As dusk gradually fell, in the courtyard of the Su Family First Branch.
Zhang Su sat beneath a tree in the courtyard with his elder brother, Zhang Chen.
The surroundings were silent.
The servants consciously kept their distance from the two men, not daring to disturb them.
Zhang Chen picked up the wine cup on the table and drained it in one gulp.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The wine was fierce.
It made Zhang Chen cough without end.
Zhang Su looked at his elder brother.
In his memories, his elder brother had been a frail scholar who buried his head in books, refined and gentle.
But now, although his elder brother was still refined and gentle, he had matured greatly.
"Big Brother, stop drinking. Your body is weak."
Zhang Su stopped Zhang Chen.
"Hahaha, it's fine. I'm happy today. Seeing that you've made something of yourself in the Guiyuan Sect puts my mind at ease. Father and Mother beneath the Nine Springs will surely be very happy as well."
Zhang Chen truly was happy.
He had spent the entire afternoon talking with Zhang Su.
He still seemed to want more.
Yet no matter what Zhang Chen talked about, it was all about how promising Zhang Su had become.
It brought him great comfort.
But he never spoke of his own hardships.
Zhang Su knew, however, that his elder brother had borne a great deal.
His elder brother had once merely been a frail scholar who diligently studied poetry and books, deaf to all matters beyond the window.
Now, his elder brother had to scheme carefully in the business world and cross swords with those merchants who deceived and plotted against one another. It was exhausting work, both for the heart and mind.
Moreover, the Su Family was not peaceful either.
"Big Brother, you've worked hard..."
Zhang Su did not know what else to say.
A thousand words and ten thousand thoughts converged into a single sentence.
"Worked hard... Hahaha, Second Brother, I'm already very happy that you understand my painstaking intentions."
"Actually, the hardest days have already passed. Though I married into the Su Family, Zhenzhen treats me extremely well, and Father-in-law trusts me deeply. He handed all the First Branch's businesses over to me."
"Tell me, what live-in son-in-law could receive such trust?"
"Now Zhenzhen and I have Hutou, you have gained a firm foothold in the Guiyuan Sect, and Little Sister has reached the age for marriage discussions... I'm truly happy. In a few days, the three of us should visit Father and Mother's graves together..."
As Zhang Chen spoke, he had already fallen asleep.
He had drunk quite a bit just now.
Zhang Chen had never been much of a drinker to begin with.
It was only natural that he got drunk.
At that moment, his sister-in-law Su Zhenzhen arrived with several servants. Seeing Zhang Chen in this state, she did not reproach him. Instead, her eyes were full of heartache.
"Second Brother, don't blame Sister-in-law for talking too much. Your elder brother has too many things in his heart and shoulders too much. Your return this time has made him happy from the bottom of his heart. I haven't seen him this happy in a very long time..."
Su Zhenzhen waved her hand, and the servants carefully supported their master and escorted him back to his room.
Zhang Su was not drunk.
Earlier, he had felt somewhat uneasy.
He had not known what would happen when he met his elder brother.
But now, his heart was incomparably peaceful.
After returning to his room, Zhang Su took out a Blood Replenishing Pill.
No matter where he was, cultivation could not stop.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Zhang Su woke up.
He had not slept at all.
After cultivating through the night, he was full of vigor and did not feel the slightest fatigue.
He sensed the Blood Qi within his body.
"One hundred and sixty-eight strands of Blood Qi..."
He was drawing ever closer to two hundred strands of Blood Qi.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Young Master Second, breakfast is ready."
Zhang Su opened the door. Uncle Guan stood outside.
Thus, Zhang Su followed Uncle Guan to the dining hall.
His elder brother, sister-in-law, and younger sister had basically all arrived.
His elder brother looked full of vigor as well.
After the family happily finished breakfast together, they rose to welcome the distinguished guests.
Today was Hutou's one-month celebration feast.
The Su Family had invited many distinguished guests. As the First Branch's steward, Zhang Chen naturally had to greet them early.
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell Big Brother about the Zhenyuan Escort Agency yesterday..."
In truth, it was not that Zhang Su had forgotten.
His elder brother had simply been too enthusiastic yesterday.
He had held onto Zhang Su as though he had endless things to say, leaving Zhang Su with no chance to mention the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
However, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency's people should return today.
Big Brother would naturally learn about it then, so there was no need to rush.
Very soon, people began arriving at the Su Family one after another.
Zhang Su sat at a distance.
His status was somewhat special.
He ought to count as a guest.
Therefore, he naturally did not need to help receive visitors.
Guests were divided into several kinds as well.
Ordinary guests would naturally be received by other members of the Su Family.
Only distinguished guests of high status would be received personally by Zhang Chen.
This also showed Zhang Chen's status within the Su Family. He truly was the "steward."
The description was no exaggeration.
"Other than the matter of the Su Family Third Branch, Big Brother's circumstances in the Su Family truly are quite good..."
Zhang Su had only just thought of the Third Branch when he saw its people arrive.
Su Qianhe had come.
Su Mulan followed behind him.
But beside Su Mulan stood a tall, handsome young man.
There was a sharp aura about him.
His temperament was completely different from everyone around him.
He had the air of a crane standing among chickens.
A martial artist!
The other party was a martial artist with abundant Blood Qi who had broken through the Human Limit!
The man seemed to be deliberately giving off traces of Blood Qi, allowing Zhang Su to sense that he was a martial artist who had broken through the Human Limit.
Such a martial artist would count as one of the outstanding among the Guiyuan Sect Outer Sect disciples, let alone among this crowd of ordinary people. His bearing towered over everyone else.
He was practically like a bright moon in the dark night, visible at a glance.
"Young Master, he is Jiang Cheng, the one engaged to the Third Branch's Second Miss!"
Uncle Guan seemed to notice Zhang Su's gaze and spoke in a low voice.
"The Qilin Child of the Jiang Family, a martial arts family..."
Zhang Su nodded.
Since arriving in the prefectural city, he had heard the name "Jiang Cheng" more than once.
Su Mulan and the others entered.
When Su Mulan saw Zhang Su, her expression changed slightly.
However, yesterday's lesson seemed to have been too deeply impressed upon her. Even with Jiang Cheng by her side, Su Mulan did not dare act too presumptuously.
She merely said softly to Jiang Cheng, "Brother Cheng, this man is Zhang Chen's younger brother. He entered the Guiyuan Sect a year ago, and his martial arts are not weak. Even Uncle Qiao praised him as someone not to be underestimated."
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
A Guiyuan Sect Outer Sect disciple?
It was not as if he had never seen one before.
Most Guiyuan Sect Outer Sect disciples were merely so-so.
They could not break through the Human Limit.
Born into a martial arts family, Jiang Cheng naturally understood that only martial artists who had broken through the Human Limit could be considered geniuses.
Though he had not joined any sect, he had broken through the Human Limit. The Blood Qi in his body exceeded one hundred and fifty strands. He was an undisputed genius!
How strong could an Outer Sect disciple who had entered the Guiyuan Sect only a year ago possibly be?
As for Fang Qiao, the Su Family guard.
He had merely wandered the martial world for a few more years.
He was not worth mentioning.
How could Su Mulan, born into a merchant family, understand the gap between martial artists?
The four words "martial arts family" were far beyond comparison to those wandering martial artists.
"Are you Zhang Su?"
Jiang Cheng stared directly at Zhang Su and asked.
"That's right. You are Jiang Cheng?"
"I am. I heard from Lanlan that yesterday, you cut off a strand of her hair with one sword strike?"
"That happened. What, do you want revenge?"
Jiang Cheng shook his head and said calmly, "The Su Family's internal affairs are not for outsiders like us to interfere with. However, since we are both martial artists and close in age, we should exchange pointers in a martial artist's way."
"I have a sword that has met no rival in Qingquan Prefecture. You are a disciple of a great sect, so your swordsmanship must be exceptional. Do you dare receive one strike from my sword?"
The moment those words fell, the surroundings became quiet.
At this time, many gazes fell upon Zhang Su and Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng was naturally known to them.
The Qilin Child of the Jiang Family.
It was said that he possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts.
His reputation resounded throughout Qingquan Prefecture.
As for Zhang Su opposite him.
Many people had never even seen him before.
Only after asking around did they learn that he was Zhang Chen's younger brother.
It was said that he had spent a year in the Guiyuan Sect.
"It seems the conflict between the First Branch and the Third Branch can no longer be concealed."
"Though Zhang Su is a disciple of a great sect, he has only been in the Guiyuan Sect for a year. I also heard that the Su Family bought his place in the Guiyuan Sect with silver. How could he be mentioned in the same breath as Jiang Cheng?"
"Today is the First Branch's great day of celebration, yet the Third Branch has brought the Jiang Family to make trouble. They've completely torn off all pretense..."
Those who could come to the Su Family all possessed some reputation and standing in Qingquan Prefecture.
Naturally, they knew some of the Su Family's circumstances.
Looking at things now, this was clearly an internal conflict within the Su Family.
If things went badly, today's First Branch banquet might become a joke.
At that moment, Su Zhenzhen and Zhang Chen both came over.
Su Zhenzhen loudly rebuked, "Su Mulan, what are you trying to do?"
Su Mulan said mildly, "Brother Cheng merely wishes to exchange martial arts pointers with Zhang Su. This is a matter between martial artists. What could I possibly do?"
Su Zhenzhen frowned.
Jiang Cheng?
She had heard of Jiang Cheng's reputation as well.
He was quite famous among the martial artists of Qingquan Prefecture.
He was a genuine martial arts genius.
Such a genius had called Zhang Su out by name to exchange pointers?
Clearly, the Third Branch was making trouble!
"Second Brother, you are a guest of my Su Family. My Su Family will naturally ensure your safety."
Su Zhenzhen then said coldly, "Jiang Cheng, today is the joyous day of my son's one-month celebration. It is not suitable for blades and weapons..."
Yet Jiang Cheng did not even spare Su Zhenzhen a glance.
His gaze remained fixed directly on Zhang Su.
Obviously, his meaning was simple.
This was a matter between martial artists, unrelated to outsiders.
All it took was for Zhang Su to nod.
"What, too scared?"
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow.
"Second Brother, don't be rash..."
Zhang Chen also came to Zhang Su's side and directly grabbed him, intending to leave.
Suddenly, Zhang Su raised his head.
"I've been considering a question. Once my sword leaves its sheath, it will draw blood! Can you bear the price?"
The moment those words fell, Jiang Cheng's expression changed instantly.
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