Transformation Diagram: Starting as a Skinny Dog

It was still the New Year season before the fifteenth day, and decorations were everywhere. In Medicine King Hall, red Peach Talismans still hung above the windows of every courtyard.

In Shang Yunfang's small courtyard, two evergreen pines stood tall.

When Chen Ku asked what a guild cooperative conference was, he also pondered. This guild cooperative conference... it sounded like a gathering where everyone discussed matters. He found himself somewhat lost in thought. Could doing business in Baojiao County really be so harmonious?

Shang Yunfang, however, slowly and leisurely said, "The guild cooperative conference is no place for gentlemanly manners or feasting. That place is truly perilous."

"Hmm? How so? Please enlighten me, Master."

Chen Ku pricked up his ears. Could it be that the conference is actually a place for fighting?

"Not exactly, but you're not far off. You don't see swords or spears, but it's more dangerous than facing blades head-on."

Shang Yunfang slowly sipped a cup of tea, then began to speak in a storytelling tone, "All this goes back to when the major guilds of Baojiao County were first established, more than a hundred years ago. Right, didn't you previously participate in a 'wharf gamble' with the Firewood Iron Shop and the Ancient Elephant Sect's Zhao Family?"

"Yes, it's said that was a method the powers of Baojiao County used in their early days to resolve conflicts and disputes," Chen Ku continued his master's thought.

Then he asked, "By that logic, in the old days, the various powers in Baojiao County must have constantly engaged in bloody struggles, valuing brute force and ferocity. So how come I've never seen any major guilds having friction or armed conflicts now?"

The last time an armed conflict nearly erupted was when Huang Muxia came demanding an explanation for Huang Gun's death. But in the end, Chen Ku had figured it out. Huang Muxia bringing his disciples was merely to give himself an out. If he had truly let the Twin Rivers Guild and Medicine King Hall come to blows, the Twin Rivers Guild wouldn't have been up to the task. This wasn't just about the disparity between their top fighters. Medicine King Hall was considered one of the three major powers in the city not only because they had a great master like Yang Luochen; the number of their top masters at the Meridian-Opening Realm also far exceeded that of the Twin Rivers Guild. So, that day, Yang Luochen had shown Huang Muxia a path, offered him a way down, and he had obediently taken it.

"Where there are people, there are grudges," Shang Yunfang said, a look of helplessness regarding that bygone era flickering in his eyes. "These grudges are nothing more than struggles over interests and differing stances. You want to make money, and I want to make money; neither stance is inherently wrong. But if, in the process of making money, you encroach upon my interests, that's what they call 'cutting off someone's livelihood is akin to murdering their parents.' Thus, at the founding of the Daji Dynasty, the major guilds fought and killed over territory, resources, and business. Countless people died."

He continued slowly, "But just as order is often born from chaos, after dynasties endure periods of war and turmoil that bring immense suffering to the people, a new order eventually emerges. Although, at its core, the nature of dividing spoils might not change, it can at least prevent many needless sacrifices. So, after thirty years of fighting and killing, the guild cooperative conference was established through mutual compromise among the leaders of various trades."

"The guild cooperative conference is primarily led by the government, with the County Magistrate presiding. Its members are representatives from all guilds and shops in Baojiao County, large and small. It's held every four years, aiming to resolve conflicts and disputes that have arisen during that period without resorting to violence. Through these meetings, interests are exchanged, and concessions are made to settle differences. After the conference concludes, the government makes the final decisions, dividing guild resources for the coming years according to the new rules and agendas established in the meeting."

Having heard his master's explanation of the guild cooperative conference, Chen Ku couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "This... it sounds a bit too idealistic, doesn't it? Can all the conflicts accumulated over four years really be reconciled so easily? I can understand and believe in the exchange of interests. But when some conflicts require one side to 'concede' and 'compromise,' who would do so without a compelling reason?"

Shang Yunfang was about to say more when, suddenly, Yang Luochen's hearty laughter boomed from outside the courtyard.

"Worthy of being my disciple! Astute indeed, grasping the most crucial point at once."

Chen Ku, hearing this, immediately turned and saw the tall old man approaching. He swiftly performed a respectful greeting, "Grandmaster."

Yang Luochen waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities. Then, taking another deep drag from his tobacco pouch with his other hand, he exhaled a cloud of smoke and chuckled scoldingly at Shang Yunfang, "Old Shang, stop speaking in riddles to our disciple. This kid is smart enough."

"Well, I was just about to explain it step by step, wasn't I?" Shang Yunfang glared and retorted irritably, "Fine, you tell him then."

Chen Ku promptly looked toward Yang Luochen, ready to listen attentively.

Yang Luochen took another long drag, blew out the smoke, and said to Chen Ku with a smile, "Don't let Old Shang's complicated explanations confuse you; that's all for fooling outsiders. The real truth about the guild cooperative conference boils down to one of the simplest principles in the world: the one with the bigger fist makes the rules!"

"'The one with the bigger fist makes the rules?'" Chen Ku mused. "Does this mean... the one who yields or compromises at the guild cooperative conference does so because... they're forced to by a bigger fist?"

"What else could it be? Because the other party has a prettier face?"