Chapter 50 - 46 : The Price Of Growth (2)

Chapter 50: Chapter 46 : The Price Of Growth (2)

"The western route?"

"Among other things."

The merchant pointed toward the back.

"Most of the cheaper supply comes through merchants using that road."

"And now?"

"Now they are paying more for protection."

Ethan nodded. The connection was clear. The bandits were not only stealing goods. They were affecting the cost of goods.

That meant the problem had already reached the city. And if it continued, someone with authority would eventually have to deal with it.

Ethan looked at the cultivation materials again. He could not afford much. That was precisely why he was paying attention.

A cultivation resource did not need to be rare to be valuable. If it helped his cultivation even slightly, buying it repeatedly could become expensive.

He stepped away from the stall. Then he noticed a notice board near the market entrance. Several papers were attached to it.

Most were ordinary.

Missing livestock.

Workers wanted.

Merchant guards needed.

A room available.

Ethan scanned the board. Then he stopped.

One notice was newer than the others. It did not contain much information. It simply stated that capable fighters and cultivators were being sought for an organized operation concerning the western trade route. Payment would be provided. More details would be given to qualified applicants.

Ethan read it twice. Then he removed nothing. He simply memorized the location written at the bottom. That was enough. He walked away. He did not apply immediately.

First, he wanted to know who was offering the work.

The address led him toward another part of the city. This area was cleaner. The buildings were larger. The roads were wider. There were fewer temporary stalls and more permanent businesses.

Ethan understood why. Money gathered around places where money moved. At the end of one street stood a large compound. It was not a government building. There were no state banners. Instead, several merchant symbols were displayed near the entrance.

Ethan slowed.

A guard stood outside.

"I’m here about the western route."

The guard looked him over.

"Merchant protection?"

"I saw the notice."

The guard studied him again.

"You’re a cultivator?"

"Body Tempering."

The guard’s expression changed slightly. Not impressed. Not dismissive either.

"Wait."

Ethan waited.

After a short while, another man came out. He was older than Ethan. His clothing was simple but expensive. He looked like someone accustomed to giving orders.

"You’re the one asking about the notice?"

"Yes."

"Cultivation level?"

"Body Tempering."

The man nodded.

"Which family?"

"None."

"Which sect?"

"None."

"Which dojo?"

Ethan gave the name of the dojo he had been attending. The man seemed mildly surprised.

"You’ve been training there?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Long enough to learn the basics."

The man looked at him for another moment.

"Do you have experience protecting caravans?"

"once."

"Bandit suppression?"

"No."

"Military experience?"

"No."

The man’s expression became less interested. Ethan did not mind. The man continued.

"Then why should we hire you?"

"Because you are paying."

The man blinked.

Ethan continued calmly.

"And because I am looking for work."

A faint smile appeared on the man’s face.

"At least you’re honest."

"I don’t have a reason to lie."

The man crossed his arms.

"You understand this isn’t ordinary labor."

"I assumed that."

"You could be injured."

"I know."

"You could die."

Ethan’s expression did not change.

"That depends on the people organizing the operation."

The man stared at him.

Then he laughed.

"You’re cautious."

"Yes."

"That may be useful."

He stepped aside.

"Come in."

The interior was busier than Ethan expected. Several people were already waiting. Some looked like guards. Others were clearly cultivators. Ethan observed them without staring. Most were ordinary people with weapons. A few had the physical presence he had learned to associate with Body Tempering. Not all of them were strong. Some were probably at the lower end. Others were more experienced.

Ethan immediately understood something.

This was not a group formed by one organization. They were gathering people.

Merchants, guards, independent fighters, cultivators and perhaps even family retainers. That explained the notice. The operation was bigger than a single caravan.

A man in formal clothing entered from another room. Everyone became quieter.

Ethan looked at him. The man was not dressed like a merchant. He carried the bearing of someone accustomed to authority.

An attendant beside him spoke first.

"The Prefect will address the matter shortly."

Ethan understood. This was the state authority behind the operation.

The Prefect entered the room. He did not waste time.

"The western trade route has been disrupted for too long."

The room became quiet.

"Several merchant groups have suffered losses. Patrols have been attacked. Smaller traders have stopped using the route entirely."

He looked around.

"This is no longer a matter of isolated theft."

Ethan listened.

"The group responsible has grown."

A guard near the wall shifted.

The Prefect continued.

"They have established a fortified hideout somewhere beyond the western route. We have not yet confirmed its exact location."

A murmur moved through the room. Ethan’s attention sharpened. A hideout, that explained why previous patrols had failed.

They were chasing people who knew the terrain and had somewhere prepared to retreat.

The Prefect raised a hand and the room quieted again.

"Our objective is simple."

He paused.

"Restore the route."

That was all. No dramatic speech. No promises of glory. Just a practical objective.

Ethan liked that.

The Prefect continued.

"The bandits will be removed from the route and their main stronghold will be dealt with."

One of the merchants spoke.

"What about Black Fang?"

The room became quieter. The Prefect looked toward him.

"If Black Fang is present, he will be dealt with as well."

Ethan remembered the title. So the bandit leader was important enough that people knew him by reputation. That mattered.

The Prefect continued.

"We will not send untrained people into this operation."

He gestured toward several individuals.

"Family guards and experienced fighters will form the main force."

Then he looked toward the cultivators.

"Body Tempering cultivators will be assigned according to their ability."

Ethan listened carefully. That was exactly what he expected. The normal fighters would deal with normal threats. The cultivators would handle stronger opponents.

The Prefect paused.

"There is one additional matter."

Several people looked up.

"The sect overseeing this region has been informed."

A quiet murmur passed through the room.

"The sect has agreed to provide assistance."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly. That was new.

The Prefect continued.

"A Sect Envoy will join the operation."

The room became noticeably quieter. Ethan did not need anyone to explain what that meant. If the state authority had requested assistance from a sect, then the problem had reached a level where ordinary forces were no longer considered sufficient. A man beside Ethan whispered.

"Qi Refining?"

Another person answered quietly.

"That is what I heard."

Ethan remained silent. He had never fought a Qi Refining cultivator. He had barely seen one clearly. But the elder he had encountered before had shown him enough.

The gap was not something he could ignore.

Still, Ethan felt something else.

Interest.

Not recklessness.

Interest.

If he was going to step into the wider cultivation world eventually, he needed to understand the levels above him. Seeing one in action would be valuable.

The Prefect looked around the room.

"The Sect Envoy is not being sent to carry this operation."

He spoke clearly.

"He is here as additional support should the situation exceed our expectations."

That distinction mattered. The operation was still being handled by the local forces. The sect cultivator was insurance. Ethan understood the arrangement immediately. The state wanted its road back. The merchants wanted their trade restored. The families wanted their interests protected. The sect wanted to maintain order within the territory it influenced.

Everyone had something to gain. That made the operation more stable than a random group of adventurers chasing bandits for money.

After the Prefect left, the room became noisy again. People began discussing the operation. Ethan remained where he was.

He listened. A guard near him spoke to another.

"They say Black Fang has at least three Body Tempering men."

"Three?"

"Maybe more."

"That’s not the worst part."

"What is?"

"The hideout."

Ethan turned slightly. The second man lowered his voice.

"People who have been there say the place is built into the hills."

"Built?"

"Expanded."

"That means they have been there for a while."

"Exactly."

Ethan said nothing. That was useful information. A bandit group that had remained in one place long enough to build defenses was not simply a collection of thieves. They had organization. They probably had scouts. They probably knew the routes, and they might have informants.

And they would know when the city was coming.

Ethan looked around. The people gathering for the operation were numerous. That was an advantage. It was also a weakness. Large groups were easier to notice. The bandits would likely see them coming. Unless the organizers had already considered that.

Ethan smiled faintly.

He did not know yet. But he would find out before agreeing. A short time later, one of the organizers approached him.

"You’re Ethan?"

"Yes."

"You’re accepted as a Body Tempering participant."

Ethan nodded. The man handed him a small wooden token.

"Bring this when we assemble."

"When?"

"Three days."

Ethan looked at the token.

"Payment?"

"You’ll receive an advance when the final group is confirmed."

"How much?"

The man named the amount. Ethan immediately calculated. It was more than he could earn from several days of ordinary labor. Enough to matter. Not enough to make him careless.

"And the rest?"

"After the operation."

Ethan nodded.

"What happens if the operation fails?"

The man looked at him.

"You’re worried about your payment?"

"I’m worried about my time."

The man smiled.

"You’ll receive the agreed advance. The rest depends on the contract."

Ethan nodded. That was reasonable.

He put the token away. Then he asked one more question.

"Who provides transportation?"

"We do."

Ethan considered it.

"And if I need to return separately?"

The man’s eyebrows rose.

"You expect trouble?"

"I expect uncertainty."

The man studied him.

"You’ll have access to the merchant wagons."

Ethan nodded.

"That is sufficient."

He did not explain that he preferred keeping his own horse nearby. There was no reason to. His horse gave him something the merchant wagons could not. Which is a way to leave. He had learned long ago not to depend completely on someone else’s route.