Chapter 106: Assistant Magistrate Li Marries Off His Daughter

“If it weren’t for me, you would have died long ago.” Su Yang held Bai Tian Tian in his arms; her soft, delicate body felt like flowing water, and a faint feminine fragrance lingered gently around them.

Due to her severe injuries, Bai Tian Tian was weak and almost completely pressed against Su Yang’s chest.

“You?” she murmured.

“How could you, a seventh-grade warrior, stand against those people?” he asked.

Bai Tian Tian furrowed her brows slightly and asked, “What exactly happened after I fainted?”

“Who said your husband here is only seventh-grade?” Su Yang’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“What?”

At this, Bai Tian Tian was momentarily stunned, then her face flushed with surprise. “You’ve reached sixth-grade?”

“Got lucky, I did,” Su Yang nodded.

“When did you reach ninth-grade?” Her eyes were wide with disbelief and shock.

“About… almost three months ago,” Su Yang replied thoughtfully.

Three months?

Advancing from ninth to sixth grade in just three months?

At that moment, Bai Tian Tian’s mind was a tumultuous sea, staring at Su Yang like a monster, unable to believe what she had just heard. Was he even human? Had his ancestral grave suddenly sprung smoke?

Others might labor for decades to ascend from ninth to eighth grade, some with talent needing several years, and true prodigies one or two years. But no one had ever seen someone rise from ninth to eighth, then eighth to seventh, and seventh to sixth within three months. Such growth potential could very well allow him to reach first-grade martial artist status before turning thirty.

No wonder Qing Shi favored such a man.

Once a woman regards a man with awe, admiration and affection naturally follow, along with a desire to be protected by a stronger one—this is nearly every woman’s instinct.

Thus, if you wish to win a woman’s heart, conquer her where she cares most. For ordinary girls, that’s usually money. Win her over financially, and you’ve won half the battle.

Bai Tian Tian was no exception.

“You shouldn’t have studied. Had you trained in martial arts from childhood, you might already be fourth-grade by now,” Bai Tian Tian said.

“Advancement in martial arts depends not only on innate constitution but also on mindset and comprehension. Had I started martial training first, I might still find it hard to reach eighth-grade now,” Su Yang said.

Bai Tian Tian fell silent as Su Yang carried her to bed. “I don’t have sixth-grade old medicine here, but I do have plenty of seventh-grade. I’ll prepare some for you shortly.”

“Mm,” Bai Tian Tian nodded.

After Su Yang left, he had the servants rearrange the courtyard where the trap was set and rewarded the loyal house servant generously.

Once the old medicine was brewed, Su Yang brought it to Bai Tian Tian’s room and fed her spoonfuls.

“H-husband… there’s something I want to tell you,” Bai Tian Tian said hesitantly, calling him “husband” for the first time.

“What is it?” Su Yang sat beside her, gazing at her frail form.

She then revealed the matter of the Green Flesh Taizui—originally a fifth-grade old medicine left by her grandfather, passed down through her father, and now in her care. It had started as the size of an egg but had grown over the years. Her father had only told her where to raise it, so she had never seen it herself.

Unlike the White Flesh Taizui, which dies instantly once unearthed, the Green Flesh Taizui can survive if kept in its preferred environment, allowing it to continue growing, albeit slowly.

“Oh, a fifth-grade Green Flesh Taizui? Perfect, I can use it,” Su Yang said with joy.

“How can a sixth-grade warrior like you use fifth-grade medicine? Don’t recklessly seek power and end up dead with regrets.”

“Don’t worry. My constitution is special. When I was ninth-grade, I could use eighth-grade medicine; at seventh-grade, I used sixth-grade medicine without issue. Maybe it’s because of my unique constitution.”

“Of course, if you’re unwilling, I won’t push it,” Su Yang said.

“Since I’ve given you the location, that means the Green Flesh Taizui is yours to use or let grow as you please.”

“But everything must be done cautiously,” Bai Tian Tian added.

“Rest assured, I won’t take risks. It’s getting late; you should rest,” Su Yang glanced at the sky.

After Su Yang left, Bai Tian Tian’s lips moved slightly but said no more, silently affirming him as her man.

…

After leaving Bai Tian Tian’s room, Su Yang hurried to the White Ape Martial Hall. By the ancestral well, he dug carefully and finally uncovered a finely meshed iron cage filled with soil, wrapped around something resembling White Flesh Taizui—but green in color. This was the Green Flesh Taizui Bai Tian Tian spoke of.

Upon extraction, a strong medicinal fragrance immediately filled the air.

Fifth-grade old medicine!

Su Yang’s true strength was fifth-grade now; most sixth-grade medicines no longer affected him, only fifth-grade medicines worked. Such rare medicines in this small Yang Valley County were fiercely contested by the three great families.

The irregularly shaped medicine resembled octopus skin, uniformly dark green, and having grown over the years. Given another forty or fifty years, it might reach twice the volume of a fifth-grade medicine.

If left long enough, it might even grow into a fourth-grade medicine.

Su Yang brought it home and, to be safe, boiled it in a small pot.

An hour later, he consumed it in his room. A surge of potent blood energy coursed through him, which he immediately used to refine his liver.

Time passed.

The next morning, the Green Flesh Taizui’s effects were spent, and Su Yang had taken a significant step forward on the path from fifth to fourth grade.

Early that morning, a servant brought news.

An eighth-grade warrior in the household, after using two eighth-grade demonic corpses, had advanced to seventh grade today. The family now had five seventh-grade warriors, finally meeting their clan’s progress target.

Name: Su Yang (Quasi Eternal One)

Devotion Points: 1,131

Realm: Fifth Grade

Skills: [Devotion Division], [Qi Perception Technique], [Seventh Grade Mind Control Insect], [Root Measurement Technique]

Secret Manuals: [Savage Bull Long Fist], [Fire Dragon Overlord’s Three Spears]

Records: [Gynecological Sacred Book]

Lifespan: 1,026+

Family Descendants: 6

Long-Term Progress: The family progresses smoothly. To ensure the offspring’s growth and care, assign a maid to each pregnant wife. Each maid adds 20 devotion points! (Completed)

Family Progress: The family is progressing well, having established a basic defense force, though still insufficient. There are 100 ninth-grade guards, 20 eighth-grade, and 5 seventh-grade, earning 1,000 devotion points and the [Seventh Grade Mind Control Insect].

Family Progress: The family is doing well. To become the top clan in Yang Valley County, the path is long. First, monopolize an industry and become the leader, earning over fifty taels daily, gaining 1,000 devotion points.

The status panel opened.

Two family progress items appeared: one was to become the top clan in Yang Valley County—a goal still far off. Although Su Yang had reached fifth grade, the Zhou, Feng, and Wei families were still superior, especially in their sixth-grade guards with deep foundations.

However, with Huo Luoluo under his control, Su Yang could almost command the Wei family at will for now.

They wouldn’t obey his orders but had to obey Huo Luoluo’s demands unconditionally.

Still, this wasn’t enough to challenge the other two families.

To become the top clan, a more reliable method was to reach fourth grade, then absorb the three great families.

The second family progress was simpler: monopolize an industry in Yang Valley County and become the leader, with a minimum daily income of fifty taels.

Su Yang first thought of catering. This world lacked real gourmet food, so if he mastered cooking, his restaurant would surely become the most profitable.

But alas, it was a chaotic era; no one would come to eat.

Opening a brothel?

That was also an option but was monopolized by the three families—a lucrative cash cow they wouldn’t tolerate others encroaching upon. Revealing his fifth-grade power could let him seize it, but he didn’t want to expose his trump card over such a thing.

Finally, after much thought, Su Yang decided to open a detoxification shop for demonic corpses—simply named “Demonic Corpse Detoxification.”

Each time a ninth-grade demonic corpse was upgraded, this family progress would advance. The jobs from Zhao Man Gong would help complete this progress, though it would take time.

Then, he converted some of his rewards into silver. This family progress was too straightforward.

His devotion points rose again above a thousand after completing the progress.

…

After breakfast, Su Yang visited Magistrate Li’s residence to accompany Li Doukou. Today, Li Doukou’s face was radiant, and upon seeing Su Yang, a faint smile played on her lips.

“Miss Doukou, what has you so cheerful today?” Su Yang asked.

“Nothing special, just in a good mood,” Li Doukou replied, hiding something.

“Master Su, Lord Li summons you,” a maid announced from outside the courtyard.

“Lord Li?”

“Take me there,” Su Yang stood and followed the maid.

In the study, Li County Magistrate, dressed in official black-green robes, gestured for Su Yang to sit.

“In a few days, you will marry Miss Zhang, correct?”

“Yes,” Su Yang nodded.

“Su Yang, I want Doukou to be your concubine. What do you think?” Li said abruptly while copying poetry.

A concubine?

Su Yang was taken aback. “Lord Li, please don’t joke. Miss Li is a noble lady; how could she marry me as a concubine?”

“You know what Doukou has been through recently. Now that you’re a sixth-grade warrior…”

Li County Magistrate glanced at Su Yang, referencing the news Su Yang had spread this morning.

“Marrying her as your main wife, you might not agree, as Doukou is just an ordinary girl.”

“Concubinage suits better.”

“I’m about to undertake a very dangerous mission. If I succeed, all is well; if I fail, I’ll be left nothing but bones. I don’t want to drag Doukou into this. Do you understand?”

Li County Magistrate put down his brush, staring intently at Su Yang, as if trying to read his soul.

Nothing but bones?

What was Li County Magistrate planning?

Su Yang frowned. A suspicion formed. If so, there was no way out; Yang Valley County had reached its last gasp.

If Li Doukou entered his residence, he would surely be implicated.

“Secretly take Doukou away. I won’t let anyone know. Your family’s house is large; hide her there, and no one will find out.”

“I only have this one daughter, and I want her to live.”

“If you agree, I won’t skimp on her dowry. How about that?”

Li County Magistrate’s tone was serious.

“Lord Li, if Miss Li doesn’t mind, I am willing. When can I bring her home?” Su Yang asked cautiously.

“In ten days, on the fifteenth of next month,” Li said, surprising Su Yang. Ten days later might be when Li County Magistrate acted, and Yang Valley County could truly face a rebel invasion.

“Very well, I’ll come to fetch Doukou then,” Su Yang nodded.

“Go and accompany Doukou now,” Li County Magistrate said. Su Yang left.

…

Back at his residence, Su Yang bought a shop beside the Su family home and hung a sign: Su’s Detoxification Shop!

After delivering the latest batch of detoxified demonic corpses to the military camp, he informed Zhao Man Gong that all future demonic corpses harvested could be sent directly to Su’s Detoxification Shop.

Another day passed.

A new change appeared under the family progress task.

Family Progress: The family progresses smoothly. To become the top clan in Yang Valley County, the path is long. First, monopolize an industry and become the leader with over fifty taels daily income, earning 1,000 devotion points.

Monopolize Yang Valley County’s demonic corpse detoxification industry progress: 1/30 days!

“Damn, a whole month?” Su Yang frowned. Yang Valley County might not last that long, and he wondered how to manage the business then.