Chapter 1269: The Royal Family's Emblem

The Agyan Archipelago has a humid and hot climate, with no snow year-round. Summer typically lasts from mid-May to late August, and anyone working outdoors quickly gets soaked in sweat. Yao’s bamboo fabric is breathable, soft, and durable, making it much more suitable than linen.

This item, once brought back to the Archipelago and Bailie, would certainly be very popular.

"That would be excellent," Fan Shuang replied. This small fabric sample was just one of the local specialties he had brought along, and he hadn't expected He Lingchuan to show any interest. He then added that the quality of these bamboo fabrics was guaranteed because they all came from the royal estate.

He Lingchuan was surprised. "Royal what?" he asked.

Fan Shuang pointed to the emblem on the fabric's edge. "This is our country's royal emblem," he said. "Anyone who uses it privately will be beheaded."

He Lingchuan deliberately teased, "Your monarch has quite a diverse range of interests, even dabbling in the fabric business."

"No, no, it's not the monarch's business," Fan Shuang quickly clarified, waving both hands. "It's one of the Fifth Prince's industries."

"I see," He Lingchuan replied.

He Lingchuan, acknowledging Fan Shuang's efforts, was preparing to offer him another significant outcome to take back:

"Yao is the wealthiest region in the Glimmering Gold Plains and an excellent place for prospecting. I'm considering expanding Agyan's business operations there."

"Oh?" Fan Shuang was overjoyed. "You would be most welcome!"

What country wouldn't welcome foreign investment?

Moreover, if the Agyan Chamber of Commerce establishes a presence in Yao, Yao's understanding of Agyan and He Xiao would deepen further.

A local power like Yao would cautiously assess every new force entering the Glimmering Gold Plains.

Once He Xiao has vested interests in Yao, he might not necessarily favor forces like Situ He.

The two chatted for another half an hour, with He Lingchuan even arranging their next meeting. Only then did Fan Shuang rise to take his leave, returning satisfied.

As soon as Fan Shuang left, the Soul-Snatching Mirror immediately asked He Lingchuan, "Was there anything unusual about that emblem?"

Having been with He Lingchuan for so long, it could sense the slightest disturbance.

He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "I've seen it before," he mused. "Do you remember when?"

At his mention, the mirror fell silent, struggling to recall.

"Oh, well..."

"You can't remember either?" He Lingchuan felt it looked familiar, but even after Fan Shuang left, he still couldn't recall where he had seen it. "How could I have had an impression of Yao's royal emblem before?"

Yao is an inland country. "Perhaps a merchant from Yao coincidentally passed through Agyan?"

"It would still have to be a royal merchant, and that emblem isn't something just anyone can use..." The mirror paused, then suddenly exclaimed, "I remember! Yes, that's right, you saw it before in the Agyan Archipelago! In Shipwreck Bay, among the salvaged shipwrecks!"

The moment it blurted this out, He Lingchuan remembered. Yes, it was back when he had just subdued Min Tianxi's pirate crew. He had been salvaging shipwrecks and searching for treasure in the archipelago's bays, which were gradually shedding their malevolent energy.

A secret chamber in one of those shipwrecks was filled with treasures, including a gleaming, polished set of armor that bore this very emblem.

"It seems that ship belonged to Yao's royal family," He Lingchuan mused. He would consider later how to best utilize this information.

The mirror then asked, "Hey, are you serious about opening the Agyan Chamber of Commerce in Yao?"

"Why not?" He Lingchuan walked to the window, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. "Who would turn down money? Yao is the wealthiest, so it naturally has the most abundant resources and the most sophisticated logistics, making it safer to conduct business."

At least, compared to other places in the Glimmering Gold Plains.

"Besides, if we don't place our own informants there and engage with Yao's internal workings, how can we truly understand it?"

The Soul-Snatching Mirror simply grumbled, "I bet Yao is thinking the same thing, which is why they want to do business with you."

"Since I presented myself as a businessman, it wouldn't be good to directly refuse Yao's request." He added, "We need to maintain that public image. The Agyan Chamber of Commerce must uphold its reputation for solely conducting business, not engaging in warfare."

He Lingchuan slowly continued, "And don't forget, we also want to gather intelligence on Qingyang."

Qingyang is currently serving as the Grand Overseer in Yao.

So, he and Yao genuinely benefit each other, albeit with ulterior motives on both sides.

The mirror expressed some concern: "I think you're getting deeper and deeper into the Glimmering Gold Plains. Be careful not to be swallowed by the mire."

He Lingchuan chuckled. "If Beijia couldn't swallow me whole, do you really think the Glimmering Gold Plains can?"

The Soul-Snatching Mirror warned him, "Beware of unexpected pitfalls."

In the depths of the night, with a dark moon and a strong wind, profound silence reigned.

Behind the Copper Mountain Casino in Ju City ran a narrow alley, one side of which was piled high with miscellaneous items.

The casino's bouncers often patrolled here. Occasionally, gamblers trying to flee without paying their debts would jump out, and then it would be the bouncers' turn to act.

Tonight was particularly quiet. The bouncers had already yawned fifteen or sixteen times, thinking about finding a good spot to relax after dawn, when suddenly an extra person appeared in the back alley.

The person truly "appeared" out of nowhere; they hadn't seen anyone jump from a window and initially thought they were imagining it.

This, however, didn't stop the two from shouting, "Stop right there! Go back!"

The windows at the back of the casino had been nailed shut, but there were always people who found a way to pry them open.

As they rushed over, they glanced at the window, and to their surprise, it was still securely sealed and hadn't been pried open.

How did this person get out?

The moment the gambler saw them, his shoulders slumped. He muttered "bad luck" and, instead of running or climbing the wall, simply pulled out two yellow talismans from his pocket, ready to stick them onto their foreheads when the moment was right.

Soul-Stabilizing Talismans.

These talismans were not only effective against ghosts; they could also render the souls of living people dazed and disoriented.

*Plap, plap.*

Regardless of how the gambler managed it, the yellow papers ended up stuck to the foreheads of the two bouncers.

As a result, they stood completely motionless.

Just as the gambler was about to squeeze between them, a voice suddenly echoed in the quiet alley:

"Where are you going?"

The gambler jumped in fright and spun around suddenly—

It was Fu Liushan.

He saw a person standing atop the wall, smiling down at him.

"Island Master He," he said with a slight cough. "Long time no see."

"I've been looking for you for days, all over the city, and it turns out you were here all along."

Less than three days after returning to Ju City from Howling Forest, Fu Liushan had vanished. He Lingchuan, who had wanted to discuss something with him, couldn't find him anywhere in the city.

He Lingchuan jumped down from the wall and waved a hand in front of the two bouncers. They didn't even blink, seemingly completely dazed. "So," he remarked, "Master Fu's talismans can even affect ordinary people."

Fu Liushan straightened his collar, a bit awkwardly. "This casino isn't yours, is it?" he asked.

"No, but they keep their money in my bank."

Fu Liushan's eyes widened. "You have a bank too?"

Right, when adventuring and fighting alongside this young man, one always forgot that he was also a successful and wealthy merchant.

Ordinary people feel they don't have enough time even for dedicated cultivation, yet He Lingchuan cultivates while also managing a vast enterprise. How does he manage to make both flourish?