Chapter 103: Chapter 100: Conflict of Interest

"Brother, I heard the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce has decided to set up shop in Dawan Village!"

"I hear the other major chambers of commerce are also considering it. If they manage to pull this off, you can be sure we won’t just miss out on a slice of the pie—we won’t even get a sip of the broth!"

Within the Alliance Leader’s residence at the headquarters of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance,

inside the spacious grand hall,

a figure spoke to the man seated imposingly on the main seat, his voice filled with righteous fury.

If Shen Changchuan had been present,

he would have recognized the informant.

It was the very same envoy, known to his underlings as Sixth Master, who had visited Dawan Village and arrogantly demanded that Shen Changchuan join their Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance!

At this moment, the man known as Sixth Master showed nothing but respect for the figure on the main seat.

But at the same time,

when he spoke of Dawan Village,

the disgust on his face was completely unconcealed.

"Brother, just leave this to me. I’ll have my men make a move. I’ll make sure they’re crippled!"

"A mere brat of fifteen or sixteen dares to snatch business from us!"

"It’s also the perfect chance to make an example of them and show everyone what happens when you don’t join our Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance!"

A vicious look appeared on the face of the envoy known as Sixth Master.

However,

in response to his words,

the burly figure on the main seat remained silent, his expression dark.

As the Alliance Leader of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, he was of course aware of the situation in Dawan Village.

’Sending someone to invite them back then was, of course, a calculated move. I was after the benefits that the name of Dawan Village’s Tian Nan Shen Clan could bring.’

’At the time, I thought that if even Dawan Village, which is controlled by the Shen Family, joined us, the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance would surely expand much faster. And with the Wu Family isolating themselves, it would be the perfect opportunity to bring more villages and small cultivation forces into the fold, letting me amass even more Cultivation Resources.’

’It had all been part of the plan from the start.’

’I just never expected the invitation to fail.’

’Back then, I even personally inquired about the details.’

’But after learning what happened, my assessment of that little brat from Dawan Village, Shen Changchuan, was simple: insatiably greedy and unbelievably arrogant!’

’And that wasn’t just me siding with my own man. I truly believed it.’

’A mere brat at the Qi Introduction Fourth or Fifth Layer, with not a single expert in his entire force. If it weren’t for the banner of the Tian Nan Shen Clan propping them up, a single cultivator at the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer could have wiped them all out!’

’A bunch of weak ants like that... what gives them the right to bare their fangs at us?!’

’To show them respect, I even sent Lao Liu—at the Peak of the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer—to personally extend the invitation!’ 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’With Lao Liu’s power, he could have crushed them all by himself!’

’I was already showing them immense respect!’

’We offer protection to a group of weaklings like you, so isn’t it perfectly normal to collect a small Protection Fee?’

’You’re so weak you can’t even protect yourselves in the coming chaos. What right do you have to negotiate terms?!’

’The terms we offered were already incredibly generous, especially considering your strength and what others get!’

’Shouldn’t that be a matter of course?’

’But in the end, that naturally arrogant brat not only failed to appreciate the gesture, he even had Lao Liu "escorted" out of the village!’

Such a blatant show of disrespect gave the Alliance Leader of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance an extremely poor first impression of the boy named Shen Changchuan after he learned the full story.

Wary of the Tian Nan Shen Clan’s backing, however, he didn’t dare to make any rash moves.

He could only set the matter aside for the time being and focus all his energy on running the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance to acquire resources for his own path of Cultivation.

As circumstances evolved, a series of subsequent measures eventually allowed the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance to flourish.

Today, the alliance has become a major power spanning forty-nine villages!

It had absorbed nearly all the small cultivation forces that had been left adrift like rootless duckweed after the Wu Family sealed off their mountain.

This recent period of great success had almost made him forget about that arrogant boy.

But he never expected that Dawan Village and that insufferably arrogant brat, Shen Changchuan, would reappear on his radar!

"Dawan Village, Shen Changchuan..."

The Alliance Leader of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance muttered these words,

his expression grim.

As the master of a power that spanned forty-nine villages, he had of course keenly sensed the business opportunities arising from the recent influx of outside Cultivators drawn by the rumors.

He had originally planned to contact the chambers of commerce from Qing City and invite them to set up temporary operations, hoping to earn a massive income during this time.

But instead, he received this dreadful news.

The arrogant brat he had long since cast from his mind had suddenly jumped up and slapped him across the face.

That’s right,

it was dreadful news!

He knew full well that his so-called Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance could only throw its weight around in this remote, backwater region.

To the endless stream of incoming Loose Cultivators, its deterrent force was nothing compared to the great banner of the Tian Nan Shen Clan!

He wasn’t the only one who understood this.

The other chambers of commerce would understand it even better!

Therefore,

if the plan between the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce and Shen Changchuan of Dawan Village were to succeed,

then for the many chambers and traveling merchants looking to do business here, Dawan Village would become their first and only choice!

With the deterrent power of the Tian Nan Shen Clan’s name, the chambers of commerce could band together for mutual protection. This would not only give them a greater ability to mitigate risks, but also create a commercial hub, attracting more customers and expanding their client base.

Putting himself in their shoes,

the Alliance Leader of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance couldn’t imagine anyone refusing such numerous benefits.

And such enormous profits would, in all likelihood, have nothing to do with them!

"Brother, stop hesitating!"

"If we act now, we still have a chance. If we delay any longer, once their cooperation is finalized and the elite guards of the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce move in, the difficulty we’ll face will skyrocket!"

"If we could get our hands on that prize, it would probably be enough for you to break through to the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer!"

Seeing his brother on the main seat remain silent, his expression dark and uncertain as if deep in thought, Lao Liu grew anxious and quickly tried to persuade him.

The burly figure on the main seat mulled it over for a moment before finally speaking in a deep voice:

"Lao Liu, be patient."

"I know this is a serious matter."

"But, that is the Shen Family, after all..."

As he spoke,

a flicker of apprehension crossed the burly figure’s face.

Indeed,

it was the Shen Family, after all.

The previous masters of Dawan Village, the Hu Clan, had been quite well-known in this Border Desolate Land twenty years ago. Their Clan Leader was even a rare expert of his generation at the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer.

And what happened to them?

Because they killed a member of a branch family of the Shen Clan, they made a single misstep and were utterly annihilated, turned to dust!