Worse Than Killing Me

Gu Chenfeng was so anxious he scratched his ears and raked his fingers through his hair. His family owned a Source Crystal vein, yet they could not mine it.

How was that any different from having three thousand beauties in his harem, only to remain a virgin?

Gu Yanshuang said gravely, "Chenfeng, Grandfather's decisions have never been wrong. He must have had another reason for ordering this vein sealed off.

"Besides, this Source Crystal vein has already drawn covetous eyes from every faction, even though its existence has yet to be confirmed.

"Especially the Huangfu Lineage. They're ambitious, and they've secretly trained large numbers of deathsworn and built special organizations, all of which require vast supplies of resources.

"Over the past year, there's no telling how many schemes they've tried, both openly and in secret, to get their hands on this Source Crystal vein. None have succeeded.

"Now that Grandfather is in seclusion, they must be looking to exploit our vulnerability.

"They intended to take you hostage to obtain the Source Crystal vein, while also probing Grandfather's condition.

"That way, they could shoot two birds with one arrow."

Understanding dawned on Gu Chenfeng.

It seemed Zhang You's earlier schemes at the Rare Beast Garden, including trying to trap him into gambling debts, had all been connected to this Source Crystal vein.

Only after he had foiled them one by one had the enemy resorted to a risky move and sent people to abduct him.

Damn it, if you bastards really stole the Source Crystal vein, that would hurt worse than killing me, Gu Chenfeng cursed inwardly.

"Big Sis, what do you plan to do next?"

Even a clay figurine had a spark of temper after being repeatedly set up, let alone Gu Chenfeng.

Between the Golden Kylin Gathering and today's fierce battle in the gorge, he had already revealed quite a few of his hidden cards.

There was little point in continuing to lurk in the grass and ambush people.

Gu Yanshuang said solemnly, "Since they dared take this step, they must have made thorough preparations.

"Next, aside from striking back from the shadows, if we can uncover some leads out in the open,

"that will put us in a better position to launch our counterattack.

"Besides the bodies of those deathsworn, when I arrived with the troops, I also captured several black-clad attackers from the first wave that attacked you.

"Their appearance probably wasn't a coincidence. We might be able to uncover some clues through them.

"I've ordered them interrogated overnight. We should have some information by tomorrow."

Gu Chenfeng nodded, curiosity stirring within him as well.

Just who had that first group of black-clad attackers been?

Why had they given him such a strange sense of familiarity?

"Oh, right, Big Sis. That Ding Si..."

"He's a member of the Blood Tiger Guard, Grandfather's personal guard.

"They're all elite warriors Grandfather has trained since childhood.

"Every one of them has formidable cultivation and is skilled in military strategy, concealment, assassination, and other techniques.

"They're also all orphans, with no relatives to worry about. They're absolutely loyal to our Gu Lineage and worthy of trust.

"I was worried something might happen to you, so I sent him to protect you in secret.

"Since you now have some ability to defend yourself and know he exists,

"he'll stay by your side as your personal bodyguard from now on."

Gu Chenfeng nodded inwardly. Now that was how a young master from a great lineage ought to live.

Remembering the formidable strength Ding Si had displayed today, taking on four Source Sea Realm experts alone,

Gu Chenfeng could not help praising him.

"Ding Si really is powerful. If there hadn't been so many enemies, and they hadn't set up a formation beforehand, I wouldn't have needed to lift a finger."

Hearing this, Gu Yanshuang sighed.

"I originally wanted to assign four members of the Blood Tiger Guard to protect you.

"But Father transferred all the others to the Border Pass. I couldn't spare any more capable fighters on such short notice."

At those words, Gu Chenfeng, who had been feeling thoroughly pleased with himself, became so furious his brain felt starved of air.

Their family was in crisis, and that bastard of a father had done nothing to resolve it.

Instead, the first thing he had done was snatch away their money and manpower.

Was that something a decent human being would do?

Gu Chenfeng could not help tracing circles with his finger, cursing the man to have a son born without an asshole.

Then he remembered that he was the man's son and silently took back one circle.

Whatever the case, the Gu Lineage's reputation had been thoroughly preserved after this Golden Kylin Gathering.

Next, he needed to keep doing everything he could to improve his strength and think about how to deal with the Left Chancellor's faction.

He could not remain on the defensive every time.

Especially now that he knew they actually wanted to seize his family's Source Crystal vein.

Gu Chenfeng felt it was time to take the initiative.

He needed to cross swords with the hidden hand of the Huangfu Lineage that had repeatedly targeted him.

Bang!

Night had fallen, and the Golden Kylin Gathering had long since dispersed.

At the top of the tall tower behind the manor,

a bean-sized candle flame illuminated a young man's face, delicate as jade and possessed of an otherworldly elegance.

The young man set the teacup in his hand on the table beside him, using slightly too much force and spilling some tea.

"You failed?"

His cold gaze swept over the four black-clad figures kneeling on one knee before him, his voice still calm.

"All four of you went together, with so many deathsworn. How could you have failed?"

The four lowered their heads in shame. The slender black-clad woman with iron claws coiled at her waist spoke.

"Young Master, Gu Chenfeng had quite a few guards with him, including a member of the Blood Tiger Guard."

"The Blood Tiger Guard may be formidable, but there was only one of them.

"With my arrangements and the measures I prepared, you should still have been able to complete the mission. Where exactly did things go wrong?"

The young man calmly analyzed the situation as he questioned them.

The four black-clad figures exchanged furtive glances, their expressions strange.

"It was Gu Chenfeng!" the black-clad woman answered haltingly.

"He broke through the encirclement single-handedly and even killed a seven-star Source Qi Realm warrior."

Crack!

An uncanny light suddenly flashed across the young man's five fingers, which had remained resting on the teacup.

The cup shattered, spraying tea everywhere.

"What did you say?"

At last, the expression on that handsome face, previously as still as an ancient well, changed.

"Young Master, Gu Chenfeng concealed his strength. His attainments in External Cultivation are considerable. He's already reached major accomplishment.

"The four of us were held up by the Blood Tiger Guard member.

"None of the other deathsworn were a match for him. That's why the mission failed."

The young man remained silent.

Only after a long while, when the tea staining his hand had turned cold,

did he slowly rise and gaze out beyond the tower into the ink-black night.

"A wastrel judged to have no talent for cultivation since childhood, unruly beyond redemption, accomplished in neither letters nor arms.

"Yet he turns out to be an extraordinary genius with world-shaking learning and major accomplishment in External Cultivation.

"He's played everyone in the Imperial Capital, even the entire Great Li Dynasty, in the palm of his hand. Even I was deceived."

Whoosh!

The young man drew a deep breath.

"Gu Chenfeng, I underestimated you. You've won this round!"

Although his meticulously laid plan had ended in failure,

there was no anger or dejection in the young man's eyes.

Instead, his gaze grew ever brighter as he stared into the dark night sky.

"Among my peers throughout the Imperial Capital, there are precious few whom I, Huangfu Yun, consider worthy of my attention.

"Now, I'll have to add Gu Chenfeng to that list."

Huangfu Yun's gaze grew increasingly fierce, like a blade drawn from its sheath, its edge unstoppable.

"From the moment we were born, we stood in opposing camps. We were destined to be enemies.

"I originally found it rather dull to use schemes and tricks against an ignorant, incompetent wastrel.

"Now that you, a hidden dragon, have emerged from the abyss and bared your fangs and claws, I'll give you a proper fight!"