9: After Chapter 9, no one can bully us.

"Senior, please stay your hand!"

Before the person even arrived, a thick and long sound wave surged into the shattered Martial Arts Room No. 2 like a tide.

Su Wu's palm, which was originally about to descend, paused slightly in mid-air.

He slowly turned his head, his pair of purple-gold eyes looking indifferently toward the entrance.

There, light and shadow distorted.

An old man wearing a Tang suit with white hair and beard slowly walked out from the smoke and dust. He appeared to be staggering, but with every step he took, the gravel beneath his feet silently turned to powder.

Early Stage Great Grandmaster!

This was the highest authority of Canglan Base City, the City Lord—Pan Hong.

Normally, Pan Hong was a figure who stood above the clouds looking down on all living beings, the guardian deity of this steel jungle. But at this moment, a layer of fine cold sweat broke out on the old man's forehead. Under Su Wu's tangible Martial King pressure, his originally straight back had to hunch slightly, adopting a humble posture.

"I am the City Lord of Canglan Base, Pan Hong."

Pan Hong walked a few steps closer but stopped ten meters away from Su Wu—that was the "death red line" he instinctively sensed.

He glanced at the two headless corpses on the ground, his eyes twitching wildly. He then took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Su Wu, his tone carrying a hint of respect.

"Senior, I know a thing or two about today's events. It is truly... all a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" A playful arc curled at the corner of Su Wu's mouth. Those two words rolled off his tongue, filled with irony.

Pan Hong braced himself and said, "The members of the Wang Family have indeed been somewhat arrogant and domineering, relying on their military merits and influence. As City Lord, I have been busy with city defense affairs and am responsible for the poor supervision of the subordinate families. However, the chief culprits, Wang Heng and Wang Meng, have now been executed; they have received their due punishment. The remaining woman, child, and student are not guilty enough to die. I hope Senior can... appease your anger for the sake of my humble Face."

These words were spoken beautifully by Pan Hong, giving Su Wu plenty of Face while attempting to use the "big picture" to minimize the matter.

However.

"Hahahaha!"

Su Wu suddenly threw his head back and laughed toward the sky.

"What a 'misunderstanding'! What 'poor supervision'! What 'not guilty enough to die'!"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Su Wu snapped his head down, his finger pointing like a sword straight at Su Yu, who was watching from nearby.

"Pan Hong, open your dog eyes and look!"

"If I didn't have the strength of the Martial King Realm!"

"Where were you just now when Wang Heng wanted to kill my son?!"

"Where was your 'misunderstanding' when that Wang Meng held a blade to execute me on the spot?!"

Su Wu's voice grew louder and colder with every sentence. Every word was like a heavy hammer smashing into Pan Hong's heart.

"If the ones who died today were us father and son, would you have stepped forward to call it a 'misunderstanding'? I'm afraid you would have just signed that closing report, saying we were 'rioters' who deserved to die!"

Pan Hong's Face was deathly pale. He opened his mouth but was speechless.

Because what Su Wu said was the truth. This was the hidden rule of this high-martial world—the law of the jungle, where the strong are respected.

"Since you've set such rules, don't blame me for not following them!"

The purple-gold light in Su Wu's eyes surged violently.

"Now that I've only killed a few attempted murderers, you clowns jump out one by one to talk to me about logic and mercy? Too late!"

Boom!

The moment his voice fell, Su Wu did not stop; instead, he suddenly increased the output of his pressure!

This time, it was no longer targeted at the whole field, but precisely fell upon the three survivors—Wang Tai's mother, Wang Tai, and the Dean who had long since been scared witless.

"Ah—!!"

Screams instantly pierced the clouds.

The middle-aged woman, who was already limp on the ground, felt as if an ancient divine mountain had been pressed onto her back.

Crack! Crack!

That was the crisp sound of her bones snapping under the heavy pressure. Her well-maintained Face instantly turned the color of pig liver, and blood sprayed wildly from her mouth and nose. She was plastered to the ground like a pile of mud, her eyes rolling back; she was clearly breathing more out than in.

And Wang Tai, the once-unrivaled campus bully, was in an even more miserable state.

Under the heavy pressure, his internal organs, which had been injured by Su Yu, ruptured completely. He twitched violently in a pool of blood, his features twisted into a lump from extreme pain. A "he-he" sound of a death struggle came from his throat. In the gaze he directed at Su Wu, there was no longer any resentment, only the despair of begging for a quick death.

As for the Dean, his forehead was already a bloody mess.

"Senior, spare me! Senior, spare me! I have old and young at home... I beg you to treat me like a fart and let me go!"

Watching this scene, City Lord Pan Hong's expression became extremely unsightly.

As a Grandmaster, when had he ever been so ignored?

But looking at Su Wu's unrestrained purple-gold True Qi, he didn't dare move.

He knew clearly that the gap between a Martial King and a Grandmaster was a chasm.

If Su Wu really wanted to kill him, it would likely take no more than two moves.

Pan Hong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger of being humiliated. His tone became urgent and solemn: "Senior! Wait!"

"I am not trying to stop your revenge, it's just that this Wang Family... is not simple!"

Pan Hong took a step forward, lowering his voice with a hint of warning and entreaty: "Although the Wang Family is just a Family in Canglan City, their main branch is in the 'Jiangnan Great Base City'! I've heard they have an Old Ancestor serving as a high-ranking official in the military, and they even have ties with certain War God rank powerhouses. Now that Wang Heng and Wang Meng are dead, the Wang Family will surely be furious. If you kill off this widow and orphan today, it will be an irreconcilable situation! At that time, I'm afraid it will attract even more terrifying experts, or even... a federal warrant!"

At this point, Pan Hong paused, glanced at Su Wu's expression, and continued:

"Senior, with your peerless divine skills, you naturally have nothing to fear. But what about your son? He is still young. If he can only live a life of hiding and being a fugitive from now on, unable to even attend a regular martial arts university, is that what Senior wishes to see?"

Hearing Pan Hong's words, Su Wu sneered inwardly and thought:

"This Pan Hong is also a fellow who relies on others' power. Since they touched my son, I will definitely kill them, but I might as well extort this guy for a bit!"

Thinking of this, Su Wu's gaze shot toward Pan Hong like a blade: "Using the Federation to pressure me? Using the Wang Family to pressure me? Pan Hong, do you think I'll be afraid?"

But in the next moment, Su Wu's tone shifted, and the pressure that was about to crush the last breath out of the three people stalled slightly.

"If you want me to spare these few dog lives, fine."

Su Wu pointed at the Wang mother and son on the ground, who looked like dead dogs, and then pointed at Pan Hong.

"Since you say you want to protect them, then bring the life-buying money."

"You are so eager to protect them simply because you're afraid the main Wang branch will blame you, affecting your political achievements and your career. Since it's for your position, shouldn't you bleed a little for them?"

Pan Hong was stunned, then overjoyed.

As long as they could talk, it wasn't a dead end!

Although Su Wu was strong, he clearly still had his reason.

For a powerhouse, killing a few ants didn't truly vent their anger, but if it could be exchanged for solid resources, that would maximize the benefits.

"Senior, rest assured!" Pan Hong said hurriedly, fearing Su Wu would back out. "I am willing to act as a guarantor! As long as Senior spares their lives, I, on behalf of the City Lord's Office and the Wang Family, will provide an apology gift that satisfies you!"

"One hundred million federal credits! Plus a detached manor in a core area of District A! In addition..." Pan Hong bit his teeth and said painfully, "Three vials of 'B-rank Qi-Blood Fluid' and one high-tier Martial Skill!"

Hearing these conditions, the people around who hadn't fainted yet all sucked in a breath of cold air.

One hundred million federal credits was enough for a wealthy Family to squander for several lifetimes in Canglan Base City.

B-rank Qi-Blood Fluid was practically priceless in Canglan Base!

High-tier Martial Skills were Secret Manuals that only Core Disciples of great families could Cultivate.

"Only this?" Su Wu countered coldly.

Cold sweat poured from Pan Hong's forehead: "This... this is already the limit of the liquid funds I can mobilize in Canglan City. Plus... plus the maintenance fees for Martial Arts Room No. 2 are fully waived! And I will personally approve a guaranteed admission slot for student Su Yu to a martial arts university!"

Hearing this last sentence, Su Wu revealed a wicked smile.

"Fine, the guaranteed admission slot isn't necessary. My son can get into the best martial arts university on his own!"

Su Wu waved his hand as if shooing away flies.

"I'll spare your dog lives this time."

"However..." Su Wu's gaze turned toward the Dean, who had long since peed himself, and he lightly flicked his finger.

Whoosh!

A streak of purple-gold finger wind instantly pierced the Dean's Dantian.

"Ah!!" The Dean let out a scream of despair.

"The death penalty is waived, but the living punishment is inescapable. A snobbish person like you is not fit to be a teacher. I cripple your cultivation; get out of the education sector."

Having done all this, Su Wu didn't even look at Pan Hong. The terrifying Martial King pressure on him receded like a tide.

He turned around, and his previous god-of-slaughter appearance vanished instantly, replaced by a Face full of concern and softness.

He walked quickly to Su Yu, looking at his son's body covered in wounds and blood. His eyes were full of heartache; the Wang Family had truly struck hard!

Suddenly!

An even stronger pressure instantly descended upon Wang Tai and his mother, actually crushing them both to death!

"Eh!" Pan Hong was dumbfounded. They had clearly just reached an agreement!

Not just Pan Hong, everyone present was shocked. They clearly hadn't expected Su Wu to change his Face so quickly!

"Pan Hong, I've killed the people, and I still want your promise!" A cold sentence entered Pan Hong's ears.

Pan Hong was speechless. What could he do? The man was stronger than him—he was a Martial King, a Martial King who could fly!

"Yu'er, are you okay?" Su Wu reached out, and a gentle stream of purple-gold Qi and blood was transferred into Su Yu's body, instantly helping him stabilize his churning Qi and blood.

Su Yu felt the warm flow inside his body. Looking at the familiar yet tall father before him, his eyes grew hot.

He shook his head, his eyes flashing with an unprecedentedly determined light:

"Dad, I'm fine! Just some superficial injuries!"

"Good! You have spirit! As expected of my, Su Wu's, seed!"

Su Wu laughed loudly and slapped his son's shoulder heavily. Then his gaze turned to the girl nearby, Xu Lele, who although disheveled, was still stubbornly standing.

"Little girl, thank you for protecting my Yu'er today. I'll have this boy treat you to a meal another day."

Being looked at by this "Martial King Uncle," Xu Lele's Face instantly turned red down to her neck. She stammered, "No... no need for thanks, Uncle...!"

Su Wu smiled and put his arm around his son's shoulder.

"Let's go, son, home! The two of us will have a good drink today!"

...

The sunlight was just right.

Su Wu led Su Yu as they strode out of the campus.

On the way home, the old streets were still noisy, but the state of mind of the two was completely different.

Su Yu would steal a glance at his father beside him from time to time.

That Face was still that Face, even if he had returned to that lazy expression. But in Su Yu's eyes, his father's figure had become as towering as a mountain.

Finally, reaching a deserted alley entrance, Su Yu couldn't help but ask the doubt in his heart:

"Dad... how did you suddenly... suddenly become a Martial King?"

"I remember when you were young, you were only a Grandmaster... and for these ten-plus years, your injuries..."

Su Yu's head was full of question marks. Not only was the injury healed, but he had also crossed several levels to become a King? This was even more far-fetched than a novel!

Su Wu stopped his steps, fished out a flattened cigarette from his pocket, and a wisp of golden flame emerged from his fingertip to light it.

He took a deep breath, exhaled a smoke ring, and turned to look at his son, his eyes as deep as a pool of water.

The matter of the System was too shocking, and explaining it would be a hassle. Better to...

"Yu'er, actually, your old man hasn't given up for these past ten-plus years."

Su Wu began to talk nonsense with a straight Face, yet it carried seventy percent true emotion.

"The injury back then was heavy, but it also allowed me to break through and rebuild. For these ten-plus years, I wiped blood at the city walls and moved bricks at construction sites. It seemed like I was just scraping by, but in reality, it was Mortal World heart-tempering. I have been waiting for a turning point, a moment of long-accumulated breakthrough."

"Perhaps it was your performance today..."

Su Wu reached out, helped his son straighten his messy collar, and said softly:

"It allowed my state of mind to reach Perfection, and the shackles of ten-plus years shattered."

Su Yu listened with boiling blood, his eyes becoming moist again.

"Dad..." Su Yu choked up.

"Alright, what's a grown man crying for?" Su Wu smiled and rubbed his son's head. "Some things don't need to be scrutinized. You only need to know that from today on, in this Canglan Base City, and even in this entire Federation, no one can bully us two!"

"And..."

Su Wu raised his head, looking at the distant starry sky, a heart-palpitating cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Since I have recovered and even taken a step further, then some old debts should be settled."

"Yu'er, Cultivate well. When you get into Imperial Capital Martial Arts University, when you reach the Martial King Realm... we will go to the depths of the starry sky."

Su Yu was startled, and then his heart pounded wildly: "Go to the starry sky? To do what?"

Su Wu stubbed out the cigarette butt, his voice as light as the wind yet as heavy as a thousand tons:

"To bring your mother home."

At that moment, the setting sun stretched the shadows of the father and son very, very long.

Su Yu clenched his fists tightly.

"Okay!"

The youth's answer was loud and clear.

...

Of course, Su Wu had not forgotten about Liang Jianmin's matter. He made a trip to the City Defense Management Office and conveniently took care of Liang Jianmin.