Chapter 46: Warship

“It’s no trouble, just cost me about ten days of hard work.” Su Yi was not exaggerating. With the profound inner strength he’d absorbed from Elder Feng Fei of the Primordial Demon Sect at his disposal, restoring the power he’d expended to raise Chi Pengjin to the pinnacle of the third-rate realm would at most take him a few days of cultivation.

In a few more days, once he’d fully assimilated Feng Fei’s inner strength and broken through the shackles restraining his body and spirit, he would push both to their peaks and could immediately perfect the fourth level of the Swallowing Whale Technique. The bit of strength he’d spent today was indeed negligible.

Su Yi spoke with ease, but to Chi Pengjin, this was a matter of great significance. Given his natural talents, Su Yi’s action had saved him at least several years of arduous cultivation.

No wonder he had lost his composure earlier.

“Pengjin, for now we are surrounded by enemies. The reason I forcefully raised your cultivation was to enhance your ability to protect yourself. However, martial cultivation ultimately depends on your own steady progress. Don’t aim too high and risk falling into obsession or going astray.”

Young men were often impatient, and Su Yi felt obliged to offer a word of caution.

“Thank you for the reminder, Brother Su. I’ll be careful,” Chi Pengjin replied.

With his power suddenly increased, Chi Pengjin was eager to test his new abilities. After a word to Su Yi, he went off to seek out Sun Wei and Mi Gui for some sparring.

Su Yi shook his head. With nothing urgent at hand, he let him go. He himself needed to seize every moment to improve his own strength.

The third and fourth levels of the Swallowing Whale Technique both belonged to the realm of first-class experts, yet there was still a marked difference between them. Take, for instance, the monk Jingru from the Temple of Heavenly Sound—if it weren’t for his numbers, just the red-robed elder from the Primordial Demon Sect could have overwhelmed him with ease.

That afternoon, as Su Yi was taking a brief rest, a soldier from the City Patrol unexpectedly boarded the ship with news:

Zhou Kuian and his party had finally returned.

Tall masts and snowy sails soared above three long, narrow warships, moored now in the military harbor at the far end of the docks. Climbing to the top deck to look out, Su Yi estimated that these three vessels could carry at least several hundred soldiers in total.

It seemed Zhou Kuian had truly taken his instructions to heart—money well spent.

Before their departure, Su Yi had told Zhou Kuian to sum up Lord Yuan’s requirements in four words: sturdy ships, numerous soldiers, thick armor, and strong martial force. Whether they would heed his advice or dismiss it as making a fuss was not his concern.

As the saying goes: safety first.

When Su Yi finally met Zhou Kuian, half an hour had passed.

“My lord.” Zhou Kuian entered and bowed even lower than usual.

Su Yi guessed that Zhou Kuian had already learned what had transpired during his absence. After all, many matters were handled through Zhou Kuian’s subordinates and network. With his cleverness, piecing together most of the truth shouldn’t have been difficult.

With no one else around, and seeing Zhou Kuian seemed to be holding something back, Su Yi patted him on the shoulder and asked, “Are you wondering if I’m a member of the Primordial Demon Sect?”

Zhou Kuian flinched at the touch, and after a moment’s hesitation, stammered, “I wouldn’t dare.”

“In truth, I am not.”

Zhou Kuian exhaled in relief.

“But the pill I gave you—that was real enough.”

The relief caught in Zhou Kuian’s throat.

“No need to worry. As long as you work honestly for me, the antidote will come in due time.”

“The most important thing now is to protect the key people on this ship. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tell me how things went this time.”

Clearing his throat, Zhou Kuian said, “After we set out yesterday, we hurried to Yuanyang and arrived before noon. After delivering Miss Lu’s letter, Lord Yuan and Lady Yuan received us. Lady Yuan asked about Miss Lu. Lord Yuan agreed to your terms and showed great interest in your identity. According to your instructions, I told him only that you came from Luodu and nothing more.”

“This time, accompanying me to Jiangting are three warships, five hundred soldiers, fully equipped. The commanding officer is a certain General Pang Xian, said to be highly trusted by Lord Yuan. As you ordered, I also gave silver to him and the three deputy commanders.”

Zhou Kuian’s heart bled at the memory—those were his savings, scraped together over half a lifetime. Su Yi showed no reaction, and Zhou Kuian dared not mention a word about money.

He had done well. Su Yi was rather pleased. In his view, any problem that could be solved with money was no real problem at all.

It was, after all, a power that only true wealth could bestow.

“Earlier, I took Pang Xian to the manor to meet Miss Lu. He left a squad of soldiers there to guard her. Miss Lu said everything was ready and we could depart tomorrow. She wanted me to ask if you had any final matters to settle in Jiangting.”

“There is nothing else; we’ll depart tomorrow as planned.”

“Where is General Pang now?”

“After meeting Miss Lu, he went to report to the local command. He should return soon.”

“Go and check. If he’s back, invite him here. Say I cannot leave as I am to protect the son of an old friend.”

Zhou Kuian obeyed and soon returned with Pang Xian.

Pang Xian was a broad-shouldered, burly man with a dark complexion. Su Yi and the others greeted him at the prow. Pang Xian laughed heartily. “You must be Young Master Su. A pleasure.”

His tone was warm, as if they were old friends.

Su Yi replied with a few polite words and led him into the cabin. “Please, General Pang.”

“These are?” Once seated, Pang Xian glanced at Chi Pengjin and the others.

“Allow me to introduce you. This is one of the young men I must protect—Pengjin, greet General Pang.”

“General Pang, greetings,” Chi Pengjin said with a bow.

“You may be wondering why I’ve gone to such lengths. To be frank, my old friend was none other than the late Grand Protector of Defense, Chi Lingshao. This young man before you is his only son.”

“What!” Pang Xian’s eyes widened in astonishment. Until now, he’d regarded this assignment with some skepticism, even suspecting Su Yi of using the navy’s ships for illicit business. Never had he imagined things were so unexpected.

No wonder the two big fellows looked every inch the soldiers they were.

“General Chi spent his life on the battlefield, always earning my admiration. Regrettably, I never met him in person. Meeting his son today makes up for some of my regrets.” Pang Xian’s words were tinged with emotion. Chi Lingshao, in his lifetime, had served as Grand Protector of Defense—a rank far above Pang Xian’s own.