Chapter 57: Those Who Imitate Live, Those Who Mimic Die
"This cultivation technique is called Fierce Sun Skill. However, the Hundred Households Office here only has the first four floors. The remaining five floors can only be found at the Yunzhou Garrison. Still, for now, this should be sufficient for you. With your abilities, you won’t need long before you have a chance to be promoted to Yunzhou."
As Gu Chuan spoke, he stuffed the secret manual into Gu Zhan’s hand.
Gu Zhan looked at the manual in his hand and let out a faint sigh.
Fierce Sun Skill—he knew of this secret manual. It was the highest-level cultivation technique among the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Linjiang City. Anyone who wished to study or cultivate it had to first report to the Yunzhou Garrison, then exchange a large amount of merit points to obtain it.
Gu Chuan had served for several years, accumulating no small amount of merits. Although he was soon to leave, he could have used those merits to redeem a number of rare items. Even if someone of Gu Chuan’s status looked down on such things, he could have saved those merits—they would be helpful for his future official career.
But now, having redeemed this secret manual, his remaining merits must be few indeed.
He had come today for three things,
Three matters, all great favors owed,
This favor is a heavy debt!
"Thank you, Brother Gu!"
Gu Zhan did not decline, for there was no point. Gu Chuan had made it clear he was redeeming it for him. The merits had already been spent; there was no getting them back. Besides, right now, he did truly need such a cultivation technique.
Gu Chuan patted Gu Zhan on the shoulder and said, "Brother, this world is vast—so vast normal people can hardly imagine it. Even I, as a direct lineage member of the Gu Family, cannot grasp its entirety. So if you wish to be worthy of your pride, you must work hard.
The identity one is born with only determines the floor beneath one’s feet; but one’s talent, effort, and undying spirit decide the heights one can reach. You have great talent, but do not let this small place narrow your vision.
What is Linjiang City? Here, reaching the Innate Realm places you at the pinnacle, breaking free of identity’s shackles. But Innate, in places like the Capital or Yunzhou, is but a beginning. Take me, for example: in the Gu Family, I am considered someone of no cultivation talent. But if I said these words in Linjiang, who would believe me?"
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly,
If not for his perspective as a transmigrator, he too might have struggled to believe Gu Chuan’s words.
After all, Gu Chuan was not yet thirty,
And at such an age, to have become Innate Realm in Linjiang was already the very peak.
Gu Chuan said, "What I rely on is not talent, but resources. Because I am of direct lineage in the Gu Family, the resources I enjoy—well, anyone, even a pig put to it, could be built up into martial arts cultivation.
If I truly had martial arts talent, I would not be sent down the path of officialdom. The clan would spare no effort in nurturing my martial arts journey. But since I lack talent in that area, my road is officialdom. I’ll be heading to the Capital, and barring surprises, I’ll enter the Six Ministries as a civil official. Yes, here I’m an Embroidered Uniform Guard, but back in the Capital, I can only serve as a civil servant."
Gu Zhan gave a light laugh, finding it all a bit strange,
That in Linjiang, the so-called Nine Hundred Households who once slaughtered through the Martial World and commanded fear—Gu Chuan—was really a civil servant.
But, this also indirectly proved
Gu Chuan really did lack martial arts talent, just as he said.
Otherwise, a top-ranked noble family passed down for thousands of years like the Gu Family would not have made such an arrangement.
A great noble clan like the Gu Family—to thrive through thousands of years and several dynasties, bright as ever—must have a complete inheritence system, and the assignment of children must ensure the best use of their talents. Random placements are almost unheard of, especially for those of direct lineage.
"I say all this not to boast of my status," Gu Chuan said. "Indeed, I have nothing to boast. Everything I have was given to me by my bloodline; none of it belongs to me. It’s nothing remarkable. I tell you all this only so you understand—Linjiang is but a tiny corner of the world.
Your talent is impressive. To master the Jinghong Saber Technique in such a short time, reaching Great Success, even forcibly reversing its flaws—that aptitude, even in the Gu Family, is far from poor. It’s truly rare. I believe your road will be long, and I hope you don’t let this little place shrink your vision."
Gu Zhan nodded and said, "I understand. Brother Gu, rest assured—since I promised I’d find you in the Capital, I certainly will."
He also felt a sense of wonder—this is indeed the breadth of vision among the scions of great houses.
If, in Linjiang, others learned he’d mastered the Jinghong Saber Technique without dissipating his cultivation and retraining, their jaws would drop. But Gu Chuan found nothing so extraordinary in it; clearly, in his eyes, such things were not so rare.
Gu Chuan slowly got up and said, "I’ve said all I wanted. Still have to meet a few others, so I won’t linger. Brother, you’d best prepare yourself, too. Starting tomorrow, come meet people with me. Once I’m gone, those people can offer you much support."
"Alright, thank you, Brother Gu."
Gu Zhan rose and saw Gu Chuan out the door,
After their farewells, Gu Zhan returned to the parlor.
...
Along Qingping Lane, Gu Chuan sat in the carriage, moving slowly forward.
A guard spoke up, somewhat puzzled: "Young Master, I don’t quite understand—why do you value Gu Zhan so highly? His talent is good, yes, but to us of the Gu Family he’s just ordinary. There are plenty with such talent."
Gu Chuan smiled slightly and said, "That’s not how you measure it."
The guard was confused.
Gu Chuan said, "When I first met him, it was out of mutual need that we cooperated; but we became friends through the clashing of ideas, and built trust by both taking a gamble—entrusting our backs to one another. I wagered he wouldn’t stab me in the back, and he trusted I’d not frame him later. That trust is camaraderie, and brotherhood.
For that alone, I ought to do what I can for him. As for his talent, it’s not as simple as you think. You said it yourself—he is in this little place. It is precisely because, with no background at all, he can show such potential, that he ought to be seen differently. If he could enjoy my resources, don’t you think his talent would rise up several floors?"
The guard was momentarily stunned and said, "That’s...true. He does have to rely on you even to get a single Innate Technique."
"Exactly," said Gu Chuan. "His station and background have limited him, but that’s not wholly a bad thing. It may well become his blessing."
"Why?" the guard asked.
"Because he will be more pure," Gu Chuan said. "I didn’t invite him to join the Gu Family for two reasons. First, his pride would never agree. Second, I don’t want the Gu Family to dilute that purity.
He and I are similar, both disliking the fetters of worldly rules. But I cannot break them, for my very existence is built upon those ties. But he is different—he has no such chains. If the day comes when he breaks through the class barriers, a legend will be forged, and a most extraordinary one at that."
"What kind of legend?" the guard asked, still puzzled.
Gu Chuan pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"Those who learn from him will live; those who only imitate him will perish!"