The next morning, Su Yu stretched his limbs. The hollow, drained feeling had mostly faded, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.

’Looks like using Violent Ape Blood Fury once a day won’t be a problem. That gives me another ace up my sleeve!’

He summoned his status panel again. ’I wonder how many Breakthrough Points I’ve accumulated after eating all that Earth Dragon Pork yesterday.’

[Breakthrough Point]: 0 (Progress 2%)

’Just as I thought...’

Su Yu smiled wryly.

Thirty jin of Earth Dragon Pork would normally have provided around 5% progress, but now most of it had been absorbed by his body just to recover from the deficit.

’My consumption of Treasures of Heaven and Earth is only going to increase from now on!’

But Su Yu understood that for such a powerful ace in the hole, the increased resource consumption was a worthy price to pay.

He summoned Li Da. "Go inform the Yang and Jiang Families. From now on, they don’t need to send silver notes for the monthly tribute. Have them convert it all into Qi and Blood Elixirs or Treasures of Heaven and Earth. Especially rare herbs, spirit fish, and the like—the more, the better!"

"Yes, My Lord."

As he watched Li Da depart, Su Yu continued his calculations.

He had over three thousand taels of silver in his coffers. One thousand taels would be enough for emergencies. It would be best to convert the remaining two thousand into resources like rare herbs before prices skyrocketed.

At that thought, Su Yu stood up at once. He went to the rear storehouse, took two thousand taels in silver notes, and personally headed for the Cai Mansion.

「...」

Cai Mansion, Front Hall.

"Well now, my dear little brother. Coming to visit so early in the morning? Could it be you missed your big sister?"

A fragrant breeze wafted in from the doorway, followed by the enchanting figure of Cai Yun as she gracefully glided over the threshold.

She wasn’t wearing her snow fox fur cloak today. Instead, she wore an extremely form-fitting, aqua-blue skirt made of sharkskin gauze. The fabric was as thin as a cicada’s wing, clinging tightly to her voluptuous figure. Her full, round buttocks, in particular, swayed gently with her waist, each step a hammer blow to a man’s heart.

Su Yu felt a headache coming on. The woman was blatantly trying to seduce him. Her body was full and tantalizing, not like that "flat-chested princess" Liu Yuan, who failed to stir the slightest bit of lust in him.

SWISH!

Sure enough, in the next instant, her figure blurred, and she was sitting on Su Yu’s lap.

"Don’t move! I’m here on business!"

Su Yu’s reflexes were sharp. His hands clamped around her slender waist like iron pincers, stopping her from wriggling.

"Hee hee hee..."

Cai Yun giggled, covering her mouth. She didn’t struggle. Instead, she leaned forward, the breathtaking valley of her snowy-white cleavage nearly pressing against Su Yu’s face. "Why so fierce, little brother? Go on, tell your big sister what you need."

Su Yu took a deep breath, trying his best not to look at the snowy chasm right in front of him. "The Cai Family deals in medicinal ingredients. I’d like to purchase a batch of rare herbs today, for two thousand taels!"

Hearing this, Cai Yun extended a slender, red-nailed finger and brought it to Su Yu’s lips. "Little brother, prices in Black Stone City are about to skyrocket. Rare herbs are particularly good assets. The Cai Family isn’t exactly eager to sell at a time like this, you know."

Su Yu’s heart sank. ’So, the major powers already know the Black Stone Army was defeated and is on its way back.’

"However..."

Her tone shifted, and her fragrant breath ghosted across Su Yu’s face. "But... your big sister is an elder of the Cai Family. I can make that kind of decision."

"Then I’m in your debt!"

Su Yu quickly pulled out the silver notes and placed them on the table.

But Cai Yun didn’t even glance at the silver notes. Instead, she took the opportunity to wriggle on his lap.

Su Yu immediately felt the warm, pliant touch of her full backside, as soft and supple as a freshly steamed bun.

"Little brother, you haven’t called me ’big sister’ yet. Say it, and I’ll sell them to you."

"Good sister, please stop messing around. This batch of herbs is very important to me." Su Yu said without hesitation, a wry smile on his face.

Cai Yun seemed to love seeing Su Yu’s helpless expression. She giggled again, her body shaking with laughter, but she didn’t press him any further.

"Since you’re my good little brother, of course I’ll help you. I’ll take the silver notes. I’ll have everything gathered and delivered to your estate within three days."

"Then I truly thank you, sister!" Su Yu said, his gratitude sincere.

Rare herbs and other Treasures of Heaven and Earth were too important to him now. Accumulating his Breakthrough progress, increasing his Qi and Blood for his Martial Arts, and recovering from the effects of Violent Ape Blood Fury—all of it depended on these resources.

’If I can secure this connection with Cai Yun, I can buy all my rare herbs from the Cai Family in the future. It would save me so much trouble!’

"Sister, you should get up now. I’ll be taking my leave!" Su Yu put strength into his arms, intending to lift her off his lap by her waist.

"Hmm?"

Cai Yun’s beautiful eyes narrowed. She twisted her hand, grabbing Su Yu’s wrist as the Qi and Blood from her Second Acupoint erupted, intending to overpower him.

But in the next moment, she felt a formidable power that forced her hands upward.

WHOOSH!

Her vision blurred, and Su Yu’s figure vanished from the chair, reappearing in a flash at the doorway.

"Sister, farewell!"

Before his voice faded, he had vanished from the courtyard.

’That brat!’

In the hall, Cai Yun rubbed her slightly reddened wrist. She stared at the empty doorway, a flicker of shock in her beautiful eyes.

’That power just now...’

’Has he broken through to the Second Acupoint?’

’How long has it been? It’s only been a few months at most since he broke through to the First Acupoint during the Martial Artist trials, and now he’s already at the Second Acupoint?’

’A genius!’

’This kid really is a super-genius!’

’My judgment was spot on. Commander Lin has been acting so ambiguously toward him, probably just waiting for him to break through to the Flesh Refining Realm!’

’Hee hee, what a pity, Commander Lin. You’re just too reserved.’

Cai Yun licked her red lips, an even more feverish flame igniting in her eyes.

’This Su Yu... I’m going to claim him for myself before she gets the chance!’

「...」

Su Yu had just returned to his estate when Li Da rushed in to report.

"My Lord, three people have arrived from the martial arts academy. They say they’ve come on Master Qin’s orders."

"Hmm, let them in."

A moment later, three figures entered the hall and bowed respectfully to Su Yu. "Greetings, Senior Brother Su!"

Su Yu sat upright in a Grandmaster’s Chair, sizing them up.

The one in the lead was a middle-aged man with a stern face and a steady presence. He carried a long staff on his back.

The man on the left was slightly younger and bore some resemblance to the leader, with a long spear strapped to his back.

On the right was a woman. She had a neat, short haircut and wore a tight-fitting training uniform that highlighted her tall, athletic build. A long saber hung at her waist, and she radiated a valiant aura.

"Introduce yourselves."

"Yes, Senior Brother. My name is Yuan An, First Acupoint realm. I previously worked as a caravan guard and have traveled extensively," the middle-aged man in the lead spoke first.

"I am Yuan Shui, a novice Martial Artist. Yuan An is my older brother. I am still studying under Master Qin at the academy," said the young man on the left.

"I am Luo Longyu, First Acupoint. I currently hold positions as a Tributor for several families in the city. It will be an honor to serve under you, Senior Brother."

Su Yu nodded. ’Master sent these three. They’re junior brothers from the academy whose backgrounds are well-known. They all seem to be of good character. They’ll be capable subordinates for me at the Public Security Bureau.’

"Since Master arranged it, you’re family."

"The three of you, go to the Public Security Bureau at once and report to Song Mirror to complete your registration. The situation is unstable, and I happen to be short-staffed."

"Yes, My Lord!" The three accepted their orders and departed.

「...」

The next day, Su Yu went to the Public Security Bureau for an inspection. Yuan An and the other two had successfully registered and were now officially under his command.

The quota of five subordinates under his command was now full. The Public Security Bureau had also hired a large number of ordinary external personnel, all of them below the Martial Artist Realm, along with some administrative staff.

Routine, day-to-day tasks were assigned to them.

"My Lord, many people from other factions have poured into the city. Commander Lin has ordered daily patrols, and we are not to be lax," Song Mirror said, organizing the intelligence reports from the past few days and handing them to Su Yu.

Su Yu took the reports and scanned them, his expression hardening.

’Medicine King Valley, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, Divine Weapon Manor... So many factions have already entered Black Stone City.’

’Whether they’re refugees fleeing from Liangzhou or reinforcements sent by Jian’an Prefecture, it doesn’t matter. With so many people and prying eyes, chaos is inevitable.’

"Follow the Commander’s orders. Strengthen the daily patrols. If anything happens, notify me at once!" Su Yu ordered, his face stern.

"Yes, My Lord!"

「...」

The next morning, Su Yu had just finished a set of fist forms in the Martial Arts Arena when he heard the sound of rushed footsteps outside.

It wasn’t Song Mirror who came looking for him, however, but Yang Ai.

Yang Ai rushed in, holding up her skirt as she gasped for breath, her lovely face flushed and filled with anxiety.

"Brother Su! It’s terrible! Something’s happened!"

"Don’t panic. Tell me slowly." Su Yu relaxed his stance, taking the towel Yaya offered him and wiping away his sweat.

"All the shops on the whole of Jin Yu Street have been shut down!"

Yang Ai said anxiously, "The shops under our Yang Family’s name were all sealed! Even the shopkeepers and clerks were taken away! My brother, Yang Gang, tried to stop them and got arrested!"

"Shut down?"

Su Yu frowned. "Who did it? What was the reason?"

"It was people from the Public Security Bureau!"

Yang Ai said, "They claim they received a tip that the shops on that street are hiding smuggled contraband elixirs and harboring fugitives from Liangzhou!"

Su Yu actually felt a sense of relief upon hearing this.

’If it’s the Public Security Bureau, then it shouldn’t be hard to sort out. We’re all colleagues. It should be fine as long as we show each other some professional courtesy.’

Besides, he knew the Yang Family would never harbor so-called fugitives. As for smuggling elixirs, it was even less likely, since the Yang Family was in the silk trade.

"It’s alright. I’ll take some men and go take a look." After speaking, Su Yu called for his steward, Li Da, to prepare a carriage, then headed to the Public Security Bureau to gather his subordinates.