Free Web NovelChapter 600: Chapter 600: Collaboration (Part 1)
When Zhang Yuan returned to West Plain, everything in Dao City was normal, even more prosperous than before.
In fact, during Zhang Yuan’s sweep of the strange creatures, merchant caravans traveling east and west suddenly found that the previously perilous trade routes had become much quieter and safer.
Not to mention the large bandit gangs, even the small groups engaging in sneaky, underhanded activities had disappeared without a trace.
Then an astonishing piece of news quickly spread.
Rumor had it that two signal fires of the Desert Wind Army, which roamed the Western Regions, had been destroyed by someone. Due to fear of the strength of West Plain Dao General Zhang Yuan and the renown of Upper Scenic Celestial, this notorious bandit army abandoned this territory.
They ceased to harass the trade routes leading from West Plain to the Western Regions!
At first, people didn’t dare to believe this news.
It’s important to know that the Desert Wind Army’s sixteen signal fires, none of them were easy to provoke, how could two routes be easily wiped out?
Moreover, having suffered such a loss, would they really be willing to give up and walk away?
But the answer was affirmative—the Desert Wind Army really retreated.
Thus, the number of merchants traveling along this trade route increased significantly, with some caravans even willing to take longer detours just to pass through.
This brought an even more thriving and prosperous scene to West Plain City!
Correspondingly, Zhang Yuan, as the Dao General of West Plain City, his reputation was like the sun at noon.
Completely overshadowing Fei Hongming, who had been stationed in Dao City for ten years!
Although many people believed that Zhang Yuan drove away and scared off the Desert Wind Army by borrowing the might of Upper Scenic Celestial,
his own strength was undeniable.
This resulted in a flood of visitors to Zhang Yuan’s doorstep as soon as he returned to West Plain, after the news spread.
These visitors included both local families of the West Plain and merchants traveling to the Western Regions.
And each visitor brought generous gifts.
But Zhang Yuan had no patience to socialize with these people, so he directly announced his retreat, handing over the hospitality duties to Deputy General Sun Yujiang.
After all, completely shutting out representatives of local forces was not the best choice.
Of course, Zhang Yuan specifically instructed Sun Yujiang that he could selectively accept sugar-coated gifts but must reject all the explosive ones.
With the deputy general’s shrewdness and experience, completing such tasks was no problem at all.
In the days that followed, Zhang Yuan stayed in the Dao Camp, focusing entirely on cultivating and comprehending what he had gained from his recent experiences.
However, the arrival of one visitor forced him to temporarily end his retreat.
It was none other than Wu Ziyu.
This direct descendant of the Wu family had previously returned with the seven-leaf reishi and, after accompanying Zhang Yuan to eradicate Cyan Wolf Camp, had left West Plain City with his trusted aides.
Zhang Yuan thought there would be no further interactions with him.
Unexpectedly, two months later, Wu Ziyu came running back to West Plain City, specifically asking for him by name.
Considering the Wu family’s connection with Upper Scenic Celestial, plus the fact that the former had been quite generous and never treated him poorly,
Zhang Yuan gave this direct descendant of the Wu family due respect.
"Brother Wu, it’s been a long time."
In the White Tiger Hall, having just changed into a fresh outfit, Zhang Yuan smiled and said to Wu Ziyu, "How have you been lately?"
"Thank you, Dao General Zhang, for your concern. Everything’s been fine."
After some time apart, Wu Ziyu appeared rejuvenated and full of ambition, evidently telling the truth.
But he was even more polite to Zhang Yuan, clasping his fist in salute and saying, "Dao General Zhang, I boldly visited this time because I have something very important to ask your help with."
Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, "Go ahead."
Although he wouldn’t underestimate this Wu family member, it wasn’t possible to truly treat him as a senior guest.
At best, they were on equal footing.
Yet in Wu Ziyu’s eyes, at that moment, Zhang Yuan exuded an aura of an upper-echelon figure.
And this aura was not deliberately presented; it naturally emanated from his physique and will, commanding respect without anger, capturing the hearts of people!
Wu Ziyu even felt as if he was facing the elders of his family.
He quickly composed himself and said, "The thing is..."
It turned out that Wu Ziyu’s Wu family was primarily rooted in the He Yuan region, which is about four to five hundred miles away from West Plain.
For decades, the Wu family had been keen to open up the Nu Tao River waterway, so that they could travel by boat directly from He Yuan to the vicinity of West Plain, then continue by land to the Western Regions, significantly reducing the travel time between the two places.
Most importantly, the waterway had large carrying capacity and was more safe and comfortable.
It could save an immense amount of manpower and resources.
The problem was that the Nu Tao River passed through the northern foothills of Liping Mountain, with treacherous rapids and hidden reefs, and the river was infested with powerful and ferocious deceitful monsters, making navigation extremely dangerous.
The Wu family had once deployed warships to clear the way, but three warships along with hundreds of people were completely wiped out in the Nu Tao River.
The loss was so great that it took years to recover.
Yet the Wu family did not give up and again sought help from powerful individuals from the main branch in Qianjing to assist in eradicating the deceitful monsters entrenched in the river, but to no avail.
Because the river monsters were quite spiritual and refused to confront the Wu family’s powerful openly, repeatedly using the water’s momentum to create havoc and harass.
The Wu family’s powerful ones also dared not go underwater, naturally unable to deal with the monsters.
Over decades, this waterway nearly became an obsession for the He Yuan Wu family.
Or rather a source of mental anguish!
Additionally, the Wu family had thought about leveraging the power of Upper Scenic Celestial to handle the deceitful beings, but the Sect, after understanding the situation, politely declined their request.
Even though Upper Scenic Celestial possessed many mighty powers, such figures were not within the Wu family’s reach.
Moreover, given the cunning of the river monsters, even mighty beings might not catch them.
After all, even beings of the Divinity Transformation Realm could not drain a vast long river to pull out the deceitful monsters hidden within!
Some time ago, Wu Ziyu brought the seven-leaf reishi back home. After understanding the situation, the family elders suddenly revisited the old matter. After further deliberations, they eventually decided to send him back to West Plain City.
The Wu family hoped to team up with Zhang Yuan to open up the Nu Tao River waterway.
For this, they were willing to share the profits of the Wu family’s caravans with Zhang Yuan.
Meaning they intended to let Zhang Yuan have a stake and a share of the dividends!
Zhang Yuan listened patiently to Wu Ziyu’s explanation.
The man’s eloquence was actually very ordinary, lacking the power to persuade hearts.
But the matter and intention were stated clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
Zhang Yuan found this matter quite interesting.
Firstly, the Wu family truly had high regard for him, coming to him with an issue unsolvable by their family’s powerful ones or by Upper Scenic Celestial.
Moreover, it wasn’t an act of desperation, showing the importance they placed and the confidence they had in Zhang Yuan.
But where did the Wu family’s confidence come from?
The Desert Wind Army?
What’s most interesting is that they truly came to the right person by finding Zhang Yuan!
Because Zhang Yuan’s abilities in water warfare, not just surpass his peers, but even when facing higher-realm Divine Powers, he was only strong rather than weak.
Dealing with waterborne deceitful monsters, Zhang Yuan was highly skilled!
