Already close to her physical and mental limit, after kneeling for so long, Gu Yuyao’s entire face had turned pale, drenched in cold sweat. Her legs were bruised blue and purple, and terribly swollen.
At first, it was a piercing pain. Later, she lost all feeling, as if the lower half of her body had been sawn off. Now, she was holding on with nothing but sheer willpower, believing that Ye Cang still had feelings for her and would come out to see her.
But she had no idea—Ye Cang had completely stopped caring about her.
At that moment, the funeral procession had already ended. Ye Cang and Qin Junfei had returned to the funeral hall.
“Gu Yuyao is still kneeling at the entrance,” Pan Min rushed in to report.
Even Qin Junfei was slightly surprised at her persistence.
But Ye Cang acted as though he hadn’t heard, not even bothering to open his eyes.
Only then did everyone truly understand—Ye Cang really no longer cared about Gu Yuyao.
Affection that arrives late is worth less than grass.
There was no such thing in this world as a medicine for regret.
As the funeral ended, the roadblock was lifted, and Gu Zhenghong finally arrived.
The moment he stepped out of the car, he saw his granddaughter kneeling at the entrance of the funeral home, covered in injuries. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly miserable.
Yet he showed no pity—only deep pain.
If she had known this would happen, why do it in the first place?
“Bring the Mourning Staff,” Gu Zhenghong ordered.
“Shhh…”
At these words, the driver’s face changed drastically. He quickly reminded him, “Old Master, are you sure you want to punish her according to the family rules? The Mourning Staff can kill. Miss, she…”
“Bring it!” Gu Zhenghong roared, his silver hair flaring, eyes wide with fury, and a terrifying presence about him.
“Our Gu Family has remained upright for three generations. We repay kindness with gratitude. Years ago, we made a solemn vow to Madam Zhou—that if we bore sons, they would serve her family for generations. If we bore daughters, they would marry her son. But what did she do?”
“She failed to observe the virtues of obedience and virtue expected of a woman. How can the Gu Family suffer this shame? Today, I shall uphold our ancestors’ rules and punish this unfilial girl to honor Madam Zhou’s spirit!”
Gu Yuyao trembled violently when she heard her grandfather’s voice. Tears poured from her eyes.
Still, she didn’t rise or avoid punishment. Instead, she remained kneeling at the funeral home door, dragging her wounded and muddy body forward.
The driver sighed heavily and retrieved the Mourning Staff from the trunk.
It was an ancestral artifact of the Gu Family, made of blackwood, its entire surface dark and marked with a large character for “mourning.” Usually stored in the ancestral hall, it was only brought out for weddings, funerals, or to enforce family rules.
Now, holding the staff, Gu Zhenghong approached Gu Yuyao step by step, looking heartbroken and as if his soul had left him.
With every step, the Mourning Staff in his hand grew heavier, until by the end it felt like a thousand kilograms.
When he stopped beside Gu Yuyao, his breath was ragged, and his eyes bloodshot.
To punish his own granddaughter with the family’s rules—this was unbearably cruel for an old man.
He raised the staff, eyes red with tears, and shouted, “The Mourning Staff strikes for loyalty, filial piety, trust, courtesy, righteousness, integrity, and shame! The first three are for turning gratitude into betrayal, you ungrateful wolf!”
As he roared, the staff came down.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
“Bang!” This story is hosted at g.com.
The sound of the staff piercing flesh and bone echoed loudly.
Gu Yuyao’s pupils constricted violently. It felt as if her soul was about to leave her body.
But she withstood it—barely.
Her face twitched uncontrollably, and she bit down on her lips until they bled, mouth full of blood.
“The next three are for your heartless betrayal of your parents!”
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
Another three strikes!
Her body swayed, her knees gave out, and she almost collapsed.
Somehow, by sheer will, she steadied herself again, though she was on the verge of unconsciousness, hair a mess, looking like a ghost woman from the mountains.
Even the Old Master’s hands trembled as he held the staff, gripping it so hard that bits of lacquer flaked off.
He turned his head, unable to look at her. His eyes, red with tears, were filled with anguish.
Striking one’s child brings pain to the parent’s heart.
“The last three are for turning a blind eye to life and death, and hardening your heart!”
“Bang! Bang! Bang…”
The final three strikes!
Gu Yuyao could no longer endure it. She spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
“Clang!”
The Mourning Staff fell from Gu Zhenghong’s hand.
Those nine strikes had drained every ounce of his strength. He slumped to the ground, eyes dull and lifeless.
The sound of the nine strikes echoed through the funeral home, shaking every corner.
Ye Cang, Qin Junfei, and the others naturally heard it too.
Not just them—Pan Min, Qin Xifeng, Qin Donglei, and every funeral attendee stood by the windows, watching the entire scene unfold.
Their hearts trembled with shock.
Who could’ve imagined Gu Yuyao’s grandfather would strike her with such cruelty?
But thinking of what she had done, everyone felt a bit of relief.
Even if Gu Zhenghong had beaten her to death, it still wouldn’t make up for her sins.
“It’s time to go,” Ye Cang said.
Everyone understood and began to file out of the funeral hall in order.
Soon, the grand funeral home was quiet and empty.
Ye Cang walked out calmly, not looking around.
As he passed the unconscious Gu Yuyao, a faint murmur suddenly came from her lips.
“Ye Cang… please, let me see Mom one last time…”
Ye Cang paused for a second, but didn’t respond. He walked straight over to Gu Zhenghong, patted his shoulder, and smiled, “Mother’s remains have already been buried. From now on, I won’t stay with the Gu Family. Grandpa Gu, take care of your health.”
That one sentence nearly brought Gu Zhenghong to tears.
He had originally wanted to say something—maybe suggest his granddaughter repay her debt with the rest of her life… but when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t say them.
A broken mirror cannot be restored. In the end, there was only one truth—the Gu Family had let Ye Cang down.
Gu Zhenghong said hoarsely, “Xiao Cang, in the future, if you ever have any trouble, please come to me…”
“No need,” Ye Cang smiled and shook his head. “I don’t have any troubles. I won’t have any troubles.”
He was now the new favorite of the Qin Family—Prince of the Capital Circle.
What trouble could he possibly have?
If anything, it was the Gu Family that would face difficulties in the future.
But that had nothing to do with him anymore.
BOOM!
That statement was like a bomb in Gu Zhenghong’s mind.
He could feel that Ye Cang was trying to sever all ties with the Gu Family forever.
He quickly said, “Xiao Cang, I know nothing I say now can make up for the past. But I still want to do what little I can—”
Gu Zhenghong tightly gripped Ye Cang’s hand, his tone earnest, “No matter what happens, the Gu Family will go through hell and high water for you. The Gu Family’s doors will always be open to you!”
Unable to refuse Gu Zhenghong’s sincerity, Ye Cang nodded in acknowledgment.
What happened between him and Gu Yuyao should not involve Gu Zhenghong.
But what he wanted… the Gu Family couldn’t give.
Could the Gu Family find the six rare Medicinal Herbs?
After leaving the funeral home, Ye Cang did not return with Qin Junfei but went alone to the Misty Mountain View Villa to check on the Ice Lingzhi seed.
Meanwhile, news of the new Young Master of the Platinum Imperial Palace holding a funeral in Jiang City spread like wildfire.
All major forces gasped in shock.
No wonder the Platinum Imperial Palace had kept silent after settling in Jiang City—it was for a funeral.
At the same time, people grew even more curious about the identity of that lost Young Master from the Qin Family.
As for the Gu Family, they had no time to care.
Gu Zhenghong’s health was rapidly deteriorating.
And after being battered by those nine strikes, Gu Yuyao remained unconscious for three whole days.
It wasn’t until the third day that she finally woke up.
The first thing she asked was, “Did Ye Cang agree to let me attend the funeral?!”