C42 Someone from the Su Family Came
In the opulent training room, white jade stones radiating spiritual energy encircled Zhao Yafu at the center. Wisps of milky-white air flowed with her breath, entering her mouth, nose, and lungs.
Her cheeks were flushed as if she were tipsy from wine.
Nearby, Zhao Zhenghao, Zhao Dongsheng, and Zhao Xi watched with nervous anticipation.
Their eyes darted between Zhao Yafu and Yu Yuan, who remained serene and composed, offering guidance at intervals.
"Swallow the Fire Breath Pill. Let its power circulate to the Profound Gate at your middle elixir field."
"Connect with the dragon whelp's spirit through the remnant soul."
"Now, ignite all your power and fuse it with the spiritual energy, and surge into that orb of blood light!"
As Yu Yuan directed, Zhao Yafu's body turned a lobster red.
Her bare arms, neck, and waist occasionally revealed streaks of blue blood light.
This blue blood light, sensing impending doom, darted beneath her pale skin, within her body.
Her body had been its sanctuary, the last refuge where it once roamed freely.
But now, this once treasured residence, where it had siphoned vitality and faint Soul Power, had become as scorching as a magma pool, trapping it like a prison.
Another orb of blood light, seemingly sentient, pursued it relentlessly.
This blood light aided Zhao Yafu in her quest to consume it.
The spirit struggled to flee her body, seeking to hide elsewhere and send a message to its kin at Dragon Lake.
Alas, it could not escape.
Its consciousness, not yet fully awakened, slipped into chaos, and its power ebbed away.
"The blue blood light is diminishing, growing fainter by the moment," Zhao Xi exclaimed, his spirits lifted. "Yu, you truly have a knack for this!"
"Obviously!" Zhao Zhenghao shot him a look. "Without him, how could we possibly refine the spirit of this dragon whelp?"
"Phew!"
Zhao Dongsheng exhaled deeply, mopping his brow with a handkerchief. He seemed even more anxious than Zhao Yafu but finally regained his composure. "Yu Yuan, I truly can't thank you enough for this."
He had noticed that the dragon whelp's spirit was dissolving because his beloved daughter's aura was growing stronger by the minute.
"I made a promise to help her with the dragon whelp's spirit, and I intend to keep it," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "Besides, the Zhao family has recently demonstrated considerable sincerity."
"With the Huang family out of the picture, Asvetaesi is set to become a much more peaceful place," Zhao Dongsheng remarked with ease.
Yu Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly said, "The dragon whelp that was implanted in Yafu's body has been dead for some time now. This secret won't stay hidden for long. Once Dragon Lake discovers its death, they'll remember the spirit and will surely come looking for you."
"And when that time comes?" he prodded, wondering if the Zhao family was prepared to face Dragon Lake's potential wrath and bloody retribution.
"To be frank, our Zhao family has established another line of communication," Zhao Zhenghao, the family patriarch, said with a wry laugh. "We're still in talks, but there shouldn't be any major issues."
"That's reassuring," Yu Yuan replied, nodding without pressing for more details.
"Yafu will also be participating in the upcoming grand event. I hope you can lend her a hand if she runs into any trouble," Zhao Dongsheng requested.
Yu Yuan glanced at Zhao Yafu and responded, "After refining the dragon whelp's spirit, what once restrained her has now become an asset. Unless something unforeseen occurs, Little Sister Yafu should be able to advance to the Golden Sanctum realm in a short time. With her cultivation at that level, would she still need my assistance?"
"Absolutely!" Zhao Zhenghao, Zhao Dongsheng, and Zhao Xi exclaimed together.
Yu Yuan paused, then let out a chuckle. "We can discuss any matter," Zhao Dongsheng quickly added.
Yu Yuan gave a slight nod. "Let me give it some thought."
"Oh, that's right," Zhao Zhenghao said with a slight frown, "we've received word that your fiancée will be attending the grand event as well. Keep an eye out for her. We've heard she's expected to reach the Veil Breaking Stage during the festivities."
"Heh, talk about a small world for adversaries."
...
At the Yu family residence.
"Congratulations, Old Master."
In the once blood-stained hall, Su Yin offered a slight bow to Yu Cen, who, despite being able to sit, chose to stand, albeit shakily.
Su Yin, a member of the Su family from the Silvermoon Empire, was in the middle period of the Veil Breaking Realm.
The Su family was the patron of the Yu family.
Having heard some news in Asvetaesi, Su Yin had made a special trip to visit.
Previously, when passing through Asvetaesi, he had only met with Mayor Yuan Lianyao and had never set foot in the Yu family's home.
"It's an honor to have such a distinguished guest," Yu Cen said with a robust laugh, clearly in high spirits. "However, my legs have only just healed, and I can barely stand on them. Please forgive me."
"Not at all," Su Yin reassured him, scanning the room before asking, "Who is Yu Yuan?"
In the hall, Yu Wei, Yu Lian, and Yu Lili exchanged glances.
It seemed that this Su family member had specifically come for Yu Yuan.
"The situation is such that I met with the mayor first and Ms. Yuan shared some information with me, prompting my visit to the Yu family," Su Yin explained candidly. "Truthfully, I'm quite busy and didn't intend to linger. Ms. Yuan holds your grandson in high regard and insisted I make time to meet him."
"Furthermore, I've learned that she's granted Yu Yuan a spot at the Imperial Feast."
"There are a few young members of my Su family who will be attending as well. I'm interested to see if he might join forces with them, offering mutual support."
During his recent pass through Asvetaesi, he had learned of the dramatic upheavals within the city.
The Huang family, which had once kept the Yu family from holding their heads high, had been abruptly expunged from the city.
Contrary to expectations, the Yu family had acquired all the mines and Spiritveins just outside the city.
This development caught Su Yin off guard.
As a mainstay of the Silvermoon Empire known for their medicinal herbs, the Su family had many families supplying them with spirit herbs and plants. The Yu family was hardly significant in comparison.
As time passed and the Yu family's influence waned, the Su family's disdain only grew.
However, news that the seemingly insignificant Yu family from distant Asvetaesi had taken over the Huang family's territory and secured the backing of Yuan Lianyao and the Zhao family piqued his interest.
After inquiring with Yuan Lianyao, one name kept emerging from the lips of that formidable woman — Yu Yuan.
Yuan Lianyao had thoroughly captivated his curiosity, prompting him to make time for a visit.
"I apologize, but Yu Yuan isn't here at the moment," Yu Cen, privy to the details, informed him. "He's been with the Zhao family lately and might need another day or two before he returns."
"The Zhao family?" Su Yin's surprise deepened. "What has he been doing there for so long?"
Yu Cen offered an awkward chuckle, opting not to elaborate.
"Old Master, there's talk that the Yu family is concealing a herbalist. Is there any truth to this?" Su Yin's eyes suddenly fixed on his leg, his tone tinged with excitement. "As you're aware, any herbalist is highly coveted by our Su family. Supporting a herbalist requires a vast supply of magic items, and I suspect the Yu family currently lacks such resources."
With these words, he laid bare his second objective.
The Yu family members quickly grasped his purpose after his explanation.
They surmised he wished to meet Yu Yuan, who was attending the grand event, to determine if he was fit to assist the Su family's participants, offering them a measure of support.
To be frank, they suspected he intended for Yu Yuan, who had received a spot from Yuan Lianyao, to serve as a subordinate to the Su family's youth, handling menial tasks.
In a moment of crisis, Yu Yuan would be expendable.
The second matter concerned the rumored herbalist within the Yu family. Su Yin hoped the Yu family would willingly disclose the herbalist's identity and relinquish them to his care, to be taken back to the Su family.
The Su family has spared no expense over the years in their efforts to recruit herbalists from all corners, tasking them with concocting pills for the family's benefit. The formidable strength of the Su family stems from this very strategy.
Any herbalist who emerges within the Silvermoon Empire is sure to be taken in by the Su family once they catch wind of them. They even go so far as to collect young men and women who possess the talent for herbalism but have not yet achieved the title of herbalist. Regardless of their background, whether they come willingly or are taken by force, they are inducted into the Su family fold.
Such practices have led to numerous violent episodes. Yet, given the Su family's influence and their contributions to the prosperity of the empire, many choose to overlook these actions. The Su family's insatiable hunger for herbalists is infamous throughout the land.
"This..."
Yu Cen's face was etched with concern, his heart heavy with sighs as he grappled with indecision.
"The Yu family must remember to be thankful," Su Yin said, his eyebrows arching in a show of displeasure. "It is the strength of the Su family that ensures the Yu family has food on their table. Do not forget this."
