Chapter 101: Settling for Nothing but a Concubine?

"Your man is dead, yet you still intend to cling to life?" Su Yang said with a smile.

"Martyrdom for love is a story found in novels. I married him only because he was my father's adopted son; the martial arts gym had to be passed on," the Spring Lady replied.

"Oh? In that case, was your father the previous master of the Black Stone Martial Arts Gym?"

"When my father was alive, Black Stone was the largest gym in Yanggu County," she said, a look of pride flashing across her face.

"If I tell you to die, will you?" Su Yang cut off her boasting.

"I don't want to die, but I will do my best to carry out your orders. If my life is in danger, I will certainly run first. I am a straightforward woman; I say what I mean." She paused, then added, "My man is dead, and I have no home left. If I follow you, I won't have to spend the rest of my life in a daze. If you think I am worth the price of a Gu insect, you can spare my life."

The Spring Lady struggled to sit up, her charming face looking pitiful. "If you decide to kill me, just tell me beforehand, and I will do it myself."

*This 'young woman'*, Su Yang thought, his lips twitching slightly. He hadn't expected anyone to refer to themselves that way. Still, a seventh-grade expert was certainly tempting. Now that Black Stone was dead, the gym belonged to her, and it surely held significant assets. One Gu insect for a seventh-grade martial artist and the resources of the Black Stone Gym was a bargain.

The only issue was that his "Heart-Control Gu" was limited, and no advanced version existed yet to instantly command or neutralize a seventh-grade fighter. However, once he accumulated enough incense, he could use it to upgrade the [Heart-Control Gu+] to better control such masters.

"Swallow this." Su Yang took a small jar from his robe and retrieved the Heart-Control Gu. It was golden, hard-shelled, and no larger than half a grain of rice. The Spring Lady did not hesitate; she tilted her head back and swallowed it.

Next came the task of cleaning up the battlefield. They dealt with the carcasses of the weasel demons: about eighteen ninth-grade, twenty-six eighth-grade, nine seventh-grade, and two sixth-grade demons. Furthermore, he found numerous rare medicinal herbs in the demon's lair, including two seventh-grade, seventeen eighth-grade, and forty-two ninth-grade specimens.

The house also concealed several kidnapped children, and in the alchemy room, they found pots simmering with unrecognizable organs, bones, eyeballs, and skulls.

They packed the silver into cowhide bags. The Spring Lady and Huo Luoluo, having recovered their strength, helped Su Yang carry the bags through the darkness. From a distance, they looked like three strange, hulking monsters. The ninth and eighth-grade martial arts thugs guarding the perimeter were still waiting anxiously, unaware of what had transpired inside.

Back at the Wang estate, the loot was locked in the storehouse. Su Yang assigned a separate house to the two women and brought them some anti-inflammatory powder.

Inside the room, Huo Luoluo was still in her red attire, her face pale and weary. Resisting a stronger demon was no easy feat; even though she had barely held her own, her body felt as if it were falling apart, aching from the surge of blood energy.

"In a lot of pain?" Su Yang asked as he walked in, seeing her frowning and gasping in pain.

"Yes," she replied simply.

"You're in luck. While looting the weasel's lair, I found a recipe for a medicinal bath specifically for soothing muscle and bone pain. Treat your surface wounds first, and I will prepare a bath for you later," Su Yang said, looking at her injured back.

"Actually... the wound is on my back. Could you help me with it?" Huo Luoluo frowned, a trace of embarrassment on her face. If the demon's claws had been any longer, she would have been dead. Fortunately, it was just a scratch.

Once she unfastened her clothes, Su Yang saw the wound on her fair back. It wasn't deep, just a graze from the demon's claw that would heal quickly with the powder. As Su Yang walked out, Huo Luoluo let out a long breath, her face flushing crimson. *I suppose I have no choice but to marry this man now...*

After leaving her room, Su Yang went to the storehouse, prepared the medicinal herbs according to the recipe, and brought them to the room. The maids had already prepared a large tub of water. As he poured the herbs in, a rich fragrance filled the air.

"This bath will help the healing process without affecting the wound on your back," Su Yang said to Huo Luoluo, who had changed into a white undergarment. Her figure was stunning, and he was surprised by her delicate, jade-like feet.

"Mhm!" Huo Luoluo lost her usual sharp, dashing demeanor, appearing instead like a shy, doting bride. Su Yang was puzzled by her sudden change. It was likely the combination of the treatment and the fact that he, a sixth-grade, stood before her—a seventh-grade—which stirred strange, submissive feelings in her.

"I'll go get the Spring Lady. She's injured too. If you don't mind, I'll share the medicine; I've brewed enough for ten people."

"No need to be so troublesome. Bring Sister Spring Lady over. We’re all women here, there's nothing to fear!"

...

The next morning, when the first rays of sunlight touched the earth, the martial artists guarding the weasel's lair finally lost their patience. They braved entering to investigate, only to find nothing but a few corpses—and three people missing. These seventh-grade experts were mostly family heads; with their leaders gone, they were too terrified to hunt down the other three, fearing retaliation.

Early that morning, the Spring Lady went to the Black Stone Gym, retrieved all the secret manuals and herbs, and informed the disciples that they could join the Su family if they were willing to swear absolute loyalty. Because of her reputation, many came to inquire, and though most left to maintain their freedom, three ninth-grade martial artists stayed.

"Master, someone from the Wei family is here to see you," Wang Han reported.

"Son-in-law, what does the Wei family want with you?" Su Yang's mother-in-law asked, her face turning pale. The Wei family was one of the three great families of Yanggu County—notorious for being ruthless predators.

"Tell them to wait. I'll go after I finish breakfast," Su Yang said, popping a dumpling into his mouth. "These dumplings are delicious, Aunt Liu."

"If you like them, I'll make more in the future," said Xiliu, sitting at the maid's table.

"If it weren't for your mother needing you, I'd bring you to my room," Su Yang said, staring straight at her.

"Brother-in-law, the maids you've already brought to your room seem to be pregnant, don't they?" Wang Xiahe suddenly chimed in. Xiliu blushed deeply, while Aunt Liu scolded her, "Stop talking nonsense and eat your food."

Wang Xiahe stuck out her tongue and buried her face in her bowl. Wang Chunxiao, sitting nearby, looked at Su Yang with a hint of sorrow. She had once thought her beauty would make him fall for her, but he showed no interest at all. She realized he was a man of immense talent in both literature and martial arts, yet he was not swayed by women. If she had only seen his worth earlier... she hadn't given up, though. She hoped that by helping him in the future, he might eventually forgive her.

...

"Master, I'll go tell them," Wang Han said, though he was deeply worried about offending the powerful Wei family.

After breakfast, Su Yang went to the hall to meet the Wei family's butler. The man stood up impatiently. "Are you Su Yang?"

"Yes. What do you want?"

"Come back with me to the Wei estate. My master wants to see you," the butler said with a dark expression.

"Go tell your master that Miss Luoluo is staying at my house. Be gone," Su Yang replied.

"Mr. Su... do not refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. You cannot afford to provoke the Wei family. Don't think that having the White Ape Gym's support gives you free rein," the butler hissed.

"Heh," Su Yang scoffed. "Go deliver the message."

"Ignorant fool," the butler spat and stormed off.

...

Su Yang’s estate was being fortified. The inner wall was now higher than the outer one, with a six-meter gap between them. The ground was paved with bluestone, and the steward had brought in ferocious guard dogs. Su Yang thought it would be even better to use demons as guards once he mastered controlling them.

While the city was in chaos and many were jealous, the low-level martial artists dared not cause trouble. The three great families were too busy defending the city to bother with him, especially since Su Yang had a sixth-grade expert like Bai Guanguan in his house. Moreover, Su Yang was now linked to General Zhao. Since the black-furred rat demon attacks had begun, the General had been a killing machine, and no one wanted to provoke him.

...

In a small house, Huo Luoluo gazed at the peach blossoms, thinking of Su Yang. At twenty, he was already a sixth-grade master—a terrifying talent. Compared to her useless fiancé, Su Yang was infinitely better. However, she was still conflicted. She barely knew his character, and he already had a wife. Would she be relegated to a mere concubine? She felt a pang of uncertainty about her future.