Chapter 251: Chapter 249: Su Yu Accepts the Command

Afternoon. The tea room of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall’s Inner Courtyard.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressive and somber.

Qin Fangqiong’s face was ashen as he sat imposingly in a Grandmaster’s Chair. On the rosewood square table beside him rested a teacup, long since gone cold, and a full, untouched plate of braised chicken feet.

Before him, Xu Feng and Lin Wanzhu stood on either side, their brows furrowed in silence.

Su Yu and Chen Fan stood at the very back.

At that moment, Su Yu was looking through the intelligence report that had been sent back, his expression solemn.

’Junior Sister Qin Yu was injured? And they lost three Inner Courtyard Disciples who were with her?’

’Those on Ghost Mist Island are just a bunch of water bandits. Where did they get the nerve to be so arrogant and directly slap the White Ape Martial Arts Hall in the face?’

’Are they relying on the fog of Ghost Mist Island as a shield? Or does their leader, Qin Bashan, the so-called "Ghost Hand Asura," really think he’s invincible on the water?’

’Or is it because they see that the White Ape Martial Arts Hall has only just become one of the Outer City’s four allied powers and hasn’t yet found its footing? Are other forces outside looking on with envy, perhaps even fanning the flames from the shadows, hoping to carve a huge chunk of flesh from our trade route?’

Thoughts churned in Su Yu’s mind as he meticulously unraveled the complex undercurrents possibly hidden behind the ambush.

"This concerns the honor of our White Ape Martial Arts Hall. We cannot delay!" Qin Fangqiong said, his grim face breaking the dead silence. His stern gaze swept over his disciples. "What are your thoughts? Do any of you have a way to resolve this?"

Xu Feng, always level-headed, mulled it over for a moment before speaking first, despite the heavy atmosphere. "Master, this is indeed a tricky situation. Ghost Mist Island has every geographical advantage on the Black Water River. It’s riddled with hidden reefs and perpetually shrouded in fog, making it a natural fortress—easy to defend and hard to attack. On top of that, ’Ghost Hand Asura’ Qin Bashan is at Refining Flesh Realm Perfection. I’m afraid our hall can’t take them down by force on our own."

He sighed and offered a somewhat conservative suggestion. "In my opinion, we should try contacting the other powers in the Ten Islands Region. We could offer up a portion of the trade route’s profits, forge new alliances, and deal with Ghost Mist Island through collective pressure."

Qin Fangqiong closed his eyes slightly, his expression noncommittal, waiting for the others to speak.

Lin Wanzhu also sighed helplessly. She knew better than anyone that what her junior brother had said was the most prudent, sensible course of action. But if their newly acquired trade route was plundered by water bandits and the hall immediately swallowed its pride, giving up profits to beg for reinforcements, then the fearsome reputation the White Ape Martial Arts Hall had just carved out at the Dinglong Association would become a joke.

But she was also keenly aware of the danger. Forget Qin Bashan at Refining Flesh Realm Perfection and the Ghost Mist Stronghold; just the second-in-command, Xia Lie—the one who injured Qin Yu—was as slippery as an eel at the bottom of the vast Black Water River and would be extremely difficult to deal with.

"Master, we can’t take this step back." Lin Wanzhu stepped forward, her mind made up. "How about I personally lead the escort for the merchant ships? If the people of Ghost Mist Island see me on board, they won’t dare to attack so rashly."

Upon hearing this, Xu Feng immediately frowned. "Second Senior Sister, you can only protect the ships for a short while. That’s treating the symptom, not the cause! The moment you leave, that gang of desperadoes will go right back to harassing us like leeches. The hall’s focus is still in Black Stone City; we can’t afford to get bogged down in a war of attrition with outlaws like them!"

"Rather than getting stuck in a swamp we can’t get out of, it’s better to swallow this insult for now. Our hall is taking in plenty of new students. In three to five years, our overall foundation will have doubled. Especially once Junior Su and Junior Brother Chen mature, clowns like these can be suppressed with the flip of a hand. Why rush into a conflict over a momentary fit of pique?"

Lin Wanzhu’s lips parted, and she wanted to argue back, but the words died on her tongue. Ultimately, she retreated and fell silent.

"Enough!"

A murderous glint flashed in Qin Fangqiong’s eyes. "I will go myself! Unless some blood is shed and a few heads roll on Ghost Mist Island, they’ll think my former reputation is nothing but a memory!"

"Master! This is not wise!"

Lin Wanzhu immediately voiced her objection. "The terrain on Ghost Mist Island is complex and shrouded in fog; we might not even find them. Even if we do, and they’re determined to avoid a fight by escaping into the water, how many can you kill, even with your immense strength? What’s more, the fiends from the Black Lotus Sect are lurking in the city and could cause trouble at any moment. If you’re gone for several days, the White Ape Martial Arts Hall will be without a leader. If something happens then, it’ll be a disaster!"

BANG!

Qin Fangqiong slammed his palm onto the rosewood table.

The solid wood tabletop splintered and cracked. The immense shockwave sent the plate of braised food bouncing high into the air, and a single greasy chicken foot leaped over the rim, rolling to a stop on the tabletop.

At this moment, Su Yu spoke calmly, "Master, I’ll make the trip."

As soon as he spoke, all eyes turned to him.

Qin Fangqiong’s brows furrowed deeply. He shook his head and dismissed the idea without a second thought. "My disciple, I know your talent is astonishing, and your combat prowess is enough to defeat those in the Late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm. But that ’Ghost Hand Asura’ Qin Bashan is a veteran rogue who reached Refining Flesh Perfection many years ago. It would be unwise to face him head-on!"

"Besides, you are the foundation of our hall’s future. Your top priority is to remain in the city and cultivate diligently, reaching the Refining Flesh Realm Perfection as quickly as possible! Only when both you and Wanzhu reach Perfection, or perhaps even a step beyond... will our hall finally be on solid ground!"

Su Yu’s heart warmed at his master’s words. He was about to reveal a little more of his true, terrifying strength—his trump card—but then he remembered Chen Fan was also there.

The flash of glee and malice in the other’s eyes did not escape Su Yu’s keen senses.

So, Su Yu suppressed the urge to explain and continued, "Master, regardless of anything else, someone needs to go and rendezvous with Junior Sister Qin Yu. Leave it to me. As for subsequent negotiations or other matters, I’ll take care of it all."

Qin Fangqiong was still hesitant. Of all his disciples, he trusted Su Yu the most, but Su Yu was also the one he treasured above all others.

He worried that if this disciple left the city, he would once again encounter some unforeseen danger, but he immediately shook his head.

’I’m getting old and muddled. How can a flower raised in a greenhouse ever break through to the Muscle Forging Realm?’

"Alright, I’ll leave this matter for you to handle. As for the trade route profits, we can concede fifty percent at most. The rest is for you to decide."

"Yes, Master!"

After leaving the tea room, Senior Brother Xu gave him a few more detailed warnings before hurrying away.

Lin Wanzhu, however, said little, a rare trace of worry on her cool face. She walked directly to Su Yu’s side, and they exited the martial hall’s main gate together, boarding the same carriage.

Behind them, standing in the shadow of a tree, Chen Fan watched Lin Wanzhu and Su Yu intimately board the carriage together. A look of thick resentment and jealousy instantly flashed in his eyes.

’Su Yu, this time you will die for sure!’

’When you’re dead, everything you took from me in the hall will be mine!’

...

「The next morning, at the Su Mansion’s Martial Arts Arena.」

With a dull roar of Qi and Blood that seemed powerful enough to shatter the air, Su Yu’s fists slammed into an Ironwood Stake like heavy cannons, kicking up a visible white shockwave.

[Demonic Ape Mountain-Shaking Fist Skill Level +20]

[Martial Arts]: Demonic Ape Mountain-Shaking Fist (Minor Achievement 6000/7000)

’Just one thousand more points to go.’

Su Yu slowly relaxed his stance and exhaled a plume of hot white air, his gaze profound. ’Soon, I’ll break through to Major Achievement. At that point, I can step into the Late-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, and my strength will be enough to clash head-on with an expert of the Muscle Forging Realm. Only then will I have truly secured my footing in Black Stone City.’

’Perfect. This trip to flatten Ghost Mist Island might be just what I need. In actual combat, the Skill Level of my Demonic Ape Fist will probably increase even faster!’

After breakfast, Su Yu rode a Black-scaled Horse with excellent stamina out of the south city gate, heading straight for the Black Water River ferry crossing.

...

「At the same time, in the Inner City. The Huyan Family estate.」

The butler, Huyan Bo, entered with hurried steps and bowed his head respectfully to report, "Patriarch, we’ve just received a reliable tip from the White Ape Martial Arts Hall. That Su Yu has left the city. He’s alone, on his way to the Ten Islands Waters to deal with the Ghost Mist Island trouble."

Patriarch Huyan, Huyan Muyuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed in a Grandmaster’s Chair, abruptly opened them. A cold, sharp light flashed in their depths.

"Excellent! Once he’s outside the high walls of Black Stone City, the Public Security Bureau’s cloak of authority is useless. No one can protect him," Huyan Muyuan sneered. "Go, bring Huyan Mo and Xin’er to me."

"Yes, Patriarch."

A short while later, the door was pushed open.

The first to enter was a giant of a man, standing nearly two and a half meters tall, with a simple-minded, foolish expression.

More shockingly, the giant was holding an enormous, reeking raw leg of lamb, still threaded with bloody sinew. He was tearing at the raw meat like a wild beast, viscous blood mixed with saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth.

Following at his side was an old man with a handsome, three-pointed beard: the Huyan Family’s Tributor, Huyan Mo.

Watching the giant chew on raw flesh while letting out a foolish, idiotic laugh, a complex emotion of pity and fatherly love flashed in Huyan Muyuan’s eyes.

This was his youngest son, Hu Yanxin.

As a descendant of a noble divine bloodline, Hu Yanxin had inherited a potent concentration of that blood at birth. But because the bloodline was too tyrannical for a mortal body to bear, he had lost his sanity at a young age, becoming a mindless monster who knew only slaughter and gluttony.

Fortunately, however, the Huyan Family had secretly captured a "Person of the Spirit Source" for him to devour many years ago. The vast essence of that Spirit Body had allowed him to recover a sliver of his mind.

But despite his abnormal mind, Hu Yanxin’s talent for the Martial Arts was astonishing. He had just turned twenty-two last month and had already stepped through the gate to the Muscle Forging Realm!

’A twenty-two-year-old at the Muscle Forging Realm... My son’s talent shouldn’t be confined to this tiny Black Stone City. Once he eats that woman from the Yang Family, he will surely recover fully, maybe even awaken more of his divine blood! Then, the Huyan Family will rise again!’

"Huyan Mo, this time when you go to the Ten Islands, you must kill Su Yu! The man’s talent is astounding. He is at the Mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, but his strength is comparable to the Late-stage. Be careful!"

Huyan Mo stroked his long beard and sneered. "The Patriarch can rest easy. No matter how heaven-defying that boy is, he’s only at the Mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm. My Weeping Blood Cold Jade Palm has already reached Major Achievement. Within the Flesh Refining Realm, how many people do you think can withstand my killing blow?"

"Dad, where’re we goin’? I wanna go too!"

Just then, Hu Yanxin began to clamor indistinctly from the side. With a sudden, powerful bite from his cavernous mouth, there came a series of CRUNCHING sounds. He had bitten through the thick, hard lamb bone as if it were a stalk of sugarcane, swallowing it down whole with the pale bone fragments and marrow.

"Your Uncle Mo is going to run some errands. When he comes back, Dad will get you a different kind of woman to be your wife," Huyan Muyuan coaxed in a gentle voice.

"What errands? I wanna go too!" A furious red light flashed in Hu Yanxin’s cloudy eyes. "My body’s been all itchy lately. Feels like I have too much strength and nowhere to use it. I wanna tear someone apart!"

Hearing his son’s words, Huyan Muyuan didn’t try to stop him. Instead, he burst out laughing, his voice full of doting affection.

"Alright, alright, alright! Then Xin’er will go too. It’ll be good practice for you. Go tear that genius to shreds!"