Gu Chen drove home.
As Gu Chen passed the security booth, the large TV screen in the lobby on the first floor was showing local news. Gu Chen looked up and saw that the news was about the serious incident that had occurred that evening.
In the video, a reporter is interviewing a witness who was present at the scene.
"... You didn't see how exaggerated the scene was. That flying sword came from the sky, and as soon as it got close, it multiplied into more than ten swords. You've seen TV dramas, right? It's like that Sword-Splitting Technique in them, where one sword becomes two, and two become four."
"So, you mean the kind of kung fu from martial arts novels?" the reporter asked.
"Kung Fu?" The eyewitness scoffed. "What bullshit kung fu? Kung Fu isn't even worthy of carrying its shoes! That's a flying sword! In martial arts novels, Feng Qingyang is hailed as the number one swordsman. His martial arts are high enough, right? But can he use the Sword-Splitting Technique? Can he control his sword to kill enemies? Can he make his flying sword leave a trail of light hundreds of feet long?"
On television, the reporter, sweating profusely, said, "Is it really that exaggerated? Wouldn't that be more powerful than a missile?"
"Nonsense, that's something immortals use." The eyewitness, looking at you as if you were still young, said, "What are immortals? Can we mortals even fathom them?"
The TV channel was changed as soon as it was shown here.
It was the security guard in the booth. After changing the channel, he cursed, "Damn it, these media outlets these days have absolutely no bottom line. They can fabricate such blatant lies. Do they think we citizens are idiots?"
Another security guard chimed in, "Yeah, these media outlets these days will publish anything to grab attention. Flying swords? Immortals? Why doesn't he just say it's an alien or Ultraman? I think the higher-ups should really do something about these unscrupulous people."
Listening to their conversation, Gu Chen smiled slightly, then looked away and stepped into the elevator.
Back home, my father had already begun meditating, sensing his own True Qi.
Gu Chen devised a complete plan for his father Gu Beichi, to rebuild his health. The first step, improving his physique, has been completed, the second step, repairing his meridians, has been successful, and the third step is to help him feel the sensation of using True Qi back then.
Gu Beichi must have had exceptional talent in the Gu Family back then; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to break through to the Revolving Illumination Realm at such a young age. And such talent is already considered quite good among martial artists.
Therefore, as long as he can sense the True Qi and regroup True Qi, Gu Chen can let him start cultivating the technique again.
Seeing his father so engrossed, Gu Chen didn't disturb him. He gently closed the door, greeted Uncle Liu, and prepared to go inside. But at that moment, the phone suddenly rang.
Gu Chen glanced at the phone number, frowned, then thought for a moment before answering.
"Okay, wait for me."
After exchanging a few words, Gu Chen hung up the phone and went out.
It was already around 10:30, and Gu Chen didn't drive; instead, he took a taxi to a bar.
Inside the bar, Su Qingqing was seen absentmindedly drinking her beverage at a bar counter.
Two thugs were harassing her in front of her, but Su Qingqing seemed oblivious to it all, staring blankly at the wine in her glass.
"Get lost!"
Gu Chen arrived at the booth and coldly addressed the two thugs.
"Damn it, who are you?"
One of the thugs, with dyed yellow hair, glanced at Gu Chen disdainfully and cursed, "Kid, open your eyes and see clearly who I am!!"
"I don't want to say it a second time." Gu Chen's voice remained icy.
Enraged by Gu Chen's arrogance, the thug grabbed a bottle from the table, intending to smash it over Gu Chen's head.
But just as he made the motion to smash the bottle, Gu Chen punched him in the face.
The person was instantly sent flying backward, crashing into the sofa behind him, tumbling over before landing.
"You little brat, you're asking for it!"
Enraged, the thug's companion clenched his fist and tried to beat Gu Chen, but this time Gu Chen was faster, slapping the man away with one hand. Then, he grabbed another by the neck and threw them both out of the booth.
"Don't let me see you again, get out!"
"You just wait, kid!"
The two thugs were clearly unconvinced. They hurled a curse at each other and then walked away in a sorry state.
What are you doing here?
Gu Chen sat down, looking at Su Qingqing opposite him with a slightly serious expression, and said, "Is this a place you should be? What if you encounter bad people?"
"Whether I encounter bad people or not, it makes no difference now." Su Qingqing was stunned for a long time before noticing that Gu Chen had returned. She then gave a bitter smile, extremely desolate.
Gu Chen frowned, noticing something amiss in Su Qingqing's expression. He asked suspiciously, "What happened? How much did you drink?"
Upon hearing the word "alcohol," a light flashed in Su Qingqing's eyes, and she immediately said, "You want to drink? Let's have some together."
As she spoke, Su Qingqing picked up one of the bottles of red wine on the table, uncorked it, poured a glass for each of them, and said, "Come on, let's drink."
"I don't drink." Gu Chen shook his head.
Su Qingqing tied her hair up, gave a bitter laugh upon hearing this, and said, "Just consider it keeping me company, okay?"
Her expression was complicated. She then picked up her glass, clinked it against Gu Chen's, and tilted her head back to drink the wine in one gulp.
Gu Chen said in a deep voice, "You can't drink this wine like this; you've already had quite a bit."
"Pour some more." Su Qingqing stretched out her slender arm and placed the cup in front of Gu Chen.
Gu Chen thought for a moment, looked at her flushed cheeks, and didn't ask any more questions. He poured her some more wine.
Su Qingqing took the wine from Gu Chen and drank it all in one gulp.
Within minutes, Su Qingqing had downed three cups by herself, her pretty face already flushed, and her eyes becoming hazy and unfocused.
"Is this how you drink?" Gu Chen grabbed Su Qingqing's hand and said coldly, "You're not drinking, you're courting death!"
"Leave me alone, just let me die!" Su Qingqing, with a strength she didn't know she had, broke free from Gu Chen's grip on her arm.
The bar was filled with deafening noise. Amidst this atmosphere, Gu Chen laughed in exasperation, saying, "You're the one who sent me here, and now you want me to watch you die? Fine, since you want to drink, I'll drink with you."
Su Qingqing nodded and said, "Come on."
She smiled, but there was an indescribable bitterness in that smile.
The fourth cup, the fifth cup...
After drinking the sixth cup, Su Qingqing felt lightheaded and swayed, collapsing onto the sofa behind her. Gu Chen grabbed her hand to prevent her from collapsing to the ground, his voice like a wild beast's growl as he demanded, "Su Qingqing! What's wrong?"
Su Qingqing stood there like a wooden doll, her eyes glazed over, her beautiful face blank and expressionless, as if she hadn't heard Gu Chen's question. She didn't even pull her hand away from Gu Chen's grasp.
After a long while, Su Qingqing suddenly smashed the wine glass and threw herself into Gu Chen's arms.
"Gu Chen, help me, help me..."
In an instant, Su Qingqing's pretty face was streaked with tears, and she burst into sobs!