Chapter 581: Agreement and the Evening

Su Ming responded calmly, "Master Lou Gao, I can assure you that Spirit Hall will not slaughter innocent people. Only those who resist from the two empires will be affected."

He added, "War has always come at a cost, and while Spirit Hall won't initiate conflict with the intent of harming civilians, the truth is that the common people already lead very difficult lives—something you know well."

"Think back, Master Lou Gao. When the Spirit Hall sub-branch oppressed your Blacksmith Association, did the Xingluo Empire come to your aid? Since they didn't, why should you feel obligated to protect them?" Su Ming continued, "After Spirit Hall unifies the continent, there won't be any more wars, and we can shift our focus toward improving the quality of life for everyone."

As Su Ming laid out his vision for a unified, peaceful future, Lou Gao looked at him with a mix of shock and admiration.

Bai He chuckled, "Surprised, Lou Gao? We felt the same way when we first heard Su Ming's plans."

Niu Gao chimed in as well. "Lou Gao, just say yes. Su Ming has been trustworthy so far, and if he fails to uphold his promises, you can leave at any time."

"Anyone favored by the Goddess of Life is bound to have a noble character."

Lou Gao pondered these words and finally, with a sense of resolve, agreed, "Fine, I'll join."

Delighted, Su Ming responded, "Thank you, Master Lou Gao! You'll oversee the Blacksmith Association as part of the Foundry Hall in Spirit Hall and serve as its head."

Lou Gao nodded in agreement. "Good. Let's rest here tonight. I'll instruct my disciples to prepare, and tomorrow, I'll accompany you to Spirit Hall."

With a smile, Su Ming replied, "That would be ideal."

Lou Gao arranged for his disciple, Si Long, to escort Su Ming and the others to their guest rooms. Watching Su Ming's departure, Lou Gao nodded with satisfaction, admiring Su Ming's respectful and unpretentious demeanor.

Later that evening, an auction was held in Gengxin City, and Lou Gao took Su Ming and the others to experience it. Walking through the city, Su Ming noticed numerous stalls selling various minerals and ores.

Lou Gao explained, "These stalls usually offer scrap materials or unknown stones from other regions, sold cheaply. Sometimes, I manage to find valuable materials here."

He chuckled as he recalled, "When Ning Fengzhi visited, his Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda helped identify rare ores. Thanks to his assistance, I quickly gathered the materials needed for the soul tool gun prototype."

While Su Ming admired the ores, he wished he'd brought Ning Rongrong along. With her skill, she could easily identify and collect valuable resources across the city. However, he knew her focus on cultivating her strength was more important, and there would be other opportunities to visit.

That night, Su Ming quietly left his room and entered Xiao Wu's room. Sensing his presence, Xiao Wu leaped toward him.

"Brother…" she whispered, eyes brimming with affection.

Unable to resist any longer, Su Ming held her close and pressed a deep kiss to her lips, carrying her to the bed. Wrapped in soft bedding and bathed in warm light, they surrendered to their feelings, embracing passionately in each other's arms.

They spent the night together, letting their feelings for one another run free.

The next morning, Xiao Wu rubbed her eyes, snuggling close to Su Ming.

"Brother…"

Su Ming gently patted her head, asking softly, "Xiao Wu, you barely slept last night. Would you like to rest a bit more?"

Blushing, Xiao Wu remembered his intensity from the previous night. Flustered, she quickly covered her face. "No, no… Brother, I'm fine! I'm strong, you know! And what if someone finds out?"

She knew if they lingered, Niu Gao and the others might notice, leading to an embarrassing situation. Some things were better left private.