The World Beyond the House

Xuanhu Island, medical pavilion in the hospital.

"Dad..."

Su Xindu looked at his father whose face was as black as a pot, his lips murmured, and he whispered softly.

“You damned creature, do you know what you did wrong?”

“But it’s not like that at all!”

Su Xindu wanted to explain, but thinking that the more he explained the less clear it became, he couldn't help but deflate and close his mouth.

No matter how to explain, it was wrong, so he simply didn't say anything.

"Do you think I'm scolding you because of those ridiculous things you did?"

Su Xiuning stood by the bedside, looking at the scenery outside the window.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Of course not!”

Su Xiuning sneered, "I know your mother's thoughts very well. All she wants is to fight for more for you. But you have to know who is in charge of this family."

"Eldest Uncle?"

"Him?" Su Xiuning turned his head and sneered, "Eldest Brother is indeed the head of the family, but has the Su Family really been run by wise people every time in the hundreds of years?”

"What does father mean?"

Su Xindu had some guesses in his heart. Su Xiuning earnestly said, "Xindu, do you know why I always show myself as a modest gentleman in front of others on weekdays?"

"Isn't it because Dad is a nice person?"

As soon as Su Xindu finished speaking, he immediately changed his words, "This was taught by my mother!"

"Heh, she's just a woman who only cares about those few taels of silver. What does she know about how deep the waters of my Su Family run!"

Su Xiuning flicked his sleeve and said lightly: "Today, father will teach you to behave yourself!"

"Everything in the Su Family has its own rules and everything has been set long ago!"

"Some things are yours, and you have to take them even if you don't want to. But some things don't belong to you. If you dare to snatch them, that's a dead end!"

When Su Xiuning said this, a shadow appeared in his eyes.

"Xindu, do you know why our Thirteen House is at the end of the Su Family tree?"

"Just be obedient and don't listen to your mother to fight for things that shouldn't be fought for."

"There are still people watching us from above!"

"Understand?"

When Su Xiuning was earnestly speaking, Su Xindu also nodded with difficulty, seeming to understand and not understand.

"Father, your child understands."

"Well, during this period of time, take good care of your injury. After you recover, stay at home for a period of time."

"Even if you are released from confinement in the future and go out, don't provoke the maidservants from the Main Branch again."

"I know, father."

"Father knows you will resent me, but when you reach my age, you will understand."

Su Xiuning came to the bedside and lovingly touched his son's head.

"At that time, you will be glad that you are just a fringe figure instead of a bright pearl in the family!"

When he said this, a trace of horror flashed through Su Xiuning's eyes, as if he had recalled some unbearable memories from the past.

...

On the emerald waves, a small boat sailed towards Langya Palace, cleaving through the wind and waves.

A man wearing a fox fur coat stood at the bow, holding a brazier in his arms and facing the oncoming wind with a peaceful expression.

"Third Uncle, is it nice to stand at the bow and enjoy the wind?"

Sitting in the cabin, Su Qiluo stared at Su Xiuwu. Su Xiuwu looked back with a laugh, "Girl, when you reach Third Uncle's age, you'll know. What Third Uncle is enjoying is not the wind, but the state of mind."

"State of mind?"

Su Qiluo tilted her head, not quite understanding. Du ke, on the other hand, kept clicking his tongue. Showing off and spouting pretentious words to fool a little girl.

"You'll understand when the time comes, the state of mind is very important after entering the Dao,"

As Su Xiuwu spoke, his gaze also fell on Du ke beside Su Qiluo.

"Speaking of which, this cat of yours has grown a lot more than before!"

"Of course! The general is cultivating!"

When it came to this matter, Su Qiluo was rather proud. She raised her hand and stroked Du ke's fur.

"The cultivation method of the Ganzhi Beast Control Sect?"

Su Xiuwu's eyebrows furrowed slightly. Su Qiluo nodded, "Yes, Third Uncle, do you know about it?"

"I read some classics recently and remembered it."

Su Xiuwu walked from the bow into the cabin and sat down next to Su Qiluo, then took Du ke from Su Qiluo's side into his arms.

He began stroking Du ke's fur.

Du ke, who was being held in Su Xiuwu's arms, only felt a hot sensation that seemed somewhat scorching, constantly drilling into his body from Su Xiuwu's palm. Every time it drilled in, he felt as if he was being burnt with pain.

Noticing something off with Du ke, Su Qiluo immediately snatched Du ke back from Su Xiuwu's embrace, as if snatching something.

"Third Uncle, you made my general uncomfortable."

"Just doing a check for him," Su Xiuwu looked at Du ke with interest. "About to reach the Great Accomplishment of Flesh Tempering Realm, you've raised this cat well."

"Of course, the general has been very diligent in his cultivation,"

Su Qiluo didn't catch the implication in Su Xiuwu's words. On the contrary, she was rather proud. Du ke was also secretly shocked. This guy had just touched him a few times and already knew about his level of martial cultivation.

At the same time, Du ke also made a mental note that he would have to find a way to conceal his true strength in the future.

In addition, he would have to tell the girl when he went back not to talk to outsiders about his efforts in cultivation.

Du ke was able to reach his current level of martial cultivation thanks to Su Qiluo's relentless supply of medicines, as well as his own diligence in bitter cultivation day and night. He was indeed about to reach the Great Accomplishment of Flesh Tempering Realm.

However, lacking the ability, he was unable to learn any martial arts moves.

But after reading so many classics and adding his own cultivation experience, he realized one thing—the Flesh Tempering Realm was not cultivated for defense.

Rather, it was to achieve a unified whole without leaks, locking the body and containing the qi.

As for being immune to blades and swords, that was just a side effect!

The true essence of the Flesh Tempering Realm was stability and containment—stabilizing the blood and qi within the body, locking the primordial qi inside to prevent external leakage.

Simply put, if the human body was a water bag full of holes, the cultivation at the Flesh Tempering Realm was to patch up the water bag completely, leaving only one hole for water to flow in and out.

After being repaired completely, the increased durability of the water bag would just be an additional benefit.

Du ke was now nearing the Great Accomplishment of Flesh Tempering Realm cultivation. All it did was make his physique better—more flexible, agile, sensitive, stronger.

When he reached the Bone Tempering Realm and started Quenching Bones, his strength would gradually increase. By then, the might after martial cultivation would be revealed.

With a single swipe of his paw, even metal and stone could be pierced through.

"But you have to be careful, girl!"

Su Xiuwu looked at the cat in Su Qiluo's arms, with a hint of inexplicable meaning in his eyes.

"Don't let too many people know that this cat of yours is cultivating, even if others find out, don't let them know he is cultivating the methods of the Ganzhi Beast Control Sect."

"What do you mean by this, Third Uncle?"

Su Qiluo's caressing of Du ke paused. Du ke's eyes also changed slightly as he forcibly held back the urge to look up, waiting to hear what Su Xiuwu would say next.

"The Ganzhi Beast Control Sect was once the most famous beast control sect in our Long Life Celestial Dynasty, but that was only in the past!"

Su Xiuwu's eyelids lowered as he gazed at Du ke, "Do you know why?"

Without waiting for Su Qiluo to answer, Su Xiuwu continued, "Because they committed a taboo!"

"They raised a monster!"

When he said this, Du ke's eyes narrowed as he recalled the conversation between Sun Xiang and Yunshan. Sun Xiang had said that their sect was destroyed because a wicked beast cultivated the martial accomplishment of Revolving Heaven Inhaling and Exhaling, gaining the ability to inhale and exhale the essence of the sun and moon. In the end, it became a monster and brought them endless disasters.

At that time, it was just a story to listen to, but hearing it again from Su Xiuwu's mouth gave it a whole new meaning.

"Monsters...are bad?" Su Qiluo hugged Du ke tighter. Su Xiuwu stared at Du ke as if recalling something, making his gaze turn cold.

"You haven't left the residence more than a few times since you were born, right?"

"No..."

"That's right. You simply don't know how terrifying monsters and demons can be!"

After saying this, Su Xiuwu also patted Su Qiluo's little head, "So try not to let too many people know that this cat of yours is cultivating."

"Keep the information contained, don't let people randomly spread words about it."

"Otherwise it will bring disaster upon you and your father."

"In addition, you must diligently practice the Immortal Martial Strategy. You have already achieved great success in strengthening your physical body, and you will soon be able to advance to cultivating your bone and marrow," said Su Xiuwu.

"I will work hard, uncle!"

"Good to know," Su Xiuwu smiled.

Su Qiluo suddenly changed the subject, "Uncle, what is the outside world like?"

Hearing Su Qiluo's question, a shadow flashed across Su Xiuwu's eyes, but eventually he smiled and said, "When you grow up, you can go out and see for yourself."

"However, that will be after you embark on the dao."

"Before entering the dao, do not leave the residence without permission, not even a single step!" Su Xiuwu's tone became stern. "Not a single step is allowed!"