Why does everyone want to get me?

The rear courtyard of the Chancellor's Residence.

Gu Yanshuang wore a fitted black martial outfit, her long hair still tied in a ponytail, and stood with her hands behind her back.

Despite the distinctly masculine attire, it could not conceal the feminine charm radiating from her lovely face and graceful figure. She was strikingly beautiful, brimming with heroic spirit.

At the sight of her, Gu Chenfeng exclaimed in admiration.

"Big sister, you're positively glowing today! A heroine who yields to no man!"

Standing in the courtyard, Gu Yanshuang paused in surprise. The corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted, but her stern expression returned a moment later.

"Stop trying to distract me. Did you leave the city again?"

Gu Chenfeng smiled wryly. His attempt to change the subject had failed.

He could only nod sheepishly.

"Uh... I went out once, but I took guards with me. I won't be leaving the imperial capital again anytime soon."

Seeing how meekly Gu Chenfeng admitted defeat, Gu Yanshuang swallowed the reprimand that had been on the tip of her tongue.

"Forget it. We'll put that aside for now.

"An examination of the bodies has confirmed that the assassins who attacked you at Great Wilderness Ridge that day were not from the imperial capital.

"They also had gu worms implanted in their bodies, which was likely the work of martial artists from the Northern Frontier.

"But the Northern Frontier has never had dealings with our Great Li Dynasty, and it is far too distant for those men to have been acting at the bidding of the imperial capital's various factions."

"Gu worms... the Northern Frontier."

Gu Chenfeng's heart tightened slightly.

Yan Province was a vast land, home to numerous dynasties, with a dominant power in each of its four regions.

They were Great Yan, Great Zhou, Great Li, and Great Xia.

The Great Li Dynasty dominated southern Yan Province.

The so-called Northern Frontier referred to the northern reaches of Yan Province, ruled by the Great Xia Dynasty.

The Great Xia Dynasty and the Great Li Dynasty lay far apart, separated by the boundless Frozen Expanse.

The Barbarian Tribe, which had once dominated the south, lived in that frozen land.

"So those two weren't sent by hostile factions in the imperial capital to kill me?"

After his visit to the Rare Beast Garden that day, Gu Chenfeng was all but certain of one thing.

Zhang You had undoubtedly been involved in his supposed accidental fall from the cliff.

Yet one question still puzzled him.

Logically, without Leng Xingye's intervention, he would already have died after falling from the cliff, with nowhere even to bury his body.

Why would Zhang You have sent men to hunt him down at the foot of the cliff?

Wouldn't that have been needless effort that only left traces behind?

Now he finally had his answer.

Those two assassins had been sent by another party altogether.

A wave of frustration swept through Gu Chenfeng.

Damn it, why do so many people want to get me?

Gu Yanshuang reassured him, "Although we don't know why these people targeted you, they have already failed.

"Now that their involvement has been exposed, they won't dare strike again lightly. I've also sent people to investigate, and we should have answers soon."

Then Gu Yanshuang changed the subject.

"A few days ago, you said you wanted to cultivate. Have you thought about which cultivation art you'd like to practice?"

Gu Chenfeng paused.

He was already practicing the Heaven-Opening Creation Art and had reached nine-star Body Tempering, so naturally, he had no need for another cultivation art.

But he could not reveal that. He could only shake his head and say, "I haven't decided yet."

Gu Yanshuang said, "You could try external cultivation."

"External cultivation?"

Gu Chenfeng was a little surprised.

Gu Yanshuang explained, "Cultivation has always been divided into internal and external schools.

"Internal cultivation involves sensing source qi, drawing it into the body, and using it to temper oneself."

"External cultivation, on the other hand, involves hardening the body through rigorous training, supplemented with medicines. It can likewise strengthen the muscles and bones and bolster one's blood and vitality."

Gu Chenfeng understood at once. It was like the "internal" and "external" martial arts in wuxia novels.

Gu Yanshuang summed it up. "Although internal and external cultivation use different methods, they are different roads leading to the same destination.

"Especially in the Body Tempering and Meridian Opening realms.

"Martial artists who practice external cultivation can even be stronger than those who practice internal cultivation.

"However, once they enter the Source Qi Realm, the situation reverses, and internal martial artists become increasingly powerful.

"External martial artists, meanwhile, develop all sorts of problems because their bodies have not been tempered thoroughly enough.

"The peak of the Source Qi Realm is their limit."

"With your talent for internal cultivation, even breaking through the Body Tempering Realm would be difficult. You'd be better off practicing external cultivation.

"Although it will be more painful, at least you'll have a chance of entering the Source Qi Realm."

Gu Chenfeng considered this for a moment, then asked, "Since both kinds of cultivation can increase your strength, why not practice both?"

Gu Yanshuang was somewhat surprised by the question, but she still answered him.

"The path of cultivation is vast and profound. Whether you choose the internal or external school, each offers thousands upon thousands of roads.

"Practicing both would certainly make you stronger, but no one in this world possesses such tremendous comprehension and perseverance.

"Our Great Li Dynasty once had an exceptionally gifted individual who attempted to practice both, but he ultimately became stuck in the Source Qi Realm, unable to advance.

"In the end, he chose to focus solely on cultivating source qi again.

"But practicing both had cost him too much time. He missed his golden years for cultivation and lived out his life in regret."

Her unspoken meaning was clear: he could not even manage internal cultivation, yet he wanted to practice both? He was dreaming of pie in the sky.

Yet Gu Yanshuang's words stirred something in Gu Chenfeng's heart.

The difficulty in practicing both lies in comprehending cultivation, but comprehension seems to be the one thing I never lack.

"These two manuals contain an external cultivation art and a martial technique I selected for you. You can try practicing them."

Gu Yanshuang brought her hands out from behind her back and handed Gu Chenfeng two thread-bound books.

Gu Chenfeng took them and looked.

They were the Iron Elephant Art and the Tiger-Subduing Spear Technique.

Gu Yanshuang instructed him, "I exchanged my military merit for this Iron Elephant Art at the Imperial Guard Archive. It's a fairly advanced external cultivation art, sufficient to take you to the Source Qi Realm.

"As for the Tiger-Subduing Spear Technique, it's the spear technique I practice myself. Once you've made some progress in external cultivation, I'll teach you personally."

Hearing this, Gu Chenfeng could not help feeling warmth spread through his heart.

That day, he had merely expressed an interest in cultivating.

First, his big sister had given him her heirloom to buy medicine.

Now she had exchanged her military merit for a cultivation art for him and was even passing on her own martial technique.

This seemingly stern woman was, in truth, thinking of him at every turn.

Gu Chenfeng had only recently arrived in this unfamiliar world and still harbored some resistance toward it.

Yet at that moment, he felt a faint sense of belonging.

"Thank you, big sister!"

Those were the only words Gu Chenfeng spoke.

Gu Yanshuang said earnestly, "Chenfeng, you are the heir to the third generation of the Gu Lineage. One day, the Gu Lineage will inevitably be placed in your hands.

"You must become strong. At the very least, you must first gain the ability to protect yourself!"

Gu Yanshuang then personally instructed Gu Chenfeng in how to practice the Iron Elephant Art.

This external cultivation art had three stages: Gray Armor, Iron Armor, and Silver Armor.

They corresponded to the Body Tempering, Meridian Opening, and Source Qi realms, respectively.

To begin practicing the art, one first had to learn several basic stance training postures to set one's blood and vitality circulating.

After teaching Gu Chenfeng the finer points of several stances, Gu Yanshuang finished her instruction.

She urged him to practice diligently before leaving.

Yet the moment Gu Yanshuang departed, Gu Chenfeng stopped practicing and returned to his room.

It was not that he wanted to slack off. He simply did not want to waste time.

His most pressing task was to take medicine and restore his mental energy so he could enter the Phantom Martial Divine Ruins to cultivate.

Shortly after Gu Chenfeng left, Gu Yanshuang remained standing quietly in a corner outside the courtyard gate.

Her beautiful eyes dimmed, and she shook her head slightly.

Cultivating martial arts required steadfast perseverance.

She had hidden herself to see just how determined Gu Chenfeng truly was.

But no sooner had she left than he slipped away. He showed none of the bearing of someone pursuing martial arts.

"Alas... it seems I expected too much. His interest in cultivation was merely a passing impulse.

"In the end, his temperament is still unsettled. He cannot shoulder great responsibility."

With a soft sigh, Gu Yanshuang turned toward the shadows of the nearby bamboo grove and gave her instructions.

"Grandfather is currently in seclusion, and undercurrents are surging through the imperial capital. The young master's safety is paramount.

"I cannot feel at ease relying on ordinary guards, so I'm sorry for the trouble, but I must ask you to act."

A slightly hoarse voice came from the bamboo grove.

"You are too courteous, eldest young lady. We are loyal both to the Chancellor and to the Gu Lineage.

"Protecting the young master is our duty."

At those words, Gu Yanshuang nodded slightly and strode away...