Chapter 44: What Comes Next

The Lin family had spent the morning surrounded by paperwork.

There were papers piled high on the central hall table. Property deeds were placed separately, alongside merchant contracts. Financial records had been sorted away in one collection, and cultivation fields, medicinal resources, warehouses and any number of small enterprises placed carefully into groups based on personal needs.

Lin Zhengyuan was already seated at the head, studying a single property deed carefully as his family waited upon him. He was finally able to turn the document over.

"We aren’t taking everything,"

Lin Yuanhong blinked at the document currently under study. "Why not?"

"because we cannot manage it all,"

"We don’t have to manage it ourselves,"

Lin Zhengyuan frowned. "Then who will manage it?"

"The people currently operating everything,"

"People that formerly worked for the Ironwood Clan,"

People who would benefit from receiving payment and employment ,

Lin Yuanhong pushed back from the table. "We cannot keep everyone that used to work with the Ironwood Clan,"

"Then keep the useful people," Lin Zhengyuan tapped his fingers against the table, "and replace the rest."

"Making it sound simple, doesn’t it?" Lin Yuanhong shook his head slightly.

Across the table, Chen Lian was watching closely. She took a financial ledger in hand. "That is assuming, of course, that the numbers are good."

Lin Yuanhong turned towards her. "How bad could they be?"

"Not that bad, just that some assets come with specific requirements." She flipped the pages, "There are a series of merchants with deposits already placed, for example, and a few business contracts that require maintaining supplies."

"How many?"

"I would guess, based on these numbers..."

She didn’t get much farther into the explanation before Lin Qingshan cleared his throat gently.

"It may not matter what requirements exist for these things."

Lin Yuanhong turned his view away from Chen Lian. "It will, if we decide to formally announce that all of this now belongs to the Lin family."

Lin Qingshan gave a slow nod. "A good observation."

A silence stretched across the table, before Lin Yuanhong turned towards it heavily.

"We don’t have to take everything the Ironwood Clan had,"

Lin Zhengyuan gave a small smile, "Now do we?"

"If we pick poorly, however, other people may end up claiming the better assets for themselves,"

Lin Yuanhong turned his heavy stare towards the eldest brother. "If we make the transition too slow, people will simply seize the opportunities we hesitate over."

Lin Qingshan turned his gaze towards Lin Yuanhong. "Then why have you been thinking as if it is a competition to claim the largest share first?"

Lin Yuanhong opened his mouth, then shut it again. "It seems like one."

Lin Qingshan slowly shook his head, "A family only grows stronger at the expense of its foundation,"

The younger man opened his mouth again, before finally giving a reluctant nod. "Then tell me what it is that we want to keep,"

Lin Zhengyuan pushed a few documents forward to gather the discussion. "The medicinal fields near our area of influence."

"Keeping them," Lin Yuanhong decided immediately.

"Likewise," Lin Chen nodded, "As long as we keep enough staff to maintain them. That shouldn’t require a significant expansion of the family,"

The Eastern District warehouse,

"Keeping one of the warehouses makes sense," Chen Lian decided, "We do not need both,"

Lin Zhengyuan frowned at the smaller cultivation assets, "They could be beneficial to us still,"

Lin Qingshan shook his head. "Not yet,"

Lin Yuanhong frowned. "That was a promising investment,"

"Perhaps," the old man admitted, "but promising enough to become a liability later,"

"How will we know which ones to keep?"

"We will not,"

Lin Yuanhong stared in disbelief. "Then why are we doing this without knowing the risks?"

Lin Zhengyuan gave a small smile. "I think that settles it." He turned his gaze to the rest of the table. "We can keep the medicinal fields, the warehouse, and properties associated directly with those already held by our family. Everything else will undergo further investigation, and should anything turn out to be unviable..."

Lin Chen was the first to turn away, already sorting through the documents to select the sections she would be responsible for. "The merchants contracts," she decided, "I will sort through those myself. Two people should be enough to follow up with merchants in relation to any changes in requirements."

"If you find anything unusual, wait until Chen Lian has gone through it first,"

"I understand,"

"Chen Lian,"

The girl glanced over her shoulder, "I will require more assistants to go through the financial records by the end of the week,"

"You may select whomever you wish,"

She nodded. Meanwhile, Lin Yuanhong had gathered a new stack of papers. "I will take the property inspection notes,"

Lin Zhengyuan turned his gaze towards him. "I hope that does not require me to rein you in entirely,"

Lin Yuanhong gave a small, dry smile. "I intend only to inspect properties - not start a war,"

"I know you,"

Several others smiled faintly at the exchange, before Lin Yuanhong shook his head and backed away from the conversation entirely. One by one, the others gathered their documents and departed. Lin Chen stopped long enough to collect a few of the merchant contracts before joining them. Chen Lian followed at a slower pace, her two ledgers tucked beneath one arm. Finally, Lin Mei arrived, pausing on the threshold before approaching the table and picking up a single sheet of paper.

"Why weren’t we offered the alchemy workshop?" She asked finally.

Lin Zhengyuan blinked at her. "You were waiting to ask that question, weren’t you?"

"Of course," Lin Mei opened the document, scanning the pages before pausing. "Three furnaces, several pieces of refining equipment, spirit herbs, bottles, formation equipment..." Her voice trailed off, replaced by a surprised smile, "Seven jars of Azure Flame Sand?"

Lin Yue, so far the calmest individual present, arched an eyebrow. "What is that?"

"Alchemy materials,"

Lin Zhengyuan gave her a warning look. "You cannot take anything without asking first,"

Lin Mei hugged the paper to her chest. "I wasn’t going to,"

Lin Yue raised a brow. "You sure about that?"

_lin_mei_

Lin Mei hesitated. "Probably,"

"Lin Mei,"

Lin Zhengyuan sighed. "You may view the workshop, with your brother,"

Her face lit up, "Really?"

Lin Zhengyuan nodded. "If you decide to visit anything else, I will require advance notice,"

She didn’t look at him, already calling for Lin Chen. "In that case I’ll be going,"

Lin Yue watched her leave, before shaking her head. "She will try to touch everything,"

Lin Zhengyuan only smiled. "Probably,"

The room slowly emptied out, leaving only Lin Yue. She sat, her thoughts momentarily turning away from the negotiations to consider Ao instead. Her gaze was already shifting away, however, as she reminded herself that there was still plenty of work to be done,

The City Lord’s residence was quiet in comparison.

Morning reports were just arriving, and the City Lord sat in quiet observation over them. His aide stood opposite the desk.

"How is movement progressing?"

"Several groups have already made inquires about the available assets,"

The City Lord took the papers offered and skimmed through them. "Merchant families. Smaller clans. Independent cultivators."Interesting," He tapped one name lightly, "Do any of these people belong to one of the great clans?"

"Ao Kuiba?" The assistant shook his head, "Not openly."

The City Lord set the papers down again. "That will not remain the case for long,"

The City Lord’s quiet words were met with only silence. The young man turned to look out the window of the residence. Azure Cloud City did not keep secrets for long. No matter how much thought or effort was put into it, opportunities always became clear to those that noticed them, and those that noticed them first always took advantage of their discoveries. It was natural. It was predictable. But it didn’t make things any easier.

"Unless they directly conflict with our interests, instruct the guards not to interfere with private property arrangements," He turned back to the young man. "If they do try to take control of assets through other means, act accordingly,"

Even if they belonged to one of the great clans ?

The City Lord did not reply immediately. Instead he tapped a second set of documents. "And the Lin Family?"

"The provided list is not extensive," His assistant replied.

The City Lord skimmed the list carefully. He gave a soft smile. "That means they won’t take too much,"

"Heavier requirements," The assistant frowned.

The City Lord nodded in turn. "It may save them headaches in the future."

He set the list aside carefully. "Has anything been determined regarding their merchant contracts?"

"They are reviewing them. I believe Lin Chen is taking more than one assistant to the task,"

The City Lord gave a short nod. "Ensure the Registry Office does not take any action regarding the transfer of assets until then,"

The young man offered a respectful bow before adding, "There is a second issue,"

The City Lord glanced at him. "What is it?"

"The Fallen Star Ruins,"

The City Lord’s expression became more thoughtful. "What news do you have of them?"

"The outer defense formations are beginning to become ineffective. Several sects have already sent people investigating the surrounding area, and several more will follow within a few months,"

The City Lord studied the next set of names without pause. He didn’t stop to consider them, nor give them any special weight. Simply acknowledging the information was enough. Whatever happened next, Azure Cloud City’s roads would become busy with traveling cultivators for the foreseeable future.

"Increase security patrols of the northern roads," He ordered, "Not because we expect threats to arise in this area, but because we cannot afford to ignore potential trouble makers when they leave,"

The young man hesitated for a long moment, before remembering his next question. " Ao Kuiba ?"

The City Lord’s fingers stilled against the papers. "Where is he?"

"He has left the Lin family residence, and is currently staying in his own estate,"

"Has he left the city?"

"No,"

"Good,"

The City Lord exhaled slowly and smiled faintly. "Send him an invitation,"

"To our estate?"

The young man frowned. "I believe that is an unneccesary level of caution,"

The City Lord shook his head, "No, Ao Kuiba will want to know what it is we know about the Fallen Star Ruins,"

He studied the next set of reports, pausing on the one regarding the auction. Someone had been asking about the Dragon Bone. Not loudly, not often, but enough to draw attention from merchants, cultivators and many others, even though no particular individual seemed to stand out, aside from people associated with the auction itself.

It wasn’t a conclusion, but enough to warrant further review. The City Lord tapped the pages away before asking, "Are you aware of anyone else that may be a concern?"

The young man hesitated, "There are rumors of several Great Clans planning to increase their assets before the end of the year, if only to establish trade links rather than outright warfare,"

The City Lord considered this for a moment before replying, "Keep observing,"

The door opened and the young man reappeared in the doorway. "City Lord, the invitation is ready,"

"Good," The City Lord looked up. "Thank you,"

The young man hesitated. "Do you think Ao Kuiba will take you up on the offer?"

The City Lord turned his gaze back towards the window. "I have no idea,"

He paused a long moment before adding, "If he asks to learn information about the Fallen Star Ruins ,however, I believe he will find the answer is worth his time,"

The young man gave a polite nod and left him alone.

The walls within the City Lord’s residence were not thick enough to contain what he was thinking about. Not with the rumors filtering in regarding the Ruins or the steady reports about the Lin Family. Originally, he had intended to remain in the area for the time being, but recent events had changed his mind.

The Fallen Star Ruins were more than a collection of artifacts waiting to be buried beneath treasure hunters’ greed. Once enough influential people gathered, allegiances would be tested, old debts would be recalled and new ones created, and new opportunities would arise.

He needed more information before deciding if he wanted to get involved at all.

His gaze shifted to the reports regarding the auction.

A Dragon Bone, being sought by people that did not ask too loudly. That was not an easy thing to follow up on, either, due to the number of parties interested in it. Still, it should provide the city with enough leverage when dealing with visitors for the next several months at least.

The City Lord tapped the paper before standing. "Continue observing,"

The door creaked open just enough to admit his assistant’s polite inquiries. "City Lord?"

"Yes?"

"The invitation has been delivered,"

"Good"

"I believe Ao Kuiba will agree to your terms,"

The City Lord blinked at the sudden statement. "..What makes you say that?"

His assistant offered a modest bow before replying, "If he wishes to reach the Fallen Star Ruins, he may want to know more about it as well ,"