Chương 35: I Trust You Will, Commander!

The morning meal in the main dining hall was quiet as usual. Patriarch Su Zhongtian set his teacup down, the crisp clink echoing across the polished rosewood table.

"Shufen and I will depart for the Capital shortly," Su Zhongtian announced, his gaze sweeping over the table.

"I expect both of you to handle the estate's affairs in our absence, Luoyang, Xuan."

"Yes, Father," they replied in unison. Xiao Xuan stole a quick glance at Su Luoyang. Just last night, when he had gifted her the blue jade hairpin and Xinyue had suddenly interrupted them, he had felt a sudden, overwhelming rush of her flustered emotions. It had been so intense that he'd had to flee down the corridor. Yet now, sitting across the table, her face was a mask of icy calm, completely unreadable as ever. He had been subtly trying to connect with her since he sat down for breakfast, but it was in vain.

I guess it only works when her emotions peak! Liang Shufen turned her sharp eyes toward her younger daughter.

"You are coming with us, Luoyao." Su Luoyao dropped her chopsticks.

"What? Why? I want to stay here with Big Sis and brother-in-law!"

"Absolutely not," Liang Shufen countered, her tone brokering no argument. She shot a stern glare at both Luoyao and Xiao Xuan.

"I know exactly what you two did at the market yesterday. You are coming with me!" Xiao Xuan flinched, quickly snapping his attention toward his mother-in-law.

"Big Sis, Father, please!" Luoyao pleaded. Su Luoyang paused, placing her chopsticks down slowly.

"Let her stay, Mother. I will watch over her." Liang Shufen frowned.

"Yes, let her stay, Shufen," Su Zhongtian added, waving a hand dismissively.

"She will only cause a scene at the events anyway." Liang Shufen let out a reluctant sigh.

"Fine. But you both better behave while we are away."

"Yes, Mother," the two culprits said in unison. … An hour later, the carriage grounds echoed with disciplined footsteps. A fleet of armored soldiers on horseback formed a tight perimeter around a grand, gold-trimmed carriage. The Su Clan banners snapped in the morning wind. Standing near the stone steps, First Elder Su Zhongyong offered a bow to the Patriarch.

"Do not worry about the clan, Brother," Su Zhongyong said.

"Enjoy your trip. I will manage everything here."

"I trust you will," Su Zhongtian replied. He gave one last nod to his daughters and Xiao Xuan before stepping into the carriage with his wife. The heavy wheels groaned, and the procession marched out of the estate gates, leaving behind a lingering quiet in the courtyard. Su Luoyao grabbed Xiao Xuan's sleeve, her eyes sparkling.

"So, what do we play now, brother-in-law?"

"Luoyao," Su Luoyang sighed, rolling her eyes. Before Xiao Xuan could respond, Su Zhongyong turned around. The First Elder stood taller, his aura passively leaking out.

"Boy, there is no time for vacation," Su Zhongyong stated, his voice commanding.

"You must prepare the next batch of consignments for the Tang Auction House immediately."

"I understand, Elder," Xiao Xuan replied politely.

"I have assigned Commander Su Ming to lead the escort this time," Su Zhongyong continued, narrowing his eyes.

"There can be no more mistakes. Go meet him at the staging grounds later." Without waiting for a response, the First Elder turned and walked toward the council hall. Xiao Xuan let out a quiet breath. He looked down at the pouting Luoyao.

"I have work right now, Luoyao. We will play later."

"You heard him," Su Luoyang intervened, looking at her sister.

"Now go. You need to continue your cultivation; you have been neglecting it lately." Luoyao groaned, but obediently dragged her feet toward her chambers. Once they were alone, Su Luoyang turned to Xiao Xuan.

"The First Elder is right to be cautious. A new band of bandits composed entirely of Qi Shi (Qi Master) rank cultivators daring to strike within Xianghai is unprecedented. We are thoroughly investigating the matter." She crossed her arms, her expression serious.

"While a second attack is unlikely now that we are on alert, the First Elder insisted on Su Ming's presence. The consignment will be safe in his hands. I am going to cultivate now. Call me if you need any help."

"Thanks. See you later," Xiao Xuan said, waving at her retreating figure. He turned to his side, where Wei Tu stood silently.

"Wei Tu, send a letter to the Tang House and prepare everything."

"Yes, Young Master," Wei Tu said, bowing.

"I'll let you know when the carriages are packed and ready for your final approval." Xiao Xuan nodded and headed toward his chambers. … The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the Su Clan's carriage grounds. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Six reinforced carriages stood in a perfect line, their iron-banded wheels sinking slightly into the packed dirt.

"Young Master, the consignment is ready," Wei Tu reported, holding out the stamped ledger.

"Commander Su Ming is waiting for your approval to depart."

"Let's go," Xiao Xuan said. He walked down the steps toward the lead carriage. Standing beside it was Su Ming. The Commander wore dark scale armor, his massive broadsword strapped securely across his waist. Seeing Xiao Xuan approach, Su Ming stepped forward and offered a bow with his hands clasped.

"Young Master."

"Commander," Xiao Xuan replied, returning the gesture.

"Rest assured, Young Master," Su Ming said, his gaze steady.

"My men and I will deliver this consignment safely to the Tang House." Xiao Xuan looked at the seasoned soldiers mounting their horses.

"Of course," Xiao Xuan said.

"I trust you will, Commander." Su Ming nodded. Climbing onto his armored horse, he turned to his men.

"Move out!" The cracking of whips and the heavy clopping of hooves echoed across the grounds as the armored convoy rolled forward, exiting the grand gates of the estate. … The route to the Tang House's facility cut through a dense stretch of the district's outskirts. A thick jungle canopy choked out the fading sunlight. The convoy moved at a steady pace. The heavy wheels crushed fallen branches, the sound masking the subtle rustling in the high trees.

Su Ming rode at the vanguard, his eyes tracking the shadows while his Qi circulated, forming an invisible net to sense the ambience. Suddenly, the wind stopped. Su Ming's hand shot up into a fist.

"Halt!" he roared. The entire convoy ground to a halt. From the dense foliage above, six figures dropped onto the dirt path, their faces concealed behind identical black iron masks. Su Ming instantly flared his aura. A rich, maroon light erupted from his body, casting an eerie glow over the dark jungle. He scanned the ambushers. Six Qi Shi (Qi Master) rank cultivators.

"Formation!" Su Ming barked. The Su Clan soldiers didn't hesitate. They dismounted from their horses, drawing their sabers. Among them were five Qi Shi (Qi Master) experts of varying stages, and one lieutenant at the 2nd stage of the Qi Da Shi (Qi Grandmaster) rank. They formed a tight defensive ring around the carriages. The masked assassins drew curved blades and surged forward. The clash of steel shattered the silence. Sparks rained down on the dirt. The assassins fought with wild ferocity, but lacked cohesion.

The Su Clan soldiers, trained in brutal military tactics, moved as a single, breathing entity. When one soldier parried a strike, another thrust his blade into the opening. Su Ming didn't even draw his broadsword. He stepped into the fray, his palms coated in a thick layer of maroon Qi. He dodged a horizontal slash from a masked Qi Shi, stepped inside the man's guard, and slammed his palm into the assassin's chest. Crack. The assassin's ribs caved in.

He flew backward, crashing into a thick tree trunk, dead before he hit the ground. Within minutes, the Su Clan formation had completely overwhelmed the bandits. The remaining five assassins were pushed back, bleeding and panting. Su Ming stood tall, his armor unblemished.

"Is this the best you cowards can do?" A slow, loud clapping echoed from the darkness ahead. Clap. Clap. Clap. The remaining assassins immediately fell back. From the shadows of the massive ancient trees, a hulking figure stepped onto the dirt path. He wore a simple black robe that stretched tightly over his massive muscles. A featureless iron mask covered his face. He simply exhaled. Boom! A wave of Qi exploded from the bulky man's core, rolling over the convoy like a physical tidal wave.

The ambient air grew incredibly dense. The maroon light of Su Ming's aura flickered and dimmed under the pressure. The Su Clan horses screamed, their knees buckling as they collapsed into the dirt. The soldiers gritted their teeth, their boots sliding backward as they struggled just to remain standing. Su Ming's eyes widened. A Qi Ling (Qi Lord). The gap between a Qi Da Shi (Qi Grandmaster) and a Qi Ling (Qi Lord) was an insurmountable chasm.

One compressed their Qi into solid cores; the other could project that solid Qi outward, manipulating the very environment to crush their enemies.

"Hold the line!" Su Ming ordered, his voice strained against the crushing pressure. He drew his heavy broadsword. The steel hummed as he channeled every drop of his cultivation into the blade. He was a hair's breadth away from the Qi Ling (Qi Lord) realm himself. If there was anyone who could bridge the gap, it was him. The bulky man tilted his head. He raised a single hand and flicked his wrist. A condensed blade of pure Qi sliced through the air. Su Ming reacted purely on instinct.

He brought his broadsword up in a desperate block. CLANG! The impact sent a violent shockwave through Su Ming's arms. The bones in his forearms groaned. The earth beneath his boots cracked and cratered as he was pushed back five full paces, his heels digging deep trenches into the dirt.

"Su Han!" Su Ming roared.

"Take the men and fall back! Protect the carriages!" Su Ming didn't wait for a response. He pushed off the ground, rocketing forward with a devastating overhead strike aimed directly at the bulky man's masked face. The Qi Ling (Qi Lord) didn't even dodge. He raised his forearm. A dense, shimmering barrier of external Qi formed inches from his skin. Su Ming's broadsword slammed into the barrier. A shockwave ripped through the jungle canopy, stripping the leaves from the surrounding branches.

Su Ming gritted his teeth, his maroon Qi violently clashing against the colorless barrier, but the blade could not bite through. The bulky man let out a bored sigh. He stepped into Su Ming's guard, bypassing the sword, and drove his fist squarely into the Commander's abdomen. The force of the blow was catastrophic. Su Ming's armor shattered and blood erupted from his mouth as he was launched backward like a broken doll.

He smashed through a thick wooden carriage wheel, his body rolling across the dirt before coming to a stop. The jungle fell silent. The Su Clan soldiers stared in horror at their defeated commander. The bulky man lowered his fist. He looked at the trembling soldiers, and then at the carriages.

"Don't spare them," the Qi Ling (Qi Lord) ordered.