Su Qing looked at the two of them, Wang Zhongxin and Wang Zhongde.
"Do you two want to have a go?"
Wang Zhongxin and Wang Zhongde shook their heads frantically.
Wang Zhongde shouted, "I was disrespectful to you, Su Qiren! I'll slap myself ten times as punishment."
Wang Zhongxin also shook her head. "Su Qiren, you have already proven your strength. I, however, can accompany you and tell you about the Wang Family."
Beaten into submission with a single display.
Su Qing, however, wasn't quite satisfied.
As Wang Zhongde was busy slapping himself hard across the face, Su Qing turned to Wang Zhongxin. "So, what's Wang Zhongping's level of strength? Do you have some kind of system for dividing Realms?"
Wang Zhongxin shook her head. "I don't know either. Zhong Ping is the strongest in our family."
"Once he puts on his armor, he's a man who can fight a hundred."
Just then, Steward Wang returned.
He had checked on Wang Zhongping. It was nothing serious; he had just passed out.
"Lord Su, please come with me. I will take you to see the Patriarch."
"Mm."
Su Qing nodded silently.
'A display of power really is the best way to earn respect,' he thought.
'Especially when all that power is concentrated in one person.'
They arrived at a large reception hall.
Su Qing saw two other people of different ages already there.
One was quite old, a Daoist.
The other was a middle-aged man who looked fierce and menacing.
Steward Wang led Su Qing into the hall.
He then quickly walked over to Patriarch Wang, leaned in, and whispered a few words in his ear.
Patriarch Wang was seated at the head of the hall. As he listened to Steward Wang's whispers, he couldn't conceal the astonishment on his face.
He looked over at Su Qing with extreme curiosity.
"Su Qiren, please, take a seat of honor."
Patriarch Wang urged him hastily after hearing the news.
This made the other two men look at Su Qing with surprise. It was one thing to be handsome.
But to elicit such a strong reaction from Patriarch Wang was another matter entirely.
When the two of them had arrived, Patriarch Wang hadn't reacted so strongly.
Su Qing casually took a seat.
"With Su Qiren here, my Wang Family will be much safer."
"Daoist Lü, Butcher Zhang, this is Su Qing, our honored Su Qiren, who has just arrived at the Wang Family."
"He is incredibly brave! He defeated my Wang Family's Middle-Grade fighter in a single move. A truly divine man!" Wang Ligui laughed heartily, introducing him in earnest.
"This is the Observatory Lord of White Cloud Daoist Temple from outside Kexiang County, Observatory Lord Lü, Daoist Lü Qingde."
"And this is Butcher Zhang of Kexiang County. His pig-slaughtering knife has been passed down through his family. It holds an immense Evil Qi that only someone who has slaughtered pigs for many years can control."
Wang Ligui introduced them one by one.
Su Qing looked at the two men, his gaze lingering on Daoist Lü. "Hello. I'm just an ordinary person with slightly higher martial skill."
"Greetings, benefactor. I must say, you have the face of one destined for greatness," Daoist Lü said, nodding slowly and offering a compliment.
Butcher Zhang also nodded respectfully. "Hello, Su Qiren."
Butcher Zhang was filled with immense respect for anyone who could defeat the Wang Family's Wang Zhongping in a single move.
Wang Zhongping was even bigger than Butcher Zhang himself. More importantly, Wang Zhongping practiced Martial Arts and was no ordinary person. As a resident of the County City, Butcher Zhang knew very well just how strong Wang Zhongping was.
"The Demon Fiend plaguing the Wang Family this time is truly formidable. We cannot deal with it ourselves, which is why we've asked you all to come."
"This Demon Fiend is not afraid of fire. It's on the verge of becoming a Great Demon Fiend."
"SIGH... We reported this to the Government Office, but they said they don't have the manpower. We have no choice but to trouble all of you."
"If you can kill the Great Demon Fiend, I give you my word: the reward will be doubled."
Su Qing didn't know what a Great Demon Fiend was like, so he remained silent.
Butcher Zhang and Daoist Lü, however, had grave expressions. Butcher Zhang, especially, upon hearing the words "Great Demon Fiend," suddenly stood up.
"Patriarch Wang, a Great Demon Fiend is not something a commoner like me can handle."
"If you want my knife, you can borrow it. Just return it to me afterward."
"Farewell."
With that, Butcher Zhang took his pig-slaughtering knife and left the hall.
"Huh? Steward Wang, see Butcher Zhang out."
"Yes, sir." Steward Wang went to escort Butcher Zhang out.
Daoist Lü's brow furrowed, and he also looked as if he was about to get up.
"Daoist Lü, regardless of whether the Great Demon Fiend shows up, as long as you stay for one month, I, on behalf of the Wang Family, will donate five hundred silver to your White Cloud Temple."
Daoist Lü suddenly settled back down.
"This... you're asking me to risk my life," Daoist Lü said. "Do you realize that is a Great Demon Fiend?"
"The Wang Family is aware, which is why we have increased the stakes."
"Of course, if Su Qiren can subdue the Great Demon Fiend, the Wang Family will give you the same treatment as Daoist Lü, plus an additional five hundred silver."
Wang Ligui had no other choice.
Anyone who knew anything about the matter left immediately upon hearing it was a Great Demon Fiend.
Daoist Lü was silent for a moment.
"SIGH..."
"No, Patriarch Wang. I am truly sorry. This humble Daoist's power is weak. I really cannot handle it."
"Perhaps someone capable from Shangjing could do it."
Daoist Lü silently stood up and left.
Housekeeper Wang had just returned.
Wang Ligui shot him a look.
"Daoist Lü, I will see you out." Steward Wang also understood the unspoken command.
Only the last person remained.
"And what about you, Su Qiren?"
"I can stay at the Wang Family residence. However, I will only stay for one month. A Great Demon Fiend is a difficult opponent," Su Qing said calmly, though he had no idea what a Great Demon Fiend was actually like.
But with Su Qing's current strength, he could kill an ordinary Demon Fiend even when he was just First-class. Now, he was at the formidable Seventh Layer of Body Tempering.
Su Qing refused to believe he couldn't win.
'If I can't win, I'll just run.'
"However, I have conditions. Help me collect all the Martial Arts manuals in the County City that can be bought with money, plus five hundred silver."
"Done, and done," Wang Ligui said, seeing that Su Qing would stay.
He was overjoyed. At the very least, he had secured a powerful ally.
"Alright, then it's settled," Su Qing said nonchalantly.
"I will arrange a guest room for Su Qiren immediately. Please, Su Qiren, come with me."
"There will be a family banquet tonight. We hope Su Qiren will honor us with his presence."
"Of course."
Wang Ligui chatted idly with Su Qing for a bit before leading him to a huge courtyard.
'This is a guest room? It's practically a mansion!'
Immediately after, several Maids came over to tidy up the place.
Su Qing was happy to have the leisure.
'But this time there are no Great Replenishing Pills. I'm not used to this.'
Su Qing silently lamented that he should have asked the Wang Family for some of the silver up front.
That way, he could have synthesized some Great Replenishing Pills.
'I have almost four hundred more to go, and then my Mastery will advance.'
'But my Body Tempering is already at the Seventh Layer. There are Realms beyond Mastery. Will I break through directly? Or will I be stuck in Body Tempering?'
After thinking for a moment, Su Qing found an empty spot and began cultivating the Cyan Snake Posture.
Even if it was only two Skill Level points per hour, Su Qing had to seize what he could.
He really couldn't figure out what kind of Realm Body Tempering was supposed to be.
But based on all the novels he'd read in his past life, it was just a beginner's Realm.
「Evening came.」
Su Qing was called to attend the evening banquet.
'The Wang Family wouldn't possibly poison me,' he reasoned.
After chatting for a bit with the men from the various branches of the Wang Family, Su Qing focused on eating, and eating, and eating.
Fortunately, he had a good appetite.
After eating his fill, Su Qing began his night watch.
The Great Demon Fiend.
'If it shows up tonight, I'll be happy,' Su Qing thought. 'That way, I won't have to waste much time.'
...