Chapter 46: Stirring Trouble
"Savagebone Ape remains?"
"Yes," Su Tianhao simply confirmed.
Lu Qingran's head snapped up. His previously lazy eyes now studied Su Tianhao with an intensity that definitely hadn't been present before. "Boy, even the weakest Savagebone Apes are grade two beasts—specifically known for their refined combat instincts and violent territorial nature. How exactly did you acquire these materials?"
"I encountered one during my forest training. After a difficult battle, I managed to defeat it," Su Tianhao explained, deliberately not elaborating further.
"On your own? That's completely impossible," Lu Qingran stated flatly.
"What do you mean?" Su Tianhao responded with a slight frown.
"I know who you are. Aren't you Su Tianhao—the Second Young Master of the Su family? The one they call the fallen genius?" Lu Qingran asked, his tone carrying genuine curiosity now. He wasn't particularly social by nature, but he was fundamentally a business professional, and everyone in Oakwood City had heard the rumors. Su Tianhao was supposedly worthless cultivation trash—zero stars at the talent testing ceremony. Yet the youth standing before him now didn't carry the aura of a cultivation cripple at all, and had somehow killed a genuine grade two beast.
Either the widespread rumors were fabricated lies, or something extraordinary had changed about this youth. He had a feeling it was the latter.
"You recognize me?" Su Tianhao's brows furrowed with surprise.
"I saw you once during a family business transaction. I never forget a face," Lu Qingran stated indifferently, as if perfect recall were the most ordinary thing imaginable. His expression shifted suddenly, lazy eyes sharpening with focused intensity. "What I truly want to know is—how. How did you actually manage to kill it?"
Su Tianhao felt his entire being laid bare under that penetrating gaze—uncomfortable, suffocating. 'He knows about me... I must have caught his interest from the very beginning.'
Just then, Lu Qingran's stern expression shifted abruptly, an amused smile graced his face. "I see now. The rumors weren't entirely false—they simply mistook your current situation. You really are quite interesting, boy. I'm certain no one would have anticipated that you have already broken through to the Martial Disciple Realm."
"W-What?!" Su Tianhao's hand tightened around the armrest, his expression cracking.
It was true—he had indeed reached the Martial Disciple Realm during his two weeks in Dragonspire Forest. He had also achieved Perfection mastery in the Raging Dragon Fist. But this breakthrough was something he hadn't shared with anyone, and he had taken deliberate measures to conceal his true cultivation base from casual observation. Even the experienced Master Huan hadn't detected his advancement. He hadn't expected this supposedly lazy Lu Qingran to see through his concealment so effortlessly.
"How did you know?" Su Tianhao asked, a cold edge entering his voice.
"No need to become hostile, boy," Lu Qingran replied with a humorless smile. "I have absolutely no interest in why you're keeping your true strength hidden. I won't pry further."
Su Tianhao slowly relaxed his hand, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. 'It seems I didn't interest him as much as I feared.'
His golden eyes narrowed, studying Lu Qingran with newfound wariness and respect. 'He's truly terrifying,' he acknowledged inwardly.
Lu Qingran watched him quietly then chuckled softly. "No need to be so tense. Let's conclude this transaction quickly."
Su Tianhao nodded, equally eager to finish.
Lu Qingran cleared his throat—and his entire demeanor transformed. The perpetual laziness fell away, replaced by the focused authority of a true appraisal master.
"The Silver Pangolin scales alone are worth at least five hundred silver coins—rarity and superior weapon-crafting applications. The Jade Cow tendon, Ironhide Ox hide, and the remaining grade one materials combined are worth no more than two thousand silver coins total." He paused, picking up one of the Savagebone Ape bones again and examining it with expert scrutiny. "As for these... and the other grade two materials—considerably more valuable. The bones can be ground into powder for alchemy or used as reinforcement for mortal rank weapons. The full set is worth exactly ten thousand silver coins. No more, no less."
Su Tianhao's eyes widened slightly. Far more than he had anticipated.
"Twelve thousand five hundred silver coins in total," Lu Qingran concluded matter-of-factly. He glanced at Su Tianhao. "Are you satisfied?"
"Very satisfied," Su Tianhao replied with a genuine smile. 'No wonder they say the strong reap rich rewards,' he thought with quiet satisfaction.
"Do you want payment in silver or gold?"
"Gold would be far more convenient."
Lu Qingran nodded and flickered his wrist. The spatial ring on his finger gleamed with bright spiritual light—and the next moment, glistening gold coins poured onto the table as if materializing from thin air.
Su Tianhao's eyes widened. 'A spatial ring!' The sight was more impressive than he had imagined. He had heard about spatial rings before and seen them worn by his foster father and the Su family elders—but this was his first time witnessing one actually used. The casual ease of it made the display even more striking.
"One hundred and twenty-five gold coins," Lu Qingran said flatly.
Su Tianhao stared at the gleaming pile with a broad smile before swiftly sweeping the coins into his storage pouch.
"Business concluded. You may leave."
Su Tianhao barely registered the abrupt dismissal—he was in far too good mood. With a respectful nod, he excused himself and walked toward the exit.
As he watched Su Tianhao's departing figure, Lu Qingran's lips curved into a quiet, knowing smile.
"What an interesting young man. I heard he'll be fighting Su Jian two weeks from now," a rare gleam of anticipation flashed across those half-lidded eyes. "I wonder what surprises he has in store for everyone... finally—something to cure my endless boredom."
---
Su Tianhao had no idea he'd just become a source of entertainment for the mysterious Ghost Eye Appraiser. His mind was entirely occupied with his new and improved financial situation.
'Three hundred and seventy-four gold coins from Lu Ruyi, plus one hundred and twenty-five from the appraisal... my total wealth is nearly five hundred gold coins!'
He stepped out of the Thousand Beast Pavilion with a satisfied grin. He could genuinely be considered an extremely pleased customer just by looking at his face.
'I'll definitely return here to sell future materials,' he decided. But the grin gradually faded as he recalled Lu Qingran's terrifying perception cutting through his concealment without effort.
"When I return home, I need to find a proper concealment technique," he murmured quietly.
As the saying goes—"a wise warrior hides their sharpest blade."
---
Several dozen meters away in a quiet alley, Ye Jianping and his companion—Gao Min were growing increasingly impatient.
"What is that bastard still doing in there?" Ye Jianping grumbled.
"Relax, Senior Brother Jianping. He'll emerge soon," Gao Min reassured with a sly smile.
"Making this honored one wait this long? He's courting death." Ye Jianping's eyes turned cold. "When we finally catch him, don't go easy. Thoroughly humiliate him! Crush whatever confidence he's somehow developed!"
"Don't worry," Gao Min said with cruel anticipation. "I'll make him wish he was never born."
"Good. Let's—"
"He's out!" Gao Min cut in sharply.
Ye Jianping's head snapped around. Sure enough, Su Tianhao now stood outside the Thousand Beast Pavilion, apparently preparing to head back toward the Su family estate.
"We can't make our move here in the open marketplace," Ye Jianping said, cold calculation replacing his earlier impatience. "There's a desolate alley section before the main streets. He'll pass through it on his way back to the Su family compound."
"How wise, Senior Brother Jianping," Gao Min said with a flattering smirk.
The two exchanged nods and stepped out from their hiding spot, following Su Tianhao from a careful distance.
Completely oblivious to his persistent troublemakers—or so they believed—Su Tianhao made his steady way back toward the Su family district. Soon enough he entered the desolate alley.
It was a narrow passage lined with rundown buildings covered in creeping grass and wild vegetation—abandoned structures left crumbling since a beast tide had devastated this section several decades ago. Few people used this shortcut anymore, which made it the perfect location for an ambush.
As Su Tianhao walked deeper into the passage, Ye Jianping and Gao Min exchanged glances. Matching sinister smiles spread across their faces as they quickened their pace, closing the distance.
Just as Su Tianhao approached the far end of the passage, he skidded to a sudden halt.
His golden eyes turned ice cold.
"Just how long are you two planning on following me?"
The words came out quiet and flat—carrying a dangerous undertone that made the air feel several degrees colder.
Ye Jianping and Gao Min froze mid-stride, their anticipatory smiles twisting into ugly frowns.
"Looks like we've been noticed," Ye Jianping muttered, his confidence wavering.
In truth, Su Tianhao had detected them long ago. Their secretive behavior and hostile intent had made their purpose clear from the start. Normally he would have simply avoided such petty troublemakers—but he hadn't bothered. The reason was simple... he didn't consider them a threat whatsoever.
Abandoning all pretense of stealth, Ye Jianping and Gao Min approached openly with deliberately imposing strides.
Su Tianhao turned to face them, his eyes widening slightly with recognition. "It's you two. Don't tell me you've been following me this entire time? Don't you have anything better to do?"
Both men's expressions darkened at the mocking tone.
"You have a sharp tongue for worthless trash," Ye Jianping said coldly. "Do you really think you can insult me and walk away unscathed?"
"What kind of trash has the audacity to call someone else trash?" Su Tianhao responded with a provocative smile.
"How dare you call my Senior Brother trash!" Gao Min exploded. "Senior Brother Jianping is a four-star talent genius of the Ye family! And you—you're a worthless cripple. The infamous fallen genius of the Su family! How can you possibly compare yourself to him?!"
"The Ye family? One of Oakwood City's three great clans?" Su Tianhao muttered, his tone shifting slightly.
"Hahaha! You're scared now? Good—you should be!" Ye Jianping declared arrogantly, completely misreading the reaction. "Compared to me, you're absolutely worthless. I'm certain the Su family deeply regrets ever adopting someone as pathetic as you."
"What did you just say?"
Su Tianhao's voice dropped to something barely above a whisper—but the temperature in the alley seemed to plummet with it. His golden eyes locked onto Ye Jianping with a cold, unblinking stillness that sent a primal chill crawling down his spine.
Ye Jianping felt it immediately—a wave of instinctive unease that his body recognized even as his pride refused to. Realizing he had just experienced genuine fear, rage and embarrassment flared up to wash the shame away. "Trash! I don't know where you get your confidence from—but you'll pay dearly for daring to offend me!"
"Exactly! You're not leaving here without a few broken bones," Gao Min added eagerly, pouring fuel into the fire.
Gao Min's words seemed to restore Ye Jianping's composure. He stepped forward with imposing strides, his voice sharp and commanding. "Hand over that sword and the rest of your belongings. Maybe... just maybe we'll go easy on you."
"Oh?" Su Tianhao's dangerous coldness transformed into an eerie calm—an almost tranquil demeanor that was somehow more unsettling than open hostility. His eyes swept over both of them with quiet, measuring assessment.
"A Peak Stage Martial Apprentice and a 1st level Martial Disciple want to rob me." He paused, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Tell me—are you worthy?"