Feud with the Gu Family

Cheng Yang silently grumbled, then stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Young Master Gu, did you take away a girl named Xiao Ningxue from Magpie Jade House two days ago?"

"That's right. What, have you sampled that cheap maid's flavor too? Seems I'm not the only one who found her delicious." Gu Shaojiu smiled at the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying a frivolous aftertaste.

"Young Master Gu, watch your words. Miss Xiaoxue is my friend." Cheng Yang's voice abruptly rose, carrying a trace of undisguised chill.

Haozi involuntarily clenched his fists at his side, his knuckles turning white as his toes silently dug into the ground inside his shoes.

"A prized disciple of the Chen Clan Martial Hall becoming friends with a woman from a pleasure house—now that is interesting." Gu Shaojiu shook his head dismissively and continued teasing him. "So you came to my door today because of her?"

"Yes. If possible, I wish to redeem her contract of sale." Cheng Yang forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his chest, biting off every word with steady precision.

"What unfortunate timing." Gu Shaojiu paused slightly, as though choosing his words, before casually saying, "That Xiao Ningxue met with an accident while serving me yesterday. She is already dead."

Cheng Yang and Haozi both stopped breathing.

The string in Cheng Yang's heart snapped without warning. He did not need to think to know that this so-called "accident" was merely a shameless excuse Gu Shaojiu had made up on the spot. His face darkened, and a bleak sorrow rose from the depths of his heart, mixing with his still-unfaded fury until it churned into a knot within his chest.

Gu Taibao saw that something was amiss with their expressions and spoke at just the right moment. His tone was gentle, yet it carried the calm composure of one in a high position. "You two, the departed cannot return. Please restrain your grief. My Gu Family is indeed at fault in this matter. I will have Shaojiu offer suitable compensation."

"Third Uncle..." Gu Shaojiu opened his mouth to speak, only to have Gu Taibao's cold glare force the words back down his throat. He shrank his neck and did not dare make another sound, merely muttering inwardly, She was only a cheap maid. So what if she died? Was compensation really necessary?

"No need." Cheng Yang refused flatly, his gaze like two cold blades as he gouged Gu Shaojiu with a deep look.

"Young Master Gu, allow me to give you one saying—those who swagger too high will surely meet disaster; those who kill will one day be killed."

Gu Shaojiu's face went stark white. He involuntarily staggered back two steps, as if the chill in those words had truly pierced him, sending a layer of gooseflesh racing up his spine.

He threatened me? This bastard actually dared to threaten me to my face?

Gu Taibao ignored his nephew's loss of composure. His eyes settled heavily upon Cheng Yang as he spoke neither hurriedly nor slowly. "Boy, youthful vigor is a good thing. For Chen Feiyi's sake, this old man will allow you to take back what you just said. Apologize, and we shall pretend this never happened."

"You jest, Senior." Cheng Yang's expression remained unchanged, his tone firm. "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

"Are you truly going to make an enemy of my Gu Family on behalf of the Chen Clan Martial Hall?" Gu Taibao lowered his voice, which rasped like grinding sand and stone.

"Everything I have done is my personal affair and has nothing to do with the martial hall." Cheng Yang paused, and an almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "Of course, if Senior attacks me right now, when my master avenges me, he will not care whether you are the Gu Family or not."

A sharp gleam flashed through Gu Taibao's eyes, yet he did not erupt. Naturally, he would not act within the Gu Residence. Killing this boy could be done in any dark alley; the only place it could not be done was on his own turf, where it would give others something to hold against him. It was not worth provoking Chen Feiyi for a moment of satisfaction.

"Boy, very well." Gu Taibao slowly nodded, though his tone grew several shades heavier. "I only hope you will not regret today's impulsiveness."

"That will depend on whether your Gu Family has what it takes to make me regret it."

Cheng Yang said no more and turned his head. "Haozi, we're leaving."

"Oh... alright!" Haozi abruptly came back to himself, rose to his feet, and followed behind Cheng Yang. Looking closely, one would see that his calves trembled faintly with every step.

Watching their backs vanish beyond the moon gate, Gu Taibao finally narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze as deep and shadowed as an ancient well.

"Third Uncle, we're just letting them leave like that?" Gu Shaojiu finally could not hold it in any longer and hurried forward.

"What else?" Gu Taibao glanced at him. "This matter began with you. Spend the next few days reflecting on your mistakes in the courtyard. Do not go out and stir up trouble again."

"But that brat threatened me to my face, and you're just ignoring it, Third Uncle?" Gu Shaojiu's face was filled with grievance and unwillingness.

"Of course I will deal with it." Gu Taibao's tone was calm, but it carried a cold, piercing killing intent. "Since he chose to make an enemy of my Gu Family, he cannot be allowed to live. Uproot the grass and tear out the roots; leave no future trouble behind."

Once outside the gates of the Gu Residence, the night wind rushed toward them. Cheng Yang let out a long breath of stale air, yet the tension in his shoulders did not ease in the slightest.

"Haozi, I'm sorry. I dragged you into this too." His voice carried guilt.

But he did not regret it. So what if he had made an enemy of the Gu Family? So what if they were one of Qinglin County's four great families?

What was martial arts for? If he still had to tuck in his head and tail, bow and scrape whenever he encountered injustice, then what use were this body of sinew and bone and this chest full of hot blood? How would he be any different from his former cowardly, worthless self?

"Brother Yang, there's no need to say more." Haozi shook his head, his eyes slightly red. "That beast Gu Shaojiu killed Xiaoxue... Xiaoxue was such a good girl..."

"I will give her justice." Cheng Yang lifted his eyes toward the sky. The night was heavy, and the moon hung alone.

"Brother Yang," Haozi said, reining in his emotions and growing solemn, "I'm afraid I won't have the ability to avenge Xiaoxue in this lifetime. But you are different. I only ask one thing of you: be careful in everything. The Gu Family is powerful. Above all else, preserve yourself."

"I understand. You need not worry." Cheng Yang patted his shoulder. "I live at the Chen Clan Martial Hall. The Gu Family would not dare act there. But you, Haozi—I fear that if they cannot find me, they will take their anger out on you. How about moving into the martial hall too?"

"No." Haozi shook his head. "Though the Peaceful Reach Escort Bureau cannot compare with the Chen Clan Martial Hall, it is still considered a mid-to-upper-tier force in Qinglin County. It can keep me safe."

"Alright, then." Cheng Yang took out ten taels of loose silver from his purse and stuffed them into Haozi's hand. "Take this silver and improve your life a little. If it is not enough, come find me again."

Haozi instinctively tried to push it back. "Brother Yang, I can't take this. You need money more than I do for martial arts—"

"Take it." Cheng Yang pressed down on his hand, his tone allowing no refusal. "This little silver is a drop in the bucket to me now; it will not do much. But you are different. Xiaoxue is already gone. I do not want to lose another friend by my side."

Haozi's lips moved several times. In the end, he still clenched the pieces of silver tightly and nodded heavily.

"Let's leave it at that for today. We'll meet again another day," Cheng Yang said.

"Mm." Haozi answered in a muffled voice.

The two parted at the fork in the road, each walking into the depths of the night.

A mass of stifling gloom clogged Cheng Yang's chest, and with nowhere to vent his irritation, he unknowingly walked to that familiar riverbank. The night wind brushed across the water, stirring fine, shimmering ripples.

He simply untied his bundle, took out the meat he had seized from the Golden Tiger Gang yesterday, and began practicing the Back-Piercing Stance right where he stood.

Realm came before technique. The sooner he broke through to Flesh Tempering, the more confidence he would have in protecting himself. The Back-Piercing Stance was a mid-grade stance technique, and its cultivation speed was much faster than the high-grade Rock-Still Stance. It was the perfect time to strike while the iron was hot.

Time quietly slipped away as he held the stance. The moonlight shifted across the river, and the night insects gradually fell silent. After an unknown amount of time, Cheng Yang withdrew his stance and exhaled, then glanced at the panel.

[Back-Piercing Stance Minor Accomplishment (207/500)]

His progress was far slower than expected. Still, if he trained hard for another full day tomorrow, he should be able to push it to the next realm.

Cheng Yang brushed the dust from his robes and was about to finish up and return to the martial hall.

Suddenly, a strange sound came from the distant riverbank.

He looked back. Under the moonlight, a black-robed figure was dragging a corpse, bending over to throw it into the river.

The man moved deftly; clearly, this was not his first time doing such a thing. After tossing it in, he warily looked around, and his gaze happened to collide with Cheng Yang's.

The black-robed figure froze for a moment, then let out a low, hoarse sneer.

"Boy, who told you to see something you shouldn't have? Since that is the case, you cannot blame me."