Chapter 86: Chapter 84: The Confident Messenger

"...There has been constant turmoil recently. Rumors from the outside world about Wu Family Collection have drawn a great deal of attention to this Border Desolate Land. Now, we’re even seeing the first signs of Tribulation Cultivators from the outside." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"And this is only the beginning. As the rumors spread, more and more outside Cultivators will enter our region seeking opportunities."

"In the future, chaos is inevitable. Those wandering Cultivators from the outside may not dare provoke the Wu Family, but preying on the likes of us will be no problem for them."

"Therefore, we sincerely invite Young Master Shen to join our Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance to face the coming changes together... The goal of our alliance is mutual protection and assistance. In this chaotic Border Desolate Land, we aim to establish a sanctuary for Minor Immortal Cultivation Clans like ours."

"If you join, alliance members can support one another, share resources, and explore the Immortal Dao together."

"Furthermore, the Alliance Leader of our Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance is on very close personal terms with a certain important figure within the Wu Family household. Should the need arise, we can borrow some of their influence..."

In the reception hall of the village,

The young Cultivator, who called himself an envoy of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, sat in the guest seat, speaking eloquently, his aura of Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak completely undisguised.

The pressure from his aura was so intense that, not far away, Shen Changchuan’s grandfather, Han Qinhu, and the others could barely breathe.

On the main seat,

Shen Changchuan unconsciously tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. He was not affected by the aura; in fact, he was a little lost in thought.

Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance. He had heard that name not long ago.

It was probably after leaving Wu Family Collection, on the way back, that Guo Cheng, the charcoal seller, had told him something during a break in their journey.

When he was leaving Wu Family Collection, someone from the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance had tried to recruit him.

He had refused.

The reason Guo Cheng took the initiative to confess this to Shen Changchuan was that he was worried it might cause problems later, so he brought it up first to avoid it becoming a thorn between them in the future.

Guo Cheng was no fool. Not long before, on their way back, they had been ambushed by Old Ghost Song. In that battle, Shen Changchuan, at the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer, had defied the odds and killed Old Ghost Song, a famous Cultivator who had been at the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer for many years.

He had witnessed that battle with his own eyes.

A genius with such talent and strength was bound to have a limitless future.

At a time like this, failing to seize the opportunity to get closer to Shen Changchuan, and instead getting ambiguously involved with other powers? That would be utterly foolish.

So, he didn’t wait long. Later, during a moment of leisure when things had settled down, Guo Cheng took the initiative to report the matter as a show of loyalty.

He was doing his best to align himself with Shen Changchuan.

At the time, after surviving Old Ghost Song’s attack, Shen Changchuan’s Heart Spirit was almost entirely focused on guarding against possible ambushes on the road, so he hadn’t paid it much mind.

So it was only now, with this person showing up at his door under the banner of the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, that Shen Changchuan finally recalled the incident.

This struck Shen Changchuan as rather peculiar.

’Are they trying to poach from the boss himself?’

"Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance?"

"That name sounds pretty straightforward."

Shen Changchuan narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself.

Because they had tried to poach his subordinate, Shen Changchuan’s first impression of this so-called Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance wasn’t very good.

However, considering that this Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance had a Qi Introduction Late Stage Cultivator in charge, and they seemed to be operating with great fanfare, looking like they were going to do big things, they might become a major player in the area in the future.

So, Shen Changchuan didn’t mind hearing them out.

His expression remained placid, revealing none of his inner thoughts.

After a good half-hour,

the envoy from the Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance finally finished speaking and looked at Shen Changchuan in the main seat with a confident expression.

His face was full of confidence, the kind of assurance from a master strategist, as if he was already certain that Shen Changchuan would definitely join.

But seeing Shen Changchuan’s expression, he couldn’t help but wonder.

’Don’t the rumors say that the young master of Dawan Village’s Cultivation is only at the Third or Fourth Layer of Qi Introduction? How can he withstand the aura of my Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak that I’m casually releasing? That doesn’t seem right!’

’No, wait. Could it be that I overdid it, and like the others, he’s just frozen in fear, too scared to move?’

The envoy suddenly thought of a possibility and glanced imperceptibly at Han Qinhu and the other Dawan Village Cultivators on the other side.

He saw that their foreheads were beaded with sweat, and they looked as tense as if they were facing a great enemy.

While feeling proud of his own strength and disdainful of the weakness of Dawan Village, he also felt he might have been a bit too overbearing.

So, the aura of Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak that he was emitting immediately dissipated.

Only then did Han Qinhu and the others on the other side finally let out a sigh of relief.

Under the intense pressure of his aura before, it was like staring directly into the glint of a blade or walking on a knife’s edge.

Shen Changchuan still didn’t speak,

as if lost in thought.

"What does Young Master Shen think?"

The envoy couldn’t help but prompt him.

He figured the young master must be frightened stiff.

So he consciously made his voice a little gentler.

"Um, I have a few questions, and I hope the envoy can clarify one or two things for me."

Shen Changchuan pondered for a moment before finally speaking.

"Please feel free to ask, Young Master Shen. I will answer anything I know."

"Since there are so many benefits to joining this Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, I was wondering, is there a fee?"

"Er... well, a certain fee is naturally required to maintain the alliance’s operations. However, if Young Master Shen joins, you’d be doing us a great honor. In that case, we can split it thirty-seventy."

"Seventy percent of the membership fee will be returned to you. The remaining thirty percent can be considered a token gesture."

"Ahem, of course, please keep this matter confidential, Young Master Shen. Don’t let it leak out."

The envoy coughed, lowered his voice, and said with some embarrassment.

’So that’s what a thirty-seventy split means?’

’Wasn’t the saying that the gentry get their money returned, while the commoners are split thirty-seventy—and the gentry still takes the seventy? How did it become the gentry only has to pay thirty?’

Shen Changchuan nodded slightly,

and said nothing.

"After joining the alliance, how does it guarantee that we won’t be attacked by others?"

"Naturally, we will make a public announcement, stating that this place is under the protection of our Family Protection Mutual Aid Alliance, making those people retreat upon hearing our name."

"And what if someone disregards the alliance’s prestige and attacks and plunders anyway?"

"Well..."

It was clear the envoy hesitated for a moment.

But he quickly recovered.

"If someone still dares to attack after we’ve announced our name, then the Alliance Leader will definitely lead men to get justice for the wronged party afterward!"

"What about the property losses from the attack? Will the alliance compensate for them?"

When Shen Changchuan asked this question,

the envoy was stunned for a moment.

The look he gave Shen Changchuan,

was one of utter bewilderment, as if wondering how he could possibly ask such a question.

But as a professional envoy,

he still suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind and forced a stiff smile.

"Compensation? Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve never heard of such a good deal."

’That settles it.’

At this point, Shen Changchuan finally understood.

’So it’s just an organization that takes your money and does nothing.’

’There’s basically no difference between this and seeking refuge with the Wu Family of Wu Family Collection to gain their protection!’

’And to think I had believed it was some kind of advanced alliance,’

’or even a commercial insurance organization.’

’Relying on you is even less practical than relying on the Wu Family. At least they’re a family with two True Cultivators of the Soul Emergence Realm watching over them.’

"If that’s the case, then I understand."

"Envoy, this way, please."