Chapter 438 - 420: Chen Ling’s Visit, Targeted by the Tiemu family

"Master, how can I control this Evil Qi? Do you know of a suitable Cultivation Technique?"

Su Yu recounted the day’s events, specifically the slaughter of the Black Tiger Gang, placing special emphasis on the issue of his Evil Qi.

Master Qin’s expression grew solemn. "Release your Evil Qi. Let me see it."

HUMMM!

The moment Su Yu unleashed the Evil Qi within him, his entire aura transformed. He was like a God of Slaughter stepping forth from a battlefield of ten thousand soldiers, a mountain of corpses in his wake. The bloody, malevolent energy was staggering.

When the wave of Evil Qi washed over Master Qin, a chill surged through his heart. He hastily released his own aura to counteract it, suppressing the urge to retreat and maintaining his outwardly calm and unruffled demeanor.

"Ahem... Your Evil Qi is quite potent. It’s an excellent tool in a fight. However, just as you said, it’s become too dense and is starting to influence you subconsciously. If this goes on, I fear it will become a double-edged sword."

Su Yu nodded in agreement. ’My Ape-Demon Evil Qi is a crucial weapon in my arsenal. I have to keep strengthening it in the future. It would be a real waste to just abandon it.’

"However, I don’t have a suitable Cultivation Technique for you. Techniques that center on cultivating Evil Qi are exceedingly rare. After all, accumulating it is incredibly difficult. Without special talent and fortuitous encounters, an ordinary person could never reach your level."

"However, there is such a Cultivation Technique in the Inner City, and it is quite famous."

"Oh? Where in the Inner City, Master?"

Su Yu’s eyes lit up as he quickly pressed for an answer.

"The Jiang family! They are a major aristocratic family in the Inner City. Although they aren’t on the level of the three great families, they are as renowned as other major families like the Liu family and the Chen Family. In fact, if not for their small numbers, they might have been able to rank among the three great families!"

Su Yu felt a sense of reassurance. ’As long as a similar Cultivation Technique exists, my problem can be solved. I might even be able to improve my control over the Evil Qi, which would further increase my combat strength!’

The only question remaining was how to obtain this Cultivation Technique from the Jiang family.

"As for the Jiang family, don’t approach them yet. You need the right opportunity. A major family like that has no shortage of resources. If you don’t have something tempting enough to offer, you’ll never be able to trade for the Cultivation Technique. In fact, it could even backfire."

"I understand, Master. This isn’t urgent. My Evil Qi is still under control for now, so I’ll take my time."

After leaving the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, Su Yu began to contemplate his next steps.

’It looks like I have to go to the Inner City. If a Cultivation Technique like that is there, it must be full of treasures!’

’If I want to advance further on the path of Martial Arts and enter a higher-class circle, it’s a necessary step.’

’My decision to join the arena tournament was the right move.’

’As long as I win the tournament, I’ll get priority in choosing territory in the Inner City. The benefits and opportunities that come with that are considerable.’

’All that’s left is to give it my all and win the tournament!’

...

「That evening, at the Su Mansion.」

Su Yu was at home, peacefully practicing his martial arts and familiarizing himself with the new forms of his Demon-Vibrating Saber.

"Brother Su, a woman is here to visit. She says she’s from the Inner City." Yang Ai stared at Su Yu’s face with her wide, beautiful eyes.

Su Yu stopped his training, a curious look on his face. "Alright, stop staring. I have no idea who it could be. Didn’t you ask for her name?"

"She wouldn’t give it. She insisted on seeing you in person and looked like she was about to burst with anger. Brother Su, you didn’t take advantage of her or something, did you?"

WHAP!

Su Yu gave Yang Ai a light smack on her perky bottom. "Stop your wild guessing. Come with me and we’ll see who it is."

"Hey! You’re terrible, Brother Su! Why’d you hit my butt?"

A blush of embarrassment and annoyance crept onto Yang Ai’s face. She hugged Su Yu’s arm and playfully pretended to bite him.

The two quickly made their way to the main hall in the front courtyard. The moment Su Yu saw the young woman waiting there, he understood everything.

"Hey, Su Yu! Give me back my bell!"

The visitor was none other than Chen Ling.

When he’d seen her at the Public Security Bureau, Su Yu had guessed she would eventually come looking for him, but he never expected her to show up at his home directly.

"Miss Chen, please, have a seat."

Su Yu sat down across from her. Ai’Er personally poured tea for them both before standing quietly to the side, waiting like a handmaiden.

But Su Yu knew exactly what she was thinking. ’She just wants to eavesdrop and find out what’s going on.’

With nothing to hide, Su Yu didn’t send her away. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Miss Chen, regarding the bell... I acquired it as a spoil of war after you and Wang Jian deliberately provoked me. I didn’t take it from you by force."

Chen Ling seemed to know she was in the wrong. She glared at Su Yu without arguing the point, but still said petulantly:

"Why does a grown man like you have to hold such a grudge? It’s a personal item of mine, after all. Just give it back already!"

A silver light flashed in Su Yu’s hand, and the bell appeared on the table.

"I can return this to you, Miss Chen. However, I require an apology."

"An apology? Hey! You’re the one who stole my property, and you want *me* to apologize to *you*?"

Chen Ling was instantly incensed. Her delicate eyebrows shot up on her pretty face, giving her the fiery look of a little chili pepper.

But Su Yu wasn’t about to indulge her. "If you’re unwilling, then please leave," he said coldly.

"You!"

Chen Ling slammed her hand on the table and shot to her feet, glaring at Su Yu. "You! You...! I was actually thinking of helping you if you returned my bell. But since you’re so stubborn, you can just wait to get beaten to a pulp!"

Su Yu simply picked up his teacup, casually skimmed the floating tea leaves aside, and took another sip.

"Miss, please, calm down. Have some tea. What did you mean by that?"

At that, Yang Ai stepped forward with a warm smile and refilled Chen Ling’s cup.

Given a way to save face, Chen Ling snorted, picked up her cup, and took a sip. "You’re competing in the arena tournament tomorrow, aren’t you?"

Su Yu remained noncommittal.

Su Yu’s calm demeanor made Chen Ling grind her teeth in frustration. She desperately wanted to pin him to the ground, beat him senseless, and take her bell back by force.

However, even though she was in the Tiger Tendon Realm, she knew she was no match for the man before her, so she had to restrain herself.

"We at the Inspection Bureau have already obtained the list of your participants: Ye Xiaohong, Zhao Sen, and you, Su Yu!"

She finished with a smug, self-important air, eyeing Su Yu condescendingly.

Su Yu’s expression remained perfectly calm, but inwardly, he frowned.

’The three participants were chosen personally by the Mansion Master and the Great Commanders. An outsider shouldn’t know their identities.’

’And yet, this information was leaked to the Inspection Bureau?’

’The Inspection Bureau’s strength is already unfathomable. Now that they have our roster, they can prepare specific countermeasures. Our chances of winning tomorrow’s tournament have just dropped significantly!’

"Su Yu, Ye Xiaohong and Zhao Sen are strong, but there are already people assigned to deal with them. As for you... you’ve been targeted by the Tiemu family!"

"Tiemu Chuan was originally supposed to deal with Li Jingxuan, but he never expected you to be the one competing. This is exactly what he wanted!"

"In your match, it’s highly likely he will cripple you on the tournament stage!"

"What?! It’s just a sparring tournament! How dare he be so vicious!" Yang Ai exclaimed in shock, turning to Su Yu with a worried expression. "Brother Su, you must be careful!"

Seeing Yang Ai’s worried expression, Chen Ling’s demeanor grew a little haughtier. "Su Yu, that Tiemu Chuan is at Jiao Tendon Realm Perfection. His ’Tiemu Golden Body’ technique has been cultivated to an extremely profound level. Even a typical Jiao Tendon Realm Perfection expert can’t break through his defense!"

"You may be strong, but against him, you won’t last three moves before you’re defeated! When that happens, he will definitely strike a crippling blow!"

"If you give the bell back to me, I’m willing to help you out. That Tiemu Chuan is from a mere branch of his family. I can go warn him myself, and then he absolutely won’t dare to cripple you. You’ll just have to take a few hits and promptly admit defeat, that’s all!"