A Little Punishment

Chapter 8- A Little Punishment

Since Su Mu had nothing better to do inside the Black Wind Trade Area, he decided to head back to Su Yan's house.

Inside Su Yan's house, she was having dinner along with Su Mu.

"It's delicious." Su Mu said, looking at Su Yan. Today's dinner was prepared by her, which surprised Su Mu since he never took Su Yan as the type who'd know how to cook meals.

"I know." Su Yan replied without a change in her expression before glaring at Su Mu.

"I heard that you have been accompanying Hu Mei'er a lot. Is there a special reason behind it?" Su Yan asked, placing the bowl on the table.

"I never thought you were interested in my personal life, Su Yan." Su Mu replied, placing the empty bowl on the table.

Hearing his reply, Su Yan frowned. Indeed, she wasn't someone who'd bother to pry into someone else's personal life, not even her brother's. The only thing she believed in was one's cultivation and how much effort they put into it.

But since her grandfather asked her to take care of Su Mu, she was going to do whatever it takes to straighten Su Mu up as his elder sister.

"What are you thinking so hard about? I'm just joking." Su Mu said with a chuckle, making Su Yan visibly embarrassed.

'No matter what the world is, messing with Ice Cultivators is always entertaining.'

"As for Hu Mei'er, we're just friends. She was showing me around the Trade Area to show her gratitude for saving her from Cheng Shao Feng." Su Mu explained, making Su Yan nod.

"You should be careful of her elder sister, Hu Jiao'er." Su Yan said with a serious expression.

"What's her cultivation realm?" Su Mu asked, curious about who Hu Mei'er's sister was.

"As far as I know, she should be in the 9th Layer of Separation and Reunion Realm." Su Yan replied.

Due to Su Yan's reputation, no one dared to cause any trouble within the Black Wind Trade Area, giving Su Yan all the time she need for cultivation. As a reason, she has little to no knowledge of what's happening outside.

"And how old is Hu Jiao'er?" Su Mu asked, making Su Yan frown a little.

Why was he so interested in Hu Jiao'er even though she was sitting right next to him? Ever since they met, he didn't even bother to ask how Su Yan was doing, making the latter somewhat uncomfortable. Did he really not care about her in the slightest?

"She is the same age as me." Su Yan replied, calming her inner turmoil.

'Interesting.' Su Mu thought as a smile appeared on his face while looking at Su Yan's change in behaviour. He also guessed that the person Hu Mei'er wanted him to meet was either Hu Jiao'er or her father, Hu Man, the Group Head of Blood Battle Group.

And so, five days passed.

During these five days, Su Mu was getting closer to Su Yan faster than he expected. During this time, Su Yan also talked about her achievements in the path of cultivation, and Su Mu could tell that she was proud of her achievements.

While they were each discussing their attainments in Dao, Su Mu made sure to give some pointers to Su Yan while not making it too obvious.

"What kind of Dao do you wish to pursue, Su Mu?" Su Yan asked with a slightly curious look. After her discussion regarding Dao with Su Mu, she was able to gain some insights thanks to what Su Mu told her, which raised her respect for him a lot.

While they were living together, Su Yan also noticed that unlike what her grandfather said, Su Mu seemed rather normal to her. Although he was a bit hotheaded, it was not something to frown over.

"The Dao I wish to pursue? The path doesn't matter, what matters is the end goal. For me, that's reaching the Peak of Martial Dao." Su Mu replied with a smile. That was the best answer he could give Su Yan, a True Element 3rd Stage Cultivator without giving her a headache.

"The path doesn't matter, what matters is the end goal." Su Yan kept muttering the words Su Mu just said while walking around before her eyes widened in surprise.

'She is about to break through, huh?' Su Mu thought, looking at Su Yan.

"You should go and cultivate, Su Yan. I'll make sure that no one disturbs you." Su Mu said with a smile, caressing Su Yan's cheek, making her face red in embarrassment. But due to her sudden breakthrough, she just nodded and ran off towards her room.

After about an hour, Su Mu felt a sudden burst in Su Yan's True Qi, indicating that Su Yan just broke through the 4th Stage of the True Element Realm.

'Her breakthrough was probably felt by most of the Black Wind Trade Area, but I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to cause trouble right now. Maybe I should start cultivating some of my previous Martial Skills when I have nothing better to do.' Su Mu thought.

After waiting for another hour, Su Yan came out of her room with a charming smile on her face. After her breakthrough, she was extremely happy. From her previous calculations, it would've taken her another month to reach the 4th Stage of True Element Realm, but thanks to Su Mu, she was able to do that in five days, making her feel thankful towards Su Mu.

"Congratulations." Su Mu greeted her with a smile, making Su Yan nod in return.

"It's all thanks to you." Su Yan replied.

'Oh, it's the errand boy.' Su Mu thought, sensing a familiar presence standing outside of Su Yan's wooden house.

"You should consolidate your realm, I won't disturb you." Su Mu said, turning around to leave. It was about time for him to visit Hu Mei'er.

"Yes." Su Yan said, somewhat dejected by Su Mu's unenthusiastic reply while looking at him leaving the house. Without even noticing it, she was starting to follow whatever Su Mu tells her obediently.

"Young Master Su."

Just as Su Mu stepped outside the wooden house, he was greeted by the sight of a young man wearing The High Heaven Pavilion's Disciple robes.

"What is it, Li Yun Tian?" Su Mu asked, looking at the young man.

He was Li Yun Tian, one of the original Su Mu's lackeys with the cultivation of Tempered Body 7th Stage. Su Mu previously ordered him to keep an eye on Yang Kai within the High Heaven Pavilion.

"Yang Kai, the person Young Master Su told me to keep an eye on, has reached Initial Element 3rd Stage. And he caught me tailing him more than once, from what I can tell, he is being suspicious of me now." Li Yun Tian replied, cupping his fists. Although he wasn't sure why Su Mu would ask him to look into a mere Trial Disciple, he didn't dare question Su Mu's intentions.

"Anyone would be suspicious of a stalker." Su Mu replied, shaking his head. "Anyway, you don't need to actively tail him, just keep an eye on any news regarding him. You may leave now."

"Yes, Young Master Su." With that, Li Yun Tian left.

'I wonder how long it'll take for Yang Kai to find the Soul Warming Lotus.' Su Mu thought, sighing. The only reason he was keeping Yang Kai alive was because of the Soul-Warming Lotus. The moment Su Mu gets his hands on the Soul-Warming Lotus, he won't have any use for Yang Kai.

"I should raise my cultivation as well. Maybe the the Peak of Initial Element would do?" Su Mu muttered, walking towards the place Hu Mei'er stayed.

The reason Su Mu was so relaxed about his cultivation was simple. The Secret Art he created in his past life requires one to start cultivating it before reaching the Separation and Reunion Realm. There was little to no point in cultivating without using his Secret Art except for keeping his face in public.

With these thoughts, Su Mu reached the wooden houses that Hu Mei'er has previously told him about.

Just as Su Mu was about to knock, a cute voice sounded out from within the house. "Who's outside?"

'That's not Hu Mei'er, but the voice is too similar.' Su Mu thought. He could tell that the other party was trying their best to sound similar to Hu Mei'er, which piqued his curiosity. He doubted that Hu Man, the Group Head of Blood Battle Group, would do something like mimicking his daughter's voice. So it must be Hu Mei'er's elder sister, Hu Jiao'er.

"Mei'er, it's me." Su Mu calmly replied.

The inside of the wooden house was similar to what Su Mu expected. Sitting inside were two girls who looked practically the same, even their figures were the same. At a glance, you would think that it was a mirror reflecting the same appearance; one was the real figure and the other was the reflection.

Hearing Su Mu's voice, astonishment flashed through one of the girl's eyes. Turning around, she went to speak to the other girl, "Little Sister, that person is the one you were talking about, Su Mu?"

The one being questioned was Hu Mei'er. She nodded her head. "Yes. Please don't make things difficult for him, older sister."

Although she said that, Hu Mei'er was looking forward to Su Mu straightening up Hu Jiao'er. She was confident that Hu Jiao'er would be no match for Su Mu if he were to get serious.

Seeing her expression, Hu Jiao'er sighed. "To obstinately persist and go about things in the wrong way, will sooner or later lead to your demise."

"I won't talk to you about it anymore. The reason he came to find me is that you asked him to. Let me go and greet him properly." Hu Mei'er was getting annoyed by Hu Jiao'er constantly emphasising that Su Mu was some kind of demon trying to entice her.

Just as she was about to rise, she was pulled back by her Older Sister. Hu Jiao'er cutely chuckled, "Little sis, how about I make a bet with you?"

"What type of bet?" Hu Mei'er asked in doubt. It'll be bad if the image she worked so hard to build in Su Mu's eyes is crumbled because of Hu Jiao Er's reckless actions.

"We are betting Su Mu is, if he is as you say he is, then he should be able to keep a calm mind. If he isn't, then don't blame your sister for being vicious and merciless!" As Hu Jiao'er spoke, a cold light slowly appeared in her eyes.

These past several years, with Hu Mei'er's various stirrings outside, the only reason why she was able to retain her purity was mainly because of her older sister. Those who wanted to force themselves onto Hu Mei Er had all died in the most unusual ways.

In regards to her sister's methods, Hu Mei'er knew more about them than anyone. So when she saw her attitude, she knew for certain that she was hatching a nasty plan.

Older Sister, what are you planning to do?" Hu Mei'er cried out in alarm.

"You just need to sit and watch carefully. Hmph." With a wave of her white hand, a glossy smoke covered her younger sister. Then Hu Mei'er's figure slowly darkened before completely disappearing.

"Older Sister, don't act recklessly!" Hu Mei'er exerted all her strength, banging at the smoke yet no sound escaped. She couldn't even walk more than five feet from where she had been standing when her sister executed her technique. She could only watch, her anticipation rising.

Due to her technique, Hu Jiao'er wasn't able to see the wicked grin on her little sister's face while she was fantasizing about how Su Mu would crush her proud older sister's pride to dust. She wanted Su Mu to punish Hu Jiao'er the same way he 'punished' her when they first met. Hu Mei'er, being the loving sister she is, planned on consulting Hu Jiao'er when the time comes by saying that there was no winning against Su Mu.

Turning towards the door, Hu Jiao'er continued. "Why don't you come in?"

Opening the door, Su Mu entered the wooden house.

Looking around, Su Mu noticed that the size of this wooden house was about the same as the one Su Yan was staying in. Of course, its interior was superior to Su Yan's considering she had nothing inside her house.

Whereas here, there was a table, two chairs, and a sweet-smelling bed. On that sweet-smelling bed hung some pink curtains as thin as cicada wings and a petite pillow.

Hu Jiao'er sat next to the table, her face filled with smiles, as she faced the door. Her pair of charming eyes, tender and beautiful, glistened with moisture. With a weird gaze and a smile hiding her intentions, she looked at him; a red blush was blooming across her face, causing her to appear very enchanting.

Her two jade arms were uncovered, revealing her snow-white, infant-like skin and her wooden clogs displayed her delicate toes. He wasn't sure what she had put on her toenails, but it had turned them a purple colour making her seem like a wild beauty.

{A/N- Copied the cringe lines of character description from the original, I can't write stuff like that.}

'True Element 1st Stage, huh? It's cute how she is trying to seduce me while hiding Hu Mei'er with a barrier.' Su Mu thought, looking at Hu Jiao'er with uninterested eyes, much to the latter's surprise. Although he wasn't able to see her, he could tell that Hu Mei'er was standing not too far away from him. If he wanted to, he could break the barrier by tapping into its weak point.

But since things turned out this way, Su Mu decided to play along with Hu Jiao'er before giving her a little punishment.

Being looked at like this Hu Jiao'er, who was pretending to be Hu Mei'er, was unable to endure. 'This person is too audacious, how could there be anybody who would face a beauty like this? He didn't even know to let up a bit, isn't this a bit too unromantic? However, I can't deny that his gaze is clear, there is not the slightest amount of obscene desire in it.'

Arriving at the table, Su Mu took a seat in front of Hu Jiao'er. "Mei'er, it's been a while since we last met, but you already look more enchanting than ever."

Hearing his words, Hu Jiao'er giggled. "Brother Su, you know how to flatter others all too well."

"I'm just telling the truth." Su Mu replied with a smile.

"Hehe. Thank you, Brother Su." Hu Jiao'er said, leaning forward, trying her best to get a reaction out of Su Mu.

"Mei'er, what about the person you wished for me to meet?" Su Mu asked, causing Hu Jiao'er to frown a bit. He wasn't even giving a single glance towards her body, was he even a man?

"Let's not rush things." Hu Jiao'er said, getting up. Picking up the teapot, she walked over to Su Mu's side to pour him some tea. "It's hot outside, so drink some tea to moisten your parched throat. Rest for a bit then we shall talk."

Su Mu nodded, picking up the teacup, he drank some tea before placing it back on the table, and he smiled towards Hu Jiao'er.

'What a nice trick. Trying to seduce me using some herbs?' Su Mu could tell that the tea was mixed with herbs that'll make a man feel more attracted towards females, increasing their chances of falling for Seduction Techniques. But of course, such things did not affect Su Mu's mental state in the slightest. If they did, Su Mu would have died of shame.

Hu Jiao'er returned to her seat and sat down. Putting her hands on her cheeks, calm and unruffled she said to him. "Brother Su, how does this tea taste?"

"It's not bad." Su Mu replied.

"Then how does this tea compare to me?" Hu Jiao'er asked, letting out a breath like lilies mixed with her Seduction Technique, trying to make Su Mu act in such a way that'll change Hu Mei'er's opinion about him entirely. She leaned forward, giving Su Mu a perfect view of her big and plump chest, but to her surprise, his eyes were still looking at her with an uninterested gaze.

While Hu Jiao'er was busy with her childish games, Su Mu was already thinking about what he should do after punishing Hu Jiao'er.

'Let's collect all the Enflamed Yang Stones I can get from the Blood Battle Group and the High Heaven Pavilion. While I'm at it, let's go and pay a visit to Meng Wuya.'