"Uncle Wang, who are these two?"

Wang Yuechi stood by with a bow, pointing to the dark-skinned young man on the left. "Lord Su, I’ve known both of them since they were children. I can vouch for their character. This strong, dark one is Li Jin, from the Li Family on the east side of the village. He went to the city in his youth to study Martial Arts for three months. He’s got brute strength and an honest personality, a good hand for guarding the house."

He then pointed to the more scholarly-looking young man on the right. "This one is Li Da, Carpenter Li’s boy. He’s skilled with his hands and knows some carpentry. When he was young, he eavesdropped on lessons at a private school for a few years, so he can read a bit and can help with the bookkeeping."

Su Yu nodded slightly. ’Not bad. Wang Yuechi really is a reliable man.’

His gaze swept over the two men. "Both of you, get up. There’s no need to kneel in the mansion from now on. You two will live in the reverse-facing rooms of the west wing. Li Jin, you’ll be in charge of patrols and security. Li Da, you’ll handle miscellaneous tasks within the mansion. Your Monthly Allowance will be half a tael, room and board included."

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!"

The two of them kowtowed heavily again, their foreheads striking the ground with loud thuds. Soon, the skin was red and swollen.

In these chaotic times where lives were as worthless as weeds, finding a sanctuary like the Su Mansion didn’t just mean survival. It meant that when one person rises, their whole circle rises with them. The way they looked at Su Yu was no longer just reverence, but unwavering loyalty.

After settling the two men, Su Yu’s gaze fell on the child to the side.

Wang Qu.

The boy had been kneeling for a long time without getting anxious. His big, dark eyes were fixated on a line of ants moving on the ground, lost in fascination, revealing a child’s unique innocence.

"Uncle Wang, Wang Qu is still young. Let him stay with Yaya for now, so someone can look after him."

A hint of gentleness flickered in Su Yu’s eyes. "In a few days, I’ll go into the city and hire a tutor to teach at the mansion. When the time comes, let both Wang Qu and Yaya attend the lessons. It’s always better to be educated and understand the world than to be an illiterate fool."

"Thank you, Lord Su!" Wang Yuechi’s body shuddered, and he trembled with excitement.

Su Yu had his own reasons for this decision.

The original owner of his body was literate, but his proficiency was quite limited. The Martial Arts Secret Manuals he was encountering now were increasingly obscure and profound, filled with archaic classical texts and terminology that he was struggling to comprehend.

He also knew nothing about this world’s culture and history. In the future, as his status changed, his personal cultivation would need to keep up.

Before, he had focused all his energy on martial arts and had no time for studying. But now that he had a safe place to live, he could consider picking up his studies.

’Besides, I have the Skill Level system. Learning the skill of reading should be twice as effective with half the effort.’

After whispering a few more instructions to his son, Wang Yuechi came before Su Yu. "Lord Su, now that Wang Qu is settled, my mind is at ease. It’s time for me to head back to Qingxi Village."

"Wait, Uncle Wang," Su Yu said, trying to persuade him to stay. "My mansion still needs a butler. Why don’t you stay here?"

Wang Yuechi stopped in his tracks. A flicker of interest crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by firm refusal.

He subconsciously touched his left cheek.

A large patch of flesh there had been licked away during that bizarre attack. Though it had scabbed over now, it left a hideous, terrifying, dark-red scar, like a centipede crawling across his face—frightening enough to make a crying child fall silent.

"Lord Su, with this ghostly face of mine, staying here would only frighten your esteemed guests and bring you shame."

He gave a bitter laugh, then straightened his back and looked toward the direction outside the city. "Besides... everyone in Qingxi Village is on edge right now. The villagers are all counting on me to lead them. If I just run away on my own, I won’t be able to sleep soundly for the rest of my life."

Watching Wang Yuechi leave the Su Mansion and gradually disappear into the distance, Su Yu’s opinion of him improved even more.

After Wang Yuechi left, Su Yu went to the lotus pond in the backyard. His eyes glinted as he watched the Red Oil Fish King swim by, and his hand shot into the water like a bolt of lightning.

SPLASH!

He grabbed the over ten-pound Red Oil Fish King by the gills and lifted it out. The fish’s tail thrashed wildly, sending water flying everywhere, but it couldn’t break free from that large, jade-like hand.

’I’ll go to the martial arts hall and ask Aunt Liu for help!’

Su Yu strode out, carrying the fish.

...

The back courtyard kitchen of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall was filled with steam.

BAM!

The heavy Red Oil Fish King was slammed onto a thick ironwood cutting board. Its body was still twitching slightly, its crimson scales shimmering in the light of the stove fire.

"Sister Liu, sorry to trouble you again."

"Hah! Don’t be so formal with your auntie."

Aunt Liu wiped her hands on her apron, picked up a thick-spined, pointed boning knife, and expertly got to work.

With a flick of her wrist, the knife fell, its cold blade flashing repeatedly.

CRACK!

SIZZLE!

The hard fins were precisely chopped off, and the gills were neatly picked out.

But her most impressive skill was how she handled its molten-flesh crest. With a light slice, the tip of her knife followed the texture of the flesh, managing to peel off the entire red oil sac whole. It dripped into a white porcelain bowl on the side, crimson as blood and exuding an unusual, fragrant aroma.

"Incredible knife skills!" Su Yu couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

"But of course!" A trace of pride entered Aunt Liu’s voice. "My husband used to be the second-station chef at the Zhenxiu Building, specializing in preparing Demon Beast ingredients. He taught me everything I know. After I came to work for Master Qin, I practiced for over ten more years. I’ve seen all sorts of things, so I’m pretty used to it by now."

She continued to chatter with Su Yu as she worked. "This Fire-Fiend Red Oil is precious stuff. If someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing accidentally punctures the sac, the whole pot of soup would be ruined. What a waste that would be."

Su Yu nodded and watched curiously for a little longer before turning to take a look around the martial arts hall.

Along the way, the senior and junior brothers of the Inner Courtyard greeted him with great respect and enthusiasm, their eyes filled with envy.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Su!"

"Morning, Senior Brother Su!"

After he was a good distance away, whispers broke out behind him.

"Look at that presence! I told you Senior Brother Su was a hidden dragon in the abyss, destined to soar to the heavens sooner or later!"

"Pah! Hindsight is 20/20! You were the loudest one saying Senior Brother Su’s aptitude was poor and he’d never amount to anything in his life!"

"Bullshit! I was the one who believed in Senior Brother Su the most back then. How could I have said something like that?!"

Su Yu overheard them but simply smiled and paid them no mind.

’When you become strong, almost everyone around you becomes a good person.’

Arriving at the front courtyard, he saw about twenty percent more apprentices than usual. Apparently, the White Ape Martial Arts Hall’s reputation had been growing recently.

But things had changed. Of the apprentices from his own batch, many had left or drifted away.

Now, only Chen Fan and Wang Hu were left.

The last he’d heard, that kid Wang Hu had said he was preparing to break through to the Martial Artist realm. He’d been preparing for several months now, but there had been no further news.

He had seen him once before and heard that he was still working at the blacksmith’s shop with his father. When he could try to break through again depended on his father’s opinion.

"Senior Brother Su."

Just then, a woman’s slightly nervous voice called out.

Su Yu turned his head, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"Junior Sister Ye, what is it?"

The alluring woman who used to wear a tight-fitting training uniform, seemingly wanting to show off her entire figure, was today dressed in a loose, thick, gray robe that covered her completely.

She bit her lip, hesitating, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn’t. After a long pause, she finally asked in a trembling voice, "Um... Senior Brother Chen... is he feeling better?"

Su Yu was a bit confused. ’Why is she asking me about Chen Fan?’

Still, he answered, "There’s nothing seriously wrong. Master Qin said he just needs to recuperate at the clinic for another month before he can come back. Haven’t you been to see him?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Su. I... I did go see him, but Senior Brother Chen told me to leave." Her tone was filled with dejection and sorrow.

"Um, Senior Brother Su, I heard Master Qin arranged a marriage for Senior Brother Chen. Is that true?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Su Yu was silent for a moment before finally nodding.

Ye Lu’s body suddenly swayed.

Seeing her haggard and sorrowful appearance, Su Yu sighed and said, "Junior Sister Ye, you’ve already attempted the Three Times of Knocking, haven’t you? Did you try to break through to the Martial Artist realm?"

Ye Lu snapped out of her daze and murmured, "I failed to break through. It damaged the foundation of my Qi and Blood, so there’s no hope for me in this life. In a few days, I’ll be leaving the martial arts hall."

Su Yu fell silent again.

Ye Lu raised her head, bit her lip, and after giving Su Yu a deep look, performed a formal bow. "Senior Brother Su, thank you. In all my time at the martial arts hall, you were the only one who always treated me fairly... I wish you great fortune in your martial path."

With that, she turned and left.

The cold wind billowed the hem of her wide robes.

Her right hand subconsciously caressed her lower abdomen, the gesture gentle and sad.

...

Back in the kitchen.

TSSSSSS!

The aroma bursting from the hot oil was incredibly appetizing.

"It’s ready! Eat it while it’s hot!" Aunt Liu said, briskly untying her apron.

Su Yu deftly cut off a piece of fish, placed it in a bowl, and pressed it into Aunt Liu’s hands. "Sister Liu, you can’t refuse this!"

Aunt Liu couldn’t win against Su Yu’s insistence and finally accepted the small piece of fish. "Ah Yu, you’re young, promising, and you know how to treat people. You’re bound to have a limitless future. By the way, does your mansion not have a proper cook? I’ll have my husband introduce you to someone suitable later. At the very least, they’ll have no problem preparing precious fish like this."

Su Yu’s eyes immediately lit up, and he nodded in thanks.

Afterward, Su Yu took the best piece, the back loin, to Qin Fangqiong’s courtyard.

"Good kid! You’re a filial one!"

Qin Fangqiong’s appetite was stirred by the fish’s aroma. Although the Qi and Blood supplement from the Red Oil Fish King was minimal for him, he still greatly enjoyed the taste.

In his good mood, he turned and pulled a green-skinned gourd with a clay seal from a cabinet. With a pained expression, he handed it to Su Yu. "This is half a gourd of Monkey Wine! Your master here stole it from a nest of Iron-Armed Demon Apes in the deep mountains years ago. There isn’t much left! You’re getting a bargain, kid!"

Monkey Wine!

Su Yu’s eyes lit up. This was the legendary Spirit Wine brewed by demon apes from a hundred different fruits. Every drop was pure essence!

"Thank you, Master!"

...

Back in his room at the martial arts hall, Su Yu closed the door and windows.

On the table was a basin of steaming precious fish meat and a gourd of fragrant Monkey Wine.

’Time to eat!’

Su Yu picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

"Mmph!"

The meat was tender and smooth, melting the moment it entered his mouth. Immediately after, a domineering, fiery Qi Flow exploded down his throat as if he had swallowed a ball of fire, instantly igniting all the Qi and Blood in his body!

He took another sip of Monkey Wine.

HISS!

The wine was as thick as honey. It was cool as it went down his throat, but upon reaching his stomach, it transformed into a vast, cooling medicinal power that intertwined with the heat from the fish meat. It was an instantaneous clash of ice and fire!

After consuming these two fine things one after another, his stuck Breakthrough Point progress began to move again.

[Breakthrough Point Progress +1%]

[Breakthrough Point Progress +1%]

...

Half an hour later, he had polished off the entire precious fish and the half-gourd of Monkey Wine.

Su Yu couldn’t help but exhale a hot breath thick with the aroma of medicine.

"Incredible!"

He felt as if every cell in his body was filled to the brim. His Qi and Blood were abundant to the extreme, and he even felt a sense of swelling, as if he needed to vent the excess energy.

He summoned his panel:

[Breakthrough Points]: 1 (Progress 10%)

’Holy cow, it went up by 11%!’ Su Yu was pleasantly surprised. ’The medicinal power of that half-gourd of Monkey Wine is even a bit stronger than the Red Oil Fish King! No wonder Master Qin had such a pained expression.’

’I have a full Breakthrough Point, and the progress bar has moved.’

’Next...’

A sharp glint flashed in Su Yu’s eyes as his gaze fell upon the panel.

’Allocate the Breakthrough Point!’