47. A Meeting

(3 Days later, the outpost in the Mountain range.)

In the heart of the mountain courtyard, beneath the open sky, a large stone table stood, its surface smoothed by the hands of craftsmen. Around it sat Mo Tian, Li Xue, and the leaders among the builders, seasoned men with rough hands and sharp eyes, waiting in silence. The only sound was the occasional gust of wind sweeping through the high peaks, carrying the promise of change.

Mo Tian sat at the head, his expression unreadable as always. Before him lay a large map, inked with meticulous detail, outlining the grand design of their sect. His fingers tapped against its surface as he finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"This place will not be built like any other stronghold," he began, his gaze sweeping over the gathered individuals. "It will be a place of cultivation, of power, and of control. Every hall, every courtyard, every pathway must serve a purpose beyond simple habitation."

He pointed to the central peak. "Here, the heart of the sect will be established. The main hall, where all decisions will be made. It must be built to last, fortified in ways that will ensure no force can breach it easily. Around it, key structures must be positioned carefully, residences, training grounds, and resource centers. But most importantly, the layout must encourage the natural flow of energy. You won't notice it, but if the placement is wrong, the very land itself will resist us."

Li Xue narrowed her eyes slightly but remained silent, observing Mo Tian closely. She had learned to recognize when he was holding back information, but she also knew better than to press him outright.

"The roads will be different as well," Mo Tian continued, tracing paths along the map. "They must be wide and reinforced, capable of handling not just foot traffic but entire caravans. What we build here is not just for ourselves, it must stand the test of time."

One of the builders, a gruff man with graying hair, leaned forward. "We've built fortresses and cities before, but what you're asking for... it sounds like more than just a sect."

Mo Tian gave him a small, unreadable smile. "It is more than just a sect."

The meeting continued with discussions on materials, manpower, and the immense effort required to carve out tunnels and reinforce structures. Mo Tian answered each concern with precision, his every instruction pushing them toward a singular vision, one they did not yet understand in full.

The meeting had concluded. The sect builders, rough men with calloused hands and sharp minds, had taken their leave, departing with their assignments etched into their memories. The maps of the mountain range, the proposed layout of the sect, and the logistical details of resources to be gathered. Mo Tian had provided all the tools necessary for them to begin laying the foundations of his domain. Now, only two remained in the dimly lit chamber: Mo Tian and Li Xue.

Li Xue lingered near the heavy wooden table, arms crossed, her expression impassive yet tense. She was waiting, expecting something. Mo Tian, standing with his back to her, studied the faint outlines of the mountains through the window. He had known for some time now that she had abandoned any direct attempt to kill him, but that did not mean she had given up her fight. He could feel it in the way she refused to bow, the way she questioned his decisions, and most of all, the way she kept searching for a gap in his impenetrable exterior.

Li Xue said "You've thought this through more than you let on."

Mo Tian met her gaze, his expression unchanging. "Of course."

She scoffed but didn't press further. Whatever he was planning, it was already in motion.

A silence penetrated the room.

Finally, without turning, Mo Tian spoke.

"You will return to Golden Prosperity City."

Li Xue's eyes narrowed, though she had expected this. "And do what, exactly?"

Mo Tian turned to face her then, his dark gaze unreadable. "You will ensure that our hold over the city is not threatened by the schemes of the Bai, Jing, and Zheng families."

A dry chuckle escaped her lips. "So, I am to be a glorified babysitter?"

Mo Tian didn't react. He merely observed her in that unsettling way of his, as if he was peering past her words, past her defiance, and straight into the calculations in her mind. "You will protect it from the shadows," he said smoothly, ignoring her attempt at provocation. "The city is too important to lose. It must remain under our influence. For that to happen, the schemes of our enemies must be met with counters of our own."

Li Xue exhaled through her nose, frustrated. "And if I refuse?"

Mo Tian tilted his head slightly, as if the thought amused him. "Then I will send someone else. But then you will have no control over how things are done. No say in what happens. I assume that is not to your liking."

She gritted her teeth. "You know it isn't."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, thick and charged. Li Xue despised the way he maneuvered around her defenses so effortlessly since some time ago. He never gave orders like a tyrant, which he did in the beginning. He didn't threaten, didn't demand submission. Instead, he made her own ambitions and desires align with his goals so that she had no choice but to comply. And that, more than anything, made her furious.

"You are wasted here in the mountains," Mo Tian continued, his tone calm but firm. "Your talents lie in reading people, in manipulation, in countering threats before they arise. I need that in the city."

"And what do I get in return?" she asked, arms tightening around her chest.

Mo Tian raised a brow. "Power."

She scoffed. "Power that is still yours."

"For now," he acknowledged without hesitation. "But if you truly wish to be free, then you must rise to the point where you are indispensable."

That made her pause. Mo Tian rarely gave her anything direct, no promises, no reassurances, just vague paths she had to decipher for herself. Yet this time, she heard something deeper in his words. He was giving her an opportunity, not just an order.

And that terrified her.

She stared at him, trying to find some hint of deception in his face, some crack in the mask he always wore. But there was none. There never was. "You say that as if you actually believe I could take your place one day."

Mo Tian's lips curved slightly, not quite a smirk, not quite a smile. "If you cannot, then you do not deserve to be free."

A slow fire burned in her chest, an infuriating mix of anger and reluctant intrigue. He was taunting her again, pushing her into proving herself. The worst part was that it worked. It always worked.

She took a steadying breath, then nodded sharply. "Fine. I'll go to Golden Prosperity City."

Mo Tian inclined his head, as if this was the natural conclusion all along. "Good."

Li Xue turned on her heel, marching toward the door. She was halfway there when his voice stopped her.

"Li Xue."

She halted but didn't turn around.

"Your survival is tied to the city's stability," Mo Tian said. "Make sure it thrives."

She clenched her fists. "I don't need you to tell me that."

Without another word, she left, her steps echoing down the hall. Mo Tian watched her go, his expression unreadable once more. She thought she was resisting him, but in truth, she was walking exactly where he wanted her to go. And one day, she would realize it.

And when that day came, she would no longer be bound by chains, real or imagined. She would stand beside him, not because she had to, but because she chose to.

And that, Mo Tian mused, was true power.

With that thought in his mind, Mo Tian left for the mountain.

…

Mo Tian stood atop the mountain, the cool wind carrying the scent of stone and pine through the courtyard. His gaze swept over the vast landscape below, but his mind was already elsewhere, stretching far beyond the horizon. The time had come to shift his focus. Golden Prosperity City had served its purpose; now, his reach needed to extend in all directions.

Stepping into his study within the courtyard, he retrieved a set of parchment and ink, meticulously writing four distinct messages. Each letter was addressed to one of the beggar leaders who had been instrumental in his silent conquest of the city's underworld. Their work in Golden Prosperity City was over now, they had new orders.

He started with the scarred beggar leader.

'To the Leader of the Northern Division,

The north is home to the strongest noble families of the Justice League, its harsh, frozen lands breeding warriors of unmatched resilience. These factions dominate through sheer power, and their influence is absolute. You are to infiltrate their networks, establish control over their flow of information, and locate points of leverage. Identify the hidden struggles among them and exploit their divisions. We do not fight the strongest head-on. We erode them from within.'

Then he went to write a letter to wiry beggar leader.

'To the Leader of the Eastern Division,

The great forest gives birth to countless beasts, and the mercenary factions thrive in its shadow. The noble families here rely on hired swords, using coin instead of blood to fight their battles. Your task is to weave into their ranks, manipulate their contracts, and pit them against each other. Control the flow of manpower, and you control the wars they wage. Find the monsters hidden among men, and those worthy will serve us.'

Then he began writing to the cold-eyed feminine leader,

'To the Leader of the Southern Division,

The south is the beating heart of the Justice Alliance, where the largest granaries ensure stability and power. This region feeds the armies that seek to dominate the land. Control the flow of food, and you control the tempo of war. Establish informants among the merchant guilds, manipulate supply routes, and instigate conflicts where necessary. Hunger breeds desperation, and desperate men are easy to turn.'

And lastly, to the rat-faced leader.

'To the Leader of the Western Division,

The west is where sects battle noble families in an endless struggle for supremacy. The chaos breeds opportunity. Some sects will rise, and others will fall, but we will decide who holds power. Integrate into their ranks, learn their techniques, and uncover forgotten legacies buried in their ancient battlegrounds. Knowledge is power, and power is ours to take. If they refuse to bend, then they will break.'

Satisfied with his words, Mo Tian sealed each letter and summoned a trusted messenger. The orders would be delivered swiftly and without error.

As the messenger departed, Mo Tian turned his gaze back to the horizon. The war between the noble families had given him the perfect opportunity to rise. Now, with his network expanding, he would not only control a single city but shape the fate of the entire region.

The first steps of his grand design were complete. The world just didn't know it yet.