"Senior, please show mercy!"
Before the man even appeared, a deep, resonant voice surged into the shattered Martial Arts Hall No. 2 like a tidal wave.
Su Wu's descending palm paused mid-air.
He slowly turned his head, his violet-gold eyes coldly fixed on the doorway.
There, light and shadow twisted.
An elderly man in traditional Tang attire, his hair and beard completely white, emerged slowly from the swirling dust. Though his steps seemed unsteady, each footfall silently crushed the rubble beneath him into fine powder.
Early-stage Grandmaster!
This was Pan Hong, the City Lord of Azurewave Base City and its supreme authority.
Normally, Pan Hong stood above the masses, a guardian deity of this steel jungle. But now, fine beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead, and his once-straight back had bowed slightly under Su Wu's palpable Martial King pressure, adopting a humble posture.
"This humble one is Pan Hong, City Lord of Azurewave Base City."
Pan Hong took a few steps closer but stopped ten meters away from Su Wu—the instinctive "red line of death" he sensed.
He glanced at the two headless corpses on the ground, his eyes twitching violently. Taking a deep breath, he bowed deeply to Su Wu, his voice tinged with respect.
"Senior, I am somewhat aware of today's events. It was truly... a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" Su Wu's lips curled into a mocking smile, the word rolling off his tongue with biting sarcasm.
Pan Hong forced himself to continue, "The Wang Family has indeed grown arrogant and overbearing, relying on their military merits and influence. As City Lord, I have been preoccupied with city defense and have failed to properly supervise my subordinates' families, for which I take responsibility. However, the ringleaders, Wang Heng and Wang Meng, have already been executed, receiving their due punishment. The remaining women, children, and students do not deserve death. I implore you, Senior, to consider my humble position and... temper your wrath."
Pan Hong's words were impeccably crafted, both flattering Su Wu and attempting to downplay the severity of the situation by invoking the "greater good."
However...
"Hahahaha!"
Su Wu suddenly threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"A misunderstanding, you say? Negligence in supervision? Crimes not deserving death? What a joke!"
The laughter abruptly ceased.
Su Wu abruptly lowered his head, his fingers forming a sword-like gesture as he pointed directly at Su Yu, who was watching from a short distance away.
"Pan Hong, open your damn eyes and look!"
"If I didn't possess the strength of the Martial King Realm!"
"Where were you when Wang Heng tried to kill my son?!"
"And where was your 'misunderstanding' when Wang Meng held a blade to my throat, ready to execute me on the spot?!"
Su Wu's voice grew louder and colder with each word, each syllable striking Pan Hong's heart like a heavy hammer.
"If my son and I had died today, would you have stood up and called it a 'misunderstanding'? More likely, you'd have simply signed the case closure report, labeling us 'rebellious rabble' who deserved their fate!"
Pan Hong's face turned deathly pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
Su Wu's accusations rang true. This was the unspoken law of this high-martial world: the strong prey on the weak, and power reigns supreme.
"Since you've established such rules, don't blame me for breaking them!"
The violet-gold light in Su Wu's eyes flared violently.
"Now that I've merely killed a few would-be murderers, you jumping clowns suddenly crawl out to lecture me about reason and mercy? Too late!"
Boom!
The moment his words fell, Su Wu didn't relent. Instead, he unleashed an even greater surge of oppressive force!
This time, the pressure wasn't directed at the entire crowd, but focused precisely on the three survivors: Wang Tai's mother, Wang Tai himself, and the Dean of Discipline, who had already been terrified into a stupor.
"Aaaah—!!"
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the sky.
The middle-aged woman, already collapsed on the ground, suddenly felt as if an ancient divine mountain had been dropped onto her back.
Crack! Crack!
The sound of her bones shattering under the crushing weight echoed through the air. Her once meticulously maintained face instantly turned a liverish purple, and blood gushed from her mouth and nose as if it were free. Her body flattened against the ground like a puddle of mud, her eyes rolled back, and she gasped for breath, clearly on the verge of death.
Wang Tai, the once-arrogant school bully, fared even worse.
Under the immense pressure, his internal organs, already damaged by Su Yu's earlier beating, completely ruptured. He convulsed violently in a pool of blood, his features twisted into a grotesque mask of agony. A gurgling, death rattle escaped his throat as he stared at Su Wu, his eyes now devoid of hatred, filled only with a desperate plea for a swift end.
"Senior, spare me! Senior, spare me! I have elderly parents and young children... Please, just let me go like a fart!"
Watching this scene unfold, City Lord Pan Hong's expression darkened ominously.
As a Grandmaster, how could he tolerate such blatant disregard?
But seeing Su Wu's unrestrained Violet-Gold True Qi, he dared not move. He knew all too well that the gap between a Martial King and a Grandmaster was an insurmountable chasm. If Su Wu truly intended to kill him, it would likely take no more than ten moves.
Pan Hong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the humiliation-fueled rage in his heart. His tone became urgent and grave. "Senior! Wait!"
"I have no intention of stopping you from seeking revenge. It's just that the Wang Family... they're not as simple as they seem!"
Pan Hong stepped forward, lowering his voice to a warning whisper. "Though the Wang Family is merely a local clan in Azurewave City, their main branch resides in Jiangnan Great Base City! Rumor has it that their patriarch holds a high-ranking position in the military, and they even have ties to some War God-level powerhouses. Now that Wang Heng and Wang Meng are dead, the Wang Family will undoubtedly be furious. If you slaughter this orphaned mother and child today, it will escalate into a blood feud! In that case, you might attract even more terrifying enemies, perhaps even... a Federation bounty!"
Pan Hong paused, glancing at Su Wu's expression before continuing.
"Senior, with your unparalleled martial prowess, you naturally fear nothing. But what about your son? He's still young. If he's forced to live a life of hiding and running, unable to even attend a proper martial arts university, is that what you truly want for him?"
These words finally caused a flicker in Su Wu's eyes.
He didn't fear death or battle.
But he feared his son having no future.
Wasn't his desperate pursuit of strength all for Su Yu to live like a normal person, standing tall and proud in the sunlight?
Su Wu let out a cold laugh, his gaze piercing Pan Hong like a blade: "Trying to pressure me with the Federation? With the Wang Family? Pan Hong, do you think I'd be afraid?"
"But Su Wu isn't unreasonable."
Su Wu's tone shifted, and the oppressive aura that had been crushing the trio's last breaths paused slightly.
"If you want me to spare these dogs' lives, there's a way."
Su Wu pointed at the Wang Family mother and son, lying on the ground like dead dogs, then at Pan Hong.
"Since you're so eager to protect them, then pay their life debts."
"Your urgency to save them stems from fear of the Wang Family's main branch blaming you, jeopardizing your political achievements and career. If it's your position you're worried about, shouldn't you bleed a little for them?"
Pan Hong froze, then his heart surged with elation.
As long as we can negotiate, this isn't a dead end!
Su Wu might be powerful, but he clearly still possessed reason. For a strong cultivator, killing a few ants might not be satisfying, but securing tangible resources would maximize his gains.
"Senior, rest assured!" Pan Hong hurriedly said, fearing Su Wu might change his mind. "I'll personally guarantee it! If you spare their lives, I'll offer compensation that will satisfy you, representing both the City Lord's Manor and the Wang Family!"
"One hundred million Federal Credits! Plus a detached manor in District A's prime location! And..." Pan Hong gritted his teeth, his voice pained, "three vials of B-grade Qi Blood and a high-level Martial Technique!"
Hearing these terms, the few onlookers who hadn't fainted gasped.
One hundred million Federal Credits was enough for a wealthy family to squander for generations in Azurewave Base City.
B-grade Qi Blood was practically priceless in Azurewave City—available only on the black market, if at all!
High-level Martial Techniques were secret manuals reserved for core disciples of major clans.
This wasn't mere compensation; it was practically emptying the family coffers!
Su Wu remained silent for a moment.
He didn't care about money; with the system at his disposal, he had no shortage of cultivation techniques or realm advancements.
But Su Yu needed it. Only by Su Yu growing stronger could Su Wu himself become more powerful.
"Is that all?" Su Wu asked coldly.
Cold sweat streamed down Pan Hong's forehead. "Th-this is the maximum liquid assets the Wang Family can mobilize in Azurewave City. Plus... plus we'll waive all repair costs for Martial Arts Hall No. 2! And I'll personally approve Su Yu's direct admission to the martial arts department!"
Hearing this last sentence, the murderous intent in Su Wu's eyes finally began to dissipate.
"Fine. We don't need the direct admission spot. My son can get into the best martial arts university on his own merits!"
Su Wu waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away a fly.
"I'll spare your lives this time."
"But..." Su Wu's gaze shifted to the Dean of Discipline, who had already wet himself in terror. With a flick of his finger,
Whoosh!
A Violet-Gold True Qi finger strike instantly pierced the dean's dantian.
"Agh!!" The dean let out a desperate, agonizing scream.
"Death is too good for you, but you won't escape punishment. A petty, opportunistic man like you is unfit to be a teacher. Your cultivation is hereby abolished. Get out of the education system and never return."
Having delivered his verdict, Su Wu didn't even glance at Pan Hong as the terrifying pressure of a Martial King receded like a receding tide.
He strode quickly to Su Yu, his eyes filled with heartache as he took in his son's injuries and bloodstains.
"Yu'er, are you alright?" Su Wu reached out, channeling a gentle stream of Violet-Gold True Qi into Su Yu's body, instantly stabilizing his turbulent qi and blood.
Feeling the warm, soothing energy flowing through him, Su Yu looked at his familiar yet imposing father, his eyes welling up. He shook his head, a newfound resolve blazing in his gaze.
"Dad, I'm fine! Just a few scratches!"
"Good! That's the spirit! You're truly my son, Su Wu's son!"
Su Wu roared with laughter, clapping his son heavily on the shoulder. His gaze then shifted to Xu Lele, the girl standing stubbornly beside them, disheveled but unyielding.
"Young lady, thank you for protecting my Yu'er today. I'll have this boy treat you to a meal another time."
Xu Lele's face flushed crimson to the roots of her neck under the Martial King's gaze. She stammered, "N-no... no need to thank me, Uncle...!"
Su Wu chuckled and wrapped an arm around his son's shoulder.
"Come on, son, let's go home! We'll have a proper drink together tonight, just the two of us!"
The sunlight was perfect.
Su Wu strode out of the school campus with Su Yu in tow.
As they walked home, the old streets were as bustling as ever, but their moods were completely different.
Su Yu kept stealing glances at his father beside him.
The face was still the same, even now that it had reverted to its usual lazy expression. But in Su Yu's eyes, his father's figure had become as majestic as a mountain.
Finally, when they reached the entrance of a deserted alley, Su Yu couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
"Dad... how did you suddenly... suddenly become a Martial King?"
"I remember when you were younger, you were only a Master... And for the past twenty years, your injuries..."
Su Yu's mind was flooded with questions. Not only had his father healed completely, but he had also leaped several realms to directly attain the Martial King Realm? This was more absurd than any novel!
Su Wu stopped walking, pulled a flattened cigarette from his pocket, and lit it with a wisp of golden flame that flickered from his fingertip.
He took a deep drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and turned to look at his son, his eyes as deep and still as a pool of water.
The truth about the system was too shocking and complicated to explain. It would be better to...
"Yu'er, the truth is, your old man never gave up these past twenty years."
Su Wu began to spin a serious-faced lie, yet one tinged with genuine emotion.
"The injuries I sustained back then were severe, but they also allowed me to break through and rebuild myself. For the past twenty years, I've wiped blood from the city walls and carried bricks on construction sites. It may have seemed like I was merely surviving, but in truth, I was tempering my heart in the mortal world. I've been waiting for an opportunity, a chance to unleash the power I've accumulated."
"Perhaps your performance today..."
Su Wu reached out and straightened his son's disheveled collar, his voice softening.
"Has brought my heart to fulfillment. The twenty-year shackles have shattered."
Su Yu's blood surged with emotion, his eyes welling up again.
"Dad..." Su Yu choked out.
"Come now, big men don't cry," Su Wu chuckled, ruffling his son's hair. "Some things are best left unsaid. All you need to know is that from this day forward, no one in Azurewave Base City—or even the entire Federation—will ever dare to bully us again!"
"And..."
Su Wu tilted his head back, gazing at the distant stars, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes.
"Now that I've recovered, and even grown stronger, it's time to settle some old scores."
"Yu'er, focus on your training. Once you get into Capital City Martial Arts University, once you reach the Martial King Realm... we'll venture into the depths of space."
Su Yu froze, his heart pounding wildly. "Into space? What for?"
Su Wu stubbed out his cigarette, his voice as light as the wind yet as heavy as a mountain.
"To bring your mother home."
In that moment, the setting sun cast long, stretching shadows of the father and son.
Su Yu clenched his fists tightly.
"Alright!"
The young man's answer rang out with unwavering resolve.