Chapter 31: Chapter 31 has three objectives
The Chen Family Residence.
A four-bedroom, two-living room house, not in the same neighborhood as Su Yu's, but in the adjacent one, not far at all. This was why Chen Hao often appeared downstairs at Su Yu's place—it was quite close.
A few years ago, both families lived in the same neighborhood, but after Chen Qinghe got promoted, he bought a slightly larger house in the neighboring community.
As soon as Su Yu entered, Chen Qinghe, who was watching TV, immediately stood up, laughing heartily, "Ah Yu is here. Have a seat, we'll eat in a while. It's been a while since we last saw you!"
"Uncle Chen, is Auntie in the kitchen?"
From the kitchen, Chen Hao's mother responded with a laugh, "Ah Yu, watch some TV for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon. Today, I made your favorite braised pork."
Su Yu smiled and thanked her. As for braised pork… his dad made it so often that he used to get sick of it. Now that his dad wasn't home, he actually missed it a bit.
When Su Yu sat down, Chen Qinghe saw his son about to sit down as well, and immediately lost his smile, scolding, "Go make some tea! No sense of propriety!"
Chen Hao grumbled a few words, but unwillingly ran off to make tea.
Once Chen Hao left, Chen Qinghe's face quickly softened as he looked at Su Yu and said, "Ah Yu, thank you for what you did for Haozi. This kid is a bit slow, and taking credit for someone else's work isn't a small matter. If it were anyone else… we wouldn't accept the credit."
"But you and Haozi have grown up together, so since it was your idea, I'm not worried."
"You've always been clever, smarter than both your dad and me, always full of ideas."
Su Yu said softly, "Uncle Chen, it won't be a problem. I'm just worried that adding the points and sending Haozi to the War Academy… might not be the right thing."
Chen Qinghe sighed and then quickly shook his head, "I've thought about this too, but we can't stop him. You know how stubborn that kid is. Even if he can't get into the Great Xia War Academy, he'll try for some other, less prestigious one."
"Instead of letting him go to a worse academy, it's better to send him to a good one where at least he'll have more opportunities and better security."
Chen Qinghe looked at Su Yu earnestly and said, "I've been meaning to have this meal with you for a while. One reason is to thank you, and the other… is to ask a favor! You'll definitely go to the Great Xia Prefecture. Even if you and Haozi aren't at the same academy, I believe you'll go further and do better there…"
"On the battlefield, you'll be a commander, while Haozi will just be cannon fodder. I hope you can look after him a bit."
Su Yu quickly said, "Uncle Chen, don't worry, I'll definitely take care of Haozi. We've known each other for so many years."
Chen Qinghe waved his hand slightly and sighed again, "Once or twice is fine, but over time, even the best of friends can't keep doing that. Ultimately, it depends on Haozi himself. If he's not capable, then after graduation, let him come back to Nanyuan. Nanyuan isn't bad."
"If he has some ability and can make something of himself in the Great Xia Prefecture, at least he won't be a burden to you…"
"Uncle Chen, that's too much…" Su Yu was about to speak when Chen Qinghe interrupted, "He's just fit to be a follower. It depends on whom he follows. This rascal is a bit unruly; if he follows someone else, he might end up as cannon fodder and not even know how he died."
"The world outside isn't like home. The myriad races eat people, and people eat people too."
Chen Qinghe's tone was somber, "Ah Yu, I'm entrusting him to you. You're the same age, and I trust your judgment. But Haozi just doesn't cut it. I've tried to teach him over the years, but it hasn't worked."
Su Yu had nothing to say, so he just nodded.
At this moment, Chen Hao came over with a teacup, laughing, "Dad, what are you guys talking about?"
Chen Qinghe glanced at him, scolding, "Talking about how stupid you are and when you'll finally grow up!"
Chen Hao looked aggrieved and kept quiet.
"If you were a girl, it would have been better. I could have directly told Su Long to marry you off to Ah Yu. But you're a big, burly boy, what a waste of your height!"
Chen Hao grimaced, and Su Yu felt a chill.
Imagining Chen Hao as a girl… no, let's not think about it. It's too horrifying.
After chatting for a while, Chen's mother had finished cooking, and the dishes were brought to the table. The group moved to the dining room.
...
It wasn't Su Yu's first time eating at the Chen family's place, so he wasn't too reserved.
He hadn't had a decent meal in days, so he ate quite a bit this time.
After dinner and some more idle chatter, Su Yu prepared to leave.
As he was about to go out the door, Chen Qinghe, holding a box in his hand, grabbed Su Yu's hand and slipped it into his hand, speaking softly, "Take it. This isn't a thank-you gift for that earlier matter. Haozi will thank you himself later…"
"This is a thank-you gift for you looking after him. I may say I don't care, but in my heart, I'm really scared… scared that one day he'll be gone."
"Ah Yu, I'm counting on you!"
Su Yu didn't know what to feel. Chen Qinghe was, after all, a deputy director of the inspection department, at Qianjun nine-fold, and about to be promoted.
But now, for his son's sake, he was being much more polite to him than before, even a bit humble.
Su Yu was only at Kaiyuan and was going to a cultural academy. Su Yu didn't understand why Chen Qinghe had so much faith in him.
Chen Qinghe had already given him the box, so Su Yu decided to accept it.
Su Yu quickly left the Chen household.
As soon as he left, Chen Hao couldn't help but say, "Dad, why were you so polite to Ah Yu today? It felt weird."
"You don't understand anything!"
Chen Qinghe didn't bother to pay attention to him, while Chen Hao grumbled, "What do you mean I don't understand! I've known Ah Yu for so many years, there's no need for you to say anything, we're tight."
"Taking care of you once or twice is friendship, three or four times is a favor, more than that, it becomes an obligation!"
Chen Qinghe said coldly, "With your temperament, you're bound to cause trouble sooner or later! If it happens too often, why should Su Yu look after you? He's not your father. When the friendship is exhausted, will you still cling to him?"
"Dad, you really don't trust me."
"Correct."
Chen Qinghe answered bluntly and continued, "If you really go to the Great Xia Prefecture, don't cause trouble, just focus on your cultivation! Don't bother Su Yu unless you have no other choice. If there's something you can't solve, then ask for his help."
"Ah Yu, like me, is just a student there, not some high-ranking official…"
"You!"
Chen Qinghe sighed, "Can it be the same? Not to mention he's naturally smarter than you, do you know who Liu Wenyian is? He's a Civilization Master at the Soaring Realm with extensive connections at the Great Xia Civilization Academy, and he has high expectations for Su Yu. When Su Yu gets there, it will be different for him."
"Also, that Bai Feng who came last time, I found out he's an assistant researcher and is about to break through to the Soaring Seventh Level!"
"When he left last time, he told Su Yu to find him at the academy… At that time, Captain Zhang of the City Guard and others were present. What does that mean? It means they favor Su Yu. And you… why didn't you seize the opportunity!"
"Su Yu is going to the Great Xia Civilization Academy, with Liu Wenyian's connections and Bai Feng's care, and he's smart himself. In a few years, you'll still be a big soldier, but he might become a prominent figure in the Great Xia Prefecture!"
"Furthermore, Su Long, that guy, is indeed at the Ninth Level of Qianjun, but he came from the Demon Suppression Army, which is different from you and me."
Chen Qinghe sighed, "The Demon Suppression Army was the grand army commanded by the Lord of Xia back then! Now, many Centurions in the Dragon Martial Guards are from the Demon Suppression Army!"
"Su Long wasn't a big figure in the Demon Suppression Army, but coming from such a force means he's an old comrade!"
"Many of the high-ranking officers in the Dragon Martial Guards and the Prefecture Army are from the Demon Suppression Army. As long as Su Yu isn't foolish, leveraging this connection gives him two powerful backers!"
Chen Hao shook his head, "Is that really possible? Dad, can Uncle Su know those big shots?"
"It's not about knowing them!"
Chen Qinghe said impatiently, "You don't understand the military. If Su Yu really needs help and mentions his father from the Demon Suppression Army, especially as a veteran, the military naturally feels a connection and protects their own. At least they won't let anyone bully Su Yu."
"It might not bring him great benefits, but in the Great Xia Prefecture, no ordinary person would dare bully Su Yu. If serious trouble arises, there have been times when the Lord of Xia intervened personally."
Chen Qinghe didn't say more. This wasn't unprecedented.
Xia Longwu is known for his iron-blooded demeanor and values comradeship highly.
Especially the old soldiers who fought with him two decades ago, many of whom are now high-ranking officers in the Dragon Martial Guards and the Prefecture Army.
Su Long was somewhat unfortunate. If he hadn't retired and stayed alive back then, his status would likely be much higher now.
Being at the Qianjun level is still too weak. If Su Long had reached the Wanshi level, he might have joined the Dragon Martial Guards back then.
Compared to Su Yu, his own son would truly be isolated and helpless in the Great Xia Prefecture.
He's not Su Long. In Nanyuan, he's a notable figure, but in the Great Xia Prefecture… who knows Chen Qinghe?
Chen Hao, a bit overwhelmed, stopped thinking and muttered about how cool Uncle Su was before heading to his room.
Chen Qinghe chuckled and sighed. He could almost guess what his son was thinking now.
Why wasn't my dad part of the Demon Suppression Army?
That was probably what the kid was thinking now!
...
The Su Family Residence.
Back at home, Su Yu opened the box Chen Qinghe had given him.
Upon opening it, Su Yu's expression changed.
The box was not small and contained more than one item.
Inside the box were several small bottles and a bone fragment.
A complete bone fragment!
"This… this is… a genuine Myriad Clans Technique?"
Su Yu was somewhat surprised. As for the bottles, he saw there were three. He opened one and took a look—Vitality Liquid!
One drop per bottle!
Three drops of Vitality Liquid!
"What a generous gift!"
Su Yu was astonished!
Three drops of Vitality Liquid, with a market price of 300,000 yuan.
The crucial part wasn't this but the genuine Myriad Clans Technique.
Even if it was just a Qianjun-level technique, its value was astonishing.
Last time, Bai Feng gave Su Yu a fragment, which was only a third of the original. Even that was considered a treasure, and Liu Yue was envious.
This thing couldn't be bought with money but required merit points.
Su Yu was no longer a complete novice.
The Nanyuan Intermediate Academy didn't exchange for original techniques, but in the Great Xia Prefecture, they could be exchanged.
A complete Qianjun-level technique, regardless of whether it's a technique or a martial skill, or which clan it's from, starts at 30 merit points!
If it were the original techniques of the powerful clans like the gods and demons, it would be worth even more, much more!
At least 30 merit points or more!
"This..."
At that moment, Su Yu felt that Chen Qinghe would not be stingy this time, but he didn't expect it to be a matter of generosity. He suspected that all the merit points Chen Qinghe had accumulated over the years were used to exchange for this original manual!
"This is..."
Su Yu really didn't know what to say.
300,000. Chen Qinghe, leading the supervision office, definitely earned more than his father. But to say he could easily come up with 300,000 was difficult.
Merit points. Based on their annual benefits, Chen Qinghe could earn about 5-10 points a year.
Su Yu didn't know how many points Chen Qinghe had spent, but just this one box probably contained all of Chen Qinghe's assets from the past six or seven years!
Including salary, benefits, and merit points, all poured into this!
"Uncle Chen thinks too highly of me!"
Su Yu smiled bitterly. He understood that this was an investment. Of course, it wasn't Chen Qinghe investing in him, but investing in Chen Hao.
Hoping that if Su Yu did well in the Great Xia Mansion, he could take care of Chen Hao.
The key point was that Chen Qinghe really invested heavily.
Chen Qinghe didn't know that Bai Feng had already accepted him as a student in advance, nor did he know that he had already reached the seventh level of the Opening Origin stage. Just based on some previous events, he gave such a valuable gift. Wasn't he afraid it would all be in vain?
"Sigh!"
Su Yu sighed slightly. It was all for the sake of the child. Haozi probably didn't know about this. If he did, he might come to grab the items.
Returning the items would not be accepted by Uncle Chen, Su Yu knew this well.
He thought for a moment and decided not to return them.
As for the original techniques, since Chen Qinghe had exchanged for this and couldn't use it himself, it was clearly meant for Su Yu, and he must have gathered a lot of information in advance.
As for the three drops of vital energy fluid, Su Yu thought about it and realized he might not need that much.
He still had half a drop on him, and there would be three more drops during the assessment, which he had already accounted for.
Vital energy fluid is quite helpful in the Opening Origin stage. It's still useful in the Thousand Jun and Ten Thousand Stone stages, but not as effective as it is now.
Since Su Yu was currently at the seventh level of the Opening Origin stage, he probably wouldn't need that much.
"When Haozi comes to train, he can use it."
"Ever since my father left home, my savings have increased instead."
Su Yu couldn't help but laugh. When his father left, he left behind over 300,000. Su Yu initially thought he would soon be bankrupt after buying essence blood.
But now, his assets were increasing instead.
"30,000 Anping coins and gold coins, three and a half drops of vital energy fluid, one complete original manual for Thousand Jun, one incomplete manual, one copy of the 'Opening Origin Technique,' two drops of essence blood, and 13 merit points."
The merit points included the one point he earned today. The remaining two points were earned a few days ago by assisting the Wind Enforcement Hall in capturing members of the Ten Thousand Clans Religion.
With this calculation, Su Yu realized he was now quite wealthy.
"With money, it's time to reward my little brother 'Blood!'"
Su Yu laughed. The two drops of essence blood he obtained last time were not from Ironwing Birds. He didn't use them randomly but saved them for "Blood" to absorb.
Although the divine text absorbed only a little each time, it would grow over time.
"In the upcoming days, I'll kill a mid-stage Thousand Jun as my graduation assessment, and also break through to the eighth level of the Opening Origin stage!"
"In terms of willpower, I'll strive to reach 20% fullness soon!"
Su Yu set his goals. These were his targets before taking the advanced academy assessment.
There were less than 24 days until the assessment.
He believed he could achieve all three goals!
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