Gu Yi’s father, Gu Chengjiao, had neither the talent nor the desire for cultivation. Well-versed in the classics, he had once been a renowned scholar in Dinggong City and throughout Jiangnan.
He later met Gu Yi’s mother, Li Clan, and the two fell deeply in love. However, because of their differing family statuses, they were unable to marry. In the end, after Li Clan gave birth to Gu Yi, she died from complications during childbirth.
Li Clan came from an extraordinarily influential background. She was the granddaughter of His Majesty’s maternal uncle in the imperial capital.
Her death caused the Li Clan to make things difficult for the Gu Family in numerous ways over the years, leaving the Gu Family in a precarious position. As a result, most members of the Gu Family harbored dissatisfaction toward Gu Chengjiao.
Four months ago, Gu Chengjiao was framed and falsely accused, then imprisoned in the dungeon. During that time, quite a few people even proposed sentencing him to death!
After making his way to the dungeon, Gu Yi knocked on its gate.
“Who is it? Why are you coming to the dungeon in the middle of the night?”
A slightly disgruntled voice rang out. Moments later, a thin man emerged from a distant corner.
When the man saw that it was Gu Yi, his brows immediately furrowed, and his ferocious expression was fully revealed. “Gu Yi, what are you doing? Coming to visit a prisoner in the middle of the night? Have you eaten too much?”
Gu Yi narrowed his eyes. Without saying anything more, he pulled a low-grade spirit stone from his robes and said, “I only need a quarter of an hour. This Spirit Stone is yours.”
When the man saw the Spirit Stone, delight appeared in his eyes, yet he continued putting on airs. “It isn’t a matter of whether there’s a Spirit Stone or not. After all, the family has rules, and I don’t dare overstep my authority without permission. Well, considering your filial devotion, I’ll let you in.”
After opening the gate, Gu Yi walked inside. He casually tossed the Spirit Stone aside and headed toward the deeper region.
The Spirit Stone struck the ground with a clatter, causing the man’s expression to change drastically as he reached out to catch it.
Staring at Gu Yi’s departing back, he was instantly humiliated and enraged. “You bastard brat with no upbringing! No wonder Gu Feng crippled you!”
Following the dark, damp corridor, Gu Yi went straight to the prison cell where Gu Chengjiao was being held. Through the iron bars, he looked at the man sitting on the bed of weeds, and a faint, indescribable emotion lingered in his heart.
In his previous life, his parents had died young, and he had long since forgotten what they looked like.
In this life, the two gu yis were indistinguishable from each other. Looking at this man, Gu Yi could not help but sigh with emotion.
“Father, I’ve come to see you.”
Gu Yi opened the food box and took out the dishes, bowls, and wine flask one by one.
Gu Chengjiao, his hair disheveled and his pale face covered in grime, turned around. He looked quite surprised, then delighted, and rose to walk over.
“How did you get in? The jailer, Gu Shiqiang, didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”
Gu Yi shook his head. “He’s the kind of fellow who can be sent away with a single Spirit Stone. What trouble could he cause?”
He passed the food inside, then poured Gu Chengjiao a cup of wine.
Gu Chengjiao looked very hungry, but he did not hurry to eat. Instead, he first drank a cup of wine, smacked his lips, and then began eating slowly.
Gu Yi watched him eat for a while before saying, “The clan tournament is in two days.”
Gu Chengjiao’s hand paused slightly as he used his chopsticks to pick up food. He sighed. “Yi’er, don’t lose heart. Even if you can’t win the champion and can’t enter the Martial Arts Sacred Grounds, so what?”
“In this world, there are many meaningful things awaiting us besides cultivation. When you have nothing else to do, you can read more poetry and prose. You will naturally find the place where your heart belongs.”
Gu Yi narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, “This world is ultimately one where force breaks taboos, force seizes power, and force rules all beneath heaven!”
“Poetry, lyrics, songs, and prose are merely things the weak use to numb their hearts. A scholar is useless in every way!”
Gu Yi shook his head and said no more. Knowing that father had misunderstood him, he said, “I came here to tell you that in the clan tournament the day after tomorrow, I will certainly win the champion title, reclaim the name of the Gu Family’s number one genius, and rescue you.”
Gu Chengjiao froze for a moment, then said worriedly, “Yi’er, I know you’ve always looked down on me for studying since you were little. I won’t bring up the matter of your studying anymore.”
“However, your cultivation level plummeted two years ago, and now you’re only at the first layer of body tempering. Whatever you do, don’t join the clan tournament on impulse. Someone could die!”
Gu Yi gave a cold laugh. “Even if I don’t participate in the clan tournament, someone already wants me dead. I have my own arrangements for this matter. Don’t worry too much.”
“What? Has someone done something malicious to you?”
Gu Chengjiao slammed his rice bowl onto the ground with a clatter, his face turning gloomy!
Although he cherished poetry and prose and did not wish to cultivate, he was still a martial artist at the body refinement eighth stage. To some extent, the blood of a martial artist still ran through his bones. How could he tolerate someone plotting against his son?
Just as four months ago, when he had been tricked, framed, and imprisoned in this family dungeon because he was protecting Gu Yi.
Gu Yi nodded slightly. This “father” was not entirely useless after all.
“Don’t worry. To me, the clan tournament is nothing more than a slaughtering festival. Every person who has bullied us father and son over the years can forget about leaving in one piece!”
After saying this, Gu Yi suddenly slammed his fist into the ground. A thunderous boom rang out as he smashed a basin-sized hole into the stone-paved floor!
Gu Chengjiao stared in stunned disbelief. “What is your current cultivation level?”
“Ninth Layer of Body Refinement.”
After saying this, Gu Yi fell silent for a moment before continuing, “Although it’s the kind that can kill someone at the Ninth Level of True Essence Realm…”
Gu Chengjiao’s expression became strange. He leaned forward, lifted his wine cup, and drained it in one gulp before throwing his head back in laughter. “Father believes you, because you’ve never lied.”
Gu Yi smiled faintly, lifted his wine cup, and drank along with him. A fiery current surged from his throat straight into his organs.
Yet Gu Yi shook his head slightly and sighed in a low voice. “The wine here is as bland as water. When I get the chance, I’ll brew ten thousand jars of fine wine and drink to my heart’s content!”
Setting down his wine cup, Gu Yi looked at Gu Chengjiao. “Father, there’s one more thing I came here for.”
Gu Chengjiao was in excellent spirits, his face beaming with joy. He smiled and said, “Tell me.”
Gu Yi said, “It’s time for you to give me the jade slip my mother left behind.”
Gu Chengjiao froze for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “All right. You’ve grown up now. It’s time to give the jade slip to you.”
Gu Chengjiao reached into his robes and took out a small bundle. Carefully, he unfolded several layers of handkerchiefs one by one, revealing a pristine white jade slip.
He handed it to Gu Yi and said solemnly, “This is the only thing your mother left for you. You must keep it safe.”
Gu Yi nodded, accepted the jade slip, and rose. “Then get some rest early. I’ll head back first.”
After bidding farewell to Gu Chengjiao, Gu Yi arrived at the dungeon gate and saw the clan uncle jailer named Gu Shiqiang. In a calm voice, he said, “The next time I come, if my father hasn’t said anything bad about you, I’ll give you two spirit stones.”
Gu Shiqiang’s gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a smile. “Rest assured. I’ll take good care of your father.”
Gu Yi was too lazy to spare another glance at such a petty man, who could be controlled by such trivial benefits. He stepped away from the dungeon.
When he returned to the residence compound, An'an had already finished cleaning the gate and was sitting on the steps, waiting for him. Seeing him return safely, she let out a long sigh of relief and asked, “young master, did you see Old master?”
Gu Yi nodded. “I did. I even had a cup of wine with my father.”
“Really?” An'an was delighted.
After chatting for a while, the two returned to their respective rooms to rest.
Sitting on his bed, Gu Yi took out the jade slip and examined it carefully.
This jade slip contained a recording Li Clan had made while suffering complications during childbirth.
Although Gu Yi had learned of this matter after growing up, Gu Chengjiao had never allowed him to see it.
The main reason Gu Yi had gone to the dungeon that night was actually to demand this jade slip from Gu Chengjiao.
Because, in the eyes of the reborn Eastern Emperor Demon Venerable, this jade slip definitely concealed a great secret.
This secret was very likely the reason Gu Chengjiao had refused to let him see the jade slip for so many years!
Gu Yi pressed the jade slip against his forehead and carefully sensed and read its contents.
After a long while, he slowly Opened His Eyes. A sharp radiance flickered in his gaze. “So that’s how it is…”