Cultivating in Different Professions

"Little Su Sima, that’s not how things are done."

Ma Shuangcheng narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "How about this? We each take a step back. As long as you hand over all the businesses you seized to my Ronghua Association, I can guarantee that we will give you plenty of face during your term in office."

"Are you telling me how to do my job?"

Su Mu laughed, then his expression suddenly darkened. He enunciated each word, "And who the hell do you think you are?"

"I—"

Ma Shuangcheng’s old face flushed red, his chest heaving violently.

"You—"

He was so furious he could barely speak.

’When has he, Ma Shuangcheng, ever suffered such a humiliation?’

’Which of the previous Simas from the East City Bureau would have dared to speak to him, Ma Shuangcheng, like this?’

’Does he really think Ma Shuangcheng is just some common merchant?’

"Listen carefully. I’m not negotiating with you."

Su Mu leisurely poured himself a cup of tea. "The Ronghua Association has manipulated grain prices and disrupted the market. According to Da Xuan Law, the fine is three thousand gold coins."

"Three thousand gold coins? Have you gone mad for money?!"

Ma Shuangcheng roared.

’You’re just some refugee who got lucky and became the East City’s Sima. Do you even know how much three thousand gold coins is?’

’Have you ever even seen that much money in your entire life?’

"So, Chairman Ma, are you preparing to refuse payment of the fine?"

Su Mu asked seriously, looking at Ma Shuangcheng.

"So what if I am?"

Ma Shuangcheng retorted angrily.

It was true that the Ronghua Association had roped in most of the wealthy merchants and gentry of the East City District. However, a large portion of the silver they earned had to be sent to the Inner City and handed over to their patrons.

The rest had to be divided among the various families, leaving only a fraction for the Ronghua Association itself.

Three thousand gold coins was an enormous sum, even for the Ronghua Association.

They couldn’t afford it, and even if they could, they would never just hand it over to the East City Bureau for free.

"If that’s the case, then things are simple."

Su Mu said faintly.

CLANG!

With a crisp ring, the Autumn Water Saber left its sheath, transforming into a flash of light that descended upon Ma Shuangcheng.

"I was ready for you!"

The moment the saber flashed, Ma Shuangcheng kicked off with both feet, sending his chair toppling backward as he backflipped toward the door.

He had long since studied Su Mu’s personality. In the South City District, he had injured South City Sima Hu Guangshao. Upon arriving in the East City District, he had first dealt with Lichuan, then made a move against Wei Zhankui.

Every time, he acted with lightning speed, his methods decisive and final.

Ma Shuangcheng had long considered the possibility that Su Mu would attack if their talks broke down today.

Therefore, he had been on guard the entire time.

Here in the Drunken Full House, he had long ago arranged for the Ronghua Association’s experts to lie in ambush.

’It’s true that this Su is strong, and I’m no match for him one-on-one. But as soon as I’m out that door, the Ronghua Association’s experts will swarm him.’

’It’s common knowledge that Su Mu has incredible comprehension and has mastered the Kan Water Realm, but his Body Tempering Realm is too low—Tendon Tempering at most.’

’No matter how powerful the Kan Water Realm is, he can only use it a few times before his stamina is depleted.’

’As long as enough people attack at once, even if he kills a few of them, once his stamina runs out and he can no longer use the Kan Water Realm, he’ll be nothing more than a Third Stage of Body Tempering cultivator. Killing him won’t be difficult.’

"I was going to try and negotiate, but since you’re so determined to die, don’t blame me!"

Ma Shuangcheng sneered inwardly. His back was already against the door. With a single push, he could break through it, and the men he had arranged would immediately protect him.

’Plenty of people want to kill Ma Shuangcheng. Who does Su Mu think he is?’

Shi Ziran, still seated, twitched his ears slightly and glanced toward the door.

’This floor of the Drunken Full House is hiding at least twenty experts. Among them, there are at least seven or eight in the Bone Tempering and Tendon Tempering Realms.’

’Ma Shuangcheng is as cunning as they say.’

’Although Su Mu has grasped Realm comprehension and has astonishing explosive power, his lack of endurance is his greatest weakness.’

’Realm comprehension is certainly powerful, but the stamina it consumes is immense. It’s not a technique someone in the Body Tempering Realm should be able to master in the first place.’

’Judging from Su Mu’s past public fights, he’s merely at the Third Stage of Body Tempering.’

’If it weren’t for his Realm comprehension, there are quite a few people in the Outer City who could kill him.’

’He’s still too young... he never should have come here alone. Once he’s surrounded, not even his Realm comprehension can save him. In the end, it looks like I’ll have to be the one to save him.’

Before the thought had even faded, Shi Ziran’s pupils suddenly contracted.

An indescribable flash of light blinked and vanished.

Su Mu slowly sat back down, resting the Autumn Water Saber across his knees.

On the other side of the room, Ma Shuangcheng, who had been about to burst through the door, suddenly froze.

He stood at the doorway, his face a mask of disbelief.

A bright red line of blood appeared between his eyebrows, then rapidly spread downwards.

’Such a fast saber—’

The thought flashed through Ma Shuangcheng’s mind, followed by a wave of infinite regret.

’I still underestimated Su Mu.’

THUD!

Ma Shuangcheng collapsed to the floor. Blood pooled around him as his breathing slowly ceased.

Shi Ziran whipped his head toward Su Mu, his eyes wide as he stared. "You’re not in the Tendon Tempering Realm! You’ve reached Bone Tempering!"

He had seen it clearly. The strike Su Mu used to kill Ma Shuangcheng just now hadn’t used Realm comprehension at all!

Although Ma Shuangcheng was debauched from wine and women, he was still a cultivator who had stepped into the Bone Tempering Realm.

Without using Realm comprehension, an ordinary Tendon Tempering Realm cultivator could never have killed him.

The rumors outside claimed Su Mu was only in the Tendon Tempering Realm and had only managed to injure South City Sima Hu Guangshao because he had mastered Realm comprehension.

’That’s utter bullshit!’

’Su Mu never revealed his Bone Tempering Realm strength before because there was no need.’

’Just like there was no need to use Realm comprehension to kill Ma Shuangcheng.’

’If his Tendon Tempering Cultivation combined with Realm comprehension was enough to defeat Hu Guangshao, why would he have needed to use the power of the Bone Tempering Realm?’

’A debauched man like Ma Shuangcheng wasn’t worthy of dying to Realm comprehension, so there was no need to use it. It’s the same logic.’

’He’s unwilling to use even an ounce of extra strength. It’s not just about killing the body, but crushing the spirit.’

"I never said I was in the Tendon Tempering Realm."

Su Mu said flatly.

’You thought I was at Tendon Tempering, but I’ve actually reached Bone Tempering.’

’You thought I was at Bone Tempering, but I’ve actually mastered two types of Realm comprehension.’

’You thought I had only mastered two types of Realm comprehension, but perhaps I have already achieved Blood Exchange.’

’What you see is always the strength I used to have.’

A flash of shock crossed Shi Ziran’s eyes, and his heart stirred.

’Bone Tempering... He’s actually stepped into the Bone Tempering Realm!’

’Ever since Su Mu’s fame began to rise, every detail about him had been dug up and laid bare.’

’He came from a refugee background and, having earned the appreciation of Taiping Captain Lin Qi Huan, was given the opportunity to learn the Submerging Wave Saber Technique.’

’Relying on his outstanding comprehension, it took him only a year to practice the Submerging Wave Saber Technique to Perfection and master the Submerging Wave Saber Momentum.’

’Afterward, he joined the South City Bureau, starting as a common constable, then a squad leader, and then a constable.’

’To this day, in just two short years, he is already the East City Bureau Captain.’

’All in all, he has only been in contact with the Martial Dao for a mere three years.’

’Reaching the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering in three years—almost one stage per year. What kind of speed is that?’

’Across the entire Da Xuan Dynasty, such a tempering speed would surely be considered among the very top.’

’The young miss’s eye for people is as sharp as her mother’s. This Su Mu... he truly is a prodigy. As long as he doesn’t fall midway, he is guaranteed to have a place in the future of the Da Xuan Dynasty.’

As he was thinking, Shi Ziran felt Su Mu’s gaze fall upon him.

"Little Su Sima, my Qingcha Sect hasn’t offended you in the same way the Ronghua Association has, have we?"

Shi Ziran asked.

"The Ronghua Association did not offend me."

Su Mu shook his head and said, "Ma Shuangcheng died because he violated Da Xuan Law, not because he offended me."

"That’s a relief. My Qingcha Sect has always been law-abiding."

Shi Ziran said with a relaxed smile.

"It’s best you keep it that way."

Su Mu said coolly. He stood up, saber in hand, and walked out.

Open the door, kill the men.

’So he invited me here just to kill the chicken to scare the monkey? To use the fate of the Ronghua Association to intimidate me?’

’To think I was just taught a lesson by a youngster.’

’Still, with such masterful manipulation... I suppose he is barely worthy of the young miss,’ Shi Ziran thought to himself.