Entire markets now sat empty.
Qing Luan admitted they had already noticed those opportunities long ago. However they hesitated to move aggressively because they feared retaliation from the Blood Sect once the gates reopened.
Han Yu simply told her not to worry anymore.
"Expand fully."
That single instruction changed everything.
Qing Luan immediately mobilized the Luan Merchant Union.
Trade caravans expanded rapidly throughout the frontier regions. New branches appeared across settlements previously ignored by major factions. Resources began flowing through hidden routes established by the Rat Battalion and Qing Luan's network.
Within only two months, a formal branch of the Luan Merchant Union appeared within Kyo Village itself.
Officially it existed merely to support hunters and frontier traders. Unofficially it became Han Yu's personal communication center. Now messages arrived regularly and information flowed constantly.
