Chapter 78: Meeting Jiang Ye Is a Blessing!

“Even a seventy-year-old old man won’t have me?!”

Sun Yu’s smile froze on his face; his pale skin instantly flushed dark purple.

He widened his eyes, staring fixedly at Su Yan, his gaze so intense that thin threads of blood appeared in his eyes.

His gaze seemed ready to devour this woman who had publicly humiliated him alive.

He finally snapped.

Since childhood, relying on the Sun family’s power, he had walked through Fucheng with impunity—who dared say him even half a “no”?

Which of those women hadn’t thrown themselves at him?

But today, this Su Yan, this country bumpkin from Anxi County, actually said—

She’d rather marry a seventy-year-old old man than him?!

“Good! Good! Good!! You little vixen, you’ve got guts!!”

Sun Yu’s gaze locked onto Su Yan like a venomous snake, his eyes brimming with unmasked malice.

He gritted his teeth, each word forced through clenched jaws:

“I’ll see how you get through this!”

He paused, then a twisted, cruel grin spread across his face:

“When the time comes, don’t come crawling to me on your knees!”

With that, he angrily flung his sleeve, the fabric snapping sharply through the air; he shot Su Yan a venomous glare, then turned and strode away.

“Little Yan, that’s exactly how you should treat scum like him—I support you!”

Beside him, Su Chen nodded in satisfaction, his weathered face filled with relief.

But moments later, he cleared his throat softly and warned in a lowered voice, tinged with resignation:

“Still, young ladies should be a little more reserved in speech...”

“Saying things like ‘better marry a seventy-year-old’... it just doesn’t sound right if it gets out.”

At these words, a faint blush quietly rose on Su Yan’s angry face.

The flush spread from her cheeks to her ears, making her even more radiant.

She pressed her lips together and whispered softly: “Father, I was just so angry... I didn’t mean it...”

Yet despite her words, she knew that in the heat of the moment, a wild, reckless thought had briefly flashed through her mind.

Compared to a scoundrel like Sun Yu, she’d truly rather marry that...

That old man who had appeared like a divine warrior beneath the moonlight.

Every time she thought of that old man, her usually calm heart would unravel, like a stone cast into a still lake—ripples lingering long after.

“I wonder if I’ll ever get to see him again...”

The moment the thought surfaced, she shook her head fiercely, as if trying to fling this absurd notion from her mind.

Ah...

What am I thinking?!

“Little Yan, it seems the Black Wind Ridge bandit raid truly ties back to the Sun family.”

Su Chen’s grave voice pulled Su Yan back to reality.

The father and daughter exchanged glances; their expressions grew even more troubled.

That outburst had been satisfying.

But the matter wasn’t resolved—it might have worsened.

The strong prey on the weak; such is the world.

The Sun family’s strength was far beyond what the Su family could challenge.

They openly had eight Qi-Condensation patrons, not to mention a clan elder who himself was at the peak of Qi-Condensation.

Though old and with declining vitality, that elder was no match for any ordinary Qi-Condensation cultivator.

And the Su family now had only one Qi-Condensation warrior they could rely on: Liu Qingshi.

“Our only option now is to seek out Brother Liu...”

Su Chen sighed, his face dark with despair.

About a stick of incense later.

Inside Liu’s study.

"What? The cargo was stolen by bandits... Zhao Gang and Shi Lei have both been taken captive!"

Before Liu Qingshi could speak, Huang Xiyu couldn’t hold back.

Her plump body trembled slightly; her eyes locked onto Su Chen, her still-elegant face flushed with uncontainable fury.

The more she looked at Su Chen, the angrier she grew.

How was this man like a curse?

Every time he came, he brought nothing but bad news.

Last time, her husband and Zhao Gang were severely injured; this time, both people and cargo were taken.

She even had the urge to throw this Su man out of her house.

“Lady Huang, I’m... sorry...”

Su Chen lowered his head, ashamed.

“Master Liu, Lady Huang, this is all my fault...”

Su Yan also bowed her head slightly, unable to meet her mistress’s gaze.

Her eyes, once always filled with warmth, now held only guilt and self-reproach; her lips pressed tight, her fingernails digging into her palms.

“Enough, Xiyu.”

Liu Qingshi sighed softly, giving his wife a glance to silence her.

He knew this wasn’t Su Chen’s or his daughter’s fault—they were victims too.

Seeing Su Yan’s face, heavy with guilt, he felt uneasy; how long had this girl been managing her family’s business?

And now she’s hit with something this big.

Huang Xiyu glanced at the girl, her anger easing slightly, yet still couldn’t help saying:

“You can’t possibly expect you to storm Black Pine Mountain and fight those bandits to get the cargo and people back...”

Su Chen immediately looked up, waving his hands frantically, face twisted in a bitter smile: “Lady Huang, we never meant that.”

Even if he were foolish, he’d never ask Liu Qingshi to risk his life.

The Black Wind Ridge had five leaders, all Qi-Condensation experts, plus over a hundred thugs—even if Liu Qingshi was strong, walking in alone would be suicide.

“Then what do you mean?!”

Huang Xiyu pressed, unwilling to let it go.

“I...” Su Chen fell silent.

Liu Qingshi remained quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke gravely:

“I know those Black Wind Ridge bandits—they’re after money, not lives.”

“Zhao Gang, Shi Lei, and the Su family’s guards are probably unharmed.”

“As for the thirty taels of silver ransom...”

He glanced at Su Chen’s gloomy face and left it unsaid.

Su Chen gave a bitter laugh and said nothing.

He simply couldn’t afford it.

“Here’s what we’ll do.”

Liu Qingshi rose slowly, his steady face hardening with resolve: “I’ll go to Tianqing Sect and speak with Xie Tang.”

He said firmly: “If Xie Tang intervenes, those bandits might show some respect.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help letting out a long sigh.

Favor is a finite thing—used once, it’s gone.

But now, he had no choice.

Hearing this, Su Chen and Su Yan both snapped their heads up, their faces alight with hope.

They knew Liu Qingshi had a close friend who was an Elder in Tianqing Sect.

If that man intervened, the Black Wind Ridge bandits would have to listen.

“Qingshi...”

Watching Liu Qingshi’s figure, Huang Xiyu’s eyes softened with worry.

No one knew her husband better—he never begged for help unless absolutely desperate.

“The matter is urgent—I’m leaving now.”

Liu Qingshi wasted no time; he gave a brief farewell to the others and stepped out the door.

Though he believed Zhao Gang and Shi Lei were safe, they’d surely suffer some beatings in the bandits’ lair.

He didn’t want his two disciples to endure more pain than necessary.

About half an hour later, Liu Qingshi arrived at the Tianqing Sect’s mountain gate.

The majestic gate shimmered in the sunlight, but he had no eyes for it.

To spare his daughter worry, he deliberately avoided seeking out Liu Yiyi, instead asking the gatekeeper to deliver a message.

“You’re looking for Elder Xie Tang of Xianshui Peak? I’ll notify him right away.”

The disciple nodded slightly and hurried off.

Liu Qingshi stood before the mountain gate, gazing at the Cengcengdiedie steps, his mind tangled with thoughts.

A cup of tea’s time, yet stretched as long as a year.

Finally, the disciple returned.

“Elder Xie Tang has gone to visit a friend in Huangxin County; he may not return for several days,” the disciple said apologetically. “If you’re willing to wait for him, I can arrange lodging for you.”

Liu Qingshi’s heart sank sharply.

Huangxin County lies far from Yunling County; a round trip would take at least seven or eight days.

The bandits of Heifeng Zhai don’t have that kind of patience to wait seven or eight days.

Meanwhile.

At the foot of Heisong Mountain.

A tall, slender figure appeared at the trail’s entrance, as if materializing from nowhere.

He wore a simple gray robe, his hair streaked white, yet his back stood straight as a spear.

He lifted his head slightly, gazing at the peak piercing the clouds; in his aged eyes flickered a strange light.

“This mountain is indeed very high.”

Jiang Ye murmured softly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the steep peak before him.

Heisong Mountain lived up to its name.

The terrain was precipitous, jagged rocks scattered everywhere, and the entire mountain was blanketed in dense, dark pines.

The pines’ branches intertwined, blocking out sky and sun—even at noon, few rays of light pierced the forest.

Such terrain was indeed easy to defend and hard to attack.

Not even a hundred bandits hiding here would be needed; even a few dozen could hold out for a long time by relying on the land.

Jiang Ye withdrew his gaze, a faint curve lifting his lips.

“A guard every ten steps, a sentry every five… and run if things turn bad?”

He murmured to himself, his voice laced with amusement.

These bandits had stumbled upon him—they were lucky indeed.