Chapter 102: Serving a Man

Su Yang entered the courtyard, just in time to see Huo Luoluo reclining in a rocking chair, her slender figure fully revealed. Her legs were exceptionally long and powerful—surely capable of crushing an enemy alive. She tilted her head back, gazing at the peach blossoms above, a faint smile occasionally gracing her lips. It was unclear whether she was lost in youthful longing or contemplating something else. Even with Su Yang’s entrance, there was no sound or movement from her.

…

At the Wei residence.

“Master, Su Yang refuses to come over. He only asked me to deliver this message,” reported the young steward who had just left Su Yang’s place, embellishing the details of what he had witnessed. “Master, the Su family patriarch is truly outrageous. Should we teach him a lesson?”

“Though he has the backing of Bai Yuan Martial Hall’s Bai Xuanxuan, a single reprimand without endangering his life shouldn’t cause too much trouble,” the Wei family head replied, setting down his tea cup.

“Prepare the carriage and horses. We’re going to the Su residence,” he commanded.

“Ah?” The young steward was momentarily stunned, as though he had misheard. “Master, we’re going to the Su family?”

“Do you not understand?” the Wei patriarch asked sharply.

“I’ll make the arrangements immediately,” the steward said hastily, startled by the serious expression on the Wei patriarch’s face. He quickly went to prepare the carriage, which soon rumbled off toward the Su estate.

Along with them were several martial artists and maids. Among the entourage was a young man, slightly younger than Wei Yan, around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, holding a seventh-rank cultivation level with hopes of reaching sixth rank by age thirty.

“Father, the Su family’s estate is truly grand. Their courtyard is even larger than ours,” the Wei family’s legitimate heir, Wei Bing, remarked with a hint of displeasure as they approached the familiar black-tiled white walls.

“It was acquired from that Zhou fellow. Interesting, that Zhou dog really held his tongue,” the Wei patriarch chuckled, though a trace of worry lingered in his heart, hoping Miss Luoluo was unharmed.

Soon, the carriage halted before the grand gates of the Su mansion. After a brief report from the servant outside, they were escorted inside the compound.

Within the courtyard, Huo Luoluo sat with Su Yang, discussing insights into martial arts. She handed him a tome titled “Fire Dragon Nine Spears.”

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)

Devotion Points: 560

Realm: Sixth Rank

Techniques: [Devotion Division] [Qi Perception] [Mind Control Worm +] [Root Testing]

Manuals: [Wild Ox Long Fist] [Fire Dragon Nine Spears +]

Records: [Gynecology Sacred Text]

Lifespan: 37+

Family Descendants: 4

Long-term Progress: The family’s development is very smooth. To ensure the healthy growth of offspring and better care, assign a maid to each pregnant lady in the family; each assignment grants 20 devotion points!

Family Progress: The family is progressing well. You already own a large mansion, but the number of powerful martial artists is somewhat lacking. Recruit ten eighth-rank martial artists to earn 500 devotion points.

Upon opening the interface, Su Yang noticed that the “Fire Dragon Nine Spears” manual had an upgrade icon, indicating it could be leveled up using devotion points. Its current rank was far below that of “Wild Ox Long Fist.” This was his second manual obtained.

However, the amount of devotion points required was unknown.

After some thought, Su Yang allocated fifty devotion points to “Fire Dragon Nine Spears +” but nothing happened, indicating that fifty points were insufficient for an upgrade.

Determined, he added another 100 devotion points.

The “Fire Dragon Nine Spears +” was swiftly erased, replaced by new text:

“Fire Dragon Overlord Three Spears.”

His devotion points decreased from 560 to 480, confirming the upgrade cost 80 points.

A brief glance revealed that the Fire Dragon Overlord Three Spears condensed the original nine spear moves into a more profound and domineering three strikes, with power several times greater than the original.

“Luoluo, your spear technique seems to have some flaws,” Su Yang remarked after observing her use of the “Fire Dragon Nine Spears.”

“Flaws?” she asked.

“How could there be flaws? This is my family’s heirloom spear technique,” Huo Luoluo replied.

“Is it really appropriate for you to entrust your family’s legacy to me?” Su Yang inquired, slightly startled.

“No worries,” she waved her hand dismissively. “If they dare, they can come kill me.”

“That’s true,” Su Yang nodded resignedly. “They won’t kill you, but they might come after me.”

“By the way, what flaws did you find exactly?” Huo Luoluo’s curiosity piqued.

“If I recklessly point out flaws in your family’s technique, wouldn’t that be disrespectful?” Su Yang asked.

“No problem. Our family has more than just this one spear technique,” she said, waving again. “Tell me, what’s wrong with this one? I don’t believe it has any defects.”

“Remember, every martial manual has its weaknesses,” Su Yang explained.

As long as enough devotion points are invested, any manual can be upgraded, which implies no manual is perfect.

“If you can truly point out the flaws in Fire Dragon Nine Spears, I’ll give you this Triple-Pattern Blood Pill,” she said, pulling a pill from a porcelain bottle. “It’s a sixth-rank medicinal pill. I planned to save it for when I reach sixth rank, but I’ll make an exception for you.”

“However, you have to first identify the flaws of Fire Dragon Nine Spears.”

The pill was silver with three irregular golden streaks running parallel across its surface. Upon being taken out, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately filled the air, bringing a smile to Su Yang’s face.

Currently, he had two sixth-rank weasel demon bodies and one sixth-rank black-furred rat demon body. With this pill, he could save a significant amount of devotion points and might even reach fifth rank before the rebel forces entered the city.

Achieving fifth rank would greatly stabilize the Su family’s position.

“Hand me the spear,” Su Yang said without hesitation, taking the spear from Huo Luoluo. Though still somewhat unskilled, he performed the Fire Dragon Overlord Three Spears technique. The air seemed to roar as if a fiery dragon had materialized, overwhelming everything in its path.

Though raw, the power was slightly stronger than the previous Fire Dragon Nine Spears. With practice, the full devastating power could utterly crush the prior technique, boasting nearly three times the strength.

Huo Luoluo, a master spear user, immediately recognized the immense power in Su Yang’s moves—far surpassing her family’s traditional technique by several times.

…

“What a sublime spear technique!”

“Su Yang, how did you achieve this?”

Huo Luoluo looked at him with disbelief and awe.

How was it possible? Despite modifying many moves, the original Fire Dragon Nine Spears’ essence was still evident, proving this was an improved version.

Could he be a martial genius?

Indeed, in such a resource-poor county, to reach sixth rank at twenty years old was extraordinary. But to refine and uncover flaws in the Fire Dragon Nine Spears was even more astonishing.

It was as if he had created a new manual stronger than the Fire Dragon Nine Spears.

“I realized it,” Su Yang admitted. “I don’t know why, but I sensed many flaws in your moves and patched them.”

“Can I have the pill now?” he asked with a faint smile.

Huo Luoluo was genuinely impressed. Her eyes filled with admiration as she handed over the pill.

“You’re not carrying just this single sixth-rank pill, are you? Do you have more? Hurry and hand them over…”

Su Yang’s eyes gleamed.

“No, no more!” she hurriedly replied.

“If you don’t cooperate, I’ll have to search you,” he threatened playfully.

“You’re my subordinate now. It’s bad to hide good things,” Su Yang teased. “If I find out, you’ll get a spanking.”

He grinned mischievously, pocketing the pill and stepping closer to Huo Luoluo.

“Hmph, bandit,” she muttered, but still retrieved her last sixth-rank pill. “This is the last one. Though I’m the Huo family’s lady, I haven’t reached sixth rank, so I can’t control sixth-rank resources.”

“Both of these were exchanged for seventh-rank pills I had on me when I escaped from the Su mansion.”

Su Yang accepted them without hesitation and asked, “Does the Su mansion have alchemists?”

“Alchemists?” Huo Luoluo blinked.

“We call them pill burners,” she explained. “Besides pill burners, there are detoxification experts who prepare demon corpses and blacksmiths who forge weapons.”

“It’s not as barren as Yanggu County. There, if you find old herbs, you have to boil them yourself. Though effective, many properties are lost.”

“With pill burners, the pills are more potent, absorb faster, and are easier to carry, so they cost more.”

“Oh, I see,” Su Yang nodded. “What about poisoning pills?”

Huo Luoluo was startled by the question. “How did you think of such a vile trick?”

“These pills sold in shops come with guarantees, so they wouldn’t risk their reputation. But pills from private or unofficial sources could be dangerous.”

“Still, they usually test pills from those channels. Maybe the kind of poisoning you mentioned does exist.”

“Vile, huh?”

“Very vile!”

“Alright,” Su Yang sighed. “Isn’t that just a common trick in the martial world?”

“Su Yang, can you demonstrate the perfected Fire Dragon Nine Spears again?” Huo Luoluo asked eagerly.

“Want to learn?”

“Mm-hmm!”

“Alright, I’ll show it again.”

Soon, Su Yang performed the Fire Dragon Overlord Three Spears once more, this time more powerful and practiced.

“Amazing, truly stunning...!”

“But... I haven’t learned it yet. Can you do it again?”

Huo Luoluo’s big eyes shone with hope as she begged, “Please, if not, I’ll become your disciple...!”

“No need to be my disciple. Who would bow to their own man as a teacher?” Su Yang waved off.

“Don’t say that! I was just talking nonsense that night. I don’t want to marry you as a concubine.”

“Unless... you make me your main wife, then I might consider it,” she retorted.

After performing the set, Su Yang’s body ached. “Ouch... If only someone could massage me…”

Seeing this, Huo Luoluo immediately understood and began to massage his shoulders and back.

Not long after, the Wei family head and Wei Bing entered, catching sight of Huo Luoluo massaging Su Yang’s shoulders. Father and son exchanged glances filled with shock and disbelief.

The atmosphere seemed to freeze.

Especially Wei Bing, whose emotions surged violently.

In front of Huo Luoluo, he was nothing but a servant—a mere retainer from a wealthy household, assisting the Wei family in managing Yanggu County’s affairs.

Thanks to the Huo family’s blessings, he could act under his own surname and had settled roots in Yanggu County for generations.

He was supposed to address Huo Luoluo as “Miss.”

Yet now this highborn lady was serving the shoulders of a man merely at seventh rank.

It was as if a noble princess was being attended to by a filthy beggar under the city walls.

“Father... this...!”

“What is going on?”

“Why is Miss Luoluo attending to this man?”

Wei Bing’s heart filled not only with shock but also jealousy and bitter resentment.

Since Huo Luoluo arrived at their home, he had done everything to curry favor with her. A talented martial artist, he had reached seventh rank at twenty-six, promising a bright future.

Yet the lady paid him no heed, treating him coldly at every turn.

And today, she was tending to a stranger.

How could Wei Bing not be jealous?

…

“What brings you two here?” Huo Luoluo asked without stopping her massage, looking toward the Wei patriarch and Wei Bing standing at the door.

“Come in,” she invited.

“Yes, Miss,” the Wei patriarch nodded hurriedly, entering and standing aside. “Miss, what is this about?”

He did not stop his daughter; whatever she did surely had her reasons. It was better to inquire first than cause offense.

“Naturally, I’m attending to a man,” Luoluo said.

“What business do you have here?” she added impatiently. “If there’s nothing important, leave quickly. Don’t disturb me while I’m with this man.”

Su Yang opened his eyes from the rocking chair. “Well, the Wei patriarch really did come!”

“Serve tea!” he called out.

Shortly after, servants hurried in with tea on trays and brought two chairs.

(End of chapter)

By Silkworm and Skybean