Super Soldier in the City

Chapter 1856 - 1918: Elder Su’s Request

It feels interesting to bicker with this girl, but Li Yifei didn’t mean to upset her for real. After a few exchanges, he turned back to Elder Su and asked, "I wonder if you called me over today for a particular reason?"Elder Su had been watching his granddaughter and Li Yifei bicker with interest. Upon hearing this, he shook his head and said, "I was discharged from the hospital today, so I thought I’d treat you to a meal to express my gratitude; there’s nothing else."

"I see, then I’ll accept this meal," Li Yifei said.

"What? If not for this reason, you wouldn’t eat the meal?" Elder Su asked.

Li Yifei shook his head and said, "It’s not that, it’s mainly because your status is so high that if you’re treating me to a meal, I’d have to think about whether you have an ulterior motive."

"What could I possibly have in mind for you? You’re thinking too highly of yourself!" Su Lio couldn’t help but say.

"Ali!" Wang Chao quickly called out. He and Ma Han hadn’t interjected because they were aware of Li Yifei’s somewhat... sensitive identity. So young, yet possessing incredibly high skills; in a few more years, he might even become a new power in the Southeast and Northwest. Such a person should be befriended, not offended. Moreover, Li Yifei didn’t appear to be arrogant; on the contrary, they both found him quite approachable.

Su Lio pursed her lips and didn’t say anything more. Li Yifei wouldn’t invite trouble upon himself; without that task from Murong Yuanqing, Li Yifei would behave normally. But ever since getting that bizarre task, he felt strange when facing Su Lio, as if Murong Yuanqing’s voice kept echoing in his ears—"Get her, get her, get her." It was becoming a haunting refrain.

When the food and drink arrived, Elder Su suggested having a few drinks. Su Lio immediately looked up and said, "Grandpa, you shouldn’t drink."

"It’s okay, just a little to boost circulation!"

"Even so, you still shouldn’t drink!"

"Alright, don’t worry about Grandpa today; it’s rare for me to have a drink, don’t spoil the mood."

Su Lio glanced at Li Yifei, blaming him for Grandpa drinking, but Li Yifei didn’t mind. He picked up the bottle, poured a glass for Elder Su, then poured one for himself, and handed the bottle to Wang Chao and Ma Han.

After drinking, people tended to talk more, and the atmosphere would lighten up. Li Yifei chatted about some things with Elder Su, who suddenly asked, "Are you injured?"

Li Yifei put down his glass and said, "Yes, I am."

"From the fight with Satan?"

"Yes, although I won, I got seriously injured."

"That explains it. I was wondering why you didn’t use your True Qi to help me that day and instead let Wang Chao and Ma Han do it." Elder Su showed a look of realization and then asked, "Is it serious?"

"It’s nothing much; I’ll be fine in a while!" Li Yifei said.

"Good, it’s best to recover as soon as possible. With your status, danger could arise at any time." Elder Su advised.

Hearing this, Li Yifei squinted his eyes. This was the second time someone advised him to heal quickly. The first time was Murong Yuanqing, who had emphasized it repeatedly, and now it was Elder Su. Li Yifei collected himself and asked, "Elder Su, do you know something?"

"I don’t know anything, but since someone dared to poison me, would they spare such a prominent figure like you?"

"Well, yeah, you’re right. Do you have any suspects?"

"No," Elder Su bluntly replied.

"Alright. I also need to get well soon then."

Su Lio spat out a fish bone and only realized then that Li Yifei was injured. Judging by the look, it wasn’t a light one. No wonder he didn’t seem like a master when dealing with Li Xiang that day.

So just for this, it’s not worth inviting him for a special meal. Li Yifei still felt Elder Su had something to say, but he didn’t take the initiative to ask. Elder Su couldn’t hold back any longer and, as the meal was coming to a close, he said, "Yifei, actually, I have a favor to ask of you today."

"Please, Elder Su, as someone like you is highly respected by me, do not be overly formal. I’ll do my best to help wherever I can," Li Yifei replied directly, not posturing, though he implied a boundary with the words "wherever I can."

"Then I’ll be straightforward," Elder Su said, glancing at his granddaughter. Su Lio hurriedly said, "Grandpa, I don’t need it!"

"Of course, you do; you’re Grandpa’s most precious one!" Elder Su looked lovingly at his granddaughter and then said, "Su Lio, you’ve met her, I want to entrust her to your care."

Li Yifei was listening earnestly, but when he heard that, his eyes widened. Had he heard wrong? Murong Yuanqing had given him an order, had even called a second time to emphasize that he must complete the task of getting with Elder Su’s granddaughter Su Lio, which he didn’t even want to do. Now, Elder Su had specially invited him for a meal, and it was about this matter?

This was even more direct than Murong Yuanqing—directly entrusting her to him? Li Yifei blinked his eyes and realized it wasn’t an illusion; Elder Su was serious.

"Grandpa!" Su Lio threw her chopsticks down, stood up, and walked out. It was clear they had discussed this before, but Su Lio disagreed; then they set it aside for a while. Now that Elder Su brought it up again, Su Lio couldn’t bear it and ran out. Wang Chao stood up, apologized to Li Yifei, and chased after her.

Li Yifei twitched his mouth as he heard Elder Su chuckle and say, "I’m serious."

"Um... Elder Su, I’m dumbfounded. This is too big of a matter, shouldn’t we think it through?" Li Yifei rubbed his nose to ease the awkwardness and then added, "To be honest, I don’t really understand what you mean."

A hint of regret appeared on Elder Su’s face as he said, "I’ll be blunt; I might not have many years left. If I pass, there will be no one to take care of Su Lio."

"There’s still Wang Chao and Ma Han, not to mention Su Lio’s parents, right? The Su Family isn’t short of people, why wouldn’t anyone take care of her?"

"They can’t take care of her," Elder Su replied firmly.

"So... only I can?" Li Yifei pointed to himself.

Elder Su nodded and said, "That’s correct, only you can."

Before Li Yifei could speak, Elder Su continued, "Because Ali has the Sky Yin Absolute Vein, without the nourishment of pure True Qi, she won’t live past eighteen."

What? Li Yifei’s eyes widened for a moment, partly understanding what the Sky Yin Absolute Vein meant. It’s a very peculiar constitution, exclusively for women, representing an extremely yin physique. From a cultivation perspective, it’s an excellent root bone for training. If the cultivation technique corresponds, it can yield twice the results with half the effort, beyond ordinary people’s reach. Additionally, women are naturally more inclined to cultivate Innate Vital Energy and reach the Innate Realm. However, a Yin Physique with a Sky Yin Absolute Vein is different.

Sky Yin Absolute Vein... Li Yifei’s hand trembled slightly. He had heard Elder Su say she wouldn’t live past eighteen, but Su Lio was already in her twenties now, so these extra years must have been through forceful life extension.

Li Yifei looked up at Elder Su, who nodded and said, "I have failed the child’s parents and the child herself. All these years, I’ve been searching for a way, but with limited cultivation, it’s impossible to reach that level in a lifetime. So, I can only entrust you!"

This put Li Yifei in a tough spot; Elder Su wasn’t trying to marry off his granddaughter to him but asking for his help in treating Su Lio. Though Li Yifei wasn’t sure about the treatment method, since Elder Su could keep her going until today, there probably was a way.

Should he agree? Li Yifei mulled over the importance of this issue in silence for almost two minutes, before asking, "What about Su Lio’s parents?"

"There’s still Wang Chao and Ma Han, and Su Lio’s parents. There must be someone in the Su Family who will look after her, right?"

"They can’t take care of her!"

"And I’m the only one who can?" Li Yifei asked, pointing to himself.

Elder Su nodded and said, "Exactly, only you can."

Before Li Yifei could respond, Elder Su continued, "Because Ali has a Sky Yin Absolute Vein, without the sustenance of pure True Qi, she won’t live past eighteen."

"What?" Li Yifei was momentarily stunned. He knew a little about the Sky Yin Absolute Vein, an extremely rare constitution that only women have. It’s considered a supremely Yin physique and an excellent root bone for cultivation. If the cultivation method matches, it can lead to remarkable results, unmatched by ordinary people. Moreover, a woman’s physique is more inclined to cultivate Innate Vital Energy, reaching the Innate Realm, but that Yin Physique is different from the Sky Yin Absolute Vein.

The Sky Yin Absolute Vein... Li Yifei was stunned into silence, realizing what this meant. Su Lio was already over twenty, which meant those extra years were the result of forcibly extending her life.

Li Yifei looked up at Elder Su, realizing it wasn’t an illusion; he was serious.

"Grandfather!" Su Lio threw down her chopsticks, stood up, and walked out. Clearly, they had discussed this before, but since Su Lio disagreed, it was set aside for a while. Now, with Elder Su bringing it up again, Su Lio couldn’t stand it and ran out. Wang Chao stood up, apologized to Li Yifei, and chased after her.

Li Yifei’s mouth twitched as he heard Elder Su chuckle and say, "I’m serious."

"Well... Elder Su, I’m at a loss here. This is a bit too big of a matter to just agree on. Shouldn’t we discuss this further?" Li Yifei scratched his nose, trying to ease the awkwardness. He then added, "To be honest, I don’t quite understand what you mean."

Elder Su’s face showed a tinge of regret. He said, "I’ll be frank; I probably don’t have many years left. If I’m gone, there will be no one to care for Su Lio."

"But there’s Wang Chao and Ma Han, and Su Lio’s parents. Your Su Family can’t be short of family members, so why wouldn’t anyone be there to take care of her?"

"They can’t do it!"

"So, only I can take care of her?" Li Yifei pointed at himself.

Elder Su nodded, saying, "That’s right, only you can."

Without waiting for Li Yifei to speak, Elder Su continued, "Because Su Lio has the Sky Yin Absolute Vein, without the nourishment of supreme True Qi, she won’t survive past eighteen."

Huh? Li Yifei stared blankly for a moment, understanding what the Sky Yin Absolute Vein was—somewhat. It’s an extremely peculiar constitution, possessed only by women, characterized by a supremely Yin physique. In terms of cultivation, it’s an excellent root bone; if the cultivation technique is suitable, it yields twice the results with half the effort, far beyond what ordinary people could achieve. However, the Yin Physique and the Sky Yin Absolute Vein are different.

Realizing the significance of what Elder Su was saying, Li Yifei understood that those extra years Su Lio had lived beyond eighteen were due to some kind of life-extending efforts.

Li Yifei lifted his head to look at Elder Su, who nodded and said, "I no longer have the capability to sustain her life, and over these years my own injuries from decades ago have only worsened."

Li Yifei lowered his eyes slightly, contemplating the importance of this matter before giving Elder Su an answer.

Should he agree? Li Yifei paused for almost two minutes before asking, "Su Lio’s parents..."

"Su Lio’s parents... They’re the reason I’m asking you. Her father died when she was very young, and her mother’s family situation makes it impossible for them to take care of Su Lio. That’s why I’m asking you, I have faith in you..."

"Um, Elder Su," Li Yifei suddenly interrupted, "Since you know my situation, I won’t be shy about it. I can’t just casually bring another woman into my home; my wives won’t agree to it. Even though I know that’s not what you mean, I’m just worried whatever method you suggest for treatment might involve something like Yin and Yang Harmonization or Dual Cultivation. If it’s those, I’m afraid..."

Elder Su stood there, speechless for a moment. If someone else had spoken such shameless words, he would have slammed the table, but with Li Yifei, he knew this guy had his perks, although he did have his weaknesses when it came to women, practically having a harem by now. Once Li Yifei agreed to help, Elder Su’s eyebrows slightly twitched with relief, and he said, "I won’t lie to you; I’m not sure what specific method is needed. All these years, I’ve been using medicine and whatever True Qi I can muster to sustain her life. Despite my injury from decades ago, which has only worsened over these years."