Su Yu accepted the brocade box and contract without any false modesty, taking them decisively.

A continuous stream of three thousand taels of silver per year—this was immensely important for his future.

The cost of practicing Martial Arts was growing ever larger, and he desperately needed a stable source of income.

The Yang Family was a suitable partner in all respects.

As for the Yang Family’s intentions, it was simply to pull him into their fold.

This was understandable, however, as it was a win-win situation.

Seeing Su Yu accept, the crow’s feet at the corners of Yang Chongren’s eyes deepened with his smile.

’Success!’

’By giving up a twenty percent share of the profits, I’ve tied down a genius with a limitless future. There’s no way to lose on this deal.’

"Nephew Su, do you have any other requests?"

Su Yu shook his head.

"In that case, Nephew Su, please get some rest. I won’t disturb you any longer." Yang Chongren was decisive and immediately rose to take his leave.

Yang Ai, however, was stunned. Her large, expressive eyes went wide.

’What about the marriage proposal? Weren’t you supposed to arrange for us to marry Brother Su?’

’Why didn’t Father say a single word about it?’

She wasn’t one to hold her tongue. Her red lips parted as she was about to ask.

"Ahem!"

Yang Chongren let out a cough.

Seeing this, Yang Zhen quickly pulled her younger sister back and gave Su Yu a graceful bow. "Brother Su, thank you for your hospitality. Zhen’Er and my sister will visit another day to ask for your guidance on Martial Arts."

Su Yu’s eyebrow twitched. He keenly sensed the atmosphere among the three of them, but he didn’t ask any questions. He simply escorted them to the gate of the Su Mansion.

The luxurious carriage clip-clopped over the bluestone road, gradually disappearing into the night.

...

Aboard the Yang Family carriage, Yang Ai could no longer contain herself. Visibly agitated, she demanded, "Father, didn’t you promise you were going to propose on our behalf?"

Although Yang Zhen remained silent, she bit her lower lip, her glistening eyes filled with disappointment and confusion as she watched her father.

Faced with his daughters’ questions, Yang Chongren let out a long sigh. He leaned his previously straight back against the soft cushions, looking somewhat weary.

"Regarding the marriage proposal, it’s not that I was unwilling. It’s something that must be approached slowly."

"What do you mean ’approached slowly’? That’s not what you said at home!" Yang Ai was so distraught that tears welled in her eyes.

Yang Chongren explained earnestly, "Su Yu is a man completely devoted to the Martial Arts. I’ve come to understand that much. He will refuse anything he believes might hinder his future on the martial path!"

"When I asked him if he had any requests, he didn’t mention my pre-match promise at all. It’s clear he doesn’t want to be tied down by romance and start a family just yet."

"Waaah..."

Yang Ai understood her father. If he had brought it up just now, Brother Su would have certainly refused.

But she was so heartbroken that she burst into tears.

Yang Zhen couldn’t help but hug her younger sister as tears like pearls streamed down her own lovely face.

The two sisters clung to each other, a sobbing mess.

A lump formed in Yang Chongren’s throat. Although he had now aligned with Su Yu through mutual benefit, it still wasn’t as good as having him for a son-in-law. But alas, one can’t always get what one wants.

...

「The Yang Family Estate, Rear Courtyard.」

Yang Ai was still slumped over the table, her beautiful face streaked with tears, while Yang Zhen wept silently beside her.

"Husband, what’s wrong?"

A gentle voice sounded as Fang Qing dismissed the servants and walked calmly into the room.

Seeing her daughters in such a state, she had already guessed most of what had happened. She turned to her husband. "My dear, was it Su Yu... He didn’t agree?"

Yang Chongren let out a long sigh and drained his teacup in one gulp, a bitter taste filling his mouth. "He did more than just not agree. That boy Su Yu took the money and valuables but didn’t say a single word about the marriage contract. It seems to me he’s completely absorbed in the Martial Arts and has no intention of starting a family. I didn’t dare bring it up again for fear of souring our new relationship."

"So that’s what this is about." Upon hearing this, not only did Fang Qing not look troubled, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly, a glint of admiration in her eyes.

Yang Chongren was baffled. "Qing’er, how can you be laughing?"

"Oh, husband, you’re being so dense."

Fang Qing moved behind her husband and began gently massaging his temples. "If Su Yu was the type to be rendered witless by a pretty face," she said softly, "how would he be any different from a common playboy? Would a man like that be worthy of you entrusting both our daughters to him?"

"I know his ambitions are vast and his future accomplishments will be limitless, but it means he’s not destined to be with Zhenzhen and Ai’ai..."

Fang Qing gave her husband a playful, coquettish glare. "You men are so dense when it comes to these things. Leave this matter to me."

With that, she went to her daughters, took out a silk handkerchief, and carefully wiped away their tears. She began to speak in a hushed tone. "Zhenzhen, Ai’ai, haven’t I taught you before? For a woman to win a man’s heart is as easy as piercing a veil of silk."

Yang Zhen sniffled. "Mother... but Brother Su is completely devoted to his Martial Arts."

Yang Ai nodded immediately in agreement.

She took both her daughters’ hands, her voice growing soft and alluring. "You two... you must spend more time with him. Between a man and a woman, feelings grow with time..."

"Su Yu may have a will of iron, but he’s still a young, virile Martial Artist. What man is a complete saint? ... When you practice Martial Arts together, a little physical contact is unavoidable, isn’t it?"

"It’s as they say, for a woman to win a man is like piercing a veil. But you can’t just tear the veil open. You have to be elusive, letting him see just enough to make his heart itch with desire, but never letting him have a taste. Not until he comes to lift that veil himself!"

"..."

Listening to their mother, the two girls’ pretty faces flushed with a hint of shyness, but they couldn’t help nodding in agreement.

「Su Mansion, Inner Treasury.」

Flickering candlelight cast a warm, yellow glow, filling the small storeroom with light. Su Yu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze slowly sweeping over the curio shelves. A deep sense of satisfaction washed over him.

On the top shelf, made of rosewood, sat three perfectly sealed Jade Boxes.

Su Yu opened them one by one, and a rich, medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air.

The first box contained the newly acquired fifty-year-old Purple Blood Lingzhi. Its cap bore natural, cloud-like patterns and emanated a faint purple glow. Beside it lay the thirty-year-old Red Lingzhi from Senior Brother Xu and a twenty-year-old wild ginseng with roots like a dragon’s beard.

’If I take these precious herbs along with the Red Essence Earth Dragon Pork, it should be enough to completely fill one of my Breakthrough Points in a short amount of time!’

His gaze shifted to the second shelf, which held the reserve of Cultivation Elixirs he relied upon for his training.

Dozens of small, exquisite porcelain vials were arranged by type.

Black Scale Blood Orifice Pills, Blood Amber Pills, and Nourishing Spirit Pills—these were the three types of Cultivation Elixirs he was currently taking.

In addition, there were some Hemostatic Pills, Antitoxic Powders, and other medicines essential for a traveling Martial Artist.

The bottom shelf was a dazzling display of congratulatory gifts from various powerful factions.

On the left was a pair of Blue and White Glazed Pottery Bottles, their glaze as smooth and warm as jade, a gift from Steward Lu of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

In the center sat a palm-sized piece of Warm Sun Pine Jade, warm to the touch—a gift of goodwill from the Songhe Martial Arts Hall.

...

In a locked ironwood chest in the corner was a pile of various silver notes and Broken Silver, totaling more than three thousand taels.

Looking at the well-stocked shelves, Su Yu couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

He now held a respectable position in Black Stone City. Any single item from his collection was valuable enough for a family in the Outer City to live on for decades.

However, his expenses were also quite high now, with his own martial arts training being the largest of them.

His monthly expenditure on elixirs was at least five or six hundred taels, but thankfully, this major cost was subsidized by others.

His master provided ten of the most valuable Black Scale Blood Orifice Pills each month, which was just enough to cover his needs.

The Blood Amber Pills, which supplemented his Qi and Blood, were delivered monthly by the Yang Family along with his Monthly Allowance.

He used Nourishing Spirit Pills to restore his vitality and spirit. Though he didn’t use many, he still needed five or six each month. Whenever he visited the Lin Family, either Lin Xiaotian or his senior sister would secretly give him some.

Second, he needed to consume a significant amount of extra beast meat and precious fish each month, all of which were considerable expenses. Fortunately, he could use merit points to exchange for Red Essence Earth Dragon Pork, which cost him about three hundred merit points a month.

As for the other precious fish and Exotic Beast Meat, it was best to purchase them with silver. After all, he needed to save his merit points to exchange for a Bone Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging Pill.

Furthermore, there were the daily expenses of the Su Mansion, which amounted to at least fifty or sixty taels per month.

From this perspective, the three thousand taels of silver he had on hand wasn’t much at all; it wouldn’t even last him a year.

Fortunately, he now had a stable income from the Yang Family. With a Monthly Allowance of one hundred taels and his share of the profits, he could expect an income of two to three hundred taels each month.

Overall, his income and expenses were more or less balanced.

’Then all I need to do is focus wholeheartedly on my training!’

’I’ll keep converting the treasures in my vault into tangible strength.’

...

「Suns rose and set, and in the blink of an eye, more than twenty days had passed.」

This day, in the Su Mansion’s Martial Arts Arena, Su Yu swung his long saber down with a powerful chop.

[Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber Skill Level +10]

[Martial Arts]: Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber (Layer One) (Minor Achievement 1/7000)

’The Demon-subduing Saber broke through!’