Zhuo Riyan reached the main door and pulled it open, his expression openly annoyed. It was already night, and anyone disturbing him now was clearly asking for trouble.
Without even lifting his gaze, he spoke impatiently,
"Who is it? And if you have nothing serious, you can tell me tomorr—"
His voice stopped abruptly.
Standing outside the pavilion was Su Mei.
She stood there quietly, her posture straight, her eyes cold and calm as ever, staring directly at him.
Zhuo Riyan froze for a brief moment.
It had been years since he last saw her. Back then, she had left the Su Manor after being chosen by a powerful master as a disciple. Since then, there had been no news, no letters, nothing.
His thoughts raced instantly. She's here for the competition. I can't sense her cultivation at all… she's definitely fucking powerful now.
Suppressing his surprise, Zhuo Riyan forced a polite smile and spoke in a respectful tone,
"Oh, Sister Mei… you're back. What brings you here?"
Su Mei did not return his smile. Her expression remained indifferent as she lifted her hand and took out a small brown wooden box, its surface worn but well-preserved.
Zhuo Riyan's gaze fell onto the box, curiosity flashing through his eyes. What the fuck is that?
"Don't think too much," Su Mei said coldly. "It's a pill. Foundation Recovery Pill."
Zhuo Riyan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I heard your dantian and beast veins were destroyed," she continued. "This pill can recover—"
Her words suddenly stopped.
At that moment, Su Mei clearly sensed the flow of qi within Zhuo Riyan's body. His aura was stable, his beast qi circulating smoothly. There was not the slightest sign of a crippled foundation.
Her eyes flickered, just a little.
Zhuo Riyan felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. She had come all this way to help him, and yet he had already recovered on his own. He had even suspected her motives earlier.
Feeling slightly awkward, he scratched his cheek and smiled.
"Sister Mei… I already recovered my cultivation, so you don't have to worry."
Ten minutes later, the backyard of the Rain Appreciating Pavilion was silent under the dark sky. Moonlight spilled softly across the stone floor, casting long shadows from the pavilion pillars.
Su Mei sat calmly on one of the wooden chairs beside a small round table. Her posture was straight, her expression cold and unreadable, just like before.
Zhuo Riyan walked in from the side path carrying two cups of freshly brewed tea. Steam rose faintly from them. He approached the table, pulled out the chair opposite Su Mei, and sat down.
He placed one cup in front of her and said, "Sorry for keeping you waiting."
Su Mei nodded slightly, picked up the cup, and took a small sip. Her expression did not change.
"It's fine," she said flatly. "You didn't need to make tea. I only came to give you the pill, but you've already recovered your cultivation."
Zhuo Riyan smiled politely. "You traveled a long way. Making a cup of tea is the least I can do."
Su Mei placed the cup back on the table. Her fingers rested lightly on the rim as she lifted her gaze, her eyes sharp and serious.
"So," she asked coldly, "are you planning to participate in tomorrow's competition?"
"Yeah, of course," Zhuo Riyan replied without hesitation. He took a sip of his tea, his tone relaxed. "Doesn't matter who stands in my way. I'll fight them until I lose."
Su Mei let out a quiet sigh. "You're still the same reckless bastard."
Then she continued, her voice low. "Listen carefully. My father and mother never cared much about this pavilion. But the second, third, and fourth uncles want it at any cost. They won't hold back."
Zhuo Riyan's smile did not fade. "It doesn't matter."
Su Mei's brows tightened slightly. "Do you even know that Fourth Uncle's son, Su Qang, has already reached the Third Level of Beast Spirit Stage? You're still at the Fourth Level of Beast Veins Stage. How do you plan to defeat someone like that?"
At those words, Zhuo Riyan's relaxed smile slowly twisted into something darker. His eyes hardened, and when he spoke again, his voice carried a sharp edge.
"Sister Mei," he said quietly, "when I was still in the Great Bound Sect, no one even dared to dream about touching the Rain Appreciating Pavilion."
His grip on the tea cup tightened.
"But the moment I got crippled," he continued, "all these fucking hyenas crawled out, thinking they could take everything from me and my mother."
A crimson-black qi suddenly surged out of his body like raging flames. The pressure rolled outward in waves, crushing the air itself. The tea on the table trembled, ripples forming on the surface.
Su Mei's eyes widened slightly as she felt the oppressive force crash into her. For a brief moment, her breathing faltered, and she had to circulate her qi to stabilize herself.
She managed to hold her ground, but her heart shook.
Zhuo Riyan looked straight at her, his eyes burning with cold fury.
"So tell me," he said slowly, "do you really think they'll just leave us alone if I back down now?"