174: Chapter 174 Heart's Desire

In the blink of an eye, several more days had passed.

Chu Yutang invited Su Yang to his home again to drink tea and discuss the Dao; in reality, it was to provide an answer regarding the previous matter.

After some pleasantries, Chu Yutang handed over two Storage Pouches.

"Brother Su, the Storage Pouches contain the flying boat and the magic cannons, as well as the Artifact Refining methods you require. We hope to receive the goods within a month."

Su Yang's lips curled upward. He accepted the Storage Pouches and said, "Within a month is no problem. I didn't expect the Zhou Army to be so straightforward; you are truly people capable of accomplishing great things."

Chu Yutang shook his head with a bitter smile, unable to tell for a moment if these words were sarcasm or praise.

Su Yang stowed away the flying boat and magic cannon refining methods. Now, it was his turn to lose interest in drinking tea and discussing the Dao.

After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, he rose to take his leave.

Upon returning home, he immediately handed the two Storage Pouches to Su Xuanjing and An Ziyao, instructing them to begin researching Spirit Attachment, as well as the refining of the flying boat and magic cannons.

Watching An Ziyao, who had worked diligently for the Family for so many years, yet whose Cultivation remained stuck at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, Su Yang couldn't help but have the thought of teaching him the Hunyuan Condensing True Method.

He had originally thought that after Su Xuanjing and An Ziyao became Dao Companions and truly became one Family, he would then pass this method to An Ziyao to help him condense a True Spiritual Root.

However, the two had spent many years together and still had no spark. Even when sharing a room, their conversations were entirely about Spirit Attachment and Artifact Refining; they were like siblings.

If things continued to drag on like this, An Ziyao's condensation of a True Spiritual Root would likely be a distant dream.

However, on the path of Cultivation, time waits for no one.

Although An Ziyao possessed a Fire Spirit Body, he was ultimately of Mixed Spiritual Root Aptitude. His Cultivation speed was only slightly faster than an ordinary Mixed Spiritual Root and far inferior to a True Spiritual Root.

Thinking of this, Su Yang immediately sought out Su Xuanming to inform him of his thoughts.

According to the Su Family rules, the Hunyuan Condensing True Method had always been taught only to clan members. Since An Ziyao had not married into the Su Family, teaching him this method was indeed against the rules.

But An Ziyao had been watched by the Su Family since he was a child. For many years, he had gone through fire and water for the Family, acted diligently and responsibly, and possessed extraordinary potential.

If, because he had not married into the Family, he was never taught the Hunyuan Condensing True Method, it would not only bury his Fire Spirit Body and talent for Artifact Refining, but also betray his years of dedication to the Su Family, and it would also make the Su Family appear lacking in magnanimity.

Su Xuanming pondered for a moment after hearing this, then smiled: "Didn't Father just say that 'Family rules should be flexible'? As the Head of the Su Family, I believe that Ziyao's situation meets the conditions for bending the Family rules."

"Ziyao grew up under our watch. We know his character best; even if he were tortured to death, he would never leak the secrets of the Su Family."

"Moreover, there is a forbidden curse planted by the Family within his body to protect him. Even soul searching would be difficult, so there is no need to worry about him leaking secrets."

"Furthermore, regarding Ziyao's contributions to the Su Family, his years of risking life and limb and his loyal protection of his masters—every bit of his effort has been seen by us."

Su Xuanming had a smile on his face, and his gaze was firm: "Therefore, I believe it is completely acceptable to make an exception for him and teach him the Hunyuan Condensing True Method!"

Su Yang couldn't help but chuckle after hearing this, his palm landing on his son's shoulder: "I am completely at ease leaving the Su Family to you. You can handle Ziyao's matter yourself."

Su Xuanming was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Father, were you testing me just now?"

Su Yang laughed loudly: "It doesn't count as a test; it was just a whim. I just wanted to see if our Su Family's current Head of the Su Family would be hindered by the word 'rules'."

Su Xuanming shook his head with a smile and replied: "Alright, I will go find Ziyao now and teach him the Dao method."

"By the way, Father, tomorrow I plan to take Xinrui to the Yunmeng Ruins so he can meet with Xinyou. The brothers have been separated for some time, and I am afraid their relationship will grow distant."

"Let me take Xinrui there," Su Yang smiled. "That will be faster."

Su Xuanming heard this, took a deep look at his father, and a knowing smile curled the corner of his lips.

"Father, you have already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, haven't you?"

Based solely on that understated remark of "faster," he had already concluded that his father had reached Foundation Establishment. In fact, he had guessed it in his heart for a long time, but his father had always hidden his sharpness and kept a low profile, never stating it clearly.

Now that the Family's strength was growing day by day, Su Yang no longer deliberately hid his Cultivation level from his children.

Su Yang laughed lightly: "It's good that you know. However, you must also Cultivate diligently; your father does not want to experience the pain of a parent burying their child."

Su Xuanming felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this.

Looking up and seeing his father's still young and handsome face, devoid of any trace of age, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

His father's words were truly not wrong at all.

If he didn't Cultivate hard, when his lifespan was exhausted in the future, even the youth-preserving pill would not be able to maintain his youthful appearance; he would eventually be white-haired and old, while at that time, his father would still look as youthful and vigorous as he did now.

Wouldn't that be a case of the black-haired sending off the white-haired...

During the interval while Su Xuanming went to teach An Ziyao the Hunyuan Condensing True Method, Su Yang walked to Ting Lake, originally intending to remind Su Xinrui about going to the Yunmeng Ruins the next day.

Just as he reached the pavilion, he saw his wife, Qin Jiangmei, and his youngest daughter, Su Xuanling, sitting inside.

Qin Jiangmei's beautiful eyes could not hide her shock, while Su Xuanling's cheeks were flushed red, her eyes shyly cast downward.

Su Yang was curious, and with a drift of his figure, he landed lightly in the pavilion: "What are you chatting about? Why is our Xuanling so shy?"

Hearing this question, Su Xuanling lowered her head even further, almost wanting to hide it in her chest.

Qin Jiangmei parted her red lips slightly and replied with a complex look in her eyes: "I saw that Xuanling had reached the age for marriage, so I asked if she had someone in her heart, and it turns out she..."

Her voice paused there. Su Yang blinked in confusion and looked at his daughter: "Could it be that, like her third sister, she does not wish to marry?"

That shouldn't be; Xuanling had always been obedient and well-behaved, so why would she resist marriage?

Su Xuanling shook her head gently, but her face turned even redder, and she still did not speak.

Qin Jiangmei sighed softly and finally completed the sentence: "She said the person she fancies is Ziyao!"

"What?!"

Hearing this answer, Su Yang was truly stunned.

After such a long roundabout, it turned out that the one interested in An Ziyao was not Su Xuanjing, but Su Xuanling?!

No, the two didn't seem to have much interaction, did they? Why would Su Xuanling fancy Ziyao?

In terms of age... it was only a six-year difference, which was not unacceptable.

It was just that Su Yang still couldn't help but feel surprised.

Although the Su Family did not value the distinction between master and servant like ordinary families, An Ziyao was ultimately a servant. Su Xuanling, as a daughter of the Su Family, had actually taken a fancy to him; could it be that she was attracted to that sincere, simple, and honest nature of his?

"Husband, what do you think of this?" Qin Jiangmei asked softly.

Su Yang clasped his hands behind his back and pondered for a moment before saying: "If Xuanling truly likes him, this is not impossible, but I don't know what Ziyao's thoughts are."

If An Ziyao was also fond of Xuanling, it would naturally be a happy ending for everyone.

But if Ziyao did not have such intentions, he would absolutely not let his daughter wrong herself like this.

Between "the person my daughter likes" and "the person who likes my daughter," Su Yang would choose the latter without hesitation.

Of course, the best choice would be mutual affection.