Chapter 393 - 375: Tiger Sinew Pill

The heavy-armored White Barbarian Rhinoceros stirred at the sight of its master. Its formerly prone body swayed, and it snorted another cloud of hot white mist from its massive snout before getting shakily to its feet.

It was clearly still drunk. As it set its four massive, pillar-like hooves in motion, it staggered and wobbled, lurching toward the edge of the training grounds.

"Hey, old friend, it’s time to wake up. Steady now, and pick up the pace."

Liu Longyu, riding on its back, felt the unsteady gait of her mount. She patted the rhinoceros’s thick skull and urged it on.

The White Barbarian Rhinoceros threw its head back with a muffled roar. It instinctively lowered its body and began to accelerate, its massive frame breaking into a charge.

With this burst of speed, the several-meter-long behemoth clad in Heavy Armor instantly transformed into a steel war chariot. CRUNCHING AND RUMBLING, it pulverized the gravel in its path, the force of its charge shaking the very ground of the training field. The other mounts on either side scattered in terror.

Unfortunately, just as the drunken White Barbarian Rhinoceros charged hazily toward the training ground’s entrance, a luxurious carriage happened to be turning in.

The carriage, carved entirely from precious agarwood, was pulled by four flawless, exceptionally spirited, pure-white, single-horned Dragon Scale Horses. It was already moving at great speed, and its sheer size took up more than half of the entrance.

"Quick! Dodge!"

Liu Longyu finally sensed that something was amiss. While her mount was still moving quickly, its massive body was swaying from side to side, having completely lost its usual steadiness.

Facing the oncoming four-horse carriage, the drunken White Barbarian Rhinoceros had no time to stop. With a piercing screech of metal on stone, its massive body slammed headfirst into the leftmost pure-white Dragon Scale Horse.

"NEIGHHH—"

The terrifying force of the heavy-armored White Barbarian Rhinoceros’s charge was on full display. The tall, powerful, pure-blooded Dragon Scale Horse let out a piercing, wretched shriek as it was thrown several meters into the air, only to be violently pulled back down by the sturdy reins and slammed onto the gravel ground.

"BOOM!"

The violent impact set off a chain reaction, causing the other three Dragon Scale Horses to lose their footing and rear up. The carriage driver’s eyes widened in terror. He desperately gripped the reins, veins popping on his arms, as he tried to bring the panicked team of horses under control.

In the back, the luxurious carriage was thrown by the violent collision. One of the agarwood wheels was lifted clean off the ground, while the other scraped along the pavement, producing a piercing shriek and a shower of sparks.

Just as the entire carriage was about to overturn, a loud BANG echoed out. The ornate roof of the carriage exploded under a violent surge of energy, sending countless wood splinters and shredded silk flying in all directions.

A graceful woman in a simple, elegant long dress shot out of the carriage like a rainbow, her movements fluid as she soared through the air and landed steadily several yards away.

Liu Longyu, still on her mount’s back, was dumbstruck. She stared at the graceful woman who had emerged from the carriage, her face a mask of frost, and couldn’t stop herself from cursing internally.

’Fuck!’

’Of all people, why did I have to send Mrs. Bai flying?!’

This Mrs. Bai was the widow of the former City Lord of Black Stone City, her husband having died in battle defending the city. In Black Stone City, she was not only a paramount figure of transcendent status and wealth but also, according to the official laws of the Great Xia, a person afforded the highest level of courtesy and prestige.

And now, her mount had smashed the woman’s carriage for no reason at all. The implications were absolutely dire.

Liu Longyu’s face turned pale. She cursed her luck, ’I must not have checked my horoscope today. How could I have run into such a ridiculous and disastrous mess?!’

Meanwhile, Su Yu, the one who had started it all, had already followed Pang Xuan to the Pang family’s estate.

The Pang family’s reception hall was opulently decorated, and the air was filled with the faint, elegant scent of incense.

Pang Xuan sat in the seat of honor, making pleasant, idle conversation with Su Yu about trivial matters.

Su Yu responded with composure, but inwardly, he was thinking, ’I wonder what this Mansion Master is up to.’

It wasn’t until he heard the faint sound of breathing from behind a heavy, gold-embroidered curtain at the rear of the hall that a look of understanding dawned on Su Yu’s face.

The newcomer’s movements were stealthy, impossible for an ordinary Martial Artist to detect. But under the sweep of Su Yu’s near-microscopic Divine Sense, the pretty young woman peeking from behind the curtain was revealed, her every move as clear as day.

’Don’t tell me he brought me here for a matchmaking session...’

Su Yu quickly replayed Pang Xuan’s strange behavior from earlier that day in his mind and instantly understood.

’Judging by Pang Xuan’s attitude, he clearly intends to let a young woman of his family have a secret look at me from behind the curtain. If she approves, Pang Xuan will naturally bring up a marriage alliance. If she doesn’t, this whole affair will be treated as if it never happened...’

Though he understood Pang Xuan’s intentions, Su Yu still felt a bit uneasy.

’This condescending inspection, when it comes down to it, just shows that the Pang family, secure in their status as a great house, doesn’t truly see someone like me from the Outer City as an equal.’

’Whatever. These arrogant Inner City houses have always been like this.’

Su Yu lifted his teacup and took a gentle sip, his deep, dark eyes betraying no emotion.

He had never really cared for the arrogant attitudes of these powerful, established families. In this chaotic world, only power was fundamental.

’Without enough strength, what does it matter? Inner City, Outer City, hundred-year-old clans... they’re all just dust in the torrent of time.’

They continued their lukewarm conversation for about ten minutes until the faint breathing from behind the curtain silently receded.

By evening, still no one from the Pang family had come to formally meet Su Yu. He knew with perfect clarity that he had likely failed the secret inspection.

"Mansion Master, it is getting late," Su Yu said, rising and clasping his fist in salute. "I’ve learned a great deal following you into the Inner City, but it is time I returned to the Outer City to attend to my duties."

He had never truly intended to go through with any matchmaking. Even if Pang Xuan had made an offer, he would have refused.

"Yes, it is getting dark indeed. You should head back. Don’t let your public security duties be delayed," Pang Xuan said, rising courteously.

Pang Xuan escorted Su Yu all the way to the main gate. As he watched Su Yu’s receding figure on horseback, the Mansion Master of the Public Security Bureau stroked his beard and sighed softly.

’His talent is indeed impressive, but his fortune and background are lacking. Since my niece didn’t take a fancy to him, he cannot become one of the Pang family.’

’From now on, I can only treat him as a subordinate...’

「...」

Riding his Crimson Blood Dragon Scale Horse, Su Yu moved through the bustling, noisy streets of the Inner City. The night was ablaze with lights that flowed like ethereal streams of music, yet the sense of urgency in his heart only intensified.

He had always heard that the Inner City’s powers were deeply entrenched and that masters were as common as clouds. But now, having seen it for himself, the reality of that statement weighed heavily on his shoulders.

’Martial Artists are as common as dogs, and Muscle Forging experts walk every street!’

His current strength was still far from enough to face these arrogant Inner City clans!

The coming integration of the Inner and Outer Cities would be a torrent that swept everyone away with it.

All those Inner City families, who normally looked down on everyone, would be making their move. Who knew when another inexplicable provocation like Wang Jian’s today would occur?

If not for the powerful foundation of his combat strength, he would have likely been injured today!

’After all is said and done, it all comes down to one thing! In this turbulent, chaotic world, the only thing you can truly rely on is the power you hold in your own hands!’

As the night wind blew, Su Yu couldn’t help but think back to when he was weak. Back then, he had to risk his life and struggle just for five taels of silver...

His status was different now, but in essence, the situation was much the same!

In this dog-eat-dog Inner City, without the power to crush all opposition, he was destined to face endless frustrations and troubles.

’But as long as I am strong enough, all the conspiracies, rules, and enemies in the world will be nothing but a joke. Brute force beats all skill!’

「...」

「The next day, at the first light of dawn.」

Under the Iron Locust Tree in Qingxi Courtyard, Su Yu’s figure blurred into afterimages as sweat poured from his body like rain.

He threw a punch. The Great Tendons in his arm suddenly tensed to their limit, then snapped back violently like a loosed bowstring.

A sharp, piercing crack like a sonic boom exploded through the air!

Because his Great Tendons had gained terrifying elasticity after his breakthrough to Ape Tendon, his elbow and wrist joints would explosively extend the moment he exerted force. This turned his fist into a bizarre and unpredictable whip, increasing his attack range by half a foot out of thin air.

If anyone had been there to watch, they would have been astonished by Su Yu’s Fist Technique.

Empowered by Breaking Limit Traits like Ape Shadow Gale and Hundred Fierce Peaks, his Fist Technique was already incredibly fast and heavy.

Now, with the terrifying power of Ape Tendon layered on top, the afterimages of his punches became bizarre and unpredictable. It was impossible to judge not only the direction of his fists but even their reach, making them utterly indefensible!

「...」

[Greenwood Shadow Ape Fist Skill Level +5]

Su Yu retracted his fist and stood tall. He watched the ink-wash characters materialize before him, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

’Without taking a Muscle Forging Pill, my muscles and tendons recover very slowly from the strain of training. That must be why my Skill Level is only increasing by five points at a time.’

’This pace is still quite fast, considering it only takes two thousand points to advance the Greenwood Shadow Ape Fist from the Skilled level to Minor Achievement.’

’But for someone like me, who’s used to rapid breakthroughs, this rate of progress is still too slow.’

"Brother Su, I’ve completely secured a supply of Tiger Sinew Pills! Master Qin had someone deliver the first batch. The rest will arrive over the next few days, so your training won’t be delayed at all!"

Just then, Yang Zhen ran into the courtyard, her face beaming with an irrepressible joy. She handed Su Yu a heavy Jade Box wrapped in red cloth.

Su Yu opened the Jade Box. Inside, three exquisite white porcelain vials were neatly arranged.

"Each vial contains three high-grade Tiger Sinew Pills. Even through Master Qin’s channels, each one cost nearly two hundred taels of pure silver!"

"On the black market, a single one would probably go for close to three hundred taels!"

Su Yu nodded slightly. ’With Master’s connections, things are much easier to get done in Black Stone City.’

He picked up one of the porcelain vials, removed the stopper, and tipped out a golden pill. It radiated a rich aroma of medicinal herbs and vital blood.