Chapter 9: He Is Your Young Master

Seeing the doubt in his father's eyes, Su Yifan spoke, "Dad, you don't need to worry. Now that I’ve returned, no one will be able to bully the Su family." His words were resolute, brooking no argument.

Su Zhengguo felt gratified hearing this, yet he truly did not wish for his son to risk himself again. He took a breath and shifted the topic: "Yifan, back then, your father…"

"Dad, what's past is past. You don’t need to say anything more—I understand." Before his father could finish, Su Yifan interrupted him. He hadn’t understood his father’s reasons back then, but now he knew: everything his father had done was for him, and for the Su family.

Seeing that his son understood, Su Zhengguo smiled contentedly. He reached out and patted his son’s shoulder, thinking that Yifan had grown up.

"Dad, why are there so few people left in our family?" Su Yifan suddenly asked. Since his return, he’d noticed a sharp decrease in the household’s numbers. Whether servants or guards, most were gone; it was nothing like five years ago.

Hearing this, Su Zhengguo sighed, "These years, our family has suffered all kinds of oppression from outside. If it weren’t for your grandfather, the Su family might have ceased to exist long ago."

"Later, your grandfather sensed that someone intended to harm us. He asked the guards and servants to choose whether to stay or go. After that, most of them left."

"As for those who remained, some were either killed or wounded. We owe them a great debt."

Just today, the last four guards of the Su family had suffered grave injuries while protecting them; now they lay bedridden.

Hearing how the Su family had fallen to such a state, Su Yifan clenched his fists, a ravenous fury surging in his heart. If this debt went unavenged, he swore he’d never forgive himself.

"Dad, where are the wounded now?" Su Yifan looked to his father.

These men could have left, yet chose to remain—such loyal hearts he would never abandon.

Su Zhengguo replied, "Fearing they might be targeted, I didn’t send them to the hospital. They’re all in rooms in the side courtyard."

He had already contacted doctors to examine them. The doctors said they had broken ribs and internal injuries, requiring a long period of recovery.

"Dad, take me to see them," Su Yifan said eagerly.

"They need rest. It’s better to wait a few days," Su Zhengguo replied, surprised at his son’s compassion, so reminiscent of his grandfather.

"Dad, please take me," Su Yifan insisted, his expression earnest.

"Yifan, what are you planning?" Su Zhengguo was puzzled by his son’s persistence, but nodded, "Alright, come with me."

Soon, the two arrived at the side courtyard. Su Zhengguo opened the door to a room, and they entered together.

As soon as they stepped inside, Su Yifan saw four middle-aged men lying on the beds.

Each of them was pale and frail, clearly suffering from serious injuries.

"Master," the four guards saw Su Zhengguo and the young man enter, struggling to rise and salute.

"Don’t move—you’re all still injured," Su Zhengguo stopped them.

He then looked at his son, "Yifan, these are the last four guards of the Su family, and they’re the most gravely wounded."

Su Yifan nodded and walked toward them.

"Master, who is he?" one of the guards asked, watching Su Yifan approach.

"He is your young master," Su Zhengguo said solemnly.

"Young master?" The four were astonished.

Hadn’t the young master vanished five years ago? They’d been dispatched by the old master to search for him, but returned empty-handed. Since then, they’d believed the young master had fallen victim to some villain.

Yet now, five years later, the young master had returned, unharmed.

At that moment, Su Yifan had reached their sides.

His eyes flashed with a faint violet light, and he scanned the four men, quickly discerning the extent of their injuries.

"Stay lying down, don’t move. I’m going to treat your wounds," Su Yifan told them.

His words startled Su Zhengguo. "Yifan, you know medicine?"

"Yes, a little," Su Yifan replied, and without further explanation, placed his hand on one guard’s chest.

Soon, a stream of spiritual energy flowed from his palm into the guard’s body.

The guard felt a warm current swirl in his chest. Before he could fully register it, the warmth disappeared.

"It’s done," Su Yifan withdrew his hand.

The guard touched his chest, finding the previous dull pain gone, his breathing normal.

"What? My injury… is healed?!" he exclaimed, sitting up excitedly, confirming his recovery.

This was miraculous! Was this really their young master?

"It’s healed? Are you sure?" Su Zhengguo asked, his face full of disbelief.

"Yes, master, I’m truly healed," the guard responded, hardly able to contain his excitement. The doctors had said he’d need at least three months to recover, yet the young master had restored him in an instant.

Upon confirmation, Su Zhengguo was overjoyed. No wonder his son insisted on visiting—they’d come to heal the guards’ wounds.

Such remarkable skill—who had taught his son?

As the two men were still stunned, the other three guards cried out in surprise, one after another rising from their beds.

Su Zhengguo was utterly overwhelmed by his son’s abilities, almost doubting his own senses. Was this really his son? It felt like a dream.

At this moment, the four guards exchanged glances, then knelt on one knee before Su Yifan.

"Thank you, young master, for healing us."

"No need for thanks," Su Yifan shook his head, speaking gravely, "You chose to stay despite the Su family’s dire circumstances. If anyone owes thanks, it is I."

"You flatter us, young master. The old master took us in back then—without him, we’d have died long ago."

"That’s right, young master. The old master gave us a home. Even if it costs our lives, we’ll never leave."

The four looked at each other, determination shining on their faces.

They had made their choice: living, they were Su family men; dying, they’d be Su family ghosts.

"Well spoken," Su Yifan said, nodding with satisfaction.

He placed his hand behind his back, and with a thought, the storage ring on his finger flashed white, producing a small jade vial in his palm.

"There are four pills in here, called ‘Body Tempering Pills.’ Each of you take one—it will greatly aid your cultivation."

"The Su family will never forget your dedication."

With those words, Su Yifan handed the vial to them.

"Thank you for your gift, young master," the four guards said, taking the pills, each swallowing one without hesitation.

…