The next morning, when Su Yi woke up from his meditation, the riverboat was already continuing its journey along the Great Cang River, and everything had returned to tranquility.
Stepping out of his room and arriving on the first floor of the pavilion, he saw Yuan Luo Xi and the others already waiting there.
A document was placed on the table, along with a sumptuous breakfast.
"Mr. Su, we were waiting for you to have the meal together," Yuan Luo Xi said crisply.
The maiden's beautiful eyes were as bright as the morning sun on the water, and her tone carried a sense of intimacy.
Su Yi noticed this subtle change and couldn't help but smile. He casually took a seat and said, "Let's eat together."
Yuan Luo Xi, Cheng Wu Yong, and Huang Qian Jun then took their seats one by one.
While they were eating, Cheng Wu Yong suddenly coughed.
"You were injured last night?" Su Yi raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Wu Yong smiled and said, "Just a minor injury, nothing major."
Huang Qian Jun couldn't help but interject, "Brother Su, last night, Senior Cheng chased after that scoundrel who insulted you, and in the heat of the moment, he got injured."
Su Yi paused for a moment, then remembered something and asked, "Is it the guy who said he would chop off my head?"
The image of the middle-aged scholar from last night appeared in his mind.
"That's the one," Huang Qian Jun chuckled. "But Senior Cheng had already chopped off his head."
"He had it coming," Su Yi couldn't help but give Cheng Wu Yong another look.
Cheng Wu Yong hurriedly said, "Mr. Su, please don't mention it. It's what I should have done."
Just then, a deep voice echoed throughout the building.
"Old Cheng, has Master Su awakened?"
"It's Zhang Yi Ren," Cheng Wu Yong whispered. "Mr. Su, he already knows about what happened last night. If I'm guessing correctly, he's here to thank you."
As he spoke, he got up to welcome him.
While Su Yi continued eating, he instructed Yuan Luo Xi, "Tell me about what happened last night."
His words were calm and natural.
Yuan Luo Xi immediately set down her chopsticks and began speaking in a melodious voice, like the singing of a nightingale in a secluded valley, recounting the events of last night.
Witnessing this scene, Huang Qian Jun couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
The esteemed jewel of the Yuan family, the renowned young lady of Yunhe County, being ordered around like a maid by Brother Su— who would believe it?
And Yuan Luo Xi, with her arrogant and unruly personality, daring to kick the descendants of the Zhang family, particularly the young master Zhang Yuanxing. Yet, in front of Su Yi, she became extremely obedient.
Moreover, judging from her expression, she seemed quite happy...
As a young man who had spent a lot of time in the pleasure quarters, Huang Qian Jun could easily tell that if Su Yi had any intentions, Yuan Luo Xi would be helpless to escape his grasp and could be easily won over.
How could Huang Qian Jun not be impressed?
He prided himself on his ability to pursue women and was adept at it, as if it came naturally to him.
But now, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence towards Su Yi.
If Brother Su were to indulge in romantic pursuits, with his skills, even the celestial maidens in the heavens would willingly fall into his embrace, wouldn't they?
The sound of footsteps, from far to near, interrupted Huang Qian Jun's scattered thoughts.
Looking up, he saw the tall figure of Zhang Yi Ren, with a dignified and resolute bearing, walking in with Cheng Wu Yong.
"Mr. Su, please don't get up. I have come here only to express my heartfelt gratitude and will be leaving shortly," Zhang Yi Ren quickly waved his hand as he saw Su Yi about to rise.
Then, he clasped his hands in a fist, crossed them in front of his chest, and solemnly bowed to Su Yi.
He was indeed a straightforward and decisive person. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Su Yi, he took his leave.
However, Cheng Wu Yong was deeply moved and exclaimed, "Mr. Su, the gesture Zhang Yi Ren just made is the highest courtesy of the Green Armor Army under the command of the Martial Spirit Marquis. It represents an unrepaid debt that is constantly carried in his heart. It signifies loyalty to the end!"
Su Yi was also surprised and nodded, saying, "Such a person deserves admiration."
Before leaving, Zhang Yi Ren also left behind a generous gift—a jar of spiritual liquor.
This liquor was called "Wind and Snow Journey" and was personally brewed by Chen Zheng, the Martial Spirit Marquis.
It was soaked in sixteen types of spiritual herbs and infused with the essence blood of fourth-rank demonic beasts. It was then buried deep under layers of ice and snow to absorb the biting cold air, only to be considered fully mature after ten years.
The surging spiritual essence and life force contained within this liquor far surpassed that of ordinary second-grade spiritual medicines.
A jar of such liquor was priceless.
"Wind and Snow Journey, marching through fierce winds and heavy snow. The name is quite remarkable," Su Yi remarked.
Su Yi silently remarked.
By presenting such a valuable gift, it was evident how deeply Zhang Yi Ren felt grateful in his heart.
He opened the jar and poured a cup of liquor. The color was a brilliant and transparent crimson, shimmering like refined nectar, emanating an extremely strong aroma of alcohol.
"If you behead my enemies for me, I will offer this liquor as a gesture of thanks."
Su Yi picked up the cup and handed it to Cheng Wu Yong beside him.
Cheng Wu Yong couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised and quickly accepted it, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Su, for this gift of liquor."
"No need to be polite. This liquor should be beneficial for your injuries," Su Yi casually remarked.
Seeing Yuan Luo Xi and Huang Qian Jun looking at him eagerly, Su Yi couldn't help but smile and say, "This liquor is extremely potent. If you were to drink it now, you would spend the entire day in cultivation. It would be better to enjoy it together tonight."
Yuan Luo Xi and Huang Qian Jun nodded and agreed with a smile.
Not long after, the purple-robed youth and the young man in a green robe arrived together to pay a visit.
"Mr. Su, thanks to your assistance last night, we were able to resolve a great crisis. We have brought a small gift as a token of our gratitude. We hope you accept it."
As soon as they entered, the purple-robed youth presented a box with both hands, respectfully offering it as a gift.
Seeing that Su Yi had no objections, Huang Qian Jun quickly stood up and took the gift box.
Cheng Wu Yong smiled and invited the purple-robed youth and the young man in a green robe to take a seat.
In the presence of this Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, even Cheng Wu Yong and Yuan Luo Xi appeared somewhat restrained.
But Su Yi seemed unaffected, sitting there casually and saying, "Has the matter been investigated thoroughly?"
"Not hiding anything from you, after last night's interrogation, we have learned that those assassins were all members of a group called the 'Star Devouring Alliance.' They are a group of fugitives operating in the underground world within the boundaries of the Great Zhou Empire. The powerful individuals under their command are all notorious criminals," the purple-robed youth said with a contemplative tone.
"This time, they were hired by someone. The employer promised them ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred spiritual herbs, ten secret manuals of Profound-grade techniques, and a Heaven-grade cultivation method upon the successful completion of their mission..."
Before he could continue, Su Yi interrupted, "Who is the employer?"
The purple-robed youth immediately revealed a hint of embarrassment. "Those thieves have no knowledge of the mastermind. They communicate through secretive intermediaries."
Su Yi had already anticipated this and was not surprised. He asked, "Who do you think is the mastermind behind this employer?"
"Well..." The purple-robed youth hesitated for a moment before answering, "Based on my speculation, it should be related to my third brother."
The Third Prince!
Yuan Luo Xi, Cheng Wu Yong, and others exchanged glances, all showing shock.
"The princes turning against each other, it's probably for the sake of contending for the imperial throne," Su Yi shook his head.
This was the nature of a secular kingdom. Even in the eyes of martial practitioners, imperial power represented the ultimate strength, drawing people to pursue it eagerly.
After a brief contemplation, Zhou Zhi Li suddenly stood up and bowed respectfully. "Lord Su, there is no need for me to conceal it any longer. My name is Zhou Zhi Li, and I rank sixth in the direct line of the imperial family. Since witnessing your extraordinary talent and charm last night, my heart has been swayed..."
Before he could finish, Su Yi chuckled lightly. "Do you want me to do something for you?"
Zhou Zhi Li's expression turned serious, and he sincerely said, "If I can have your assistance, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger for me! I can guarantee that if you have ambitions in the political arena, I will help you become a king and a prime minister."
"If you are devoted to the path of cultivation, I will do my best to gather rare treasures and secret arts from all over the world for you!"
Pausing for a moment, his gaze became resolute. "If one day I ascend to the throne, I will treat you as the National Mentor!"
Upon hearing these words, Yuan Luo Xi and others were filled with tumultuous emotions, trembling inside.
National Mentor!
The position of the National Mentor in the Great Zhou Empire was almost like being above ten thousand others. The esteemed identity and vast authority were enough for those princes to rely on their influence.
Similar to the current Great Zhou National Mentor, Hong Can Shang.
He was not only the head of the top-tier aristocratic Hong clan in Yujing City, but also the head of the Fengqi Academy, one of the ten major academies in the Great Zhou Empire.
Moreover, he himself was a martial master who had achieved the Precelestial realm many years ago, with unfathomable martial power!
"National Mentor?" Su Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression indifferent. "Aside from the fact that I, Su Yi, have no interest in such a position, you, a prince ranking sixth, have yet to truly grasp power, yet you boast and make empty promises. How grandiose."
Zhou Zhi Li was dumbfounded, his cheeks turning red. He said, "Lord Su, I genuinely hope to gain your assistance. I swear by the heavens, every word I've spoken comes from the depths of my heart. If there are any falsehoods, I deserve a wretched death!"
Su Yi's expression remained cold as he said, "There's no need to say any more."
What a joke! A mere prince thinks he can make Su Yijun serve him? It's simply preposterous!
Zhou Zhi Li fell silent and dejectedly took his seat.
He felt quite frustrated. If it were any other martial master in the world, they would have likely agreed without hesitation.
But Su Yi, on the contrary, seemed utterly disdainful and didn't even bother to lower his head.
This made Zhou Zhi Li couldn't help but feel a sense of defeat.
Witnessing all of this, Yuan Luo Xi and Cheng Wu Yong couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
In their view, Zhou Zhi Li had made a huge mistake. He didn't realize that if Mr. Su were truly an immortal, he couldn't be swayed by worldly power and wealth.
If he had adjusted his attitude, cast off his identity as a prince, and genuinely befriended Mr. Su, perhaps he could have gained some favors from him.
Suddenly, Qing Yin spoke up with a tone of reproach. "I told you before that true cultivators who are ambitious in their practice disdain worldly power and wealth. But you just wouldn't listen."
Zhou Zhi Li smiled bitterly and shook his head.
How could he have known that a young man with profound martial achievements would view power and wealth as mere fleeting clouds?
"Regardless, I'm already happy to have met and made acquaintance with Lord Su this time. Moreover, Lord Su saved my life, and I will always remember such great kindness."
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Zhi Li spoke softly.
Having said that, he stood up and prepared to bid farewell and leave.
However, Qing Yin hesitated for a moment. Then, as if making a resolute decision, she raised her beautiful and sharp gaze towards Su Yi, her voice carrying a determined tone. "I will keep my word from last night. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Her voice was resolute, like that of a prisoner awaiting execution after a trial, ready to die generously.
The expressions of everyone present became subtle.