Chapter 3

Seeing Su Hao from a distance, Luo Ningxiang skipped over like a cheerful skylark, bringing a fragrant breeze with her, and greeted him with a sweet smile: "Big Brother, you're back?"

Su Hao took out a box from his chest and handed it to Luo Ningxiang with a smile: "Little Sister, you've grown up. You've become even more beautiful. This is a gift for you, the top-grade skincare cream, Tianxiang Ointment, from the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion in the capital."

Luo Ningxiang happily accepted the box of Tianxiang Ointment and thanked him: "Thank you, Big Brother!"

Cheng Li walked out of the room into the hall. Seeing Su Hao, a glint of joy flashed in her eyes as she walked forward: "Hao'er, you're back? Let me see! Let me take a good look. You've lost weight. Did you eat breakfast properly while you were away?"

Su Hao smiled and said: "Mother, don't worry! I'm a grown man now, I can take care of myself."

Su Zhengtian also strolled out from the inner room. Looking at Su Hao, a glint of joy flashed in his eyes as he said calmly: "You're back."

A year ago, after Su Hao reached the Bone Strengthening stage, he left home to travel and broaden his horizons, only returning now.

After reaching the Third Heaven of the Postnatal stage, the young disciples of the Su family could travel outside, make friends, gain knowledge, and seek their own opportunities.

When Su Yan, the head of the Su family, was at the Bone Strengthening stage, he obtained a middle-grade cultivation technique, the Three Yang Decisive Technique, during his travels. Through his perseverance and hard work, he gradually cultivated to the Seventh Heaven of the Postnatal stage, the True Qi Realm, and established a foundation in Xiyuan Town with his formidable strength.

Looking at his father, whom he hadn't seen for a year, Su Hao felt a lump in his throat: "Yes, Father, I'm back!"

Traveling away from home, Su Hao had grown a lot. He now understood how much his taciturn father cared for him.

Su Zhengtian didn't say much, just calmly: "It's good that you're back! Let's eat!"

The Su family quickly gathered around a long table for dinner.

Cheng Li, with a loving expression, pushed a bowl of soup towards Su Han: "Han'er, this soup is specially prepared for you. Drink it quickly!"

Su Han glanced at the soup and saw thin slices of ginseng and many precious herbs, the aroma of which filled the air. This bowl of soup was clearly very expensive.

Beside him, Luo Ningxiang said in a playful manner: "Brother, this bowl of soup was made with a two-decade-old high-quality mountain ginseng that Father bought for a hundred taels of silver. You must drink it all. It's very good for your health!"

Hearing this, Su Han looked at Su Zhengtian, his nose tingling, tears welling up in his eyes, and a warm feeling filling his heart. A hundred taels of silver was no small amount. The Su family's annual income was only five hundred taels of silver, and their expenses were also substantial, amounting to over three hundred taels of silver a year. This high-quality fifty-year-old mountain ginseng had cost the Su family half a year's savings. If it weren't for his father's deep concern, he would never have spent such a large sum.

Su Han looked closely at his father, seeing the white streaks in his temples and the added wrinkles on his forehead. Clearly, Su Zhengtian had been under great pressure, but he had always remained silent in front of him, shouldering all the pressure and difficulties with his broad shoulders.

"Um!"

Su Han held back his tears, feeling the deep family bond, and drank the ginseng soup. A warm current flowed through his body, and a deep warmth filled his heart.

Su Zhengtian glanced at Su Hao, his gaze serious: "Hao'er, your brother was recently injured and needs to be nourished. As his elder brother, you must take good care of him. United, we are strong. Do you understand?"

Su Hao responded loudly: "Father, I understand. I will protect my little brother. If anyone dares to bully him, I won't let them off."

A glint of satisfaction flashed in Su Zhengtian's eyes: "That's good!"

During the meal, Su Hao began to recount his experiences and what he had seen during his travels, and the family enjoyed a warm and harmonious dinner.

Not long after the Su family finished dinner, a middle-aged man in a green robe, of average build and ordinary appearance, strode in and sat down without hesitation: "Fourth Brother, did you know that Xiao Hao caused trouble today?"

Su Yan had six sons, and Su Zhengtian was the fourth. The middle-aged man with the ordinary appearance was named Su He, the third brother.

Su Zhengtian's brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at Su Hao: "Hao'er, what did you do today?"

Su Hao replied: "Father, a few ruffians tried to bully my little brother. I gave them a good beating."

Su Zhengtian turned his gaze to Su He, his expression questioning.

Su He smiled: "Heh! If it were just a beating, it would be fine, but your son went too far, breaking Su Hai's right hand. It will take at least a few months to recover. This has violated the clan rules, and punishment is necessary. Fourth Brother, the clan has decided to have you move out of the inner courtyard within four days. From today, your family's status as a direct line will be revoked. Xiao Hao will be sent to the Red Leaf Mountain hunting team to hunt demonic beasts for half a year."

Hearing this, Su Han's body trembled, his chopsticks fell from his hand, and his face changed dramatically as he exclaimed: "What? Hunt demonic beasts in Red Leaf Mountain for half a year? Third Uncle, this punishment is too severe!"

Demonic beasts were the most ferocious and powerful creatures, different from ordinary beasts. They were divided into nine levels and innate demonic beasts.

Demonic beasts were extremely terrifying. Even a first-level demonic beast could easily devour a wild wolf. Most demonic beasts were extremely cruel, possessing various bizarre racial abilities. A fourth-level Postnatal Qi Condensation expert could be instantly killed by a second-level demonic beast if they were not careful. Many fifth and sixth-level demonic beasts had scales as hard as steel, impervious to blades and bullets, and could only be killed by human experts working together with traps. Innate demonic beasts were even more powerful, capable of easily destroying a city in the Great Yan Dynasty on their own.

Red Leaf Mountain was on the outskirts of the Demonic Beast Range, where a large number of demonic beasts roamed. Among them were many powerful beings that could easily tear a seventh-level Postnatal Qi Condensation expert to shreds. Being sent to such a place was extremely dangerous, and a single misstep could mean death.

In fact, the Red Leaf Mountain hunting team was the place with the highest mortality rate in the Su family. Every year, many Su family disciples and the experts they recruited died in Red Leaf Mountain.

Su He sighed, looking at Su Hao with a helpless expression: "Rules must be followed. Xiao Hao went too far and violated the clan rules. I have no choice."

Su Hao laughed heartily: "That's nothing. It's just Red Leaf Mountain, right? I just returned from my travels and need a series of battles to break through. In half a year in Red Leaf Mountain, I will definitely break through to the fifth-level Postnatal Strong Qi Realm."

"Good! Good! Good, you have ambition." Su He smiled, turning his gaze to Su Zhengtian.

Su Zhengtian remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Third Brother, I understand. We will move out of the inner courtyard within four days."

Su He, having received Su Zhengtian's response, stood up, came to Su Han, and looked at him with a regretful expression. He took out a box from his chest and handed it to Su Han: "Xiao Han, consider this a natural disaster. Forget about it, so you can live a happier life. This is a health-preserving pill. Take good care of your body. Even if you can't cultivate martial arts, you can still become a great merchant or an official. There are other paths to success in this world besides martial arts."

Su Han took the health-preserving pill, feeling very grateful: "Thank you, Third Uncle!"

Pills were a very precious cultivation resource. Due to the scarcity of alchemists, even a low-level health-preserving pill cost several dozen taels of silver. Taking one could strengthen the body and nourish the blood and qi, making it extremely valuable. An ordinary family might work hard for ten years and still not be able to afford a health-preserving pill. The saying "poor scholars, rich warriors" was true.

Su He slapped his head and turned: "Right, Fourth Brother, I almost forgot to tell you. I heard a piece of news. The Zhao family wants to propose a marriage to you, apparently to take Ningxiang as a concubine for Zhao Jun!"

Su Zhengtian's eyes narrowed, and he asked solemnly: "How reliable is this information?"

Su He replied solemnly: "More than sixty percent reliable!"

Luo Ningxiang's face turned pale, and she couldn't help but exclaim: "Father, I don't want to marry that person!!"

Su Hao's face changed dramatically, and he couldn't help but curse: "Take a concubine? That little brat Zhao Jun is a toad trying to eat a swan. Even if he wanted to marry Ningxiang as his main wife, we wouldn't let her marry that playboy. He actually wants to take her as a concubine? That's too much!"

Su Han's face also changed, his fists clenched, and his eyes flashed with intense anger.

Zhao Jun was a direct-line descendant of the Zhao family in Xiyuan Town, known for his promiscuity. Despite his young age, he had already harmed dozens of girls. People with status were unwilling to marry their good daughters to him, let alone send them to be his concubines.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, nobles could have one main wife, two secondary wives, and as many concubines as they wanted. However, concubines had a low status, almost no rights, and were even lower than courtesans. Many nobles had the custom of transferring their concubines. Only those who coveted wealth would marry their daughters to others as concubines.

Zhao Jun had once transferred or sold over a dozen concubines he had grown tired of, even selling them into brothels. If Luo Ningxiang married such a scoundrel, her fate would be unimaginable.

Su Zhengtian's voice was calm but firm: "Ningxiang, don't worry. I won't let you marry that person as a concubine."

Luo Ningxiang's face regained a bit of color.

Su Zhengtian thanked him: "Third Brother, thank you."

Su He smiled: "We're family, no need for thanks. As family, we should help each other. I'm just doing what I should."

Su He patted Su Han's shoulder: "Work hard, don't make your father worry too much. I'll be going now."

Su Han nodded slightly: "Yes, Third Uncle."

A glint of satisfaction flashed in Su He's eyes as he turned and left.

After Su He left, Su Zhengtian's eyes flashed with seriousness as he looked at Su Hao, his voice becoming stern: "Hao'er, why did you break Su Hai's right hand? Clan members should not harm each other. How many times have I told you? Our Su family is not a powerful clan. We can stand in Xiyuan Town only because we are united. If we harm each other, our downfall is imminent."

Su Hao looked straight at Su Zhengtian, not backing down: "Father, my little brother's dantian is damaged, and his meridians are injured. He can't cultivate martial arts. If I hadn't used heavy hands, I couldn't have intimidated those little brats. Once I leave, they will bully my little brother again, making his life very hard. By injuring Su Hai and his gang, I can deter them from bullying my little brother. I don't regret it! If they dare to act again, I'll break their hands and legs, and if necessary, I'll go to the Red Leaf Mountain hunting team to hunt demonic beasts!"

Hearing this, Su Han's nose tingled, feeling both bitter and moved. Having such a father and brother was his greatest fortune.

Su Zhengtian stared at Su Hao for a while, a glint of approval in his eyes: "Hao'er, I'm very pleased that you care for your brother. This time, it's forgiven, but don't do it again. Next time, when you beat those ruffians, be lighter. After all, we are clan members."

Su Hao nodded: "Yes, Father!"

The family enjoyed a harmonious dinner and then dispersed.

The next day, the Su family quickly packed their belongings, leaving most of the servants in the inner courtyard, and moved to a small courtyard on the west side of Xiyuan Town. This small courtyard was purchased by Su Zhengtian himself and did not belong to the clan.