After completing the escort mission, Fang Zhiyi wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Rumors about the reappearance of the "Ghost-Faced Asura" had been spreading, so the moment he arrived at the Hidden Sword Manor, he was warmly welcomed. Unlike orthodox martial sects, places like the Hidden Sword Manor remained neutral in the jianghu—simply put, as long as you didn’t provoke them or interfere with their profits, they wouldn’t care whether you were righteous or demonic.
Fang Zhiyi was exceedingly polite. The Hidden Sword Manor was the largest local force in the jianghu, and he spent several hours in private discussions with its master, Jian Wufeng. By the end, Jian Wufeng was grinning broadly as he personally escorted Fang Zhiyi out, even ordering his servants to prepare a banquet for Fang Zhiyi’s students.
During the meal, Zhao Yang asked, "Headmaster, why did we negotiate profit-sharing with them?"
Fang Zhiyi replied, "What? Did you expect us to monopolize everything? Luoyang is our next stop. If we tried to establish ourselves there alone, we’d face endless obstacles. But if the Hidden Sword Manor stands to gain, how much easier will things be for us?" Upon entering the city, they were met by operatives arranged by Laughing Maitreya—though the outpost was merely a teahouse, far below Fang Zhiyi’s expectations.
He stretched lazily. "No matter how capable I am, I can’t be everywhere at once. With partners, we’ll have help with promotion, security, even prime locations for our operations. What’s not to like?"
"But make no mistake—they agreed to negotiate because I have the power to flip the table. If I were some nameless nobody with mediocre skills, I wouldn’t have walked out of that manor alive today. So remember, even in business, you need leverage."
Jiang Rou nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with admiration as she gazed at Fang Zhiyi. Mei Ruoxue noticed this and gave the two a curious glance.
The group returned to Yangcheng, but before leaving, Fang Zhiyi had them purchase a variety of Luoyang specialties.
The escort mission had gone smoothly. The clients came to inspect the receipts, and upon recognizing their own handwriting and seals, they praised the service. Moreover, the Swift Wind Courier had brought back a stock of Luoyang specialties, selling them at prices lower than other shops right outside the escort bureau. Word spread quickly, and soon the goods were snapped up by eager buyers. Mei Ruoxue and Jiang Rou, handling the money, were grinning so hard their faces hurt.
However, the Thousand-Mile Escort Bureau was far from happy. They had lost over twenty of their best men, and any plans for retaliation required first uncovering their opponent’s background. But before they could act, government officers arrived and shut down the bureau outright.
When Laughing Maitreya heard the report, he nearly laughed himself to tears. Of all the possible ways Fang Zhiyi could have retaliated, he chose the most unexpected one—he reported them to the authorities. And not just that—he had greased the palms of the prefect with silver. The officials, eager for the bribe, didn’t hesitate before sealing the Thousand-Mile Escort Bureau’s doors.
But when Laughing Maitreya learned that the silver used had come from his own coffers, his laughter turned to agony.
This was also the conclusion of Fang Zhiyi’s lesson for his students.
"This incident teaches you about the power of rules," Fang Zhiyi said, watching as the former members of the Thousand-Mile Escort Bureau were driven out onto the streets. "Force can solve most problems, but if you want longevity, you must also understand the rules."
Jiang Rou whispered, "The power of silver."
Fang Zhiyi glanced at her but didn’t deny it.
"Next, return to the martial school and deliver the weapons and manuals."
As everyone prepared to leave, Jiang Rou lingered. "Headmaster, when can I come back to the bureau?"
Fang Zhiyi looked at her, amused by how money-obsessed she had become. "Once you graduate, you can join Swift Wind Courier directly. All students from Youzhou Martial School are welcome."
From then on, Fang Zhiyi’s life became one of relentless work. The men Laughing Maitreya provided were used to operating in the shadows, and forcing them into public-facing jobs left them with dark circles under their eyes and scowls so fierce that even bandits on the road sometimes mistook them for fellow outlaws.
Still, the business managed to function. They delivered goods to their destinations and brought back new shipments. After a few rounds of this, merchants in the city began approaching them for partnerships. Hearing Fang Zhiyi’s reasonable rates—far fairer than those of previous escort bureaus—they eagerly handed over their money, afraid he might change his mind.
But they soon had second thoughts. Fang Zhiyi’s operation wasn’t just about courier services—it was also about trading regional specialties. Cloth, rice, ceramics, spices… Before long, a new store opened next to Swift Wind Courier, aptly named "Swift Wind Select."
The goods here were far cheaper than elsewhere in the city, though stock sometimes ran low. But that wasn’t a problem—customers could leave requests, and Swift Wind would procure the items on their next run.
As this cycle continued, Laughing Maitreya grew increasingly wary of Fang Zhiyi. Not only was the man a martial arts prodigy, but his business acumen was terrifying. Compared to him, Laughing Maitreya’s underground intelligence network seemed trivial.
His men, too, gradually adapted to normal lives, though their intelligence-gathering didn’t suffer—traveling far and wide meant they still picked up plenty of information.
Laughing Maitreya’s mindset shifted. He made a silent vow: no matter what, he would never make an enemy of Fang Zhiyi. The man’s mind was simply too cunning.
Yet Fang Zhiyi remained busy. Every time Swift Wind Courier expanded to a new city, he had to negotiate with the local jianghu factions. Intimidated by his martial prowess and tempted by his offers, these groups one by one agreed to cooperate.
Laughing Maitreya couldn’t shake the feeling that Fang Zhiyi was on the verge of unifying the jianghu.
It felt unreal.
Then, when Fang Zhiyi arrived in Lingzhou with a convoy, the staff who greeted him first took his horse before delivering news: Lin Muran, whom he had ordered Laughing Maitreya’s men to tail, had finally been located.
"He’s abducted the Holy Maiden of the Five Immortals Sect and is hiding in their forbidden grounds."
Fang Zhiyi was delighted. At last, there was news of that womanizing rogue.
Using his skills, he infiltrated the Five Immortals Sect and reached the forbidden area. According to the original plot, Lin Muran would discover a ten-thousand-year snow toad here. To heal the Holy Maiden’s injuries, he would force her to consume it, triggering a surge of demonic energy that would leave her vulnerable—allowing him to "comfort" her and absorb her internal energy, further boosting his own strength.
Laughing Maitreya’s men could only follow this far; they couldn’t enter the restricted zone.
At that moment, Lin Muran stared at the bizarre-looking toad before him, recalling the legends he’d heard.
"Could this be the legendary creature that grants immense internal power upon consumption?" He reached out, feeling an eerie chill.
Nearby, the Holy Maiden hugged her shoulders, glaring at him in disgust. This brat had some skill—he’d actually managed to escape the elders. If not for her temporarily sealed meridians, she would have already…
The memory of his groping made her nauseous.
Lin Muran glanced at her. Winning her over would require a significant investment. Eyeing the toad, he had no desire to eat it himself—might as well test it on her.
"Here, eat this. It’ll heal your internal injuries."
The Holy Maiden took a step back. "Stay away from me!"