Chapter 10: Settling In

  Su Tianhao followed his newly appointed maid through the main residence's polished corridors, his eyes constantly drawn to the wealth displayed in every corner. Jade ornaments that would feed a family for months sat casually on side tables, while paintings by renowned artists adorned the walls as if they were common decorations.

  They finally stopped before an ornate door on the second floor. Su Tianhao's eyes shimmered with emotions. He could hardly believe this luxury was meant for him.

  "Young Master, please come in," the maid said respectfully, opening the door and stepping aside.

  It was the first time she had spoken during their brief tour, and her voice drew Su Tianhao from his focused observations of the corridor's artwork. He followed her into what could only be described as a chamber fit for nobility.

  The room sprawled before him with dimensions that dwarfed anything he had ever imagined living in. Intricate carvings decorated the wooden walls, while carefully arranged shelves displayed books and ornaments that spoke of both wealth and refinement. A massive bed dominated one side of the space—easily large enough to accommodate five people comfortably. Most impressive of all was a private balcony that offered commanding views of the entire family compound.

  "This..." Su Tianhao's voice caught in his throat. "Isn't this a bit excessive?"

  The maid smiled with genuine warmth. "Young Master, there are no rooms specifically designed for children in the main residence. This is actually one of our smaller guest chambers."

  "Is it to your liking?" she asked with professional courtesy.

  Su Tianhao stared at her strangely. 'What kind of person would reject such a magnificent room?' But even as he marveled at his surroundings, something about the maid's polite attitude bothered him.

  His expression grew serious as he turned to face her directly. "Stop calling me Young Master. My name is Tianhao. And I don't appreciate this overly formal treatment—I want to earn respect through my actions, not have it given to me because of mere status."

  The maid's eyes widened in surprise at his sudden change in manner. As she met his golden gaze, she felt something shift in her understanding of the boy before her. 'Most children would be thrilled by such treatment and status. Why does he reject what others would kill for? Is this why the Patriarch chose him?'

  Noticing her prolonged stare, Su Tianhao raised an eyebrow with mild annoyance. "Is there something wrong with my face?"

  "N-No," she stammered, studying him with renewed interest. "However, I cannot address you so casually—it would be disrespectful to your position. You should take pride in your new status and cherish it."

  Her words carried calm authority, but Su Tianhao caught the flicker of envy in her eyes that she tried to hide.

  He shook his head with a weary sigh. "There's nothing to envy here, and pride isn't something I need. Pride breeds arrogance, and arrogance leads to failure."

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  The maid felt her breath catch at those profound words coming from a child. 'Such wisdom... "Pride breeds arrogance, arrogance leads to failure." This boy thinks like a scholar, not a nine-year-old.'

  Su Tianhao waved his hand dismissively. "Call me whatever makes you comfortable. I don't particularly care about titles."

  Relief flooded the maid's features as the awkward tension quickly dissolved. She had felt trapped between her professional duty and the boy's unusual request, unsure how to proceed without potentially offending either him or the Patriarch.

  When she looked at him again, her expression had transformed from mere professional courtesy to genuine respect. 'No wonder the Patriarch adopted him despite his humble origins. This child possesses qualities that can't be taught.'

  "What should I call you, miss?" Su Tianhao asked, bouncing experimentally on the bed's luxurious mattress—a gesture that suddenly made him seem his actual age again.

  Her lips curved into an unconscious smile at the childlike action. "Don't call me miss. My name is Xie Ling."

  "Xie Ling... Xie Ling," Su Tianhao repeated thoughtfully, as if tasting the name. "Such a beautiful name. Can I call you Ling Ling?"

  "Actually, my friends do call me Ling Ling," Xie Ling replied with warmth. "I would be honored."

  'If I can build a good relationship with the Second Young Master, when he grows up and becomes a cultivator, my position in the family will be much more secure.'

  Unaware of her calculations, Su Tianhao's mind had already moved to more pressing concerns. "Ling Ling, can you tell me about Oakwood City's power structure? I want to understand my new home."

  Xie Ling nodded eagerly, pleased to demonstrate her knowledge. "Young Master, Oakwood City is governed by three great clans that control both the economic and political systems: the Su family, the Ye family, and the He family."

  She paused to ensure he was paying attention, then continued. "Among the three, our Su family is the strongest, followed by the Ye family, then the He family. The He family typically remains neutral in conflicts—rumors say they're actually a branch family of some greater power, so they don't need to compete for local control."

  "I see," Su Tianhao said thoughtfully, filing away the information.

  Xie Ling's expression grew more animated. "The Su and Ye families have a rivalry spanning generations—like fire and water. But our Su family has consistently come out ahead in every major conflict."

  Su Tianhao noticed how her voice filled with pride when discussing the family's achievements. "I had no idea the Su family held such a strong position."

  "Of course!" Xie Ling beamed. "Everyone in Oakwood City knows our family's strength. Among the three Patriarchs, ours is the youngest but also the most powerful!"

  When she spoke of Su Huiqing, her eyes shone with genuine reverence and awe.

  'So that's why everyone showed such respect. In this world, strength truly does command everything.'

  "What about other local powers?" he asked. "And how do the various professions rank?"

  Xie Ling's eyes lit up at the opportunity to share more knowledge. "The local powers are insignificant with our family's backing—not worth mentioning. As for professions..."

  Su Tianhao leaned forward with obvious interest.

  "The most common profession is merchant, naturally. But the prestigious ones are alchemists, weapon craftsmen, and inscription masters. Unfortunately, most in our city are either ungraded or barely Grade 1 level."

  "What's the difference between ungraded and Grade 1?" Su Tianhao asked.

  Xie Ling cleared her throat, settling into her explanation. "Professional grades determine skill level and product quality. An ungraded alchemist creates pills with no official grade and many impurities. A Grade 1 alchemist can produce Grade 1 pills, but even within that grade, there are quality levels based on purity."

  She counted on her fingers as she continued. "A low-level Grade 1 alchemist achieves thirty percent purity, mid-level reaches fifty percent, high-level achieves seventy percent, and peak-level can reach ninety percent purity. Higher purity means greater effectiveness."

  "Has anyone ever achieved one hundred percent purity?" Su Tianhao asked with genuine curiosity.

  "No," Xie Ling shook her head firmly. "Not even in the entire Longzhou Country has anyone created a pill with perfect purity."

  "Interesting," Su Tianhao murmured, his analytical mind already working through the implications.

  "The same logic applies to inscription masters," Xie Ling continued. "But weapon craftsmen use different rankings—Mortal, Spirit, and Earth grades instead of numbers. Oakwood City has no Spirit-rank craftsmen; all our weapon smiths are classified as Mortal rank with the same low, mid, high, and peak divisions."

  Su Tianhao absorbed every detail like a sponge, his questions revealing an intellectual hunger that impressed Xie Ling. While they discussed the intricacies of professional hierarchies, neither was aware that news of Su Tianhao's adoption had already spread throughout the city like wildfire.

  In teahouses and market stalls, in family halls and training grounds, the same incredible story circulated: "Patriarch Su Huiqing returned home with a nine-year-old orphan boy and declared him Second Young Master!"

  The reaction was universal—shock mixed with envy at Su Tianhao's miraculous transformation from street orphan to young nobility. In a world where strength and status determined survival, his overnight rise seemed like something from legend rather than reality.

  But within the walls of the Su family compound, the boy himself remained focused on understanding his new world, unaware that his very existence had already begun to reshape the political landscape of Oakwood City.