55: Chapter 55 Settling in a Small Town, the Natives Testing the Waters

Black Reef Island was not large, but it was chaotic enough.

As soon as the ship docked at the Pier, Lu Changyuan smelled the foul air on the dock, a mixture of sea stench, sweat, cheap liquor, and moldy wood.

This place was nothing like Blue Moon Island, nor was it like the trading towns in the near seas that still observed some rules.

From the Pier inward, Black Reef Island consisted of only three main streets, two sections of wooden buildings, and a ring of ramshackle sheds built along the reef walls.

Yet, a place like this was packed with Loose Cultivators of all stripes—merchants, mercenaries, refugees, scavengers, and those doing dirty work.

A glance at the street side revealed that even the vendors were likely not clean.

After disembarking, Lu Changyuan did not rush to sell his goods.

He first had Lu Hu lead the men to unload two crates of the most inconspicuous goods, deliberately walking at a steady pace, like a long-distance caravan that was heavily laden and wealthy, yet preferred to avoid trouble.

In the end, they settled in a three-story inn near the main street. The inn was called "Chaolai Inn."

The name sounded refined, but the ground floor was half lodging and half tavern.

Where there are people, there is news. This was exactly what Lu Changyuan wanted.

Less than an hour after checking in, he changed into a lighter outer robe and took Lu Hu to the tea shop next door.

The tea shop on Black Reef Island could hardly be called elegant. It had a few old tables, a large copper kettle, and tea that tasted of sea salt.

But its advantage lay in the mix of people coming and going; sit for a while, and you could hear anything.

Lu Changyuan chose a window seat, ordered only a pot of the cheapest bitter tea, and listened quietly.

The most discussed topic in the tea shop was not about which trading company had made a fortune, nor which pirate had hijacked a ship. It was about the Deep Sea Royal Clan.

"I heard they've mobilized troops again these past few days."

"It's not mobilization; it's a sea search."

"Damn it, the trade route to the east is almost completely sealed off. A few days ago, a small fleet didn't even return."

"Who knows what they're going crazy about… They had a fierce battle in the east a while ago, and now even the surrounding sea areas are in chaos."

"Forget about caravans; even Loose Cultivators don't dare to wander around anymore."

"My cousin came back from further out and said that several vassal sea clans of the Deep Sea Royal Clan are scouring the seas, as if they're looking for something, or perhaps guarding against something."

"Whatever they're looking for, people like us just need to make sure we don't get dragged into it."

The voices were chaotic, yet they all pointed to the same thing. The Outer Sea had recently become even more unsettled than before.

This unease was not the shockwave from a single great battle, but a more scattered, fragmented, yet pervasive restlessness emerging everywhere.

Some were blocking roads. Some were fleeing. Some were hoarding goods. And some were taking advantage of the chaos to prey on others.

Lu Changyuan lowered his head and sipped the bitter tea, slowly connecting these scattered pieces of information into a single thread in his mind.

At least one thing was certain. The actions of the Deep Sea Royal Clan were definitely not just a localized spasm.

Since even a transit hub like Black Reef Island was beginning to panic, the Xingyan Grand Market further in would likely be even shorter on supplies and more willing to buy goods soon.

For him, this was not a bad thing.

Just then, footsteps suddenly echoed from the street entrance. The originally noisy chatter in the tea shop fell slightly silent for a moment.

Lu Hu raised his eyelids and looked over first.

A team of guards arrived. The man in the lead was around fifty, not tall, wearing a dark brown patriarch's robe, with a smile on his Face, but his eyes were as narrow as blades.

He was followed by more than a dozen guards, the weakest of whom were at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, and among them was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a strong aura.

Such a formation was enough to declare their identity in a place like Black Reef Island.

"People from the Zhao family," someone at the next table whispered, then immediately shut their mouth.

After entering, the middle-aged man smiled and looked around the room before fixing his gaze on Lu Changyuan.

"This must be the proprietor of the Changyuan Trading Company, right?" His words were polite, but his gaze had already weighed Lu Changyuan from head to toe.

Lu Changyuan put down his teacup, stood up, and cupped his hands: "And you are?"

"Patriarch Zhao of Black Reef Island." Patriarch Zhao returned the salute with a smile: "I heard that a guest from afar has arrived on the island, bringing many fine goods. As a local, I naturally should come and fulfill the duties of a host."

Lu Changyuan smiled: "So it is Patriarch Zhao."

"It is nothing."

As Patriarch Zhao spoke, he sat down opposite him uninvited. He sat steadily, as if he were in his own home. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator behind him also stepped forward and stood precisely at his side.

The shopkeeper of the tea shop didn't dare to breathe loudly and hurriedly brought over another pot of tea.

Patriarch Zhao did not touch the tea, only looking at Lu Changyuan: "Where is the Changyuan Trading Company from?"

"The outer edge of the near seas, dealing in some miscellaneous goods."

"Is this your first time on this route?"

"Not exactly."

"The proprietor is young, but quite bold. The Outer Sea has not been peaceful lately. To be able to bring such a large cargo ship safely to Black Reef Island, your subordinates must have some skills."

This sounded like praise, but the focus never strayed from the "goods" and their "background."

Lu Changyuan acted as if he didn't notice, smiling and saying: "Just trying to make a living."

Patriarch Zhao also smiled, but the smile was thin.

"Making a living is not easy."

"Especially on Black Reef Island, it is even harder."

"The wind is strong and the waves are rough here; Pier fees, docking fees, storage fees, transit fees—none of them are cheap."

"If you run into people who don't understand the rules and wander around with a ship full of good cargo, it's inevitable that you'll suffer losses."

The meaning was clear by now. However, Lu Changyuan only turned his teacup: "What does Patriarch Zhao mean?"

"Simple." Patriarch Zhao finally laid it out clearly.

"The Zhao family can take half of your shipment first."

"We won't let you suffer on the price."

"Seventy percent of the market rate."

Lu Hu stood to the side, his eyelids twitching fiercely.

In a place like Black Reef Island, if things were done according to the rules, it wouldn't be strange for the Zhao family to take a ten or twenty percent cut due to their local advantage.

But to start by forcing it down to seventy percent, and to "take half first," this was no longer business; it was daylight robbery.

Yet when Patriarch Zhao said this, his tone was airy, as if he were bestowing a great favor.

Lu Changyuan looked at him: "Seventy percent?"

Patriarch Zhao nodded: "Young man, business in the Outer Sea isn't just about the value of the goods; it's also about whether you have the life to carry them to the next stop."

Lu Changyuan suddenly laughed. "Patriarch Zhao's words are indeed honest."

Seeing his tone soften, the greed in Patriarch Zhao's eyes grew heavier. However, Lu Changyuan's next words made his smile falter slightly.

"However, I am not in a hurry to sell this shipment."

"If we can't reach an agreement on Black Reef Island, I can continue moving forward."

The atmosphere in the tea shop instantly grew even more oppressive.

Patriarch Zhao stared at Lu Changyuan for two breaths, then smiled again.

"Of course, you can continue moving forward."

"It's just that I'm worried; since you are new to the Outer Sea, you might not understand the rules. If you leave too hastily, it's easy to hurt our harmonious relations."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands lightly. Someone else walked in from outside the tea shop.

It was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in fine clothes with a sword at his waist, his aura exposed; he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

His features were handsome enough, but his eyes were full of arrogance.

As soon as he entered, his gaze fell on Lu Changyuan, as if looking at a piece of cargo that hadn't been weighed yet.

"My son, Zhao Shaoheng." Patriarch Zhao introduced him with a smile, but his tone held an unmistakable air of showing off.

"Young people are always a bit high-spirited."

"I heard you have some capable people with you, so he wanted to ask for some pointers."

"Just a friendly spar, nothing to hurt our relationship."

Lu Hu behind him was almost laughing. They talked about business for so long, but in the end, they still wanted to use their fists to force the price down.

It's just that the Zhao family was better at putting on an act than the usual local bullies. Even when committing daylight robbery, they had to wrap it in the skin of a "spar."

Zhao Shaoheng had already raised his hand to grip his sword hilt, his tone dismissive: "I heard your Changyuan Trading Company ran all the way from the near seas. You've got quite a lot of nerve."

"I won't make things difficult for you."

"Have that head manager of yours come out and trade a few moves with me."

"If he can hold his own, the Zhao family will consider it making a new friend today."

"If he can't…" He grinned. "Then this shipment will have to be negotiated according to the rules of Black Reef Island."

No one in the tea shop made a sound. Everyone was watching.

Lu Changyuan sat where he was, not even putting down his tea, as if he had just heard a very ordinary, trivial matter.

Patriarch Zhao watched him, the probing in his eyes finally no longer hidden. What he wanted to see was never just this spar.

What he wanted to see was whether this young trading company that had suddenly burst into Black Reef Island with a big ship of fine goods was worthy of being ruthlessly fleeced.

Only then did Lu Changyuan slowly raise his eyes. He glanced at Zhao Shaoheng, then at the scowling Lu Hu beside him. Then, he nodded.

"Since Patriarch Zhao is so interested, then let my head manager accompany Young Lord Zhao for a little fun."