Chapter 465 - 447: Annihilating Iron Armor

"Cough, cough..."

Xiong Wu clutched his chest, coughing violently, his eyes fixed on the doorway.

Moonlight streamed through the doorway, serene and cold.

A tall, imposing figure walked in calmly. It was Su Yu.

Behind him, Qin Fangqiong hadn’t made a move. She simply stood back, providing support, a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

’Yu’Er’s comprehension and talent are simply astounding,’ she thought. ’His saber techniques are heaven-defying, and his Fist Technique is brilliant as well.’

’The punch he just threw... its Fist Stance was domineering and incredibly fast. He even managed to defeat Xiong Wu, a martial artist from a higher realm, with such ease.’

When Yan Xiao saw the two of them enter, the last shred of hope vanished from his eyes. He abruptly stood up, dropped to his knees, and began kowtowing forcefully.

"I, Yan Xiao, was blind and foolish to dare move against the White Ape Martial Arts Hall. My crime is heinous. I am willing to pay with my life! I only ask that Master Qin spare the disciples of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall."

Seeing Yan Xiao’s posture, Xiong Wu’s face flushed with anger. "Hall Master, the winner takes all! Don’t you dare bow your head to them!"

Su Yu looked at Xiong Wu coldly. ’The man is certainly stubborn,’ he thought. ’But for an enemy, that’s just a path to an early grave.’

"SWOOSH!"

Mo Yuan flashed from its sheath like lightning in the night. A cold glint of light, and before Xiong Wu had any chance to react, the blade sliced through his neck.

"SQUELCH!"

Blood gushed out, spattering the dark sandalwood table nearby and instantly staining its surface red.

"CLANG!"

Su Yu sheathed his blade without even glancing at Xiong Wu.

Seeing Su Yu’s decisiveness, Qin Fangqiong nodded slightly. ’This disciple of mine never hesitates when it’s time to kill. He truly has the makings of a great figure.’

Yan Xiao saw Xiong Wu’s headless corpse fall to the ground. He closed his eyes, his heart filled with desolation.

The grand Vice Hall Master of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall, killed just like that in his own hall, and he had been powerless to stop it.

’Will the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall even survive in the future?’

After killing Xiong Wu, Su Yu’s gaze fell on Yan Xiao. He asked, "Hall Master Yan, how did you get involved with the Tiemu family?"

Yan Xiao gave a bitter laugh and held nothing back.

"Commander Su, it was not I who sought out the Tiemu family. After the city-opening ceremony, they secretly sent someone to contact me, offering to support the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall. The condition was that I lure you out of Black Stone City to be ambushed and killed."

"With your talent, Commander Su, I feared my Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall would never have a chance to rise. We would have withered away within a few years. Faced with such an opportunity, we had no choice but to risk it all!"

"’Risk it all,’ you say. Hall Master Yan, have you forgotten? I, Su Yu, never once provoked you. It has always been me who has been targeted and attacked by your hall!"

Su Yu never pitied his enemies, especially those who had tried to kill him.

"What Commander Su says is right. Everything that has happened is our own fault. Now, I only beg that you show mercy and spare the ordinary disciples of my Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall."

Qin Fangqiong stepped forward. "Hall Master Yan, don’t bother hiding your true intentions. Why would you care about ordinary disciples? You just want to protect your own family. Your son is a disciple at the hall, isn’t he?"

Yan Xiao gave another bitter smile. "I can’t hide anything from Master Qin. My son’s talent is poor. The best he can hope for in the future is the Flesh Refining Realm. I beg you both to spare his life. The Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall has accumulated much over the years, and it would take you some time to find it all. I am willing to offer everything in exchange for my son’s life."

Qin Fangqiong didn’t speak, turning to look at Su Yu instead.

Su Yu hadn’t planned on dealing with the ordinary disciples of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall anyway. As for Yan Xiao’s son, he couldn’t care less whether he lived or died.

"Hall Master Yan, I agree to your terms. As long as your son doesn’t seek revenge in the future, I won’t cause him any trouble."

"Thank you for your immense generosity, Commander Su!"

Yan Xiao knelt again and kowtowed heavily.

...

「Three days later, in the tearoom of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall.」

Several large chests made of golden nanmu wood were placed under the table. Qin Yu stood to the side, excitedly explaining their contents.

"Mother, Junior Brother, this is all the good stuff Yan Xiao sent. Before he died, he disbanded the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall and personally killed a few disciples who wanted revenge. As for his son, he had him sent to Jian’an Prefecture."

Su Yu nodded, feeling no particular ripple in his heart.

’Winner takes all. That’s the truth of this world.’

’The old feud with the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall is finally settled today.’

"Mother, Junior Brother, these gold ingots, silver ingots, and various materials are worth a total of thirty thousand silver taels. I’ve divided them into two portions. What do you think?"

"Yu’Er turned the tide of battle this time. It should be a sixty-forty split. The Martial Arts Hall takes forty percent, and the Su Mansion gets sixty," Qin Fangqiong said with a wave of her hand.

"Master, you’re being too formal with me. If you hadn’t blocked those two Profound Bone Realm experts, I couldn’t have turned the tide. I should take forty percent, and the Martial Arts Hall should get sixty."

Even brothers keep clear accounts. Su Yu knew this principle well and couldn’t let the Martial Arts Hall take a loss.

Qin Fangqiong chuckled and scolded good-naturedly, "You brat. How could your master take advantage of you? Your cultivation is advancing by leaps and bounds right now, so this is when you need resources most. Take the extra share as a gift from me. If you can break through to the Profound Bone Realm sooner, that’s more important than anything."

Seeing his master’s firm attitude, Su Yu smiled and said, "In that case, I won’t be polite anymore, Master. Please use all these silver taels to get me Top-grade Jiao Tendon Pills. I’m preparing to cultivate the Jiao Tendon Realm next!"

"CRACK!"

The teacup Qin Fangqiong had just picked up was inadvertently crushed in her hand, revealing the shock in her heart.

"You’re preparing to cultivate the Jiao Tendon Realm? Didn’t you just break through to Tiger Tendon not long ago? Are you confident you can break through to Jiao Tendon?"

Su Yu smiled and offered his prepared explanation, "Master, I’m confident I can break through to the Jiao Tendon Realm in half a month. First, I have plenty of Jiao Tendon Pills now. Second, my root bone has already reached the Spirit Tier. And third, with my comprehension, I feel that ordinary bottlenecks can’t stop me."

’Spirit Tier root bone, heaven-defying comprehension, and ample resources...’

The thoughts flashed through Qin Fangqiong’s mind, and she silently nodded.

"Yu’Er, your long period of accumulation is finally paying off. This peerless talent of yours can no longer be hidden! By the way, are you one of the Heaven’s Favored?"

Su Yu immediately went along with it and nodded. "Master, I’ve considered this as well. Perhaps I’m some kind of hidden Heaven’s Favored."

"First, my root bone evolved rather quickly. With the help of the Purple Jade Bone-Washing Flower and the Bone and Marrow Cleansing Pill you gave me, it advanced directly to the Spirit Tier. Second, I feel like my comprehension is getting better and better, far beyond what it used to be."

Qin Fangqiong’s brow furrowed, and she pondered for a moment before saying, "The Heaven’s Favored are too mysterious; I don’t know much about them either. But one thing is certain: they are truly blessed by the heavens and possess astonishing talents. In your case, it’s highly likely you are one, but I don’t know what type."

"You don’t need to publicize this matter; just be aware of it yourself. With the talent of a Heaven’s Favored, your future is limitless, which is all the more reason to hide your abilities for now. This is especially true when you enter the Inner City. It’s filled with geniuses and masters as numerous as the clouds; there will definitely be other Heaven’s Favored with talent even greater than yours."

Qin Fangqiong took a deep breath and advised, "With my current strength at the Profound Bone Realm, I can still protect you to some extent in the Outer City. But once you enter the Inner City, I will be powerless to help. You must maintain your previous disposition—cautious, steady, and always planning before you act."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. Your disciple will surely take it to heart!"

Su Yu stood and bowed sincerely. On his journey so far, he had smoothly reached his current realm and status largely because his master had been protecting him from the shadows.

’Now I’m someone who can stand on my own. If I no longer have my master’s protection, then in the future, I’ll be the one to protect them.’