Black Stone City, at the headquarters of the Water Snake Gang. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Cao Yuanshan sat high on a great tiger-skin chair, his expression as still as water. He was a burly man with graying temples. Though the Qi and Blood of his Flesh Refining Realm cultivation was contained, its pressure was still enough to make those below him struggle to breathe.

"Hall Master! We can’t wait any longer!"

Wang Shuo knelt on the floor, his eyes bloodshot, weeping as he spoke. "That Su Yu killed Brother Cao Bin! This is a feud that cannot be reconciled! Now that he’s passed the Martial Examination, he’s basking in glory. His strength will only grow in the future. We must act now!"

"That’s right, Hall Master! If Su Yu doesn’t die, what becomes of the Water Snake Gang’s prestige?" a few of Cao Bin’s former underlings chimed in.

"Bastards!"

Cao Yuanshan slammed his hand on the armrest, leaving a palm print in the hard ironwood.

"Killing my adopted son is like severing my own limbs! Do you think I, the Hall Master, am unaware of this feud? Right now, I wish I could eat his flesh raw!"

His fury made him seem like he was on the verge of a grief-stricken breakdown.

But then, his tone shifted, growing deep and somber. "However... the Gang Leader has given an order. The operation in the depths of the Black Water River is imminent. This concerns our gang’s hundred-year plan. We cannot let private matters interfere with public duty."

His gaze swept across the room, finally landing on a man with shifty eyes cowering in a corner. "Zhang Si! You are one of the gang’s finest experts. The task of avenging Cao Bin and dealing with Su Yu falls to you!"

Zhang Si trembled, his face turning green.

’Me? Go kill Su Yu?’

’I’m just a small fry who used a Black Mysterious Pill to become a Martial Artist, my potential completely drained. And I’m supposed to take care of that monster who placed in the top five of the Martial Examination and killed Sun Shi with a single slash?’

’Isn’t this just sending a meat bun to beat a dog?’

In his mind, he cursed the eighteen generations of ancestors of Cao Yuanshan, Cao Bin, and Wang Shuo, but he didn’t dare let his fear show on his face.

"Brother Zhang! You’re an expert of the gang, your Black Tiger Saber technique is superb! You’ll definitely be able to cut that kid down!" Wang Shuo exclaimed, cupping his fist and fanning the flames.

Zhang Si’s mouth twitched. Steeling himself, he bellowed, "Rest assured, Hall Master! That brat Su Yu killed my Brother Cao, and I will not let him get away with it! Just watch me cut him down with a single slash!"

Cao Yuanshan nodded in satisfaction. "Hm, very good. The rest of you, go back and prepare. In three days, we will depart on the gang’s treasure ship!"

"Yes!"

The gang members nodded and filed out.

When only Zhang Si was left, he sidled up with an obsequious smile. "Hall Master, are you really sending me to deal with that Su Yu matter?"

Cao Yuanshan leaned back in his chair, his tone calm. "What do you think of this Su Yu?"

Zhang Si tested the waters carefully. "That Su Yu killed the Hall Master’s adopted son. He deserves to die!"

Cao Yuanshan’s expression darkened, and he said nothing.

Zhang Si immediately knew he’d said the wrong thing. His eyes darted around, and he quickly added, "But... that Su Yu is incredibly strong. He cut down Sun Shi, placed in the top five of the Martial Examination... his future is limitless..."

Seeing Cao Yuanshan nod in satisfaction, he immediately continued, "It would be unwise for us to make an enemy of him right now! We need to be patient and plot Cao Bin’s revenge slowly. Especially with the gang’s important business at hand, we can’t afford to waste too much energy on Su Yu!"

Cao Yuanshan clapped Zhang Si on the shoulder, pleased. "Good, very good. You, Zhang Si, are the cleverest one in the gang. That’s why I’m entrusting this matter with Su Yu to you."

At this point, Zhang Si finally understood.

’That Su Yu is a heaven-sent prodigy, backed by the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, and now he’s even joined the Law Enforcement Team. How could the Hall Master possibly offend Su Yu for the sake of a dead man like Cao Bin?’

’It’s just that Wang Shuo has no sense. He’s always clamoring to get revenge on Su Yu.’

"Hall Master, that Wang Shuo has never broken through to the Martial Artist realm. He’s wasted quite a few of the gang’s Black Mysterious Pills..."

"The gang doesn’t support freeloaders. If he can’t break through after taking a Black Mysterious Pill, he’d be better off feeding them..." Cao Yuanshan said lightly.

Zhang Si understood instantly, and his heart settled. He smiled, bowed, and took his leave.

’If I can’t deal with Su Yu, can I not deal with a little pissant like you, Wang Shuo?’

...

「Three days later, in Anping Square.」

"CRACKLE! POP! BANG!"

The deafening sound of firecrackers echoed down Long Street, and scraps of red paper littered the green flagstones.

On the vermilion-lacquered main gate, the gilded plaque bearing the words "Su Mansion" glittered in the sunlight.

Today was the joyous occasion of the opening of Su Yu’s new residence.

"From the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, Senior Brother Jiang Liuchuan arrives!" the greeter at the door announced at the top of his lungs.

Jiang Liuchuan strode over the threshold, fanning himself with a folding fan and dressed in a flashy purple and gold robe.

"Haha! Junior Su, congratulations, congratulations! I, your Senior Brother, managed to be the first to offer incense!"

Behind him, several house servants carried heavy chests.

"A congratulatory gift from Senior Brother Jiang: three hundred taels of Patterned Silver! One Red Oil Fish King!"

"Whoa!"

The crowd of onlookers outside the gate gasped in amazement.

"Three hundred taels right off the bat? And a treasure fish, too? This Young Master Jiang is unbelievably rich!"

Jiang Liuchuan listened to the surrounding praise and raised an eyebrow smugly. He had certainly given Su Yu enough face.

Immediately after, a fragrant breeze wafted in.

"From the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, Senior Sister Lin Wanzhu arrives!"

"A congratulatory gift: three hundred taels of Patterned Silver! One Exotic Beast Flying Dragon!"

Lin Wanzhu, dressed in splendid, elegant attire, shot Jiang Liuchuan a look and smiled. "Always the show-off."

The gift list that followed was even more staggering: "From Senior Sister Qin Yu, one hundred taels of Patterned Silver and one 20-year-old wild ginseng!"

"From Senior Brother Xu Feng, two hundred taels of Patterned Silver and one 30-year-old Lingzhi!"

"From Steward Lu of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, a pair of Blue and White Glazed Pottery Bottles!"

"From Qian Qinghong of the Qian Family, one Blackfin Pompano! And one hundred taels of Patterned Silver!"

"From Songhe Martial Arts Hall, a gift of twenty taels and a piece of Songyu!"

"From the Brocade Shop Yang Family, a gift of one hundred taels and ten bolts of top-grade silk..."

...

On this day, the gates of the Su Mansion were as crowded as a marketplace, and no commoners were among the guests.

Practically every power, big and small, in the Outer City had sent Su Yu a gift.

Countless people watched the festivities at the Su Mansion from afar, sighing with emotion that Black Stone City had gained another great, established family.

As night fell, the guests dispersed.

In the back courtyard’s accounting room, the lamps were brightly lit.

Several old accountants brought by the Yang Family were clacking away on their abacuses, while Yang Zhen and Yang Ai counted the physical items nearby.

"Brother Su! We’re rich! We’re rich!"

Yang Ai rushed over, clutching a gift ledger, her little face flushed with excitement. "Guess how much we received today!"

Su Yu took a sip of tea and ventured a guess, "Two thousand taels?"

’My senior brothers and sisters alone gave over a thousand taels. With all the other miscellaneous gifts, it should be at least two thousand.’

"Too low!" Yang Ai said, trying to build suspense, and urged him to guess again.

Su Yu took a deep breath and grit his teeth. "Three thousand taels?"

"Five thousand taels!"

Yang Zhen walked over, held up a jade-like hand with all five fingers spread, and answered before her sister could.

"Pfft!"

Su Yu spat out a mouthful of tea.

"How much?!"

"Five thousand taels, and that’s a conservative estimate," Yang Zhen said with a radiant smile. "The treasure fish, Exotic Beasts, and medicinal herbs were all appraised at their lowest cash value. Their actual worth is likely much higher."

Su Yu sucked in a sharp breath.

Five thousand taels!

’This is like striking it rich overnight!’

’So this is the speed at which power can be converted into wealth...’

Su Yu reflected internally. No wonder so many people sharpened their heads to a point trying to climb the social ladder.

"Maybe I should open another mansion?"

"Pfft!"

Yang Zhen covered her cherry-like mouth and giggled. "Brother Su, you can’t do that. You’ll have to find other ways to receive gifts. For example, you could get married and take a concubine."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the tips of Yang Zhen’s ears turned red. She stole a glance at Su Yu, her eyes filled with a sliver of hope.

Although she had been a little disappointed a few days ago when Brother Su said he wanted to focus on his martial arts and had no time for romance, after thinking it over, she actually thought even more highly of him.

’He’s so young and promising, yet he’s still dedicated to improving his martial arts, unlike Senior Brother Jiang, who’s already taken who-knows-how-many concubines.’

’He’s truly a prime candidate for a husband!’

’As long as I spend more time with Brother Su in the future, I’ll definitely have more opportunities than anyone else!’

’Besides, a man chasing a woman is like crossing a wall, but a woman chasing a man is like passing through a layer of gauze!’

Yang Zhen propped her chin on her jade-like hand, her gaze burning as she stared at Su Yu’s profile. She thought that days like this weren’t so bad at all.