Like a Mayfly Gazing Upon the Blue Sky

July 20, early morning.

The second day after Li Wei's return.

The Imperial Capital, Gu Garden.

At breakfast, Gu Shiheng sat upright at the head of the table and took a sip of bird's-nest and minced-chicken porridge. He immediately set down the porcelain bowl, his brows furrowing deeply.

Seeing this, Liang Qiushi, seated beside him, put down her chopsticks and asked, "Brother Heng, is it not to your taste?"

Gu Shiheng clasped his hands on the table, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and looked at his wife. "Xiao Qiu, have you heard the rumors about Jinzhi's marriage?"

Liang Qiushi's expression did not change. From the corners of her eyes, she glanced at her eldest son, who was focused solely on eating, and her younger son and daughter at the lower end, who seemed unconcerned but had clearly slowed their chewing.

The corners of her lips twitched. Her voice remained steady. "They're nothing more than the Zhang Family's baseless speculation. Don't take it to heart, Brother Heng."

Gu Shiheng tapped his fingers on the tabletop, his gaze fixed on his wife's face for several seconds.

After a moment, he asked gently, "Sister Chunhua has been in seclusion for half a year, hasn't she?"

Liang Qiushi lowered her eyes. The hand holding her soup bowl paused almost imperceptibly.

Thinking of how her husband had inexplicably sought her affection last night, her cheeks warmed, but a trace of relief welled up in her heart.

Had he grown suspicious? Fortunately, I switched back in time. Otherwise, I would certainly have been exposed last night.

Everyone in this family, old and young, is shrewd and stubborn. If they found out what I intend to do...

"Mm..."

Liang Qiushi picked up her chopsticks again and lifted a delicate little crab-roe soup dumpling. She ate it slowly and methodically. "I hope Sister can break through successfully."

Gu Shiheng consoled her, "Sister Chunhua has extraordinary talent, and your father is protecting her while she does so. You don't need to worry."

"Mm." Liang Qiushi answered, but her brows remained far from relaxed.

Seeing that the children had nearly finished eating, Gu Shiheng turned his gaze toward Gu Jinwen and Gu Jinyi at the other end of the long table. "You two, go outside first."

The siblings' faces immediately fell. They reluctantly set down their bowls and chopsticks, turning back three times with every step as they left the dining room.

The door closed softly.

Gu Jinzhi, who had been deep in thought, raised his head. His tranquil black eyes fixed steadily on his father.

Gu Shiheng looked at the eldest son who had made him proud for more than a decade. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "What do you think of that child Jiang Xue?"

"Brother Heng..." Liang Qiushi tried to speak.

Gu Shiheng raised a hand to stop her. "Let Jinzhi answer."

"She..."

Gu Jinzhi's thoughts drifted far away. He remembered the little girl who had often come to Gu Garden back then, always following behind him without making a sound or throwing a tantrum.

To be honest, he had little impression of her.

Later, after entering Martial Arts Middle School, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. The two of them could hardly meet once a year.

And after that came the poisoning case that had caused such a sensation...

At the time, many people had felt sorry for him, saying his grandfather had grown senile to arrange such a fiancée for him.

Others had waited to see the joke, hoping Jiang Xue, that family-wrecking troublemaker, would turn the Gu Family upside down.

He himself had not cared. He knew that until the Zhang Family's threat was resolved, he would not marry—and was not qualified to marry!

It seemed everyone said Jiang Xue loved him to the point of madness.

Before yesterday, he had felt nothing of it, until...

She could squat in a bunker and still wake up laughing in the middle of the night? I don't know whether she loves me, but she certainly is strange and interesting.

Gu Jinzhi's brows shifted slightly, and the corners of his lips seemed to lift into an indistinct arc.

"Grandfather chose her. He should not have been wrong."

The hand Liang Qiushi had resting on her knee loosened slightly, though her expression remained calm.

Gu Shiheng looked at his son. After a while, he nodded. "In a couple of days, bring her over. The wedding date is approaching. You two should spend some time together beforehand."

"All right," Gu Jinzhi answered indifferently. "I—"

"I've already spoken with the in-laws," Liang Qiushi cut in. "I'll go pick her up on the twenty-fifth. Jinzhi, focus on your cultivation and don't let this distract you."

Gu Jinzhi: "..."

Gu Shiheng nodded, accepting the arrangement, but his expression grew even more solemn.

"Jinzhi, this marriage was brought about through your grandfather's and your mother's efforts. I understand the old man's thinking. He simply wants to seek an auspicious sign, and give you one more thing to hold on to. When trouble comes, you'll have a few more sparks of will to survive."

As he spoke, he glanced at Liang Qiushi.

"But your mother... I can't see through what she's thinking."

Liang Qiushi's elegant swanlike neck stiffened. She looked at her husband in astonishment.

JULY 20, EARLY MORNING.

The second day after Li Wei's return.

The Imperial Capital, Gu Garden.

At breakfast, Gu Shiheng sat upright at the head of the table and took a sip of bird's-nest and minced-chicken porridge. He immediately set down the porcelain bowl, his brows furrowing deeply.

Seeing this, Liang Qiushi, seated beside him, put down her chopsticks and asked, "Brother Heng, is it not to your taste?"

Gu Shiheng clasped his hands on the table, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and looked at his wife. "Xiao Qiu, have you heard the rumors about Jinzhi's marriage?"

Liang Qiushi's expression did not change. From the corners of her eyes, she glanced at her eldest son, who was focused solely on eating, and her younger son and daughter at the lower end, who seemed unconcerned but had clearly slowed their chewing.

The corners of her lips twitched. Her voice remained steady. "They're nothing more than the Zhang Family's baseless speculation. Don't take it to heart, Brother Heng."

Gu Shiheng tapped his fingers on the tabletop, his gaze fixed on his wife's face for several seconds.

After a moment, he asked gently, "Sister Chunhua has been in seclusion for half a year, hasn't she?"

Liang Qiushi lowered her eyes. The hand holding her soup bowl paused almost imperceptibly.

Thinking of how her husband had inexplicably sought her affection last night, her cheeks warmed, but a trace of relief welled up in her heart.

Had he grown suspicious? Fortunately, I switched back in time. Otherwise, I would certainly have been exposed last night.

Everyone in this family, old and young, is shrewd and stubborn. If they found out what I intend to do...

"Mm..."

Liang Qiushi picked up her chopsticks again and lifted a delicate little crab-roe soup dumpling. She ate it slowly and methodically. "I hope Sister can break through successfully."

Gu Shiheng consoled her, "Sister Chunhua has extraordinary talent, and your father is protecting her while she does so. You don't need to worry."

"Mm." Liang Qiushi answered, but her brows remained far from relaxed.

Seeing that the children had nearly finished eating, Gu Shiheng turned his gaze toward Gu Jinwen and Gu Jinyi at the other end of the long table. "You two, go outside first."

The siblings' faces immediately fell. They reluctantly set down their bowls and chopsticks, turning back three times with every step as they left the dining room.

The door closed softly.

Gu Jinzhi, who had been deep in thought, raised his head. His tranquil black eyes fixed steadily on his father.

Gu Shiheng looked at the eldest son who had made him proud for more than a decade. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "What do you think of that child Jiang Xue?"

"Brother Heng..." Liang Qiushi tried to speak.

Gu Shiheng raised a hand to stop her. "Let Jinzhi answer."

"She..."

Gu Jinzhi's thoughts drifted far away. He remembered the little girl who had often come to Gu Garden back then, always following behind him without making a sound or throwing a tantrum.

To be honest, he had little impression of her.

Later, after entering Martial Arts Middle School, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. The two of them could hardly meet once a year.

And after that came the poisoning case that had caused such a sensation...

At the time, many people had felt sorry for him, saying his grandfather had grown senile to arrange such a fiancée for him.

Others had waited to see the joke, hoping Jiang Xue, that family-wrecking troublemaker, would turn the Gu Family upside down.

He himself had not cared. He knew that until the Zhang Family's threat was resolved, he would not marry—and was not qualified to marry!

It seemed everyone said Jiang Xue loved him to the point of madness.

Before yesterday, he had felt nothing of it, until...

She could squat in a bunker and still wake up laughing in the middle of the night? I don't know whether she loves me, but she certainly is strange and interesting.

Gu Jinzhi's brows shifted slightly, and the corners of his lips seemed to lift into an indistinct arc.

"Grandfather chose her. He should not have been wrong."

The hand Liang Qiushi had resting on her knee loosened slightly, though her expression remained calm.

Gu Shiheng looked at his son. After a while, he nodded. "In a couple of days, bring her over. The wedding date is approaching. You two should spend some time together beforehand."

"All right," Gu Jinzhi answered indifferently. "I—"

"I've already spoken with the in-laws," Liang Qiushi cut in. "I'll go pick her up on the twenty-fifth. Jinzhi, focus on your cultivation and don't let this distract you."

Gu Jinzhi: "..."

Gu Shiheng nodded, accepting the arrangement, but his expression grew even more solemn.

"Jinzhi, this marriage was brought about through your grandfather's and your mother's efforts. I understand the old man's thinking. He simply wants to seek an auspicious sign, and give you one more thing to hold on to. When trouble comes, you'll have a few more sparks of will to survive."

As he spoke, he glanced at Liang Qiushi.

"But your mother... I can't see through what she's thinking."

Liang Qiushi's elegant swanlike neck stiffened. She looked at her husband in astonishment.

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Gu Shiheng ignored her reaction and continued speaking to his son. "Whatever she wants to do, you only need to remember that you are a man of the Gu Family. You must shoulder your responsibilities."

"Yes, Father." Gu Jinzhi gave a slight nod.

Fang City, Jiang Family Manor.

"Still no one's answering." Tang Zhou set his phone aside, his face full of helplessness.

Jiang Yunshu frowned. "We can't find her, and she won't answer the phone. What are they trying to do?"

Jiang Yao shrank timidly into the corner of the sofa, her eyes red. "Sister... does she hate me that much? She won't even come home anymore..."

"It has nothing to do with you." Jiang Yunshu rubbed his temples, extremely irritated.

The Gu Family would be coming to take her away in a few days. If they lost "Jiang Xue," how would they explain it to Madam Gu?

Recently, they had received no small amount of benefits from the Gu Family, and many of those things had gone to Yao Yao.

Especially that Mingxin Tongqiao Pill, which temporarily enhanced comprehension. It was a treasure that money could not buy!

If the marriage fell through, what would they use to repay them?

Tang Zhou was not especially anxious. "His Fourth Uncle told me that in a couple of days, the two children are going to his place to watch the execution of abyssal monsters. She definitely won't get lost, so don't worry."

"That Jiang Han is getting more and more outrageous!" Jiang Yunshu felt a little relieved after hearing this, but his anger did not fade.

Tang Zhou laughed awkwardly. "The child is still young. We can teach him slowly."

Neither of them noticed the flash of venom in Jiang Yao's eyes as she lowered her head.

I already informed Yun Zheng, yet Jiang Xue vanished. Could she have noticed something?

Impossible! She's so stupid! Four years ago, I handled the poisoning so crudely, and she still didn't see through it!

Coincidence. It must be a coincidence! Hmph, she can't stay away from home forever. Just wait, Jiang Xue. Yun Zheng has a Vitality Value of 86 and has trained Blood Dragon Tribulation Claw to the Mastered level. You're doomed this time!

The realms of Combat Methods, from lowest to highest, were Initiation, Proficiency, Mastered, Minor Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, and Perfection.

At the Quasi-Martial Artist stage, everyone desperately worked on nourishing their blood. Very few people distracted themselves by practicing Combat Methods, unless they wanted to make a splash in the Freshman Competition.

Someone like Yun Zheng, who had trained a Combat Method to the Mastered level before even entering school, was practically an anomaly.

As for Jiang Xue?

She was merely a twenty-year-old good-for-nothing still stuck at Muscles and Bones Ringing in Harmony.

When she met Yun Zheng, she would be like a mayfly gazing upon the blue sky!

My dear sister, Yun Zheng loves crushing other people's bones. I can't wait~

Zhang Family Villa, Training Ground.

Zhang Yansheng flicked a finger. Fierce saber energy swept out, leaving several savage, interlocking slash marks across the specially made alloy floor.

More than ten meters away, a tall and imposing figure stood proudly. He neither dodged nor evaded the saber energy, battle intent blazing in his tiger eyes.

"Good!" he roared. The wild-goose saber at his waist sprang from its sheath, cleaving across like thunder.

BOOM!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The blood-burning saber blade charged forward without hesitation. The instant it made contact, it stirred the invisible saber energy into fragments!

"Whew—"

The young man's face flushed red. After regulating his breathing for a moment, he suddenly exhaled a stream of white air, then returned the saber to its sheath.

As he moved, the knuckles of the hand gripping the saber revealed a glimmering jade hue, extraordinary indeed.

Zhang Yansheng's face filled with approval. "Second-tier Perfection, with your Jade Bone about to be complete. Good! You truly are my son, Zhang Yansheng!"

Then his face filled with regret. "What a pity. Before breaking through to Martial Artist, your physical body only barely reached Great Perfection. If you could advance one step further and achieve a Dao-Approaching Body..."

The young man's sharp saber-like lips tightened. His wheat-colored skin was as solid as a boulder. "When Shen Yaochi broke through to Martial Artist, her Vitality Value was only 96. We both reached Great Perfection. If we were the same age, it wouldn't be certain who would be stronger."

"You, you..." Zhang Yansheng laughed and scolded him. "Before she graduated, she was the only fourth-tier student in the entire Hua Nation. And you dare compare yourself to the number one of the younger generation? You've got guts!"

With that, he beckoned the young man to sit beside him.

"Pengcheng, when do you plan to advance a tier?"

The young man—Zhang Pengcheng—lazily sat down on the meditation cushion beside Zhang Yansheng and replied, "My Jade Bone hasn't reached its limit yet. I still need to temper it some more."

"Gu Jinzhi reached the third tier three months ago. Are you confident you can defeat him?" Zhang Yansheng asked.

"After the Freshman Competition, he willingly ruined himself and broke through to Martial Artist with a Vitality Value of 89. From that moment on, he and I stopped being people of the same world."

Zhang Pengcheng laid his saber across his knees and casually drew out a section. The snow-bright blade gleamed like a mirror, reflecting his sharp brows and eyes.

"A difference of one point means the difference between heaven and earth." Zhang Pengcheng sneered. "When Gu Jinzhi sees me now, he'll be like a mayfly gazing upon the blue sky."

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