Sometimes, Being a Dog is an Honor

"There's indeed one due soon," Su Min said calmly. "According to our observations, it should appear somewhere in about a week."

At her words, the two Cao brothers exchanged a glance, but there was a flicker of unease behind their eyes.

"What is it?" Su Min asked, catching the subtle change.

"Ahem," Cao Yuanmu cleared his throat, awkward. "Last time… there was a hidden Golden Core–level beast inside one of the ruins. If Master Hui Ming hadn't forcibly broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm and killed it, we might not have made it out alive. But... there were a lot of good things inside. If you're interested, Senior, perhaps you'd consider letting us tag along? Rest assured—anything that catches your eye, we won't touch. We only want what you find unworthy."

"Hm."

Su Min didn't respond directly. She simply stared at Cao Yuanmu with amusement dancing in her eyes, saying nothing of his embarrassed expression.

"Senior, last time we got quite the haul from that place," he added quickly. "A good portion of the materials are still stored in our warehouse. If you need anything, we'd be happy to—"

"Click."

Su Min clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes. His meaning couldn't be more obvious. After all, they'd been hoarding materials for years, but without someone to refine them, they were just expensive clutter. Now that Su Min had returned, she imagined these people had stockpiled quite a bit over the past two decades. Then, another thought struck her.

"By the way, how many people have been able to inherit the legacy I left behind?"

"Two," Cao Yuanmu replied. "But their success rate at crafting even first-tier pills is... pitiful. Even Body Tempering Pills are a challenge. Still, it's been useful."

Both men gave a bitter smile. The more effort they poured into this, the more they realized how absurd Su Min's abilities were. Her upper limits and success rate were nothing short of monstrous. Only now did they realize how 'cheap' her services had actually been. Especially when it came to breakthrough pills, which required rare ingredients—if a single furnace failed, the losses were staggering. Compared to the others, Su Min's success rate made her seem like a walking miracle.

~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~

Thanks to her, the Prince Yong's Manor now boasted five Qi Refining cultivators, with Cao Yuanmu himself at the late stage. Outside of the old monk and that wretched hag, there were few in the world who could match them. As for Su Min—her disappearance had been so long, people had almost forgotten her existence.

Now that she had returned? Even if it meant draining their coffers dry, the Prince Yong's faction would have her refine more pills. If she could even spare a few tips for the two alchemists, it would be a priceless gift. Alchemists were simply too difficult to cultivate.

No wonder even the bald donkey spoke of her with such reverence.

"Amitābha. Twenty years, and you've truly reached Foundation Establishment—Heavenly Path, no less." A sigh echoed as a monk materialized before them in a flash of light.

"Greetings, Master!"

The Cao brothers bowed deeply. This monk had mopped up the mess Su Min left behind—without him, Yongzhou would've been bogged down guarding the grasslands corridor, crippling trade with the desert and northern tribes. Thanks to Su Min's crushing victory, the shattered grasslands posed no threat. The desert, sparse and weak, was equally harmless.

Trade now flowed, enriching the eight prefectures—provided the restless dead stayed pacified.

"I'm well," Su Min said with a light smile. "But this body of yours… it's about done, isn't it?"

The monk hadn't changed much in appearance since they last met, but Su Min could sense the truth—his vessel was falling apart. A single breath from her could tear it asunder. Not that it mattered. This wasn't his true body. Destroying it wouldn't harm him.

"Amitabha. My task is complete. We've established a foothold here. The rest is up to Huiming and the others. If the heavens part again in the future, and you still walk this world... you're always welcome at the Grand Thunder Temple."

"One of the three great Buddhist sects? I shall certainly visit."

"I won't trouble you further then. Once I report back to Huiming, this vessel will reach its end. I only hope they won't disappoint me—and that they can hold this ground."

With those final words, the monk's form shimmered and vanished, leaving the three of them in thoughtful silence.

"How you harness the Buddhist sect's influence… is up to you now," Su Min said, smirking. "Ideally, tie them to a Daoist faction or another Buddhist sect. Buddhism is... not exactly harmonious within."

Her grin turned wicked.

Heretics—that term struck deeper than "infidel." You could reason with an outsider, but heresy had only one end: death. As for managing the Buddhists—that wasn't her concern. When handled well, they were a mighty force. Mishandled, and history books held plenty of bloody warnings.

This world held countless restless ghosts. Brutal suppression could often backfire—birthing even more terrifying things. That was where the Buddhist sects came in. That monk had known this well, using his last days to build prestige.

He had repeatedly passed on teachings—not strict Buddhist doctrine, but cultivation methods suitable for the masses. Even Buddhism had basic techniques outside its core teachings. Whether his disciples could survive in Great Wei… that was now their own test.

Su Min rolled her eyes thinking about the statues they were sculpting in her honor. As for the statues? Su Min couldn't care less—smash them for all she cared.

"Anyway, take me to your warehouse. I need to replenish some ingredients and warm my hands with a few furnaces. I've just reached Foundation Establishment—I'll need a few pills to get used to the rhythm."

"Certainly. Please, this way."

Delighted, Cao Yuanmu nodded and, after confirming with his elder brother, eagerly led the way. He needed a Foundation Establishment Pill desperately. With Su Min gone, he'd had no hope of obtaining one. But now that she had returned, he wouldn't let the opportunity slip.

He was confident she could refine it. At most, they might lack a few ingredients—but with their resources and influence, gathering them on short notice wouldn't be difficult. Even if he didn't need the pill immediately, having it brought peace of mind.

Being Su Min's lapdog was an honor.

Half of Great Wei would kill for the privilege.