Chương 250: Tying Loose Ends

The first light of dawn cast a pale, ethereal glow over Tidal Jade City, illuminating a scene of profound and jarring transformation. The beautiful, serene city of artisans was now a hive of orderly, disciplined activity. The golden shell and black crab claw of the Golden Shell Guild now flew from the highest towers, replacing the swirling wave crest of the Golden Tide Clan. The transition was a testament to the terrifying efficiency of Li Yu's organization.

While the city itself was being remade, Jian Xuan returned. He appeared in Li Yu's private courtyard as silently as he had left, not a speck of dust on his robes, his aura as calm and deep as a mountain lake. He gave a simple, professional report.

"The target, Tian Long, was eliminated," he stated, his voice a low, even murmur.

"He led me to a hidden Faction outpost, where a single sentry was present. I disposed of the target and left the sentry alive, but not before delivering a message." A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.

"I believe the Beast Revolution Faction will now be under the impression that their rivals in the Human Revolution Faction were responsible for the death of their elder. The seeds of chaos have been sown." Li Yu nodded, a look of quiet approval in his eyes.

"A good plan. Turning our enemies against each other will buy us time and information." While their secret war was being waged in the shadows, a more overt, logistical war was being fought in the streets and warehouses of the city. Kui and Xylia were at the heart of it, a whirlwind of command and control. Taking over a major clan, even one that had surrendered, was a monumental task.

They were not just acquiring assets; they were absorbing an entire culture, a workforce of thousands, and a complex web of trade routes and political connections. Kui had established a command center in the former Clan Leader's grand hall, his cheerful demeanor replaced by the sharp, focused intensity of a master strategist. He was surrounded by scrolls, ledgers, and maps, his mind a flurry of calculations as he worked to untangle the Golden Tide Clan's legitimate businesses from their secret operations.

He had to assess inventory, renegotiate contracts with suppliers and buyers, and, most importantly, stamp out the deep-rooted corruption that Lan Yue's conspiracy had fostered. Xylia, meanwhile, was handling the more direct aspects of the takeover. She moved through the city with a cold, predatory grace, her presence a clear and undeniable statement of the new authority.

She was assessing the clan's former guards, weeding out the conspirators identified by Lan Yue and offering the rest a simple choice: swear loyalty to the White Paw Company or leave the city. Her methods were brutal but effective, her reputation preceding her and quelling any thought of rebellion before it could even begin. The sheer scale of the operation was overwhelming. The Golden Tide Clan had been a major power for centuries, and their roots ran deep.

"Wise Host, we need more people!" Kui reported to Li Yu on the second day, wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow despite the cool morning air.

"And not just bodies. I need experienced managers, accountants, logistics experts. Xylia needs more loyal officers to retrain the local forces. We're stretched too thin to handle this integration properly." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The solution was immediate and decisive. Urgent messages were sent out from Tidal Jade City to every major branch of the Golden Shell Guild and the White Paw Company.

Within a day, the skies above the city saw the arrival of several Golden Shell flying crafts. They brought experienced managers, loyal accountants, and logistics experts from Coralspire Harbor and other established branches, a rapid deployment of the Guild's most trusted personnel. Xylia's own request was answered by a swift transport carrying a contingent of her most trusted officers, ready to impose order and begin the retraining process.

Among the many new arrivals was the familiar, portly figure of Fat Pig, his expertise in establishing new branches and managing complex logistics desperately needed. The full might of their burgeoning empire was now focused on this single, crucial task. With the situation in the city now being managed by his capable retainers, Li Yu's mind turned to a more personal matter. He entered the Koi Sanctuary.

The vast, inland sea was calm, the Crystal Orb of Serenity now pulsing with a gentle, rhythmic light from its high perch, its calming energy a soft, invisible blanket over the entire realm. He found Spine resting in a deep, secluded trench, his massive, hundred-meter-long form slowly knitting itself back together. He appeared before the great beast, his presence quiet and respectful.

"Spine," he began, his voice sincere.

"I must apologize. What happened during the battle… the roar… it was not my intention. The technique got out of my control. I disrupted your fight, your chance for vengeance." Spine slowly opened his eyes. The burning, all-consuming rage was gone, replaced by a deep, weary sorrow, but also something new—a fragile, flickering light of hope.

"It is alright, Master," he rumbled, his voice still weak.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I do not blame you. In fact…" He paused, his gaze distant.

"Perhaps it was for the better. My rage would have led me to kill him. And if I had, I would have never learned that there is a chance… a chance my son might still be alive." He looked at Li Yu, his ancient eyes filled with a new, profound sense of loyalty.

"You did not disrupt my fight, Master. You gave me a reason to live beyond it."

"I will help you find him," Li Yu said, his words a simple, unbreakable promise.

"If he is out there, we will find him." He left Spine to his recovery and returned to the world outside. He immediately took out his communication talisman and contacted Fengliu. He relayed the entire, incredible story—Spine's past, the revelation of his son, his name, his half-beast bloodline, and the fact that he had been taken by the Beast Revolution Faction over one hundred and fifty years ago.

"Fengliu, I have a new intelligence objective for you," Li Yu commanded.

"Add it to your list of things to look for. I do not expect immediate results. This is over a century old. But as you gather information on the Faction's structure, keep an eye out for any mention of their 're-education' facilities or any high-ranking members who fit this description. It is an important, personal matter for Spine."

"It will be done, Young Master," came the calm, professional reply. His next message was to the Crimson Forge Sect, sent through the Guild's official channels. He informed the Sect Master that the Golden Tide Clan, as a hostile power, had been dismantled and its assets absorbed by the Golden Shell Guild. He assured them that the Guild wished to maintain good business relations, that they would honor all existing ore contracts, and that they had no intention of interfering in the sect's primary markets.

It was a message of peace and partnership. But he ended it with a grim warning: The Golden Tide Clan was merely the local head of the snake. The Beast Revolution Faction was still at large, and the threat to the southern coast was far from over. With his immediate duties handled, a rare sense of peace settled over Li Yu. He had time. Time to rest, to consolidate, and to finally explore the profound changes that had occurred within his own body.