Chapter 41: Chapter 41 – A Grand Entrance.

Preparations for Xiulan’s arrival had been made up the western river at the trade hub of Spillwater. The city had a waterfall that fell from a tributary into the river proper. The waterfall fell from such a height that the air in the city was damp as a rule.

Much speculation had been circling over who had bought so many of the riverside warehouses out. Everybody knew that it was a foreign force, but no one knew exactly where from or what they wanted. Well at least that was true for the average man on the street.

“When is that woman arriving? Why must we wait on the docks for her like trained puppies?” Patriarch Yuan questioned.

Patriarch Tian sighed out, “We need to establish our prestige in the city without overt confrontation if it can be avoided. My spies in the Capital and down river say that she is not to be trifled with. She has several foundation establishment cultivators in her faction, and she is not afraid of upsetting the power balance of a city.”

There was a group of wealthy Patriarchs waiting in a cluster on the more expensive dock. They assumed that was where Xiulan and the Opulence would stop. They had received advanced warning that she was going to arrive that afternoon.

Soon a ripple of excitement started to run through the city. Along both banks of the river a crowd was starting to follow a boat as it travelled. The boat was more lavish than anything any of the Patriarchs owned. It was covered in golden swirls and was made of fine wood.

“How distasteful,” remarked Patriarch Yuan.

None of the others disagreed with him. They had heard that this Long Xiulan was eccentric, but her sense of style still rubbed up against their traditional roots.

Amazingly the Opulence, for that was the boat’s name, marked out in gold lettering on its bow, did not stop at the dock on which that the Patriarchs were waiting.

Instead, it glided past them to an open space next to the water fall that was sometimes used for public gatherings. The crowd took the hint and followed the Opulence to the gathering point.

Patriarch Tian clinked his tongue against the inside of his mouth in annoyance. “We miscalculated. Whatever this woman wants in Spillwater she wants it from the peasants not us.”

The Opulence came to a stop just before it grounded itself against the riverbank and a pair of women could be seen at its prow holding hands. They were both dressed in fine clothing and had gold jewellery circling their hair. Dangling from their wrists were large gold bangles. Most striking however, was probably their raw beauty. Their attributes were only highlighted by the fact that everyone there could feel that they were strong cultivators.

The one wearing white used some qi to enhance her voice and said, “thank you for your welcome Spillwater. My name is Long Xiulan and this is my fiancé Bai Meirong.”

The crowd murmured at the names. They did not know them, but Xiulan’s confidence made them think they should.

Xiulan continued, “you might not know our names, but you have heard about the Collaborative Combine.”

That struck the crowd with sufficient force to cause a proper stir. The Combine was just a beautiful rumour out west.

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“We are glad to announce that we will be opening a branch of The Combine in Spillwater. If you join the combine anyone can cultivate not only those with spiritual roots. Your crops will grow with better yields and if you sell them to us then the is no extra price to learn to cultivate.”

The crowd was almost riotous, and a few farmers were already running to fetch their family, ready to join the Combine.

Xiulan continued, “not only that but now even if you do not farm there is a way for you to learn. We are launching here in Spillwater the Grand Projects department. You can learn cultivation just in return for your labour. Labour that will increase the prosperity of the whole city. First let me ask you do the Silver Waters sect tax your goods that go down river en route to the Capital?”

Xiulan cupped a hand to her ear and the crowd shouted, “yes!”

Xiulan nodded and said, “I thought so. They tried to tax me coming upriver. Those days will soon be behind us as the Combine intends to build a canal directly to Temple Gorge. Your goods can be sold directly to that Capital cutting travel time in half and most importantly. No Taxes. We will allow the canal to be used toll free.”

There was a pause followed by jubilation. Xiulan left Meirong to begin organising the Combine to set up in the warehouses they had purchased in the city and flopped down at the pavilion at the back of the ship. Fu Jinjing joined her having briefly left her work to watch Xiulan dazzle the crowd.

Fu Jinjing climbed up onto Xiulan’s lap and rested her head on the taller woman’s shoulder, “you missed your calling as a performer. You had them hanging on tenterhooks.”

Xiulan fed Fu Jinjing a strawberry from the plate next to them, “it is all thanks to this jewellery you made. It really is stunning.”

Fu Jinjing shook her head and replied, “I am no goldsmith. I am a weaponsmith.”

Xiulan could tell that she was still pleased with the compliment even though she downplayed it.

Princess Lijuan sat down clearly still a little shocked, “A canal? You certainly are ambitious. You were scolding me for placing you at odds with the Silver Waters Sect, but this will do a far better job of that than me intervening.”

Xiulan shrugged, “if they take business personally, I will have to deal with it at that time. The royal clan can stay uninvolved. I have already purchased the proper licenses and land from an Administrator.”

Princess Lijuan gave Xiulan a flat stare and questioned, “this will make you a real power in the Kingdom, do you know that?”

Xiulan feigned shock, “why Princess, you make it sound like I am a power-hungry Sect or something. All I want to do is make money. Lots of money. The Royal Clan has better people to worry about than me.”

Princess Lijuan probed Xiulan’s ever growing Seventh level foundation establishment power and muttered, “I am not sure if that is true.”

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