Chapter 848: Unexpected Gain

"Shall we first go to the territory to see the situation? It's said to be in chaos; I'll assess how much power is needed to subdue it," Ye Liuyun suggested.

"Fine! We'll go too to see the situation and draw a map of the territory!" Du Yan and the others also wanted to check the territory.

So Ye Liuyun and his party, while waiting for the dynasty's reward, hurried together toward the fief.

On the way, Du Yan suggested that Ye Liuyun give the fief a name; without a name it would be inconvenient to call.

"Let's just call it Yonglie Island," Ye Liuyun said, too lazy to think, using his title as the name of the fief, which also made it easy for others to remember.

Thus the nameless Dao xu became Yonglie Island.

After Ye Liuyun and his group obtained the Token and reported it to the dynasty, the name would become public and be recognized.

They rode a Super Warship and arrived at Yonglie Dao xu in less than two days.

Scattered low buildings had been erected on the Dao xu, all temporary structures built by the residents.

The rest of the area retained its original terrain, with many mountains, rivers, and Mi Lin.

Ye Liuyun and his group flew around the Dao xu from high altitude, forming a map of Yonglie Island in their minds.

Afterwards the group began to decide where to build the official residence, where to set up a supply trade zone, and how to develop the remaining areas, establishing a rough plan.

Then they landed at a place on Yonglie Island where many Martial Cultivators were gathered.

The buildings here were relatively orderly and numerous, leading them to conclude that Martial Cultivators dwelled there.

But when they descended, they found they had fallen into a bandit hideout.

It was a relatively large bandit group that used the place as their base.

Du Yan and the others looked at each other, not expecting they had been led right to the bandits' jaws.

Ye Liuyun comforted them: "Don't panic yet; let's assess the situation first. I have a way to deal with them."

He held a Ghost Butterfly and a Hundred-Refined Soul Banner, so he wasn't worried about the bandits.

When Ye Liuyun's Warship landed, it was immediately surrounded by the bandits.

They disembarked from the Warship and hauled the ship away.

Upon further surveying the surrounding bandits, Ye Liuyun's eyes lit up.

Some of the bandits wore soldier uniforms, but not full gear, and the outfits looked very old.

Their weapons even included the powerful crossbows used by the army.

Moreover, the encircling bandits were in neat ranks, spaced about one zhang apart, clearly trained.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" a square‑faced man with a tiger‑back, bear‑waist, carrying a large hammer and riding a Fire Wolf demanded loudly.

That man's cultivation realm, like the Fire Wolf beneath him, was Zao Hua Qi Chong.

Ye Liuyun stared at the Fire Wolf he was seated on and asked, "What is your relation to the Fire Wolf Legion?"

"Huh? You kid actually know the Fire Wolf Legion?" the man said, becoming more curious. "Who are you?"

Hearing that, Ye Liuyun became more certain that the man had some connection to the Fire Wolf Legion.

"Perhaps today we'll have an unexpected gain!" Ye Liuyun thought to himself.

"I was just granted the title of Yonglie Marquis. This Dao xu will soon be named Yonglie Island!" Ye Liuyun began chatting with the man.

The man, hearing this, examined Ye Liuyun's cultivation realm and asked with some doubt, "Your realm is so low; why were you made a marquis?"

"I unintentionally uncovered a secret of the Foreign Tribe and helped Daxia Chao dismantle a major sect that had allied with them," Ye Liuyun said briefly.

The man believed him somewhat, waved his hand, and the bandits surrounding Ye Liuyun and his group immediately lowered their weapons.

"Eliminating the Foreign Tribe is indeed a meritorious deed; I could spare you. But you think a handful of you can subdue this territory? You really believe that the dynasty's reward lets you manage this place directly?"

"Are you their leader?" Ye Liuyun retorted.

"So what? You think a few of you can make us leave?" the man laughed heartily, showing a set of white teeth.

"What is your relationship with the Fire Wolf Legion?" Ye Liuyun ignored his words and instead inquired about his background.

"I was originally the Deputy Leader of the Fire Wolf Legion, but after refusing the princess's private orders, I was dismissed and exiled here," the bandit chief explained when Ye Liuyun persisted in asking.

"And them? Did you train them all?" Ye Liuyun asked the surrounding bandits.

The bandit chief replied honestly: "They were also Imperial Guard troops implicated by that incident. Like me, they refused the princess's orders and were punished to this place. To survive, we banded together and took up banditry."

He then said, "We won't trouble you; if you take over here in the future, leave us a piece of land. How about that?"

His eyes were full of expectation as he spoke.

The surrounding bandits also showed expectation in their eyes.

They had lived here a long time, treating it as home. If driven out again, they'd have to fight others for territory, leading to more bloodshed.

"I will form a powerful private army to guard the trade here. I need some of my own people!"

Ye Liuyun didn't beat around the bush and stated his idea directly.

"You?" the man looked at Ye Liuyun again, slowly shook his head. "Your realm is too low; no one will obey you!"

"Everyone started cultivating from a low realm! Joining my private army is like giving you a proper name; it's better than being bandits!"

Ye Liuyun's words were very persuasive to them.

He could feel that some of the bandits were moved.

They had once been soldiers, now bandits, still disapproving of the bandit label. Now a chance to regain soldier status naturally stirred them.

After a long thought, the man finally said, "If you can subdue the territory and prove your ability, we will pledge to you!"

Ye Liuyun added, "You will be my Grand President, responsible for recruitment, administration, and all military affairs of the territory's security."

"You trust me that much?" the man retorted.

Ye Liuyun calmly said, "We will sign an equal contract, stipulating each side's responsibilities."

Ye Liuyun's words were somewhat unexpected to the man.

"Equal contract? Are you sure it's not a Master-Servant Contract?"

He had thought Ye Liuyun wanted him to sign a Master-Servant Contract; for these brothers, even a Master-Servant Contract he would sign.

But Ye Liuyun didn't want to take advantage of him.

"I'm sure!" he confirmed.