「Su Mansion. Night.」
A warm, yellow candlelight glowed from within a side room in the rear courtyard.
The two sisters, Yang Zhen and Yang Ai, were gathered around a desk, taking stock of the resources sent over by the young ladies of the Outer City’s major families these past few days.
The two worked in perfect sync. Yang Ai read from the lists while Yang Zhen recorded the entries, and they quickly sorted through the mountain of accounts with perfect clarity.
"Sister..." Yang Ai rested her chin in her hands, her eyes blinking with curiosity as she stared at the long list in the ledger. "Just in Treasure Medicines over ten years old and highly nourishing treasure fish, there are dozens of different kinds here. Brother Su said he’s going to eat all of them within a few days. Can his body really handle all that violent medicinal energy?"
Yang Zhen was organizing the ledgers when she heard this. An image of a certain someone’s domineering, scorching-hot body, like a blazing furnace, involuntarily surfaced in her mind. She couldn’t help but blurt out:
"Him... That physique of his... when it gets going, he’s practically a tireless beast!"
The words had barely left her mouth when Yang Zhen seemed to realize what she’d implied. A blush instantly spread across her usually cool cheeks, flushing even her delicate earlobes a deep red.
Yang Ai froze for a moment, then her wide eyes curved into crescents. She leaned close to her sister’s ear, her lowered voice filled with mischief and curiosity:
"Dearest sister, you’re a Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artist. Your physique is far beyond that of a normal person. Don’t tell me Brother Su still manages to pin you down and bully you at night..."
Soon, the side room was filled with the sound of the two women’s increasingly bold, flirtatiously chiding whispers.
In the bedroom just a wall away, Su Yu, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, rubbed his nose helplessly. His five senses were far too sharp; the scandalous conversation from next door was practically drilling into his ears.
He took a deep breath and quickly sealed off his hearing, refusing to listen in on the boudoir talk that made one’s Qi and Blood surge.
’The treasure fish and Treasure Medicines from the great families are all in storage. For the next few days, I’ll eat to my heart’s content. By grinding out the progress, my Breakthrough Points will definitely see a massive surge!’
Su Yu’s eyes burned with intensity. ’When the trade caravan from Linyuan City returns, it will be the perfect time to replenish my resources!’
...
For the next few days, Su Yu became a bottomless pit.
Following his plan, he ate three to five types of Treasure Medicines and treasure fish every day as if they were regular meals. His terrifying digestive ability was like a blast furnace, furiously converting the medicinal energy into his own foundation.
A few days later, a screen of light flickered before his eyes. His Breakthrough Points had finally made a breakthrough!
[Breakthrough Point]: 1 (Progress: 6%)
At the same time, his Martial Arts had also seen a new change.
[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (Great Success 7510/10000)
’Excellent, it’s broken past seven thousand points! At this rate, it won’t even take ten days to reach Perfection and achieve Muscle Forging!’
In high spirits, Su Yu let out a long breath of turbid air and strode over to the old well in the courtyard. He casually lifted a bucket of freshly drawn, bone-chilling well water and poured it over his head!
"HISS—"
When the ice-cold well water touched his skin, which was as hot as a branding iron, it instantly evaporated into a large cloud of white steam. Crystalline water droplets snaked down the sharp lines of his muscles, refracting the sunlight with a quality of violent aesthetics.
Just then, Yang Ai rushed through the Moon Gate, jogging along the flagstone-paved covered walkway.
She had practically become the head housekeeper of the Su Mansion, full of energy every day.
"Brother Su! That old man from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect with the crow is here again! This time he came with the old man from the Divine Weapon Manor!"
Su Yu picked up a dry towel, casually wiped down his powerful upper body, slipped on a jet-black long robe, and nodded slightly.
’Li Heihu and Jiang Xuan have been in jail for some time now. I’ve left those two major powers hanging for long enough. The goal of making an example of them has been achieved. Keeping them locked up any longer could indeed stir up unnecessary trouble.’
’I’m in a good mood today, so I might as well see them.’
"Have Li Da bring them to the front hall."
"You got it!"
...
Inside the front hall, sandalwood incense smoke curled in the air.
Su Yu sat upright in the Grandmaster’s Chair in the host’s seat, his presence as deep and steady as an abyss.
Across from him sat two elderly men.
The man on the left wore a black robe, and perched on his shoulder was a jet-black crow with glowing red eyes. He had a benevolent smile on his face.
The man on the right was dressed in a snow-white robe, a heavy, ancient sword strapped to his back. His face was stern, and he was not one for smiling.
Su Yu’s gaze swept over the two imperceptibly. The faint fluctuations of Qi and Blood they exuded revealed them to be experts of the Muscle Forging Realm.
The black-robed elder was the first to cup his fists, his tone sincere. "Commander Su, I am Li Yihuai, an elder of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. Li Heihu is my unworthy disciple. He broke the rules of Black Stone City by fighting privately on Jin Yu Street. This old one has prepared a humble gift today and has come specifically to apologize to you, Commander!"
"Xiao Lingui of the Divine Weapon Manor. I have come regarding my unworthy disciple, Jiang Xuan. I ask for Commander Su’s forbearance," the white-robed elder beside him also said, cupping his fist.
Su Yu lifted his teacup, gently skimming the foam from the surface, and said lightly, "You two seniors overstate the matter. Logically speaking, it’s common for the prodigies of Sects to spar. However, at this critical time when we are surrounded by external threats and jointly resisting the Black Lotus Sect, to fight in the streets and destroy residences is to cross the Public Security Bureau’s bottom line."
"You must both be aware that these past few days in the Outer City, whenever there is chaos, the Demons of the Black Lotus Sect seize the opportunity to cause trouble, creating immense problems for the Public Security Bureau. If I do not punish this severely, how will I command respect in the future?"
"Commander Su speaks the truth. A nation has its laws, and a city has its regulations. My unworthy disciple broke the rules first. The Commander is acting according to those rules. This old one is thoroughly convinced."
Li Yihuai was an old fox. Taking the cue to de-escalate, he directly produced a brocaded mahogany box from his wide sleeve and gently pushed it to the center of the table.
"CLICK."
He flicked a finger, and the lid popped open.
In an instant, an aura of pure, watery energy spread out.
On the bright yellow silk lining the box lay a crystalline bone fragment, about five or six inches long. The entire bone was a translucent, icy blue, its surface naturally imprinted with arcane, wave-like patterns.
The moment it was revealed, the air in the hall suddenly grew more humid, and it faintly emanated a heart-pounding pressure.
"This is a fragment of Flood Dragon bone that carries the aura of an ancient species."
A trace of unconcealable pride flashed in Li Yihuai’s eyes. "I’ve heard that Commander Su is raising a Cyan-Scaled Eagle with an extraordinary bloodline. You could fashion this into a pendant for it to wear. The watery essence and Flood Dragon aura within the bone will nourish its body day and night. With enough luck, it might even be able to purify the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s bloodline!"
Su Yu’s expression remained calm, noncommittal.
’This Flood Dragon bone is certainly a supreme treasure, but to purify a Demon Beast’s bloodline relying only on the aura emitted by such a small fragment?’
’Impossible!’
"Senior Li is too thoughtful. In that case, it would be disrespectful of me to refuse."
Su Yu impassively closed the wooden box and put it away by his side.
’It was about time to release Li Heihu anyway. This extra item is a freebie, so there’s nothing to complain about.’
’Besides, maybe I can try soaking this Flood Dragon bone in the Cyan-Spirit Transformation Gourd. It might have some unexpected effects.’
"Commander Su, this is my apology gift."
Xiao Lingui was a man of few words. He directly took a specially made porcelain vial from his waist and placed it heavily on the table.
"One drop of Taibai Armor-Piercing Gold Fluid. Fused into a weapon, it can greatly temper its edge, granting it the power to pierce armor and shatter jade!"
Su Yu’s eyes lit up when he heard this. ’Good stuff!’
’If I fuse this into the Mo Yuan Saber, its power will increase yet again!’
Su Yu accepted both treasures and picked up his teacup. "In three days, you two seniors may send someone to the jail to retrieve your men. I also hope that in the future, you will both keep your disciples in line and not break the Public Security Bureau’s rules again."
...
「Half an incense stick later. Outside the Su Mansion’s main gate.」
Li Yihuai and Xiao Lingui walked side-by-side toward two luxurious carriages parked in the distance.
Before getting into his carriage, Li Yihuai stopped and turned to the silent Xiao Lingui. "Xiao the Blockhead, your Divine Weapon Manor even gave away Taibai Armor-Piercing Gold Fluid. That’s no small expense. To be blackmailed like this by a mere commander in the Flesh Refining Realm... as a Sword Cultivator, can you really swallow this humiliation?"
Xiao Lingui paused as he was about to step into his carriage and said coldly, "Your Ten Thousand Beasts Sect certainly has its own fine plans, giving away that Flood Dragon bone! Whatever schemes you’re plotting, they have nothing to do with my Divine Weapon Manor!"
With that, Xiao Lingui ignored Li Yihuai’s darkening expression, lifted the curtain, and strode into his carriage.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Lingui closed his eyes, a deep, contemplative look flashing through them.
’This Su Yu’s talent is astonishing. It’s better to resolve grievances than to create them. By giving up a drop of Taibai Armor-Piercing Gold Fluid, my Divine Weapon Manor no longer has any conflict with him! As for whatever the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect is thinking, it has nothing to do with us at the Divine Weapon Manor!’