although he wasn't starving, he didn't eat excessively either. He wasn't too fat, nor was he too skinny.

There were circumstances behind his personality as well. By the time Zhou Xuchuan got wind of the man known as the Merchant King, Li Yicai was already out of reach. Even if he used to be overly submissive, no one would be able to handle the consequences should they spread such a rumor. It wasn't strange that such a thing was kept secret.

Moreover, there was about a sixty-year gap between the Li Yicai he knew and the present one. It would be strange if his past was well-known without any distortions.

That was my mistake.

It was likely that the histories of the survivors of the Era of War and Chaos were fabricated, but he failed to take that into account. There was information he didn't have access to even as one of the Five High Elders of Mount Hua.

Zhou Xuchuan reflected on himself for having blind faith in his knowledge of the future.

*

The banquet concluded the next day. Li Yicai made another visit, but naturally, Qiu Feng refused to meet him. The visitation hours were over.

Although Li Yicai pleaded desperately, he had no choice but to return because the cultivators from the Martial Alliance didn't let him in.

However…

"Hello there, merchant."

Li Yicai encountered someone totally unexpected.