The manager of Zhu Xin Courtyard was a burly middle-aged man nicknamed Xiong San, with two to three decades of Martial Arts foundation.
The Medicine Slaves in Zhu Xin Courtyard seemed to have a noble status, with ample food and clothing.
However, this manager could actually show no respect to Su Hao and others.
A few days ago in the dining hall, Su Hao had seen this person reprimand a Medicine Slave, completely unafraid that the person might report him to Lin Zhishan afterwards.
And Su Hao, who knew the secret of the Medicine Slaves, clearly understood their true status: they were merely human medicinal ingredients.
To a certain extent, their status was truly inferior to that of servants who had followed Lin Zhishan for many years.
【Name】 Xiong Sanyan
【Realm】 None
【Talent】 Martial Artist (Gray)
Martial Artist (Gray): Instincts formed from over forty years of Martial Dao foundation and combat experience, providing a slight bonus in combat awareness and reaction speed.
Su Hao blocked Xiong Sanyan.
“Young Master Su, what do you need a weapon for?
Alchemist Lin grants you a lot of freedom; you can Move freely on Tianyao Mountain. There are no wild Vicious Beasts in the mountain. If you have a dispute with someone in the courtyard, there’s no need to resort to weapons. What do you need a weapon for?”
Xiong Sanyan was stopped by Su Hao. He recognized Su Hao, as Su Hao had already become Lin Zhishan’s Named Disciple.
Thinking of this, his expression softened slightly, and he smiled at Su Hao.
“I’ve practiced my family’s inherited swordplay since childhood. Before coming to Golden Light Sect, I made time to practice my sword every day.
But since coming here, I haven’t touched a sword for many days. My hands are itching unbearably.”
Su Hao had already prepared his words.
With fine clothes, delicious food, and beautiful women all readily available here, there was no reason he couldn’t get a common iron sword, right?
Xiong Sanyan flatly refused, “Zhu Xin Courtyard has its own rules; no weapons are allowed inside. Young Master Su, I’ll have someone carve you a wooden sword tomorrow, how does that sound?”
“Steward, I saw you bringing a sword back just a few days ago.”
Su Hao glanced at Xiong Sanyan’s side waist.
“That sword was given to me by Master; it’s naturally an exception and holds great significance. How could I possibly give it to you!”
Xiong Sanyan’s expression immediately turned sour upon hearing this.
“Not give, but borrow. I am now a Named Disciple, and you are Master’s servant. In terms of status, I can be considered half your Master, so what’s wrong with me borrowing a sword for a few days?” Su Hao said righteously.
“You… Named Disciple? Half a Master? Young Master Su is truly flattering himself!”
Xiong Sanyan’s anger surged, but he laughed instead.
He had encountered too many Named Disciples over the years, and only Lin Miao was still alive!
The others were worthless!
“How could that be? If Master hadn’t gone into seclusion, I would go find him, and he wouldn’t refuse such a small request from me. Do you think he would disagree?” Su Hao retorted.
“That’s because…” Xiong Sanyan was about to say that it was because Su Hao had utilitarian value, not because of his status as a Named Disciple!
He suddenly realized he couldn't let it slip and changed the subject, “Whether Master will agree, I don’t know. In short, if you want to borrow my sword, you at least need Master’s nod of approval!”
He reached out, intending to push Su Hao away.
Starting with one or two tenths of his strength, he couldn’t Move Su Hao a single step. His strength gradually increased until Xiong Sanyan’s face turned red and veins bulged on his forehead.
His hands, capable of hundreds of pounds of force, failed to budge Su Hao in the slightest!
Su Hao stood firm, his spiritual Qi violent like fire. A slight circulation and application to his body unleashed power far beyond that of an ordinary Martial Artist.
His spirit body circled once, then suddenly burst forth!
In an instant, the counter-shock force transformed into a wave of heat that rolled back.
Xiong Sanyan was caught off guard and retreated seven or eight steps.
“You…” Xiong Sanyan looked horrified. This was not the kind of power that could be cultivated from a crippled Hundred Mysteries Medicine Meridian!
Even Lin Miao, who had followed Lin Zhishan for a year, was inferior to him in terms of strength!
But Su Hao had only been here for a few days?
“Or did you come here as a powerful Martial Artist?” He could only think of Su Hao’s foundation in the Martial Dao.
It was rumored that Qi Refining Cultivators had weak spiritual Qi and Physique, often being less powerful than some Martial Artists with profound Martial Dao cultivation!
Su Hao stepped forward, rushing out, and in a blink of an eye, he was in front of Xiong Sanyan. He instantly pressed him against the wall, “I’m not negotiating with you; you must give me the sword now. When Lin Zhishan comes out of seclusion, you can go complain to him then! Or should I break your hands first, so you can suffer a bit?”
After speaking, he made a Move as if to twist Xiong San’s arm.
“Alright, Young Master Su, you’ll bear the consequences. You’re ruthless! I’ll give you the golden rock sword right now!” Xiong Sanyan quickly agreed, having tried to struggle but unable to resist at all.
Su Hao released his grip.
Xiong Sanyan’s eyes were filled with resentment. After glaring, he led Su Hao towards his residence.
In the side room, the golden rock sword, adorned with gold decorations and a Dragon-patterned scabbard, rested on the offering table.
Xiong Sanyan had followed Lin Zhishan for over twenty years. Ten years ago, he nearly became food for a Vicious Beast while trying to collect a hundred-year Spirit Medicine for Lin Zhishan.
This incident deeply moved Lin Zhishan, who then gave the golden rock sword to Xiong Sanyan.
This sword was originally an Artifact Refining blank prepared by Lin Zhishan. As long as he invited a Great Master of Artifact Refining to slightly process it, it could become a Magical Artifact.
This item was of extraordinary significance, embodying the bond between Master and servant.
Xiong Sanyan usually only wore it. If he truly needed to use a weapon, he rarely used the golden rock sword.
Su Hao took a few steps and picked up the golden rock sword. As soon as he touched the sword, he sensed its unusual qualities, with a high adaptability to spiritual Qi.
Ordinary metal swords might not be able to withstand the fierce power of spiritual Qi and could be damaged.
The golden rock sword would not have such hidden dangers; even if it wasn't a Magical Artifact, it could still be a good personal weapon for a Qi Refining Cultivator.
Xiong Sanyan’s eyes were filled with venom, “Young Master Su, I will definitely report this matter to Master. We’ll see about this!”
“Hmm?” Su Hao finished examining the golden rock sword, looked up, and calmly stared at Xiong Sanyan, “We’ll see about this?!”
Xiong Sanyan vaguely sensed killing intent and instinctively took two steps back, somewhat startled, “Su Hao! Do you intend to betray Master and betray the Golden Light Sect?! This is a grave crime! You will suffer torture more painful than death by a thousand cuts!”
“Heh heh…”
Su Hao let out a light chuckle, and with the sound of his laughter, the sword “clang”ed as it was drawn from its sheath.
He crossed several meters in one step, the sword moving with him, its light mixed with the force of raging fire, fierce and violent, cutting across Xiong Sanyan’s neck.
Su Hao appeared behind Xiong Sanyan, carefully savoring that one sword strike.
These past two days, besides Cultivating, he had been practicing the sword techniques from Chiyan Swordplay in his room, using his finger as a sword.
His Moves were already proficient, and the moment he wielded the sword, the power he unleashed had already reached the introductory level.
Among Qi Refining Cultivators, Su Hao’s strength might not be up to par, but dealing with an ordinary Martial Artist like Xiong Sanyan was not difficult!
“Your status isn’t much higher than a Medicine Slave; no one will care about your life or death. The vast Golden Light Sect views you and me as ants; it doesn’t even rise to the level of betrayal!”
“What’s more, even if Lin Zhishan comes out of seclusion, whether I killed you or not, it won’t stop him from being unfavorable to me!”
Blood gushed out, and Xiong Sanyan’s head flew high into the air.
“Discovered Talent Power 【Martial Artist】.”
“Talent Power 【Martial Artist】 has been absorbed.”
Su Hao sheathed the golden rock sword and walked out with the sword in hand.
He didn’t bother with Xiong Sanyan’s corpse, leaving him to lie in a pool of blood in the main hall.
In Zhu Xin Courtyard, Xiong Sanyan was the manager, the supervisor of all the servants, holding the highest status and strongest power.
The other Medicine Slaves lived comfortable lives, only needing to take nourishing heart pills on time.
Even if these people investigated the truth, they wouldn't have the authority to handle it!
Above Xiong Sanyan, the only person managing affairs on behalf of Lin Zhishan was Lin Miao, Lin Zhishan’s Immortal Cave attendant and Disciple!
Late at night, someone finally discovered Xiong Sanyan’s corpse.
For the first hour, Zhu Xin Courtyard was in chaos, with everyone coming to watch the commotion.
After that, it gradually calmed down.
The next morning, Lin Miao rushed to Zhu Xin Courtyard upon hearing the news, his face stern. He had originally wanted to continue Cultivating with Essence Blood Pills!
Lin Miao looked at Xiong Sanyan’s corpse, a wave of surprise washing over him, “This big brute is all brawn and no brains; he can at most bully ordinary servants, and usually doesn’t even dare to step out of Tianyao Mountain. Why would anyone want to kill him?!”
“Master, I saw Steward Xiong and Young Master Su together last night, and they seemed to have had an argument.” After some questioning, a timid maidservant recounted what she had accidentally seen in the garden last night.
