Winning Over Hearts

"You're finished, brat. You dared lay hands on us. After tomorrow, I'm afraid your imperial court won't have any footing left in Stability Prefecture. The entire martial world of Stability Prefecture will never tolerate you."

A martial artist of the jianghu said coldly.

Lin Xiao smiled faintly. "Fine. Then this official will slaughter every last one of you so-called martial artists. Whoever refuses to submit to the imperial court will die at this official's hands."

As the word "die" fell, everyone instantly felt a chill in their hearts, coldness shooting from the soles of their feet straight to the crowns of their heads.

Just as the crowd was cowed by Lin Xiao's imposing presence, the Su family head emerged with Su Wan'er supporting him.

"Everyone, please calm your anger. Lord Lin, please calm your anger as well. For the sake of Su Cheng, could you refrain from making a great fuss today?"

With Su Cheng stepping forward as peacemaker, those jianghu martial artists finally had a step to retreat down from.

Moreover, they feared Lin Xiao's might. They knew that if they kept stubbornly holding out, Lin Xiao might truly make a move against them.

"Hmph. Since Master Su has spoken, we'll let it go today. But Lord Lin, your words today will likely spread throughout the entire martial world of Stability Prefecture by tomorrow. I hope you'll still be this tough when the time comes."

After leaving behind their harsh words, the martial artists departed in disgrace.

Even when Su Cheng invited them to stay for a meal, none were willing to remain. In the end, they took the small sum Su Cheng gave them and left without looking back.

"Um, Lord Lin, shall we go inside and talk?"

Su Cheng cautiously glanced at Lin Xiao as he asked.

If Lin Xiao had merely been an ordinary Jinyiwei Banner Officer, Su Cheng naturally would not have taken him seriously. With the Su family's wealth, even if a Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer stood before him, he would not need to give too much face.

But Lin Xiao was no ordinary Banner Officer. Setting aside the fact that he had just saved his daughter, Lin Xiao's formidable strength and ruthless disposition alone warranted a more courteous attitude.

With people of this temperament, they either became your friends, or you had to be able to kill them.

Clearly, the latter was something the Su family simply could not accomplish.

Naturally, the Su family had experts stationed with them as well, but those experts only protected the Su family's business affairs. They would never risk their lives to kill an imperial Jinyiwei officer for the Su family.

The Su family's experts had all been hired at great expense. Both sides merely made use of one another and took what they needed.

Upon arriving at the Su family's main hall, Su Wan'er stood beside Su Cheng. From time to time, her gaze swept over the cold-faced Lin Xiao, only for her to hurriedly withdraw it again.

She was now filled with curiosity about Lin Xiao.

According to the information her father had gathered, this Jinyiwei Banner Officer seemed not yet twenty, yet his strength was exceptionally formidable. Moreover, he enjoyed the favor of the current emperor, who had personally bestowed upon him a Flying Fish Uniform and an Embroidered Spring Blade.

Barring any unforeseen events, he would surely hold high office in the future and command a region.

"Men, bring up Lord Lin's payment."

The moment they entered the Su family's main hall, Su Cheng had people carry in the ten thousand taels of gold he had promised.

There were four chests in total, each filled to the brim with glittering gold.

At this sight, all the Jinyiwei who had followed them over swallowed hard.

After all, despite living for so many years, they had never seen so much money.

Lin Xiao merely glanced at it, then smiled. "Master Su is indeed a man who keeps his word. Then this official will accept it without ceremony. Should the Su family encounter any trouble in the future, you may inform this official. This official will certainly lend a hand."

Su Cheng understood what Lin Xiao meant. It was nothing more than saying that if there were such jobs in the future, he could still come to him.

However, Su Cheng knew that even if something happened in the future, he would not spend so lavishly again. This time, it was because his beloved daughter's safety was involved. For any other matter, he certainly would not be so generous.

Furthermore, not all of the Su family's businesses belonged solely to the Su family; part of the profits had to be shared out.

These ten thousand taels of gold had been paid from the Su family's own funds, not taken from the Su Family Merchant Guild.

This was already one-tenth of the Su family's assets.

A few more affairs like this, and the Su family would be unable to bear it.

"Lord Lin, everyone has been busy all night. I trust all the lords are weary in both body and mind. Tomorrow, I will host a banquet at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. I hope you will honor me with your presence."

"Very well. We'll see you tomorrow, Master Su."

After agreeing, Lin Xiao had people carry away the chests containing the gold.

The Jinyiwei carrying the chests were all exceedingly careful.

After leaving the Su family, Lin Xiao said to Chang Le, "Take out one hundred taels of gold and distribute it among our colleagues. Everyone contributed quite a bit tonight. Let them take some money to have tea and unwind."

Chang Le's heart ached.

One hundred taels of gold, just handed out like that. These people did not seem to have done anything, did they? Lin Xiao had captured the Flower Plucking Thief all by himself.

They had even created quite a bit of extra trouble.

"My lord..."

Chang Le wanted to say something, but Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes. Chang Le immediately nodded. "Yes, my lord."

When the Jinyiwei heard that Lin Xiao was giving them so much money, they all hurriedly thanked him.

Even the other Banner Officers could not help sincerely thanking Lin Xiao.

"Banner Officer Lin, thank you for looking after us. If you need anything in the future, just give the word. I'll remember this favor."

"Banner Officer Lin, I'll remember it too. If you need anything in the future, just give the word."

Lin Xiao nodded slightly. "Mm. We are colleagues, so there is no need for such courtesy."

"Chang Le, Xue Shan, take one hundred taels each, then put up another ten taels and take the others out to unwind."

Chang Le understood what Lin Xiao meant and immediately gave a lecherous grin.

After delivering the gold to Lin Xiao's residence, Chang Le, Xue Shan, and the others departed.

Lin Xiao had asked Chang Le to find this residence for him.

For the time being, it served as his foothold in Dingzhou City.

Closing the door, Lin Xiao did not care about the gold in the slightest. Instead, he promptly summoned the system and claimed his mission reward.

"Claim it."

The system instilled the max-level Heaven and Earth Converging Yin-Yang Great Compassion Ode into his mind, and he began cultivating it.

The Heaven and Earth Converging Yin-Yang Great Compassion Ode contained seven techniques in total.

They were:

Sovereign Heaven Empress Earth Grand Yin Yang Art

Heaven Shocking Earth Shattering Grand Reincarnation Seal

Heaven Collapsing Earth Sinking Grand Formless Skill

Heaven Crippled Earth Lacking Grand Heaven-Mending Art

Heaven Empty Earth Distant Grand Void Step

Heaven Spinning Earth Turning Grand Shifting Aperture Method

Heaven Severing Earth Extinguishing Grand Universe Hand

Each of these seven techniques possessed its own unique properties.

The Heaven Severing Earth Extinguishing Grand Universe Hand possessed the following traits: all transformations of martial arts under heaven were contained between its palms; its hands were as eternally indestructible as vajra; with a casual gesture, it wielded the power of two dragons and four elephants. It also contained two martial arts: the Great Soul-Searching Hand, which seized the life force and essence of all things, and the Great Purple Sun Hand, which refined external force and melted away all things.

The Heaven Spinning Earth Turning Grand Shifting Aperture Method possessed the following traits: it connected the qi channels and acupoints throughout the entire body, allowing inner force to reach everywhere without exception. True qi flowed without end, coursing through meridians and apertures, ignoring all acupoint-sealing, vein-cutting, grappling, and restriction techniques. Once mastered, one could cultivate any internal art and wield any external art.

The Sovereign Heaven Empress Earth Grand Yin Yang Art possessed the following traits: an internal cultivation method without equal throughout the ages. After deeply cultivating yin and yang qi, Taiji united yin and yang, and all methods forged primordial chaos. Inner force circulated and grew on its own, automatically protected the body, refined essence into qi and qi back into essence, rendered the body indestructible as vajra, endlessly renewing itself, and achieved Unity of Heaven and Man. Its inner force could transform in a thousand ways, driving all martial arts in the world and greatly amplifying their power.

The Heaven Shocking Earth Shattering Grand Reincarnation Seal possessed the following traits: borrowing force to strike force, deflecting and rebounding power, absorbing and transforming external force, and transferring damage. One would first stand upon invincible ground; at its pinnacle, one could even borrow the Power of Heaven and Earth for one's own use.

The Heaven Collapsing Earth Sinking Grand Formless Skill possessed the following traits: once internal cultivation reached the realm of penetrating heaven and earth, one could perceive all the mysteries of heaven and earth. Under the communion of heaven and man, qi filled the void; one transformed into heaven and earth itself, capable of twisting, crushing, and shattering all things within one's aura field. At its pinnacle, it could crush the void itself.

The Heaven Crippled Earth Lacking Grand Heaven-Mending Art possessed the following traits: restoring what was maimed and filling what was lacking, healing all internal and external injuries, illnesses, poisons, and venomous gu. One would remain unfallen through a hundred calamities. It could even transform oneself into heaven, taking from surplus to make up for deficiency, repairing one's innate flaws and Acquired Realm inadequacies, thereby becoming a flawless heavenly being.

The Heaven Empty Earth Distant Grand Void Step possessed the following traits: it ignored all external force, transformed outside resistance into inner force, and formed protective qi around the body. One's movement technique became swift as a startled swan and agile as a roaming dragon, like fleeting light and passing shadow. One could ride the void through the air, tread waves and chase clouds, and pass as swiftly as a white colt through a crack.