After another deeply intense session that left the Matriarch utterly drained and entirely subservient, Shen Yu walked out of the central pavilion of the Jin Estate. He paused on the grand marble steps, his hands clasped loosely behind his back as he looked out over the horizon.
The sun was just beginning to set over Thousand Waves City. The sky was bleeding an intense, brilliant crimson, the last dying rays of light painting the clouds in the color of fresh blood. To Shen Yu, it was a perfectly beautiful environment, a fitting, poetic omen foretelling the absolute fate of the Peng Clan.
He descended the steps and entered the shadow-wood carriage waiting for him in the courtyard.
"Uncle Fu," Shen Yu said smoothly as he sat back against the velvet cushions. "Take me to the headquarters of the Jade Spring Hall."
"Yes, Young Master," the old driver replied, his voice thick with a profound, unshakeable respect.
Shen Fu was not just a hired hand; he was one of the few surviving retainers of the fallen Shen Clan. To the outside world, Shen Yu might have been seen as a useless cripple for years, but to the hidden remnants of the Shen Clan, he was their true and only Lord. They held a deep, secret reverence for him that far eclipsed their respect for the current clan leader, Mei Yilan.
They could never show it in broad daylight; it would completely undermine his aunt's authority, but the fire in their hearts had never truly died. Now that Shen Yu had repaired his meridians and was silently moving the pieces of the city, that fading fire had erupted into a roaring inferno. They were quietly, desperately expecting the day he would lead them to their revenge.
After fifteen minutes of navigating the bustling streets, the carriage arrived at the absolute center of Thousand Waves City.
The main branch of the Tang Clan's medicinal empire was a breathtaking sight. The Jade Spring Hall was a massive, three-story pavilion constructed entirely from polished, spiritual green-wood. At the very front, hanging beneath the curving eaves, was a grand golden plaque bearing the shop's name. Beside it hung their crest: a luminous Jade Spring rising from the earth, symbolizing purity, rebirth, and endless potential.
Because it was the premier shop backed by the Jin Clan's supply lines, the front entrance was completely packed with cultivators and merchants. Not wanting to attract the chaotic public attention of the crowd, Shen Yu slipped quietly through the heavily guarded back entrance.
The moment he stepped inside the private corridors, the staff immediately bowed with absolute reverence.
Footsteps echoed quickly down the hall, and the head manager came rushing forward. He was a man in his early forties with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed black goatee. This was Shen Mo, another fiercely loyal survivor of the Shen Clan who had been tasked with managing all of the Tang Clan's storefronts.
"Good evening, Young Master," Shen Mo bowed deeply.
"Good evening, Uncle Mo. How is the trade going?" Shen Yu asked, offering a gentle, relaxed smile.
Shen Mo sighed, his sharp features pulling into a frown. "It is not good, Young Master. Because of the new Tier-0 and Tier-1 pills released by the Peng Clan, the pill market of our hall has taken a massive hit. The sheer volume of their sales is staggering. Fortunately, our raw herb business is still holding the line."
Shen Yu looked at the anxious manager and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It is perfectly alright, Uncle Mo. We are already looking for solutions, and in no time at all, we will be back on track to completely dominate the market."
Shen Mo's eyes widened slightly at the absolute confidence radiating from the young master, and he nodded firmly.
"I am going to meet Aunt Yilan now," Shen Yu said, stepping past him and walking down the pristine, incense-filled corridor toward the central office.
He stood before the heavy, runic-carved doors and knocked gently. "Aunt, can I come inside?"
"Come in, Yu'er," a mature, melodious voice called out from the other side.
Shen Yu pushed open the doors. The grand office was designed in the exact same aesthetic as the store, soothing, opulent, and overflowing with vitality. Indoor water features bubbled quietly in the corners, circulating fresh spiritual energy, while walls of polished jade gave the room a cool, commanding atmosphere.
Sitting behind a massive desk carved from a single block of spirit-wood was Mei Yilan. She was currently frowning down at a stack of financial reports.
Standing dutifully beside her was her head assistant, Xu Yi.
Xu Yi was a woman in her early forties, possessing a sharp, highly intelligent gaze beneath her dark brown hair and deep brown eyes. She wore a tailored, high-collared dress that did absolutely nothing to hide her incredibly voluptuous figure. She had a heavy, generous chest and wide, plush hips. There was a soft, alluring mass to her stomach that simply added to her irresistible, mature charm.
If anyone in the city were to ask who truly kept the wheels of the Tang Clan turning, the answer would undoubtedly be Xu Yi. She was the absolute bedrock of Mei Yilan's administration. She managed the managers, scheduled every vital appointment, and frequently finalized massive trade deals when Yilan was occupied. She was one of the most important pillars of the estate.
As Shen Yu walked in, his golden eyes briefly swept over Xu Yi's lush curves before meeting Mei Yilan's gaze. In that brief, passing moment, Xu Yi suddenly felt an unexplainable, suffocating pressure wash over her, accompanied by a sudden, scorching heat pooling in her lower abdomen. She shifted her legs slightly, hiding her sudden flush behind her professional demeanor.
"Aunt, how is everything going?" Shen Yu asked casually, taking a seat opposite the desk.
Mei Yilan offered a tired but genuine smile. "It is fine, Yu'er. We are managing."
"I heard that our business is trending down because of the new pills released by the Peng Clan."
Mei Yilan sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Yes, it has been quite straining. They cornered the absolute foundation of the market overnight."
Shen Yu leaned back in his chair, his posture entirely relaxed. "Then there is absolutely no need to take on any more stress."
Reaching into his spatial ring, Shen Yu pulled out two folded pieces of parchment and two pristine jade bottles, placing them gently onto the center of the desk with a soft clack.
"What is this?" Yilan asked, blinking in confusion.
Shen Yu just smiled.
Curious, Yilan picked up the first bottle and popped the cork. A rich, herbal scent wafted into the air, something incredibly similar to the Tier-0 Dragon-Tiger Marrow Pill the Peng Clan was mass-producing. She opened the second bottle, and the scent perfectly mirrored the Tier-1 Violet Vein Qi-Cyclone Pill.
"The Peng Clan's pills?" Mei Yilan asked, her brow furrowing. She smelled them again. "No... this is different."
Relying on her profound experience as a Tier-3 Alchemist, she immediately recognized the subtle shifts in the spiritual residue. She opened a drawer, retrieved a small silver knife, and carefully scraped a tiny fraction of powder from the first pill. She placed it on her tongue, closing her eyes to analyze it. A moment later, she did the exact same with the second pill.
Her eyes snapped open, blazing with absolute shock.