Chapter 209 - 208: How Am I Not a Man?

Having reached Major Achievement in the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill, a brand-new, wondrous change occurred within his body.

A warm current flowed from his Dantian like a trickling stream, gently washing over his entire body. Wherever it passed, Su Yu felt a tingling, ant-bite sensation in his bones.

Although this change wasn’t as domineering and violent as the awakening of his White Ape Saint Body, it was still subtly transforming him.

After a quarter of an hour, the transformation ended. Su Yu’s eyes snapped open, and he casually stretched his limbs.

"CRACKLE! POP!"

A series of dense, crisp cracks, like popping beans, immediately echoed from within his body.

He keenly sensed that the density of his bones seemed to have increased, becoming heavier and more solid. His shoulder joints now possessed an indescribable suppleness as they moved.

’This Bibo Fish Dragon Skill is truly something else. From the Water-Resistant Air Membrane at the Skilled level, to the skeletal changes at Minor Achievement, and now another transformation at Major Achievement... The effects of this Cultivation Technique are not much weaker than that Profound Tier Black Stone Body Forging Skill!’

Su Yu glanced back at Qian Qinghong, who was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed. He saw her delicate brows furrowed slightly, her Qi and Blood churning like boiling water. She was clearly at the most critical juncture of her breakthrough, so he made no sound to disturb her and instead turned and leaped back into the water.

The instant he entered the water, his body immediately began to change.

His shoulders tucked in slightly, and his spine straightened and connected vertebra by vertebra like a great bow. Underwater, his body assumed a perfectly streamlined, fish-like form, reducing the river’s resistance to an absolute minimum.

"Swimming Fish Tail!"

Su Yu brought his legs together and forcefully slapped the water.

"WHOOSH—"

His body vanished in the water like an arrow loosed from a bow! He was so fast that even a Martial Artist with excellent vision would likely only catch a blurry black afterimage.

’My speed in the water has increased by more than thirty percent!’

Su Yu was overjoyed. ’If that Hong Lei, at the Perfection stage of the Muscle Forging Realm, were to chase me now, I could shake him completely in just a few moments!’

’The Skill Level required to go from Major Achievement to Perfection is three thousand points. If I cultivate with all my effort, I can gain over a hundred points a day. I might be able to max it out soon! The upper limit of this Cultivation Technique is extremely high. If I can achieve Breaking Limit, it will definitely give rise to some wondrous Water Ability!’

Filled with anticipation, Su Yu swam several laps in the water. After completely adapting to his body’s new changes, he finally swam back to the bank, carrying the dead river crocodiles.

Skinning, deboning, cutting, and setting up a fire to roast them—he performed the actions in one fluid sequence.

"BOOM—"

Just as the crocodile meat was sizzling and dripping fat over the fire, an extremely muffled boom suddenly erupted from a nearby clearing.

Su Yu whipped his head around to see Qian Qinghong, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly shoot up as if she were a spring compressed to its limit.

She was as fast as lightning. Even with Su Yu’s Five Senses Divine-enhanced dynamic vision, he could barely catch a faint afterimage!

In the next instant, a huge, oval crater ten feet deep suddenly blasted open on the river’s surface hundreds of feet away!

Qian Qinghong stood in the air, pulling back her fist. She tapped her toes lightly on the churning waves and floated back like a fairy, turning to give Su Yu a charming smile.

"SPLASH—"

Only after she had returned to the bank did the river water, which had been briefly displaced by her Fist Force, come crashing back in, filling the crater.

’So this is the explosive power of the Muscle Forging Realm...’

Su Yu sucked in a sharp breath, gaining a more direct understanding of how terrifying the Muscle Forging Realm was.

Qian Qinghong had only just broken through, yet he hadn’t been able to follow her speed at all. If she had intended to launch a sneak attack, he likely wouldn’t have been able to dodge a single move without activating his White Ape Transformation!

Seeing the astonishment in Su Yu’s eyes, the corners of Qian Qinghong’s mouth lifted in a pleased smile.

In the next second, her figure suddenly blurred, and without any warning, she appeared behind Su Yu!

’Not good!’

Su Yu felt the hairs on his back stand on end as an intense sense of crisis made goosebumps erupt all over his bare upper body.

Without a second thought, he unleashed the Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step, his body lunging forward and to the side like an afterimage of lightning.

However, the feeling of being locked on to, sharp as a spike in his back, followed him like a shadow!

"Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step!"

Su Yu directly activated his strongest movement art, pushing his Body Technique to its absolute limit. His feet continuously created explosive bursts in the air, forcefully launching his body dozens of feet into the sky in an attempt to create distance.

But that slender, delicate hand followed his every change in direction with extreme ease.

"BANG!"

On his final step, Su Yu landed back on the sandy beach, unable to evade any longer. The powerful impact of him dissipating his momentum smashed a crater into the ground.

And at the very moment he landed, a cool, delicate hand shot past his side with extreme precision. With a hint of mischief and teasing, it gently squeezed his rock-hard abs.

"Not a bad reaction, Brother Su. My apologies for that. I just couldn’t resist... I wanted to test out the foundation of the Muscle Forging Realm~"

Qian Qinghong’s teasing voice, tinged with smugness, came from behind him.

Su Yu’s expression immediately darkened.

The girl’s move just now had given him an immense sense of danger, startling him quite a bit.

Even though he knew she was likely just sparring, the intense feeling of crisis had still made his heart leap.

Seeing Su Yu’s dark expression, Qian Qinghong covered her mouth and giggled before composing herself. She then bowed solemnly. "Brother Su, words cannot express my gratitude. As I said before, I promise again that I am willing to compensate you with whatever you desire!"

The corner of Su Yu’s mouth lifted as he stared into her beautiful eyes. "Anything?"

Qian Qinghong’s heart skipped a beat under his deep, teasing gaze, but she still bit her soft lip and said firmly, "Yes! Anything!"

"Alright, then give me the subsequent part of the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill."

"..."

The river wind blew past, and a moment of silence followed.

"That’s it?"

Qian Qinghong was a little stunned, then she let out a mock-indignant huff. "Hey, hey, Brother Su, are you even a man?"

"What do you mean, I’m not a man?" Su Yu’s face darkened again.

"SMACK!"

Qian Qinghong, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, slapped him on the back.

The slap carried the force of the Muscle Forging Realm. Even though she didn’t use her Qi and Blood, it still made Su Yu grimace.

’Hey, for someone in the Muscle Forging Realm, you sure don’t hold back!’

"Brother Su, I thought you’d at least ask me to repay you with my body. But no, you just asked for a cultivation technique... In your eyes, am I worth less than a cultivation technique?"

"Ahem..."

Su Yu hadn’t expected her to say something like that and was suddenly too embarrassed to know how to respond.

Seeing Su Yu choked speechless, the annoyance in Qian Qinghong’s eyes vanished, replaced by a charming, coquettish smile.

She rose slightly on her tiptoes and leaned in, closing the distance between them until they were only inches apart. A strand of her fragrant black hair intentionally-or-unintentionally brushed against Su Yu’s cheek. Her large eyes blinked, and her breath was as fragrant as an orchid.

"Brother Su, how about you make another request?"

Su Yu gazed at the stunningly beautiful face so close to his, inhaling her alluring fragrance, and his heart violently stirred.

’No way. I just saved her life, and now she wants to repay me with her body?’

’Isn’t that a bit... hasty?’

’But it’s not like I’m against it. As they say, feelings can grow over time... Besides, Qinghong’s looks, figure, and personality are all quite appealing.’

"Ahem..."

Just as Su Yu was about to speak.

"Pfft!"

Qian Qinghong suddenly covered her mouth and burst into a giggle, then darted away. She walked straight to the bonfire, sat down, took a piece of golden-brown roasted crocodile meat, and waved it at Su Yu.

"Alright, Brother Su, I’ll stop teasing you. Leave the matter of the cultivation technique to me. In the future, if you ever need my help with anything, I, Qinghong, will go through fire and water for you!"

Watching her playful expression change faster than one could flip a page, Su Yu couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

’This beautiful woman’s moods change so fast!’

He walked over and sat down next to Qian Qinghong, taking the roasted meat she offered. Their fingertips brushed lightly for an instant, and an extremely subtle, intimate atmosphere, warmed by the bonfire, began to spread quietly between them.

For a moment, neither of them spoke again, simply eating their roasted meat in silence.

Su Yu tilted his head slightly, the corner of his eye catching sight of Qian Qinghong.

She didn’t seem like her usual self. Her small, rosy lips carefully tore off a piece of meat, and the sharp, decisive aura about her brows was replaced by a touch of feminine gentleness and delicacy.

The flickering orange firelight illuminated her profile, outlining her already stunning features and making her even more captivating, like a figure in a beautiful painting.

...

「Black Stone City, at the fork in Jin Yu Street.」

"Brother Su, regarding the second level of the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill, although the Qian Family doesn’t have it either, I already have a lead. There might be some news in a while. We can talk in detail then."

"Thank you for the trouble."

Su Yu clasped his fist in thanks.

His first level of the Fish Dragon Skill had just reached Major Achievement, and it would still be some time before he reached Perfection, so he wasn’t in a hurry.

"Well... Brother Su, farewell then."

"Farewell."

They exchanged a look, then both turned decisively and strode into the bustling crowd.

’This trip to the Black Water River was quite fruitful. I need to get back to the mansion and take stock of my gains!’

Su Yu suppressed the stray thoughts in his mind and headed toward the Su Mansion, eager to return home.

He had just stepped through the main gate into the front courtyard of the mansion.

Yang Zhen, who was in an inner hall going over the accounts, heard the guards in the front courtyard offering greetings. She immediately put down her brush, her face filled with pleasant surprise as she dashed out from the back courtyard.

"Brother Su! You’re finally back!"

The young woman’s cheerful figure was like a bird returning to its nest. Ignoring the servants in the courtyard, she rushed forward in a fragrant breeze and threw herself into Su Yu’s arms, hugging him tightly.

Feeling the soft, delicate body hugging him so tightly, a trace of guilt rose in Su Yu’s heart.

"Ahem... Zhen’Er, has anything important happened in the mansion or the city during the few days I was away?" Su Yu gently patted her back.

"Lots of things! But Brother Su, you just got back and you’re covered in dust from your journey. You should go to the Inner Courtyard to wash up and change first. I’ll have the kitchen prepare a hot meal for you."

Yang Zhen pulled back from Su Yu’s embrace. Like an exceptionally caring and gentle wife, she reached out to straighten his slightly wrinkled collar.

He was wearing a gray tunic, not the clothes he had left in, and it carried the scent of perfume.

But she didn’t ask anything. She didn’t ask where his clothes had gone, nor did she mention the unfamiliar, faint fragrance.

She simply raised her head, looked at Su Yu with her glistening eyes, and bloomed into a gentle smile. "Go on now, Brother Su."