Central Plain, Western Region, Donglang. When the Tang still reign.
"The Gu Clan"
A man said, he has a nicely trimmed beard and a neatly tied hair with a hair crown holding its topknot.
An elegant man, who despite his wrinkled feature, remained peerless in his out-look.
"Is a Clan of High-borne noble bearing the Royal bloodline of the Ming Dynasty…"
He said as he held an ordinary looking smoking pipe in which a white smoke waft from it.
His mouth is also expelling this white smoke that smells exquisite.
Across from him is a boy, 6 years old, cowering from pain as he clutches his belly that drips off blood through his expensive silk robe.
The boy looks at him with contempt, with anger, yet the man didn't seem bothered by his gaze.
The piercing blue eyes reminded the man of his brother who is this boy father.
Gu Tientiang is the current head of the Gu Clan, he has ten wives and 50 Concubine, a number that can be considered small for such a massive Clan.
This boy is the first son of the First wives, the brother of a Siblings. His name is…
"Gu Liang, what are the qualities that befit a former Royal of the Ming Dynasty?"
The man asks, as he inhaled the smoke from the pipe and exhale it quietly and slowly, savouring each hit of the loaded drugs inside.
"…A-A peerless outlook…one must be a gentlemen adorned by…."
he said with difficulties, trying to stifle his own screams of pain while simultaneously answers the man.
"Just that much and you are already struggling to speak? Pathetic"
The man said, looking at the boy with his cold gaze as he draws in smoke.
"…A peerless outlook, one must be a gentlemen adorned by many and respected by the mighty"
Gu Liang manages to say between clenched teeth and tensing jaw.
Yet the man is unsatisfied still.
"An answer, yet not your own"
The man said, huffing more aggressively.
"Again, what are the qualities that befit us, a noble and large Clan?"
Young Gu Liang hesitates for a moment, before he threw up blood from his mouth, finally screaming in pain.
"I-I can't uncle… It hurts"
Yet his desperate plea was not met with help, but with more scornful gaze from the man that is his uncle.
"It's just a surgical implant; you will suffer worst during your double breakthrough if you cannot handle this one…"
His uncle said, speaking as if what Young Gu Liang has just gone through is a simple ordeal normal for all to experience.
Gu Liang has had his stomach cut open, some part of his intestine removed, and his liver reduced to accommodate a constitution as well as making room for his Poison Body Foundation.
"But I never wanted this—"
"Silent you unfilial brat!"
The man then throws the ashes from within his smoking pipe, burning the young Gu Liang.
"AHHH!!!"
"If you wished to maintain that outlook of yours, heal them, channel your energy and shield the ashes away from your body"
The man said, ignoring the screaming boy in front of him.
Gu Liang can do nothing but to wriggle in pain, clutching both his face and stomach from further damage.
"AHHHHH!!!"
However, this action caused the stitch that under the request of the man, be left half-finished, opened up once more, flooding the tiles below him with blood.
"…Pathetic"
.
.
"Pathe…"
"…. ter"
"…Master"
"Young Master"
A whisper woke Gu Liang up from his slumber, his body jolts up from the wooden chair in which he fell asleep in.
The one who woke him up has a slender body, long ashen hair that cascades down and covering the right side of her face and black eyes.
She was Namgoong Hien of the Namgoong Clan hailing from the Western Region.
"…I fell asleep, didn't I?"
Gu Liang said as he pinch his own temple, resisting the urge to cradle his stomach, he then slowly straightened his posture.
"Yes, fortunately its in a time where none was to watch your folly"
Namgoong Hien said, her face, like his, were sculpted to let out none of her true emotions.
"I see…"
Gu Liang shoves his nightmare away and tried to recall the event that had transpired.
Searching in his brain like it was a library as he finds his most recent memory.
Vividly, the image of Wu Chen saying that he cannot assist him in aiding with the murderer problem, so they settle on an agreement that Gu Liang will teach him the Flame Wheel Cultivation as well as several labour for building Wu Chen camps in exchange for his assistant.
'Yet why did he covet the Gu Clan foundation method? The Flame Wheel is opposite of the Wu Clan Tarnished River body'
Gu Liang ponders, but this deal is not really that bad since he does not have to give up his dwindling supply.
"It seems that the deal is a bit disadvantageous for young master…"
Namgoong Hien said to Gu Liang.
"Is that so? As far as I can tell, Wu Chen can't use the Flame Wheel, so the deal favours me"
Gu Liang inquired, he knows that this girl is much smarter than he is in regard to strategy and politic, a subject Gu Liang pathetically fall short.
"What Wu Chen after is the information regarding the Flame Wheel, if I have to guess, he considered that Foundation path to be more troublesome than young master Poison Body"
Namgoong Hien said as she closed her black eyes, her face is a practiced calmness and aloof that Gu Liang can hardly see through
"So, it's a precaution should he ever wanted to fight the Gu Clan in the future…"
Gu Liang said as he crossed his leg.
'I knew it, he is dangerous, I have to coax sister away from him'
Gu Liang thought, but his mind kept wandering towards the vision where he saw Gu Tian cheerful face when she was with Wu Chen.
He had never seen her sister make that kind of face after the death of their mother.
Gu Tian has always been unstable, sometimes she acts wise and very mature and sometimes… not so much.
But her behaviour and attitude around Wu Chen is consistent, at least in his eyes.
Deep down, he is conflicted.
On one hand, he just wanted his sister to be safe, but he cannot bear to watch her suffer.
'It's probably because of that time that we grew distant… Enough of this reminiscing, there is a more pressing matter to do'
Gu Liang ceased his pondering and look at Namgoong Hien. Her black eyes swept his form as if trying to understand his thought.
"Gather all of the Noble, we'll strike at dawn…"
Gu Liang said to which Namgoong Hien just nods and exits the building.
On the other side of Gu Liang camp is Wu Chen group.
They were told to wait here in the open until further notice. Which was a rude thing to do to a guest, especially when they are the one who requested their assistance in the first place.
"So, their internal strife isn't that good either…"
Ni Len muse, observing the otherwise well-constructed camp.
"They say those outside the Southern Province chases honour and fame beyond everything, how stupid"
Xiu interjects as he crosses his arm.
"Indeed"
Xiu agreed, finding this entire trifle pitiful and useless, why bother seeking fame when strength is all that matter? For strength beget fame anyway.
Gu Tian, who stayed silent all this time and has been hiding behind Wu Chen then said.
"Rotten camp filled with nothing but trashy noble, just like the leader!"
Gu Tian said with such malice that its genuinely surprising.
"But miss Gu Tian is of the same Clan as young master Gu Liang, right?"
Ni Len asks.
"…"
But Gu Tian just glares at him with contempt that Ni Len decided to shrink behind Xiu.
"N-never mind"
He mutters weakly.
Gu Tian continued to glare at Ni Len while Xiu can do nothing but to resigned on being his shield from the scrutinizing gaze of Gu Tian piercing blue eyes.
Yet this foolishness only stands for a moment as a group of boys approaches.
They wear a fancy robe or at least made out of fancy material.
The one who stood in the centre stood tall, his hand clasped behind his back as his smugly smiles.
Wu Chen group immediately sensing the charged atmosphere stood tall, as to not lose their ground.
"So, this is the group Gu Liang desperately tries to recruit…"
The leading boy said, he wears a white and blue robes. His black hair is tied in a ponytail by a black ring, and his eyes is piercing orange.
He did not even try to hide his judgemental gaze before it quickly turns to mocking.
"From what I see, you are no more than just a Vagabond"
He said with a jeer that draws laugh from the following boys.
'So, this is the opposing faction'
Wu Chen quickly draws a speculation, and he is disappointed that the adversary was so… Straight forward, this is no political battle, this is just someone flaunting around their fame and authority.
"Boss"
Ni Len said in a whisper, yet the sound is as clear as if he is speaking directly to him.
Clearly, he infused his own energy inside his speech.
"That boy is someone from the Ouyang Clan in Donglan Region, his name is—"
"Ouyang Pinah, it's an honour to meet you~"
Wu Chen said with a smile, already knowing his name even before Ni Len told him which surprised him.
"Oh~ a Vagabond knows my name huh? It seems my fame has reached even to this remote bog"
Ouyang Pinah said with a smug expression which again, draws some laughter from the noble.
Xiu finds it ridiculous that he just called the Southern Region as a whole a 'bog.'
"Tell me then Vagabond, how come you were able to know my name?"
He asks Wu Chen with stern face, as if insulted that he could know his identity in the first place.
Yet Wu Chen maintained his smile under the Contemptuous Gaze, keeping his composure as he delivered his attack.
"Of course, ~ Young Master Ouyang Pinah of the Ouyang family, the disgrace who lost to his younger sister Ouyang Xue."
"What…"
Ouyang Pinah face dropped, some of the Noble around him makes a grim, maddened face. Others, pity, and some are trying not to laugh.
'So, not all of them were loyal to him'
Wu Chen took a note in his head, the face of those seems to bear no loyalty to Ouyang Pinah but forced to follow and entertain him.
Ouyang Pinah then rushed forward towards Wu Chen, grabbing him by the collar as he makes a furious face.
"Repeat that again you motherfucker…"
Xiu was about to rushed before he was held down by Ni Len who seems to know about Wu Chen intention of trying to provoke Ouyang Pinah.
'Boss wanted to make Ouyang Pinah attack him…'
"I said you lost to your sister who just hold the sword for less than 5 months. Oh~ perhaps you are referring to the time you vomit after boasting about how you can drink like an adult at an official gathering at Nanking?"
Wu Chen throws more of the shameful facts about Ouyang Pinah.
The previously furious face of Ouyang Pinah contorts more as his nose flairs up and his eyes was sharpened more.
The noble that follows him wears all kind of different emotion, some keep their stern face, others cannot hold back their furious expression as their knuckles tensed up.
While those who are trying not to smile earlier are currently dying to contain their laughter.
"Why are you making such a face young master? Aren't you happy that your name was associated with foolishness in the South? In fact, many guards were all so thrilled as they laugh their ass off telling your shameful conduct…"
Wu Chen relentless insult makes the vein in Ouyang Pinah face bulges as his cheek flustered from anger; he then furiously let go of his grip at Wu Chen collar as he strides away.
None of the elegance he had when he first arrived here were visible.
"I will make sure your lives will become a living hell!"
He said as he leaves, his follower was all rushing to get to his side until the solace of an empty yard fall once more.
"Tch… he seems more level-headed than I expected"
Wu Chen scoff in disappointment, his plan was thwarted by a simple act of being ashamed and retreating.
Ni Len, who has been holding Xiu, finally released his grip that is throbbing from holding such a beast down throughout the entire exchange.
Xiu of course, calmed down, but he sneers at Wu Chen insults.
But the most extreme reaction was of course.
"BUAHAHAHAHA~"
Gu Tian who let out a flurry of satisfied laugh. She clutches her stomach, as if it were hurting from the intensity of her laughs.
"…What's with you?"
Wu Chen asks with concern as he saw her rolling around, dramatizing her action even more.
"Ahaha.ha…ha…. haaaa"
She finally ceased her laugh, she then slowly rise from after rolling around in the dirt, her black hairs cascades in a messy wave as she does so.
Yet strangely, not a speck of dust cling to her form.
"Ouyang Pinah once tried to force me to marry him…"
She confessed.
"What!"
Chen face darkens, his face flustered. It is the rare occurrence of what Gu Tian called 'Rare Chen' where he reveals his true emotion, he usually kept hidden.
She smiles lightly at this sight as she relishes more from his shocked.
"Mm, he even almost kidnapped me once because I refuse"
She said, feigning sadness with her fake tears.
"WHAT!!!!"
Chen becomes more flustered. Not only him, even Xiu and Ni Len was shocked as well.
"IS THAT TRUE??!!"
Chen grabs her shoulder, Gu Tian was surprised by his sudden boldness, but she decided to come clean before it barrels out of control.
"Of course, not~"
She said as he smiles smugly.
"…"
Chen face dropped into a bewilderment, yet his face is of a neutral expression.
"O-of course the part where he forced me to marry him is real, it's just that my father quickly chases him out"
Gu Tian tried to salvage the situation once she realizes that both Xiu and Ni Len make the same expression. The kind that screams 'Seriously?'
"…"
Wu Chen then walks away from her.
"Chen?"
Gu Tian calls out to him, but once she realizes he is not stopping, she started tailing him.
"Cmon Chen, it's just a joke~"
She said, but Wu Chen did not cease his strides.
Gu Tian can only watch his gait goes further and further.
She cannot do anything but to watch in bewilderment.
"Well, you reap what you sow"
Ni Len said, as if mocking Gu Tian.