“Wang Jun, do you really want to refuse the young master’s good intentions?” a hulking thug demanded, his voice low and menacing as he towered over the middle-aged man.
Wang Jun’s hand clenched tightly behind his back, his knuckles turning white. “I appreciate young master Wen Qi’s offer, but my daughter has no interest in marrying anyone at the moment. I must respectfully decline,” he replied, his voice steady despite the unease churning in his gut.
The thug’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over Wang Jun. “What does your daughter know? She should listen to her elders and marry whomever she’s told to.”
Before Wang Jun could respond, another man stepped forward, a scholar with a thin, calculating face. His tone was softer, almost persuasive. “What my companion means to say is that, as elders, we only want the best for our children. The young master is the son of our esteemed town lord, destined to be the future lord himself. If your daughter marries him and becomes his concubine, she’ll have the power to rule the entire town. Isn’t that what you want for her?”
Wang Jun’s jaw tightened, but he forced himself to remain calm. “I’m sorry, but no matter how many times you ask, my answer will remain the same.”
The scholar’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing like a viper sizing up its prey. “Wang Jun, it’s not wise to reject an opportunity when it comes knocking. Denying it could bring bad luck to your family. And I’ve heard your family’s already been facing some misfortune lately. You wouldn’t want to invite even more bad luck, would you?”
The scholar’s words hung in the air, cold and threatening. The thug beside him grinned savagely as they turned and left, leaving Wang Jun standing alone, his heart pounding in his chest.
As the two men left the building, the door creaked open again, and two figures entered the room where Wang Jun stood. One was a beautiful middle-aged woman, her face a picture of concern, and beside her was a girl who looked like a younger version of her—his wife, Xiao Xin, and their daughter, Wang Mei.
“Father,” Wang Mei’s voice trembled with fear as she looked up at him.
Wang Jun’s heart ached at the sight of his daughter’s distress. “Don’t worry, my dear daughter,” he said, his voice firm yet gentle. “As long as I’m here, that beast can forget about forcing you to marry him.” His gaze softened as he looked at her, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
Xiao Xin moved closer, stroking Wang Mei’s hair with a reassuring smile. “Your father is right. We won’t let anything happen to you, dear.”
“But father,” Wang Mei’s voice wavered, her worry evident, “his family is very dangerous. You’ve already lost so much in business because of his underhanded tactics. What if he does something worse?”
Wang Jun clenched his fists, his mind racing with thoughts of Wen Qi’s ruthless behavior. “That was just simple bad luck. It happens in business—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” he said, trying to ease her fears.
“No, father, it’s not bad luck. It’s all Wen Qi’s doing. He’s dangerous, he can do anything. I don’t want him to hurt you or mother. If I marry him, he’ll stop targeting you, and you can run the business in peace.” Tears welled up in Wang Mei’s eyes as she spoke.
“WANG MEI!” Wang Jun’s voice thundered through the room, shocking both his wife and daughter into silence.
He quickly softened, placing a comforting hand on Wang Mei’s head. “I would rather die than use my daughter to protect my business,” he said, his voice now gentle but resolute. He looked her in the eyes, his expression full of love and determination. “You believe your father, right?”
Wang Mei nodded, tears still glistening in her eyes, but without a trace of doubt.
Seeing her trust, Wang Jun smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest. “Then leave everything to your father. That beast will not marry you, I promise.”
As Wang Jun finished speaking, he pulled his daughter and wife into a tight embrace, drawing comfort from their closeness.
“Now, it’s late. You should get some rest,” Xiao Xin said softly after they had separated from the hug.
“Yes, Mother,” Wang Mei replied with a small smile, her earlier worry momentarily lifted. She bid them goodnight and left for bed.
The gentleness in Xiao Xin’s eyes faded, replaced by deep concern as she watched her daughter leave the room. “Husband…” she began, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Wang Jun met his wife’s gaze and understood the unspoken question in her eyes. He sighed, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the past few months.
Wang Jun was a well-known businessman in Greenwood Town, a modest settlement nestled a few hundred kilometers from the Qinglian Sect. His life had been relatively peaceful until recently when his daughter came of age. That was when Wen Qi, the son of Wen Lei, the town lord, had set his eyes on her.
What should have been a fortuitous match for a small businessman like Wang Jun was instead a nightmare. Wen Qi wasn’t just a noble; he was a predator, a beast hiding behind a veneer of respectability. His father’s influence allowed him to commit countless atrocities in the town, with many young girls falling victim to his cruelty. And each time, Wen Lei would turn a blind eye, using his power to crush any who dared to challenge them.
Wang Jun’s stomach churned at the thought of his daughter suffering such a fate. That’s why he had refused the marriage so adamantly. He couldn’t bear the idea of Wang Mei being ruined by Wen Qi’s twisted desires.
If he were a poorer man, Wen Qi wouldn’t have even bothered asking for permission—he would have simply taken her. But as a local businessman with a few connections, Wang Jun had managed to hold them at bay, at least for now. The Wen family couldn’t openly force their hand without risking exposure.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
The relentless harassment had begun to take a devastating toll on Wang Jun’s business. First, there were the mysterious fires that consumed several of his shops, reducing valuable goods to ash. Then, suppliers who had once been reliable suddenly refused to do business with him, and even shipments to neighboring towns were intercepted and robbed. The attacks were systematic, designed to cripple him.
His business had suffered a 50% hit, a fact he tried to hide from his family behind a confident smile. But the truth gnawed at him—his livelihood was slowly being strangled. And now, with the latest veiled threats from Wen Qi’s thugs, he knew something even more severe was on the horizon. He had a sickening suspicion of what it might be.
Wang Jun squeezed Xiao Xin’s hand, his voice low and resolute. “I know what you’re thinking, my love. But we won’t let him take her. I’ll find a way to protect our family.”
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing, “Tomorrow, I’ll send nearly all of our guards to escort the goods to Redleaf Town. This transaction is crucial; it could help recover some of the losses we’ve suffered. Once they return, we’ll leave Greenwood Town. We can start over in another place—maybe even a big city.”
Xiao Xin’s eyes reflected the myriad of emotions she was holding back. She wanted to argue, to express her fears, but instead, she offered a soft smile. “I will follow my husband.”
Wang Jun embraced her again, holding her close as if drawing strength from her presence. After seeing her off to bed, he remained seated, a deep frown creasing his forehead.
Despite his outward confidence, doubt gnawed at him. The plan was risky. He was almost certain Wen Qi’s men would target the caravan. Even with most of his guards on the escort, would it be enough? If the caravan was ambushed and the goods lost, their hopes of starting anew would be dashed. And even if they managed to flee Greenwood Town, how would they establish themselves elsewhere without the funds?
The room was silent, save for the distant crackle of the dying fire in the hearth. Wang Jun’s thoughts raced, weighing every possibility, every danger. He knew that their survival hinged on the success of this plan, but the question that haunted him was whether it was enough.
As Wang Jun sat deep in thought, grappling with how to navigate their increasingly dire situation, a sudden weight pressed down on his lap. Startled, he looked down to see a circular object that had seemingly materialized out of nowhere. His heart skipped a beat as he stared at the strange object, thoughts of the elusive immortals flooding his mind.
He knew that an immortal sect existed a few hundred kilometers away. Years ago, when they had come to the city to recruit, he had hoped to have his daughter tested for spiritual roots. But fate had been unkind—Wang Mei had been gravely ill at the time, and the opportunity was missed.
Now, as he gazed at the mysterious object, a dilemma gripped him. Should he pick it up? He had heard tales of mortals who offended immortals, and the consequences were always dire. But he also knew that ignoring the object might be seen as a sign of disrespect.
After a moment’s hesitation, Wang Jun made his decision. He would pick up the object, stand, and kneel to show his reverence for the supposed immortal. Just as his fingers brushed against the cool surface, a voice echoed in his mind.
[You are given a chance to become a client of the Eclipse Syndicate. Do you agree?]
Panic surged through him. “Immortal, please forgive my disrespect!” he cried out, clutching the object as he hurriedly knelt, his forehead touching the floor. He feared he had angered the immortal—perhaps by touching the object without permission or by delaying his greeting.
For fifteen long minutes, Wang Jun remained in that position, trembling with fear. But the silence stretched on, and no further words reached him. Slowly, as his pulse steadied, he replayed the fragmented words he had heard.
‘What did I hear about becoming a client?’ he wondered, his confusion deepening.
Then, the voice repeated itself, clear and unwavering.
[You are given a chance to become a client of the Eclipse Syndicate. Do you agree?]
Wang Jun heard the voice once more, this time loud and clear. He held the object in his hand, scrutinizing it carefully. As a seasoned businessman, he quickly realized that the voice in his head was somehow linked to the circular object he now held.
It looked like a bronze medallion, its surface adorned with the image of an eclipsed sun. The back was smooth and plain, devoid of any markings. Despite its simplicity, he was certain it was an immortal artifact—something far beyond his comprehension.
With a mixture of hesitation and curiosity, Wang Jun slowly stood up, still clutching the medallion. He half-expected some form of punishment for his earlier actions, but none came.
[You are given a chance to become a client of the Eclipse Syndicate. Do you agree?]
The voice in his head repeated, prompting him to study the medallion once more.
Despite the uncertainty that gnawed at him, a newfound boldness surged within him. Perhaps it was the desperation of his situation or the sheer improbability of this moment. Summoning his courage, he asked, “What are the benefits of becoming a client?”
[For the right price, no desire is beyond our reach.]
The response was bold and tantalizing, sparking a flicker of hope in Wang Jun’s heart. He realized that he had stumbled upon an unbelievable opportunity, yet it also felt like he was standing at the edge of a precipice, contemplating a devil’s deal.
But as he considered the danger his family was in, his hesitation melted away. If this medallion, this Eclipse Syndicate, could protect his loved ones, then he was willing to pay any price—even if it meant selling his soul to the devil.
“I agree,” Wang Jun said, his voice filled with resolve as he gripped the medallion tightly.
[Congratulations, Wang Jun. You are now a client of the Eclipse Syndicate.]
A translucent screen suddenly appeared in front of his eyes, causing him to panic for a moment. But he quickly composed himself, focusing on the screen. The voice returned, calm and instructive, explaining the basics of the interface before him.
Wang Jun quickly grasped the basics of the Eclipse Syndicate’s system. He could post any request as a mission, provided he offered an appropriate reward. If what the voice claimed was true, then with enough money, he could ask for anything—no matter how impossible it seemed.
“I want to submit a mission request,” Wang Jun said, his mind racing as he formulated his first request.
He took a deep breath before speaking again, laying out his plan. “I want protection for my caravan during its entire journey to and from Redleaf Town. The mercenaries need to remain hidden and avoid detection. If they are discovered, it must appear as though they are random passersby who decided to help out of goodwill.”
His focus was clear: secure the deal first, then worry about the next steps. If the syndicate delivered on its promise and the caravan returned safely, he could turn his attention to his next target—the Wen family. But for now, secrecy was paramount.
[Accepted. The minimum mission reward is set at 10 gold coins. You may increase the reward if you wish, but you cannot decrease it.]
Wang Jun’s experience with hiring mercenaries told him that this rate was higher than usual, but he knew this was no ordinary situation. Bargaining wasn’t an option, and given his dire circumstances, he didn’t waste time considering it. Instead, he doubled the reward to 20 gold coins, hoping that the extra incentive would ensure success.
[Thank you, Client Wang Jun, for publishing a mission. You will be informed when a member accepts the mission.]
A sense of unease mixed with hope settled in his chest as he watched the screen fade from view. This was a gamble, but it was one he had to take. His family’s survival depended on it.