Sidekick Fights Back (Married The Protagonist’s Mother)

Formal talks and negotiations with allied clans… and it took months? Su Kang mused. Su Feng also went out with his father. It definitely seems the clan is preparing for something significant. He suspected his family was planning to expand its influence, and the recent successful harvest of spiritual herbs had likely fueled those ambitions.

He decided not to dwell on it further for now; he would likely gain more information in the upcoming family meeting. Instead, he turned his attention back to the present, chatting casually with his cousins and a few other familiar faces nearby. The air in the banquet hall had grown warm and festive, filled with laughter, the clinking of cups, and the low murmur of dozens of conversations.

"Brother Feng," Su Kang began casually, "how was your trip to the Cangwu Region? Did you find anything interesting there?"

Su Feng offered a polite, noncommittal smile. "It was productive. We managed to establish some understanding with a few local families there." He didn't elaborate, but the subtle implications were clear to Su Kang.

So, they're aiming for that newly discovered secret realm, Su Kang realized. After the initial harvest, the clan must be set on securing more treasures and resources from it. The realm's existence hadn't been made public yet, but such news wouldn't remain secret for long. Some passing cultivator would inevitably sense the unusual spiritual fluctuations emanating from the area soon enough.

The realm itself had appeared in the northern territories of Jiang State, specifically within the Cangwu Region, which was uncomfortably close to the borders of the neighboring Heng State. Su Kang knew that if Heng State caught wind of it and they certainly would—the situation could escalate quickly. That realm would become contested ground, attracting the attention of various powers. However, it wouldn't be the top-tier powerhouses who would suffer casualties first. As was typical in such matters, unaffiliated casual cultivators, lured by rumors and desperate for resources, would be the first to rush in.

The top powerhouses will let them explore and bear the initial risks, Su Kang thought grimly. Only when the dangers are clearer will the truly powerful factions make their move.

I've already entered that realm once before, Su Kang recalled silently, a memory from his future vision surfacing. But we never explored it properly back then… In that foreseen timeline, he and Li Fang had briefly stepped into it, but they had been in a hurry, their focus fixed on their journey toward Hun State. Consequently, he had no idea what treasures or dangers were later uncovered deeper within, nor did he know when such a significant new realm had last appeared in Jiang State or its neighboring territories.

Secret realms were rare phenomena, often believed to be remnants of a bygone ancient era. Some were structured like forgotten training grounds, designed to test cultivators. Others resembled blood-soaked battlefields. The most dangerous ones, however, were often tombs—sealed sanctuaries of powerful cultivators or formidable beasts whose names had long been erased by the passage of time.

I really should have borrowed those historical scrolls about secret realms from Elder Lu Yin when I had the chance, Su Kang thought with a pang of regret. Back in his future vision, after being promoted to an inner disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, he had earned the qualifications to enter the sect's Scripture Pavilion for inner disciples. But he had decided to return to Jiang State to celebrate with his family. Before any celebration could occur, his family perished by the hands of demon cultivators.

Now, surrounded by the warmth and laughter of his living family, his heart tightened with a familiar ache. If I can secure Elder Lu Yin’s assistance in for real, the problem of lacking Core-Formation Pills might finally be resolved, he mused. Elder Lu Yin was a respected inner elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, renowned for her exceptional skills in alchemy. She could undoubtedly refine Core Formation Pills with ease. But to even approach her for help, Su Kang knew he would first need to establish a connection, to become acquainted with her.

This place… It's too small, Su Kang reflected on his situation. No matter how strong he became here, the Central Plains was where true power and opportunity lay. That's where I must go. That's where I'll find the resources and strength I truly need. His thoughts drifted as the lively conversations continued around him. Occasionally, he would rejoin the banter, tossing back a playful comment to his cousins, outwardly participating in the festive atmosphere while his mind wrestled with the future.

Before long, his parents entered the hall—his father, Su Chen, known to most as the Fourth Elder, walked alongside his mother and his younger uncle, the Fifth Elder. Their arrival brought an immediate pause to the conversations among the younger generation, who all rose as one.

"Greetings, Elders."

Su Kang bowed deeply with the others, his eyes briefly meeting Su Ting's. The atmosphere in the hall seemed to grow warmer with their presence, their unhurried steps filled with the quiet dignity that came with age and cultivation. The family's inner circle was slowly beginning to gather.

A hush then fell over the room. The family head had arrived.

Su Jinhai, Su Kang's eldest uncle and the current clan leader, entered. He was dressed in a robe of deep maroon, intricately embroidered with a golden, black-maned lion that seemed to ripple with quiet power under the candlelight. Beside him walked Madam Liu, his wife, her poise and grace matched only by the firm, intelligent gleam in her eyes.

The entire hall rose again to greet them. "Greetings, Clan Head! Greetings, Matriarch!" Dozens of voices rang out in unison.

Su Jinhai offered a calm, composed gaze across the assembled family members as he ascended to the main seat. Only once he was seated did he raise his hand. "Sit." His voice wasn't loud, but the single word echoed with undeniable authority.

Once everyone had resumed their places, Su Jinhai spoke, his tone steady and resolute. "The Su family has endured and thrived because of our unity, your loyalty, and your perseverance. Many of you have been toiling for years without pause." His gaze swept across the room. "But tonight, set aside those burdens. Drink, laugh, and rest. You've earned this celebration."

A wave of applause broke out, signaling the end of the formal pronouncements. The banquet began in full swing. Servants moved quickly between tables, carrying fresh carafes of wine and steaming platters of food. Elders received respectful bows and greetings from the younger members. Cousins, many of whom hadn't seen each other for months, reunited with hearty clasps on the shoulder and shared laughter. Familiar voices filled the room, rising and falling like a tide of shared memory and renewed connection.

Su Kang had always been closest with his cousins. Having spent most of his years away in Qingyun City, he remained a somewhat distant figure to the younger generation of the Su family. As a result, few among them approached him for an initial greeting. However, not long after the festivities began, a servant stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Young Master Kang, the Fifth Elder requests your presence at the elders' table.”

Su Kang nodded, rose from his seat and made his way toward the central dais where the elders were seated. As he approached, he clasped his fists and bowed respectfully. "This junior greets the Clan Head, Matriarch Liu, and honored elders."

Su Jinhai nodded with a small, approving smile, while Madam Liu regarded him with her usual serene elegance. Su Kang then turned and bowed once more to his younger uncle, the Fifth Elder, before taking the seat offered to him beside the Sixth Elder.

Su Kang's grandfather had three sons. The eldest, Su Jinhai, now served as the clan head. Su Kang's father, Su Chen, was the second son and the Fourth Elder. His youngest uncle, Su Han, held the position of Fifth Elder and skillfully oversaw the clan's various business dealings and finances.

The Sixth Elder, a thick-browed man with piercing gaze and a flat nose, gave Su Kang a small nod of approval as he settled into his seat. "It's been a year since I last saw you, hasn't it?"

"Yes, Elder. It has been a year since I last visited the clan," Su Kang replied.

"I heard from your father that you will stay in the clan for some time now and have decided not to go to the Central Plains for now. You made the right choice not going with that Li brat," he said in a low voice.

"If anything unfortunate happens to him out there, the resources his clan snatched from their enemies will fall into our hands, since the Li family certainly won't have the strength to hold onto them without him." He leaned back slightly, taking a satisfied sip of his wine.

"Even if he somehow survives and carves out a spot for himself, then his family will have to relocate to the Central Plains, and the businesses they built here will be left behind. It will be ours in the end." He chuckled with a satisfied expression.