Yang Tuanzhang snorted heavily, feeling agitated.

Who wouldn't want everything to go smoothly? Who wouldn't want Master Ye to investigate the Phoenix organization and win the top spot in the *Wujue* competition?

But it's useless to only consider the present. You have to think long-term, avoid risks, and ensure the Dayang Merchant Troupe survives. That's the true job of the leader!

Hongxia might not understand now, but as she grows older, is tempered by time, and settles down, one day she'll look back and understand his good intentions.

Calming his emotions, Yang Tuanzhang decided to have Hongxia confined for a month. As for Butler Hai, there was no need to worry about him.

Butler Hai was the most reliable person in the entire Dayang Merchant Troupe.

Calling a guard over and giving his instructions, Yang Tuanzhang pondered whether he should consider a backup successor.

He had thought that once Hongxia's temper and personality were tempered, she would be the perfect successor.

Now it seemed that certain traits left behind by her deceased mother couldn't be polished away simply by going out and experiencing the world.

His mind wandered, considering suitable children.

Not counting his eldest daughter Hongxia, the next in line was his third daughter, Yang Qingqing.

Because his second son had died young, the boy who should have shouldered heavy responsibilities had passed away before reaching adulthood, which was a great regret in Yang Tuanzhang's heart.

Thinking about Yang Qingqing, Yang Tuanzhang walked to her room.

In the night, perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt a slight smoothness under his feet.

He looked down, but there was nothing unusual.

He knocked lightly on the door and called out, but there was no response.

Frowning, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The moment his front foot crossed the threshold, Yang Tuanzhang suddenly felt his body tilt, his vision spinning 180 degrees, as he fell into the room and landed on the ground.

Sounded… what?

Shocked, he looked down at his legs, and his pupils instantly constricted.

His legs had turned into glass legs and had separated from his body, rolling to the side with a thud.

"Ahhhhh!"

Yang Tuanzhang screamed, but each sound turned into a crystalline cube, with the character 'Ah' written on each cube.

Terrified, Yang Tuanzhang scrambled to escape, but as soon as he reached the doorway, he felt as if he had fallen into deep water, sinking into the ground and being submerged by a sea-like sensation. His head slowly became round and bulbous, turning into a crystallized, large-headed glass sculpture.

He was dead.

...

Fang Yue looked at the two people in front of him with a strange expression.

"You... want to help me investigate information about the Phoenix organization? And in exchange, I have to participate in some *Wujue* thing for you?"

"Yes, how does Master Ye feel about that?"

No... I was just about to go out and be a chivalrous hero, and you're telling me this?

Ugh, well, I do need this.

Fang Yue pondered. Compared to the locals of Chunuan City like the young miss and Butler Hai, it would definitely be more difficult for an outsider like him to find the Phoenix organization.

With their help, it would naturally be much easier.

However, first he needed to know what this *Wujue* thing was.

"*Wujue* is short for the Tianshang Alliance Martial Arts Exchange Duel Tournament. It is an annual event held by the Tianshang Alliance that determines the ranking of merchant troupes within the alliance for that year. If a troupe ranks in the top 100, they receive resource support. If they rank lower, they have to pay a large percentage of their earnings as tribute to receive the protection of the Tianshang Alliance.

"Our Dayang Merchant Troupe has been hovering around the 300th place mark for years, but through years of accumulation and operation, our strength is far beyond that ranking.

"The amount we earn each year is equal to that of troupes ranked around 150-200!

"What we lack is a powerful martial artist to help us lay the foundation, raise our ranking, and reduce the Tianshang Alliance's exploitation. Even without resource support, as long as we pay less tribute, the Dayang Merchant Troupe can formally get on the right track.

"So, all we need is a chance, one chance, to have complete control over our resources for a year, allowing us to hire experts, complete the cycle, stabilize the business, and gain a firm foothold!"

Fang Yue was stunned. "According to what you're saying, why didn't you hire someone to help earlier?"

"...We didn't have the money. With our current ranking, after paying tribute, we can't afford to hire experts. We also have to save money for the foundation of the business, to purchase supplies. We can't throw everything away, in case it all goes down the drain.

"And if we don't pay tribute, we'll lose the Tianshang Alliance's protection for the year. In Chunuan City, merchant troupes without the Tianshang Alliance's mark can't survive."

Fang Yue understood. They were stuck in a vicious cycle.

They earned money, paid a portion as tribute, and saved the rest as capital for the next year.

Then they didn't have money to hire experts for the *Wujue*, so they continued to rank at the bottom.

If they spent all the money left after paying tribute on experts, they wouldn't have capital for business.

If they refused to pay tribute, they wouldn't be eligible to participate in the *Wujue*.

The Dayang Merchant Troupe, which seemed to be doing well to outsiders, was actually just a typical worker, an old tool.

After learning that the *Wujue* generally didn't result in death, with everyone stopping before serious injury, and that there weren't many truly strong opponents, Fang Yue felt relieved. Hearing that the first-place winner also received a mysterious reward, he was even more tempted.

It was just fighting. He was invincible among his peers, so why not take the reward?

"Okay, I'll represent you in the competition, and you'll help me find the Phoenix organization!"

Butler Hai and the young miss looked delighted.

As expected, you could achieve results by catering to their preferences.

As for the resource of the Xiantian realm that had been mentioned before, they would naturally not forget about that.

"Do you have anything else?"

The happy young miss and Butler Hai were stunned for a moment before shaking their heads.

"If there's nothing else, please move aside."

Fang Yue pushed them away and walked out.

"Master Ye, it's so late, are you going out? I remember we said that the nights in Chunuan City..."

"I know! But... a righteous person like me can't stand idly by!"

Fang Yue paused, leaving behind a deep silhouette, gazing at the night sky at a forty-degree angle.

Such a kind person!

Who would have thought that the decisive Master Ye was actually such a good person!

They were both a little dazed. From Fang Yue's words, it seemed that he was going out to punish evil and rescue others from suffering.

What kind of spirit was this? This was a noble spirit, a pure spirit!

They both paid their respects.

If Captain Ye truly patrolled at night, protecting others, then his virtue was so high that it would make anyone feel ashamed.

However...

"Captain Ye, it's dangerous outside, I think it's better to..."

"Young Miss! Young Miss!"

Before the young miss could finish speaking, a servant rushed over from a distance.

"What's wrong?"

"Guest Qing Bing, is dead!"

Guest Qing Bing?!

Someone killed to silence him?

No! He died in our Dayang residence. This means there's a traitor in the Dayang residence!

"I smell the scent of evil!"

Suddenly, Fang Yue appeared behind the young miss like a ghost, startling the three of them.