Half an hour later.
A massive basin of Black Dragon Fish meat, brimming with frenzied Qi and Blood, had all been consumed by Su Yu.
Su Yu exhaled a long, scorching breath, feeling a sense of comfort throughout his body. With a thought, he summoned his panel.
[Breakthrough Point]: 0 Points (Progress: 48%)
’This Black Dragon Fish is truly a Profound-tier Middle Grade treasure fish. Its essence far surpasses that of ordinary treasure fish. If I could get another one, I might be able to fill up my Breakthrough Points again.’
As Su Yu thought this, his gaze fell on Zhen’Er’s jade-like hand nearby. She wore a white Storage Ring that complemented her creamy skin, a perfect match.
"Zhen’Er, have all the treasures from the Storage Ring been dealt with?" Su Yu asked casually, picking up his teacup.
"Rest assured, Brother Su. Most of them have been taken care of."
Zhen’Er gave a faint smile, a shrewd glint in her eyes. "The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce is certainly wealthy and influential. As long as the goods are high-quality, they don’t ask about their origin and bought many of them directly. As for the two weapons, the Shopkeeper said he would handle them. They’ll be sent to a black market auction in Qingzhou Prefecture, ensuring it can’t be traced back to us."
"After tallying all the income from the Golden Waterway trip, the treasury has received a total of twenty-one thousand taels of Snowflake Silver."
Twenty-one thousand taels!
Su Yu’s heart filled with joy. As his strength grew, his ability to earn money was becoming more and more astonishing.
A single trip on the Golden Waterway had yielded over twenty thousand taels in cash!
And that was before adding in the Storage Ring, cultivation techniques, Pills, and treasured materials...
This haul was enough to make anyone green with envy.
"How much cash do we have in our treasury now in total?" Su Yu continued to ask.
"Including the previous surplus of over ten thousand taels, the Su Mansion now has over thirty-two thousand taels of liquid funds available."
Despite reporting this staggering number, Zhen’Er’s delicate eyebrows didn’t relax. Instead, they knitted together slightly as she said with a grave expression:
"Brother Su, our mansion receives monthly Tributes from families like the Yangs, Jiangs, and Cais. Our daily expenses are more than covered; we actually have a large surplus. But having over thirty thousand taels of Silver piled up in the treasury isn’t a good thing. With chaotic times approaching, silver coins will only become less and less valuable. We must exchange all of it for Martial Arts Resources that can increase our strength as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, a flash of admiration appeared in Su Yu’s eyes. ’Zhen’Er’s grasp of the bigger picture truly surpasses that of ordinary women.’
"How much capital did Yang Gang take with him on the Liangzhou trade route this time?"
"He took eight thousand taels in silver notes. Including the caravan fully loaded with Black Stone City’s local specialties, the total value exceeds ten thousand taels."
"Mm," Su Yu mused. ’The trade route is perilous, but the rewards are also very generous. Let’s first see how many Martial Arts Resources Yang Gang can bring back from Liangzhou this trip. If this route proves viable, I’ll give him twenty thousand taels to take on the next one!’
...
「The next day, at the Public Security Bureau’s Golden Scale Guard headquarters.」
Su Yu sat on the large chair in his spacious office, leisurely sipping Cloud Mist Spirit Tea. Below him, Song Mirror was slightly bowed, respectfully reporting on the recent defensive measures in the jurisdiction.
"Lord Su, the investigation for Black Lotus Sect spies in each district has become extremely strict. Three additional checkpoints have been set up at the city gates. On the streets, any vagrant found without household registration is immediately thrown into the dungeons for harsh interrogation. After nightfall, a full curfew is enforced. Anyone caught on the streets will be killed without mercy!" Song Mirror’s tone was grave.
"The wind whispers of an approaching storm..." Su Yu set down his teacup. "Have the household registrations and travel permits for everyone in the Su Mansion been taken care of?"
"Rest assured, Lord Su, it’s all been handled. I also managed to acquire over twenty temporary black tokens for the Golden Scale Guard and had someone deliver them to the mansion yesterday."
"Thoughtful of you. Good work." Su Yu nodded in satisfaction. His gaze swept over Song Mirror before he asked casually, "You haven’t been short on resources lately. Have you managed to open the acupoints for your third skin tempering?"
Song Mirror’s old face flushed red with shame. "My apologies, Lord Su. I have been slow. I haven’t yet found the opportunity to break through."
Su Yu’s expression remained calm, showing no hint of disappointment.
Song Mirror was vigilant, reliable, and utterly loyal to him—that was what he valued most. As for martial arts talent, how many geniuses could there be in the Outer City?
"In the path of Martial Arts, haste makes waste." Su Yu’s tone was gentle as he consoled him, "You exhausted your foundations to survive in your early years, so your Qi and Blood foundation is unstable. Don’t rush to force a breakthrough now. Focus on solidifying your foundation first. Take your time. My hope for you is that you can one day stand on your own and step into the Flesh Refining Realm!"
"Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Lord Su! I will serve you with my life and soul!" Song Mirror dropped to one knee, his expression earnest.
’In these chaotic times where lives are treated like weeds, a superior like Lord Su—with a boundless future, who cares so much for his subordinates—is someone you couldn’t find even if you searched with a lantern!’
’Now, whenever I walk down the street, who doesn’t call out "Master Song" with reverence?’
’Even that shrew of a wife at home, who used to be so sharp-tongued and harsh, now speaks softly while washing my feet.’
’All of this was given to me by Lord Su! In this lifetime, I’ve finally met my benefactor!’
Just then, a light knock came from the office door.
"Commander Su, Commander Wang of the Silver Armor Guard has sent someone to invite you to her office for a meeting," a respectful voice announced from outside.
Su Yu frowned. ’Commander Wang?’
Song Mirror, who had just stood up, quickly lowered his voice and explained from the side, "Lord Su, that’s the new Great Commander Wang Lingran, who was just parachuted in from the Inner City! She has now taken direct control of the Public Security Bureau’s most elite unit, the Silver Armor Guard, and wields immense authority!"
"So, a new official taking her post." Su Yu stood up, his expression normal. "Go and reply that I will be right over."
...
「The Silver Armor Guard headquarters, inside a private, luxurious office.」
KNOCK KNOCK.
Su Yu knocked on the red pearwood door, which emanated a faint, exotic fragrance.
"Come in."
A lazy, cool, and mature female voice came from within.
Su Yu pushed the door open and entered. The scene before him made his eyes narrow slightly.
The floor was covered with a single, flawless, snow-white ice-silk carpet that felt soft and cool underfoot. Behind the desk stood a purple-gold suanni incense burner, from which curls of spiritual incense rose, its fragrance refreshing the mind. The surrounding walls were adorned with glowing spirit-jade stones, illuminating the otherwise dim office.
’Luxurious. Fucking luxurious.’
Su Yu complained inwardly.
Behind the desk sat a beautiful woman of about thirty. She wore a suit of magnificent silver soft armor that accentuated her full, proud, and mature curves. Her eyes held a cool arrogance born from years of giving orders.
Beside her stood a pretty, green-robed female attendant, perfectly poised.
"Commander Wang, I am Su Yu of the Golden Scale Guard." Su Yu stood a step away from the ice-silk carpet, cupping his fist in a salute that was neither servile nor arrogant.
Wang Lingran stopped writing with the Vermilion Brush in her hand and looked up. Her beautiful eyes appraised Su Yu from top to bottom, a flicker of undisguised admiration in their depths.
"I have long heard that Commander Su of the Golden Scale Guard is a young talent. Seeing you today, you truly have an imposing air. Commander Su, please, have a seat."
As she spoke, she took the initiative to rise, her long legs carrying her as she guided Su Yu to a seat at the nearby red sandalwood tea table.
Seeing this, the green-robed attendant beside them picked up a jade teapot, preparing to pour tea.
But Wang Lingran extended a delicate hand, as smooth and well-kept as white jade, and took the teapot from the attendant, personally pouring a full cup for Su Yu.
"Here, Commander Su, try this Verdant Leaf Cloud Mist I brought from the Inner City. You can’t get this kind of spiritual quality from the coarse teas of the Outer City." Her voice was soft and gentle, and her lips curved into a perfect smile.
Su Yu’s expression was calm as he raised the teacup and took a small sip.
As the tea went down his throat, a cooling sensation rushed to his mind, somewhat calming the Qi and Blood that had been agitated from his cultivation.
"Good tea. Slightly bitter at first, with a long, sweet aftertaste and a cooling effect. A true treasure from the Inner City, as expected." Su Yu set down his teacup after his brief appraisal. Then he got straight to the point, "I wonder, for what reason has Commander Wang summoned me today?"
"Commander Su is a straightforward person, so I won’t beat around the bush either."
Wang Lingran smiled gracefully and sat down in the chair right next to Su Yu. A subtle fragrance, a mixture of spiritual incense and a woman’s natural scent, immediately wafted around his nose.
"The Black Lotus Sect’s army of tens of thousands has broken camp and is now advancing on Black Stone City in an encircling formation. The world is only going to get more chaotic from here. Commander Su, in a few months, the sky over Black Stone City is going to change completely!"
She paused, her red lips parting slightly, her breath as fragrant as an orchid as she continued speaking to Su Yu:
"With a great enemy at our doorstep, the barriers between the Inner City and Outer City will be completely shattered and merged. The Public Security Bureau, and indeed the entire power structure of the Outer City, will face a major reshuffle. And I... come from the Wang Family, one of the three great families of the Inner City!"
After saying this, she looked at Su Yu, a trace of arrogance unconsciously coloring her gaze.
Su Yu, however, remained calm, showing little reaction.
A flicker of surprise passed through Wang Lingran’s eyes, and then the smile on her lips deepened. ’This young man has some composure.’
"I have carefully reviewed your file, Commander Su." Wang Lingran leaned forward slightly. "You come from a fisherman’s family in the Outer City, with no background whatsoever, yet you’ve risen so quickly. Your talent in Martial Arts is truly rare. I, for one, cherish talent above all else. To let you waste away in the mire of the Outer City would be a terrible waste of a gift from the heavens."
Su Yu once again raised his teacup for a sip, still remaining silent.
The green-robed attendant at the side raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Commander Su, the Public Security Bureau is on the verge of chaos. A wise bird chooses its tree. Why don’t you transfer to my Silver Armor Guard and become my Vice Commander?"
Su Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. ’This is the first time we’ve even met, and she’s already trying to recruit me?’
Wang Lingran seemed to guess Su Yu’s thoughts and continued, "The situation is changing rapidly, so please forgive my forwardness. However, my sincerity is quite genuine. If you join my command, Commander Su, you will have the opportunity to join my Wang Family in the future!"
"Furthermore, I have prepared a greeting gift for you, Commander Su."
Wang Lingran tilted her head slightly, giving her attendant a look.
The green-robed attendant stepped forward proudly. She extended a slender finger and lightly swiped it across a jade ring on her right wrist.
A faint glimmer of spatial fluctuation flashed, and an exquisite Jade Box appeared out of thin air on the tea table!
Su Yu’s heart stirred. ’Even her attendant has a Storage Ring?’
’As expected of one of the three great families. Truly extravagant.’
He suppressed his thoughts and turned his gaze to the Jade Box on the table.
Wang Lingran’s jade-like hand gently lifted the lid of the Jade Box, and a stunning medicinal aura immediately wafted out.
The moment Su Yu smelled this aura, he felt a sudden, urgent craving from his body.
His gaze was like lightning, instantly locking onto the Jade Box.
On a bed of red spirit-silkworm silk, a Treasure Pill the size of a quail’s egg rested quietly.
The pill was perfectly round and lustrous, its body a translucent amber color. Natural, vein-like patterns covered the Pill’s surface, and it radiated faint golden halos visible to the naked eye!
A Profound-tier Treasure Pill!