"Mm...!"
The man's pupils contracted. He sprang aside like an ape, barely avoiding a strike to his vitals.
But the dagger's tip still slashed the root of his thigh, sending blood streaming down.
"So fast!"
The "dead" Gu Chenfeng scrambled to his feet, both disappointed and startled.
Despite his current abilities and a surprise attack while playing dead, the man had still managed to dodge.
His opponent was stronger than him, very likely a Meridian-Opening Realm martial artist.
"You're not dead? And you're a martial artist!" The man looked shocked.
"Who sent you to kill me? Whatever he's paying, I'll pay ten times as much!"
With his ambush thwarted, Gu Chenfeng chose to negotiate.
"Heh... dead men don't get to name a price."
Clang!
The man drew his sword and approached with a sneer, the stabbing pain in his crotch forcing him into a splay-footed gait.
"Who's there!"
Gu Chenfeng suddenly looked behind the man and shouted.
As the man glanced sideways, he swept his sword out.
Clang!
The longsword struck the incoming dagger with perfect accuracy, knocking it away.
"Third Young Master, you've got plenty of tricks. Too bad I'm at eight-star Meridian-Opening Realm. You're dead!"
His second ambush had failed, and Gu Chenfeng's heart sank.
He drew the woman's dagger from behind his waist, ready to fight to the death.
When the man was only five paces away from him.
Gu Chenfeng suddenly looked behind his opponent again, his eyes narrowing.
"Who?"
"That trick again? Idiot!"
Without looking back, the man charged with his sword raised.
Thud!
He had barely taken a step when a streak of blue light pierced his chest, pinning him in place.
It was a bloodstained spear!
"Urgh...!"
The man shuddered violently, blood spilling from his mouth as he turned his head in horror.
A figure strode out of the darkness.
She was a tall young woman with a high ponytail, wearing supple armor, its dark plates like scales.
Her unpainted, jade-like face seemed sculpted with the simplest strokes, looking especially cool and captivating beneath the moonlight.
"Who sent you?"
Her voice was cold and intimidating.
But resolve flashed in the man's eyes, and his lips moved.
The next moment, black blood spilled from his mouth and nose, and he died.
The woman frowned at the sight.
She pulled out her spear and leveled it at Gu Chenfeng's throat, its tip swift as lightning.
Clatter.
Gu Chenfeng dropped his dagger, but let out a long breath of relief.
"You finally came."
He recognized her at once.
His eldest sister, Gu Yanshuang.
An abandoned infant his grandfather had rescued at the border years ago.
The old man had taken her in as his granddaughter and given her the surname Gu.
Gu Yanshuang possessed astonishing talent for cultivation. Barely into her twenties, she had already broken through to the Source Sea Realm, becoming one of the imperial capital's strongest young martial artists.
She currently served as deputy commander of the Tiger Guard, one of the Twelve Imperial Guard Divisions.
Though his eldest sister had always disapproved of Gu Chenfeng's wastrel behavior.
Grateful to the Gu Lineage for raising her, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to everyone in it and had repeatedly tried to set Gu Chenfeng straight.
The body's original owner, however, had always felt that she had no right to discipline him because she did not share the Gu bloodline, and often talked back.
"Didn't I tell you not to take a single step outside the imperial capital lately? Why didn't you listen?"
Gu Yanshuang questioned him coldly.
Gu Chenfeng gave a bitter smile.
"Big Sister, I was wrong."
Gu Yanshuang froze for a moment.
As far back as she could remember, Gu Chenfeng had never once called her "Big Sister," much less admitted his mistakes voluntarily.
Had this brush with death finally brought the brat to his senses?
At that thought, Gu Yanshuang's expression softened, and she withdrew her spear.
"As long as you know you were wrong. Tell me exactly what happened today, from beginning to end."
Gu Chenfeng immediately told her about encountering the assassins after falling off the cliff.
But he concealed his encounter with the demonic woman and how he had become a martial artist.
After all, it was far too bizarre.
That demonic woman's origins were also far too mysterious. His sister knowing too much might not be a good thing.
"You're saying this man killed his own partner first, then came after you?"
Gu Chenfeng nodded repeatedly, pinning the woman's death on the man.
Gu Yanshuang pondered.
"Both of them hid poison in their mouths beforehand. They were professional assassins.
Their cultivation wasn't high, so slipping into this area wouldn't easily arouse suspicion. It does seem they were targeting you.
Why they turned on each other, though, is rather suspicious."
"Big Sister, who do you think wants me dead?" Gu Chenfeng changed the subject with a guilty conscience.
Gu Yanshuang sighed. "It's hard to say. Three months ago, Grandfather's old injuries flared up, and he went into seclusion to heal.
Rumors have been spreading through the imperial capital that Grandfather won't survive.
Though Father commands the Northern Pass, you should know what he's like. He can't intimidate anyone.
Now, led by Left Chancellor Huangfu Hong, the various lineages and factions hostile to our Gu Lineage are all stirring, eager to bring us down.
You're the only male of the Gu Lineage's third generation. If they kill you, our line ends!"
As Gu Yanshuang explained.
Gu Chenfeng also pieced together the Gu Lineage's situation from his memories.
His grandfather, Gu Beiwu, had served three successive emperors and was one of the empire's four grandmasters.
He had once led a great army north, stormed the barbarian imperial court, and shaken Yan Province with his might, earning a dukedom and an appointment as marshal.
The Gu Lineage had risen to become one of the imperial capital's foremost powerful houses.
But as his grandfather aged and hidden ailments plagued him, he eventually relinquished military command and became the empire's right chancellor.
Military authority then passed to his father, Gu Lingxiao.
Gu Lingxiao was also a wastrel born into privilege.
The old man had sent him to the frontier to gain experience, only for another barbarian invasion to strike.
Gu Lingxiao knew nothing about commanding troops, but his father's veteran officers had carried him to victory.
After defeating the barbarians in one stroke, he had been named General Who Pacifies the North.
He had even received the title "Imperial God of War," becoming the imperial capital's greatest joke.
Now that Grandfather, their towering Mount Tai, was unsteady, not a single man in the Gu Lineage could shoulder its burdens.
Only Gu Yanshuang was doing everything she could to keep the lineage stable.
Things aren't looking good!
As the saying went, wealth never lasted beyond three generations. The Gu Lineage had clearly entered its decline.
Under the old man's protective shade, the lineage had previously managed to remain standing.
Now that he had gone into seclusion, his survival uncertain, the various factions had bared their fangs.
Today's assassination attempt was the clearest example.
"You don't need to worry too much. I'll investigate this myself.
Our Gu Lineage has stood in the Great Li Dynasty for so many years. We won't fall that easily.
As long as you stay in the imperial capital, no one will dare harm a hair on your head. Once Grandfather recovers, the Gu Lineage will stand firm again!"
Gu Chenfeng nodded obediently.
Before long, a squad of imperial guards arrived and took away the two assassins' bodies.
Gu Chenfeng also mounted a horse and rode back to the imperial capital with them.
On the way, Gu Chenfeng lowered his head and glimpsed a strange mark on his chest through his collar.
It was the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins that Leng Xingye had left him.
Before they parted, she had explained.
The Phantom Martial Divine Ruins contained many mysteries. The lotus platform where he and she had enjoyed their passionate duo session was called the Enlightenment Platform.
It could enhance a cultivator's comprehension, but consumed Spiritual Power.
Right now, Gu Chenfeng felt mentally exhausted and could not enter the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins again.
The fastest way to replenish Spiritual Power was to take the appropriate spiritual medicines.
Though spiritual medicines were extremely precious, as a young master of the Chancellor's Residence, he ought not to lack money.
As long as I have enough spiritual medicines, with the Enlightenment Platform boosting my comprehension, becoming a grandmaster in three years doesn't seem too difficult.
Once he became a grandmaster, he could face thousands of soldiers and horses single-handedly.
When I see that demonic woman again in three years, I'm definitely going to be on top!
The imperial capital, the Chancellor's Residence.
After returning home, Gu Chenfeng immediately hurried to the storehouse.
"What? The storehouse has been emptied!"
Gu Chenfeng could hardly believe the guard's answer.
"Yesterday, Father sent men back from the border to take away all the spiritual medicines, gold, and silver in the storehouse."
Gu Yanshuang's voice came from behind him.
"This..."
Gu Chenfeng's vision darkened. He had long heard that his father spent every night at the border reveling in song and drowning in extravagant pleasures.
Now that the Gu Lineage was in danger, instead of finding a way to protect it, the man had taken the opportunity to make off with the family fortune.
"That old bastard!" Gu Chenfeng could not help cursing.
For once, Gu Yanshuang tacitly agreed.
"What are you doing at the storehouse?"
"I wanted to find some spiritual medicines."
"Spiritual medicines?"
Gu Yanshuang looked surprised. "You want to cultivate?"
Gu Chenfeng nodded.
He had now become a "prime target" in everyone's sights.
Naturally, he needed to replenish his Spiritual Power as quickly as possible, enter the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins again, and improve his cultivation.
Seeing his firm response, Gu Yanshuang looked pleased.
"Little Feng, it seems you've really grown up. Though your cultivation talent is ordinary, diligence can make up for shortcomings.
As long as you cultivate hard, with spiritual medicines to help, becoming a martial artist within six months won't be difficult."
Gu Chenfeng wondered how his sister would react if she knew he had done it nine times in one night... no, broken through Nine-Star in one night.
Just then, Gu Yanshuang casually tossed something over.
Gu Chenfeng caught it instinctively. It was a gleaming crystal bracelet.
"This should be worth some money. Pawn it and buy spiritual medicines."
Gu Chenfeng looked rather startled.
"Big Sister, isn't this your family heirloom?"
When Grandfather brought Gu Yanshuang home, this bracelet had been tucked into her swaddling clothes. It was probably connected to her origins.
"It's just an old bracelet. Keeping it serves no purpose."
Despite her words, Gu Chenfeng noticed a trace of reluctance deep in Gu Yanshuang's eyes.
"Little Feng!"
Gu Yanshuang's voice suddenly grew firm.
"Grandfather's condition is still uncertain, Father can't shoulder the burden, and your second sister left home when she was little.
The Gu Lineage can only rely on the two of us now.
Don't be afraid. As long as your big sister is here, even if I have to stake my life on it, I won't let anyone hurt you!"
Gu Chenfeng's heart trembled slightly, and an inexplicable warmth surged through him.
He silently cursed the body's original owner for being inhuman. How could he fail to cherish such a wonderful eldest sister?
Clutching the bracelet in his hand, Gu Chenfeng nodded firmly.
"I understand, Sis!"
Gu Yanshuang turned to leave, but could not help looking back.
"Chenfeng, I know you like Her Highness, but the Great Li Dynasty was founded on martial prowess. Her Highness has extraordinary talent and sets her sights very high.
And you... in any case, a melon twisted from its vine before its time is never sweet."
Gu Yanshuang was also at her wits' end over her younger brother's groveling devotion to Princess Yaoyin.
She had tried to reason with him many times, but Gu Chenfeng had vehemently argued back every time.
Today, however, Gu Chenfeng was all smiles.
"Hehe... don't worry, Sis. In my heart, you rank first among all the women in the world!"
With that, Gu Chenfeng dashed off and vanished in a flash.
Gu Yanshuang stood rooted to the spot. Only after a long while did her face break into a smile.
"That boy really does seem to have changed. I only hope the Gu Lineage can weather this crisis."
Before you continue