Su Long stepped into the kitchen with a heavy heart, his face grim. Su Rui and Su Lan were there, busy preparing a simple meal.
"How much food is left?" Su Long asked in a low voice.
Su Rui put down the ladle and answered nervously, "Young master, there is only one week's worth of food left. After that… nothing. Should we reduce our meals, so it lasts longer?"
Su Long shook his head firmly. "No. Cook as usual. Don't starve yourselves. I will get more food soon."
Su Lan and Su Rui exchanged worried glances. His words were confident, but they knew the situation outside was harsh.
Later that night, Su Long walked out into the courtyard. The moon hung high, casting silver light over the broken Su Family estate. He looked up at the sky, his fists clenched.
What the hell is happening? We have money, yet no food. No one dares to sell us anything… Should I go for robbery? No… if I reveal my cultivation too soon, it will draw even more dangers. I need to increase my strength silently. Then, when the time comes, I'll give the world a surprise.
The night wind was cold, but Su Long's heart burned with suppressed rage.
Not far away, outside the Su Family estate, three figures approached. Jian Hao, the arrogant young master of the Jian Family, was grinning ear to ear. Behind him was Jian Feng, an elder, and their servant, Jian Kun.
Jian Hao's eyes gleamed when he saw the banner Su Lan had hung earlier. It fluttered in the night wind: "Su Family will pay 5x price for food and milk."
"Haha, five times the price? What a joke," Jian Hao sneered.
"Trash Su Family begging for food," Jian Kun mocked. He spat on the banner, kicked it onto the ground, and laughed loudly. "I'll sell you my shoes for ten times the price!"
Jian Hao ignored his servant's antics. His greedy eyes focused on the Su estate. "Let's go. I want to see how miserable that so-called 'noble Su Family' has become."
The three strode inside, their steps arrogant. The main hall doors opened with a creak, revealing Su Long and Su Feng talking quietly.
The two groups locked eyes.
Jian Kun immediately barked out, "I know your cultivation is crippled, and this guard of yours is just Body Refining mid-stage trash. Kneel before my young master right now and beg for mercy!"
Jian Hao tilted his head arrogantly, smirking with disdain. "Su Long… hah, the proud young master who always looked down on me. Look at you now. A useless cripple in a ruined family. Trash!"
Su Long's expression darkened. He slowly turned his gaze to Jian Hao and said coldly, "Jian Family… mere ants. Even standing thirty steps away, I can smell the stench of pig coming off you."
Su Feng burst out laughing, giving Su Long a thumbs up. "Young master, you roast them better than anyone!"
Jian Kun's face turned red. "How dare you insult my young master! You're courting death! We came to capture that little brat of yours. Once we hand her over to the higher-ups, who knows how much she'll suffer—"
Before he could finish, whoosh! whoosh! Two arrows flew like lightning, piercing through Jian Kun's legs.
"Ahhhhhh!!" Jian Kun screamed, collapsing to his knees, blood gushing out. "Young master, it hurts! Help me!"
[Ding! 30 Hatred Points obtained.]
Jian Feng's eyes widened at the sight of the glowing bow in Su Long's hand. "That's… a mid-grade treasure bow!" Greed flickered in his eyes. He leaned closer to Jian Hao and whispered, "Young master, if we seize that bow, our Jian Family will rise to the next level."
Jian Hao's lips curled with greed as well. He sneered, "Hand over that bow, Su Long. Do that, and I might forgive you for harming my servant."
Su Long chuckled coldly, lowering the bow. "Oh? You can't even avenge your servant, yet you dare to dream of treasures? Truly pitiful. Even with your so-called elder here—Body Refining late-stage? That's impressive for trash like your family. But in the eyes of the Su Family…" His gaze sharpened. "…it's nothing but dirt."
[Ding! 20 Hatred Points obtained.]
Jian Hao's face twisted. "Elder Jian Feng! Kill him!"
"Gladly!" Jian Feng roared, charging forward with his sword raised. The blade whistled down toward Su Long's neck. He laughed wildly. "Big talk with no strength to back it up. Now die!"
Clang—!
The sword struck Su Long's neck… and stopped. Not a scratch. Not even a drop of blood.
Jian Feng froze, eyes wide with horror. "W-what…?"
Su Long tilted his head, his cold gaze boring into the man. With one hand, he snapped the sword like brittle wood. With the other, he clamped down on Jian Feng's throat and lifted him into the air.
"Spare me! Spare me!" Jian Feng gasped, kicking desperately. Sweat poured down his face. "I beg you!"
Crack—!
Su Long twisted his neck, snapping it clean. He tossed the body aside like trash.
"Elder!" Jian Hao shrieked. His arrogance shattered, replaced by pure terror. He fell to his knees, kowtowing frantically. "Big brother, it's a misunderstanding! We just came to… to check if you were alright! I swear, we meant no harm!"
He slapped his forehead against the floor again and again, his sweat soaking the ground.
Su Long raised his bow slowly.
Jian Hao's heart nearly burst from fear. "My father will not let you go!" he screamed, bolting toward the exit.
Shoosh—!
An arrow streaked through the night and pierced his skull. Jian Hao's body fell limp to the ground, eyes wide in disbelief even in death.
Jian Kun, still writhing on the floor with arrows in his legs, had witnessed everything. His face was pale, his pants wet with urine.
"No… no, don't kill me! I—"
Shoosh—!
An arrow pierced his chest. His words ended in a gurgle as his body slumped.
Su Long exhaled slowly, lowering the bow. "Trash."
He turned to Su Feng. "Clear the bodies. Throw them out on the road. Let the world see what happens when the Jian Family dares provoke me."
"Yes, young master!" Su Feng obeyed immediately, dragging the corpses out.
Later that night, Su Long returned quietly to Mimi's room. She was sleeping soundly, her tiny hands clutching the blanket.
Her round face was still bruised, but she looked peaceful in slumber. Su Long's cold heart softened as he sat beside her. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and whispered, "Don't worry, Mimi. No one will ever harm you again. Brother will protect you… no matter what."
Mimi stirred slightly in her sleep, mumbling softly, "Bwother… don't leave me…" Her little pink hand reached out blindly, as if searching for him.
Su Long gently took her hand, holding it firmly. "Never," he whispered, his eyes sharp as blades. "I will never leave you, Mimi."