The Regressor of Mount Hua-Chapter 315. Ambush at Guangdong (1)

Both the Hainan Sword Sect and the South Sea Dragon Gate suffered a lot of damage.

Although the hatred and resentment lingered, they decided to put their feelings aside for the sake of the future.

Since the Dragon Palace was located deep beneath Hainan Island, the two forces were unlikely to clash again after this incident anyway.

Strangely, the South Sea Dragon Gate had little interest in matters on land. Their world revolved around the sea.

"Truthfully, the environment outside the water is fatal to us. The Dragon Palace is fine since it's an underwater cave, but unless we’re on a sandy beach, we tire quickly and our breathing becomes unstable."

All the residents of the South Sea Dragon Gate were martial artists.

In order for a human body to adapt to the environment of the Dragon Palace and the underwater cave, it was essential for them all to cultivate.

It was through Chi Shuishui's explanation that Zhou Xuchuan was able to understand why all of the South Sea Dragon Gate members had blue hair and were all seemingly young.

Merman Azure Water Immersion Art.

It was thanks to this technique, which was both a cultivation method based in water immersion arts and a cosmetic cultivation art.

As it involved cultivating water qi with a yin nature, one's appearance would become beautiful if cultivated, and one's aging would be greatly delayed.

While Zhou Xuchuan didn't know if it was a side effect or not, the art also had the characteristic of turning one's hair into the color of water—blue.

The cultivation method had a bigger disadvantage than other water immersion arts. If one didn't have enough contact with water, they would become weak and even have problems breathing.

It was a fatal weakness that could lead to death if one stood on land for a long time without water.

That was why it had been decided for them to set up their barracks on the coast and proceed with peace negotiations there.

Incidentally, the atmosphere on both sides was uncomfortable.

While the original reason for the clash was a misunderstanding, the problem was that many victims had been injured because of it.

However, since there was no reason for them to fight anymore and because both parties didn't want to break the peace, they decided to endure it.

The residents of Hainan Island cheered with open arms.

They were exhausted from the war that had been going on for a long time. More importantly, they could finally board their ships again.

The negotiations between both sides went smoothly.

It was thanks to the South Sea Dragon King who arbitrarily wrote a clause stating that they would no longer come to land unless something special happened.

The sects of the land, including the Hainan Sword Sect, also wrote a clause stating that they wouldn't encroach on the waters near the South Sea Dragon Gate.

It was a truly amazing way of dealing with it compared to the Central Plains murim.

Although there were still many things left tenuous, to be able to resolve things without any hatred was truly admirable.

"While things might be different if they continued to appear on land after the war, there wouldn’t be any problems if they don’t. After all, to be human is to become lax during peace and forget."

As evidence, many people would still grind their teeth when they heard the names of Returning Deer Gate and other sects, but not when they heard of the South Sea Dragon Gate.

The fact that the South Sea Dragon Gate was sacred to the residents of Hainan Island also played a part.

Zhuge Xiuluan and Li Yicai also helped greatly in the negotiations.

***

The source of the energy that allowed one to breathe underwater was a mysterious artifact.

Borrowing its power, Gan Yezi was able to come back up to land comfortably.

In return for him saving the South Sea Dragon Gate, the Gate gave him a lot of things.

As he emerged, the coast was filled with gold and silver treasures instead of sand, creating a spectacular scene.

“Welcome back! Great Hero Zhou!” Li Yicai said, his eyes fixed on the gold yuanbo and other treasures.

Even though his mind was elsewhere, he spoke eloquently and explained the situation thus far.

"Stop looking at that and let's talk."

"Talk? Ah! Is this, by chance, the Greatest Blacksmith under the Heavens, Gan Yezi, famed not only in the South Sea but also throughout the Central Plains?"

Li Yicai bowed to Gan Yezi.

“And who are you?”

Even flattery wasn't good when it was excessive. Gan Yezi looked at Li Yicai with an expression that seemed to say, 'What's with this crazy bastard?'

“It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Li Yicai, the Head Merchant of the Gold Will Merchants.”

“Li Yicai? So you’re the Merchant King?”

Although Gold Will Merchants didn’t operate in the South Sea, their name was still well known, especially for a blacksmith on Gan Yezi’s level, who had no choice but to be aware of them, as he had to be involved in higher level trades.

In order to challenge something more difficult or new, one had to obtain the corresponding precious or good materials.

If something wasn’t in the South Sea, he had no choice but to get it from the Central Plains. But in those lands, the Gold Will Merchants were always involved in the distribution process.

“That’s right. I’m Li Yicai, the Merchant King.”

Li Yicai patted his thick belly and smiled.

"Pfft—ahem. It's nice to meet you. They call me Gan Yezi."

Gan Yezi’s gaze changed as he looked at Li Yicai. Judging from the fact that his attitude didn’t change even though he knew about the Merchant King, it seemed like his personality was not to use honorifics.

When asked about it later, in the case of the South Sea Dragon King, he called the Gate Master a King not just due to his status, but because of his respect as an elder.

"Now, let's move to a different place and talk. I've prepared some fine liquor that might suit your tastes, greatest of all blacksmiths."

"Greatest of all blacksmiths?! Ahem! Now, you said you prepared some liquor?" Gan Yezi asked. Although he pretended not to like the flattery, it seemed it was working on him.

Just a moment ago, let alone like, he had been completely offended. However, now, it was different. Zhou Xuchuan thought of what Li Yicai had said before.

“No one dislikes praise. What’s important is who is giving the praise.”

“What do you mean?”

"It’s like the difference between being praised by a neighborhood tycoon and being praised by the Martial Alliance Leader. Especially for someone like the blacksmith, who has dedicated his entire life to the field, who they get recognized by is important. If they're recognized by a commoner, they may think, what good will it do? However, if they get recognized by a great person who has influence in a similar field or even the whole world, things are different."

He wasn't called the Merchant King for nothing. Although Zhou Xuchuan knew about it a long time ago, Li Yicai's ability to influence people was amazing.

As a person, he may have been quite lacking, but as a merchant, he was the Greatest Under the Heavens.

Li Yicai moved with Gan Yezi and Zhou Xuchuan.

They weren't going to a camp prepared by the coast. They had arrived at Gan Yezi’s residence, the smithy.

“Oh, you've arrived?”

When they arrived at the blacksmith shop, Zhuge Shengji greeted them.

He was covered in sweat because of the heat from the forge. He was so handsome that women would have fallen for his charm and gone dizzy at the sight.

"I finally feel alive now that I'm home."

Gan Yezi usually lived in a place full of fire qi, so having spent so much time in an underwater cave full of water qi, he had experienced a lot of discomfort.

Environmental factors affected people more than one might think.

While the hospitality at the inn hadn't been bad, considering he had been away for a while, meeting at his residence was a good idea.

"Young Master Zhuge, can you show us the blueprint?" Li Yicai asked while pulling out drinks for the table.

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Zhuge Shengji handed over the blueprint as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“I like it when you get to the point without any unnecessary introductions.”

Gan Yezi liked getting straight to the point like this rather than beating around the bush.

“Now..."

He slurped down his drink and looked at the blueprint.

However, his expression changed the moment he saw it.

The hand that had been holding the drink moved to the blueprint as the elder forgot to breathe while flipping through the pages.

He scanned through it quickly the first time, then more slowly and carefully the second and third.

“Who designed this?”

Gan Yezi asked, his eyes fixed on the blueprint.

"That would be me," Zhuge Shengji proudly replied with his hand on his waist.

"This is Young Master Zhuge. He's a genius in the art of mechanisms. I vouch for his skill with my title as the Merchant King."

Gan Yezi stood up after Li Yicai’s introduction.

Zhuge Shengji inadvertently stepped back in surprise when Gan Yezi approached him with a dazzling gaze.

He started to stammer toward Zhou Xuchuan, as if the elder might eat him at any moment, but Gan Yezi reached out before he could finish.

"It's nice to meet you. I sincerely apologize for the late introduction. My name is Gan Yezi, a smith of the South Sea."

"...!"

The person in question, as well as Zhou Xuchuan and Li Yicai, were surprised.

Up until now, Gan Yezi had maintained an indifferent attitude, whether it was toward the Sword God or the Merchant King. However, he became polite as soon as he saw the blueprint.

“I have a few questions about the blueprint. Is it okay if I ask you?"

"Questions?"

The Zhuge Shengji who had been scared just a moment ago was nowhere to be found, his eyes lighting up the moment mechanisms were involved.

Zhuge Shengji answered Gan Yezi’s question excitedly.

“I’d prepared all sorts of ways to convince him to come to the Central Plains, but I guess that wasn't necessary," Li Yicai said, wiping the sweat off his brow with his sleeve.

Zhou Xuchuan nodded in agreement.

***

To sum it up, Gan Yezi’s recruitment was a success.

As soon as the conversation was over, they received a response that he would cooperate.

Zhuge Shengji was as excited as a fish in water, spending all day and night chatting with Gan Yezi in the workshop.

Since they were geniuses in similar fields, they got along well.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Shengji so happy.”

Zhou Xuchuan thought it had been a good idea to bring him to the South Sea.

"That's what I'm saying. By the way, it's a shame that we can't interact with the South Sea Dragon Gate even though it would be a great opportunity."

Li Yicai had hoped to expand his business while in the South Sea.

One venture he especially wanted to explore was cooperation with the mermen of the South Sea Dragon Gate.

The gifts that the South Sea Dragon Gate had given were full of expensive and rare items. So much so that the gold yuanbo could be put aside. From pearls beautiful enough to gaze at endlessly, to candles made from mermen oil said to never go out.

"They said that there was an eternal candle in Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. It seems it wasn’t a legend after all.”

Truthfully, it wasn't actually mermen oil. The so-called mermen were whales, and the oil had been specially manufactured.

Li Yicai had asked if they could sell the recipe out of curiosity but was flatly rejected. The mermen said technology gifted by the sea couldn’t be leaked to land.

"I'm only saying this to you just in case, but don't be greedy. It's best to keep those candles hidden.”

“Of course.”

Li Yicai may have been a greedy pig, but he wasn't stupid.

Betraying Zhou Xuchuan’s trust would be a huge loss. It would have been better to throw away the candles of South Sea Dragon Gate than to risk such a thing.

"The reason the South Sea Dragon Gate was able to remain hidden for so long may have been because of such seclusion."

New things brought about change. However, the South Sea Dragon Gate refused to interact with everyone. While that closed them off, it was also a wise decision.

“Then I have to go prepare for our return. Please speak to the Lord of Hainan Sword Sect for me."

Instead, Li Yicai established a partnership with the Hainan Sword Sect.

In addition to tropical fruits and seafood, Hainan Island also had abundant mineral resources such as iron ore. Li Yicai intended to continue their trading relationship.

Of course, he had already roughly concluded the negotiations.

Thanks to Gan Yezi’s connections, he had even begun building the Gold Will Merchants’ South Sea Branch.

Zhou Xuchuan went to see Wei Yihai.

"We've really been a burden to you, thank you for everything," he said.

"No, it’s us who were a burden to you. You not only saved the disciples of our sect, but also brought peace to the island. You even helped us with the aftermath."

Wei Yihai bowed to Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Xiuluan.

“I will never forget this debt. If there is anything you want, feel free to tell me.”

“I’ll be satisfied if you lend us your strength the next time we’re in danger.”

“Is Hainan Sword Sect not also a Righteous Faction affiliated with the Martial Alliance? It’s only natural that we'd help when the Central Plains are in danger. Is there anything else we can do?”

“Then I’ll ask you to subdue the Eastern Pirates.”

There was no way Fang Jun was the only Eastern Pirate working with the Dark Heavens Association.

Even if Fang Jun's group had been the most powerful, there might be others.

In order for the Gold Will Merchants and the South Sea to trade safely in the future, securing transportation routes was essential.

“Isn’t that something we should naturally do?”

"There's nothing else that we need. Truly. All we did was what was natural for us."

"I know they call you a hero, but it seems that's really true."

Zhou Xuchuan didn't expect anything in return for his help. He was doing this for the sake of the Central Plains murim, and not even his own sect.

"Then, let us meet again."

Their farewells were brief. Zhou Xuchuan was a little worried that something might have happened in the Central Plains while the Hainan Sword Sect was also busy with negotiations.

In his short farewell, Tian Shuiguo expressed regret at not being able to speak more.

Saying that he owed Zhou Xuchuan his life, he did various things for them and took care of them in his own way.

After a while, they boarded the ship leaving for the Central Plains again.

“It’s a rare opportunity to celebrate the New Year in the South Sea, so why are we sneaking away in the middle of the night without even enjoying it?” Duan Lihua muttered regretfully as she looked back at Hainan Island.

"What do you think, Lord Sword God? I’m secretly thinking of those sexy mermen, the underwater temples, and the..."

“Young Lady Zhuge, what do you usually talk about at the Meeting of Dragons and Phoenixes?" Zhou Xuchuan asked Zhuge Xiuluan.

Zhuge Xiuluan lowered her head and blushed.

It was a response that didn’t need an answer.