Dao of Money

Heavenly Sleep Inn was a fairly unremarkable place. A middle-tier establishment that catered mostly to merchants and travelers, it saw a steady flow of customers—people of modest means who came and went without drawing much attention.

That was why, on this particular morning, the sight of several extravagant carriages pulling up outside sent shockwaves through the people in the inn.

The moment the first carriage door opened, a hush fell over the common room. Conversations died mid-sentence. Patrons turned to gawk. Even people outside the inn gathered around, craning their necks to get a better look.

The realization spread quickly, whispered from table to table: These were the men who controlled the city’s alcohol trade.

Half a dozen figures entered, each dressed in finely embroidered robes that bore the insignias of their respective clans and trade associations. They moved confidently, the weight of their wealth and influence pressing into the space like an invisible force.

Yet among them, only three men truly stood out.

The first was the owner of Phoenix Tear Tavern, Luo Duyi, a shrewd businessman who had once entertained a visiting noble and boasted about it for years. His sharp eyes swept over the inn with a deep-set frown.

The second was an elder from the Gujam Clan, Gujam Deshun, a man who had controlled the Silver Jug Bar for decades. He stepped inside while clenching and unclenching his fists in habit, his eyes moving across the room, searching for something unseen.

And the last was Zhu Yuan of the Alehouse, his round face lacked any sort of expression as he took his place among the others, giving nothing away.A tense silence stretched between them as they moved toward the largest table in the inn. The servers, looking nervous, rushed to bring water, placing the glasses carefully in front of them.

Finally they sat down and Luo Duyi broke the silence. He scowled down at the glass of water before him, then scoffed.

”What kind of place has that man called us to?” he muttered, the upper lip curling in disgust. ”Couldn’t he have chosen somewhere decent?”

At that, Gujam Deshun chuckled. ”I’d love to see if you’ll keep that tone and attitude when Chen Ren arrives.” His wrinkled fingers tapped the rim of his glass before he leaned back in his chair with a creak. ”Your servants already sent him gifts yesterday, didn’t they? Hoping to buy his favor? And yet, they were turned away. You should be grateful that you’re even getting this opportunity to purchase moonshine.”

Luo Duyi shot him a glare. ”So, you’ve been keeping track of my servants, old man?” He asked with a smile that mocked the attempt, but his eyes remained cold. ”Don’t pretend you haven’t done the same. From what I’ve heard, you outright refused to meet Daoist Chen Ren’s people when they first came to sell moonshine. And now that it’s turning into the most sought-after drink in the city, here you are, scrambling to secure a deal.”

Deshun’s face darkened at that, his grip on his cup tightening slightly. But before he could shoot back a retort, Zhu Yuan clicked his tongue in annoyance.

”Enough. You two should stop bickering like children. We’re in a public place.” He looked around, and took note of all the eyes that were peering down on them.

Luo Duyi scoffed, crossing his arms. ”This isn’t bickering. It’s called talking. Fighting is done with fists. And let’s not forget, we’re all competitors here. Do you really expect us to sit around and chat like we’re at a family dinner?”

A few of the seated businessmen nodded at that, but Zhu Yuan remained unimpressed. He merely sighed before speaking again. ”It doesn’t matter how much we argue. In the end, none of us can change the outcome of who gets the exclusive contract for moonshine.”

Then, his gaze swept across the gathered merchants. ”I assume all of you have already decided on your tenders?”

They exchanged looks before nodding.

Duyi clicked his tongue. ”I still don’t understand this whole tender process. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Why can’t he just conduct business the normal way, like any proper merchant?”

Deshun exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. ”People from sects have their own ways. And in a way, this is revenge. He wants to see which of us is the most desperate to get his product after we rejected him.” A wry smile appeared on his lips. ”A bitter but clever move. Since we’re not allowed to change our offers once the tenders are submitted, he’s making sure we reveal exactly how much we’re willing to pay—without him having to negotiate at all.”

Duyi parted his lips to retort, but before he could say anything, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the inn. Instantly, the room fell into silence as all heads turned toward the staircase.

Chen Ren walked down the steps calmly. His robes crisp and his face held a neutral expression. Behind him, two of his subordinates that they remembered as Zi Han and Anji followed closely. The tension in the air thickened as the merchants instinctively straightened their postures.

As he reached the table, the gathered businessmen stood in unison and gave him a slight bow—a gesture of respect, both for his status as a cultivator and as the man they were here to negotiate with.

Chen Ren nodded at them. ”Please, sit down. I apologize for the delay, but let’s begin this meeting.”

He took his seat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. For a few seconds, he simply observed them, letting the silence linger just long enough to remind them who held the power in this negotiation. Then, with a small, almost polite smile, he spoke.

”I see that all of you have decided to come here today with your tenders. First of all, I appreciate your interest in our moonshine. But before we begin, let me make one thing clear—there will be no second chances. Whatever offer you’ve prepared will be final. There will be no renegotiations.”

A ripple of tension ran through the merchants, but they nodded in agreement. A few of them even voiced their assurance.

”We are here with our best offer.

Even Duyi, who had been the most vocal earlier, now seemed to have adjusted his attitude. With a more respectful tone, he said, ”My Phoenix Tear Tavern will secure this contract.”

One by one, the merchants reached into their robes, retrieving their tenders—rolled-up parchments sealed with wax, each holding their final bid.

Chen Ren accepted them, stacking them neatly in front of him. He let his fingers brush over the topmost scroll before meeting their eyes once more

”Now, shall we see who will have the privilege of selling moonshine in this city?”

He then started opening them, one after the other.

***

Chen Ren looked down at the neatly stacked parchments in front of him, fingers brushing lightly over the wax seals. He had anticipated that the bar owners would realize they were in direct competition and would submit strong offers. And he had to admit—he wasn’t disappointed.

Each proposal was significantly better than the initial ones he had received. The desperation to secure the moonshine contract was evident in the generous terms they had put forward. Now, all that was left was to choose one.

Rather than overcomplicating things by immediately looking for the best deal, Chen Ren started from the bottom, gauging which offers were the weakest. His expression remained neutral as he unrolled each parchment, scanning the contents before setting aside the ones that failed to meet his expectations.

With each rejected tender, he silently passed the parchment to Anji and Zi Wen, who stood beside him.

He had to admit—choosing a winner wasn’t easy. The bars had gone all out, offering him terms that were almost ridiculously favorable. He guessed they now viewed moonshine as their golden ticket to expanding their reach into the cultivator market—a customer base that was notoriously difficult to cater to. And because of that, they were offering terms they probably hadn’t given to anyone before.

Part of it was obviously fueled by their competition with each other. No one wanted to lose. But at the end of the day, this was an exclusive contract. Only one of them would be walking away with the rights to sell moonshine.

After shifting through the parchments for a while, weighing the pros and cons, Chen Ren finally came to a conclusion. And he had to say—it wasn’t a surprising one. If anything, he had fully expected this outcome.

Lifting his gaze from the documents, he looked at the gathered businessmen.

”Honorable gentlemen, thank you for your patience as I reviewed your offers.” He placed the parchment that he had in his hands on the table. ”I found them all to be quite generous, and I appreciate the effort each of you put into your proposals.”

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The men at the table tensed ever so slightly.

They had maintained an air of composure throughout the meeting, but in truth, they all understood what was at stake. Whoever lost this contract wasn’t just losing out on one product—they were losing an entire market share. Their competitors would gain the upper hand, while they would be left scrambling to catch up.

Ignoring their expressions, Chen Ren continued.

”So, after careful consideration, I have decided that the establishment that will receive the exclusive contract for moonshine is…” He paused for just a fraction of a second. ”The Zhu Clan’s Alehouse.”

The atmosphere immediately turned dire. Zhu Yuan’s eyes gleamed as he tapped the table, his jubilant smile widening. The murmurs of surprise spread like wildfire among the gathered crowd, while Luo Duyi’s face paled, his throat constricting as he hastily swallowed a large gulp of water, mistaking it for alcohol in his panic.

”I offered 50 silver wen per container,” Duyi sputtered, his voice shaky. ”How did I not win? You’ve made a deal with the Zhu Clan already and called us here to humiliate us!”

Chen Ren’s eyes remained unbothered. His expression didn’t shift as he met the man’s gaze. “I have no such intention. I chose the Zhu Alehouse because they gave the best offer.”

Deshun, seated quietly at the back, let out a low sigh and leaned forward. “Can we know what the Zhu Clan offered?”

Chen Ren turned his gaze to Zhu Yuan, who smiled proudly, thoroughly enjoying the attention. He leaned back in his chair with exaggerated ease, before answering in a voice that boomed with authority. “I just gave an offer that can’t be surpassed. Forty silver wen per container.”

Luo Duyi’s jaw dropped, but before he could protest, Zhu Yuan wasn’t done. He raised a hand, signaling for silence, and continued, “And 25 percent profit on every sale of moonshine.”

Gasps rippled through the inn, the man on the table turning to each other, eyes wide in disbelief. Even Gujam, who had clearly seen many deals in his time, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. ”With such rates,” he started, his voice tinged with incredulity, ”how are you even going to make a profit?”

Zhu Yuan waved his hand dismissively, his grin unwavering. “You don’t need to worry about that, old man. Now that my bar has the contract, I’ll handle the rest.” He leaned back in his chair, eyes locking with Chen Ren’s. “I hope we’ll be good business partners, Daoist Chen.”

Chen Ren offered a polite nod, his fingers brushing together in the subtle gesture of respect. “Certainly, Young Master Zhu Yuan.”

The tension in the room seemed to diffuse as the deal was sealed, the murmurs turning into whispers. But Chen Ren didn’t care about any of it. The important part was that he had finally secured a deal for the moonshine.

***

Once the final decision was made, confirming that the Zhu Clan had secured the exclusive contract for moonshine, the atmosphere in the inn shifted dramatically. The men, who had been seated at the table moments ago, quickly gathered their things, eager to leave. They barely cast a glance toward Zhu Yuan or Chen Ren. He could sense the mix of frustration and resignation when they left. It was clear they were desperate to be anywhere else.

Still, to Chen Ren’s surprise, none of them overtly showed their displeasure. They bid Zhu Yuan and him farewell with polite smiles, maintaining an outward calm. Luo Duyi, on the other hand, had trouble hiding his discontent, his mood souring as he muttered under his breath.

But Chen Ren couldn’t help but respect the restraint shown by the other bar owners. It spoke volumes about their professionalism. He appreciated their ability to control their emotions and avoid making enemies. In this world, knowing how to handle business and keep one’s pride in check was just as important as any deal. After all, the exclusive contract wasn’t permanent—it only lasted for two years. If a better deal came his way in the future, Chen Ren wouldn’t hesitate to consider it.

Once the last of them had left, Zhu Yuan looked at Chen Ren with a grin. ”I’m glad this is all settled,” he said, his voice cheerful. ”I’d like to have you as a guest at our estate while you’re in the city.”

Chen Ren didn’t hesitate before accepting. He had no intention of staying in the inn any longer—its comfort was lacking, and he knew it would be more beneficial to stay in the Zhu Clan’s estate, especially considering it would give him a good chance to bolster better relationship between his sect and the Zhu clan.

“I’d be happy to,” he replied, with a smile that was just as measured as ever.

Without wasting time, they began to shift everything and moved to the Zhu Clan estate where they decided to store every bit of moonshine they had brought in the carriage.

As the Zhu Clan workers began moving the moonshine into the warehouse—Zi Han, Hong Yi, and Anji made sure nothing was broken in the process—Zhu Yuan led Chen Ren to a tour of the estate. The grandness of the place made it clear that he was in a clan that has a history of hundreds of years. Just the architecture looked regal yet sturdy.

As they walked, Zhu Yuan turned to Chen Ren with a more serious expression. “I know we didn’t start off on the best footing,” he said, “but I’m genuinely excited to have good business with the Divine Coin Sect. We’ll make this work.”

Chen Ren nodded. “What happened in the past isn’t important. As long as we’re good business partners and make profits, I believe we’ll both be happy.” He glanced at Zhu Yuan, his eyes steady. ”That’s the nature of this business.”

Zhu Yuan’s grin widened at the words, a flicker of understanding passing between them. “Exactly,” he agreed, pausing before adding, “With the way moonshine’s been gaining fame, I’m confident the business will be booming. Honestly, I was almost scared I wasn’t going to get my hands on it.”

Chen Ren smiled. “I can understand. I myself didn’t expect such interest in my product,” he said before adding. “Though, I expected you to get the deal.”

At Chen Ren’s words, Zhu Yuan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You expected me to get it?” he asked.

Chen Ren nodded. “Yes. Out of all the bar owners, you needed it the most.” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before continuing. “First of all, you’re really young, Young Master Zhu Yuan. From what I’ve gathered, you’ve only recently taken over the alcohol business from your father. It’s obvious you want to prove yourself to him. If you had let the moonshine slip through your fingers, and some other tavern made a success of it, your position within the clan might’ve been in jeopardy.”

Zhu Yuan’s expression shifted as he intently listened to Chen Ren’s analysis. His posture straightened slightly and he flinched, as if he recognized the truth in what Chen Ren was saying. That was enough for Chen Ren to know he had hit the mark.

“Moreover,” Chen Ren added, raising his third finger, “the Zhu Clan has been trying to forge more connections with sects, sending their young members there to explore the wider world and become better cultivators. A brand of alcohol catering primarily to cultivators could help with that. Even if higher realm cultivators might not be interested, it could open doors with the lower realm cultivators in the sects. A connection with even an outer disciple in the sect can be vital after all.”

When he had arrived in the city first, Chen Ren had searched for every bit of information he could find from various sources— other merchants in the inn, servants of the large clans and even by giving away a bit of moonshine to some establishments and then he had pieced it all together. It was almost unbelievable how much could be learned from just keeping an ear open.

“The larger the clan,” Chen Ren continued, “the more likely they are to leak information. There are always weak points.”

Zhu Yuan didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded, his lips curling into a small smile. “I see you’ve done your research,” he said, acknowledging Chen Ren’s information. But he didn’t confirm or deny any of the points raised.

Before Chen Ren could say anything further, his gaze shifted to the side. Something caught his eye—a faint glow of heat rising from a forge. His attention snapped to it, his focus sharpening as he saw a man standing in the center, hammering a piece of armor. The heat from the forge was intense, and the air shimmered around it, but what truly caught Chen Ren’s attention wasn’t the fire or the steel.

It was the subtle pulse of qi that flowed from the man’s hammer with each strike, rippling through the air like a hidden current. Chen Ren’s eyes widened.

The man’s movements were smooth, his control over the hammer and the forge seemingly infused with internal energy. Every strike sent a faint but distinct wave of qi into the metal. This wasn’t just someone with an impressive skill for forging, or someone who’s trying their best to be skilled in their craft.

That man was a cultivator.

***

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