Su Ling, Lingxiao Pawnshop

Having dealt with Daoist Blood Origin, the abandoned Daoist temple no longer held any danger.

Thus, the caravan that had originally planned to leave turned back once more.

"Third Young Master, that sinister Daoist nun is dead?"

After Chen Ying returned and saw Daoist Blood Origin's corpse, his expression turned astonished.

"Mm."

Su Yun nodded, then instructed, "Send a few escorts over to clean up the body."

"We'll stay here tonight and set out again early tomorrow morning."

"Alright!"

At this moment, Chen Ying naturally noticed the Little Daoist Child.

He did not ask any questions and hurriedly nodded.

Afterward, he found several escorts and began the cleanup.

"Brothers, come lend a hand."

"Ugh! This corpse has already gone rotten!"

Outside the abandoned Daoist temple, several escorts cleaning up the Iron Corpse retched repeatedly.

Once the cleanup was finished, they rested there for the night.

Early the next morning, the caravan continued onward.

Only this time, there was one more person.

The Little Daoist Child sat in the carriage, curiously looking around.

When she saw the beautiful scenery, she could not help revealing a longing expression.

Not until the sun was high overhead and blazing did the caravan finally enter Purple Jade City.

After disposing of the goods, they began their return journey.

The road back was uneventful and perfectly safe.

After all, this escort run had thoroughly opened up the trade route.

The bandits along the way had all learned of the Su Estate caravan's strength and no longer dared provoke them.

Thus, several days later, the caravan successfully returned.

As they neared the city gate, Su Yun smiled.

At a glance, he spotted his eldest brother, Su Lin, standing atop the gate.

"Big Brother, on this escort run, I wiped out Black Cloud Stronghold and completely opened up the trade route."

"From now on, when Cloud Lin Escort Agency travels this trade route, no one will dare rob our goods."

When he arrived before Su Lin, Su Yun spoke with a smile.

"Good! Good! I knew you could do it, kid! Hahaha!"

Su Lin was overjoyed and excitedly patted Su Yun on the shoulder.

In truth, sending Su Yun out on an escort run had been a last resort.

Fortunately, the outcome had been good.

Su Yun had not only destroyed Black Cloud Stronghold, but also opened up the trade route.

He had resolved the Su Family's pressing crisis!

Upon returning home, Father Su was also overjoyed when he learned the news.

"It seems sending Yun'er to Mystic Blade Sect back then truly was a wise decision."

He could not help sighing.

In truth, the greatest advantage of sect cultivators was the various resources they possessed!

For example, cultivation methods!

As long as one became an Outer Sect disciple of Mystic Blade Sect, one could learn a Human Grade High Tier cultivation method for free.

And in many small cities, a cultivation method of that level was something money could not buy.

Even if one had money, one might not be able to purchase it.

Even great clans would not disregard a Human Grade High Tier cultivation method.

Yet within Mystic Blade Sect, Human Grade High Tier cultivation methods were nothing special.

There were even higher-level Yellow Grade, Mysterious Grade, and Earth-Grade Cultivation Methods.

That was the greatest advantage of a sect!

After the family finished lunch, they were filled with harmony and joy.

Laughter rose and fell one after another.

Afterward, Su Yun arranged a place for the Little Daoist Child to stay.

The room was not small and even came with a courtyard.

Later, he learned that the Little Daoist Child's family had been destroyed by Daoist Blood Origin.

At the time, Daoist Blood Origin had claimed it was to sever her mortal attachments so she could devote herself wholly to the Dao.

But in Su Yun's eyes, that was complete nonsense.

If one was heartless and faithless, what was the point of cultivation?

One would be nothing more than a puppet of power.

"You can't conveniently reveal your real name right now. How about I give you one? What do you think of Su Ling?"

In the courtyard, Su Yun spoke after pondering for a moment.

"Mm, thank you, Big Brother."

The Little Daoist Child nodded repeatedly without objecting.

Right now, she only wanted to survive, and staying in the Su Estate was quite good.

"From now on, stay here. Unless there is something important, do not leave on your own."

"Remember, the most important thing for you now is to raise your cultivation and refine pills."

As he spoke, Su Yun took out several introductory books on pill refinement.

These pill-refining books contained no pill formulas, only the names of various pills and medicinal ingredients, along with some basic knowledge of pill refinement.

"The pills you refined before were for immortal cultivators, so they differ somewhat from the pills I need."

"Study these pill-refining books carefully. Later, I'll get you the formulas and ingredients."

"When that time comes, you can try refining pills."

He was very clear about Su Ling's role.

She was simply an alchemist provided with food and lodging.

Once Su Ling could refine Body Tempering Pills, or pills of even better quality,

her value would truly be revealed!

Then the Su Estate would be able to rely on those pills to earn a vast amount of wealth and resources.

And he could also use those pills to rapidly increase his cultivation.

Taking in an alchemist like Su Ling

was simply a win beyond measure!

Next, Su Yun remained at home for another day.

He did not cultivate, instead spending time with his family.

That morning, Su Yun prepared to leave.

"Father, Big Brother, the trouble has been resolved. I'm preparing to return to Mystic Blade Sect."

Su Yun spoke.

Su Lin nodded. "You've already stayed home for some time. We can't keep you any longer. It's better for you to return to the sect early."

He understood this very well.

If Su Yun continued staying at home, although it would deepen their familial bond, it would affect his cultivation.

Now that the Su Estate could travel escort routes smoothly and hold its head high, it was all thanks to Su Yun.

At such a critical juncture, he naturally could not interfere with Su Yun's cultivation.

Only if Su Yun became stronger could their Su Estate become stronger.

When one flourished, all flourished; when one suffered, all suffered.

The reasoning was very simple.

At that moment, Su Lin suddenly thought of something and spoke with a smile.

"Right, I heard that Mystic Blade Sect will hold a Disciple Ceremony at the end of this year. With your strength, Third Brother, you should have a chance to enter the top ten."

"The top ten?"

Su Yun's heart stirred, and then he smiled. "Probably."

Afterward, he bade his parents farewell.

Father Su did not say much. He merely offered a few reminders before taking out eighty thousand taels in banknotes.

Part of it was silver earned from the escort run.

But most of it was silver gained by pawning Mother Su's dowry.

Especially that jade hairpin, whose materials were exceptionally rare and highly valuable.

After learning the reason, Su Yun looked toward Mother Su, warmth filling his heart.

He wanted to refuse and have Mother Su use the banknotes to redeem the jade hairpin.

After all, he knew there was an especially important jade hairpin among Mother Su's dowry, one of extraordinary significance.

When he had been young, he often saw Mother Su holding the jade hairpin, recalling the past with a blissful expression.

It was the token of love between Father Su and Mother Su.

Yet faced with Su Yun's persuasion, Mother Su did not seem to care much.

She spoke with a smile.

"It's only a hairpin, nothing but an inanimate object."

"You're my son. Why be so formal with me?"

Hearing this, Su Yun did not refuse again.

He smiled and nodded, then bade his parents farewell.

But before leaving the city gate, he did not depart immediately.

Instead, he made a trip to Lingxiao Pawnshop.

It was the largest pawnshop in the city.

He knew Mother Su had pawned her dowry here.

The pawnshop was spacious and had no shortage of customers.

And that sharp-eyed pawnshop keeper spotted Su Yun at once among dozens of people.

He hurried over with an eager expression and personally led Su Yun into a luxurious private room.

Then, smiling amiably, he asked,

"Young Hero Su, what Treasure would you like to pawn?"

By now, he had also learned that Su Yun had successfully completed his escort run, destroyed Black Cloud Stronghold, and thoroughly opened up the trade route.

The matter had caused a huge stir throughout the city, and many clans knew of it.

Upon learning this, those clans had all planned to cooperate with the Su Estate, each one bowing their heads and lowering their brows.

Therefore, he had immediately gathered information on Su Yun and recognized him at a glance.

"I'm not here to pawn a Treasure."

Su Yun directly stated his purpose.

He wanted to redeem that jade hairpin!

The pawnshop keeper was stunned, but he quickly reacted.

He spoke with a smile.

"Young Hero Su, that jade hairpin was crafted from superior Glazed Jade and Blue Creek Jade. It is highly valuable, worth at least forty thousand taels."

"However, I too was once robbed by Black Cloud Stronghold, and I deeply despise them."

"Now that Young Hero Su has acted boldly and destroyed Black Cloud Stronghold, I greatly admire you."

"Therefore, I can give this item to Young Hero Su. There is no need for you to redeem it. What do you think?"

In truth, Black Cloud Stronghold only robbed caravans and had absolutely nothing to do with him.

This was merely the art of speaking.

At this moment, Su Yun stared at him for a moment, then smiled.

"Alright. Then many thanks, Shopkeeper Tong."

Before leaving,

he paused briefly and said with a smile,

"I, Su Yun, will remember Lingxiao Pawnshop."

Watching Su Yun's departing figure, Shopkeeper Tong was overjoyed.

This time, he had made the right bet again!

He had successfully won the goodwill of a genius.

In truth, the reason he had risen step by step from a mere commoner to become the shopkeeper of Lingxiao Pawnshop, expanding his business ever further while no one dared covet his wealth,

was because he had once spent enormous sums of silver investing in many down-and-out geniuses!

He had forged a measure of goodwill with them.

By now, some of those geniuses had fallen.

But some had grown and risen to important positions within major powers.

So who would dare touch him casually?

"I'm in a good mood today. Let's go to Melodious Sound Pavilion for tea!"

Only after Su Yun had gone far away did Shopkeeper Tong withdraw his gaze. With his hands behind his back, he hummed a little tune as he headed toward Melodious Sound Pavilion.

He understood this very clearly.

To establish oneself in the world, one's own strength was one aspect, and emotional intelligence was another.

Only by giving could one gain.

Night fell, the moon bright and the stars sparse.

Within Su Estate, in Mother Su's room.

Bright moonlight swept past the deep-purple windowsill and fell upon a jade hairpin.

At a certain moment.

Father Su, drunk from receiving guests from all quarters, was supported into the bedroom by Mother Su. He lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

After gently tucking the blanket around Father Su, Mother Su had only just turned around when she froze.

She saw that jade hairpin!

Before she knew it, she had already walked to the jade cabinet, her gaze fixed tightly on the hairpin.

Then she reached out, picked up the jade hairpin, and gently caressed it.

Unable to hold back her tears, she murmured softly.

"Yun'er has truly grown up. He's become sensible too."