Chapter 55: Su Family Crisis

A cold wind swirled dead leaves at the entrance of Hongshan Martial Arts Hall.

Su Da Wen looked at his son, his expression grave.

His will was crushed, his face stained with tears.

He had failed his second attempt to break through to the Martial Artist realm, meaning his dream of becoming one was completely shattered.

Su Da Wen took a deep breath and said softly, "Can’Er, if you failed, you failed. You’re already at the level of Three Times of Knocking. You can still live a good life."

"No! It’s all your fault!"

Hearing his father’s words, Su Can’s rage and resentment erupted. He had been just one step away from becoming a Martial Artist—a tiny gap. If he had just leaped across it, he could have completely changed his fate!

Once he became a Martial Artist, he would be a cut above the rest.

The apprentices at the hall would have to respectfully call him Senior Brother, and the villagers would have to address him as ’sir’!

He would be the center of attention everywhere he went, shining brilliantly!

Yu Huan wouldn’t have left him, and the head master wouldn’t have become so cold toward him.

He had been so close before, but after he failed his first breakthrough attempt, their attitudes toward him changed in an instant.

He originally had a second chance, but he didn’t have any medicinal pills!

"It’s all your fault! You rushed me to break through! After I failed the first time, I should have prepared more for this one!"

Su Can’s eyes filled with hatred as he stared at his silent father.

’They can’t help me with anything, they can’t even provide a single medicinal pill! Every time I need to buy an Herbal Decoction, I have to hound them for money, and it always delays my training!’

"If I’d had a medicinal pill, I would have succeeded this time! It’s all because of you! You can’t help me with anything!"

Watching his son scream crazily and throw a tantrum at him, Su Da Wen’s back, already slightly stooped from years of gutting fish, seemed to bend even further.

He tried to speak several times, but no words came out.

He just tremblingly reached out a weathered hand, covered in chilblains and cracks, wanting to wipe away his son’s tears.

"SMACK!"

Su Can violently swung his arm, slapping his father’s hand away.

The back of Su Da Wen’s hand instantly swelled and turned red, but he didn’t feel the pain. He just stared blankly at the swollen area.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind: ’So my son has really trained in martial arts. That blow was so powerful. Compared to him, I’m as helpless as a child.’

The commotion also attracted a few people from the martial arts hall. Seeing Su Can’s state, they instantly knew he had failed his breakthrough again.

All sorts of mocking and gloating voices arose.

"Well, well, if it isn’t our genius, Su Can? Failed again, have we?"

"What genius? He’s just a piece of trash! Failed to break through twice in a row. And with ’above-average aptitude,’ too. What a waste!"

"A country bumpkin from outside the city thinking he could turn his life around. What a joke. Look how proud he was when he was with Miss Mo."

"I told you he was a lost cause. He’s too weak-willed. No matter how good his aptitude is, he’ll never break through!"

"Get lost! All of you, get lost!"

Su Can, wanting to die from shame and anger, roared like a wounded beast.

Su Da Wen’s brow furrowed. He instinctively reached out to pull him away. "Can’Er, let’s go home..."

"You get lost, too!"

A savage glint flashed in Su Can’s eyes as he gave a violent shove.

"THUD!"

How much strength does someone at the level of Three Times of Knocking have? Su Da Wen was completely unprepared. He was thrown hard onto the stone slabs and couldn’t get up for a long moment.

"Da Wen!"

A startled cry rang out just then.

Village Chief Wang Yuechi ran over, panting, and helped Su Da Wen up, his face etched with anxiety.

"Village Chief..." Su Da Wen forced a smile, fighting through the sharp pain in his back. "It’s nothing. The boy is just going through something."

Wang Yuechi said anxiously, "Da Wen, there’s been trouble at your home. That Cao Bin from the Water Snake Gang sent his men and took your whole Su Family—your wife, Elder Su, and Su Hong... He says your family owes him money from a high-interest loan and won’t pay, so he’s going to take their lives as payment!"

"What!"

Su Da Wen’s vision went black, and he nearly fainted. Wang Yuechi quickly steadied him and forced himself to continue, "The Water Snake Gang specifically demanded that Su Can go over at once. They said they’re waiting for you at their stronghold in Qingxi Market!"

Su Da Wen clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his flesh. The pain cleared his head a little. "Thank you, Village Chief. I’ll take my son over to handle this now."

Wang Yuechi nodded, then added in a low voice, "Doesn’t Su Can train at the martial arts hall? See if you can get the hall to help. That Cao Bin is powerful, and he’s a Martial Artist..."

"I’ll go inform Su Yu. You two need to figure something out, quickly."

With that, Wang Yuechi hurried away.

"Can’Er, you heard what your Uncle Wang said. See if you can go find your head master and ask for help."

Su Can panicked. "My mom? Who is this Cao Bin? Why did he take my mom?"

Su Da Wen said in a heavy tone, "That Cao Bin is your elder brother Su Hong’s enemy. He’s always wanted revenge on the Su Family."

"What does Su Hong’s enemy have to do with us? He should go after Su Hong!"

"You bastard!" Su Da Wen finally exploded.

"Have you forgotten how much money your elder brother spent on Herbal Decoctions for your training? And the high-interest loan your grandfather took out? It was all for you to study martial arts!"

"Now that there’s trouble, you need to step up!"

Su Da Wen’s face was contorted with fury, deeply heartbroken by his son’s spinelessness.

Su Can was intimidated by his father’s rage. He lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze. "It’s useless even if I go... I can’t beat a Martial Artist... The head master won’t help me either..."

At this moment, rage, grief, and disappointment surged through Su Da Wen, rushing to his head. He raised his hand and slapped his son hard across the face.

"SMACK!"

A dull thud of a slap echoed. Su Can clutched his face, even more afraid to look at his father.

"Go! Go beg your head master! Even if you have to kneel there until you die, you will get his help!"

...

「White Ape Martial Arts Hall, Rear Courtyard.」

"Younger Brother Su, that’s the situation."

"Thank you for the news, Uncle Wang. I’ll handle this," Su Yu said, his voice calm and his expression steady. "Please, Uncle Wang, go tell my third uncle to wait for me and not to act rashly."

Seeing Su Yu’s composed demeanor, Wang Yuechi couldn’t help but recall Su Can’s behavior from moments before and shook his head.

’That Elder Su is a poor judge of character,’ he thought. ’Younger Brother Su is so young and promising, yet they pinned all their hopes on Su Can.’

’It seems the only one who can save the Su Family now is probably Su Yu. But that Cao Bin from the Water Snake Gang is formidable. It will be difficult even for Younger Brother Su.’

As he was leaving, Wang Yuechi couldn’t resist adding, "Younger Brother Su, prioritize your own safety. I know all about your Su Family’s troubles. No matter what happens, as long as I’m in the village, your reputation will be sterling!"

After Wang Yuechi left, thoughts churned in Su Yu’s mind.

’Why would Cao Bin make a move against my eldest brother directly?’

’I just took out one of the Water Snake Gang’s strongholds. Why isn’t he investigating that? Why go after the Su Family first?’

’Could he suspect me?’

’Unlikely. I silenced those three from the Water Snake Gang and left no clues. Even if he suspects me, he won’t be able to find any proof.’

’But why did he specifically demand that Su Can go?’

’Does he suspect Su Can did it?’

At this thought, Su Yu’s heart sank. ’It’s possible he suspects someone in the Su Family and decided to act directly!’

’If so, this Cao Bin is definitely a ruthless and cautious man!’

’This man must be eliminated!’

’But since Cao Bin specified for Su Can to go to the stronghold, he must be confident he has the upper hand. I have to prepare for the worst!’

’There might be more than just one Martial Artist at the stronghold. I can’t just barge in and walk into an ambush. Besides, if I make a move at a Water Snake Gang stronghold, I’ll probably end up in direct conflict with the whole gang. The Water Snake Gang is too powerful for me to take on alone.’

Su Yu took a deep breath, stood up, and walked toward Master Qin’s room.