Chapter 354: Sinking · Whetstone · Tang [Two-in-One]

"Mama, is something wrong?"

Despite being quite drunk, Gong Xichou still spared some attention to Zhiyin's expression, noticing that Shen Tang's face was shifting nimbly between white, blue, and black, which puzzled him.

_(:з)∠)_

Could it be that I have inadvertently offended someone again?

Gong Xichou sipped his wine.

I mentally prepared a draft of my apology.

Don't ask him why he's so skilled and resistant; it's just a passive skill that children from matriarchal clans are born with.

Because Gong Xichou was handsome from a young age and displayed outstanding singing and dancing talent, the clan elders judged at a glance that he would become a prodigy in both singing and dancing. Many women of the same age in the clan vied to become the mother of his future son.

Gong Xichou had seen many disputes in this environment.

They argued, and he apologized to calm them down.

It's better to make him apologize than for a few people's fight to escalate into a brawl with wooden mallets, right? Gongxi Chou often looked at his reflection in the water and marveled at how handsome the person in the water was.

If she's already like this at such a young age, how will she grow up?

As he grew a little older, Gong Xichou realized that he was overthinking things. His mother and uncles could deceive their son/nephew without batting an eye. Gong Xichou had practiced the "Boyhood Kung Fu" since childhood, and before reaching a certain level of cultivation, he could not indulge in women.

He still remembers his uncle giving him a serious warning.

Even male beauty should be avoided.

Gongxi Chou: [...]

We are offering this to the gods.

Even at such a young age, Gong Xichou knew how to hurt others' feelings. With an innocent and bewildered expression, he asked his uncle, "So, Uncle, you've dedicated yourself to the gods, that's why Mama doesn't like you, right?"

That day, Gong Xichou's buttocks were bruised and battered.

His cries echoed from one end of the ancestral land to the other.

Recalling childhood trivialities, Gong Xichou, who was already facing separation from his confidant, became even more depressed: "Mama?"

Shen Tang was brought back to her senses by this voice.

"Huh? Haha, I'm fine. I'm just a little surprised to suddenly come into contact with this kind of fact that is different from the science I've always known..." Shen Tang waved his hands repeatedly, laughing awkwardly as he brushed off the fact that he had been distracted, while his mind was in turmoil.

She felt that she was not feeling well.

She had been spouting nonsense in front of Wang Chao during the day, inviting him to smell her fresh flesh, and now, in less than half a day, she'd pulled a lightning-fast reversal and slapped him in the face. The alias she's currently using might, most likely, possibly... be that not-so-fresh sacred object from the Gongxi Chou clan? What should she do?

She was completely at a loss.

With a determined heart, he suppressed the twitching at the corner of his mouth.

One coincidence is a coincidence, but when several coincidences are combined, it is no longer a simple coincidence.

According to the description of the maid who accompanied the bride and later the courtesan, the second master of the Shen family was a connoisseur of antiques and collectibles. It's quite possible that the coffin he brought back to the Shen mansion that night was bought from those tomb raiders. After opening the coffin, they found that the resurrected relic lying inside bore a resemblance to the missing eldest daughter of the Shen family. Since the wedding was approaching, they decided to have the relic take her place in the marriage.

Later, the "holy relic" died on its way to exile.

Shen Tang transmigrated at this critical juncture.

Now everything is in order!

Shen Tang gasped.

If science in this world is truly suppressed by theology, then there are not only sacred objects with literary and martial prowess, corpses that have remained incorrupt for two hundred years and can even rise from the dead, but also the benefactors of the Gongxi tribe who keep saying they will return...

Her face turned even paler.

What about this outsider who unintentionally took over the sacred object's identity? Will she be seen through at a glance? Will she be burned alive as a demon? Will she be slapped against the wall and unable to be removed by that angry benefactor from the Gongxi tribe?

No, no!

Shen Tang suddenly shuddered.

He slammed his hand on the table: "Absolutely not!"

Gong Xichou was so startled by her that he almost dropped the ceramic bowl, his eyes wide with confusion: "Mama, what do you mean 'absolutely not'?"

Shen Tang chuckled awkwardly and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing. I was just annoyed by the story that came to me in a flash of inspiration."

Looking at Gong Xichou, he silently apologized.

Unless Gong Xiqiu traces the clues back to her, she wouldn't voluntarily reveal to him that the disguise she's currently wearing is very likely an old zombie that's been buried for over two hundred years in their clan's sacred land.

Furthermore—

Given the Gongxi clan's tendency to uphold their promise to their benefactor for over two hundred years, and their refusal to give up even when only one member remains, coupled with Gongxi Chou's enigmatic thought process, it's hard to guarantee that he won't do something drastic once he learns that this disguise is a sacred object. Shen Tang guesses that this guy might politely invite Shen Tang back to the coffin to wait with him for their benefactor's reincarnation.

_(:з)∠)_

Since we're waiting either way—

She should wait outside the coffin.

Thinking of this, Shen Tang felt extremely sad.

Seeing all the delicious food on the table, I lost my appetite.

Seeing her sadness, Gongxi Chou also realized that these two kindred spirits would soon part ways. He sighed and wept, tapping his bowl with his chopsticks and singing a tune he had just composed in a flash of inspiration. The tune was so bad that it would make someone's urination go awry.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tang buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Gong Xichou's eyes welled up with tears as he sang.

In the huge lobby, no one dared to approach the two lunatics. Gu Chi, feeling quite embarrassed, raised his hand to summon Yu Zi and Xianyu Jian back. The latter two had expressions as if struck by lightning.

Xianyu Jian was somewhat better.

After all, he didn't understand any music theory.

Yu Zi understood.

She bit her lower lip: "Sir, the master and the others..."

Gu Chi smiled towards the lobby, a smile carrying a deeper and more complex meaning that Yu Zi couldn't understand. He said, "Ignore them. One's drunk, and the other's drunkenness isn't from the alcohol, it's from their own state. Let them have their drunken rampage... After all, opportunities like this won't come often. We should cherish every chance we have..."

Yu Zi felt that Mr. Gu was really gentle.

He's much more reasonable than Mr. Kang.

However, Mr. Kang is also very good.

Xianyu Jian, however, felt that the gentleman's words had a hidden meaning. Based on his experience with the literati of the literary world, he believed that this group all had some flaws, and what they said was quite different from what they thought. The former could not be trusted, and the latter required guesswork.

The young man nodded to Mr. Gu.

Gu Chi stood under the corridor, watching the young man raise his hand, his martial energy coalescing into his spear. He then nimbly wielded the spear with exquisite skill, only breaking into a light sweat after three or five repetitions. Even a layman could see that the young man possessed a solid foundation and superb martial arts skills.

But Gu Chi had lost the will to appreciate it.

He looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

He suddenly remembered that day when he and Shen Tang were walking along the stream in the cold, biting night wind, chatting as they walked.

While it was called a chat, it was more accurate to say they were testing each other.

He tested whether Shen Tang was the person he was looking for.

Shen Tang was testing whether he was a capable person.

Later, in order to gain his trust, Shen Tang opened her mouth to reveal her biggest secret, saying that if he listened to the secret but refused to keep his heart, then she could only keep his body.

Gu Chi naturally refused without even thinking.

He didn't want to fall out with Shen Tang one day and be killed by her using this as an excuse; his worry was not unfounded.

Human hearts are inherently fickle. They may be able to appreciate each other now, be sincere and trustworthy, but that doesn't mean it will remain so in the future. As Shen Tang continues her journey, her influence will expand, and more and more people will follow her.

It's no longer limited to just Gu Chi and a few others.

Where there are people, there will be struggle.

Struggle requires solidarity and unity.

Different factions are formed based on lineage, region, interests, and relationships, and each faction fights for its own interests, stance, or morality.

The more people and factions there are, the easier it is for trouble to arise. Shen Tang will have to learn how to balance them in the future, and in the process of balancing them, she will inevitably drift further and further away from some people.

Just as Shen Tang might find joy in riding a pig amidst her heavy official duties today, such trivial happiness will no longer satisfy her in the future. Even with his ability to discern the thoughts and feelings of the people, a scholar, he dares not claim to have complete control over the changing hearts of men.

Shen Tang will change, and so will the people who follow her.

The human heart is an unfathomable thing.

So this must be the secret the lord wanted to tell us that day? Gu Chi kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, gazing at the moon for an entire hour, while Xianyu Jian assumed he was watching him cultivate. Gritting his teeth, he dared not slack off and exerted himself with all his might.

The next day.

When Gong Xiqiu woke up from his hangover, he found himself back on his bed in the inn, and heard the sound of water behind the screen.

He knew who it was, pulled the blanket up, curled up on his side, and prepared to stay in bed a little longer. Then he heard footsteps approaching.

"Parents, please wash your face."

It turned out to be the female servant disguised as a man.

Gongxi Chou realized he couldn't stay in bed any longer. His mouth, which was covered by the blankets, was puffed up with anger, but the moment he lifted the blankets, he returned to normal. He thought to himself, "This is a maid, not my subordinate. I can't take my anger out on a defenseless woman."

"How did I get back?"

"It was that Lord Shen who brought you back."

To be precise, it involved both dragging and pulling.

He also refused the help from Gongxi Chou's subordinates.

She could only watch as Gong Xichou, feet up and face down, was dragged back to his room by Shen Tang. For a moment, the officials couldn't tell whether Shen Tang was being kind or doing it on purpose.

_(:з)∠)_

If you told Gong Xichou this, he'd probably roll his eyes at you—of course, Mama is beautiful and kind-hearted, she must have good intentions!

As expected.

Gong Xichou washed his face.

The hangover seemed to have subsided considerably.

“Mama is so tall, it must have been really hard for her to bring me back.” Gong Xi Chou’s reply left the maid speechless.

For a moment, it was unclear whether Gongxi Chou was expressing gratitude or mocking him.

Gong Xichou asked again, "Where is she?"

The maid hesitated for a moment, observing Gong Xichou's expression.

"They left at dawn, and the men that Lord Shen brought began packing their bags. They left the inn shortly after noon. They haven't been gone long. Should the parents chase after them?"

To everyone's surprise, Gong Xi Chou showed no displeasure at Shen Tang's abrupt departure. He hummed the score from last night, and after finishing, he slapped his thigh and sighed, "Ah, Mama really understands me."

Knowing he hates parting, I prepared a farewell banquet, packed my things and left at dawn to avoid unnecessary sadness.

Too!

We meet again somewhere in life!

We part today, but who knows if we won't meet again tomorrow?

Little did they know—

Gu Chi smiled and asked Shen Tang, "Why is my lord in such a hurry?"

Shen Tang looked back as he rode his motorcycle.

He was only relieved when he was sure there was no dust kicked up by warhorses behind him.

"Aren't you in a hurry to get caught up and beaten by Gong Xichou?"

Shen Tang admitted she was a little annoyed, so she deliberately dragged Gong Xi Chou along. After all, the drunken Gong Xi Chou looked easy to bully. If she didn't take advantage of him now, who knew what might happen on the battlefield later? She quickly negotiated a deal with the people Zhang He brought, signed three copies of the contract, and then slipped away with her men.

Gu Chi couldn't help but chuckle.

However, when he heard Shen Tang start humming the score that Gong Xi Chou had improvised the night before, his smile froze.

Try to change the subject.

"My lord."

"What?"

"I was filled with emotion for a moment."

Shen Tang was completely baffled: "Sigh?"

She thought Gu Chi was completely unrelated to that word.

Following up, I asked, "What are you feeling sentimental about?"

Gu Chi laughed and said, "Naturally, it's a lament that we've been used as whetstones once again. First there was Wu Zhaode, and now Zhang Yongqing..."

"What makes you say that?"

"The people Zhang Yongqing brought today are all from prominent families in Lingzhou. The plague years ago helped Zhang Yongqing gain a foothold in Lingzhou, and later he easily took Yiru, which angered the local prominent families to some extent. However, due to Zhang Yongqing's high reputation and his cunning and cautious nature, he could not be eliminated by any means, and instead, he took the opportunity to cultivate a considerable power..."

Shen Tang: "Are they enemies?"

Gu Chi smiled and said, "The relationships between people in these positions can never be described as 'friendly' or 'hostile.' They may be wary of each other and ready to kill, but they may also cooperate and depend on each other for development, depending on their current needs. To outsiders, exchanging spirit wine for medicinal herbs is a sure-fire way to make money. We've offered so much, yet Zhang Yongqing isn't taking a bite of this pie himself, but instead is actively trying to connect and make connections. It seems he intends to curry favor with these prestigious families, and I suspect the latter think the same way."

Shen Tang understood this tactic: "Now that you mention it, Zhang Yongqing is outwardly naive but inwardly treacherous, deliberately using this method to trick people?"

Over the years, the medicinal herb market has become a major source of income for Yi Ru. However, coupled with poor harvests in recent years, the income from the land owned by these aristocratic families is almost always in deficit, the only difference being the amount of the deficit. Furthermore, with a large number of family members, the annual expenses are enormous, and they will eventually run out of money if they continue to live off their savings.

Many people have set their sights on the medicinal herb industry.

In these chaotic times, with wars raging everywhere, it's not just rice and grain that's in high demand, but also medicinal herbs.

The former fills the stomach, the latter can save a life.

Each company is shifting its focus towards it.

Could Zhang Yongqing's move be a classic case of undermining the enemy's strength?

Using this opportunity to suppress and consolidate power?

It's not impossible.

Local gentry also invested in Chang Yung-ching, hoping that other competitors and enemies would stumble and give up the pie for themselves.

Gu Chi said, "More or less."

"And what about Wu Zhaode?"

Gu Chi laughed and said, "Wu Zhaode also took a lot of benefits from the spirit wine. The Wu family is a powerful clan in Tianhai, so it's much easier for them to take advantage of you than for Zhang Yongqing. They've probably been grinning from ear to ear lately. My lord, don't you want to give them a try?"

This is a game of fighting against external forces and internal conflicts.

Shen Tang thought for a moment.

He was troubled: "Those who could barely be considered family members within the territory of He Yin seem to have been completely wiped out by me, and all their property has been confiscated... If Yama had been more diligent in his work, I reckon they would all be six or seven months old by now."

She probably won't experience that kind of fun.

hi(。。)

Only one day left until the 29th when the double monthly ticket event starts! Remember to cast your precious monthly tickets at midnight on the 29th, my darlings! Sending you love!

(End of this chapter)