Chapter 39: Su Zhenglong's Birthday Gift

True Qi surged within Sikong Jing, a hint of a fierce and savage aura faintly shimmering around him.

After reaching the ninth level of the Bright Realm, he felt as though his entire bloodstream had taken on a tyrannical and overbearing quality. The dantian within his body, which resembled a monstrous head, had become even more solid, and his facial features appeared sharper.

His strength was far greater than any other ninth-level Bright Realm practitioner of the same grade.

After a brief moment of sensing his own state, Sikong Jing slowly rose, fetched a cup of water, and let a single drop of his blood fall into it.

The crimson blood mixed with the clear water, giving off an eerie and unpredictable sensation.

"Can my ninth-level Bright Realm blood truly detoxify Yuexi?"

After murmuring to himself, Sikong Jing carried the blood-infused water out of the room and slipped into Su Yuexi's humble quarters.

He gently woke her.

Amidst her panicked, tense, and slightly dazed gaze, Sikong Jing handed her the cup and said, "Yuexi, drink this."

In her groggy state, Su Yuexi caught sight of the suffocatingly bright crimson color in the water by the moonlight filtering through the window. She asked instinctively, "Brother Jing, what is this?"

"It is a surprise for you when dawn breaks."

Sikong Jing did not explain. He could not be one hundred percent certain whether his blood could truly cure the Crimson Spider Venom. For now, he did not dare to give Su Yuexi any false hope.

Su Yuexi remained in a daze, but she trusted that Sikong Jing would never harm her. Without asking further, she drank the blood-infused water and fell back into sleep.

Sikong Jing sat quietly by her bedside. Half an hour later, he gently pulled away Su Yuexi's veil.

A peerless countenance instantly met his eyes, making the midnight room feel as if it had been illuminated.

Under the moonlight, Su Yuexi was a tranquil and ethereal sleeping beauty, appearing as the most exquisite masterpiece of nature in the world.

The ugliness that had once marred her face had completely vanished, leaving her so beautiful that even Sikong Jing felt breathless. Even though he no longer judged beauty by outward appearance, he could not help but stare in awe.

This was the wife he could never fail.

Compared to Su Yuexi, the Ninth Princess, Yan Ruyu, was a mere clown in both soul and appearance.

***

Dawn broke, and Su Yuexi got up to wash.

However, she never dared to look in a mirror, and today was no exception.

After washing, Su Yuexi emerged still wearing her thick veil. Upon encountering Sikong Jing, she asked softly, "Brother Jing, did you give me something to drink last night?"

Her voice carried a dazed, muddled quality, as if she couldn't remember if it had been a dream or reality.

Smiling, Sikong Jing took her hand and said, "I believe so. You must have drunk it."

Sikong Jing knew that Su Yuexi had not yet discovered the change in her appearance. He would save this surprise for Su Xuefeng's birthday banquet.

Sikong Jing intended to make Su Yuexi the protagonist of today's banquet and make those who once looked down on her go blind with shock!

Su Yuexi blinked in confusion. If she had drunk it, she had drunk it; if she hadn't, she hadn't. What did he mean by "I believe so"?

Just as she was about to press him for answers, Mei Xiaofang called out, "Sikong Jing, come and help!"

The two instinctively looked over to see Mei Xiaofang dragging a human-sized chest out of the room, panting heavily from exhaustion.

Seeing this, the two rushed over to help.

In the end, it was Sikong Jing who carried the large chest into the courtyard.

"Mother, what is this?" Su Yuexi had already forgotten her previous question and was looking at the large chest with curiosity.

Mei Xiaofang smiled and said, "You'll know once you open it."

Following her instructions, Su Yuexi opened the chest, and a life-like statue immediately appeared before her eyes.

Su Yuexi froze instantly.

The statue was carved in the likeness of a young woman, incredibly beautiful and lifelike.

"Mother, this is..."

Before she could finish, Su Zhenglong's voice drifted from the hall: "That is your late grandmother."

Su Yuexi was astonished. She had never met her grandmother; her father had said that when Grandmother passed away, even her elder sister, Su Yuexian, had not yet been born.

"So Grandmother was so beautiful..."

Muttering to herself, Su Yuexi's expression turned slightly somber, a sense of inferiority washing over her.

Once again, Sikong Jing took her hand.

Sikong Jing also stared at the statue. It turned out that Su Yuexi had inherited her grandmother's looks; they were at least seventy to eighty percent similar.

At that moment, Mei Xiaofang said softly, "Your father spent several months carving this. It is a birthday gift for your grandfather. Your father still hopes to reconcile with him."

Su Zhenglong sighed and added, "Blood is thicker than water. I truly do not want us to reach a point of fratricide."

Their words sent a shock through Su Yuexi's entire body. Did she not also long for her grandfather's affection?

"Ah Jing, I hope you won't act impulsively at the banquet. This gift will surely save your life when Su Shan arrives," Su Zhenglong said, looking deeply at Sikong Jing.

Sikong Jing opened his mouth; he wanted to say he feared no one, especially not Su Shan, but he held his words back.

It was not the right time to say it, and if they could turn conflict into peace, it would be a wonderful thing. Su Zhenglong was using the statue of Su Yuexi's grandmother to try and move Su Xuefeng!

More importantly, they were also doing everything they could to protect his life. Even if he didn't need it, he deeply appreciated the sentiment.

Thinking of this, Sikong Jing nodded seriously. "I understand, Father-in-law. I shall go prepare a gift as well."

With that, Sikong Jing returned to his room.

He took out the two remaining green jade slabs from his time at the Heavenly Martial Pavilion. A set of low-grade Profound-rank martial techniques flashed through his mind. He began carving without hesitation, succeeding on his first attempt.

"I accidentally carved out Martial Intent again. It's a bit hard to control," Sikong Jing muttered to himself. He took another breath and said, "Forget it. If Su Xuefeng can repent, I'll give him the extraordinary Martial Intent."

He then quickly carved a second green jade slab, which contained a second set of low-grade Profound-rank martial techniques, also imbued with Martial Intent.

Once finished, he found an old box in his room to pack them in before walking out.

"Brother Jing, what gift did you prepare?" Su Yuexi stepped forward to ask.

Sikong Jing smiled. "You'll know at the banquet. It will surely make Su Xuefeng overjoyed."

Su Yuexi was curious, but she did not ask further.

When the time was right, the family of four set off with their gifts and soon arrived at the banquet hall.

By this time, the hall was packed.

There were various relatives and friends of the Su family, servants busy running back and forth, and members of the various large and small clans of Yunye City. Su Xuefeng sat in the central seat, chatting happily with everyone.

"Eh? Isn't that the Su family prodigy, Su Zhenglong? You're not dead yet?"

Just as Su Zhenglong was about to step forward to offer his birthday wishes, a sarcastic voice rang out, causing the faces of Sikong Jing and the others to darken.

Simultaneously, the entire banquet hall fell silent.

Countless gazes focused on Su Zhenglong—some complex, others filled with cold mockery. Everyone in Yunye City knew that Su Zhenglong's days were numbered and that he was highly disliked by Su Xuefeng.