Ten Thousand Sword Masters

In Tuanyuan Village, Xiong Changhai, along with Hu Dongcheng, Wu Tianbei, and seven others, disguised themselves as a merchant caravan and checked into the bamboo houses that the village specifically rented to caravans.

"Master Xiong, the price of animal hides from our Tuanyuan Village is absolutely the lowest in the entire Ten Thousand Mountains. I am not lying to you at all, and you can check the quality of each hide yourself," said Pi Biao, the village elder of Tuanyuan Village, to Xiong Changhai.

"Elder, I didn't say your animal hides were expensive or of poor quality. It's just that we didn't intend to buy any hides. We were just passing through your village to rest and had no plans to purchase anything from you," Xiong Changhai said helplessly.

"Master Xiong, are you kidding me? What caravan doesn't buy things?" Pi Biao said innocently.

"Old man Pizhai, our caravan is here to buy things, but not animal hides from your Tuanyuan Village," Xiong Changhai said somewhat angrily.

"You don't buy animal hides? Then what do you buy?" Pi Biao asked, puzzled.

At this moment, Hu Dongcheng spoke up: "We just don't buy the animal hides from your Tuanyuan Village. We're going to buy the animal hides from Niujiao Village."

"See, I told you, what caravan doesn't buy animal hides?" Pi Biao said happily.

"Old Pizhai, a transaction requires mutual consent; it can't be forced. You don't need to make things difficult for me. I'm just a leader, not the owner of the caravan, so I can only go and buy animal hides from Niujiaozhai according to plan," Xiong Changhai said somewhat impatiently.

"Old man Pi, please leave. Our master needs to rest," Hu Dongcheng said rudely.

"Okay, okay, I'll come back later." Pi Biao was not discouraged at all and left readily.

Judging that Pi Biao had already gone far away, Hu Dongcheng hurriedly closed the door.

"Brother, it looks like Pi Biao is about to take the bait," Hu Dongcheng said happily.

"As expected, there are so few people in Tuanyuan Village that caravans rarely pass through their area. Our arrival naturally delighted them, and they begged to do business with us," Xiong Changhai said.

"Brother, what's the point of making a deal with them? They're so few in number anyway. Once you break through to the Sea of ​​History realm, we can just suppress and control them forcefully, right?" Hu Dongcheng asked doubtfully.

"Once I break through to the Sea of ​​History realm, suppressing them will be easy, but to get them to wholeheartedly serve me, I can't simply suppress and control them; I have to win their hearts," Xiong Changhai said slowly.

"You think you can win their hearts by making deals with them?" Hu Dongcheng asked in surprise.

"Of course, once they get on my good side, I can propose what I want to acquire and make them work hard for it, thus tying their interests down. In this way, they will be subtly controlled by me, and willingly so," Xiong Changhai said with a smile.

"The Yue people are so fierce and not stupid. Would they willingly be controlled?" Hu Dongcheng was somewhat skeptical.

"Hmph, it's human nature to curry favor with the strong. I'm improving their lives and still giving them dignity. All they've lost is leadership, something countless bandits dream of. If they don't know what's good for them and challenge my patience, then I'll have no choice but to suppress them forcefully," Xiong Changhai said firmly.

In the main hall of Tuanyuan Village, in the reception room of the village elder's pavilion, the village elder sat in the main seat, with a middle-aged man standing to his right.

"Elder, our Tuanyuan Village hasn't had a caravan pass through for three years. In the past few years, we've regularly brought our goods to Jindao Village and sold them to caravans that pass through. What brings a caravan to our village this time?" the middle-aged man said.

"In the past, caravans used to pass through our village, so there's no need to make a fuss. But this caravan feels a bit different to me. The leader is different from the merchants I usually see. He doesn't have as much of a commercial air as he does a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) air about him. He's probably more of a江湖 (jianghu) figure than a long-term trader," Pi Biao said.

"Is it a blessing or a curse for such a person to lead a caravan to our village?" the middle-aged man muttered to himself, frowning.

"What's meant to be will be," Pi Biao said with a smile.

An hour later, Pi Biao returned to the pavilion where Xiong Changhai was. This time, a young woman accompanied Pi Biao.

When Xiong Changhai saw the woman, his eyes lit up.

The woman had dark skin, but large, bright eyes and a very defined face, giving her a queenly aura.

Unexpectedly, such a beautiful woman could be found in such a small village as Tuanyuan Village. She should be offered to our lord.

Having made up his mind, Xiong Changhai became even more determined to take easing measures to control Tuanyuan Village.

"Master Xiong, this is my niece, Pi Shanshan. She's curious about your caravan and insisted on coming with me to take a look," Pi Biao said with a smile.

"So it's Miss Shanshan. I never imagined that the land and water of the Ten Thousand Mountains could nurture such a beautiful woman as you," Xiong Changhai praised.

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed across Pi Shanshan's face, revealing a hint of joy.

"Master Xiong, Shanshan is the darling of our village. She has many suitors, and many brave young men from the village are pursuing her," Pi Biao said proudly.

"Uncle, why are you saying all this?" Pi Shanshan asked shyly.

"Moreover, Shanshan doesn't hate outsiders like most people in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. She's full of curiosity about the outside world and longs for your Great Yu Dynasty," Pi Biao said.

Hearing this, Xiong Changhai was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Pi Biao without showing any emotion. Had his intentions been discovered?

Then, Xiong Changhai looked at Pi Shanshan and found that Pi Shanshan was lowering her head shyly, with a blush on her face.

Could it be that what Pi Biao said was true, that Pi Shanshan was not hostile to the people of the Yu Dynasty, and even longed for the Yu Dynasty?

If it's true, and Pi Biao can say it so frankly, does it mean that Pi Biao doesn't despise Pi Shanshan's view?

It's important to understand that although the people in the Ten Thousand Mountains do trade with caravans from outside, it doesn't mean they have a good relationship with these caravans. Incidents of bandits massacring and robbing caravans are frequent.

Apart from a small number of people who were born and raised in the Ten Thousand Mountains, the vast majority of people were gradually forced into the Ten Thousand Mountains by the dynasties and states outside the mountains.

"I didn't expect that Miss Shanshan is so fascinated by the outside world. Suddenly, I feel interested in making a deal with you," Xiong Changhai said.

Pi Biao was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Master Xiong, I've been waiting for you to say that."

"Old Pi Village Chief, although I do want to make a deal with you, whether or not I do it depends on my master's decision. How about this, I'll just buy some of your things this time, and then have Miss Shanshan take them to see our master. I think our master will be willing to buy your village's goods on a long-term basis after meeting Miss Shanshan," Xiong Changhai tempted.

Upon hearing this, Pi Biao frowned in thought, glanced at Pi Shanshan, and then gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, it's settled then."

I like the Ten Thousand Swords Master.