The Merchant's Dilemma

Chen Shang sat at a table in the inn, his frame draped in a loose set of borrowed clothes. He held a bowl of stew in his hands.

Ding Wei sat across from him, joined by the tavern owner and his son. The tavern rented several rooms above the bar to visitors and merchants, but it was mainly frequented by intoxicated men unable to return home.

"We were attacked. About ten miles south from here, a few hours after we set up camp for the night."

"The Coiling Serpent Gang," spat Li Xuan the owner of the tavern, his face flushed with anger.

"They have been attacking caravans for months, always striking under the cover of night and targeting vulnerable victims," added Li Zhenwei, the son.

That was… Bad.

Guangzhu was a remote village, accessible by only one road flanked by the forest on either side. A mile of rice fields and a small amount of farmland surrounded the village, nestled in a valley encircled by tall peaks impassable to caravans.

To worsen matters, the villagers relied heavily on caravans for their supplies.

If the merchant guild deemed Guangzhu too dangerous to visit, and too insignificant to hire cultivators for protection, the village would face dire circumstances.

"Why don't more people know about this? If this has been happening for months already-!"

"Because it would cause panic. People would rush to leave the village, potentially losing their lives along the way. Those who cannot afford to leave would endure even greater hardships," explained Li Zhenwei.

"Are they cultivators?" Wei inquired.

"Thankfully, no. Cultivators do not need to resort to attacking caravans in such remote regions. They make a decent living hunting monsters and the like." Zhenwei responded with an impassive expression.

"That only means they are twice as brutal." scoffed the innkeeper.

"Why haven't the Liu Family done anything then? Surely, they know."

"Of course, they do. However, they have everything they need within their grounds and are not concerned about being attacked when they travel to the city. It is not a problem they have to worry about."

That was… Cruel. Unfeeling. And… Pragmatic. For the Liu Family, who predominantly secluded themselves within the massive Liu Family Grounds, engaging in an unnecessary conflict was a waste of time.

"Enough of this. The merchant needs his rest. He has been through enough already."

Li Xuan nodded toward his son, who guided the merchant to his room upstairs. Wei left soon after.

Outside, Fatty Wan sat atop the family cart, idly kicking his feet. Han Jin sat beside him, engaged in conversation.

"Brother Wei! Brother Wei! We have been waiting for you for so long!"

Han Jin, a boy with rat-like features and an anxious disposition, always appeared on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Despite that, he was a decent person and often sought Wei's company alongside Fatty Wan.

"It couldn't be helped. The merchant needed time to calm his nerves."

"What happened to that old fart anyway?" Fatty Han asked.

"Bandits. They attacked his caravan and killed his wife and daughter."

Jin looked particularly startled. "Bandits? In Guangzhu?!"

Ding Wei covered his mouth, glancing around to ensure they weren't overheard. "Lower your voice. We don't want the entire village to know."

Jin nodded, and Wei removed his hand. Fatty Wan patted the frightened boy on the back to soothe him. "Alright. So, what do you need us for?"

"The merchant managed to salvage his caravan, but it overturned on the way here. We need to retrieve it."

With a nod of understanding, Fatty Wan prepared his old horse, and they set off.

The inn stood in the middle of the town, with wide and well-maintained roads. As they passed through the poorer part of the village, where the farmworkers lived, the roads narrowed. Upon leaving the village, they widened again. Guangzhu had no gates or walls, nothing that distinctly marked its borders. The houses simply became less frequent, the area more desolate, eventually transitioning into rice fields and forest.

"Brother, everyone is talking about your challenge with Ding Chen. Is it true that if you lose, you will have to leave the village?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"At the inn. The Ding Twins were causing a commotion, telling everyone that they wouldn't have to put up with the cripple any longer. Is it true, Brother?"

Ding Wei's mouth twisted with anger. "It is true that I promised to leave Guangzhu if I lose."

"But I don't want you to leave!" Han Jin whined, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Hey now… I don't mind hearing such passionate words from a woman, but you're a man, Jin. Choose your words more carefully."

"Are you sure you're into women, Wei? You've ignored too many of the village girls for that to be true," teased Fatty Wan, though his smile lacked sincerity.

It seemed they were both concerned for him. Ding Wei felt touched by their worry. Despite all the time they had spent together, he had never considered them close friends. Perhaps he had been too narrow-minded.

"Ah, it appears neither of my brothers has any faith in me."

"It's not that we lack faith in you, but Ding Chen has already been accepted into the Blue Crane Sect… He is already on the path to becoming a true cultivator and is two years older than you besides."

"Do you have a secret plan for dealing with him? His cultivation level far surpasses yours, and he is more skilled. You won't be able to defeat him straightforwardly." Fatty Wan was more direct and realistic, yet he still hoped for Wei's victory.

Although Ding Wei often bore the brunt of Chen Mo's anger, his cousin frequently targeted others in the village. Deciding that these two were true friends and trustworthy, he chose to alleviate their concerns slightly. He wouldn't disclose the full depth of his secret, but a glimpse wouldn't hurt.

Nodding, he leaned closer and whispered, "I'll let you two in on a secret. While wandering in the woods, I stumbled upon a treasure that has already raised my cultivation to the third level and taught me a secret technique."

Both of them gaped in surprise.