Chapter 51: The Calm Before
The evening sun bathed Oakwood City in warm, golden light, casting long shadows across the bustling streets. The air carried the faint scent of grilled meat and fresh herbs, mixed with the constant buzz of merchants closing their shops for the day.
Su Tianhao moved through the city streets at a leisurely pace, his pristine azure robes and long black hair drifting gently in the evening breeze.
'I should get those pills before the sellers close for the day,' he reminded himself, quickening his steps slightly.
Fasting pills weren't particularly rare — street stalls carried them just as readily as proper alchemist shops, so there was no need to worry about availability.
He eventually stopped before a humble alchemy stall nestled between two larger shops. Behind the counter stood an old merchant with sharp eyes and a practiced smile, already preparing to close for the evening.
"I'm looking for grade one and grade two fasting pills," Su Tianhao said plainly.
The merchant blinked in mild surprise, then quickly nodded, reaching beneath the counter. "Certainly, young master. You've come just in time — I was about to pack up."
He produced two bottles, each containing ten pills. The pills in the first bottle were pale yellow, while those in the second were vibrant yellow.
Su Tianhao recognized them immediately. Although he'd never seen fasting pills in person before, his inherited memories supplied the knowledge without effort — pale yellow for grade one, vibrant yellow for grade two.
"How many would you like, young master?" the merchant asked.
"One grade two fasting pill and a full bottle of grade one," Su Tianhao replied.
He had already calculated exactly what he needed. A single grade two fasting pill would suppress hunger for ten full days. As for the grade one, though he only needed four, they were sold by the bottle and couldn't be purchased individually.
"Two thousand silver coins, young master," the merchant said with practiced professionalism.
Su Tianhao raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit steep? Any room to negotiate?"
The merchant smiled wryly. "Young master, these are all high-level quality. A single high-level grade one pill costs one hundred silver—a full bottle is one thousand. A single high-level grade two pill is another one thousand. That's standard market price."
Su Tianhao nodded. He already knew the pricing, after all he'd read about it extensively in the library even before his inherited memories confirmed it. The negotiation had been nothing more than habit. He was financially stable now, but that didn't mean he could spend carelessly. Unlike those wasteful young masters of wealthy clans, he had only himself to depend on.
Seeing that the experienced merchant wouldn't budge, he reached into his robes and produced exactly twenty gold coins.
The merchant's eyes brightened. With practiced care, he opened the grade two pill bottle, extracted a single vibrant yellow pill, sealed the bottle again, and transferred the pill into a fresh, smaller container. Su Tianhao understood the caution immediately—pill bottles when left open for too long could lose medicinal potency, reducing their value. Every merchant knew this.
The merchant handed over both containers with a warm smile. "Thank you for choosing my stall! Come again next time!"
Su Tianhao nodded, stored both bottles in his storage pouch, and walked on.
'Two thousand silver gone,' he thought with a wry shake of his head. 'As expected — cultivation and money go hand in hand. Without sufficient resources, even the most talented genius risks being left behind.'
He considered his next move. Most proper restaurants would already be closed at this hour, and he had no interest in those brothels that masqueraded as dining establishments.
Then it came to him.
'A tavern.'
His eyes lit up. A tavern it was.
---
Unbeknownst to Su Tianhao, a sharp-eyed youth had been tailing him from a distance—hawk-like gaze locked onto his figure, cold calculation glinting in his eyes.
---
As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, Su Tianhao followed the faint sounds of laughter, music, and clinking cups through the busy streets. Before long, a large two-story building came into view, warm lanterns glowing around its curved wooden frame. A bold crimson plaque hung above the entrance, its golden characters reading:
Crimson Vine Tavern.
The establishment was alive with activity. Servants moved in and out constantly, carrying trays stacked with sizzling dishes and clay jugs of wine. The tantalizing scent of spicy stew and roasted meat filled the air, luring in hungry passersby. Despite the late hour, this was clearly a place that rarely slept.
As Su Tianhao stepped inside, drawing a few curious glances from nearby patrons, the hawk-eyed youth came to a stop just outside. His lips curled into a sinister smile.
"Crimson Vine Tavern? He walked right into Ye family territory," the youth muttered coldly. "Perfect."
The Crimson Vine Tavern was a well-known establishment in Oakwood City, a place where martial artists and mercenaries came to unwind after long, demanding days. It was also one of many entertainment establishments operating under the Ye family's name.
---
The tavern interior was well-furnished—polished dark wood, round tables, cushioned chairs arranged throughout. At the far end, a musician plucked gently at a zither, filling the space with calm, soothing melody.
Su Tianhao was quietly surprised by the unexpected elegance. Without drawing attention, he made his way to an empty seat in the far corner beside an open window.
Around him, the tavern buzzed with low conversations and occasional laughter. Rowdy mercenaries boasted loudly about their latest missions. Young cultivators exchanged gossip over jugs of wine.
"...Did you hear? The Qingyun Sect Examination is barely three months away."
"They say available slots are even fewer than usual this year. Only the top five in the local competitions get a recommendation token."
"The three great clans already have several spots locked in. The rest of us are fighting for scraps."
"Forget the exam—I heard Su Jian's coming out of seclusion early. Apparently he's planning to publicly crush someone in two weeks."
"That match against Su Tianhao? The guy's been quiet for an entire year and now suddenly wants to challenge Su Jian. He's either grown much stronger or completely lost his mind."
"Grown stronger? He awakened with zero talent, but I heard he somehow reached the 9th level of Martial Apprentice Realm, which is already a miracle. And he thinks he can fight Su Jian?"
"Su Jian is already at the 5th level of Martial Disciple Realm. Su Tianhao is absolutely doomed."
Su Tianhao heard every word with perfect clarity through his enhanced senses. His expression remained perfectly calm, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"News travels fast," he murmured with mild amusement.
'Doomed? Crushed?' His golden eyes flashed faintly. 'We'll see about that.'
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, no longer paying their idle chatter any mind. The voices faded into pleasant background noise. The fresh evening breeze rolled in through the open window, brushing past his face. Only the soothing melody of the zither mixed with the scent of spiced wine and roasted duck remained.
A few minutes later, a servant in grey robes approached with a polite bow.
"What would you like this evening, young master?"
Su Tianhao didn't respond verbally. He simply placed a single gold coin on the table.
The servant's eyes brightened immediately, his polite professionalism giving way to genuine respect. Not everyone spent in gold coins, and those who did deserved a corresponding respect.
"Your finest dish and best wine," Su Tianhao said with a calm smile.
"R-Right away, young master!" The servant carefully pocketed the coin and hurried off.
For the first time in a long while, Su Tianhao allowed himself a rare moment of complete stillness.
The savory aroma of spiced duck and aged wine soon settled over the table. He ate slowly, crispy duck meat melting effortlessly in his mouth, washed down with fragrant warm wine that left a mild burn in his chest. The clatter of dishes, bursts of laughter, and casual banter from surrounding tables wrapped around him like a comfortable blanket.
In that moment, a faint, contented smile crept onto his lips. His expression tranquil and relaxed.
"Not bad," he murmured quietly.
But peace, by nature, was never meant to last.
Just as Su Tianhao lifted his cup for another sip, the tavern doors creaked open.
A sudden hush rippled through the room.
Footsteps echoed on the wooden floor—slow, deliberate, and confident. Patrons turned their heads, whispers stirring like wind through tall grass.
Dressed in flowing robes of green and gold, a handsome young man walked in with a faint smile on his lips. His slanted eyes swept across the room with casual arrogance, glinting with cunning light. Behind him, two beautiful maids followed closely, their gazes cool and composed. Wherever he walked, space opened around him like water parting before a boat.
Ye Wenjie.
His gaze swept the room, then his voice rang out—clear and commanding.
"Which one of you is Su Tianhao?"