The next day, the rooster crowed to announce dawn, and the sky was just beginning to brighten.
"Lin'er, time to eat."
In the main hall, a woman in a cloth skirt and plain hairpin brought over congee and eggs. She was Gu Lin's mother, Zhou Man, who worked as a female laborer at the weaving factory in Kangle Ward.
In the courtyard, a bare-chested burly man was twirling a long spear. He stood eight chi tall with a mighty physique, his back covered in scars. He was Gu Lin's father, Gu Changchuan, who served as an Escort at an Escort Agency.
At the dining table, there was silent nothingness. Zhou Man peeled an egg for her son, while Gu Changchuan ladled out coarse grain porridge, unwilling to spare Gu Lin even a direct glance.
Gu Lin lowered his head and said nothing.
His father was at the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer, yet he hadn't sensed his own son's world-shaking transformation?
It seemed others couldn't detect his cultivation.
Knock knock knock—
Suddenly, a knocking sound came from outside.
Gu Lin walked out of the main hall.
As soon as he opened the courtyard gate, he saw that face he loathed.
It was Li Qingwu.
Li Qingwu's delicate face showed no change in expression, but deep within her eyes flashed a strong look of shock.
How is this possible?
This lowly running dog is still alive?! !
"It seems the woman who cultivated evil arts last night couldn't withstand the backlash of qi deviation and died without encountering this running dog. That surnamed Gu dog truly has good luck!"
Li Qingwu thought inwardly, then in an instant changed her attitude, forcing a smile:
"Gu Lin, you must have been drunk last night, to actually disrespect me. I couldn't sleep all night, heartbroken for a long time. You need to apologize to me."
First, she still wanted to continue squeezing the Gu family's wealth dry. Second, she wanted to keep Gu Lin steady, not let this running dog bark everywhere and sully her reputation.
Gu Lin's face showed no ripple of emotion, but he keenly caught the shock in the wretch's eyes, combined with the "little girl" mentioned by the evil woman last night.
His becoming a Cauldron definitely had everything to do with this wretch!
Just wait, sooner or later I'll skin her alive!
This wretch began cultivating at age nine, trained bitterly for ten years, and was now at the Fourth Stage of Qi Condensation Realm.
But what did he have to fear?
Breaking through to the fifth layer of Meridian Opening Realm in a single day—as long as he obtained Merit, his breakthrough speed would be unimaginable!
"Clang!"
The sound of a rice bowl shattering came from the main hall.
Hearing it, Li Qingwu curled her lip and strolled away leisurely.
The atmosphere in the main hall dropped to freezing point.
Zhou Man bent down to clean up the broken bowl on the ground, sighing from time to time.
Gu Changchuan stared coldly at Gu Lin as he walked in, then roared furiously:
"Li Qingwu! Li Qingwu again! Hasn't our family suffered enough ruin because of her? When will you finally wake up!"
"A grown man groveling like a dog, thinking himself devoted, a laughingstock in everyone's eyes—a spineless thing, a beast without dignity!!"
"His father, stop talking..." Seeing him curse more and more harshly, Zhou Man hurriedly tried to stop him.
Gu Changchuan's fury blazed, and pointing at his wife, he nearly screamed:
"Look at your mother—does she still have a single piece of jewelry on her? Every night she still has to go to Weaving Street to weave cloth to supplement the household. Look at the calluses on her hands, look at the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes!!"
Zhou Man glanced at the scars on her husband's back and abdomen from the corner of her eye, grief-stricken.
Gu Changchuan, too furious, had veins bulging on his forehead as he screamed:
"You can't cultivate—I don't blame you for that. I accept your mediocrity. But you are so base and without dignity, you've destroyed this family, and you still want to sink endlessly. You don't just chill my heart—you make me utterly disgusted!"
"Other parents are proud of their children. You haven't made me proud even once—only humiliation and rage!"
"The neighbors all mock the Gu family. Your mother can't even hold her head up when talking to people!!"
This was once a prosperous little household, but the wicked son borrowed high-interest loans again and again for Li Qingwu, squandering all the Gu family's savings. The house and shop were gone, the madam's jewelry was gone, until the family was utterly destitute!!
The roars echoed through the house.
Zhou Man had thought Lin'er would, as usual, run out the door in a fit of pique, letting every word go in one ear and out the other.
But this time, Lin'er didn't.
"Father, Mother, I'm sorry."
Gu Lin didn't argue back. Instead, he apologized sincerely, saying softly:
"Your son has turned over a new leaf and has already cut all ties with her."
Gu Changchuan was stunned for a moment, but his attitude didn't soften. He said coldly:
"Don't let me see you having anything to do with her again!"
He had cursed him a thousand times, a hundred times. He simply didn't believe the wicked son would awaken this time.
Even if he truly repented, it was too late now. The family fortune was emptied, the wicked son had no Martial Talent whatsoever, and studying was useless too. If he wanted to live as an ordinary person in peace, the family no longer had the ability to support him.
Gu Changchuan let out a long sigh and said to his wife:
"I'm going to the Escort Agency to deliver the three bandits to the County Office and collect the bounty."
With that, he left home.
Gu Lin said a word to his mother, then actually followed after him.
His father was an Escort at the Tongxing Escort Agency, one of the three major Escort Agencies in Shiyang County, responsible for escorting grain and goods, earning five taels of silver a month.
But to earn money for the family, his father held three jobs at once!
First, his main job as an Escort.
Second, as a martial instructor, teaching spear techniques to children new to martial arts.
Third, as a Bounty Hunter—while escorting, he captured bandits for the County Office to earn bounties. This was a job with his head tied to his belt. Though the pay was generous, it was extremely dangerous.
......
Tongxing Escort Agency.
"Brother Gu Six."
"Greetings, Brother Six!!"
The workers in the Escort Agency greeted him respectfully.
Gu Changchuan ranked as the sixth Escort at Tongxing Escort Agency, respectfully called Brother Gu Six.
But the moment they saw Gu Lin, the smiles of the many escorts vanished, though they still exchanged some polite pleasantries:
"Young Master Gu cuts a fine figure."
This was true—Gu Lin had outstanding looks—but it fit the saying: golden jade on the outside, rotten cotton within!
The Tongxing Escort Agency also knew his "legendary story!"
If not for this unfilial son, would Brother Gu Six have to fight desperately for his life?
Sensing the escorts' attitude, Gu Changchuan could only smile bitterly and sigh.
Entering the Escort Agency's stables, three bandits were imprisoned inside, their mouths stuffed with hemp cloth, bound with iron chains.
He had arrested them overnight and was just waiting for the County Office to open so he could send them to the arrest office and collect the bounty.
Gu Lin followed behind. Seeing his father pick up an official document, he immediately stepped forward to look.
The document recorded the evil deeds committed by the three Fugitives.
【For those who present the head...】
Seeing these four key words, his expression showed a hint of joy.
This was also why he had followed.
Bounty Hunters could bring "heads" to claim rewards—this was a rule tacitly permitted by the County Office's arrest office.
"Father, I want to kill them!" Gu Lin suddenly spoke.
Gu Changchuan abruptly turned his head, scrutinizing his son in disbelief.
A cowardly person who feared even killing a chicken and seeing blood—actually dared to kill?
He didn't speak for a long time, staring fixedly at Gu Lin.
Gu Lin met his gaze and said in a deep voice:
"Father, I don't want to be a coward anymore. I don't want to be a laughingstock. I want to be ruthless. Only a man ruthless enough can stand firm in this world!"
Gu Changchuan's facial muscles tensed, then gradually relaxed. His usually cold gaze actually softened somewhat.
This time, he truly believed a little that his son had turned over a new leaf.
"Good!" Gu Changchuan agreed immediately.
His son had changed his cowardly nature—he couldn't help but be happy. He also wanted to see how his son would perform killing for the first time!
"Here." Gu Changchuan proactively handed over a knife, saying warmly:
"Close your eyes and just stab them to death."
Unexpectedly.
Gu Lin refused, saying directly:
"Father, give me an axe!"
In that instant, even the usually steady Escort Gu was astonished.
A knife—stab to the belly.
An axe—cleave to the head!!
The difference in brutality was worlds apart.
For a first kill, demanding an axe—what kind of courage was that??
Gu Changchuan was silent for a long time, then turned and fetched a gleaming axe.
Father and son said nothing, walking deep into the stables, looking down at the three bandits.
The latter struggled desperately, making "mmph mmph mmph" sounds, their chains clanking.
Gu Lin took the axe, gripped the handle, and walked step by step toward the three men.
Gu Changchuan watched quietly, but inwardly he was very nervous. He still didn't believe his son had that kind of courage.
Seeing him hesitate to act, Gu Changchuan felt slightly disappointed and said rapidly:
"Don't feel any psychological burden. They deserve to die. They've all harmed the people of Shiyang..."
He spoke only halfway.
Gu Lin calmly raised the axe and brought it down heavily on one man's neck.
Blood sprayed, the head rolled off!
Raise the axe again, cleave again!
Without the slightest hesitation, the moment the axe bit into flesh and blood, he felt no fear at all. Having endured last night's humiliation, he yearned for power even more. He simply would not fear blood.
Until three heads rolled in different directions, their lifeless eyes staring fixedly at the executioner, dying with eyes wide open.
Drip.
Drip—
In the long dead silence, only the dripping of blood remained.
Witnessing all this, Gu Changchuan could hardly conceal his shock, his eyes wide as he examined his son.
Thud—
Gu Lin dropped the axe and turned to his father, saying:
"Father, I said I've turned over a new leaf. I want to be a man who stands tall between heaven and earth! I won't be cowardly and incompetent, and I won't wag my tail and beg others for pity!"
With that, he wiped off the blood and left the stables, leaving behind a gratified Escort Gu.
Even as Gu Changchuan felt gratified, watching his son's retreating figure, he could only sigh:
"Jingming, you've awakened too late!"
He rarely called his son by his courtesy name.
Now he had repented, but the family had no money left and couldn't provide him any support. His son had no cultivation, no achievements in study—wanting to make something of himself was a pipe dream.
.......
Leaving the Escort Agency, Gu Lin found a teahouse and sat in a corner.
Before his eyes appeared golden starlight only he could see, once again converging into the three large characters 《Merit Book》.
【Killed three "Ding Four Star" Evildoers, rewarded max-level Wave-Treading Microstep】
【Martial Dao: 732/1000】
【Confucian Dao: 0/1000】
【Art Dao: 0/1000】
【Witch Gu Dao: 0/1000】
In an instant, Gu Lin's internal energy surged upward, his Meridians expanded once more, and two masses of qi and blood roamed through his Meridians as mist.
Two levels broken through in a row!
He was now at the seventh layer of the Meridian Opening Realm!
Gu Lin took a sip of tea. Though he wanted to keep his emotions hidden, how could he suppress the curve at the corner of his mouth!
Last night, he was still a waste who couldn't cultivate!
This morning, he was at the seventh layer of the Meridian Opening Realm!
Not to mention he had also mastered two max-level martial arts—the Xuanming Divine Palm and the Wave-Treading Microstep. The Wave-Treading Microstep was an extremely powerful Movement Technique. In his mind were highly proficient moves, one after another, including the power of each Acupoint for casting.
"It seems Evildoers are divided into Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and also one to nine stars, with Jia Nine being the highest."
"The Merit Points from dealing with these three combined are far less than that evil woman from last night. The higher the Evildoer's rank, the richer the rewards!!"
Gu Lin smiled to himself for a while, then finally steadied his emotions and left the teahouse.
Walking into an empty alley, he couldn't resist using the Wave-Treading Microstep.
In an instant, his figure flashed past like the wind.
How exhilarating, how exhilarating!!