Chapter 22: Undercurrents Stirring
Tonight, the Hundred Households Office is brightly lit.
The battle outside Changning Fang has thoroughly shaken the entire Linjiang City; whether it’s the Government Office or the Martial World, big waves have been stirred.
Originally, during this period, Gu Zhan led the East Courtyard of the Hundred Households Office in aggressively striking at the halls of the Celestial Water Gang, which already attracted attention from all sides. Tonight’s bloody fight pushed things to a climax.
The Broken Sword Scholar, famed for years, and Xing Kuan, Squad Leader of the Celestial Water Gang’s Sub-Branch, were killed—a blow that flattened half the Changning Sub-Branch. Everyone knew, this could not be the end, but the beginning.
Yet this beginning was indeed a big one.
Xing Kuan was no nobody; his reputation in the Martial World ran far and wide,
By contrast,
Gu Zhan was a nobody,
This is how the Martial World goes: everyone loves stories of unknown people stepping atop the corpses of their predecessors and becoming famous overnight. What spreads fastest are tales of some greenhorn cutting down an elder renowned for years and then rising to glory.
The battle at Changning Fang fits that yearning perfectly,
Just like how Xing Kuan rose to fame in his youth,
Gu Zhan reversed the tides, turning defeat into victory, weak overcoming strong,
And that was the Squad Leader of Changning Sub-Branch.
Now, winds rage in the Martial World; it’s turbulent in the government too.
Inside the Hundred Households Office’s medical clinic,
Cries of pain echo—many medics are busy.
Tonight, the Embroidered Uniform Guard suffered heavy casualties.
Within a room,
Gu Zhan’s body is wrapped in bandages, blood still smeared on his face, his upper body bare as he sits on a stool. An old physician leads two young ones in bandaging him.
The two younger medics seem nervous,
The old physician, however, remains calm, explaining to his apprentices what killing aura is.
Gu Zhan also listens attentively for a while.
According to the old physician,
Killing aura is something that condenses from inside out. Kill enough people, and the aura grows heavier, eventually to the point where it can be released or contained at will—a kind of presence.
For example, some superiors, residing long in high positions, exude natural pressure with every gesture, causing others to involuntarily become cautious and respectful.
Killing aura, though, forces fear—
That’s why there are legends of those whose mere glance chills foes into cowardice.
Still, as the old physician said,
Gu Zhan only displayed killing aura because he killed many today, but is still far from the realm of mastering it.
While they were chatting,
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approach from outside,
Hundred Households Gu Chuan pushes the door open, glances at the blood-soaked Gu Zhan, and asks the old physician, "How are his injuries?"
The old physician quickly replies, "Reporting to Lord Hundred Households, Small Banner Gu’s injuries seem severe, but he avoided all vital points. Besides, Small Banner Gu’s cultivation is deep; he’ll recover swiftly. Rest a few days and he’ll be fine."
Gu Chuan lets out a long, relieved breath, looks at Gu Zhan, and slowly gives him a thumbs-up,
"Brother Gu, congratulations—a famed battle!"
Gu Zhan asks, "Have you understood the details, sir? There won’t be any trouble, right?"
"I’ve told you—even if you poke a hole in Linjiang Prefecture’s sky, I’ll cover for you," Gu Chuan smiles, then says, "Though honestly, you weren’t far from poking a hole in the sky tonight. I never imagined your actions would be so excessive.
The Prefecture Government and the Hundred Households Office just sent word summoning me. I was worried about your injuries, so I came here first. Since you’re alright, I’ll head to the Hundred Households Office; if I don’t go now, those people will go insane."
Gu Chuan chuckles and adds, "You focus on healing. Everything else isn’t your concern. I’ll make sure the Hundred Households gives you a Chief Banner role."
"Thank you, sir," Gu Zhan says.
"I should be thanking you," Gu Chuan laughs. "If you’d shown up a few years earlier, I wouldn’t have been languishing here this long. Luck’s finally on my side. Alright, focus on healing—don’t worry about anything else."
With that, Gu Chuan leaves the room.
...
The Thousand Households Office, lights blazing.
Luo Bingsheng, the top boss of Linjiang Prefecture’s Embroidered Uniform Guard, sits in his study now, his expression grim. His pale hair is disheveled; under the firelight, his fat face seems even more aged.
"Sir," a subordinate steps in, saying, "The Prefecture Government has already sent five delegations—all questioning what the Embroidered Uniform Guard is up to, asking if you intend to stir up Martial World chaos."
"They’re asking me?" Luo Bingsheng fumes. "Go ask that Eldest Young Master Gu! Don’t they know? He’s nominally under the Thousand Households Office, but since when has he listened to us?
One after another, all coming to me—I’m nearly retired! What can I do? Don’t I just want to finish these two years peacefully and then go to the State Mansion to enjoy my twilight years?"
The subordinate thinks a moment, then says, "Sir, actually, this can be handled very easily."
Luo Bingsheng raises an eyebrow: "How so?"
The subordinate says, "All Gu Chuan wants is to take your position. Just agree, and ask him to hand over Gu Zhan to calm this storm. Then, have him promise to keep things peaceful for these final years. That’s not much to ask, and he has no reason to refuse."
Luo Bingsheng’s eyes brighten, but then show hesitation: "But, Gu Chuan’s always been a rule-breaker..."
The subordinate chuckles, "Even rule-breakers have their reasons. What’s his background? Direct lineage of the Gu Family—came here just for the gilding. Ultimately, he wants the Thousand Households seat so he can return to the Capital City.
He has no attachment to Linjiang. Years ago, he stirred things up, only to halt under pressure. Now, this storm is because he lacks confidence in securing your seat after you leave. After all, now there’s more than one contender for Thousand Households here.
But if you agree, he’ll be guaranteed to succeed. Why wouldn’t he take it? With this, he’ll settle down, stop stirring trouble, and you won’t need to bear everyone’s pressure anymore."
Luo Bingsheng nods. "But Gu Chuan has a big ego; asking him to hand over his own subordinate..."
The subordinate laughs, "That won’t hurt his pride. That Small Banner named Gu Zhan killed his superior in public—a major taboo. With just that, unless Gu Chuan insists on defending him, this alone is reason to suspend him. And he killed Xing Kuan, with the Celestial Water Gang’s influence and government ties behind it—dealing with a suspended Small Banner is effortless.
Handling Gu Zhan doesn’t require Gu Chuan to do anything—just don’t protect him, that’s all. It won’t affect his reputation; it’s a win-win!"