Zhou Yashan, representing the Wanxian Chamber of Commerce, had lost more than just his own standing in that business war two years ago.
Because the Seven Great Forging Workshops had suffered a crushing defeat at Xu Xian's hands, the entire family faction behind him had been affected. Their prestige had plummeted.
Originally, his son-in-law had been the most likely candidate to become the next president of their Merchant Hall. However, due to the failure of that gamble, he had been held accountable, and his power had slipped away.
It was as if he had been exiled by the chamber of commerce.
Merchants always prioritized profit, so there was naturally nothing more to say. Any failure in a gamble required a heavy price. The higher one stood, the harder one fell. It was exactly like that.
Therefore, he needed an opportunity to make a comeback, not just for himself, but for his entire family.
At the same time, he understood that the Wanxian Chamber of Commerce was no longer worth relying on. He had to seek a new way out, and right now, Xu Xian had delivered that opportunity.
He did not hesitate for a moment and decisively chose to agree.
Seeing Zhou Yashan accept, many of the others stopped wavering and chose to stay, continuing to work for Xu Xian for another year.
It was true they were taking a loss for now, but they all understood the principle of enduring hardship before enjoying the rewards. There was nothing to argue about.
Even if Xu Xian actually went back on his word later, they wouldn't lose much more. They had already effectively worked for him for free for two years; they were used to it by now, and one final push wouldn't kill them.
Furthermore, they didn't believe Xu Xian was deceiving them.
Cunning as he was, Xu Xian had always been a man of his word. Moreover, he was extremely responsible and kind-hearted.
When the business war ended and the price of fifth-grade ferocious beasts plummeted, Xu Xian hadn't taken the opportunity to add fuel to the fire or kick them while they were down. Instead, to stabilize prices and ensure the demon hunters in Demon-Slaying City didn't lose everything, he had held onto his stock despite immense financial pressure. He couldn't even pay their wages at the time.
Those days couldn't have been easy for him either. They all knew that in their hearts.
However, some were still unwilling to stay. For instance, Li Xun, who came from Shanhai Academy, was a spirit forger but also a scholar. Even though he had been backstabbed by the academy before, he still possessed his own pride. Thus, he refused.
There were three or four others like him.
Xu Xian did not force them. The world was vast and people were diverse; everyone had their own thoughts, and not everyone loved money that much.
So he raised his cup in respect, saying only, "A clear song and a full cup of wine; where in life will we not meet again?"
They parted on good terms, showing great grace.
Once the business was settled, Xu Xian was the first to leave the table, not forgetting to pack the dishes made from sixth-grade beast king stage meat for the three at home.
Following Xu Xian naturally meant no shortage of beast meat to eat.
In Yao Xiaoxiao's words, she now felt like vomiting just smelling the meat of a fifth-grade ferocious beast. But the meat of a sixth-grade beast king was still a rare delicacy. In an entire year, the hunters of Demon-Slaying City probably didn't catch many, and as for a beast emperor, that was even rarer.
In the cultivation world, each stage was a different world. In the beast world, each rank was a different world. There was a reason a sixth-grade ferocious beast was called the beast king stage; that 'king' title wasn't added lightly.
On the way back, Xu Xian briefly communicated his thoughts to Liu Qinghui, giving him a heads-up.
Liu Qinghui had no objections and even proactively suggested giving one percent of the Merchant Hall's five-percent share to Xu Xian. After all, this entire supply chain was built on the foundation Xu Xian had laid. Four percent was already enough for the Merchant Hall to feast on. After all, they didn't need to provide the materials. As for transportation, storage, and sales, they would lose at most two percent to overhead, leaving the remaining two percent as net profit.
Xu Xian didn't explicitly refuse, only saying they would talk about it later.
He also asked Liu Qinghui if he would blame him for handing such a profitable business to outsiders. After all, no one knew what would happen in the future or if these spirit forgers would betray them.
Liu Qinghui responded firmly that he wouldn't.
He also said that with Xu Xian's talent, he shouldn't be staying in Demon-Slaying City doing these trivial things. He should return to the sect and focus on cultivation. The Wendao Sword Sect didn't exist to make money. It existed to suppress the beasts of the Great Desolation and the demons in the Demon Abyss. Those things couldn't be accomplished with money, but with top-tier combat power.
Xu Xian was the Little Grand-Uncle. He had more important things to do.
As Xu Xian had said, the existence of the Forging Hall in the Wendao Sword Sect was more for training forging talent. Even if Zhujian Peak wanted to take over the operation Xu Xian was leaving behind, they would need to dispatch at least one seventh-rank spirit forger and about eight sixth-rank spirit forgers. Clearly, Zhujian Peak couldn't spare that many extra spirit forgers.
They really couldn't earn this money themselves.
Among the Seven Peaks and Thirteen Halls of the Wendao Sword Sect, each had its own responsibilities. Matters of making money from the outside could only be handled by the Merchant Hall. Otherwise, chaos would surely ensue.
From a big-picture perspective, Xu Xian's choice was not wrong; it was even quite wise.
After all, those who chose to stay were all disappointed with their original sects. Whether they held a grudge and wanted to rise again, wished to regain fame and fortune, or were simply greedy for money, this was the best choice for them.
They were Xu Xian's defeated opponents, and they were the ones who had been hurt the most in that business war. They knew Xu Xian's methods. By handing this industry to them, they wouldn't dare to act out in the short term. As for the distant future, that could only be discussed when the time came.
Who knew what would become of this Demon-Slaying City in the future? No one could say for sure what hadn't happened yet.
Just like three years ago, who could have imagined that three years later, Demon-Slaying City would look like this? Three years ago, it was dilapidated, like a refugee camp. Three years later, while not exactly bustling with endless traffic, it could certainly be called a city, with the first signs of prosperity emerging.
Xu Xian was very gratified. Not just by Liu Qinghui's understanding—the people of the Wendao Sword Sect were all eccentrically righteous and possessed great vision.
Returning to the forging workshop, Xu Xian called the three over.
"I brought you food. Want some?"
"Sixth-grade beast king meat?"
"Yes."
"This is good stuff."
The three gathered around the table and started eating. Wen Qingxue ate slowly and elegantly, savoring every bite. Yao Zhijian had a piece of meat with half a cup of wine, eating for the atmosphere. As for Yao Xiaoxiao, she ate large mouthfuls of meat and gulped down the soup, doing whatever felt comfortable.
During the meal, she didn't forget to ask indistinctly, "Little Grand-Uncle, how did your business talk go? Are they still willing to stay and work with you?"
Xu Xian said it went okay and that ten of them stayed.
Yao Xiaoxiao continued to press, asking how he got them to stay and how much of a raise he gave them.
Xu Xian didn't hide it and summarized the process in a few words.
Yao Xiaoxiao didn't have any opposing opinions. As long as it was Xu Xian's decision, she always supported it unconditionally without asking why. She just habitually grumbled, "Too good for them."
She still remembered the grudge from two years ago.
Instead, it was Yao Zhijian who asked, "Such a profitable business, and Little Grand-Uncle gives it up just like that? Are you truly willing?"
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