Chapter 493 - 475: Incoming Wealth
Su Yu listened carefully, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
It seemed he had come to the right place today. Medicine Valley, a whole patch of Dragon Sinew Grass—these great families of the Inner City were indeed well-informed.
"Over the past few days, I’ve received orders from the family elders and assembled a team to handle this matter.
"You’ve come at the perfect time. You can go with me. When the time comes and we harvest the Dragon Sinew Grass, the Shi Family will directly refine it into Dragon Tendon Pills. We will then give you a portion as a token of our gratitude, Brother Su."
"Then thank you so much, Brother Shi! When do we depart?" Su Yu asked.
"Over at Tiger Roar Mountain, traces of the Black Lotus Sect Demons have also been appearing frequently," Shi Yueshan replied. "Several Great Commanders have exchanged blows with them there, so it’s truly far from peaceful. I’ll prepare for one more day, and we’ll depart tomorrow!"
Shi Yueshan’s expression turned serious as he added, "Brother Su, if you want to kill Black Lotus Sect Demons to earn points, you can invite companions to go with us. Once we secure the Dragon Sinew Grass, we can conveniently search for traces of the Demons along the way!"
"Brother Su, Commander Liu Wu said that the next batch of Dragon Tendon Pills will be out of the furnace in just a few days," Yang Ai said. "Once the Pills are refined, they will be delivered to the Su Mansion immediately."
"Good!" Su Yu replied.
Su Yu’s spirits lifted once more. By taking another Dragon Tendon Pill, he would be able to break through to the Muscle Forging Realm Perfection. Furthermore, tomorrow’s trip to Tiger Roar Mountain offered great hope for harvesting even more Dragon Tendon Pills.
"Brother Su, someone from the Inner City has come to visit. They said they’re from the Tongbao Money Shop on Wanbao Street," Yang Ai said with a giggle, hugging Su Yu’s arm and blowing her fragrant, orchid-like breath across his face.
SMACK! Su Yu slapped her perky, round bottom. Her flesh jiggled, and her face instantly flushed red.
"Take them to the front hall. I’ll be right there," Su Yu instructed.
Constantly teased by this little girl, Su Yu’s Qi and Blood surged, so he would occasionally retaliate. However, he understood Ai’Er’s thoughts. Since she could not practice Martial Arts, she remained stuck in her progress and wasn’t even a Martial Artist. As a result, a lingering sense of crisis plagued her heart. Perhaps acting this way was simply her attempt to catch Su Yu’s attention and prove her worth. Although Su Yu didn’t mind, he sympathized with her feelings. It was just that her situation was far too unique. He had scoured ancient texts, consulted his master, and indirectly asked Li Jingfeng, Liu Wu, and others, but he had found no solution.
In the front hall.
As soon as Su Yu stepped inside, he saw a bearded, burly man whose loud voice boomed, "Commander Su, you walk with the majesty of a dragon and the stride of a tiger! Your dignified bearing truly fills me with endless admiration!"
"Have a seat."
As Su Yu sat down, a maid served fragrant tea. Steaming hot water instantly filled the room with a rich aroma.
"I am Shen Ping, Shopkeeper of the Tongbao Money Shop. I’ve always wanted to visit you, Commander Su, and today I finally have the opportunity. This is our Tongbao Money Shop’s VIP Token. Please do me the honor of accepting it," he said.
"Anyone holding this Token can withdraw silver taels at any of our branches across the major cities at any time. Withdrawals under one hundred thousand silver taels incur no fees whatsoever."
Su Yu took the Token. It felt cold to the touch and was made of a special material—it was actually infused with Divine Gold. The characters for "Tongbao" were engraved on the front, while the back featured a Treasure-Devouring Golden Toad.
"Rumor has it that the Tongbao Money Shop excels at domesticating Treasure-Devouring Golden Toads. Is this true?" Su Yu asked.
"Commander Su, you are incredibly knowledgeable. What you say is correct," Shen Ping replied. "The Treasure-Devouring Golden Toad is an Exotic Beast unique to our Tongbao Money Shop. In fact, our main branch in Qingzhou Prefecture has a Great Demon King Golden Toad standing guard."
Su Yu expressed his interest. Having read extensively through ancient texts, he knew the functions of the Treasure-Devouring Golden Toad. Legend had it that the creature was an Exotic Beast that had survived since Ancient Times. With its golden body and a third eye on its head, it was exceptionally skilled at locating Treasures of Heaven and Earth.
"If you’re interested, Commander Su, I can deliver a Treasure-Devouring Golden Toad cub to you tomorrow."
"Then thank you very much, Shopkeeper Shen!"
"You’re too polite, Commander Su," Shen Ping said. "Our Wanbao Street is a prosperous commercial hub, but we’ve previously suffered repeated attacks from the Black Lotus Sect, causing us endless trouble. Now that it is under your jurisdiction, Commander Su, it is bound to thrive!"
"Rest assured, Shopkeeper Shen," Su Yu said, his expression growing a bit more serious. "Since I have taken over jurisdiction of Wanbao Street, I will naturally maintain its order."
Su Yu was neither a man of overly lofty virtues nor one who occupied a position without doing the work. Since he held the position, he would fulfill his duties!
"Then on behalf of my colleagues on Wanbao Street, I thank you, Commander Su!"
Shen Ping soon departed. Before leaving, he left behind dozens of silver notes as well as a rare Treasure Medicine, the Hundred Spirits Root. Before Su Yu could examine them closely, the other merchants of Wanbao Street arrived at the Su Mansion one after another to pay their respects. Since this was his first time taking office, Su Yu received them personally, giving each family a sense of reassurance.
As for the gifts brought by the various families, Su Yu accepted them all without exception. If he refused them, it would only leave the merchants confused and anxious. Su Yu simply didn’t have the time and energy to focus too much on Wanbao Street; maintaining its prosperity was enough. Right now, the most important things were tomorrow’s trip to Tiger Roar Mountain and competing for the Martial Arts Examination Nomination Order!
That evening.
Su Yu, Yang Zhen, and Yang Ai sat around the table. After finishing dinner, they began to tally up the day’s earnings.
"Brother Su, the various families sent a total of twenty thousand silver taels today," Yang Zhen said. "That’s enough to cover the extra expenses for Pills, Treasure Medicines, and other items for the rest of this month. At the beginning of next month, various revenues will come in, including a sum from Wanbao Street. By then, our total budget will be operating at a surplus once again."
Yang Zhen carefully calculated the ledger, breathing a sigh of relief in her heart. She didn’t want Brother Su’s cultivation to be delayed over financial matters.
"That’s good. Now I can focus on breaking through to a higher Realm with peace of mind!" Su Yu said.
A sharp glint flashed through Su Yu’s eyes. It was a rare period of stability—the frontlines were peaceful, and the Black Lotus Sect had been much quieter recently. In the western district, thanks to the expansion of the Flying Feather Guard, the rise of the Snow Wolf Gang, and the implementation of relief-through-work programs, the commoners’ lives had significantly improved. Most people, at the very least, wouldn’t starve to death, and public security had grown much more stable. In the Outer City near Qingxi Town, many residents had also gained opportunities to participate in city wall construction and canal dredging projects, finally securing a rare chance to earn a meal.
As for the affairs under the Public Security Bureau, with Senior Sister Wanzhu, Cui Wanhe, Feng Ting, and others handling things, they were increasingly getting on track. During this period, with no external forces holding him back, it was the perfect time for Su Yu to dedicate all his efforts to breaking through to a new Realm!
"Brother Su, I want to go to Tiger Roar Mountain with you tomorrow," Zhen’Er said, her red lips parting slightly as she set down the ledger in her hand.
Su Yu looked up at her and pondered for a moment before replying, "Alright!"
He didn’t ask for her reasons. Zhen’Er was now a genius at the Ape Tendon Realm with a meticulous mind. She handled many things even better than he did, so there was no need to question her too closely.
The next morning, after finishing a set of the Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist, Su Yu pulled back his fists and checked his latest progress.
[Martial Arts]: Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist (Great Success 3050/4000)
He thought, "In a few days, once the Liu family finishes refining that Dragon Tendon Pill, I’ll be able to break through to Shadow Ape Fist Perfection!"
Suppressing his excitement, Su Yu continued to look at the interface panel.
[Breakthrough Point]: 2 Points (Progress 60%)
He thought, "I’m almost at three Breakthrough Points. Before heading to Tiger Roar Mountain, I should enhance my strength a bit more."
Su Yu retrieved the rare treasure Shen Ping had given him yesterday, the Hundred Herbs Root, from his Sumeru Mustard Seed. This Treasure Medicine was about the size of a palm and looked like an old tree root. However, its entire body was as pale as jade, and its surface was covered with dozens of colorful, iridescent root hairs that emitted a faint cyan glow at the tips. As soon as he took it out, a rich, fresh scent of vegetation permeated the air.
He thought, "This is another rare treasure. I hope it lets me directly accumulate three Breakthrough Points!"
Without hesitation, Su Yu began to eat it. CRUNCH, CRUNCH—he chewed on it as loudly as if he were eating a radish. With his now-powerful physical constitution, the Treasure Medicine began to digest rapidly the moment it entered his stomach.
[Breakthrough Point Progress +5%]
[Breakthrough Point Progress +6%]