C9 Conquering the Same Generation

Su Hai wanted to remain defiant, but the chill creeping up half his body was undeniable. Su Ze's calm tone carried an edge of danger that made him uneasy.

His siblings stood close by as he grumbled under his breath, refusing to concede. Picking up the knife, he returned it to its place, massaging the icy shoulder before turning to leave.

"Stop," commanded Su Ze.

"What now?" Su Hai called out, irritation lacing his voice.

Su Ze offered a smile. "Come over. Let's talk, heart to heart."

"I've got nothing to discuss with you," Su Hai began, but the icy shift in Su Ze's gaze made him rethink his stance. Fear took over, and he amended, "Fine, I'll listen. What's so important to talk about?"

"We actually have nothing to discuss," Su Ze said with a smile. "I just want to remind you not to follow in our father's misguided footsteps and lead yourself astray."

What?

Anger flashed across Su Hai's face, mirrored by Su Jiang, Su Chi, and Su Mo. Su Ze's words were a direct challenge to their fathers' honor. How could they not seethe with rage?

"Su Ze, don't think you can strut around just because you're more powerful!" Su Hai barked.

"Sorry, but my arrogance is indeed backed by my superior strength," Su Ze replied with a grin.

Su Hai was taken aback, speechless. In a world where might dictated right, what was the point of being strong if not to dominate the weak?

Su Ze knew they were missing his point, and their silence was satisfying.

"Why do I say your father's thinking is flawed?" Su Ze pressed on. "First, win or lose, they remain the Third and Fourth Elders. You are their children, yet none of you are in line to become the patriarch. What exactly are you striving for? Are you just blindly following Su Bocheng's lead?"

"Second, if your fathers refrained from folly, the Su family would be formidable, and you'd be the proud offspring of the mighty Third and Fourth Elders. But with their reckless actions, the Su family weakens, and they become the elders of a diminished clan. You, their children, inherit that diminished legacy. Is that truly something to be proud of?"

"What have you ultimately achieved? A fragmented Su family, a feeble and internally divided Su family, and a status that invites scorn from all sides."

"True, Su Bocheng unleashed his fury when he took over as patriarch, but what does that have to do with you? Your reward is inheriting a diminished Su family that's the object of derision."

Initially, Su Hai, Su Jiang, Su Chi, and Su Mo bristled with anger, but slowly their expressions shifted to stunned silence as they exchanged glances.

Is that the reality?

It seems to be the case.

Did they truly err in backing the Grand Elder?

Without further comment, Su Ze began to meander through the second floor of the Glorious Martial Merchant House. The distinction between the first and second floors was subtle, with the latter being just a tad cleaner and the merchandise largely the same.

Su Ze had little interest in mental cultivation methods. With no high-grade Medicinal Pills or weapons available, he set out to select a martial skill suited to his preferred weapon.

A wolf tooth club? A large machete? These seemed excessively crude. He pondered the inconvenience of carrying such arms.

Sword techniques, however, were a viable option, as were spear techniques. These were not only convenient to carry but would also compensate for Su Ze's limited attack range.

Despite these being unranked martial skills, Su Ze was unfazed. With a hundred trillion attribute points at his disposal, he could elevate these skills to ranked cultivation techniques in the future.

Meanwhile, Su Jiang, Su Hai, and the others lingered, murmuring among themselves, "He might have a point."

"Following the Grand Elder hasn't really paid off for us."

"We're at a loss here. We should discuss this with our father back home."

The youngest, thirteen-year-old Su Mo, had initially shared her brothers' stance. Now, she approached with a new perspective, a hint of coyness in her voice. "Brother Suze, you seem to be onto something. What are you planning to buy today?"

"Find yourself a martial skill for weaponry," Su Ze instructed.

Seeing that he wasn't ridiculing her, Su Mo smiled and gestured for Su Jiang, Su Hai, and Su Chi to join them.

The trio was initially uneasy, but as they began to converse, the awkwardness faded. They were, after all, peers, and the conversation soon lost the chill that had previously marked their interactions.

The four of them had unconsciously gathered around Su Ze, engrossed in a discussion about the wares at the Glorious Martial Merchant House.

After a bit of time spent together, Su Mo spoke up, "Brother Suze, you're not the self-absorbed guy Su Hee made you out to be. You didn't ridicule our Root Bone at all. I think you're pretty decent. Don't you guys agree?"

Before this, Su Hai and the others would have disagreed, but now they paused, thought it over, and nodded in agreement.

Their recent, peaceful exchange had been enough to make them see that Su Ze was not the type of person they had been led to believe. Doubts about Su Hee's and others' past comments began to surface.

Reflecting on Su Ze's earlier words, they felt even more uncertain.

"By the way, Brother Suze, why didn't you and Faang Qingya go out on a date today?" Su Mo inquired once more. "Your engagement was three years ago, and your wedding must be coming up soon, right?"

Married?

Su Ze chuckled, "I won't be marrying her. We've split up."

"What?"

Su Mo exclaimed in astonishment, and Su Jiang, Su Hai, and Su Chi were equally taken aback.

Everyone in Tieling City knew of their pairing. Su Ze's deep affection for Faang Qingya was something the entire Su family had witnessed. How could they have suddenly parted ways?

"Brother Suze, you're not pulling our leg, are you?" Su Mo asked, still half in disbelief after her initial shock.

"I'm serious," Su Ze affirmed.

Su Mo, puzzled, pressed on, "But why? Would the patriarch even allow it?"

"She's too manipulative, planting spies in our Su family. She's not kind-hearted. I told my father, and we decided to end things with her," Su Ze explained.

Hearing this, Su Mo and the others exchanged bewildered glances. They had always seen Faang Qingya as the epitome of gentleness and elegance; they never imagined what she was truly like. Was this decisiveness new for Su Ze?

While they were still discussing this, a commotion erupted outside.

Peering out, Su Mo saw members of the Su family returning from the Fang household. After some acquaintances went to inquire, they began to argue, faces filled with shock. Within moments, the news that the Su family had issued a letter of divorce to the Fang family spread throughout Tieling City.

"Is this really happening? Brother Suze, you have my utmost admiration!"

Su Mo exclaimed.

Su Jiang, Su Hai, and Su Chi all expressed their admiration as well. They wouldn't dare to disrupt a marriage alliance between two families like he did.

Seeing their reactions, Su Ze allowed himself a slight smile.

Now, only one issue remained in the Su family's internal conflict.

And it was the toughest one to tackle.