Su Yan awoke in comfort, but the moment he was fully awake, his memories brought to the forefront the confrontation he would have to handle today.
He could already feel his energy and enthusiasm for the day draining away.
Pushing himself into a sitting position, he leaned back against the headboard and stared out the open window.
What did he want from the stablehand?
An apology, yes.
The return of his property, also yes.
Punishment?
Su Yan furrowed his brows as he thought. It would be satisfying, and it would calm the part of him that felt this was a violation, a betrayal of his trust.
But it would be too much effort, he thought to himself. As long as the young man apologised and returned the stolen items, Su Yan would be content with simply firing him.
With the decision made, Su Yan felt his body relax. He was never good at handling confrontation.
He never liked dealing with things like this, but the world seemed content to force him into situations like these.
He hoped 2B was right and that the stablehand would return. Chasing him down across the city sounded absolutely tiring, and on top of the happenings of the previous day, he really did not want to.
He let out a deep sigh before directing his attention to Pod, still at the table next to a stack of closed books.
Pod reacted when Su Yan looked over, smoothly floating towards his bed.
"Good morning, Commander."
"Good morning, Pod. How were the books?"
"Reporting: Inadequate."
Su Yan chuckled at Pod's bluntness.
"Please elaborate, Pod."
"There were indeed books on cultivation, but much of the information could be inferred from what we already had. While they helped confirm some of our existing knowledge, they offered little in the way of new insights."
Pod floated in place for a moment before continuing.
"That being said, some of the cultural references could perhaps prove useful in understanding some of the metaphors or thought processes in the more useful books, both current and future ones."
"An astute observation. So, are you saying that I should include books even if they are not purely about cultivation?"
Pod bobbed once in place.
"Correct."
"Will do, but that will have to wait. One shopping trip yesterday is enough to last me a while."
Su Yan lay back on his bed, deciding to shut his eyes for a few more minutes before leaving to make breakfast.
But then he noticed Pod had not left.
Cracking an eye open, he asked, "Did you need something else, Pod?"
"Yes. You mentioned having some theories regarding what Unit 2B said. However, you have yet to record or submit anything for analysis."
Su Yan took a moment to think before it came to him.
"Oh, you mean that quote 2B mentioned?"
"Yes."
Su Yan sat back up and made himself comfortable.
"You see, that saying reminded me of something from my previous life. People used to believe that living a healthy, balanced life could lead to spiritual enlightenment. That true well-being involved not just the body, but the mind and soul as well."
Su Yan tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Back then, though, it was mostly a philosophical idea. We didn't have Spirit Power, Spirit Masters, or soul beasts. The supernatural was practically non-existent, so sayings like that were just words to live by."
He paused, gathering his thoughts.
"But this world is different. Spiritual Power is something tangible here. Something that can actually grow stronger."
His expression turned thoughtful.
"So what if there's more truth to that saying than I originally realised? What if cultivating Spiritual Power isn't just about exercising the mind, but bringing the body, mind, and soul into balance?"
"And I don't mean simply indulging yourself or doing whatever makes you feel good. I'm talking about genuine inner peace, a sound mind, and a healthy body."
He glanced towards Pod.
"Maybe developing all three together is the key to strengthening one's Spiritual Power?"
"Please explain. What does the Commander intend?"
"I think the easiest way to put it is: all things in moderation. Never do something to the point where I end up feeling stifled. Work, rest, and play need to be balanced. This, I hope, will create opportunities for Spiritual Power to grow, allowing me to absorb even older soul rings."
"What do you think, Pod?"
"Analysis: The theory is plausible and will be recorded. As it does not pose a threat to the Commander's safety, it shall be provisionally approved. However, Commander, how do you propose to measure whether it is actually taking effect?"
Su Yan scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I… did not think about it…"
"I guess when I reach the point where ten-thousand-year soul rings become an option, I'll just have to stick close to the recommended age limits. Or perhaps find a Spirit Master skilled in Spiritual Power to help?"
Pod floated in the air as Su Yan felt it judging him, despite it having neither eyes nor expressions.
"Information will be passed on to Unit 2B and Nihilister."
"Right…"
After that, Su Yan and Pod continued discussing things until he looked out the window and realised how much time had passed.
He quickly leapt out of bed.
"Pod, let's shelve further discussion for next time. I need to make breakfast already."
As Su Yan hurried towards the kitchen, Pod followed him.
"Proposal: This unit shall assist in the preparation of breakfast."
Su Yan smiled as he continued making his way to the kitchen.
"Thanks, Pod."
When breakfast was finally ready, Su Yan stored the dishes in the storage soul tool and he and Pod made their way to the dining room where 2B and Nihilister were already seated.
Nihilister immediately burst into laughter upon seeing Pod.
Perched atop Pod was a small chef's hat, sitting slightly crooked to one side. Thanks to the stability of Pod's flight, it remained securely in place.
"What the hell is that?"
"Reporting: It is a chef's hat that the Commander insisted on me equipping. He was adamant it is a necessary procedure."
"You can't say it is not snazzy on him."
Su Yan said as he took the food from his storage soul tool and began placing it on the table.
"It certainly is something," Nihilister said, already grabbing a bowl for herself and beginning to eat.
2B watched silently from the side, a relaxed expression on her face.
After making sure everyone had their food, Su Yan also sat down and began to dig in.
When everyone was finished, they did not head for the sparring area but instead gathered at the front of the property.
"So what's the plan?" Nihilister asked.
"Well, it's nearly time for him to arrive, so I say we hide on one of the rooftops and see what he does, confronting him the moment he tries to leave or does anything suspicious."
"That seems like a lot of effort. Why not just grab him and be done with it?"
"Well, it'd be easier to catch him in the act, I guess. Plus, he'd be less likely to run."
Nihilister gave him a deadpan stare.
"Do you really think he could run from me or 2B here? Or that you couldn't just cut off his escape with one of those barriers of yours?"
"Okay… Fine, then. I just want to see what he'll do. Or if he even comes back at all."
Nihilister huffed.
"Barely acceptable."
She grabbed him and hoisted him over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Before he could protest, she had already leapt onto the roof.
2B quickly followed behind them, with Pod floating along behind her.
It did not take long for the group to spot the boy entering through the side gate. Immediately, he was acting somewhat suspiciously, seemingly expecting something to jump out and grab him.
When nothing happened, he cautiously began his work, growing more relaxed as he went.
Su Yan could see that he was genuinely taking good care of the horses, mucking out the stables, feeding them fresh hay, and even walking them around the area so they could get some exercise.
But once everything was done, the boy hesitated. He kept glancing towards the main residence before finally shaking his head and heading towards the side door to leave.
"Nihilister, block him."
"I thought you'd never ask."
She leapt off the roof, her clothes fluttering in the wind and her long red ponytail rippling behind her.
She crashed down in front of the stablehand, who promptly fell to the ground and began scrambling backwards.
"Hey there."
Nihilister gave him a little wave, a wicked grin on her face.
Eventually, the stablehand's back hit someone's legs.
Looking back, he found 2B standing above him, glaring down at him. Despite her eyes not being visible, the young man flinched under her stare.
He tried backing away in the opposite direction, only to find himself trapped between the two women.
Su Yan had made his way down from the rooftop and was approaching at a leisurely pace.
As the stablehand kept glancing back and forth, he eventually spotted Su Yan.
"Young Master Su, please help!"
Su Yan merely raised an eyebrow at his cry.
"Whatever for?"
The young man gulped.
"The mistresses suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked the exit. I-I don't know why."
"Oh, but I think you do," Su Yan said, walking to 2B's side.
"I believe 2B here made it very clear that you were to stay in this area only."
"I-I thought I saw someone suspicious, so I followed. That was all."
"And who was this suspicious person, if I may ask?"
"It was a girl! A girl with a scorpion braid and a pretty face. I asked what she was doing here, and she ran off."
"Then are you saying that girl was the one who stole the Night-Luminous Pearls?"
Su Yan watched as the stablehand's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.
"YES! She must have been the one! There's no other explanation!"
The emotion drained from Su Yan's face.
"I have to say, I do not appreciate being stolen from, but what I detest even more is that you tried to accuse one of my best friends."
"Your… friend?"
"Yes. She came to visit yesterday, and that's how I learned about your violation of the rules we established."
Su Yan walked towards the young man, his glare never leaving the boy's face.
"And the stolen Night-Luminous Pearls."
The stablehand shot up from the ground, somehow finding the courage to protest.
"I didn't do it! And you have no proof I did either! You cannot go about accusing people without proof like this! If you do, I'll report you to the officials!"
Su Yan was baffled. One moment, the young man had been cowering in fear, and the next, he was standing up to him.
The few moments Su Yan spent pondering seemed to have emboldened the stablehand.
"Yeah, that's right! This country runs on rules! You cannot go around accusing people like that without consequences! I'll report you! But I won't if you just let me go."
Behind him, Nihilister cracked her knuckles as she moved closer. The stablehand jolted in fear.
"And… violence isn't allowed either! They'll arrest you and put you in jail!"
But that did not deter Nihilister.
"Fine, then. You can go."
"WHAT?!"
Nihilister roared.
"I said he can go."
The stablehand looked confused before immediately scrambling past Nihilister and out through the gate.
Nihilister stared as he ran past before directing a gaze full of fury at Su Yan.
"What the hell was that, Su Yan?"
"I have a plan. Don't worry, Nihilister."
He directed his attention to 2B.
"2B, I want you to follow him. I need to know where he lives. After all, we do still need to retrieve the key he has to our home. Return once you have the location."
2B nodded before quickly running off after the young man.
"Nihilister, you're coming with me. We're going to find a place that sells Night-Luminous Pearls and get a feel for how much they're worth."
He looked towards Pod, which was only now descending from the roof.
"Pod, stay here and protect our home."
With that, Su Yan strode out through the side entrance, Nihilister falling into step beside him, her expression still sour.
"You're going through an awful lot of trouble for someone you just let walk away."
"I know. And I'm probably going to regret it later, but that boy's actions have rather incensed me."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"I feel like I need to properly address this wrong, balance the scales, so to speak."
He kept walking as he talked.
"I want to make sure that he will feel just as frustrated as I am right now."
Nihilister kept her eyes on him as he walked. He could feel it. But she did not say anything further.
Upon reaching the market, Su Yan quickly found several luxury goods stores. The shopkeepers welcomed him with pleasant expressions, remaining polite and courteous even when he bought nothing, though he suspected they were privately cursing him for wasting their time.
He finally stopped when he noticed the impatient expression on Nihilister's face.
Making his way back to their home, he mentally went through what he had found.
The Night-Luminous Pearls were expensive indeed. Pearls of a similar size to those stolen ranged from three hundred to four hundred and fifty gold soul coins each.
If sold as a matching set, with consistent quality and luminosity, their price could climb even higher.
Replacing the pearls would be a pain beyond the expense alone. Knowing Wei Jian's eccentricities, there was no way he hadn't purchased matching sets back when the pearls were cheaper.
When the pair finally made it back, 2B was already waiting for them.
"How is it, 2B?"
"I have found where he lives. We can proceed at any time."
Su Yan nodded.
"Please lead on."
The three of them proceeded through the winding streets of the capital city and soon came upon a small and functional home.
It reminded Su Yan of Teacher Lin's courtyard home.
Stepping up to the gate, he gave the metal knocker several firm strikes, the sound reverberating through the area.
It wasn't long before he heard footsteps, and a middle-aged woman opened the gate. She wore clean, neat clothing, with her hair tied into a bun.
Judging by her apron, Su Yan surmised that he had likely arrived while she was cooking.
She looked at them suspiciously.
"Can I help you?"
Su Yan put on a soothing expression.
"Yes, madam. I've come looking for your son. You see, I'm his current employer, and there are some problems we need to discuss."
"Oh, you must be Young Master Su. Please come in, come in."
She opened the gate wider and ushered the three inside.
"Xiaoyu, prepare some tea and somewhere for our guests to sit!"
She turned back to Su Yan.
"Apologies, Young Master Su. You've come at a bad time. My son just went out a little while ago. But I'm currently cooking lunch, and I would be immensely honoured if you would join us while we wait for him to return."
Su Yan hesitated.
"I—"
"Please, don't stand on ceremony with us. You're a generous employer, and I don't like to boast, but my cooking is not half bad. I promise you won't be disappointed."
He eventually relented.
"Very well, I'll count on your hospitality, then."
The woman smiled brightly.
"Just leave it to me."
She quickly rushed back into the kitchen, where the sounds of cooking began anew.
Off to the side, a girl in a plain green dress appeared and made her way into the kitchen, emerging shortly afterwards with a tray carrying a teapot and several cups.
She stopped in front of the three.
"Please follow me."
She gave a small bow before leading them to the dining room.
It was a neat and tidy room, with decorations that made the place feel comfortable. The dining table was a small, square one, and although it looked a little cramped, Su Yan guessed they could fit everyone if they squeezed together.
After placing the tray down, the girl gestured towards the chairs arranged around the table.
"Please wait here. I'll help Mother with the food."
She bowed again before slipping out of the room.
Su Yan noticed that although she was polite, she seemed a little nervous around strangers, some of her movements noticeably stiff.
He paid it little mind and sat down to pour himself a cup of tea, though he regretted it when the liquid came out rather pale. He hadn't allowed the tea leaves to steep long enough.
Nihilister sat to his right, while 2B took the seat to his left.
"That was the plan?" Nihilister asked.
"Come to his home and mooch a meal?"
"As I said before, I didn't have a proper plan, but this certainly wasn't it."
He sighed and drained the hot water from his cup.
"I don't even know what's happening right now."
"We're sitting in the thief's home, being welcomed by his family, ready to mooch a free meal because someone had to make things complicated."
Su Yan gave her a tired look.
Nihilister merely grinned at him.
"Let's just see how things go."
Another thirty minutes passed before the mother and daughter returned with dishes in their hands. They made several more trips, bringing out fish, meat, vegetables, and even soup.
Finally, they brought out a wooden bucket filled with steaming rice.
The mother wasted no time filling the bowls and passing them to Su Yan, 2B, and Nihilister.
"Please, don't be shy. Eat! The food's only good while it's hot, after all."
She gave them a pleasant smile before turning to fill her daughter's bowl next.
Holding his bowl, Su Yan felt awkward, but at this point, he could hardly refuse. He began picking out food to go with his rice and started eating.
Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of chopsticks tapping against bowls and people chewing.
The woman hadn't been wrong. Her cooking was indeed pretty good. By the time Su Yan finished his first bowl, much of his awkwardness had faded, and he even asked for a second helping.
A request the mother was all too happy to fulfil.
The atmosphere soon turned calm and peaceful, only to be interrupted by the squeak of the front gate opening.
Mid-bite, Su Yan looked outside to see the stablehand standing in the courtyard, staring in stunned silence, his entire body frozen mid-motion.
Su Yan noticed that Nihilister looked particularly satisfied at the sight.