Chapter 674: The Five Elements' Lack of Morality [Two-in-One]

Gu Chi's lips twitched slightly: "What is my lord doing?"

Shen Tang said, "Chuang Si has a grudge against you."

Gu Chi's gaze slowly fell on Luan Xin, who looked back at him indifferently. Then the two of them looked at Shen Tang together.

Shen Tang: "..."

Even Haihou couldn't keep this bowl of water level.

Gu Chi didn't make things too difficult for Shen Tang, after all, if he angered his lord, he would be the one to suffer. A chilling smile, laced with murderous intent, curled at the corner of his lips: "It's the hatred of wiping out your entire family!"

This answer drew a sidelong glance from Luan Xin.

He still remembered when he confronted Gu Chi, the latter had said, "No matter what, my whole family only has one person. Even if we are utterly defeated and our family is wiped out, we only have one life." At the time, he didn't think much of it, never imagining that this guy also had a difficult past.

Shen Tang's eyes flashed coldly: "The hatred of wiping out your entire family? Tao Yan?"

Gu Chi: "Yes, although he didn't do it himself."

When the ancient kingdom of Guchi was destroyed, the former king of Xin listened to the advice of a sorcerer and did not exterminate the former royal family and nobles, nor even imprison them. Instead, he showed leniency and demoted them all to commoners. However, they were not grateful. Instead, driven by their impoverished and destitute reality, they were single-mindedly thinking about how to restore their kingdom and return to a life of privilege.

They formed cliques and clans, and secretly traveled around.

Every now and then, they would cause some minor disturbances to annoy Xin Guo.

Arson in farmland, raids on government offices, assassinations of minor officials...

How could these actions possibly shake the rule of the Xin Kingdom?

This is like having a toad on the back of your foot and stepping in dog poop.

It won't kill you, but it can definitely disgust you.

Tao Yan was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, received early education from renowned teachers, and had a reputation for chivalry in his youth. He was a member of the royal family, the crown prince, and the future ruler, supported by this group. For the sake of the so-called restoration of the country, he secretly contacted former officials of the old country who were loyal to the new dynasty.

Gu Chi's grandfather and father died as a result.

Except for him, no one else in the family survived.

Shen Tang sneered, "Since Tao Yan is the leader of this group, why would he need to kill someone personally? It's like searching high and low without finding it, only to have it fall into your lap effortlessly. It would be best if Tao Yan died at the Dragon Slaying Bureau; if he's lucky enough to survive, he'll be the next target!"

She said she would kill Gu Chi's enemies equally.

Shen Tang was eager to get started, but Gu Chi, the aggrieved party, remained calm: "No rush, as long as Tao Shenyu is still alive, that's enough."

Live well.

Shen Tang's almond-shaped eyes widened: "How can Wang Chao be so calm? Don't you want to rip his head off and kick it around like a football?"

Gu Chi said calmly, "This feud didn't start overnight. I'm afraid the enemy is already dead. Since he's still alive, I'll have a chance to take revenge. The lord's cause is more important; there's no need to let someone who's destined to die disrupt our plans."

Shen Tang, on the contrary, was somewhat unhappy.

Why was he looking at you so much? Did he recognize you?

If you recognize him, Tao Yan will most likely cause trouble.

Gu Chi was not surprised by Tao Yan's reaction. He said, "Probably. I look like my father, who was a famous scholar who helped him with his early education. It's normal for him to think I have a kind face."

The Gu family has produced scholars for three generations, and scholars are generally more handsome than ordinary people; in layman's terms, they inherited the best features from both their parents. After Gu Chi came of age, he naturally resembled his father, who was also Tao Yan's familiar mentor.

If you ask Gu Chi back, you'll immediately know that he was one of the few who escaped the net back then. Fortunately, Gu Chi is not like his grandfather and father. He has no bias towards the royal family or Tao Yan, so he is not soft-hearted, nor is he completely unguarded, and he is not without backing.

He looked at Shen Tang, his eyes slightly curved, a smile playing on his lips.

Shen Tang: "..."

Are you so happy to be recognized by your enemy?

Just as Gu Chi had guessed, Tao Yan returned home restless, increasingly convinced that the young scholar following Shen Tang looked familiar. He immediately dispatched a trusted aide to inquire. Because Shen Tang was discreet, her inner circle was naturally unknown to outsiders, making it difficult to ascertain the details. Half an hour later, the aide returned: "Two scholars, one named Luan Xin, also known as Luan Gongyi, was once Qiu Wenyan's trusted advisor, but later surrendered to Shen Youli."

Tao Yan said irritably, "I know Luan Gongyi, but I want to know about another young man. Tell me, is his surname Gu?"

The confidant replied, "Yes."

Tao Yan quickly grabbed his shoulders: "What's your name?"

The confidant said, "Gu Chi, courtesy name Wangchao."

Tao Yan was taken aback. His confidant's answer was slightly different from what he had expected. He asked, "Wangchao? Are you sure it's called Wangchao and not Guanchao? Shouldn't he be called Gu Guanchao?"

He had never met Gu Chi, but he had heard Gu Shaofu complain that his eldest son was a good-for-nothing at a young age, always indulging in the ways of wandering knights and running away from home every few days. Wen Xin was at a critical moment of gathering his talents, but he was still out of touch with reality.

Tao Yan asked curiously: "Has Gu Dalang been given a courtesy name?"

Gu Shaofu replied, "No, I haven't decided yet."

Tao Yan said, "I do have a good character here. Since his name is 'Chi' (池), how about 'Guanchao' (观潮)?"

Young Master Gu tasted it and said: 【Excellent, excellent.】

The confidant said with certainty, "It's Gu Wangchao."

Tao Yan relaxed his clenched shoulders.

Confidant: "Perhaps the wording has been changed..."

This is unlikely. Under normal circumstances, words imprinted with the Wenxin Mandarin signature cannot be changed unless a price is paid! And that price is so high that ordinary Wenxin scholars cannot afford it.

His trusted confidant had followed Tao Yan for many years, from escorting him on the day the country fell to his painstaking planning over the years. He knew very well what Tao Yan was thinking right now. He most likely suspected that Gu Chi was one of the few who had escaped from the net back then. There weren't many people with the surname Gu who had escaped.

It is almost certain that he was the son of Gu Shaofu back then.

Tao said, "Let's go and inquire again."

The confidant suggested, "My lord could try to probe the matter himself."

Tao Yan remained silent, pacing back and forth inside the tent.

“If it really is Gu Shaofu’s son, Gu Guanchao…” The confidant’s expression turned sinister as he raised his hand and made a throat-slitting gesture. “My lord, you must not be soft-hearted this time. Cut the weeds and eliminate the roots to prevent future troubles. Gu Guanchao will not let go of the hatred for the massacre of his family.”

Tao Yan glared angrily, his tone becoming even harsher.

"Isn't it all because you acted on your own initiative? Who gave you permission to harm his family? Gu Guanchao is the teacher's only bloodline. If we kill him, wouldn't that extinguish their lineage?" Tao Yan transformed into a raging beast, pacing back and forth in the tent, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, yet he spoke softly, "Besides, Gu Guanchao is now Shen Youli's subordinate. How do you intend to do anything to him?"

Are Shen Tang's 30,000 troops just for show?

The confidant said, "There will always be a way."

Tao Yan asked sternly, "What method?"

The confidant chuckled and said, "The same way that Young Master Gu and his son died can be the same way that Gu Guanchao can die. So what if Shen Youli has 30,000 troops? Without evidence, there's no way to prove it. My lord, this Gu Guanchao is now Shen Youli's confidant and can greatly influence the latter's stance. If that Gu fellow has ulterior motives and incites Shen Youli to target us... will you still consider our past relationship?"

Tao Yan remained silent.

But his confidant knew his choice. Just as the Gu family had repeatedly refused their requests and refused to cooperate in their schemes, he said: "...The situation is hopeless. Although the King of Xin has become somewhat senile in recent years, and has few heirs, the kingdom remains powerful. Tao Jun's attempt to overthrow the court is like an ant trying to shake a tree. It would be better to head south, seize the opportunity amidst the chaos, and perhaps there will be a chance to turn things around."

You can only fish in troubled waters, but starting from scratch in an unfamiliar place is fraught with risks and hardships, making every step extremely difficult.

Tao Yan and the others felt that the Gu father and son were shirking their responsibilities.

Their hearts had long since betrayed their homeland, and they were even plotting to inform the Xin Kingdom's court of their whereabouts, betraying their master for personal gain. To avoid complications and expose their whereabouts, it was natural to kill them to silence them, which also served as a warning to the other former officials of their homeland.

But Tao Yan didn't want to bear the stigma of murdering his master.

From setting up the scheme to finally carrying it out, it was all orchestrated by a few trusted confidants. The Gu father and son were caught off guard and did not expect them to be so ruthless. Coupled with the fear of harming the innocent, they both lost their lives.

When they counted the bodies, they found one person was missing.

This person is Gu Chi today.

It was getting late, so his trusted aide bowed and took his leave.

Not long after, a woman's voice came from outside the tent.

Tao Yan's mind returned to normal: "Why has Madam come?"

A woman stepped inside, clad in light armor. Her steps were not as light as a martial artist's, and her aura was mixed; she was just an ordinary person. Though ordinary, she was quick-witted, bold, and decisive, and for many years had helped Tao Yan manage the rear affairs in an orderly manner.

Why does the young master look so worried?

Tao said, "I ran into an old friend today."

As he spoke, he covered the woman's hand that was on his shoulder with his palm.

"Guess who this person is?"

The woman naturally couldn't guess, but anyone who could elicit such emotions from Tao Yan must be either troublesome or very troublesome.

"If the master doesn't tell me, how could I possibly guess?"

Tao Yan uttered the name: "It's Gu Chi."

The woman's hand froze, and she asked in surprise, "Which Gu Chi?"

Tao Yan spoke in a low voice: "Which Gu Chi could it be? Gu Shaofu's son, the one who's engaged to your sister."

Woman: "Oh, it's him."

Then he asked, "Where is he now?"

Tao Yan did not hide anything: "I am under Shen Youli's command."

As for Shen Youli, who is she?

A woman can find out by asking around.

After Shen Tang and his group returned, worried that Gu Chi was just putting on a brave face, they sent someone to keep an eye on him and report immediately if he showed any signs of tears. When Gu Chi heard this from his guard, his lips twitched uncontrollably for a long time.

He pointed to himself: "Is Mr. Gu shedding tears?"

"These are my lord's exact words."

It's impossible for me to cry.

Not only did he not cry, he also planned to write Tao Yan into a storybook: "Go to the back and get the box, grind the ink, and light the lamp."

As one of the strategists, Gu Chi also had his own personal tent, which was neither too big nor too small, and he carried more personal belongings than the average person. However, apart from a few changes of clothes, the rest of the space in his trunk was reserved for blank books.

The guards carried the box over.

Watching Gu Chi take out a blank scroll, pick up his brush, and write more than forty bamboo slips in one go, his writing flowing like dragons and snakes. After that, it wasn't so smooth; he would sometimes pause to think, and sometimes pick up his brush to make corrections, while his personal guard helped grind ink beside him. He didn't know many characters, but he recognized the first few characters on the scroll.

Gu Chi lost his inspiration and turned to grab the absent-minded bodyguard.

He asked, "Can you read?"

The guard nodded: "I know a few, but I don't know much about them."

Gu Chi said in a good mood, "Just ask."

The guard lowered his voice: "This 'lacking in virtue' above seems to be... seems to be... seems to be..."

He seemed to struggle for a long time but couldn't come up with a complete sentence.

Gu Chi helped him finish the sentence.

"Seems to be someone who writes ghost stories in the streets?"

The guard's face flushed red as he nodded, then lowered his head in fear, terrified that he might be silenced by Gu Junshi if he discovered anything.

This person, using the pseudonym "Five Elements Lacking Morality," possesses some talent. It's unclear when it started, but his storybooks could be bought in the markets of Longwu County. The content was novel, the values ​​shattered, and the plot twists were completely unpredictable. They initially circulated in the women's camp, and later became popular in the men's camp as well. However, the quantity was extremely limited; each story was often copied only twenty or thirty times.

For this group of people tormented by monotonous and arduous training every day, these wildly imaginative and quirky stories are a powerful stimulant, injecting color into their lives. Some of these stories even contain unspoken, sensual elements; though not explicitly stated, they evoke images that automatically surface in the mind, like scratching an itch through a boot, or viewing flowers through a fog, sparking the imagination and greatly enriching their spiritual lives. After reading them, one's mind is completely at ease…

The themes are diverse and not limited to one type.

Men and women, men and men, women and women, immortals, demons, ghosts, monsters... there are even all sorts of things mixed together. First-time viewers are always stunned, with only one thought left in their minds—"Wow, you can play it like this? Is it real?"

Seeing that Gu Chi didn't react, the guards couldn't help but plead.

"Military Advisor Gu... make sure you keep your mouth shut..."

There are other ways to shut him up besides silencing him.

Gu Chi said, "Just keep your mouth shut, then grind the ink."

The guards nodded hastily, but they also had their own doubts.

Does my lord know that Military Advisor Gu has this hobby?

Shen Tang naturally knew this, because Gu Chi's wildly imaginative content was largely a product of being poisoned by her own inner thoughts. After finishing his official business, Gu Chi liked to write these poisonous thoughts into stories in his spare time, so that if he ever became a storyteller, he would have plenty to tell. As Gu Chi dried the ink and was about to roll up and put the book away, someone announced his arrival.

Who is it?

His personal guard said, "They say it's an old friend of the military advisor."

Gu Chi paused, lowered his eyes, and sneered.

"My old friend? A man?"

The guard said, "Judging from her figure, she seems to be a woman."

It's generally believed that there shouldn't be women in military camps, but since their comrades included women from other camps, they weren't entirely certain about the gender.

Gu Chi couldn't recall which of his old acquaintances was a woman.

But I'd still like to see him.

"Let him in."

The messenger refused and asked to meet outside the military advisor's camp.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chi got up and went to the appointment.

Upon seeing this, the personal guards sent by Shen Tang immediately called for reinforcements.

As a result, Gu Chi was intercepted by Bai Su, who was on duty that day.

“Even a strategist cannot leave the camp without permission, especially since it is unclear whether the visitor is friend or foe. It would be unwise to rush to the meeting. Perhaps I should accompany you so that we can look out for each other.”

Gu Chi said, "It was just an appointment with a woman."

Bai Su chuckled and said, "Women are not dangerous? Or perhaps the strategist is worried that I am in the way and make things inconvenient?"

Gu Chi: "..."

Reluctantly, he had no choice but to take Bai Su with him.

However, Bai Su did not reveal herself to others, but only protected them in secret.

Gu Chi went to the agreed location alone and saw a thin, short figure in the distance. Although the person was wearing armor, it was clear from their build that they were a woman. He was suspicious and couldn't recall ever seeing such an acquaintance before. Even when the person turned around, he could see their face clearly in the moonlight.

"Who...is this general?"

(ω)

My new keyboard has arrived!

Waaah, the keyboard-related content was deleted. I asked why, and they said it was suspected of being advertising, so it's unacceptable...

Hmm, okay, I won't nag about the keyboard anymore.

I've deleted the posts criticizing MJH merchandise, but I still have my Weibo account!!! That person selling Qin Hui merchandise is trash!!!

(End of this chapter)