Flower Thief Appears

The smile on Su Yuanshan's face would not stop spilling out, his brow brimming with pride and gratification. From now on, the Su Family's footing in this small town would be even more secure.

Madam Su stood to one side, looking at Lin Fan with a heart full of joy. She truly had the air of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law—the more she looked, the more pleased she became. "This is truly cause for celebration. That Qingwei has found such a fine man is her blessing, and the fortune of our Su Family as well."

"Lin Fan, is there anything else you need for your cultivation? I'll give the order later and have another batch of superior medicinal herbs delivered to you." Su Yuanshan spoke heartily, his words filled with his regard for Lin Fan.

Normally, he should have sent martial arts pills. But the most skilled alchemist in the Su Residence was Lin Fan himself. Given the same herbs, others could generally only refine mid-grade or low-grade pills. It was better to send the ingredients directly to Lin Fan and let him refine high-grade pills for his own use.

Although Lin Fan did not rely much on pills, with the formidable power of the system, the silver he spent seemed to transform into another kind of energy, nourishing his body in place of pills. Still, he could not refuse the goodwill of the Su Family head—his father-in-law. Besides, even if he did not use them himself, he could save them for Su Qingwei.

After seeing the two elders off, Lin Fan activated the thousandfold cultivation effect boost again and prepared to charge toward the Late Bone Tempering Realm. By Lin Fan's estimate, he had spent over half a month reaching the Mid Bone Tempering Realm. He would likely need another month and a half to reach the Late Bone Tempering Realm.

Though Lin Fan rarely left Sunset Glow Courtyard, he could still learn about news from the outside. There were so many people in the Su Family Estate that servants were regularly sent out to gather recent information. After it was organized, it was made into something like a newspaper and delivered to several courtyards of higher standing within the residence.

These little papers were only for a few of the Su Family's more prominent courtyards and were not sold publicly. After all, they contained rumors from the streets and the martial world, even news concerning the authorities and the imperial court. If they were sold outside, careless wording could easily stir up trouble.

During this time, Lin Fan had also sent people to inquire about the Small Mountain Village where he had once lived. He learned that after he left, Uncle Wang and the others in the village hunting party had continued living as they always had. About once every half month, they came to the small town to sell their prey and purchase supplies such as goods and millet. Nothing troublesome had happened, nor had they been affected in any way.

One day, while reading the little paper from the Su Residence, Lin Fan discovered rather significant news. A Flower Thief had appeared in nearby towns, specifically targeting beautiful young women from wealthy and influential families. Even some weaker martial arts forces had been targeted by him. The imperial court was offering a reward for his capture. According to the court's notice, the Flower Thief was suspected to be in the Late Bone Tempering Realm.

Lin Fan pinched the thin Su Family Gazette between his fingertips. His gaze slowly lifted from the lines of text, and he frowned slightly before sighing. "It really is an eventful autumn."

A Flower Thief in the Late Bone Tempering Realm. His cultivation was already on the same level as his father-in-law, Su Yuanshan, and one realm above Lin Fan's current level. Moreover, there were presently no Bright Force Realm experts in this small town. If that Flower Thief came here, it would likely be difficult to capture him.

With such strength, he could have founded a martial arts faction, honestly married a wife and taken concubines, yet he instead went around harming women everywhere. Who knew what he was thinking? But the world was vast, and strange things abounded. It was no surprise that some people had peculiar temperaments. Besides, martial cultivation depended on innate talent and bone structure, not one's character. As for later martial opportunities, with enough luck, anyone could encounter them.

In the study, Lin Fan slowly set down the little paper and pondered inwardly. There were many wealthy estates around the small town, and the Su Family was one of the foremost local households. There was no guarantee they would not catch the eye of this desperate criminal. However, the Su Family had both his father-in-law Su Yuanshan and himself, two Bone Tempering Realm martial artists. Even if the Flower Thief truly came, he would not get off easily, so Lin Fan did not need to worry too much.

Lin Fan's previously furrowed brows slowly relaxed once more. Outside, Su Qingwei entered slowly with a cup of hot tea. Lin Fan looked up and saw the girl's clear, lovely eyes. Their gazes met, and they could not help smiling at each other.

Over at Su Yuanshan's side, unlike Lin Fan's calmness from scarcely needing to manage affairs, Su Yuanshan's expression was much graver. "This thief is suspected to be in the Late Bone Tempering Realm. He has committed several crimes while moving from place to place and even destroyed a martial arts force guarded by an Early Bone Tempering Realm martial artist. His whereabouts are elusive and unpredictable. Though the imperial court has posted a reward, they have yet to catch him." Of course, this was also because the court was unwilling to go all out. Bright Force Realm experts' time was precious. Unless they could determine the Flower Thief's exact location, they were unwilling to deploy them. Besides, although the court needed martial forces from the martial world, overly powerful martial factions were no good for the court either.

Su Yuanshan knitted his brows tightly. "There are many female family members in our Su Residence. If this man infiltrates the town, the consequences will be unthinkable." After considering it, he immediately prepared to recruit more guards and strengthen patrols throughout the residence, so that any mishap could be detected and warned of in time.

Though the Su Family appeared to hold an advantage with two Bone Tempering Realm martial artists against the Flower Thief alone, treasures and weapons could also play a considerable role in actual combat. There were all kinds of techniques in the martial world as well. While fighting above one's realm was exceedingly difficult, creating a gap in battles between opponents of the same realm was much easier.

What was more, if they failed to treat the matter seriously and something happened, it would be too late for regrets.

Late Bone Tempering Realm martial artists moved with astonishing speed, scaling walls and crossing courtyards as though walking on level ground. If he was also skilled at stealth, he would indeed be terrifying. Thus, in the days that followed, Su Yuanshan had no choice but to temporarily slow his cultivation and remain constantly on guard against unexpected circumstances.

Within Sunset Glow Courtyard, Lin Fan was much more relaxed. Hadn't the Su Family Gazette said it only concerned nearby towns? The Flower Thief had not yet come to this town. Perhaps he would not come here at all.

Besides, Lin Fan had the Cultivation Effect Doubling System, which consumed silver. Following his usual cultivation schedule, with a thousandfold training effect boost each day, he could enter the Late Bone Tempering Realm in another month and a half. At worst, if he learned that the Flower Thief had arrived in his town, he could switch to a fifteen-hundredfold cultivation effect boost.

In truth, there was no crushing difference between the Mid Bone Tempering Realm and the Late Bone Tempering Realm. For example, if Lin Fan fought Su Yuanshan now, it would take at least two hours to determine a victor. Lin Fan also had a weapon at hand. With that Forging Grade 25 long spear in his grasp, coupled with the spear and lance techniques he had studied recently, he had likewise used the thousandfold training effect boost to push those combat techniques to perfection, increasing his combat strength by several degrees.

And even if he truly could not win, he could activate a boost of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of times during the fight. Turning the tables against the wind would not be difficult.

Lin Ruoruo was squatting by the flowerbed, teasing Mao Mao. After consuming many pills, the Golden Rat's body had grown ever more sleek and slippery, as though a piece of smooth golden silk had become sentient. Lin Fan smiled. Perhaps Mao Mao was not far from the Skin Tempering Realm. Once he became a demon beast, his sense of smell would become even sharper, and his ability to give warning would grow stronger as well.