Chapter 302: Peng Kai Arrives
"Deliver the details," Shen Yu commanded smoothly, leaning back into the chair.
Li Na unrolled two freshly opened intelligence scrolls, placing them neatly on the polished desk before him.
"Madam Tang has executed your directives flawlessly regarding Southern Frost City," Li Na reported crisply.
"As for Thousand Waves City, she has decided to enter the grand tournament directly. Meanwhile, for Southern Frost City, she is sending Alchemist Tang Ming, currently the finest talent in the Tang Clan behind only you and Madam Tang herself."
A cold, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Shen Yu’s lips.
"Good. Tang Ming’s foundation is solid enough to manage an external branch. Do you have any further intel on the local factions in Southern Frost City?"
"While our network there is still expanding, the reports confirm our victory is virtually guaranteed," Li Na replied, a hint of admiration in her voice.
"The local market is already fiercely loyal to our storefronts. The only notable competitor Tang Ming faces in the upcoming tournament is the Patriarch of the Du Clan, whose techniques are entirely outdated compared to what we have deployed."
"That leaves two out of the five major southern hubs firmly within our grasp before the cauldron fires are even lit," Shen Yu mused, his golden-emerald gaze drifting toward the territorial map pinned to the wall.
"Which brings us right back to the true battleground, Crimson Iron City."
He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the dark wood of the desk, his tone shifting into a sharp, commanding register.
"In two days, a man carrying my ’Ni’ token will arrive," Shen Yu instructed, his eyes glinting with cold calculation.
"Grant him access immediately. Keep him supplied with plenty of strong alcohol and fresh, raw beast meat, and make sure he doesn’t take a single step outside that room until I give the explicit command."
"Understood, Young Master."
Satisfied with the arrangements, Shen Yu stood up, casually smoothing the folds of his dark green robes.
"I am returning to the Cao estate. The next two days will remain quiet on the surface, but on the third day, there will be total chaos, so don’t go outside and keep hiding till the competition is over."
Without waiting for her response, his silhouette blurred into a weightless shadow.
Activating his Phantom Steps, Shen Yu vanished from the office in a breath of wind, leaving Li Na alone in the quiet room to execute his commands.
Moments later, he materialized soundlessly within the inner courtyard of the Cao Clan estate.
The crisp night air stirred his robes, and through the carved wooden windows of Cao Shuying’s pavilion, a warm lantern light glowed brightly, a clear sign that his secondary weapon was dutifully studying the alchemy jade slips he had assigned her.
An expectant smirk spread across Shen Yu’s handsome face as he stepped toward the heavy oak doors.
He still had time, and he intended to make full use of every moment, sharpening his tools both before the furnace and beneath the sheets.
The heavy wooden doors clicked open without a sound as Shen Yu stepped inside.
Cao Shuying was seated at her desk, draped in a sheer silk robe that barely concealed the soft curves of her body.
Her hair was pinned up loosely, exposing her elegant, pale neck, and her brow was furrowed in deep concentration over a floating jade slip.
The faint aroma of medicinal herbs mixed with her natural floral perfume filled the warm room.
Hearing the door seal shut, Shuying started, her head snapping up.
The moment her eyes landed on Shen Yu, the sharp focus of a dedicated alchemist dissolved into a look of flushed, submissive relief.
She immediately rose from her chair, bowing low so that her robe dipped tantalizingly.
"Master," she whispered softly, her voice trembling with reverence.
"I have been analyzing the pill-refining variations you assigned me. I believe I have corrected the temperature shifts during the spiritual fusion phase, but..."
"Show me," Shen Yu interrupted smoothly, stepping into her personal space.
Before she could reach for her cauldron, Shen Yu pulled her up by her waist, bringing her flush against his chest.
His large hand slid down to grip her hip firmly, his thumb tracing the curve of her waist while his other hand gently tipped her chin up, forcing her dark, shimmering eyes to meet his.
"Theory is worthless without execution, Shuying," he purred into her ear, his deep voice sending a shiver straight down her spine.
"Your spirit must be fluid, yet completely unyielding. Let me see if your control has truly improved."
Over the next two days, the inner pavilion of the Cao Clan became a secluded crucible of intense refinement, as Shen Yu relentlessly forged his secondary pieces into absolute readiness.
On the dawn of the third day, Peng Kai stood before the colossal main gates of Crimson Iron City.
A dense, roaring sea of travelers choked the entrance.
Cultivators, merchants, and spectators from every surrounding town and tributary under the city’s jurisdiction had flooded the region, all eager to stake their claim or simply witness the spectacle of the Imperial Tournament.
Draped in a heavy black cloak that thoroughly obscured his towering frame, Peng Kai melted into the chaotic crowd and slipped past the distracted gate guards undetected.
Navigating the bustling streets, he made his way directly to the Tea house.
Pushing through the heavy doors, he approached the front counter and quietly slid the dark metallic token across the polished wood.
The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly upon recognizing the sharp Ni character etched into the surface.
Without uttering a word, the receptionist gave a subtle, practiced nod, picked up the token, and ushered him through a hidden door behind the counter.
Peng Kai was led deep underground into an isolated, lavishly prepared suite.
The room was already heavily stocked with barrels of potent, high-grade spirits, and the walls hummed faintly with the active pulse of top-tier concealment arrays designed to suppress his Nascent Soul aura.
"Welcome, Senior," the receptionist bowed low with utmost respect. "Everything has been prepared according to Master Ni’s exact instructions. What would you require for your meal?"
"Raw beast meat. Bring as much as you have," Peng Kai rumbled in a low, gravelly rasp.
"Right away, Senior."
As the attendant bowed out and sealed the heavy stone doors behind him, the chamber fell into a deep, oppressive silence.
Peng Kai threw back his cloak, uncorked a massive barrel of booze, and took a long, violent swig.
Sitting in the dim, array-bound room, his glowing crimson eyes burned brightly in the dark, overflowing with wild, predatory anticipation for the bloodbath that awaited Crimson Iron City.