Three days passed in a flash.
Early in the morning.
As Su Yi ate, he yawned repeatedly.
Cha Jin sat across from him, a resplendent smile on her beautiful face. Her entire body was practically glowing, and her charm was obvious to anyone who saw her.
“Young Lord, this is the ginseng soup I made last night. Have a bit more; it’ll do your body good.” Cha Jin laughed and filled his bowl to the brim.
Su Yi picked it up and drained it in a single gulp. Once he’d eaten and drank his fill, he rubbed his forehead, glanced at Cha Jin, and said seriously, “Last night, I wasted far too much time and energy teaching you that dual-cultivation technique. It might have looked like you seized the upper hand, but that was just to help you comprehend this secret art’s profundities. Whatever you do, don’t overthink it.”
Who knows what she was thinking, but Cha Jin suddenly flushed bright red. She lowered her head and murmured, “Young Lord, I’m not overthinking anything, I just wouldn’t have guessed that such shameful acts could actually help in one’s cultivation, which is why I…. I didn’t sleep at all last night….”
Her voice gradually trailed off, and by the end, she was as quiet as a mosquito. Her charming face was as red as the sunrise, and even the snow-white skin of her ears was tinged pink.
Su Yi yawned, but said no more.
It had been years since he’d?last dual-cultivated. Who’d have thought that he almost couldn’t take it?
He was rather vexed about it. The key problem was that the Qi Accumulation Realm was still well within the bounds of mortality. He couldn’t withstand an entire night of tossing about or fierce competition.
Were this his past life….
Su Yi inwardly shook his head and cast those thoughts aside. It?wouldn’t do to dwell?on his former valor.
Before long, the Bluescale Eagle landed in the courtyard, carrying Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong.
“Fellow Daoist, are you ready?” Ning Sihua had changed into a military uniform, an outfit convenient to fight in. Her long, pitch-black hair was now braided, further offsetting her clear, youthful beauty.
“There’s nothing to prepare. I can leave anytime,” Su Yi said offhandedly.
He’d only just realized that although this woman looked like a little slip of a girl, her figure was actually quite something.
That form-fitting military uniform made the prominence of her chest stand out, and it vividly outlined the curves of her waist and hips.
As if sensing Su Yi’s gaze, Ning Sihua’s painted brows arched up. The corners of her lips rose into something that wasn’t quite a smile.
Had any other man dared check her out like this, she likely would have slapped him a long time ago.
But she couldn’t manage any anger in the face of Su Yi’s forthright, calm, natural gaze.
She actually found it rather interesting.?This guy seems proud and emotionless, but it seems he’s not immune to beauty either.
What surprised Ning Sihua even more was that Su Yi chose that moment to compliment her, right in front of everyone else. “I didn’t realize it earlier, but you’ve got a lot to be proud of here.”
Shen Jiusong was stunned, and his expression was strange. He couldn’t help but secretly admire Su Yi.?This Young Lord Su sure has guts!
Who else would have dared harass the mysterious, terrifying Palace Master Ning Sihua of Heaven’s Origin Academy?
In her heart, even Cha Jin spat at him.?Young Lord, how can you say something so shameless so openly and righteously?
Ning Sihua fell momentarily silent, as if trying her best to neutralize her discomfort, shame, and anger.
Afterward, she chuckled slightly. “Fellow Daoist, you can joke, but don’t play with fire.”
Su Yi said thoughtfully, “Are you afraid I’ll get burned?”
Ning Sihua’s brow furrowed, forming black lines as she gnashed her teeth and corrected him. “I’m afraid you’ll burn yourself alive!”
Shen Jiusong and Cha Jin both averted their gazes; neither dared look at her for fear that her embarrassment would turn to anger and implicate them, too.
Ning Sihua realized that she’d lost her usual bearing, and she took a moment to calm herself before saying, “Since your preparations are already in order, let’s set out now. At Qing’er’s pace, we can arrive at Bloodthistle Yao Mountain late tonight.”
Su Yi and Shen Jiusong both nodded.
Ning Sihua suddenly seemed to think of something, and she said, “Miss Cha Jin, the Imperatorial Provincial Capital is currently turbulent and chaotic. While we’re gone, you’re welcome to seek refuge at Heaven’s Origin Academy. I already discussed it with the Grand Elder, Shang Zhen.”
Cha Jin was instantly stunned; she wouldn’t have guessed that the lofty palace master of Heaven’s Origin Academy would consider her well-being.
She couldn’t help but glance at Su Yi, who nodded. “Go on.”
It had only been three days since the Tea Party ended.
Following the deaths of Provincial Governor Xiang Tianqiu and peak-level family heads Yu Baiting, Xue Ningyuan, Zhao Qing, and Bai Hanhai, the entire Imperatorial Provincial Capital was like a dragon without a head. The various factions seized advantage of the chaos, fanning the flames and jostling for power. The entire city was in disarray.
Chaos inevitably led to bloodshed, and it meant that the city’s major powers would soon undergo widespread reshuffling.
None of this had anything to do with Su Yi, but he had, after all, started this whole mess.
Given the opportunity, his enemies would almost certainly act in a mad frenzy. Under the circumstances, having Cha Jin take refuge at Heaven’s Origin Academy was indeed the safest course of action.
When Cha Jin saw him nod, she agreed too.
But just as they were about to set off, they heard a voice from beyond the courtyard.
“Young Lord Su, the Jade Mountain Marquis is here to see you.”
The speaker was Zheng Tianhe, but his tone was a bit solemn and grave.
The Jade Mountain Marquis?
Su Yi’s brow furrowed slightly
Shen Jiusong chimed in from the sidelines, whispering, “His name is Pei Wenshan, and he’s a fourth-level Grandmaster. He received his title fifteen years ago, and he’s stationed in the Lin Province. He’s the fifth non-Zhou marquis to emerge from the Su Family.”
“Ah, so that’s it.” Su Yi instantly understood. The power of the Su Family had come knocking on his door.
“Cha Jin, go welcome our guest,” ordered Su Yi.
Before long, Cha Jin led Zheng Tianhe and a scholarly-looking man over.
The scholar wore tailored, jade-colored robes, and his hair was perfectly combed, without a single strand out of place. His skin was fair and clear, and he looked refined and gentle.
He looked thirty at most.
This was the Jade Mountain Marquis, Pei Wenshan.
When he saw Su Yi, Zheng Tianhe opened his mouth as if to explain, only for Su Yi to shake his head and stop him.
How could he fail to realize that Pei Wenshan had forced Zheng Tianhe to guide him here?
“Brother Shen?” When he saw Shen Jiusong, Pei Wenshan couldn’t help but exclaim, “What are you doing here?”
Shen Jiusong said flatly, “That’s exactly what I wanted to ask you. You’re stationed in the Lin Province year-round. Why would you appear here all of a sudden?”
Pei Wenshan laughed. “I’m here on orders.”
His gaze swept across the room, then landed on Su Yi. He clasped his fist and said, “Third Young Master, the family head entrusted me to deliver you a message on his behalf.”
The family head!
Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong both instantly realized that Pei Wenshan was here on Su Hongli’s orders.
Su Yi said flatly, “Speak.”
“Third Young Master, the family head says that so long as you lower your head and admit fault, he’ll give you a chance to turn over a new leaf,” said Pei Wenshan.
Su Yi was stunned. “Did Su Hongli really say that?”
Pei Wenshan’s brow furrowed, and he said warningly, “Third Young Master, he’s your father, and you’re his son. Calling your father directly by name is extremely disrespectful.”
Su Yi said flatly, “What, are you trying to lecture me?”
Pei Wenshan evaluated him for a moment, then laughed. “When I heard that a few days ago at the Western Mountain’s Tea Party, you made quite the impressive showing and killed quite a few people, I was surprised. I didn’t know whether to believe it or not. Seeing you now, without discussing your cultivation, your temperament and courage are far from ordinary.” 𝐨𝘃𝗹.
When he said that last part, his tone carried a thread of lamentation.
He was the Great Zhou’s Jade Mountain Marquis, a man famed throughout the empire. On top of that, he had the Su Family behind him. It was fair to say that his authority was vast and far-reaching.
Even the head of a prominent clan like Zheng Tianhe had to be respectful to him.
Yet from the moment he walked into the House of Waveswept Rocks until now, he hadn’t sensed so much as the slightest trace of dread or respect from Su Yi.
Pei Wenshan couldn’t help but find this rather surprising.
His impression of Su Yi was that of a long-snubbed son of a concubine, someone unworthy of power, someone whose status was so low, he was inferior to even the stewards and housekeepers.
But looking at him now, Su Yi seemed to have changed completely; he was entirely different from Pei Wenshan’s impression of him.
After a brief silence, Pei Wenshan said, “Third Young Master, the family head also said that he can give you some time to consider his offer. Your deadline is the fifth day of the fifth month.”
The fifth day of the fifth month!
Su Yi’s eyes narrowed. Years ago, it was on the fifth day of the fifth month that Su Hongli stripped his mother of her status. It was also on that day that she fell sick with the illness she never recovered from.
There was no doubt about it: Su Hongli was implying that if he didn’t lower his head and admit to his mistakes, he’d dispose of Su Yi just as he’d disposed of his mother, Ye Yufei!
Ning Sihua and Shen Jiusong could read between the lines too. They couldn’t help but glance at Su Yi.
But Su Yi looked calm and indifferent, and when he spoke, it was without the slightest ripple of emotion.?“He’s giving me a little more than a month to consider this? That works too. Then you go back and tell Su Hongli that on the fifth day of the fifth month, I’ll go sweep my mother’s grave. I’ll stop by the Su Family estate the day before and collect some offerings to comfort her departed soul.”
The atmosphere instantly fell deathly silent.
Ning Sihua’s beautiful eyes filled with a strange light. Shen Jiusong silently gasped. Cha Jin’s eyes widened, and Zheng Tianhe’s hands and feet quivered.
How could they miss that Su Yi’s seemingly casual words were rife with endless murderous intent?
He wanted to fight his way into the Su Family estate to get justice for his mother. Along the way, he wanted to kill a few people to act as offerings!
Pei Wenshan’s expression shifted erratically. He would never have guessed Su Yi’s response would be so unyielding!
“Third Young Master, you mustn’t let your feelings overpower you. If you and your father truly have a falling-out, it won’t be easy to fix.”?Pei Wenshan took a deep breath, then fixed his gaze on Su Yi. “I can tell you one thing: if the family head truly loses his temper, His Majesty the Emperor would strip your backer, the sixth prince, of his position without a moment’s hesitation, leaving you all alone. How could you possibly contend with the entire Su Family then?”
His gaze shifted, then landed on Shen Jiusong. “Brother Shen ought to understand that that’s neither an empty threat nor an exaggeration. Am I right?”
Shen Jiusong’s expression was rather strange as he said, “Everything you said is true, but Brother Pei, the way I see it, you’re currently just a messenger. Just deliver your message properly. Don’t overreach or meddle in others’ affairs. If you say something you shouldn’t, it won’t end well.”
Inside, he was laughing.?Pei Wenshan really thinks Su Yi is relying on the sixth prince to contend with the entire Su Family? He’s?sure let?his imagination run away with him!
Pei Wenshan was stunned. He keenly sensed that there was something strange about Shen Jiusong’s attitude.
He glanced back at Su Yi and said, “And what do you think, Third Young Master?”
“Even if I told you that I could single-handedly flatten the entire Su Family, there’s no way you’d believe me. In that case, why waste my breath?” Su Yi said flatly, “Marquis Shen was right; you’re just a messenger. I can’t be bothered to make trouble for you, so just go back and tell Su Hongli everything I said, word for word.”
“Bye. Forgive me for not showing you to the door.” With that, he waved, as if shooing off an ant.
Pei Wenshan’s expression shifted several times. Finally, he took a deep breath, suppressed his rage, and, with one last swoosh of his sleeves, turned and left without a word.