After a week of hard work in the settlement, Zhao Ming finally set off for Murong Trading House. The journey back was smooth, and as he arrived, the familiar sight of the bustling market greeted him. Vendors called out their wares, carts rolled past with fresh goods, and traders haggled over prices. The scent of spices, parchment, and ink filled the air as he stepped inside the trading house.

  Behind the counter, Shopkeeper Wu was busy inspecting an account ledger. Despite his age, his sharp eyes missed nothing. Hearing the door open, he glanced up, and his face lit up with recognition.

  "Zhao Ming! Back so soon?" he greeted with a chuckle, setting his brush aside. "I half-expected you to get swallowed up by all that work in the settlement."

  Zhao Ming clasped his hands in greeting. "Nearly did. But things are finally settling down. Food’s stable, shelters are repaired, and security’s tighter now." He exhaled, shaking his head. "Still, there’s always more to do."

  Shopkeeper Wu nodded sagely. "That’s the way of leadership—always another fire to put out." He motioned for Zhao Ming to sit. "You came at an interesting time. Murong De isn’t here—he left on a short trading trip to secure more grain supplies."

  Zhao Ming arched a brow. "Grain supplies? He must be expecting shortages."

  The shopkeeper grinned. "You catch on quick. The market’s been unpredictable, and with all the unrest, it’s best to prepare before prices spike."

  Zhao Ming accepted the tea brought over. "Speaking of unrest, any word on the rebels in Langya?"

  Shopkeeper Wu stroked his beard. "Surprisingly quiet. No major movements. Either they’re biding their time or dealing with their own problems."

  Zhao Ming’s gaze darkened. "That won’t last. If they stay quiet for too long, they’re likely gathering strength for something big."

  The shopkeeper leaned forward slightly. "Speaking of rumors—there’s news about Lu Zhi floating around the market."

  Zhao Ming’s fingers stilled on his teacup. "Lu Zhi? What’s he up to?"

  "Word is he’s preparing to leave Beihai soon. He’s been dealing with those nobles under house arrest, including that Zhao Feng fellow—the one who tried looting your settlement."

  Zhao Ming’s lips curled into a smirk. "So Zhao Feng finally got what he deserved. Took long enough."

  Shopkeeper Wu chuckled. "It seems Lu Zhi is cleaning house before moving out. If he’s on the move, something big must be coming."

  Zhao Ming tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully. "If Lu Zhi leaves Beihai, that means the court situation is changing—or he’s been given new orders."

  Shopkeeper Wu chuckled. "Either way, you’ll find yourself caught up in it. Seems fate doesn’t like letting you rest."

  Zhao Ming let out a short laugh. "It certainly feels that way."

  The two continued discussing the shifting tides of politics, trade, and the uncertainty looming on the horizon. Though things were stable for now, change was inevitable—and Zhao Ming would have to be ready.

  As their conversation wound down, Shopkeeper Wu took a small sealed letter from the counter and slid it toward Zhao Ming with a knowing smirk.

  "This arrived from the estate. From the young lady." His tone carried a hint of amusement.

  Zhao Ming raised an eyebrow but picked up the letter, feeling the delicate weight of the fine parchment. "Murong Xue?"

  "Who else?" Shopkeeper Wu chuckled. "She must have reach Zhou County. Probably worried you’ve been working yourself into the ground again." He waved a hand. "Go on, get some rest. I’ll arrange for a few men to keep an eye on the settlement while you’re here. No sense in you collapsing from exhaustion."

  Zhao Ming smirked but nodded. "Appreciate it, Shopkeeper Wu."

  Pocketing the letter, he left the trading house and made his way to the Murong estate. The grand courtyard was as lively as ever, servants moving about their tasks with quiet efficiency. After days of rough living in the settlement, just stepping into the estate felt like entering another world.

  Inside, a servant quickly brought out a meal for him. Simple, but warm and filling. He ate slowly, savoring the flavors before finally allowing himself the luxury of a long, hot bath. The tension from days of travel and work melted away as he sank into the steaming water, closing his eyes for a moment of peace.

  Once refreshed, he settled in his room, breaking the seal on Murong Xue’s letter.

  "Zhao Ming,

  Stolen novel; please report.

  I’ve just arrived in Zhou County and will be staying here for a short while before heading back to the Azure Dragon Sect. The journey has been uneventful so far, though I can’t say I enjoy traveling without the comforts of home.

  on my way back to the sect. Until we meet again, stay safe.

  —Murong Xue"

  Zhao Ming exhaled, staring at the letter for a moment before reaching for his brush and ink. He dipped the brush in ink, pausing slightly before putting his thoughts to paper.

  Murong Xue,

  It’s good to hear you’ve arrived safely in Zhou County. The world outside is chaotic, so be careful on your way back to the Azure Dragon Sect. You may not enjoy the road, but at least you have a clear path ahead—some of us are still trying to find our place.

  There’s something I haven’t told you yet. Over the past weeks, I’ve been helping a group of refugees. They had nowhere else to go, so I stepped in to help them build a settlement. But it wasn’t easy. We were attacked by nobles who saw us as an easy target, and worse—one of our own betrayed us. Someone sold information about our location in exchange for silver. I had no choice but to exile him, but the damage had already been done.

  Despite all that, the people here refuse to give up. They fight to survive, and I can’t turn my back on them now. The Murong Trading House has been a great help, but I can’t rely on them forever. If this settlement is to last, we need to be self-sufficient. For now, food supplies are steady, and defenses are improving, but there’s still much to do.

  I know you’ll tell me not to push myself too hard. I won’t promise anything, but I’ll try to keep your words in mind.

  Take care on your journey back to the sect. Let me know when you arrive safely.

  —Zhao Ming

  After sealing the letter, Zhao Ming handed it to a servant for delivery. He set the brush down and leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a moment.

  Murong Xue was right—he wasn’t one to stop and rest. But there was still too much to do.

  After spending a few days handling settlement matters, Zhao Ming finally found time to visit the Murong Trading House again. The settlement was running more smoothly now, and while there was still much work to be done, at least immediate concerns like food and shelter had been stabilized.

  Inside the trading house, Shopkeeper Wu greeted him warmly. "Zhao Ming, it’s been a while. Have you finally come to take a break, or are you here to put more work on my plate?"

  Zhao Ming chuckled. "If only I could afford to take a break. Actually, I wanted to talk about business."

  Shopkeeper Wu raised an eyebrow. "Business? That’s new. Go on."

  Zhao Ming leaned slightly against the counter. "The Murong Trading House has been a great help to the settlement. Without your support, we wouldn’t have survived the past few weeks. I want to return the favor. That land and livestock you provided—it originally belonged to the Murongs. If there’s anything I can do to assist with your business, I’d like to help."

  Shopkeeper Wu waved a hand dismissively. "There’s no need to be so formal. As the future son-in-law of the Murong family, of course, we’ll support you."

  Zhao Ming blinked. "…Future what?"

  The old shopkeeper grinned knowingly. "Oh? You didn’t know? Young Lady Murong speaks highly of you, and the master himself seems to approve. Who knows what will happen in the future?"

  Zhao Ming sighed, rubbing his temple. "Let’s focus on the matter at hand."

  Before Shopkeeper Wu could tease him further, the door opened, and a scholar from the academy stepped inside, looking slightly anxious. His robes were well-kept but dusty from travel. He glanced around before approaching the counter.

  The scholar paused at the entrance, his gaze scanning the room before settling on Shopkeeper Wu. He adjusted his sleeves and stepped forward with an air of urgency.

  "Shopkeeper Wu, I need a moment of your time. Privately, if possible."

  Shopkeeper Wu exchanged a glance with Zhao Ming before nodding. "Of course. Let’s move to the back room."

  As they entered the quieter chamber, the scholar’s eyes flickered toward Zhao Ming. His posture stiffened slightly as if measuring the situation. "Before we proceed, may I ask—who is he?"

  Shopkeeper Wu gave a knowing smile. "This is Zhao Ming. He represents Master Murong in matters like these."

  The scholar studied Zhao Ming briefly before nodding in acknowledgment. "That simplifies things. In that case, I will speak openly."

  His expression turned serious as he lowered his voice. "I have come on behalf of the academy with a request. We require assistance from your master blacksmith to refine and further develop a certain weapon."

  Shopkeeper Wu leaned back slightly. "And what kind of weapon are we talking about?"

  The scholar hesitated before continuing. "It is part of the weapon cargo brought in from Penglai. A special design—one with the potential to change warfare as we know it."

  Zhao Ming’s mind quickly sifted through the cargo manifests he had reviewed earlier. Among the various weapons, there had been one that stood out. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "It’s a crossbow, isn’t it?"

  The scholar’s expression briefly flickered with surprise before he nodded. "Yes. But not just any crossbow. This model is unlike anything commonly used. If properly refined, it could shift the balance of power in battle."

  Zhao Ming exhaled slowly. He had seen the weapon but never tested its full capabilities. If it truly was as powerful as the scholar claimed, its existence needed to be handled carefully.

  As the scholar finished explaining, he placed his request. "We would like to schedule a meeting with your master blacksmith to improve and refine the design. However, secrecy is paramount. If news of this reaches the nobles or warlords, it could lead to dire consequences."

  Zhao Ming’s expression hardened. "And who is responsible for this project?"

  The scholar’s voice dropped even lower. "This is under the direct supervision of Governor Kong. He believes this weapon could be critical in the coming conflicts and does not wish for it to fall into the wrong hands."

  Hearing Kong Rong's name, Zhao Ming’s stance relaxed slightly. The governor was known for his integrity—not the kind of man who would abuse such power. That gave the request some credibility.

  After a brief moment of thought, Zhao Ming nodded. "We can agree to this, but on one condition."

  The scholar frowned. "Which is?"

  "The weapons must be brought here—to the Murong Trading House. Our blacksmiths can work on them in secrecy, and we control who enters and leaves. The academy, on the other hand, is far too public. Too many eyes, too many mouths."

  Shopkeeper Wu nodded in agreement. "That would be the best way to ensure absolute discretion. Even the academy has its fair share of political intrigue."

  The scholar considered the proposal before finally nodding. "That is acceptable. I will arrange for the crossbows to be transferred here within the week."

  Zhao Ming exchanged a glance with Shopkeeper Wu. This project could be an opportunity—or a trap. Either way, they were now deeply involved.