The Second Gold

[The wall was still the same wall, thirty feet high, built of blue bricks, with dense iron caltrops studding its top.]

[But in your eyes now, this wall was no different from a low threshold.]

[The tree-chopping cooldown reached zero. You opened the page you saw once every year and clicked Chop.]

[Perhaps Heaven knew you were about to die, or perhaps this old tree, which had accompanied you through two lifetimes, had finally felt some pity for you... you obtained your second golden trait!]

[Failure Is the Progress Bar to Success (gold): no matter what you do, every failure will slightly increase your chance of succeeding at that task until you ultimately succeed! After success, the success rate will reset to zero, but when you attempt the same task again and fail, the success rate will accumulate substantially until you succeed again!]

[With a light leap, you vaulted over the wall and landed inside the Marquis's Household.]

[The instant you landed, you heard a guard on duty shout, "Who's there!"]

[You hadn't visited for many years, but Dingbei Marquis Manor was still as heavily guarded as ever.]

[You made no attempt to hide. Standing where you were, you shouted, "Dingbei Hou, come welcome your guest!"]

[That shout sent the entire Marquis's Household boiling over.]

[Lanterns and torches lit up instantly, and footsteps surged in from every direction. Armed with sabers and spears, the guards surrounded you in layer upon layer. Most were at the Houtian Second Stage or Houtian Third Stage, with a few at the Houtian Fourth Stage among them.]

[You stood tall in the center of the crowd, hands clasped behind your back, without even lifting your eyelids.]

[You admitted that you did look a little pretentious.]

[But you knew this was the best approach. All you knew was that someone from the Marquis's Household had beaten Nanny into that state; you knew nothing else. Intimidating the young marquis with force and making him investigate for you was the best approach.]

["What scoundrel dares trespass on the Marquis's Household at night!"]

[An armored officer pushed through the crowd, holding a large saber that gleamed coldly. His cultivation was at the Houtian Fourth Stage, and his face was filled with murderous intent.]

[You glanced at him, and the oppressive aura of the Houtian Ninth Level erupted instantly.]

[The officer immediately stiffened where he stood, as though struck by lightning. He could tell you were a Houtian Ninth Level martial artist. Facing you meant certain death.]

[Yet even after realizing this, he did not retreat a single step! Those who served as guards in the Marquis's Household had all retired from the battlefield. Martial artists might have moments of cowardice, but soldiers had steel in their bones!]

[But you were simply too strong. Though the guards around you held sharp swords, none dared make a rash move.]

[As the situation reached a stalemate, a strong, resonant voice came from the rear courtyard: "All of you, stand down."]

[The crowd parted, and a middle-aged man in black robes walked out. He was burly and imposing, striding like a dragon or tiger, plainly someone long accustomed to high office. This was the former heir to Dingbei Hou, now Dingbei Hou himself.]

[He stopped thirty feet in front of you and cupped his fist. "May I ask what brings you here so late at night, senior?"]

[Senior?]

[You had considered everything except the possibility that this young marquis would address you as senior.]

[Still, you had seen him just after his birth in the previous simulation, so calling you senior was hardly an injustice to him.]

[You gathered your thoughts and got straight to the point. "Forty-five years ago, there was a nanny working in the kitchens of your Dingbei Marquis Manor. Someone framed her for stealing from her master, beat her half to death, and threw her out of the manor. She died in a ruined temple. Do you know about this?"]

[The young marquis frowned slightly. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. "How could I clearly remember something from forty-five years ago? I was only ten then. There were so many servants in the household. A few servants dying was nothing unusual-"]

[Before he could finish, you took a step forward, murderous intent surging.]

[The guards reacted promptly, instantly drawing swords and readying bows.]

[The young marquis's expression changed. He was only at the Houtian Sixth Layer now, and unlike the guard captain, he had never tempered himself on the battlefield. Even if he wanted to retreat, his legs seemed rooted to the ground; he could not move at all.]

[You looked at him and said, word by word, "She was my godmother."]

[Dead silence fell all around. The torch-bearing guards widened their eyes and exchanged looks. A Houtian Ninth Level martial artist's godmother had actually been a nanny in the Marquis's Household? Who would believe that?]

[The young marquis reacted quickly. He immediately cupped his hands and forced a smile. "I see! I misspoke. Please wait a moment, senior. I will have someone investigate at once and make certain you receive an explanation!"]

[You hadn't expected things to go so smoothly either, but to be safe, you still said, "You had better not try any tricks. Even if someone in the Xiantian Realm or a cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm comes, I am confident I can kill you before I die."]

[Your face looked somewhat cold and sinister in the firelight, and your tone was even more chilling. "My life isn't worth much. But yours, young marquis, is precious indeed."]

[The young marquis had few strengths. His martial talent was mediocre, and he hadn't inherited much of the old marquis's courage or insight. But he had one virtue: he listened to advice.]

[With you having put it that way, he certainly wasn't going to get any foolish ideas and court death.]

[Besides, you had come over an old matter from forty-five years ago.]

[In the young marquis's eyes, you were someone who valued affection and loyalty. Moreover, he conducted himself openly and honorably and was confident that he wasn't responsible for your godmother's death. He immediately cupped his fist and said frankly:

"Rest assured, senior. Though I lack ability, I hold those who value affection and loyalty in the highest esteem. I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If the Marquis's Household truly wronged your godmother, I will see that you receive justice!"]

[His words were sincere and heartfelt, which did raise your opinion of him.]

[You had heard plenty of the capital's rumors and gossip from Liu Hei, most of them about this young marquis's mediocrity.]

[But when you heard those reports, you only thought it was a good thing.]

[A thorough investigation required more information, so you immediately gave Nanny's surname.]

[But the instant the word "Rong" left your mouth, the young marquis's expression suddenly froze. Frowning, he studied you for a long while before abruptly saying, "She wasn't a nanny. She was one of this household's junior stewards."]