As the gates of Shrouded Peaks fully opened, the difference between it and Silver Lotus was immediately apparent. Layla took one step inside and came to an abrupt halt. Her eyes swept over the towering structures, the intricate stone pathways, the smoothly polished training grounds where disciples practiced in disciplined formations.
She scoffed, gesturing wildly at the pristine environment. "Oh, come on."
Jiang, still stretching out his sore limbs from the earlier pressure, raised a brow. "What?"
Layla threw her arms up in exasperation.
"Are you seeing this? Look at those buildings! They're actually standing! Properly! No holes in the roofs, no broken support beams!"
Bao, taking in the scene, whistled low. "Damn. Their roads don't even have dirt patches."
Yuxe Wuye, walking beside her husband, chuckled under her breath.
"They certainly have the resources."
Layla continued, unfazed.
"And those lanterns? Silk-covered lanterns? Glass windows? My sect barely has doors that don't fall off their hinges, and these guys are out here living in luxury!"
Atlas, still taking in his surroundings, muttered
"I thought the Silver Lotus Sect was one of the oldest sects in the region?"
Layla turned on her feet, jabbing a finger at him.
"Yeah, and just like an old man, it's falling apart! You think we have marble flooring like this? No! We have dirt! You think our disciples have matching uniforms? No! Half of them are wearing patchwork robes held together by pure willpower!"
She threw a glare towards her father. "Why didn't we have nice things?"
Lin Wuye, completely unbothered, carrying the child while administrating Qi into her.
"I told you. Administration is expensive."
"So is my sanity" Layla shot back.
Meanwhile, Bao had wandered closer to one of the training grounds, watching a group of Shrouded Peaks disciples practicing advanced formations with their spears. Their movements were precise, synchronized. It was the kind of training that spoke of discipline honed over generations.
"This is a proper sect" Bao admitted. "Their body so solid like stone."
Jiang crossed his arms, nodding as well.
"Their techniques aren't flashy, but they're precise. Practical. I don't see any wasted movement."
Layla muttered under her breath, still glancing around.
"Not to mention, they've actually got proper storage for their weapons. We just leave ours lying around in piles!"
Atlas, taking it all in with a keen eye, finally let out a low chuckle.
"So what I'm hearing is, your sect is like a group of overly determined bandits squatting in the remains of a once-great institution."
Layla glared daggers at him. "If I didn't need you alive to clear up this mess, I'd throw you off this mountain."
Internally, however, Atlas's mind was already at work.
This sect was well-organized, well-funded, and most importantly, well-supplied. If I play this right, there was an opportunity here. The resources alone made them a valuable connection. But how to get in without making it obvious?
He needed leverage—something they wanted that only he could provide. Perhaps trade? Perhaps something deeper? He filed the thought away for later, already formatting the foundation of a potential business deal in his mind.
Meyu, meanwhile, had been quiet, walking closely beside Atlas. She exhaled deeply, still shaking off the remnants of the pressure she had felt earlier. She spared a glance toward Lin Wuye, who still held the unconscious child securely in his arms.
"Master, how is she?"
Lin Wuye adjusted his grip on the child and glanced down at her frail form.
"She's stable for now, but she needs proper care. Malnourished, exhausted. It will take time before she recovers fully."
Yan, who had been standing near Daokan, spoke for the first time since they entered.
"Shrouded Peaks has some of the best medicinal facilities in the region. She'll be in good hands."
Layla exhaled, some of her earlier frustration fading as she looked at the child.
"At least that's something."
Jiang stepped forward. "Where will we be staying?"
Daokan, who had been silently watching the entire exchange, finally turned toward his disciple, the man second only to him in skill.
"Yan Shuren, see to it that our guests are given quarters. Ensure the child is taken to the healers immediately."
Yan nodded, his expression neutral as he gestured for the guards to proceed.
''This way, Silver Lotus Sect and..that merchant''
Yan also ordered a couple of the maids to take care of the child to their own physician. Lin Wuye slowly lets the child to the maid's arm to which he sees how the maids sees her in pure sorrow and pity and walks quickly to the physician while covering her in warm cloth.
As they moved deeper into the sect, Layla couldn't help but mutter under her breath
"I swear, if they have heated floors too, I'm going to riot."
They stepped into the main headquarters of Shrouded Peaks, and the difference was staggering. Layla had expected some level of grandeur, but this was beyond comprehension. The main building grounds were massive—larger than the entirety of Silver Lotus, including its own training grounds, living quarters, and meditation halls combined. The architecture was refined yet imposing, carved directly into the mountainside, blending seamlessly with the environment. Majestic pillars held up intricately designed ceilings, detailed murals depicting great battles and past masters lined the walls, and every pathway was immaculately maintained. What Layla assumed was the top Disciples practicing their Qi as she could feel the disturbance in the air to which she wonders if it's because she was so weak. They moved and strike with practiced efficiency, their robes pristine, their expressions disciplined. There was no scrambling to rebuild, no signs of desperation. This was a sect that had never fallen.
After this exchange of thoughts, Atlas disturbed Layla by introducing himself with an exaggerated flourish, much like a swindler. His voice carried the same dramatic flair, his posture exuding an overconfidence that instantly made Layla's eye twitch in irritation.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance!" Atlas declared, grinning as he extended a hand towards her.
"A merchant of the highest caliber, a man of wealth and taste, and, most importantly, someone who simply must know the name of the radiant young lady before him. My name is Atlas Ryland, Meyu is my business partner and you?"
Layla stared at him, unamused. "...No."
Atlas gasped, clutching his chest as if she had stabbed him.
"No? You wound me! You deny me the honor of your name? A name, I am certain, that carries grace and legend alike?"
Layla sighed, rubbing her temples. "Meilin. There. Happy now?"
Atlas beamed. "Ecstatic! And now that we're all friends—tell me, Meilin, why does this place feel so weird to you? Judging by your face, I'd say it's been gnawing at you since we got here."
Layla exhaled sharply, her gaze drifting across the pristine sect. "It's too perfect. Too… intact."
Atlas raised a brow. "And your sect isn't?"
Layla let out a humourless laugh.
"Oh, my sect isn't just not intact. It's barely holding itself together. Seeing this just makes me realize how bad it really is."
After this admission, Layla straightened, her expression hardening as she turned to introduce two figures who had been silent until now.
"This is my father, Lin Wuye, and my mother, Yuxe Wuye."
Atlas regarded them with a polite nod, adjusting his stance with a well-practiced ease. He took a step forward, hands clasped behind his back in a manner that suggested both respect and confidence.
"An honour to meet you both. Given the state of the world and the challenges sects face today, I must ask—how is Silver Lotus faring? As a merchant by trade, I find myself always interested to establish relationship of great establishments such as yours. Perhaps there is something I can do to help."
His voice was smooth, conversational, yet probing just enough to invite further dialogue. Atlas wasn't just asking out of politeness—he was watching, waiting, analyzing. And he knew Layla was doing the same to him.
Her eyes narrowed. There were only two possibilities.
Either Atlas was stupidly honest—so confident in his own words that he never needed to hide anything. Or… he was a master manipulator, someone who controlled every word, every movement, every outcome, even in casual conversation.
Atlas, fully aware of this, from noticing her intent glare, kept up his act—his expressions perfectly balanced between casual sincerity and playful mischief. He let just enough of his personality slip through to keep Layla guessing.
If she wanted to figure him out, she was going to have to work for it. Layla, still studying him, began to pick apart his demeanour—his expressions, his reactions, the small shifts in his body language. He was too composed, too measured. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, nothing about him felt truly unguarded.
Lin Wuye after hearing Atlas merchant-like question nodded thoughtfully before responding.
"When Meilin—our daughter—first came to the main city, there were many things she required to keep Silver Lotus functioning. Resources were scarce, and even basic trade negotiations were difficult without proper backing. The sect has endured, but not without its struggles. When we came to the city, we tried to secure food but no merchant wanted to trade with us just because we are a struggling sect"
Yuxe Wuye added "She fought hard to secure what was needed, but the process was slow, and she met resistance at every turn. Many saw Silver Lotus as a sect on the decline. They were unwilling to invest in what they believed was a losing cause."
Atlas tapped his chin, feigning deep contemplation while carefully watching Layla's reaction.
"That is quite the predicament. If supply lines are the issue, then a merchant's network could be invaluable. I assume you'd be interested in striking new trade agreements to stabilize the sect's standing?"
Lin Wuye met his gaze, his expression unreadable.
"That would certainly be beneficial. However, such negotiations require trust. Perhaps, once our meeting with Master Daokan is concluded, you and my daughter can strike a deal of your own."
Layla's head snapped toward her father, eyes narrowing. "Father!"
Lin Wuye merely smiled, giving Atlas a knowing look.
"You are, after all, a merchant of the highest caliber, are you not?"
At those words, a gleam flickered in Atlas's eyes—the unmistakable look of a man who had just spotted a golden opportunity. It was the expression of a merchant who could smell profit from miles away.
Atlas clasped his hands together, his voice oozing with enthusiasm.
"Ah, Master Lin, you flatter me! But of course, my primary goal in life is to ensure mutually beneficial relationships! Now, Meilin, my dear business partner, tell me—what exactly does Silver Lotus need? A stronger supply chain? Strategic trade routes? Or perhaps… something more refined?"
Layla's eye twitched. "Stop looking at me like I'm a high-value investment."
Atlas feigned deep contemplation, rubbing his chin.
"But that's precisely what you are—a leader of a struggling sect seeking revitalization. With the right connections, funding, and trade, Silver Lotus could flourish. And luckily for you, I specialize in making the impossible… possible."
Layla opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, a calm yet commanding voice cut through the air.
"Enough. Sit."