The Frost Wolf Sect's fortress squatted at the base of a mountain like a predator at rest.
Unlike our compound with its faded elegance and desperate maintenance, their stronghold radiated martial power—high stone walls, guard towers at regular intervals, warriors visible everywhere practicing forms or standing watch. As our small party approached the main gate, I counted at least thirty visible guards, and that was just the entrance.
"They're showing strength deliberately," Huiyue murmured from beside me in the carriage. "Making sure we understand the power differential."
"Good. Let them feel secure in their superiority." I shifted uncomfortably, my body already aching from the three-hour journey despite the cushioned seat. "Confident opponents are easier to negotiate with than frightened ones."
Liu Ruyan, sitting across from me, frowned at my pallor. "You should have rested more before this journey."
"I rested all night. My body simply doesn't improve beyond a certain threshold." I managed a weak smile. "At least looking half-dead reinforces the impression that I'm harmless."
The carriage stopped at the main gate. Our four guards dismounted first, followed by Huiyue in her merchant finery. Liu Ruyan helped me down carefully, supporting much of my weight as my legs protested the movement.
A Frost Wolf officer approached—tall, scarred, with the casual confidence of someone who'd never lost a fight. His eyes swept over our party, lingering on me with obvious dismissal before addressing Huiyue.
"You're the Iron Lotus delegation?"
"Tie Huiyue, merchant representative. This is my brother Tie Hanxing, strategic advisor. We're here for the meeting arranged through Merchant Zhao."
The officer's gaze returned to me, reassessing. "The invalid is the strategic advisor?"
"The invalid," I said calmly, "has thoughts that occasionally prove useful. Shall we proceed, or would you prefer to discuss my health at the gate?"
His lips twitched—might have been a smile or a sneer. "Follow me. And your guards stay here. Only the three of you proceed inside."
Our guards looked to Huiyue, who nodded. They'd expected this. We were entering the wolf's den on the wolves' terms.
The fortress interior was as intimidating as the exterior—training grounds where dozens of warriors practiced, weapons racks displaying quality steel, servants moving with military precision. Everything spoke of discipline, power, and resources we couldn't match.
We were led to a large hall dominated by a raised platform where three people sat. The central figure was clearly the sect leader—a woman perhaps forty years old, her hair bound in a severe warrior's knot, her face marked with scars that somehow enhanced rather than diminished her fierce beauty. She wore simple martial robes but sat with the absolute authority of someone who'd never had her leadership questioned.
To her right sat a younger man, perhaps thirty, with the same sharp features—her son, I guessed. To her left, an older warrior whose weathered face and missing left hand suggested decades of combat.
"Sect Leader Shen Bingxue," the officer announced. "The Iron Lotus delegation."
Shen Bingxue. "Ice Snow," literally. The name fit the cold assessment in her eyes as she studied us.
"The Iron Lotus sends a merchant and an invalid to discuss serious matters," she observed, her voice carrying across the hall. "Should I be insulted or impressed by your confidence?"
I used my enhanced analysis quickly, burning through one of my three daily searches:
'Query: Frost Wolf Sect cultural values, leadership style of warrior matriarchs, optimal negotiation approaches.'
Information flooded my awareness—the Frost Wolves valued strength but also pragmatism. Shen Bingxue had led them for fifteen years, expanding territory through calculated aggression. She respected boldness, despised weakness, but appreciated strategic thinking when it served her interests.
"Neither insulted nor impressed, Sect Leader Shen," I said, my voice steady despite my body's weakness. "Simply informed that we understand different forms of strength. My sister commands the Iron Lotus merchant network and understands economic power. I command knowledge that transforms resources into advantages. Neither requires physical prowess."
"Knowledge," she repeated, tone suggesting skepticism. "The kind of knowledge that lets a dying clan suddenly produce superior weapons?"
"That knowledge, yes. Among other things."
She leaned forward slightly, interest kindling. "I've heard reports of your improved blades. Some say they rival even the White Tiger Forge in quality, yet your clan has been producing inferior work for decades. What changed?"
"Understanding changed. We applied systematic analysis to traditional methods, identified inefficiencies, implemented corrections. The result is measurably superior weapons at lower production cost."
"And you believe this knowledge protects you from us?" The young man spoke for the first time, his tone openly mocking. "You think we can't simply take your forge, your smiths, your mines, and force the knowledge from you?"
"You could try," I said calmly. "You'd capture the physical assets but lose the actual value. Master Han can forge well using our improved methods, but he doesn't fully understand the principles behind them. Force him to teach and he'll give you the motions without the understanding. The weapons will seem similar but lack the crucial optimizations that make them superior."
"Then we'd torture the knowledge from you," the young man said flatly.
"My body is already failing. Torture would kill me quickly, and dead men share no knowledge. But more importantly, Sect Leader Shen didn't become the most powerful leader in the Northern Wasteland through wasteful violence when profitable alternatives exist."
Shen Bingxue's expression shifted to something like amusement. "You're either very brave or very stupid, invalid. Possibly both. Explain these profitable alternatives."
"You're expanding resource control because you understand that iron means weapons, weapons mean military advantage, and military advantage means political power. But seizing mines is expensive—requires warriors to hold them, creates enemies among displaced clans, and you still need skilled smiths to transform ore into quality weapons."
"Your point?"
"Partner with us instead. We provide superior weapons through trade at preferential rates. You get access to our quality without the expense of seizing and holding territory. We get your protection against other predators and a stable market for our production. Both sides profit without the waste of conflict."
"And when we eventually want your techniques for ourselves?" the older warrior asked, speaking for the first time.
"Then we negotiate licensing terms. Controlled knowledge transfer in exchange for long-term agreements that benefit both parties. But that's future discussion. Immediate question is whether you prefer profitable partnership or expensive conquest."
Shen Bingxue stood, descending from the platform with fluid grace. She approached our group directly, and I felt Liu Ruyan tense beside me, ready to interpose herself if needed.
The sect leader stopped an arm's length away, studying my face with unsettling intensity.
"You're very beautiful," she said unexpectedly. "Almost painfully so. Like winter given human form. I can see why people would underestimate you—they'd be too distracted by your appearance to notice the calculation in your eyes."
"My appearance is an accident of birth. My mind is a choice of focus."
"A wise distinction." She circled slowly, evaluating from different angles. "My son is right that we could take what we want by force. But you're also right that I prefer profitable efficiency over wasteful violence. So I have a proposal."
"We're listening."
"A trial partnership. You provide ten superior blades monthly at a twenty percent discount from your market rate. In exchange, we ensure no one—including ourselves—interferes with your operations. After six months, we renegotiate based on actual performance and mutual benefit."
"Thirty blades monthly," I countered. "At full market rate. Your protection extends to ensuring we can operate without interference from any regional power, not just yourselves. After six months, terms can expand to include licensed knowledge transfer if both parties agree."
"You negotiate boldly for someone who has no leverage."
"I negotiate reasonably for someone offering genuine value. Thirty blades monthly represents approximately half our total production capacity—a significant commitment. The full market rate ensures our profitability remains sustainable. Your protection guarantee makes us a more reliable supplier because we're not constantly defending against other threats."
She was quiet for a long moment, her eyes never leaving mine. Then she smiled—a predator's smile, but genuine.
"Twenty blades monthly. Ten percent discount. Protection guarantee as stated. After six months, we discuss expanding the relationship based on performance. And I want you personally present for those renegotiations—your sister is competent, but you're more interesting."
My enhanced analysis ran the numbers quickly. Twenty blades at ten percent discount was actually better than my original proposal in terms of net value, and maintaining direct negotiation access was strategically valuable.
"Agreed. With one addition—we need advance payment for the first month. Not full amount, but sufficient to cover materials and labor. Establishes trust on both sides."
"Fifteen taels advance. Delivered today before you leave. The first twenty blades due in four weeks." She extended her hand. "Do we have agreement?"
I glanced at Huiyue, who gave a subtle nod. The terms were acceptable, even favorable given our position.
"We have agreement." I took her hand carefully—my grip was weak, but the gesture mattered more than the strength behind it.
Shen Bingxue's handshake was firm but controlled, not crushing my fragile bones despite clearly being capable of it. "You've done something rare, Tie Hanxing. You've made me reconsider an easier path because you offered a better alternative. That takes insight and courage."
"Or desperate pragmatism masked as strategy."
She laughed—a genuine sound of appreciation. "Perhaps. But I've found that desperate pragmatism often produces the most innovative solutions." She released my hand and stepped back. "My officer will arrange the advance payment. You're welcome to rest here before your return journey—you look half-dead, and I'd prefer my new partner not collapse before reaching home."
"Your consideration for my health is appreciated but unnecessary. We'll take the payment and depart immediately."
"Still cautious even after agreement. Smart." She returned to her platform, resuming her seat with casual authority. "One more thing, Tie Hanxing. My scouts report that the Blood Serpent Gang has been watching your compound closely. They're unhappy about your recovered status and our new partnership will displease them further. Be prepared for complications from that direction."
"Thank you for the warning, Sect Leader Shen."
"Don't thank me. I'm simply protecting my investment. A destroyed partner is a useless partner."
The officer who'd escorted us in reappeared to lead us out. The fifteen taels were counted and presented in a sealed pouch, then we were guided back to the gate where our guards waited.
Only once we were back in the carriage and the fortress gates had closed behind us did I allow myself to sag against the cushions, my body's reserves completely depleted.
"That was extraordinarily dangerous," Huiyue said, her voice tight with released tension. "If Sect Leader Shen had decided differently, we might not have left alive."
"But she didn't. She saw the value proposition clearly and made the economically optimal choice."
"You gambled our lives on economic optimization."
"I gambled our lives on understanding human nature. Shen Bingxue values efficiency and profit. Violence is a tool she uses when necessary, not a default response. We offered her something more valuable than what she could take by force."
Liu Ruyan, who'd been silent throughout the negotiation, spoke quietly. "When Sect Leader Shen circled you, this one was prepared to attack her if she made any threatening move."
I looked at her in shock. "That would have gotten you killed instantly. Probably gotten all of us killed."
"Yes. But this one would not stand idle while you were harmed." Her expression was calm but absolute. "That was agreed before we came."
The simple declaration made my chest tight. In both my lives, I'd never had anyone willing to die protecting me.
"Please don't attack powerful sect leaders on my behalf," I said weakly. "It would be a waste of your life and make negotiations significantly more difficult."
"This one will consider your preference but makes no promises."
Huiyue watched our exchange with an unreadable expression. "You two have become quite devoted to each other."
"Liu Ruyan has been devoted to me since childhood," I said carefully. "I'm simply beginning to appreciate it properly."
"That's not what this one meant, and you know it." But she said nothing more, turning to look out the carriage window as we traveled back toward the compound.
The journey home took longer than the outward trip—we had to stop twice for me to rest and recover from the physical strain. By the time we reached the Iron Lotus compound, evening had fallen and my body was trembling with exhaustion.
Father met us at the gate, relief evident on his face. "You survived."
"We did better than survive," Huiyue said. "We secured a partnership. Twenty blades monthly at market rates minus ten percent, full protection guarantee, fifteen taels advance payment received, and re-negotiation scheduled in six months."
Father's expression transformed from relief to amazement. "You actually negotiated successfully with the Frost Wolves?"
"Hanxing did," she corrected. "I was present, but he conducted the actual negotiation. Made Sect Leader Shen see us as valuable partners rather than targets."
Father looked at me, standing there supported by Liu Ruyan, clearly on the verge of collapse. "Well done, son. Get to bed before you fall over. We'll discuss details in the morning."
Liu Ruyan helped me to my chambers, where I barely managed to remove my outer robes before collapsing onto the bed. She covered me with blankets and settled into her usual chair.
"Successful day," I mumbled, consciousness already fading.
"Terrifying day. But yes, successful." A pause. "Hanxing?"
"Mm?"
"When Sect Leader Shen commented on your beauty, this one felt... something uncomfortable. Like not wanting her to look at you that way."
Even in my exhausted state, I recognized what she was describing. "Jealousy?"
"Perhaps. Is that inappropriate?"
"No. Just... human."
She was quiet for a moment. "This one is still learning what is appropriate to feel toward you."
"We both are. But Liu Ruyan? I'm glad you feel things. Even uncomfortable things. It means what's between us is real."
"Sleep now. This one will watch over you."
As consciousness faded, my last thought was that I'd somehow negotiated a partnership with one of the Northern Wasteland's most dangerous powers while simultaneously navigating the far more complex negotiation of actual human relationship.
I wasn't sure which was more terrifying.
---
'MEMORY TREASURE VAULT'
'DAILY SEARCHES REMAINING: 2/3'
'INTEGRATION STATUS: 92% COMPLETE'
'MISSION STATUS: SUCCESSFUL'
'FROST WOLF PARTNERSHIP: ESTABLISHED'
'TERMS: FAVORABLE UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES'
'ADVANCE PAYMENT: 15 TAELS SECURED'
'CLAN SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 84%'
'WARNING: BLOOD SERPENT GANG THREAT ESCALATING'
'ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT: PROGRESSING (JEALOUSY RESPONSE NOTED)'
'USER PHYSICAL CONDITION: SEVERELY DEPLETED BUT NO PERMANENT DAMAGE'
'RECOMMENDATION: THREE DAYS FULL REST REQUIRED'
---