33: The Intricate Array: The Su Family's Predicament

Chu He approached silently, standing behind a row of tall curio shelves, just enough to hear the conversation in the corner clearly.

The one arguing with Su Qingxue was a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes, looking like a manager.

A fake smile was plastered on the steward's Face, but his tone carried a condescending sense of charity.

"Young Miss Su, it's not that our Tianbao Pavilion is heartless. Your father, Great Master Su Mo, pawned the lower volume of the ancestral 'heavenly derivation array diagram' here for thirty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, agreeing to repay it within three months. Now, nearly half a year has passed, and with interest, it totals thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones. You see..."

Su Qingxue's Face was somewhat pale. She clutched the corner of her clothes tightly, her voice cold and firm: "Steward Zhou, my father... he exhausted himself recently to refine that pair of 'Dual-Linked Formation Plates' and is now bedridden. Our Su Family really cannot produce so many Spirit Stones at once right now."

"I know, that's why I've pointed out a clear path for you." The smile on Steward Zhou's Face grew even wider. "The Second Young Master of the Chen Family has admired you for a long time. Their Chen Family is a famous great clan in our Royal Capital, with immense wealth. As long as you nod your head, let alone thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones, even a hundred thousand Spirit Stones wouldn't make Young Master Chen blink."

"Moreover, I've heard that the Chen Family has already promised that if you marry into their Family, they will not only help your Su Family clear its debts but also provide funds to seek medical treatment for your father. This is a huge blessing, Young Miss Su. What are you still hesitating for?"

"I will not marry that playboy Chen Bin!" Su Qingxue's tone suddenly became agitated, a flush of humiliation appearing on her elegant Face. "You are taking advantage of our misfortune!"

"Ah, Young Miss Su, you can't say that." Steward Zhou's expression also darkened. "We at Tianbao Pavilion are open for business; it's only natural to repay debts. Your father signed a written agreement back then. If the debt isn't repaid on time, the lower volume of the 'heavenly derivation array diagram' belongs to our Tianbao Pavilion."

"We are pointing out a path for you now only out of respect for your father, Great Master Su Mo's Face. Don't be ungrateful."

Steward Zhou's words became increasingly unpleasant.

Su Qingxue trembled with anger, her eyes turning red.

She knew that what the other party said was true.

To purchase rare Materials for refining the Formation Plates, her father had no choice but to pawn the Su Family's most important Legacy treasure.

He had thought that once the pair of 'Dual-Linked Formation Plates' was auctioned off, the debt could be cleared, and it might even alleviate the Family's plight.

Unexpectedly, although the Formation Plates were refined, her father fell bedridden due to mental and physical exhaustion.

And Tianbao Pavilion and the Chen Family, like sharks smelling blood, immediately pounced.

Was their true goal really those thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones?

What they wanted was the Su Family's 'heavenly derivation array diagram'! It was her, Su Qingxue, the natural 'Exquisite Array Heart'!

Once she married Chen Bin, the Chen Family could rightfully swallow up the last bits of the Su Family's foundation!

But what could she do?

Looking at Steward Zhou's smug, petty Face, Su Qingxue's heart was filled with powerlessness and despair.

Must she really sacrifice her lifelong happiness for the Family and marry that notorious playboy?

Just as her emotions were surging and she was almost unable to hold on, a strange yet reassuringly calm voice sounded behind her.

"'heavenly derivation array diagram'? Interesting."

Both Su Qingxue and Steward Zhou were startled and turned their heads together.

They saw a handsome young man dressed in an ordinary green robe, standing behind them at some unknown time.

It was Chu He.

"Who are you? How dare you eavesdrop on our conversation?" Seeing Chu He, Steward Zhou frowned and barked sharply.

In his eyes, this was just another poor boy who had appeared out of nowhere, attracted by Su Qingxue's beauty.

Chu He ignored him, his gaze falling with interest on Su Qingxue.

"Are you Great Master Su Mo's daughter?"

Su Qingxue felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, but she still nodded warily: "Who are you?"

"Someone with a bit of interest in Formations." Chu He smiled.

Damn, why does this plot feel so familiar?

Back then, Lin Waner's Family was also in trouble, and he had intervened forcefully, saving the beauty and winning her heart.

Could it be that I, Chu He, am born with a savior template?

However, this feeling really is damn good.

"Kid, I don't care who you are! This is Tianbao Pavilion, not a place for you to act wild! Get out of here right now!" Seeing that Chu He dared to ignore him, Steward Zhou was instantly enraged and reached out to push him.

However, before his hand could even touch the corner of Chu He's robe, he felt an invisible, massive force strike him.

"Bang!"

Steward Zhou was sent flying as if hit by a bull, crashing heavily into a pillar several meters away. He let out a pained groan and fainted on the spot.

"Hiss—!"

Everyone around who saw this scene gasped.

Who was this young man? Such audacity! He actually dared to strike someone in Tianbao Pavilion?

Su Qingxue was also stunned.

She stared blankly at Chu He, never expecting this refined-looking young man to be so domineering in his actions.

"You..."

"Thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones, right?" Chu He interrupted her.

He casually pulled a heavy pouch from his Storage Pouch and threw it on the ground.

"Here are forty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Thirty-five thousand to repay the debt to your Tianbao Pavilion. The remaining five thousand are for his medical expenses."

Chu He pointed at the unconscious Steward Zhou on the floor, his tone as flat as if he were mentioning something trivial.

"Now, can the 'heavenly derivation array diagram' be returned to this young lady?"

His gaze swept over the several Tianbao Pavilion guards who had rushed over at the sound.

After sensing the faint yet heart-palpitating aura emanating from Chu He, the guards looked at each other, and none dared to step forward.

One of them, who seemed to be the leader, quickly ran over to check on Steward Zhou. Finding that he had only fainted and his life was not in danger, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He walked up to Chu He with a much more respectful attitude.

"Senior, please wait a moment. I need to report this to our Pavilion Master."

Was it a joke? Could someone who casually tossed out forty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and dared to strike someone in Tianbao Pavilion be an ordinary person?

This matter was no longer something a mere guard captain like him could handle.

Chu He nodded noncommittally.

He turned around and looked again at the SS-rank Genius girl who was still in shock.

"Young Miss Su, right?"

"I... yes." Su Qingxue regained her senses, looking at Chu He with a complex expression. "Why... why are you helping me? We are strangers."

"Because I am very interested in you." Chu He's answer was simple and direct.

Su Qingxue's Face instantly flushed red.

She thought the "interest" Chu He mentioned was the kind between a man and a woman.

"You... don't misunderstand!" she explained somewhat flusteredly. "I... I won't just because you helped me..."

"You're overthinking it." Chu He laughed. "I'm not interested in your body."

"What I'm interested in is your 'Exquisite Array Heart'."

Boom!

Su Qingxue's mind went blank!

How... how did he know?!

"Exquisite Array Heart"!

This was her greatest secret! It was also the core secret passed down through generations of the Su Family!

Besides herself and her seriously ill father, it was absolutely impossible for a third person in the world to know!

Who exactly was this man in front of her?!

How could he see through her greatest secret with a single glance?!

In an instant, Chu He became incredibly mysterious and profoundly unfathomable in her eyes.

"Who... who exactly are you?" Her voice was trembling.

"Someone who can help you, help your father, and help your Su Family regain its glory."

Chu He looked at her, a confident smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Now, can you take me to see Great Master Su Mo?"