Chapter 478 - 460: Taking Stock of Victory

Su Yu felt a wave of relief when he saw that the Hanging Mirror Gate was completely unharmed. By foiling the Black Lotus Sect’s plot to destroy the Hanging Mirror Gate this time, he had not only made a great contribution but also genuinely saved the people on both banks of the river. If the floodwaters had truly rushed down, the lower-class citizens in the Outer City would have likely been plunged into absolute despair, and the rule of the Public Security Bureau would have faced a massive crisis.

His gaze immediately shifted to the bow-wielding man. Activating the Celestial Thunder Step underfoot, he arrived in front of the man in an instant. The situation had been urgent just now, allowing one Black Lotus Sect Incense Master to escape. He absolutely couldn’t let this remaining person get away!

The moment Su Yu closed in, the bow-wielding man sensed the danger, turned around, and fled into the darkness.

"Halt!" Liu Wu transformed into a streak of purple, instantly blocking his escape route with murderous intent flashing in her eyes. Having nearly been severely injured and killed by this Demon just now, how could she let him escape?

"Save me!" the bow-wielding man shouted anxiously into the darkness, his face filled with panic as he realized he was trapped. However, his companions had long since fled, and not a single sound echoed back from the dark.

"Die!" Liu Wu launched her attack, every strike of her saber aiming for a fatal blow. The bow-wielding man only managed to block a few moves before exposing a flaw. Seizing the opportunity from behind, Su Yu slashed his saber into the man’s waist and abdomen, instantly sending fresh blood splattering.

"Ah, I surrender!" knowing he was utterly outmatched, the bow-wielding man hurriedly begged for mercy.

However, Liu Wu was relentless. The saber light in her hands slashed down continuously, severely crippling him with several consecutive strikes. Seeing that she had no intention of holding back, Su Yu made another move, striking first to cleanly sever the man’s head.

Formless, blood-colored Evil Qi merged into Su Yu’s body. Under the perception of his Divine Sense, the sphere of blood-colored Evil Qi grew a fraction denser. Sure enough, the Evil Qi of such an expert was dense. Although this man wasn’t as strong as the emaciated man from earlier, he was still much stronger than an ordinary Martial Artist.

"Su Yu, why did you jump in and kill him? Argh, I’m so mad! I wanted to hack him to death myself!" Liu Wu walked over to the severed head, kicked it away, and gnashed her little canine teeth together, producing an audible GRIND.

Su Yu smiled faintly and didn’t explain. Instead, he reminded her, "Commander Liu, you need to go support the Inner City as quickly as possible and see exactly what happened over there.

"I will guard this Hanging Mirror Gate to prevent the enemy from turning back for a counterattack!"

Reminded of this, Liu Wu reacted and hurriedly said, "Then you stay here on guard. I’ll go take a look right away."

Her figure quickly darted toward the Inner City. Before leaving, she couldn’t help but look back at Su Yu. Seeing his handsome and calm face, a thought arose in her mind.

She thought, "He really is an unfathomable genius. He’s clearly just a kid from the Outer City, yet he possesses such means. That girl Chen Ling actually has quite a good eye; it seems she didn’t just fall for his handsome skin."

Over the next few hours, Su Yu remained on guard near the Hanging Mirror Gate, arranging for the Silver Armor Guards and Flying Feather Guards to patrol every section of the river channel. If a problem occurred anywhere, he would be able to provide backup at maximum speed. Fortunately, the Black Lotus Sect didn’t return for a counterattack, and things remained peaceful. However, while no other Black Lotus Sect experts showed up, Feng Han voluntarily arrived at dawn.

Inside a house by the riverbank, Feng Han took off his cloak and knelt on the ground with a respectful attitude. "Lord Divine Son, I have new intelligence to report."

"Speak."

"My Lord, the Windless Black Lotus Envoy issued an evacuation order for us to retreat from Black Stone City. I heard this operation was a complete failure. Incense Master Xu, who escaped, has blamed the entire failure of the operation on you."

Feng Han looked up at Su Yu. Seeing his calm expression, he couldn’t guess his thoughts, making him feel even more terrified. Last night, Su Yu had consecutively killed two Special-level Incense Masters at the Middle Dragon Tendon stage, which had completely made Feng Han submit in his heart. It also solidified his belief that Su Yu must be a big shot at the Divine Son Level!

"That Black Lotus Envoy has already placed you on the Black Lotus Sect’s Hidden Dragon Kill List. The Black Lotus Sect will definitively assassinate anyone on this list! Moreover, whoever kills you will receive astonishing rewards."

Su Yu finally frowned slightly. He had actually been put on the Black Lotus Sect’s kill list; it seemed there would be a lot of trouble ahead.

"Why was the timing of the intelligence for tonight’s surprise attack wrong?" Su Yu asked.

"Lord Divine Son, please see clearly! The Windless Black Lotus Envoy trusts no one. The previous order was indeed for three days later, but I never expected him to change the order again that very night..."

Sensing Feng Han’s subtle facial expressions with his Divine Sense, Su Yu found no major clues and made his judgment. There was little point in Feng Han passing on false intelligence, so it didn’t seem like a lie.

"You may go back for now. If there’s new intelligence, transmit it to me immediately. I will record a merit for you regarding this matter."

"Thank you, My Lord!"

Feng Han climbed up, bowed, and backed away until he exited the house. Only then did he straighten up and disappear into the darkness.

After the battle, Su Yu took a day of rest at home.

In the afternoon, he ate an Ice Perch Treasure Fish and practiced his Martial Arts for several hours.

[Martial Arts]: Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist (Great Success 240/4000)

[Martial Arts]: Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber (Great Success 2010/4000)

The Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist steadily increased its Skill Level without any special circumstances. However, his Saber Technique, the Demon Ape Demon-Vibrating Saber, progressed incredibly fast. The two major battles last night had increased his Skill Level by hundreds of points, directly breaking past the halfway mark.

He thought, "As expected, life-and-death combat is the fastest way to improve a killing technique like Saber Arts. Compared to training step-by-step, Saber Arts are much more suited for epiphanies and advancing through battle." Su Yu harbored some thoughts, considering that he could perhaps participate in more real combat to progress in the future.

Next, he took out a Treasure Medicine and placed it on the table.

"This is the Dragon Sinew Grass," he murmured. "Ranked at the Profound Tier, it can be used to refine the precious Dragon Tendon Pill!"

Su Yu had already asked Zhen’Er to inquire at the Medicine King Pavilion. Refining this Dragon Tendon Pill would be quite expensive, requiring at least thirty thousand taels of silver. And that was even on the premise that Su Yu provided the Dragon Sinew Grass!

He sighed and thought, "These Alchemists are too highly sought after. It’s a pity I haven’t had the chance to cultivate this Skill yet. To think refining a single pill requires so much silver.

"However, to start the cultivation of the Dragon Tendon Mirror, this Dragon Tendon Pill is absolutely essential. With my innate talent, although I don’t strictly require the Dragon Tendon Pill, if I lack it, my Skill Level will definitely increase much slower."

Su Yu sighed and ultimately called Zhen’Er over, asking her to arrange for someone to refine it in advance.

"Brother Su, this Dragon Tendon Pill requires a deposit of five thousand taels, and the cash silver in the mansion has now completely bottomed out," she said.

"Sell off those treasures in the inventory first. Keep only the Treasure Medicines and Treasure Fish for cultivation, and sell off everything else."

"Alright."

Although Zhen’Er agreed, her delicate eyebrows still furrowed slightly. There were currently quite a few treasures like silk and Meteorite Iron in the storehouse, but if things continued like this, their expenses would far exceed their income. Sooner or later, they would eat through their entire fortune; it wasn’t a long-term plan.

In truth, the Su Mansion’s income was not small at all, but Su Yu’s consumption was practically a bottomless pit. The accumulation of his Breakthrough Points required a massive amount of Martial Arts Resources. Moreover, the prices of these items had inexplicably skyrocketed by several dozen percent compared to before the war. Coupled with the consumption of the mansion’s Martial Artists like Zhen’Er and the establishment of the Flying Feather Guard, they were ultimately spending more than they earned.

However, as long as their consumption slowed down a bit, the Su Mansion could quickly accumulate wealth with its current foundation. It was just that time waited for no one, and what Su Yu needed most urgently right now was to increase his strength. He would use resources, wealth, and everything else to buy time in exchange for a faster breakthrough in his Martial Arts Realm!

A new day dawned, and his day of rest came to an end.

A new order arrived from the City Lord’s Mansion. Pavilion Master Qian convened the first joint meeting between the Public Security Bureau and the Inspection Bureau to distribute rewards for the Black Lotus Sect’s surprise attack on Black Stone City the day before yesterday and to announce plans for the future.

"Brother Su, will there be any changes going to the Inner City this time?" Zhen’Er asked as she helped Su Yu dress in his official uniform, her jade-like hands carefully smoothing out every wrinkle. Ai’Er happily combed his hair, tying his raven locks entirely behind his head and securing them with a white jade hairpin. The neat and tidy hair bun further accentuated his handsome features and jade-like face.

"Brother Su, go early and return early. Don’t go flirting with other women outside," Ai’Er scrutinized Su Yu’s heroic posture, her eyes full of little stars, and couldn’t resist pressing her red lips against his cheek.

Su Yu pinched her pure and energetic cheek somewhat helplessly, feeling as if it was so tender that water might drip from it.

"Alright, I’m heading out!"