Gao Changling

"Rebirth is an unbelievable thing, not to mention whether I can even say it. Even if I did, without any evidence, the Household Head and my uncle certainly wouldn't believe me. But my uncle is about to go to the Hunting Grounds, and I must gain their trust as quickly as possible and then stop him."

After the Gao Household perished in the previous life, quite a few people survived, but most of them were taken to the Mineral Vein to do hard labor, suffering endless torment and dying from exhaustion.

Of the Direct Lineage, only he and two other members of the Second Lineage remained.

He led his two younger brothers on a long escape, eventually reaching Southern Border.

Along the way, relying on the Gao Household's Archery and his innate caution, he slew demons and overcame dangers. He also used many perilous methods to cultivate. By the time he arrived in the Southern Border, he had already Aperture Opening the Great Perfection of Enlightenment, and was considered a cultivator who could leave his name in the Gateway Lands of the Southern Border.

His two younger brothers wanted him to rebuild the Gao Household in the Southern Border, but the Lineage on the outskirts of the Southern Border were extremely xenophobic and did not even bother to win him over. Instead, they tried every means to suppress him.

No matter how skilled he was at playing the stringed instrument or how formidable his fighting prowess, he couldn't withstand the combined attack of more than a dozen factions.

How can one person stand against a group of people?

His two younger brothers did not understand his predicament. They thought he had forgotten the Gao Household and the kindness of his clan, and now that he had cultivated himself, he wanted to get rid of the surname "Gao".

At that time, he often comforted himself by saying that they were still young and their minds were not yet mature.

Later, he maneuvered between various parties, stirring up disputes among them and profiting from them, which led those two parties to turn around and try to win him over.

The condition for winning him over was that he had to change his surname and marry into the family. Having gone through so much, his bones were no longer important to him; all he wanted was a chance to survive in the Southern Border. So he changed his surname without hesitation, but his two younger brothers broke off with him completely and left.

He secretly sent people to follow and protect him, while he continued to maneuver among those Lineage.

Unfortunately, he still lost in the end.

He died a very unjust death; to think that he, a cultivator who had reached the Great Aperture Opening of Enlightenment, was poisoned to death.

On his deathbed, he saw his two younger brothers return, risking one death and one injury to snatch his already lifeless body back from the brink of death.

That was the last time he heard his voice:

"If you're going to die, you can only die in the name of Gao Changling. If you're going to die, you can only die alongside the Gao Household."

Then he died.

That is why, having been reborn, his attachment to the Gao Household is perhaps even deeper than that of the two heads of the family Gao Gonglu and Gao Gongjin.

What should I do?

Several thoughts flashed through Gao Changling's mind, but he suppressed them all.

"In any case, it's almost impossible to convince two heads of the family who are used to intrigue and scheming within just three to five days. Since persuasion won't work, the only option is to make them afraid to go out on their own." A name instantly flashed through Gao Changling's mind.

Gao Huan.

Gao Changling first heard the name "Gao Huan" because of a woman named Gao Shuying from a Lesser Lineage.

At that time, she was so determined to marry this man that she caused a great commotion that even the Clan Court were alarmed. Several clan elders took turns trying to persuade her, but to no avail.

Later, Gao Gonglu made the decision to allow Gao Huan to change his surname and join the Gao Household.

After Gao Huan began his cultivation, his progress was astonishingly rapid. In fact, no one in the clan could rival his talent in leading and managing troops.

It was after Gao Gongjin's death that he truly realized there was something wrong with this person.

At that time, Gao Gonglu ordered Gao Huan to return to provide assistance.

Gao Huan then led his troops and successfully plugged the breach in the Hunting Grounds.

What Gao Gongjin couldn't accomplish, a mere cultivator who had only practiced for a few years achieved.

Since then, he has never heard from Gao Huan again.

It wasn't until he later traveled to the Southern Border and his horizons broadened that he slowly came to his senses. Who in this world could break through to the Outer Scenery after only a few years of cultivation, let alone surpass Gao Gongjin?

There must be something unusual about this person, and the two people in charge of the household are clearly aware of it.

"If we can get Gao Huan to come back suddenly, it will surely alert the two heads of the household. At that time, my uncle will be cautious and stay behind to see what Gao Huan is up to. We can delay for as long as possible, and then I will find a way to gain their trust."

Gao Changling pondered for a moment, then murmured, "Gao Huan should already be in White Forest Town. The only way to get him back is through Gao Shuying."

He pondered for a moment, then prepared a few ordinary gifts and, without any attendants, went alone to the small courtyard where Gao Shuying lived at the foot of the mountain.

When Gao Changling arrived, Gao Shuying was drawing something in her study. Upon hearing that a direct Direct Lineage of the Gao Household family had come to visit, she couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Since she married Gao Huan, although she became the only daughter under her Third Lineage's name, firstly because the incident back then had caused too much trouble, and secondly because she was aloof, no one was willing to associate with her.

It was rather unusual for someone to suddenly show up at the door.

When she saw Gao Changling, her eyes narrowed slightly.

The young man before her looked unfamiliar, yet his eyes seemed vaguely familiar.

He looks exactly like Gao Gongjin, and he looks exactly like a Gao Household.

She had never seen or heard of a disciple with such bearing before. Gao Changling put down the gift in his hand, cupped his hands, and said, "I only recently transferred from Lesser Lineage to a major sect, so it's understandable that you haven't met me before, elder sister."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shuying finally smiled and said, "Then we really are destined to meet."

"That's exactly right, which is why I've decided to come and pay my respects."

As Gao Changling spoke, he looked around and casually asked, "I wonder if my brother-in-law is at home now?"

Gao Shuying said, "He has already received his orders and gone to guard White Forest Town."

Gao Changling nodded and offered a few polite words of praise, such as "a master of military strategy."

After chatting for a while, Gao Changling got up to take his leave, saying a few more words before leaving that they should try to be closer in the future.

Gao Shuying naturally did not refuse and agreed with a smile.

Once the figure had disappeared far beyond the courtyard gate, the smile on her face vanished.

She sat back down, and as the servant behind her was about to tidy up the gifts on the table, Gao Shuying said calmly, "Throw all these things out."

The servant was stunned for a moment, and before he could react, Gao Shuying continued, "After throwing him out, go and fetch a doctor. Find one I trust."

Leaving Gao Shuying's place. (The last line appears to be a website footer or tagline and doesn't translate directly.)

Gao Changling couldn't help but sigh, "They're all shrewd people, but unfortunately, no matter how clever they are, they're just sheltered women. How could they know my methods?"

So, not long after Gao Changling left...

Gao Shuying's pregnancy progressed rapidly.

This servant was a fellow townsman of Qifu Zhen and also his confidant. Upon seeing this situation, he wanted to write a letter to Gao Huan to inform him of the matter, but Gao Shuying stopped him.

"Although I can't quite put my finger on it, something is very wrong with Gao Changling. We mustn't alert Gao Huan to this."

"Can..."

"Do as I say, he won't blame you."

The servant had no choice but to agree.

However, Gao Changling Gao Shuying, who already knew Gao Huan's location, would not let go of the opportunity since Gao Shuying did not send a letter. When he visited Gao Shuying was writing something and had not yet put away the papers on the table. He glanced at them and could roughly recognize her handwriting.

However, knowing the handwriting is really not very useful; the letter itself is secondary, the person who delivers it is the letter.

He wrote only one letter in his own handwriting and sent it to White Forest Town.