Gu Family

The evening wind brushed against them, and the sky gradually darkened. As the sun sank, the lingering glow on the horizon flickered in and out of sight.

Chen Yuan walked along the road paved with blue stone bricks and finally arrived at the Cheng Family residence in Hundred Herb Lane before the last of the afterglow vanished.

With unease in his heart, he knocked on the gate.

Soon, two sets of hurried footsteps approached, followed by a woman's voice from behind the door:

"Who is knocking? What is the matter?"

There was vigilance in her voice. After all, someone had arrived in such a hurry at nightfall.

Chen Yuan hurriedly said, "Aunt, it's me, Chen Yuan."

"A-Yuan? Why have you come?"

Upon hearing her nephew's voice, his aunt was first startled, then quickly had her husband remove the wooden bar and open the gate.

There stood her nephew Chen Yuan, alone outside with a bundle on his back.

"Come in, quickly. Whatever it is, sit down and tell us..." His aunt Huang Juan took his hand tenderly.

"Aunt, Uncle." Chen Yuan greeted the two of them.

His uncle Cheng Yong was a short, stout, solidly built man who made his living selling sesame flatbreads. Seeing his nephew visit at night, he said in a muffled voice, "Go inside first."

The three sat in the main room, and Chen Yuan helplessly explained, from beginning to end, why he had left home.

Anger inevitably surfaced on his aunt's face. "That Chen Dashan is truly hateful. If I had known he was so heartless and ungrateful, I never should have let my elder sister marry him."

After saying that, she looked at her nephew Chen Yuan with aching tenderness, knowing that he had not had an easy life these past years.

Cheng Yong also said dully, "After all, she wasn't your real mother."

Though he did not speak much, he saw some things very clearly.

Breaking off relations in a fit of anger might not be a bad thing at present, even if it would stir up some gossip.

"A-Yuan, don't think about the Chen Family anymore. Since they don't want you, your aunt does. Stay here with peace of mind."

Huang Juan stroked the back of Chen Yuan's hand. How could she not feel for him? This nephew was the only thing her elder sister had left in this world.

A warm current flowed through Chen Yuan's heart as he felt his aunt's sincere concern.

But he turned his gaze toward his uncle, seeking his opinion.

Cheng Yong nodded slightly, then asked, "Stay here first, A-Yuan. What plans do you have for the future?"

After some consideration, Chen Yuan still voiced his thoughts. "I'll continue working at the docks, then find a chance to go to the Martial Hall for a bone test. If possible, I still want to give it a try."

The reason he had not gone for a bone test some time ago was, first, because he wanted to improve his innate foundation a little more; second, because a bone test at the Martial Hall also cost money.

After he said this, the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Practicing martial arts was easy enough to talk about, but where would the money come from?

Huang Juan glanced at her husband, whose head was slightly lowered. She swallowed half the words that had reached her lips, but her grip on her nephew's hand remained tight.

"Practicing martial arts is good. It offers a way out. Your aunt supports you, A-Yuan. Go have your bones tested. If you have the aptitude, your aunt will find a way to handle the money."

She did not make any absolute promises. Though she felt for her nephew, she still had to discuss it with the head of the household.

Chen Yuan nodded. He knew his aunt had already done everything she could for him, and he said softly, "Aunt, there is no need to say more. Having a place to stay is already more than I could be grateful for."

"Cousin, do you want to practice martial arts?"

At that moment, a voice came from the inner room. A graceful figure then stepped out—it was Chen Yuan's cousin Cheng Xiaoyu, who clearly had something to say.

Huang Juan glanced at her daughter and instructed, "Xiaoyu, matters between adults are none of your concern."

"Mother, have you forgotten? I work for the Gu Family now. I know all sorts of things."

Cheng Xiaoyu pursed her lips, but still walked to the table. Looking at Chen Yuan with anticipation, she revealed a piece of news:

"Cousin, I heard at the Gu Family that they want to train a group of estate guards. Anyone can go. As long as they pass the innate foundation test, they can receive the Gu Family's support. Do you want to give it a try?"

"Xiaoyu, is that true?" Chen Yuan's eyes lit up.

The Gu Family was a well-known household in the outer city, with deep coffers. If they truly intended to train martial artists, they absolutely had the means.

Huang Juan also looked toward her daughter, her tone stern. "Xiaoyu, this isn't something to joke about!"

Cheng Xiaoyu nodded seriously. "It probably isn't false. Miss said they want to cultivate loyal martial instructors, so they chose to support them from humble beginnings. But I don't know the specific conditions."

Chen Yuan already believed it eighty percent. His heart stirred, and he decided to seize this opportunity.

"Xiaoyu, do you know when the innate foundation test will be held?"

Cheng Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "It should be within the next couple of days. I'll ask again tomorrow."

Chen Yuan nodded, suppressing the excitement in his heart. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Xiaoyu. You've truly helped me tremendously."

Cheng Xiaoyu chuckled. "It's nothing, it's nothing. Those martial instructors are so impressive. I also hope you'll achieve success and fame, Cousin, so those servants will envy me."

As she spoke, she pulled Chen Yuan into chatting about everyday matters.

A smile also appeared on his aunt's face. She rose and said, "Xiaoyu, entertain A-Yuan first. I'll go clear out a room for him."

She gave Cheng Yong a look, then headed into the inner room.

Cheng Yong nodded to Chen Yuan, rose, and followed her.

In the side room, Huang Juan carefully sorted through miscellaneous items and cleaned the room.

Cheng Yong leaned against the wall, chatting idly with Huang Juan.

"Head of the household, what do you think about A-Yuan practicing martial arts?" Huang Juan suddenly asked, then added, "A-Yuan is certainly not an ungrateful person."

Cheng Yong fell silent before saying in a deep voice, "I know what kind of person A-Yuan is. It's just that practicing martial arts isn't as simple as you think. A thousand troops and ten thousand horses crossing a single-log bridge. In all my years, I've seen very few poor children rise above the rest."

"Either way, I want to help A-Yuan." Huang Juan vigorously beat the quilt. "We don't have a son, and I've watched A-Yuan grow up since he was little."

Cheng Yong pondered for a moment, then sighed. "This martial arts business... I don't know whether it would help him or harm him. Let's see his innate foundation first."

Then he added in a low voice, "Xiaoyu's dowry cannot be touched."

The crow's feet at the corners of Huang Juan's eyes instantly rippled outward. She looked at Cheng Yong affectionately. "Head of the household, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Tonight, I'll do whatever you want..."

Cheng Yong's earthy yellow face instantly flushed red. "What are you saying? A-Yuan has only just arrived..."

The night passed in the blink of an eye. Amid waves of crowing roosters, Chen Yuan opened his eyes.

Everything here was good. The faintly strange sounds had not affected him much, and he had slept wonderfully.

As usual, he checked his panel.

But he found that it was different from before.

[Dao of Survival Points: 8]

For the previous three months, it had clearly been 2 every day, with fluctuations appearing only rarely. Yet today, it had increased by 6 at once.

Chen Yuan looked at the settlement evaluation:

[The Dao of Survival is not simply blind endurance. It is strengthening oneself and protecting oneself in the most reliable way amid troubled times. Severing ties with the Chen Family, which hindered the host's growth, is an extension of the Dao of Survival. Dao of Survival Points +6]

So that was it. Chen Yuan suddenly understood.

Surviving for the sake of growing stronger and protecting oneself—that was true survival!

It seemed he had survived again yesterday.

In one more day, he could improve his innate foundation again, Chen Yuan thought. He wondered what rating an innate foundation of 29 would receive.

It surely would not be inferior to Chen Kai's!