Chapter 29: Improper Skill

In the afternoon, Su Han left Prince Jing's Residence with Su Xiao'Er, walking with a confident swagger.

After leaving Prince Jing's Residence, Su Han didn't lead Su Xiao'Er on a tour around Lingzhou City this time. Instead, he headed straight for the Ning Residence on the next street over.

The master of the Ning Residence was Ning Caishen, known as the richest man in Lingzhou City.

The Ning Family was a thousand-year-old lineage of merchants who had built a massive business empire in Lingzhou City and even throughout all of Jing Country.

Their wealth was so immense that it even surpassed that of Prince Jing's Residence. On a typical day, even Prince Jing himself would show Ning Caishen a great deal of respect.

Of course, what Prince Jing truly valued wasn't how much money Ning Caishen had. After all, when it came down to it, no one in all of Jing Country was richer than his family... or rather, his older brother's family.

What truly made Prince Jing value Ning Caishen was the man's ability to procure all sorts of strange and curious items that were perfectly to His Highness's taste.

Over time, Prince Jing had come to rely on Ning Caishen to a certain extent.

After obtaining the Rain of Fire skill, the first place Su Han sought out was the Ning Residence.

Su Han had already cased the joint over the past few days. To his surprise, the Ning Residence, this thousand-year-old family, had two ancient trees that glowed in his eyes.

And what did glowing mean? It meant the Ning Residence had two Skill Trees.

When Su Han arrived at the entrance of the Ning Residence with Su Xiao'Er, he found Ning Caishen's son, Ning Xiaoning, waiting respectfully outside the gates.

Seeing Su Han arrive, Ning Xiaoning bowed respectfully and offered his apologies.

"I was unaware of Your Highness's visit today. My father had business to attend to early this morning and has yet to return. He was unable to greet you personally, and I hope Your Highness will not take offense."

'He already said his father left early on business, and I only decided to come here on a whim during lunch.' Su Han thought.

'So even if I wanted to find fault, what reason would I have?'

'Besides, I'm here to wreak havoc on their trees. I already feel a little guilty, so I'm certainly not going to look for trouble.'

'After all... as the dignified Crown Prince Jing, I have a reputation to uphold.'

'I, Su Han, am the most reasonable of people, after all.'

Waving his hand to indicate that Ning Xiaoning needn't be so formal, Su Han walked through the gates of the Ning Residence under his guidance.

Ning Xiaoning had originally intended to lead Su Han to the main hall, but as soon as they were inside, Su Han stated his purpose directly.

"I trust you've heard that I burned down a Demon Tree yesterday, Young Master Ning?"

This question caught Ning Xiaoning completely off guard. He had no idea what Su Han was getting at.

However, even though he didn't understand Su Han's intentions, Ning Xiaoning had indeed heard about the incident. He immediately nodded with an accommodating smile.

"It is said that yesterday, Your Highness discovered a Demon Fiend that had snuck into Lingzhou City. You summoned divine lightning to vanquish it, and then, to eliminate any further threat and prevent the common people from being harmed by a Demon Tree colluding with the fiend, Your Highness risked life and limb to personally set the nascently demonic tree ablaze."

'As expected of Ning Caishen's son,' Su Han thought. 'He's a natural-born merchant. Such a silver tongue.'

He didn't call out Ning Xiaoning on his excessive flattery, instead proceeding to his true objective.

"Since you are aware that I set a tree on fire, Young Master Ning, I won't beat around the bush. I'll get straight to the point.

Several days ago, I sensed some unsettling elements appearing in Lingzhou City. Yesterday, I first encountered a Demon Fiend transformed from a chess piece, then a Demon Tree aiding and abetting it.

I am concerned that such incidents may occur again, and so I wish to conduct a thorough investigation of all of Lingzhou City to nip any potential threats in the bud.

Most areas of the city can be handed over to the city guard for inspection.

However, for prominent families such as yours, I feel it would be disrespectful to rashly send the guards to investigate.

Therefore, as a show of respect, and for the safety of the hundreds of thousands of citizens, I have decided to visit each of the major families and personally conduct the search myself. This will surely put the people of Lingzhou at ease."

As Ning Xiaoning listened to Su Han's speech, his expression grew darker and darker.

'I was wondering why the Crown Prince would suddenly decide to pay a visit to our Ning Residence.'

'So he's here to search the Ning Residence for Demon Fiends?'

'Demon Fiends? What are those? How could our Ning Residence possibly get involved with such things?'

'For the Crown Prince to search the Ning Residence first... even if he finds nothing, it won't sound good. It will damage our family's reputation!'

'Especially... what kind of place is the Ning Residence? A thousand-year-old family! How many secrets are hidden within these walls?'

'Many of those secrets can't see the light of day. Can we really let someone just search whenever he pleases?'

While wondering how to fend off the Crown Prince, Ning Xiaoning wrinkled his brow and prevaricated.

"Then... I wonder how Your Highness plans to conduct this search?"

His tone, while not exactly cold, had lost its earlier reverence.

Su Han glanced at Ning Xiaoning, naturally aware of his reluctance.

'But in order to openly make a clean sweep of all the Skill Trees in Lingzhou's major families, I have to resort to this less-than-ideal plan.'

'Using the Demon Fiend incident gives me a plausible excuse. It's much better than having to invent a new reason every time I want to burn someone's tree down.'

So, Su Han completely ignored the resistance in Ning Xiaoning's tone, smiled, and said, "Young Master Ning, simply show me around the courtyards of your residence. I just need to check the trees for any signs of demonization."

Ning Xiaoning: "...So... just looking at the trees will be enough?"

Su Han nodded. "That's right. What else would there be?"

Ning Xiaoning: "..."

'I thought the Crown Prince was planning to make an example of the Ning Residence. But now it seems... since the first discovery was a Tree Demon, he only needs to check the trees.'

'This is all just a formality!'

'This... he isn't making an example of us at all! He's helping the Ning Residence save face!'

His reluctance melted away, replaced by gratitude, and Ning Xiaoning's attitude toward Su Han became enthusiastic once more.

"Your Highness is truly dedicated to the people. I, Xiaoning, am filled with admiration.

Since Your Highness wishes to investigate the trees for signs of demonization, I will of course lead the way and help bring peace of mind to the people of Lingzhou."

Pleased with Ning Xiaoning's response, Su Han nodded in satisfaction.

Soon, under Ning Xiaoning's guidance, Su Han had toured half of the Ning Residence.

A quarter of an hour later, led by Ning Xiaoning, Su Han stood before one of the Skill Trees he had already scouted.

This Skill Tree had been planted in the Ning Residence a thousand years ago and had witnessed the rise and fall of its generations.

Under Ning Xiaoning's watchful gaze, Su Han carefully observed the ancient, thousand-year-old tree.

As he looked... and looked... Su Han's brow furrowed.

"Your Highness... is something wrong?"

Seeing Su Han's expression, Ning Xiaoning quickly asked.

Su Han nodded with a grave expression. "I have cultivated a Secret Technique. Under the gaze of my secret arts, I can see that this ancient tree is already showing signs of demonization."

Hearing this, Ning Xiaoning gave Su Han a skeptical look. "Your Highness... are you certain?"

Su Han pondered for a moment, then shook his head gently and took a few steps back to look at the ancient tree before him.

"Whether it's showing signs of demonization or not... we can find out with a little test."

"A test?"

Before Ning Xiaoning could voice his confusion, Su Han snapped his fingers. A hair-thin bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the ancient tree squarely.

"A warning from the Celestial Thunder! This ancient tree truly has begun to demonize."

Su Han glanced at Ning Xiaoning, and while the young man was still stunned, he immediately cast a Rain of Fire at the ancient tree.

The Rain of Fire, cast with the full strength of his Perfection-stage Foundation Establishment, instantly engulfed the ancient tree in a sea of flames.

And in Su Han's eyes, a slight change appeared on the ancient tree—Skill Tree (Activated).

'Looks like I don't necessarily need three barrels of kerosene to activate a Skill Tree,' Su Han thought. 'As long as the whole tree is on fire, it counts.'

With that thought, Su Han chose to inspect the skills on the Skill Tree.

Two skills lay quietly in the list:

Selectable Skill 1: Causality Technique - Blunt Stick.

Selectable Skill 2: Talent Technique - Aromas of Women.

Su Han: "..."

'These skills... why do their names sound so improper?'