Chapter 232 The Nine-Tailed Fox's Strange Movement? Contractual Transmission

Su Qingshan's remark about beating him as much as he liked...

...and his domineering declaration that leaving him with a breath of life was enough...

...was spoken in a booming voice.

Naturally, it was heard word for word by Su Mingxuan, who hadn't walked far yet.

He was already maddened with shame and resentment from being forced to kneel and apologize, as well as being sentenced to three months of reflection.

Hearing that his father not only failed to stand up for him but even gave Jiang Yun such a huge privilege was like adding fuel to the fire; he trembled with rage, and his vision went dark!

He abruptly stopped in his tracks.

He turned around.

His venomous gaze fixed firmly on Jiang Yun's calm back, and he squeezed out a low growl full of hatred from between his teeth, his voice not loud but bone-chillingly cold.

"Jiang Yun... you just wait! I, Su Mingxuan, will remember today's humiliation! You think you can sleep soundly just because of my father's words? Dream on!"

He took a deep breath...

...as if trying to memorize every bit of humiliation at this moment.

Then he whispered, almost like a curse.

"Even if my father won't stand up for me... once we get to Sky Dome Academy... my Elder brother, Su Gumu, will surely seek justice for me! He is a Genius student of the Inner Academy, ranked in the top ten of the Earth Rankings, and a Genius who will soon Advance to the Heaven Rankings. So what if your Aptitude is a Prodigy's?! In the end, you're just a Gold Rank intermediate! My brother can deal with you easily, unless... you damn well don't enter Sky Dome Academy! Otherwise, once you're there, let's see if you can still be as arrogant as you are today! When that time comes, my brother will return everything I suffered today a hundredfold! You're going to have a hard time!"

After finishing his harsh words...

...Su Mingxuan, supported by his guards and filled with venomous resentment and unwillingness, stumbled away from the place where he had lost all his dignity.

On Jiang Yun's side...

...he was unaware of Su Mingxuan's blustering threats from afar.

His attention at this moment...

...was focused more on the Second Master of the Su Family, whose attitude had changed drastically.

Su Qingshan noticed Jiang Yun's brief moment of daze and the vigilance that hadn't completely dissipated from his eyes, and he understood.

He had been in a rage and wanted to attack him earlier, and now he had made a 180-degree turn, even granting the privilege to beat his son at will; it was indeed easy to make one suspicious, wondering if there was some conspiracy or a 'kill with praise' scheme involved.

He took a step forward.

The domineering aura on his Face retracted slightly.

He put on a more sincere expression.

He cupped his fists toward Jiang Yun and said,

"Little Friend Jiang Yun, just now... I was too impulsive and reckless, listening only to that rebellious son's side of the story and almost making a grave mistake. I, Su Qingshan, have a bit of a temper, but I am by no means someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong or is unreasonable. I offended you earlier; I hope you can be magnanimous and not take it to heart."

To express his apology and sincerity...

...Su Qingshan directly took an exquisite jade box from his storage ring. Upon opening it, thirty Spirit Crystals were neatly arranged inside, shimmering with light and emitting pure fire attribute energy fluctuations. Judging by their quality, each one was worth a fortune!

"I heard from my third brother that your soul pet seems to have an affinity for the fire attribute. These thirty Molten Fire Essences may not be peerless treasures, but they are quite beneficial for the cultivation and growth of fire-type soul pets. Consider them my apology for today's abruptness. I hope you will definitely accept them as a small token of my regard; please do not refuse."

Su Qingshan maintained a very humble attitude.

The apology gift was also quite substantial.

His mind was racing.

A Prodigy like Jiang Yun, who could crush several Gold Ranks of the same level at sixteen years old—to be his enemy, one would have to stifle him at all costs before he grew up, or the consequences would be endless.

But doing that... would not only completely offend the Genius his third brother valued but also be equivalent to personally cutting off a potential Opportunity for the Su Family to soar. Furthermore, it would place the Su Family under the massive risk of future retaliation from a peerless powerhouse.

Conversely...

...if the grudge could be resolved...

...and such a Genius could even be bound to the Su Family...

...then for the Su Family, it would be a heaven-sent Opportunity!

What did a few gifts and some Face matter?

Compared to the future of the Family...

...Su Qingshan's personal Face and his son's little grievance were completely insignificant!

His only thought at the moment...

...was to quickly dissolve any dissatisfaction or estrangement Jiang Yun might have from the conflict just now. He absolutely could not let him develop ill will toward the Su Family!

Seeing this, the several Elders nearby...

...also reacted immediately.

They all spoke up in agreement to smooth things over.

"Indeed, indeed, Son-in-Law Jiang Yun. The Second Master has always been a man whose bark is worse than his bite; he was just anxious to protect his son. He was indeed a bit hasty just now, but he certainly didn't mean to target you."

"The Second Master is an upright and honorable man. Since he recognizes his mistake, this apology is truly sincere. Please accept it."

"Today's matter was purely a misunderstanding; it's good that it's been cleared up. You are a magnanimous man, Son-in-Law."

Even First Master Su Qinghai, who had remained silent...

...nodded slightly and said slowly:

"Little Friend Jiang Yun, today's matter was indeed handled poorly by my second brother, and it startled you. Please accept this apology gift. Let this matter be put behind us, shall we?"

His tone was peaceful...

...yet it carried an unquestionable weight. He was both giving his second brother a way out and hoping for a quick and perfect resolution so as not to affect Jiang Yun's perception of the Su Family.

Looking at the scene before him...

...Su Qingshan's sincere apology gift, the Elders' support, and the First Master's personal statement—Jiang Yun knew that if he continued to refuse, he would seem ungrateful and might even make the newly eased atmosphere awkward again.

His mind raced.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons.

Although Su Qingshan's change in attitude was abrupt...

...the logic behind it made sense.

Since the other party had humbled himself so much...

...offered a substantial apology...

...and publicly gave him a protective talisman, if he remained stubborn, he might push a potential ally into opposition.

Currently, his identity as Jiang Yun had shallow roots in the provincial capital; he needed the Su Family's platform and resources. There was no need to offend a powerful Second Master and the goodwill of the entire Su Family leadership for the sake of a grudge that might not have fully dissipated.

Having thought this through...

...the vigilance on Jiang Yun's Face slowly faded.

It was replaced by a proper humility and composure.

He took a step forward.

He received the jade box from Su Qingshan with both hands.

He bowed slightly in salute, his voice clear and bright.

His manners were impeccable.

"Second Master is too kind, as are the First Master and the Elders. I, Jiang Yun, am new to the Su Family and am young and aggressive; I may have handled things improperly, and I also bear responsibility for today's conflict. It is only natural for the Second Master to care for his son, and I can understand that. I am unworthy of the Second Master's great kindness in gifting such a heavy prize, but one should not refuse a gift from an Elder, so I will brazenly accept it. As for today's matter, as the First Master said, it is now behind us, and I shall never mention it again. In the future, within the Su Family, I will still need the guidance and care of the Second Master, First Master, and the Elders."

This speech...

...was flawlessly delivered.

He accepted the gift and gave the other party Face.

He also stated his stance of not pursuing the matter further while positioning himself as a Junior, expressing his desire to develop well within the Su Family.

Seeing this...

...a look of relief and a satisfied smile finally appeared on Su Qingshan's Face. He secretly praised the boy for being sensible and having an extraordinary Heart-Nature.

He was far beyond what his own son, who only knew how to use influence to bully others, could compare to.

To make an enemy of such a Prodigy...

...one would probably die without even knowing how.

The Elders also breathed a sigh of relief.

They nodded repeatedly.

The way they looked at Jiang Yun became even more appreciative.

The look of approval in First Master Su Qinghai's eyes grew stronger. Seeing Jiang Yun's neither humble nor arrogant, well-handled manner, he admired his third brother's eye for talent even more.

He suddenly remembered something.

At the Sky Dome Academy freshman registration...

...Aptitude and potential would be re-tested.

He wondered what kind of startling Aptitude Little Friend Jiang Yun would test for?

It seemed the third brother was going to lead the team personally.

He seemed to have full confidence in Little Friend Jiang Yun.

There was nothing to do tomorrow...

...so he could go and take a look.

At the same time...

...Su Qingshan laughed heartily.

He patted Jiang Yun's shoulder.

His movements were bold, but his strength was well-controlled.

He made no secret of his admiration.

"Little Friend, your Heart-Nature is extraordinary, and your Aptitude must be world-shaking! Even my eldest son, Su Gumu, cannot compare! He is currently Cultivating in the Inner Academy of Sky Dome Academy; he's a few years older than you and has decent talent, but his personality is a bit aloof."

He shifted the topic...

...and said with a hint of a request:

"If you encounter him at Sky Dome Academy, or if he recklessly provokes you, I hope you'll be patient for my sake. If possible, look after him a bit. That boy just needs a good lesson! If you can discipline him for me, I would actually have to thank you! Haha!"

Hearing this...

...Jiang Yun couldn't help but show a slightly awkward yet polite smile.

Inwardly, however, he was somewhat speechless.

Good grief!

I just gave your younger son a beating, and now you're turning around and asking me to look after your Elder son at Sky Dome Academy?

Is there something wrong with this script?

Besides, he had just beaten the man's younger brother.

It would be good enough if the Elder brother didn't come looking for trouble to avenge his sibling.

But on the surface...

...Jiang Yun still responded politely:

"Second Master is joking. For Brother Gumu to be able to Cultivate in the Inner Academy of Sky Dome Academy, he must be someone of Excellent talent. I am new to the academy and unfamiliar with the place; I'm afraid I might need Brother Gumu's guidance instead. If we have the Opportunity to meet, I will naturally treat him with courtesy."

These words were very smooth; he didn't agree to look after him, nor did he mention discipline, only stating they would interact politely.

Su Qingshan didn't seem to catch Jiang Yun's underlying meaning, or perhaps he didn't care if he did, and gave another hearty laugh.

He said repeatedly...

..."Good! Good!"

Seeing that the matter was settled...

...and the atmosphere was harmonious...

...Jiang Yun didn't want to delay any longer.

He still had business to attend to.

He needed to go to the Fengyu Pavilion in the Liufeng District to gather information.

Thus...

...he cupped his hands again and said to everyone:

"Second Master, First Master, and Elders, thank you all for upholding justice today. I have some private matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first."

Su Qingshan and the others naturally didn't try to keep him.

They all nodded with an amiable attitude.

"Little Friend, go ahead and attend to your business."

"If you need anything, you can come find us at any time."

"Don't be a stranger in the Su Family."

Jiang Yun thanked them once more.

Then he turned around.

He walked with steady steps toward the exit of the Su Family compound.

Watching his tall, receding back, Su Qingshan, Su Qinghai, and the several Elders stood their ground, their eyes filled with satisfaction and expectation.

Su Qingshan couldn't help but sigh.

"The third brother's eye for talent is truly sharp! This boy not only has a Prodigy's talent but also a calm and seasoned Heart-Nature; he knows when to Advance or retreat and understands etiquette. His future achievements will be limitless!"

One Elder agreed.

"Indeed, if such a boy is bound to our Su Family and receives the favor of our protection, once he grows up in time, he will surely be a pillar of our Su Family! At that time, our Su Family's status in the provincial capital will definitely rise to the next level!"

First Master Su Qinghai's gaze turned distant as he said slowly, "Perhaps... not just in the provincial capital. If he can truly reach that step, it might not be impossible for our Su Family to regain the glory of our ancestors from hundreds of years ago..."

Hearing this...

...everyone's hearts were shaken, and then a wave of infinite longing welled up... After leaving the scene of the conflict...

...Jiang Yun walked all the way toward the Su Family's main gate.

The Su Family managers, deacons, and even some branch Family disciples he encountered along the way had a subtle change in their attitude toward him after recognizing him.

There was less of the initial scrutiny or curiosity...

...and more obvious respect and warmth.

"Son-in-Law Jiang Yun!"

"Greetings, Son-in-Law!"

"Is the Son-in-Law heading out?"

The greetings were constant.

Jiang Yun nodded to each of them.

Or gave a simple response.

A perfect, faint smile was on his Face.

He didn't appear arrogant, nor was he overly friendly.

Clearly...

...the image of Jiang Yun as a sixteen-year-old Gold Rank Genius matrilocal son-in-law had become more concrete in everyone's minds.

Soon...

...Jiang Yun arrived before the grand and magnificent main gate of the Su Family.

The guards at the gate had obviously received word as well.

Upon seeing Jiang Yun, they immediately straightened their backs.

They saluted respectfully.

"Son-in-Law!"

Jiang Yun nodded.

He was about to step over the high threshold...

...and completely leave the Su Family compound.

However, just as he had stepped out...

...and was thinking about his next move...

"Jiang Yun! Help me..."

...a crystal-clear female voice that sounded directly in his mind, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly interrupted all his thoughts!

This voice... was cold but carried a Rare hint of urgency.

There was even a trace of... pain that was being desperately suppressed?

Jiang Yun's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

His body gave an almost imperceptible jolt.

His pupils contracted slightly.

This voice—he was all too familiar with it!

It was the one connected to him by the Fox Heart Moon Vow contract, who should currently be in seclusion in the master bedroom of Yunqi Courtyard refining the five-colored divine seed... the Nine-Tailed Fox, Su Qingxue!