“Do you have any idea how much of a logistical nightmare it will be to build a city here?” asked Meirong. She looked like she was about to pull her hair out.
Xiulan embraced her to calm her down and soothed, “we do not have to build the whole city ourselves. We just need to build a dock and maybe some more small canals to transport good around. If we set up a base of operations for the Combine here and build a bank building, people will naturally gravitate to it. They can build their own houses.”
Meirong looked even more annoyed after that comment but before she could explode Lijuan interjected, “you will at least have to build a proper sewer. Unless you want the canal to be filled with excrement.”
“And we will need to make a proper road to bring goods down from the mountains,” added Meirong.
Xiulan threw up her hands in surrender, “you win. I know it will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it. I promise.”
They were all sitting underneath a canopy they had set up at the midpoint of the canal. It was the closest they could get to the mountains and still be on the flat plains. The soil here was better for construction and would make building the city that Xiulan envisioned much quicker.
The real reason to choose this location was that it was near the very heart of the kingdom. If Xiulan released her Goddess of wealth aura from here, then the Kingdom would have a true centre for cultivation and trade. The cultivation was only important to Xiulan as far as it would increase trade.
Xiulan was rubbing Meirong’s stressed temples when she turned to Lijuan and said, “you might as well make this the new centre for the royal family as well. In a couple of years this place will be the new centre of the Kingdom. It makes sense for you to get in on the ground floor.”
The Princess grimaced and slid down in her chair before replying, “easier said than done. I have no influence out here. I do not even have a royal bodyguard anymore. How am I supposed organize the construction of a royal compound?”
Xiulan grinned and said, “Meirong, tell the princess about the Combine’s amazing new service.”
Meirong launched into a pre-prepared speech, “here at the combine we are proud to offer our grand construction package. If you need a workforce of cultivators to finish your grand design, then we have the solution for you! For one lump sum we can finish project of variable size. Prices are negotiable depending on the cost of material and the size of the structure.”
The Princess blinked before swatting at Xiulan’s arm, “I told you I am broke. Besides I did not think you would stoop so low as to charge me.”
Lijuan fluttered her eyelashes in a seductive way. “Stop that.” Xiulan said with a laugh. “I would not be charging you I would be charging the crown. I cannot just go around building palaces for no profit. You could be the first client of the Golden Fist Bank.”
Lijuan giggled, “the Golden Fist? Why not Long Clan Bank or something? Also, I do not yet have the power to make your bank legal.”
Xiulan rolled her eyes, “I do not even know why my Clan name is Long. What if there is some other powerful Long Clan out there. I do not want to step on any toes. Besides the Golden Hand is going to run the bank so why not?”
A crack of thunder drew all their attention back to the sparing the was going on between Yen Wen and Elder Xin. The two had been training like maniacs ever since Xiulan suggested they fight each other. It was an unusual clash of fighting styles. The Elder had to try and close the distance to land devastating single blows. Yen Wen on the other hand was constantly falling back to launch arrows at the elder. Occasionally she would have to use a rope of Qi to pull herself out of the way of a blindingly quick dash.
At first the elder had been winning almost all of their spars but in the last few Yen Wen had been succeeding. The elder had just failed to land a whipcrack kick on her and Yen Wen used the opportunity of his momentary imbalance to loop a rope of Qi around his ankle.
The Elder was surprised by the new tactic and wasted some time trying to shake the rope of Qi off. Yen Wen yacked the rope backwards and in so doing sent the Elder sprawling on the ground.
“I yield,” cried the elder as Yen Wen drew back her bow for a point-blank shot at the prone old man.
Yen Wen gave a little fist pump and all of Xiulan’s other lovers clapped and cheered her win. Even the twins gave a few quiet claps which was out of character. The pair were slowly opening up to the world.
Xiulan’s relaxation was interrupted when Yanlin faded out of a shadows and approached. He was getting very good at that. On these open plains any kind of stealth was almost impossible.
“Did you find it?” asked Xiulan.
“It is exactly where Elder Xin said it would be. It a tough overland trip through the mountains to get there though. As far as I can tell there is not really any danger. The place is almost Qi dead which even for interior is unusual,” reported Yanlin.
Xiulan nodded, “as long as it is there. While we are off on our little harvesting adventure have the Golden Hand claim the largest mountain around. Sects always seem to love mountains and the interior will not be Qi poor for long.”
Yanlin nodded but before leaving said, “there is one other thing. If you have access to any other cultivation methods or techniques, we could use them. This shadow stuff is great for sneaking around and spying but if our members are going to be collecting on bank loans, then it would be helpful if we had some real bruisers around.”
Xiulan nodded, “sure give me some time I will work something out.”
It would have to wait until she started earning some spirit stones and for that she needed the Elders mysterious mineral.
SmithJuly Thank you for reading. If you would like to read five chapters ahead and get access to bonus chapters check out my Patreon.
“Do you have any idea how much of a logistical nightmare it will be to build a city here?” asked Meirong. She looked like she was about to pull her hair out.
Xiulan embraced her to calm her down and soothed, “we do not have to build the whole city ourselves. We just need to build a dock and maybe some more small canals to transport good around. If we set up a base of operations for the Combine here and build a bank building, people will naturally gravitate to it. They can build their own houses.”
Meirong looked even more annoyed after that comment but before she could explode Lijuan interjected, “you will at least have to build a proper sewer. Unless you want the canal to be filled with excrement.”
“And we will need to make a proper road to bring goods down from the mountains,” added Meirong.
Xiulan threw up her hands in surrender, “you win. I know it will be a lot of work, but it will be worth it. I promise.”
They were all sitting underneath a canopy they had set up at the midpoint of the canal. It was the closest they could get to the mountains and still be on the flat plains. The soil here was better for construction and would make building the city that Xiulan envisioned much quicker.
The real reason to choose this location was that it was near the very heart of the kingdom. If Xiulan released her Goddess of wealth aura from here, then the Kingdom would have a true centre for cultivation and trade. The cultivation was only important to Xiulan as far as it would increase trade.
Xiulan was rubbing Meirong’s stressed temples when she turned to Lijuan and said, “you might as well make this the new centre for the royal family as well. In a couple of years this place will be the new centre of the Kingdom. It makes sense for you to get in on the ground floor.”
The Princess grimaced and slid down in her chair before replying, “easier said than done. I have no influence out here. I do not even have a royal bodyguard anymore. How am I supposed organize the construction of a royal compound?”
Xiulan grinned and said, “Meirong, tell the princess about the Combine’s amazing new service.”
Meirong launched into a pre-prepared speech, “here at the combine we are proud to offer our grand construction package. If you need a workforce of cultivators to finish your grand design, then we have the solution for you! For one lump sum we can finish project of variable size. Prices are negotiable depending on the cost of material and the size of the structure.”
The Princess blinked before swatting at Xiulan’s arm, “I told you I am broke. Besides I did not think you would stoop so low as to charge me.”
Lijuan fluttered her eyelashes in a seductive way. “Stop that.” Xiulan said with a laugh. “I would not be charging you I would be charging the crown. I cannot just go around building palaces for no profit. You could be the first client of the Golden Fist Bank.”
Lijuan giggled, “the Golden Fist? Why not Long Clan Bank or something? Also, I do not yet have the power to make your bank legal.”
Xiulan rolled her eyes, “I do not even know why my Clan name is Long. What if there is some other powerful Long Clan out there. I do not want to step on any toes. Besides the Golden Hand is going to run the bank so why not?”
A crack of thunder drew all their attention back to the sparing the was going on between Yen Wen and Elder Xin. The two had been training like maniacs ever since Xiulan suggested they fight each other. It was an unusual clash of fighting styles. The Elder had to try and close the distance to land devastating single blows. Yen Wen on the other hand was constantly falling back to launch arrows at the elder. Occasionally she would have to use a rope of Qi to pull herself out of the way of a blindingly quick dash.
At first the elder had been winning almost all of their spars but in the last few Yen Wen had been succeeding. The elder had just failed to land a whipcrack kick on her and Yen Wen used the opportunity of his momentary imbalance to loop a rope of Qi around his ankle.
The Elder was surprised by the new tactic and wasted some time trying to shake the rope of Qi off. Yen Wen yacked the rope backwards and in so doing sent the Elder sprawling on the ground.
“I yield,” cried the elder as Yen Wen drew back her bow for a point-blank shot at the prone old man.
Yen Wen gave a little fist pump and all of Xiulan’s other lovers clapped and cheered her win. Even the twins gave a few quiet claps which was out of character. The pair were slowly opening up to the world.
Xiulan’s relaxation was interrupted when Yanlin faded out of a shadows and approached. He was getting very good at that. On these open plains any kind of stealth was almost impossible.
“Did you find it?” asked Xiulan.
“It is exactly where Elder Xin said it would be. It a tough overland trip through the mountains to get there though. As far as I can tell there is not really any danger. The place is almost Qi dead which even for interior is unusual,” reported Yanlin.
Xiulan nodded, “as long as it is there. While we are off on our little harvesting adventure have the Golden Hand claim the largest mountain around. Sects always seem to love mountains and the interior will not be Qi poor for long.”
Yanlin nodded but before leaving said, “there is one other thing. If you have access to any other cultivation methods or techniques, we could use them. This shadow stuff is great for sneaking around and spying but if our members are going to be collecting on bank loans, then it would be helpful if we had some real bruisers around.”
Xiulan nodded, “sure give me some time I will work something out.”
It would have to wait until she started earning some spirit stones and for that she needed the Elders mysterious mineral.
SmithJuly Thank you for reading. If you would like to read five chapters ahead and get access to bonus chapters check out my Patreon.
