It was morning at the Wind and Snow Inn in Linyuan City.
Inside a first-class private room on the second floor, a charcoal fire burned brightly.
When Su Yu, Lin Wanzhu, and Xu Feng pushed the door open and entered, two middle-aged men with distinguished airs were already seated inside.
"Junior Brother, Senior Sister, allow me to make the introductions."
Xu Feng pointed to a middle-aged man on the left, who was dressed in a black shirt and had a goatee. "This is the Patriarch of the local Yu family merchant caravan here in Linyuan City, Yu Fujiu. Mr. Yu is a veteran Muscle Forging Realm master. When the caravans were ambushed at Tiger Leap Gorge, we only managed to save our men because Mr. Yu stepped forward to deal with the enemy and cover our retreat."
"You’re too kind, my dear Xu." Yu Fujiu stroked his goatee and sighed, his face a mask of grief. "Since we were all traveling together, we were in the same boat. It was only natural to help where I could. Alas... it’s just that Wind Evil Stronghold was far too powerful. In the end, I was no match for them. I could only watch as the goods from our families were stolen away. It’s a true disgrace!"
"Brother Yu, you already did everything you could," the other middle-aged man, who was holding a teacup, said consolingly. "They outnumbered us, and the situation was hopeless. There’s no need to blame yourself."
This man’s skin was a weather-beaten bronze, a clear sign of long years spent in the sun and wind. He wore an expensive, coin-patterned brocade robe with a descending tiger embroidered in gold thread across the chest. His every move radiated the sharp competence of a seasoned veteran.
"This is the head of the Golden Tiger Caravan from Jian’an Prefecture, Xie Yong. He is also a Muscle Forging Realm master, renowned in his own right," Xu Feng continued.
Xie Yong set down his teacup. His gaze, sharp as a hawk’s, swept impassively over Su Yu and Lin Wanzhu. "You two must be from the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, having hurried here from Black Stone City? You’re both so young, yet you carry yourselves with such composure. May I ask your names?"
Su Yu met the scrutiny of the two Muscle Forging Realm experts, his expression utterly serene as he spoke in a measured tone:
"Su Yu, from Black Stone City. Muscle Forging Realm."
He turned slightly and gestured to the woman beside him. "This is my senior sister, Lin Wanzhu. She is also in the Muscle Forging Realm."
SPLASH!
The moment the words left Su Yu’s mouth, the teacup in Xu Feng’s hand, who was standing behind him, trembled violently, splashing hot tea onto the back of his hand.
His large eyes bulged.
’Junior Su is in the Muscle Forging Realm?’
He thought he must have misheard, but when he saw Lin Wanzhu’s perfectly calm expression, he swallowed hard.
’I was only gone for one escort mission, and Junior Su broke through again?’
’This is the Muscle Forging Realm!’
’I’ve trained diligently for decades and still haven’t even reached Refining Flesh Perfection, yet the junior brother I personally guided just two years ago has already surpassed me and broken through.’
The shock he felt was indescribable, but with outsiders present, he could only suppress the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.
It wasn’t just Xu Feng. Across from them, a sharp glint appeared in the eyes of both Yu Fujiu and Xie Yong.
Xie Yong couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "The younger generation is truly formidable! I never expected Brother Su and Miss Lin to be so young, yet both have already achieved mastery and become experts in the Muscle Forging Realm! With two more masters on our side, we’ll have a much stronger hand in the upcoming negotiations with Wind Evil Stronghold!"
Beside him, Yu Fujiu also nodded repeatedly, though a strange, hidden glint flashed in his eyes as he said:
"Younger Brother Su, you two have arrived at the perfect time! Yesterday, I asked the Leng family, a major power in Linyuan City, to act as an intermediary and contact Wind Evil Stronghold’s third-in-command. Previously, those bandits made an exorbitant demand—the ransom they asked for was enough to kill us! But now that we have a total of four Muscle Forging Realm masters, even a group as brazen as Wind Evil Stronghold will have to consider the cost of a fight to the death! We can definitely push this ransom down!"
"We’ll have to trouble you with the legwork on this, Brother Yu! When do you think you’ll have definite news?" Xie Yong asked eagerly.
Wind Evil Stronghold was powerful and held treacherous terrain. If he could get the goods back by paying a smaller ransom and avoid disaster, he had no desire to fight a life-or-death battle with those desperadoes.
"Everyone, please be patient. We will have a reply by this afternoon!" Yu Fujiu confidently assured them.
"Excellent! We’ll be waiting for your good news, Brother Yu!"
...
After leaving the Wind and Snow Inn, the trio made their way along the street toward Lin’s Snow Ginseng Hall.
"Ah Yu, if Wind Evil Stronghold really agrees to a significant reduction in the ransom this afternoon, should we just go along with it and make the trade?" Lin Wanzhu asked in a hushed voice.
Su Yu didn’t break his stride, his expression as cold as ice. His answer was still just a single word:
"Kill."
The moment they stepped into the back courtyard of the Snow Ginseng Hall,
Xu Feng, who had been holding it in the entire way, could finally bear it no longer. "Junior Brother!" he blurted out. "Did you really break through to the Muscle Forging Realm?"
Su Yu looked at Xu Feng’s shocked expression, a gentle smile on his face. "Yes," he said calmly. "I had a fortunate opportunity a few days ago and just broke through. But Senior Brother, please keep this a secret for now when we return to Black Stone City. I’ll announce it publicly when the time is right."
"Oh... oh! I get it, I get it..."
Receiving Su Yu’s direct confirmation, Xu Feng looked rather crushed, his eyes dazed.
’He really broke through! As his senior brother, I’m still struggling in the Flesh Refining Realm, but he can already stand as an equal with the veteran Patriarchs of Black Stone City.’
’How can the gap between two people be bigger than the one between a man and a beast?’
Seeing Xu Feng’s crestfallen expression, the perceptive Lin Wanzhu couldn’t help but giggle. "Junior Brother Xu, don’t tell me you’re actually comparing yourself to our monstrous junior brother? Take your senior sister’s advice: don’t. That boy isn’t normal. Given enough time, I’m afraid even Master won’t be a match for him."
At her words, understanding dawned on Xu Feng. He slapped his thigh and gave a bitter smile. "You’re right, Senior Sister! I must have been possessed to even think of comparing myself to a monster like him! He’s the number one genius of Black Stone City’s Outer City, after all!"
"Alas, in the world of Martial Arts, skill defines seniority. You’re now a great master of the Muscle Forging Realm. It wouldn’t be proper for me to keep calling you Junior Brother. From now on, I should call you Senior Brother Su."
Su Yu shook his head earnestly. "You’re mistaken, Senior Brother. It’s true that some Martial Arts Halls determine seniority by strength, but here at the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, the bond between us disciples is deep. In my heart, I will always respect you and Senior Sister for the care you’ve shown me. You deserve the title ’Senior Brother.’ There’s no need to ever mention changing it again."
Xu Feng’s heart warmed at his words.
’Junior Su doesn’t just have astonishing talent; his character and integrity are also top-notch. That’s why I thought so highly of him back then. It seems I wasn’t wrong about him after all!’
"But didn’t that boy Jiang Liuchuan already start calling you Senior Brother Su?" Lin Wanzhu teased.
"With his devil-may-care attitude, Junior Jiang is better suited to being a junior brother."
Su Yu’s comment made the three of them look at each other and burst into laughter, easing the tense atmosphere that had lingered from the robbery.
The laughter in the courtyard drew out Jiang Liuchuan, who had been waiting anxiously in the front hall. He pushed the door open and hurried over, his face full of anticipation. "My dearest seniors! Hey! You all look so happy. Does this mean there’s been a breakthrough with Wind Evil Stronghold? Are we getting the goods back?"
"No, we were just talking about you. Just wait patiently for news this afternoon," Su Yu said with a smile, patting his shoulder.
Jiang Liuchuan’s face fell. "Damn that Wind Evil Stronghold! I finally made up my mind to pull off a big business deal to prove myself, and my very first venture turns into a total disaster! When I get back to Black Stone City, my old man is going to mock me relentlessly!"
"Senior Brother Su, how are you still in the mood to laugh? Wind Evil Stronghold holds a natural fortress and is incredibly powerful. If the ransom negotiations fall through this afternoon, we’re going to lose everything!"
"The sky isn’t falling. Just leave this to me," Su Yu said, his voice as calm as ever.
Jiang Liuchuan had been about to vent some more, but when his gaze met Su Yu’s—eyes as still and deep as an ancient well—the anxiety in his heart was inexplicably soothed.
He thought back on all of Senior Brother Su’s accomplishments since his rise to prominence. It seemed that he had never once failed to deliver on a promise.
"Alright then! With those golden words from you, Senior Brother, I can finally rest easy!" Jiang Liuchuan’s face instantly broke into a grin. "I’m just a good-for-nothing dandy anyway. For the rest of my life, I’m sticking to you like glue, Senior Brother!"
With that, he actually moved to hug Su Yu’s leg.
"Get lost!" Su Yu kicked the clown away, sparking another round of soft laughter in the courtyard.
Watching this from the side, Xu Feng nodded to himself.
’The circle of our White Ape Martial Arts Hall has, without anyone realizing it, begun to revolve around Junior Su. He’s starting to show the convincing charisma of a true leader!’
’With Junior Su around, the future of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall is secure!’
Back in his room, Su Yu’s smile vanished. He sat at the table and carefully sifted through the various intelligence reports that Xu Feng had spent a fortune to gather.
"Wind Evil Stronghold... the Leng family... the Yu family... the Leng family..."
...
「Afternoon.」
Yu Fujiu and Xie Yong arrived at the Inner Courtyard of Lin’s Snow Ginseng Hall, and the three parties gathered once more.
"Good news! Fantastic news, you two!"
Yu Fujiu burst in, his face flush with excitement as he announced, "Wind Evil Stronghold has relented! Thanks to the Leng family acting as guarantors, and with us revealing our trump card of four Muscle Forging Realm masters, they’ve finally stopped with their outrageous demands!"
"Brother Yu, don’t keep us in suspense, just tell us! How much ransom does each family have to pay?" Xie Yong asked, his expression a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
Yu Fujiu took a deep breath. "For the Golden Tiger Caravan, they’re asking for thirty thousand taels! The White Ape caravan was carrying more valuable goods, so for you, it’s forty thousand taels! As for my Yu family caravan, it’s also thirty thousand taels!"
"Thirty thousand taels! That’s still so much!"
Xie Yong’s face tightened; the amount still stung.
The total value of his goods for this trip was only fifty or sixty thousand taels. They were demanding more than half of it!
Seeing Xie Yong hesitate, Yu Fujiu quickly stroked his beard and tried to persuade him. "Younger Brother Xie, Younger Brother Su! It’s a painful sum, I know, but at least it’s within our means. We won’t lose everything! Wind Evil Stronghold are the local tyrants, and they’re powerful. Are we really going to attack their fortress? In my opinion, we should just bite the bullet and agree."
"Wait, Brother Yu," Xie Yong said, still unconvinced. "Those bandits are ruthless killers who live by the sword. If we pay them, will they really honor their word and return the goods? What if they’re just planning to screw us over again?"
Yu Fujiu said with conviction, "Wind Evil Stronghold has been in the robbery business for years. They understand the value of a steady income stream. They’ve made plenty of trades—taking money for goods—it happens several times a year. Besides, this time we have the great Leng family of Linyuan City backing us up. Even if Wind Evil Stronghold is unbelievably audacious, they wouldn’t dare to offend us and the Leng family at the same time!"
"As for the meeting place, we can take the initiative and set it in the open ground below Tiger Leap Gorge. We will absolutely not go up to their mountain fortress! The four of us at the Muscle Forging Realm will be there to oversee things. Once we see the goods, it’ll be a simple exchange: one hand pays, the other hand delivers. It’s completely foolproof!"
After finishing, Yu Fujiu turned to Xie Yong. "Younger Brother Xie, what do you say?"
Xie Yong gritted his teeth and nodded firmly. "Fine! It’s better to lose money than our lives! I agree!"
Both men then turned to look at Su Yu, awaiting his decision.
Su Yu calmly set down his teacup and said, "On this matter, we disagree."
Xie Yong couldn’t help but try to reason with him. "Oh, Brother Su, don’t act on a whim! Are you really going to attack Wind Evil Stronghold? If you fail, not only will you lose everything, but people will get hurt!"
Yu Fujiu’s brows were also tightly knit, his eyes flickering as he tried to persuade him patiently. "Younger Brother Su, is it because you feel it’s unfair that they’re demanding forty thousand taels from you? You know better than anyone how many precious Martial Arts Resources your caravan is carrying. The total value of your goods is much higher than ours. It’s the wiser choice to bleed a little now to protect the bulk of your assets!"
"Gentlemen, don’t be so hasty," Su Yu said with a smile. "I have a plan. Why don’t you hear me out before you decide?"