Chương 14: The Blade of Malevolence and the Art of the Flood Dragon

When it came to disposing of bodies, Su Zhe had considered simply burning them. But anyone with experience in such matters knew better. Burning left charred remains—and the smell? Pungent enough to curl even the hardest stomachs. Worse, the sprawling compound of Huang Mazi was mostly wooden. If a fire spread uncontrollably, the thick smoke would draw attention from miles around. A bonfire here could easily be as alarming as the burning of straw fields in the countryside—a spectacle no one could miss.

"Xiao Zhe, you're back?" Lin Xia emerged from the main hall, supporting Su Yuan. It was well past midnight, yet Su Yuan and his wife remained awake, waiting for Su Zhe's return.

"Uncle, your health is frail. Why haven't you gone to bed?" Su Zhe asked, his gaze softening as he noted the flickering candlelight in the room. They had left it burning for him.

"I'm not tired... not tired. Did everything go smoothly?" Su Yuan's voice was tinged with worry.

"Yes, Uncle," Su Zhe reassured.

"Everything's settled. Huang Mazi took the money and backed off. He's scared of the Blacksmith Guild's influence, so this matter is behind us now." He paused briefly before adding, "But I overheard something—Huang Mazi might be colluding with river bandits. It's possible he'll turn to piracy." Su Zhe's tone turned grave.

"Regardless, this incident is resolved. As for the bandits, that's a dangerous matter—one that could bring disaster. Uncle, Auntie, please, say nothing about tonight to anyone. Treat it as a secret buried in your hearts."

"No matter who asks, deny everything." The mention of river bandits turned Su Yuan and Lin Xia pale. Ordinary folk living humble lives, they knew well the ferocity of the bandits who roamed Lu County's waterways—so notorious they rivaled the region's top factions in power. These brigands were ruthless killers, feared by all. Su Yuan, though bullied by Huang Mazi, felt it was a blessing just to survive this ordeal unscathed.

For struggling villagers, grudges meant little; they only hoped to eke out a stable existence. After reassuring the couple, Su Zhe watched them retire to their quarters, blowing out the candlelight as they left. He lingered, observing Su Yuan's slightly stooped back as he disappeared into the shadows. Su Zhe made a silent vow.

"Once I establish myself at the Artisan's Hall, I'll bring Uncle and Auntie to the county town. That way, I can better protect them if anything happens." Returning to his room, Su Zhe lit a fresh candle and unwrapped his spoils. Gold: ten taels. Silver: a hundred taels. Deeds to several plots of land and property. These immovable assets alone could be sold for hundreds of silver taels—a fortune by any measure. Yet Su Zhe knew better than to draw undue attention by trying to liquidate registered property.

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"As expected, murder and plunder remain the most lucrative ventures," Su Zhe mused wryly. His haul bolstered his confidence in opening his third celestial aperture. From the bundle, he drew out two treasures: a malevolent blade and an ancient silk scroll, both dearly valued by Huang Mazi. Summoning the powers of the Celestial Cauldron of Creation, Su Zhe focused his mind. The mystical cauldron shimmered, revealing the true nature of the items.

The Blade: Name: Malevolent Blade Grade: Second-Tier Mortal Weapon Requirements: Mastery of the Tiger's Wrath Blade Art (Intermediate Level) Traits: Aura of Malevolence (Second-Tier): Exudes an intimidating presence, capable of shaking an opponent's resolve. Special Effect: Contains memory fragments of intermediate and advanced techniques of the Tiger's Wrath Blade Art.

The Scroll: Name: The Art of the Flood Dragon Grade: Second-Tier Martial Treasure (Records Lesser Advanced Martial Art) Requirements: A practitioner with strength of at least a thousand pounds. Traits: Flood Dragon's Grace (Second-Tier): Enhances water-based mobility. Dragon Cloud Step (Second-Tier): Increases speed and agility. Special Effect: Grants memory fragments of The Art of the Flood Dragon (Intermediate Level). Su Zhe's eyes lit up with excitement.

The scroll, though limited to an intermediate level, was inscribed on a unique silk material—a clear indication of its exceptional value.

"This silk... I don't recognize it," Su Zhe murmured. Despite his expertise in various martial materials, the scroll's fabric defied identification. Testing its strength, Su Zhe exerted a thousand pounds of force, but the silk remained unyielding. It wasn't until he pushed harder, applying the full extent of his strength—twelve hundred pounds—that the material emitted faint tearing sounds, yet still did not break.

"To think that a mere medium for recording martial techniques is crafted from such extraordinary material... Even a fragment of this technique is worth a king's ransom," Su Zhe marveled. Through the Celestial Cauldron, he discovered an intriguing truth: the scroll itself qualified as a treasure and could be equipped within the apertures of the cauldron.

"This means that if I encounter other profound martial techniques in the future, as long as their mediums are recognized as treasures, I can directly obtain their essence!" Su Zhe's lips curved into a satisfied smile.

"No matter how great someone's talent or comprehension, they can't compare to me—I can directly inherit the memories of the original owner!" His excitement, however, was tempered by frustration as he turned to the Malevolent Blade.

"Unfortunately, this second-tier mortal weapon requires mastery of the Tiger's Wrath Blade Art. And where on earth am I supposed to learn that?" The blade's immense potential tempted him, but it would remain out of reach without the necessary skill. For now, Su Zhe equipped the scroll in one of his apertures, meeting its strength requirement with ease. Within his consciousness, he envisioned the mythical transformation of a serpent into a flood dragon.

It devoured, grew, and finally gained the chance to ascend as a true dragon. This journey—fraught with storms and tribulations—symbolized life's ultimate breakthrough. The technique's essence crystallized in Su Zhe's mind:"Flood dragons seek the sea to glimpse the divine. Ascend to the heavens to chase the shadow of the Way." Once mastered, the user would move like a dragon in water, swift and elusive. On land or sea, they would embody unparalleled grace and speed.

Moreover, the technique scaled with the practitioner's strength—the greater their power, the faster their movement.

"Perfect!" Su Zhe exclaimed, his grin broadening.

"It's as if this technique was designed for me. With my overwhelming strength, this will make me unstoppable!" Shaking his head, Su Zhe laughed.

"Looks like fate is forcing me down the path of extreme specialization. Well, if that's what the heavens decree, who am I to argue?"