31. Resistance
(A week later, in the wilderness south of Golden Prosperity City.)
The battle unfolded in the rugged wilderness south of Golden Prosperity City, an unclaimed expanse of rocky plains, scattered forests, and abandoned farmlands lying between the domains of the Jing and Jian Families. The Zheng family controlled the city directly, but as a hub at the intersection of four territories of these three families, its influence made it a battlefield worth fighting over.
The Jing Family, revered for their strict sense of justice and discipline, sent their elite cavalry and spear formations to the front. Their troops, clad in sturdy armor, moved in tight ranks, their long spears forming a wall of death that no reckless swordsman could penetrate. Their horsemen, trained in precision charges, weaved through the battlefield, cutting down Jian warriors before they could fully engage.
The Jian Family, masters of swordplay and formation combat, countered with intricate, fluid tactics. Their warriors, moving in synchronized patterns, overwhelmed enemies with a barrage of flashing steel, slicing through openings before the spears could fully extend. Their swordsmen fought in disciplined waves, wearing down the enemy through relentless offense, their sword formations shifting like flowing water.
The battle began at dawn.
The Jing cavalry launched an early thunderous charge, their heavy horsemen smashing through the first line of Jian defenders, spears piercing through flesh and armor alike. Dust and blood filled the air as the first screams of battle echoed across the wasteland.
But the Jian forces had anticipated this.
With flawless coordination, their frontline split apart at the last moment, allowing the cavalry to surge into a deadly kill-zone. Hidden sword formations snapped into action, surrounding the riders with blades flashing from all directions. Jing warriors fell from their mounts, their armor sliced open before they could react.
However, before the Jian swordsmen could press forward, the Jing spear formations advanced, forming a defensive wall behind the cavalry, keeping the Jian warriors at bay. Spears struck with lightning precision, countering the quick slashes of their enemies.
The battlefield became a brutal dance of offense and defense, neither side willing to give ground.
As the battle stretched on into weeks, neither side could gain a decisive advantage.
The Jing Family's cavalry suffered heavy losses, their speed countered by Jian ambush formations, forcing them to rely more on foot soldiers. However, their spear walls remained impenetrable, ensuring that the Jian forces could not push beyond a certain point.
The Jian Family's swordsmen, despite their deadly precision, found themselves unable to break through Jing formations without taking unsustainable losses. They adapted by employing feints and false retreats, drawing the Jing forces into disadvantaged terrain, but even this could not turn the tide completely.
Supply lines stretched thin. Reinforcements dwindled.
Both families bled each other dry and yet, neither side collapsed.
By the end of the third month, the battlefield had become a graveyard.
Neither the Jing nor the Jian Family could claim victory. Their forces were entrenched, their warriors too exhausted to continue attacking, yet too proud to retreat.
Golden Prosperity City, once the prized jewel between the three territories, became once again a city overshadowed by war, where merchants whispered in fear of when the fighting might spill past the wilderness and into their streets.
And in the shadows, the Black Merchants thrived.
For while both families lost wealth, power, and soldiers…
Someone else was making a fortune.
---
(3 Months Later, in the Slums outside Golden Prosperity City)
Three months had passed since Mo Tian had realized the power of the Eternal Embrace, and trained with it, he had grown adept at sensing the subtle shifts in others' emotions. He always tested this on Li Xue, he could immediately feel the slightest change in her posture, the almost imperceptible flicker of her eyes. In turn, Li Xue tried learned to hide her emotions better, but Mo Tian always sees through her.
Li Xue, for her part, had been forced into an uneasy détente with him. While she had stopped making active attempts to kill him, there was no warmth in her actions. Her disdain was buried beneath a thin veneer of fake obedience, but Mo Tian could easily perceive the cracks in her composure.
She stood near the door, her back straight, but there was an almost palpable tension in her stance. Her cold gaze never fully met his, but she remained silent, as if waiting for him to speak first.
Mo Tian looked at her, the faintest smile playing at the edges of his lips. "It's been a while, Li Xue." His voice was smooth, as though the months had only deepened his amusement with her.
Li Xue's eyes flickered toward him, but she didn't move. "I've been busy." Her tone was neutral, but the edge of sarcasm was there, carefully concealed.
"Busy, hmm?" Mo Tian's eyes glinted, his voice a low murmur. "Perhaps you've been too busy to miss me."
Li Xue stiffened but forced a smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course." The word came out too quickly, and Mo Tian could feel the subtle shift in her emotions, a flash of frustration hiding just beneath the surface. But she was still faking it, putting on the act of obedient submission.
"Good." Mo Tian leaned forward, his gaze never leaving hers. "In that case, call the leaders to a meeting." He didn't ask, he commanded, his tone carrying the weight of authority.
Li Xue didn't flinch, but the flicker of annoyance behind her icy exterior was evident. She nodded, though it was clearly an empty gesture. "As you wish, Master." The words were barely audible, wrapped in false humility, as she turned to leave. Her steps were measured, deliberate, and yet Mo Tian could feel the resentment radiating from her back.
Mo Tian watched her walk away, a slight smirk curling on his lips. He knew she hated every moment of the act she put on. But for now, that was enough. He would wait. She couldn't keep up the ruse forever, and he would continue to test her limits, all the while enjoying the game they played.
In the meantime, he would get what he needed from her, obedience, fake as it might be. And one day, he would see whether it would turn into something real, or if her spirit would break completely. But for now, he was content.
…
The dim glow of candlelight flickered across the abandoned building's rotting wooden beams as four figures entered, their movements nearly silent. Despite the dust and decay, the room had been carefully arranged with simple chairs placed around a low table, with Mo Tian seated at its head.
His black eyes flickered over the four beggar leaders as they took their places. The Scarred young man leaned forward slightly, his rough features tense with thought. The Wiry young man sat upright, his eyes darting about the room with the sharpness of a predator constantly scanning for threats. The Cold-eyed, feminine-looking young man remained still, his expression unreadable, while the Short, round man with beady eyes sat with a knowing smirk, already anticipating the direction of the conversation.
At the far end of the room, Li Xue stood near the wall, observing in silence. Her presence was almost ghostly, yet her piercing gaze missed nothing.
Mo Tian let the silence stretch before speaking, his voice smooth but carrying the weight of absolute authority. "Report."
The Scarred young man was the first to respond. "We've begun expanding our influence beyond Golden Prosperity City, just as you instructed. We reached out to the beggars in White Lotus City, Ironwood City, and Hollow Reed City. They were hesitant at first, but once they saw how much wealth we control, they agreed to work with us."
The Wiry young man nodded. "Golden Prosperity City remains our core base, but we've planted seeds in the neighboring regions. Each city now has informants gathering intelligence and contacts selling goods through our channels. Our information trade alone has more than doubled in revenue."
The Cold-eyed, feminine-looking young man spoke next, his tone devoid of emotion. "Assassination contracts have also increased. Many now seek our services instead of relying on small-time killers. However, we are facing resistance. Other black merchants do not appreciate our sudden expansion."
The Short, round man with beady eyes chuckled, his voice oozing with sly amusement. "That's the problem, isn't it? We're making more money, but the moment we try to move further, the bigger players start getting in the way. The established black markets in these cities have been pushing back through higher bribes to officials, sudden disappearances of our men and sabotage of our supply lines."
Mo Tian tapped his fingers against the table, his expression calm. His black eyes seemed to pierce through the dim room as he analyzed the situation.
"It was expected," he said finally. "We are intruding on their territory, and they see us as competition. But forcing our way through isn't the most efficient solution."
The Scarred young man frowned. "Then what do you suggest? We can't just let them block us."
Mo Tian leaned forward slightly, his gaze cold and calculating. "We don't fight them head-on. Instead, we find a gap in the market, a weakness in their operations, and we penetrate through that gap."
The room fell silent for a moment as the beggar leaders considered his words.
The Wiry young man crossed his arms. "And how do we find that gap? We already sell information, assassinations, and restricted goods. Those black merchants already dominate those trades."
Mo Tian smirked. "Which is why we must look beyond those obvious markets. We need to find something they have overlooked, neglected, or failed to monopolize. Something that the underworld desperately wants but cannot easily obtain."
The Short, round man rubbed his chin, his beady eyes gleaming. "You're talking about something new… a service or product they aren't handling properly."
Mo Tian nodded. "Exactly. We don't attack where they are strong; we exploit where they are weak. For example…"
He let the words hang, watching their reactions before continuing. "Think about what's missing in the black markets of these cities. Have we seen a particular demand that remains unsatisfied? Have we seen people struggling to acquire something?"
The Cold-eyed, feminine-looking young man closed his eyes for a moment before speaking. "There are rumors that the noble families in White Lotus City are looking for rare alchemical ingredients. Ones that are heavily restricted by the authorities and the imperial palace. The black merchants there refuse to get involved because of the risks."
Mo Tian's smirk deepened. "And that is where we come in."
The Scarred young man cracked his knuckles. "We move into the trade of rare alchemical ingredients? But how? We don't have direct access to them."
"Not yet," Mo Tian said smoothly. "But we have contacts. And we have money. We invest in tracking down sources, desperate rogue cultivators, independent smugglers, even remnants of fallen sects who still have hidden stashes. If we can acquire these rare ingredients, we can sell them at a premium."
The Short, round man grinned. "If the existing black merchants refuse to deal in these goods, then we won't have competition. They'll have no choice but to either buy from us or let us establish dominance in that area."
The Cold-eyed, feminine-looking young man nodded. "It is a high-risk move, but also high reward. We will need to act carefully."
Mo Tian leaned back, satisfied. "Then begin immediately. Assign people to investigate where these alchemical ingredients can be obtained. Find sellers, find smugglers, find connections. Once we secure a steady supply, we can begin selling discreetly."
The Scarred young man clenched his fist, his gaze burning with determination. "And when we succeed, we'll finally have leverage against the existing black merchants."
Mo Tian smirked. "Exactly."
The room remained silent for a moment, the weight of their plan sinking in. They were no longer just a small faction within Golden Prosperity City. They were expanding, evolving, becoming something far more dangerous.
Mo Tian's eyes gleamed in the candlelight.