Chapter 295: Watching the Show

Su Yi quickly got his thoughts in order.

Xiao Tianque must have learned of the Su Family’s plans before the battle at the provincial governor’s estate. At the time, word of the massacre at the Western Mountain’s Tea Party had already started spreading throughout the Great Zhou.

Except that, at the time, only a tiny handful knew that Su Yi was the one truly behind it all.

“The Cloud-Scraping King, Shi Lanshan, is one of the non-Zhou kings who emerged from the Su Family. He’s stationed within the White Province, and his position is extremely prestigious. They only dared to oust and imprison the family head due to his support,” sighed Xie Yuanshan, anxiety written all over his face.

“So that’s how it is.” Su Yi finally understood.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Simply put, the grand elder of the Lanling Xiao Family, Xiao Zhongying, had colluded with Cloud-Scraping King Shi Lanshan to seize the family head’s authority. The trigger for the entire incident was Xiao Tianque and Xiao Hongqiu’s decision to go to the Imperatorial Province to rescue him.

When he realized this, Su Yi was rather moved.

Saving Xiao Tianque had been as easy as turning over his hand. Who’d have thought that, upon learning that the Su Family was after him, Xiao Tianque would nonetheless rush to his aid?

His good intentions alone were enough to move Su Yi.

“Miss Zijin, rest assured. This incident arose because of me. Naturally, I ought to be the one to resolve it,” said Su Yi softly.

He planned to pass through the White Provincial Capital anyway, so he might as well lend them a hand while he was at it.

But Zijin only shook her head and whispered, “Master Su, our opposition doesn’t just include members of our Lanling Xiao Family; even someone as prominent as the Cloud-Scraping King, Shi Lanshan, is involved. You… You’d be better off not getting mixed up in this.”

Su Yi’s earlier display of power was terrifying, but just the thought of their foes and the factions they represented lowered Zijin’s spirits.

It was then that Pei Yundu suddenly seemed to realize something, and he blurted, “Young Lord, dare I ask if you’re Su Yi?”

Su Yi nodded. “That’s right.”

Pei Yundu instantly gasped, then looked enlightened. He muttered to himself, “No wonder, no wonder….”

Zijin and Xie Yuanshan were both stunned. Xie Yuanshan asked, “Your Lordship Pei, have you heard Young Lord Su’s name before?”

Pei Yundu’s expression was instantly rueful. “The two of you have been imprisoned within the Xiao Family, so you’re most likely not aware of this yet. Of the entire Great Zhou’s younger generation, Young Lord Su’s name is by far the most distinguished!

“At the Western Mountain’s Tea Party in the Imperatorial Province, even someone as mighty as the Dragonlake Hermit, Qin Changshan, failed to withstand Young Lord Su’s blade!

“Later, in the battle at the seat of the Imperatorial Province’s provincial government, Firedome King Xia Houlin, White-Eyebrowed King Cai Jinghai, Heavenbrave Marquis Yue Qing, and the Jade Mountain Marquis, Pei Wenshan, all fell beneath Young Lord Su’s sword. When word of this incident spread, it shook the entire nation and stirred?up inestimable?uproar.

“It was due to these two battles that Young Lord Su’s name spread throughout the Great Zhou. How could I?not?know of him?” By the time he finished, Pei Yundu’s expression was brimming with admiration.

“This…” Xie Yuanshan was stunned, and waves of shock coursed through his heart. He finally realized that the blue-robed youth before him really wasn’t the least bit simple.

Zijin looked dazed too. She thought back to their first meeting outside Guangling City. At the time, Su Yi was still only in the Blood Circulation Realm.

Yet now, just a few months later, he could even kill Xiantian Martial Ancestors like Xia Houlin!

If she hadn’t heard this from Pei Yundu, she wouldn’t have dared believe it.

“Even the Firedome King died?” Xie Yuanshan gasped.

He was well aware that the Firedome King was one of the non-Zhou kings to emerge from the Jade Capital’s Su Family.

When he saw the dumbstruck looks on Zijin and Xie Yuanshan’s faces, Su Yi instantly realized that they really hadn’t known what he’d been up to lately.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be jumping and exclaiming over every little thing.

He laughed, “How about it? Would you like to go to the White Provincial Capital with me now?”

Zijin hesitated. “Master Su… You’re really not worried about the Su Family’s revenge?”

“I began this journey precisely so that I could visit the Jade Capital’s Su Family and sever our grudges,” said Su Yi. “Do you think I’m afraid?”

Zijin paused, but in the end, she gnashed her teeth and said, “In that case, I’ll have to trouble you. Please, accept this show of respect!”

As she spoke, she started to kneel, only for Su Yi to stop her. “I said it earlier. This happened because of me, so it’s only right that I resolve it.”

Xie Yuanshan perked up; he felt as if the clouds had finally parted, and the sun were shining through once more. He exclaimed, “Many thanks, Young?Lord Su. Many thanks!”

But Pei Yundu suddenly seemed to recall something else. He said hesitantly, “Young Lord Su, I heard that lately, numerous factions have set their sights on you, and that they plan to intercept you on your journey to the Jade Capital. I heard that their ranks include numerous Xiantian Martial Ancestors. Is that true?”

Su Yi nodded, but he didn’t explain. “A trivial matter, unworthy of concern. Come on. Let’s go to the White Provincial Capital first.”

The group immediately set off.

……

……

Four hours later.

The distant, towering gates of the White Provincial Capital entered their field of view.

A group of vicious, indomitable-looking warriors stood guard outside.

Their leader was a middle-aged man in black. He was majestic and imposing, and whenever his eyes moved, they seemed to crackle with electricity.

“Hm… Why did they come back?” When the man in black saw Xie Yuanshan drive the carriage back to the city, he was stunned; it seemed he dared not believe his eyes.

The lean man beside him burst into laughter. “It’s surely because someone intercepted their path, and they realized they couldn’t possibly break through our inescapable net. They must have decided to turn around and obediently turn themselves in. A smart choice!”

The man in black laughed too. When he spoke, his tone was rife with mockery. “Xie Yuanshan, didn’t you say you weren’t afraid to die? Why did you bring the young mistress back?”

Xie Yuanshan said expressionlessly, “Ol' Mo, if you don’t want to die, you’d best lead your men and get out of our way.”

“Ha ha ha! You fled like a panicked dog, and now you’ve slunk back in disgrace, but you still dare bark and growl at us? I’m afraid you have no idea of what’s in store for you!” The black-robe man threw back his head and laughed into the sky. The sound caught the attention of those nearby, who glanced over, then immediately moved further away.

Xie Yuanshan said no more. He just slowly drove the carriage closer to the gates.

“To me! Seize them and take them back to the clan!” The man in black waved and bellowed at his subordinates. Instantly, an entire group of warriors charged at the carriage.

Clang!

Xie Yuanshan drew his sword and attacked directly. Sword light flashed, and several warriors died on the spot.

This bloody spectator left everyone present stunned and in uproar.

Both the man in black and his subordinates thought Xie Yuanshan and company were here because they’d fled in defeat. They assumed they’d slunk back to meekly accept their punishment.

Who’d have thought that wasn’t even remotely the case?

“I told you to get out of the way, but you insisted on seeking out your own demise,” said Xie Yuanshan, his gaze cold and sharp.

“You’re courting death!” The black-robed man’s expression darkened, and he swept toward Xie Yuanshan, shooting through the air like a massive bird.

When he saw this, Pei Yundu, who was sitting on the other side of the carriage, prepared to take action.

Splurt!

Suddenly, a burst of sword light streaked out of the carriage. The black-robed man was still charging through the air when his head flew from his shoulders and fell to the ground.

The flow of human traffic was stunned. Everyone near the gates was in a panic, and many of them shrieked and fled in terror.

Even Pei Yundu was surprised when he saw this.

The man in black was a Grandmaster, and a relatively strong one, too. Yet Su Yi had killed him in the blink of an eye, and from a distance, too!

There was no need to even question it; Su Yi was the one who’d attacked!

Su Yi’s calm voice emanated from within the carriage. “Once we’re past the gates, take us directly to the Xiao Family estate.”

“Yes, sir!” Xie Yuanshan took a deep breath, then drove the carriage through the city gates.

…..

…..

Windchant Tower.

This was a magnificent three-story building built in the center of a lake. It was surrounded by water on all sides, with a long, white jade bridge connecting it to the shore.

In the grand hall on the top floor, Xiao Zhongying sat at the center of the room, clad in ornate robes.

The former grand elder of the Lanling Xiao Family had only just become the new head of the family, but he’d already fallen in love with his newfound authority. When he gave orders, none dared disobey!

“I invited you all here today because I have something important to discuss with you.” Xiao Zhongying’s gaze swept across the room, and he said gravely, “I just received intelligence from the Ten Directions Pavilion. Everyone, please have a look.”

He nodded slightly at the elderly servant beside him, who immediately picked up a thick stack of papers and passed them out. Each of the gathered Xiao Family higher-ups got a copy.

Each document was the same, and their contents were quite simple—

“On the fourth day of the fourth month, Su Yi left the Imperatorial Provincial Capital. That night, at Dragonbridge Station, he defeated Skywalk Academy’s palace master, Wang Zhuo.

“On the sixth day of the fourth month, Su Yi single-handedly slew four Xiantian Martial Ancestors: the Yang Ardent Daoist, Mo Qingchang, Madam Paulownia Blossom, and Shi Chuang. The only survivor was Situ Gong, whom he defeated but spared.

“On the eighth day of the fourth month, Su Yi proceeded to Treasure Temple Yao Mountain. That same day, the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect’s Text Transmission Pavilion Elder Lu Dongliu, Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Cang, and Second Elder Liao Yunliu joined forces with the palace masters of Jixia and Watermoon Academies, Wang Tu and Helian Hai, then proceeded onto the mountain as well.

“Su Yi left Treasure Temple Yao Mountain later that day, but Lu Dongliu, Wang Tu, and their companions haven’t been seen since. It’s suspected that they encountered calamity on Treasure Temple Yao Mountain….”

When they finished reading the letters’ contents, gasps rang out throughout the room. Without exception, the Xiao Family higher-ups’ expressions changed.

“Isn’t Su Yi just a Grandmaster? How could he possibly be that strong?” someone exclaimed.

“Even an expert as mighty as Lu Dongliu fell? Was that Su Yi’s work too?” exclaimed someone else. A chill coursed down his spine.

“That’s just too terrifying! This Su Yi kid effortlessly slew the Firedome King and his allies at the seat of the Imperatorial Province’s provincial government. Furthermore, every Xiantian Martial Ancestor who’s tried to intercept him on his journey and seize his good fortune has failed!” exclaimed another higher-up, his eyes wide with surprise.

The entire hall was in an uproar. The Xiao Family higher-ups were all worldly and experienced authority figures, yet now, none of them could remain calm.

As he watched this play out, Xiao Zhongying’s brow furrowed, and he roared, “What are?you lot panicking?about? Even if Su Yi overturned the heavens, it’d have nothing to do with us!”

The entire venue fell silent.

However, before long, someone said hesitantly, “But I heard that Su Yi is suspected of having a close relationship with old man Xiao Tianque. He’s sure to pass through the White Province on his way to the Jade Capital. If he learned about what we’ve done…”

By now, the entire group’s expressions had changed.

However, Xiao Zhongying only said calmly, “Everyone, rest assured. The White Province borders the Jade Capital, and its territories are under the jurisdiction of the Su Family. If Su Yi dares show his face in the White Province, the Su Family’s forces will come for him! He won’t even know what hit him!

Having said this, he smiled and said leisurely, “As for us? …All we have to do is sit back and watch the show.”