Gu Family

Biodata

Background / History

The Gu Family is a wealthy outer-city household in Qingyuan County with sufficient resources to sponsor martial training. Its stated objective was to cultivate loyal martial instructors and estate guards from humble backgrounds. Cheng Xiaoyu, a servant in the household, first relayed this recruitment opportunity to Chen Yuan. 3

The family opened a selection to youths aged fifteen to eighteen. Nearly one hundred applicants attended; eight passed the bone-structure test, including one B-Lower candidate, two C-Lower candidates, and five D-Upper candidates. 4 5 Successful applicants were sent to train at Huo Academy under Master Huo. 6

The sponsorship program was conditional and competitive. Funding varied by bone structure and monthly performance, while successful trainees would be required to serve the family. Failure to meet assessments resulted in immediate termination of support. 5

Recruitment and Sponsorship System

Assessments

The family monitored trainees closely from their first month. Gu Ye ranked the initial cohort by how quickly they entered the Rock-Solid Stance Technique; Liu Jin, who required eleven days, was eliminated. 13

Sparring assessments also determined funding. After Chen Yuan placed first in his group, his monthly subsidy rose to six taels, while Cao Yan retained five taels and Gao Mingchang was reduced to four. 28 Gu Ye later offered additional rewards for breaking through to the Skin Realm within specified time limits. 28

Chen Yuan Sponsorship

Chen Yuan passed the Gu Family’s selection as the strongest D-Upper candidate and initially trained through its Huo Academy arrangement. 5 6 His subsidy rose from two taels and five mace to five taels after the first assessment, then increased further through strong sparring results. 13 28

After Yu Yan agreed to marry into the family, he proposed redirecting the resources of a sponsored martial artist to himself. He singled out Chen Yuan, portraying him as disloyal and dangerous. 29 30 Despite Huang Yan’s defense of Chen Yuan’s talent and temperament, Gu Changfeng terminated Chen Yuan’s sponsorship. 30 31

Gu Ye confirmed that Chen Yuan would not be required to repay his previous funding, while Huang Yan secured him the remainder of that month’s subsidy. 31 The decision proved shortsighted: Chen Yuan broke through to the Skin Realm and revealed Clear Force immediately afterward. 33 35 36

Yu Yan Marriage Alliance

Yu Yan became the Gu Family’s live-in son-in-law after agreeing to marry Gu Wantong, the family’s third young lady. Gu Changfeng valued both Yu Yan’s aptitude and his willingness to marry into the family, viewing him as a potential source of long-term martial strength. 29 31

The family increased Yu Yan’s monthly stipend to twenty taels after cutting Chen Yuan’s funding. 30 Yu Yan later reached the Bone Realm, and the wedding was scheduled for New Year’s Day. 53 69

Yu Yan’s repeated conflicts with Chen Yuan created major embarrassment for the family. The Gu Family compensated Chen Yuan after Yu Yan’s failed apology banquet and again after Yu Yan slapped Cheng Xiaoyu. 71 72 73 Yu Yan was murdered shortly before the wedding, leaving the family under pressure to identify the killer. 75 76

Relationships

• Gu Changfeng — Family head; prioritized loyalty and perceived character when deciding to expel Chen Yuan from sponsorship. 29 30
• Gu Ye — Steward overseeing the family’s sponsored martial artists and assessments; administered Chen Yuan’s termination and later mediated conflicts caused by Yu Yan. 5 13 31 72
• Gu Hua — Family manager who attempted to settle Yu Yan’s disputes with Chen Yuan through compensation and protect the family’s reputation. 71 73
• Gu Wantong — Third young lady of the Gu Family and Yu Yan’s intended wife. 29 53 69
• Yu Yan — Former sponsored talent and live-in son-in-law; his marriage alliance increased his influence within the family until his death. 29 30 75
• Huang Yan — Huo Academy senior who argued that Chen Yuan was worth retaining and helped preserve the remainder of his subsidy. 30 31
• Cheng Xiaoyu — Household servant connected to the Gu Family; she informed Chen Yuan of its recruitment program and later suffered abuse from Yu Yan. 3 72
• Chen Yuan — Former sponsored trainee whose expulsion, later rise, and conflict with Yu Yan repeatedly affected the family’s decisions and reputation. 31 70 73

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Talent recruitment — The Gu Family provides Chen Yuan’s first meaningful path into martial training by sponsoring selected poor youths. 3 5 6
• Competitive cultivation — Its stipend-and-elimination system drives rivalry among trainees and demonstrates the family’s transactional approach to talent. 13 28
• Chen Yuan’s expulsion — Yu Yan exploits his new position as prospective son-in-law to have Chen Yuan’s funding cut, despite Chen Yuan’s performance. 29 30 31
• Failed reconciliation — After Chen Yuan’s rise, the family attempts to mend relations through Yu Yan’s banquet invitation and monetary compensation. 69 70 71
• Yu Yan’s death — The murder of the family’s future son-in-law shortly before his wedding triggers an internal investigation and suspicion toward Chen Yuan. 75 76
• Declining stability — Rival families subsequently pressure the Gu Family’s businesses, leaving it with limited attention for Yu Yan’s unresolved case. 78