"Hmph, you really know how to flatter. Fine then—I'll just stay here at your Gui Lin Residence. It's not like I have anywhere else to go."
Tsunade was thrilled deep down, though she didn't show it.
"Once this expansion is done, this place will become the most luxurious tavern in the entire shinobi world."
Su Mu rolled up the blueprint with satisfaction, deciding to begin reconstruction after his next storytelling session.
Recently, Duanshan Street had been bustling with travelers, many from distant lands.
Some of them were even wanted criminals.
But Su Mu's tales were just that enticing. Even fugitives risked exposure just for a chance to hear his stories.
As the next storytelling night drew closer, evening arrived.
After Gui Lin Residence closed its doors for the night, Jiraiya showed up with a huge bundle of freshly printed books.
He knew full well he'd published someone else's work, so he came to explain face-to-face.
Thick-skinned as always, Jiraiya dropped the books onto the table in front of Su Mu with a sheepish grin.
Tsunade strolled over, picked up a copy, and skimmed the pages.
"So this is why there are suddenly so many copies of Immortality and the spin-off Gonggong Strikes Mount Buzhou floating around… It was you?"
Jiraiya , popped open a bottle of sake, and took a swig.
"I know I didn't have your permission, Master Su. My bad."
"But I'm here to make things right. You tell the stories, I write the books—we split the profits fifty-fifty. Deal?"
Su Mu simply waved his hand and chuckled.
"You wrote the book. It's yours. I don't need the money."
In the system, Shock Points could be exchanged for ninja world currency.
Just 1 Shock Point = 10,000 ryo.
To Su Mu, money was irrelevant.
Tsunade blinked in disbelief.
"Do you know how much these books are making? You're seriously turning down all that cash?"
Su Mu yawned lazily.
"Then why don't you and Jiraiya split it. Give her the extra cut."
Tsunade's eyes lit up like gold coins.
"Wait—seriously?!"
Jiraiya protested.
"Hey! You didn't even do anything!"
"Shut it!" Tsunade slammed her foot onto Jiraiya's shoulder."Didn't you hear Su Mu? That share's mine! Now hand over yesterday and today's earnings!"
Su Mu just shook his head helplessly.
"Pretty girls are great and all… except for their temper."
The next morning.
As the sun rose, the outside of Gui Lin Residence was already packed wall to wall with visitors.
Shinobi and civilians from all five nations were lining up anxiously, hoping to secure a seat.
Under a nearby tree, Mei Terumi sipped tea as she watched the gathering crowd with amusement.
Emerging from the crowd, Chojuro crawled over, drenched in sweat, and held up two numbered seat cards.
"Got seats 1 and 3… whew…"
Mei Terumi smiled sweetly.
"Good job. I guess all my pampering of you wasn't for nothing."
She took the number cards, but just as she did, a familiar figure passed through the crowd.
The man vanished in a flash.
But Mei had caught a clear glimpse of the blade at his waist.
"Heh… Been looking for you for a long time."
The doors opened.
The crowd surged in like a tidal wave.
"Let's go, Chojuro. Time to listen."
Later, after rounds of drinks and conversation, the crowd was getting restless.
The next storytelling session should've started by now, but Su Mu hadn't appeared yet.
Mei sat by the window, sipping beer that left her cheeks flushed.
"This beer… is surprisingly good. Sweet with a hint of fruit. Whoever runs this place really knows what they're doing."
Just then—
The second-floor door creaked open.
Su Mu stepped out in pristine white robes, folding fan in hand, descending the stairs with poise.
Thunderous applause erupted.
"Master Su is here!"
"Finally! I've been waiting since before dawn!"
"He's so young!"
"Just his presence makes the drink taste better—bring me three more bottles!"
From her seat, Mei Terumi turned to look.
One glance—and she was smitten.
"That face… that aura… In the entire shinobi world, there's only a handful of men that look that good."
"A clean-cut pretty boy… Just my type~"
Her heart fluttered as she downed her beer in one go.
Most shinobi were rugged types who smelled like blood and sweat.
But Su Mu was different.
He felt like someone who had wandered in from another world, mysterious and refined.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today's tale is titled—'Havoc in Heaven.'"
"It shares the same mythic flavor as the last story from the prehistoric world."
"Grab your beer and peanuts—it's time to begin!"
The crowd cheered in excitement.
After the Gonggong tale, expectations were sky-high.
They knew Master Su wouldn't disappoint.
Meanwhile, on the roof of Gui Lin Residence, a man in an orange mask sat quietly.
Listening.
Every word of the story reached his ears.
He looked up at the sky lazily.
"'Havoc in Heaven,' huh? Sounds interesting."
Back in the tavern, Su Mu began:
"The protagonist of this tale was born from a divine stone split by the primordial heavens."
"He emerged from Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Continent and led the monkeys to settle in the Water Curtain Cave, earning the title 'Handsome Monkey King.'"
"Later, he crossed seas to learn the way of immortals from Patriarch Subhuti."
"He was named Sun Wukong and mastered supreme arts like the Great Immortal Sutra, Seventy-Two Transformations, and the Cloud Somersault."
As Su Mu spoke, a masked man suddenly interrupted from the crowd.
"A monkey born from a rock? Can this story get any more absurd?"
The audience scowled in annoyance.
"Master Su is speaking—shut up!"
"If you don't like it, leave!"
But the masked man released a wave of killing intent.
The rowdy patrons immediately fell silent.
From her seat, Mei Terumi let out a cold laugh.
Chojuro's hand moved subtly to the twin swords on his back—Hiramekarei.
Su Mu didn't respond with anger.
Once the noise died down, he continued calmly:
"When Sun Wukong finished his training, he sought a weapon suited to his power."
"He traveled to the East Sea Dragon Palace and retrieved a divine staff known as the Ruyi Jingu Bang—the Golden-Hooped Rod."
"Also called the Celestial River Stabilizer, it was once used to calm floods."
"It was forged with two gold hoops and a black iron core, engraved with the words: 'Ruyi Jingu Bang – 13,500 Jin (8.1 tons).'"
Su Mu paused to sip his tea.
The masked man laughed mockingly.
"13,500 Jin? You expect us to believe that nonsense about a giant iron rod? Are you even telling a story anymore?"
Su Mu set down his cup and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Then tell me—what do you consider the strongest weapon?"
The man sneered.
"Ever heard of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
The tavern gasped.
"The Seven Swordsmen?! Aren't they the elite bladesmen of Kirigakure?"
"Each one has a blade perfectly matched to their ninjutsu…"
"Legend says, the seven of them could conquer a small nation in a single night!"