Chapter Seventy-Two: One’s Own Misdeeds Bring Ruin

"Brother Gu, it seems like we have two tails following us."

"No matter, let’s just continue our stroll."

After leaving the auction house, Gu Xiaopang and his three companions quickly noticed they were being tailed. It didn’t take a single brain cell to figure out that it must have been that lascivious Murong Ying who sent them.

The four of them leisurely wandered the entire length of South Avenue, stopping here and there to buy a few scattered items, before finally returning to the Nanyan residence in unhurried contentment.

...

"Young master, we’re back."

"Oh dear, young master, what happened to you?"

Murong Ying, still excited from having just had the beast-woman beauty carried into his room, was abruptly summoned by his grandfather, Murong Quan. Not only had he squandered over fifty thousand spirit stones at the auction for a mere plaything, he had also thoroughly disgraced the Murong family once again. Even though Murong Quan usually doted on him, he couldn’t help but deliver a fierce slap, sending him flying.

It was only thanks to his somewhat shrewish mother, Duanmu Hui, who rushed over and shielded him, that Murong Ying was spared further punishment.

"Oh, mother, it hurts, it really hurts! Please be more gentle!"

"There, there, it won’t hurt. I’ll be gentler," she soothed.

"This old man is ruthless... such a heavy hand..." Duanmu Hui muttered bitterly, gently applying medicine to Murong Ying’s injuries.

When Murong Ying finally felt better and the pain subsided, he hurried off toward his own room. Just then, the two lackeys he had sent out to investigate Gu Xiaopang’s whereabouts returned.

"Young master, that kid’s name is Gu Changqing. He’s staying at the Nanyan Residence on South Avenue. I’ve inquired—he’s supposedly a disciple representing Nanyan County at this year’s imperial celebration."

"Yes, young master. The boy has been strolling around everywhere, looking utterly at ease, as if he couldn’t care less about having offended you."

...

"The nerve of him! If he were from another county, I might have let this slide, but since he’s from Nanyan and has crossed me... Heh."

"Let’s go! Bring Deputy Chief Wu along. It’s about time we taught that arrogant brat a lesson."

...

"Brother, could you please deliver a message to Young Master Gu Changqing? Tell him his dearest friend wishes to invite him to a gathering. Here’s a little token of appreciation..."

"Sure thing, just wait a moment," the lackey replied, slipping a low-grade spirit stone into the hand of a guard at the Nanyan Residence gate, an act clearly done with practiced ease.

Though Murong Ying looked down on Nanyan County, he only did so in private. He didn’t dare openly make enemies of them on the surface.

"Interesting," thought Gu Xiaopang, already on guard. "I do have a close friend in the capital—Li Haisong of the Li family—but he probably doesn’t even know I’ve arrived yet."

It must be Murong Ying’s ploy. No matter, I’ll just go and see what’s up.

...

"Ah, Young Master Gu, at last you’re here. My master has reserved a private room at the Gilded Tower and wishes to host you. Please, follow me."

"The Gilded Tower? A private room? Your master must be quite wealthy indeed—most people couldn’t afford to set foot in that place."

"Young Master Gu, you flatter us."

...

"Is this the way to the Gilded Tower?"

"This is a shortcut, sir. Just one more turn and we’ll be there."

...

"Haha! So you really came, boy! Hahaha!"

"Surround him, all of you! Tonight I’m going to teach him a lesson."

"Deputy Chief Wu, he’s all yours. Break his arms and legs for me! Just don’t kill him!"

"Leave it to me, young master, hehehe..."

With that, Deputy Chief Wu, who possessed the cultivation of early Golden Core, released his aura, clearly trying to impress Murong Ying. With a leap, he launched a full-powered strike straight at Gu Xiaopang’s dantian.

Gu Xiaopang thought to himself, "If you’re coming at me with murderous intent, then I won’t hold back either. So what if you’re a scion of a noble family in the capital!"

Just as Deputy Chief Wu’s fist, shrouded in sword-shaped true energy, was only a yard away from Gu Xiaopang’s dantian, Gu Xiaopang made his move. In an instant, five spirit dragons of different colors shot out from his dantian, coiling tightly around Deputy Chief Wu.

The golden dragon instantly severed his tendons; the green dragon drained his vitality; the white dragon drew out his blood; the red dragon scorched his body; the black dragon bound his movement...

In the blink of an eye, Deputy Chief Wu’s terrified eyes bulged wide, but he couldn’t even let out a scream before he was utterly erased from existence.

...

It was Gu Xiaopang’s first time unleashing all five elemental dragons in real combat, and even he was surprised by the sheer might of the combined technique.

But wasn’t that Golden Core cultivator a bit too weak? Probably someone who advanced by gulping down pills... Gu Xiaopang mused inwardly.

"Ah!" Several shrill cries rang out. Gu Xiaopang withdrew his spiritual power. As the lackeys tried to flee in terror, he casually sent out a few more spirit dragons, wiping them out entirely—leaving not even a trace of ash behind. Only Murong Ying, imprisoned by the green dragon, collapsed to the ground in terror.

"Gu... Gu... Boss Gu, please, have mercy, spare me this once... I can give you lots and lots of money... And the beast-woman I bought today, I haven’t even touched her yet. She’s yours to enjoy..."

"Too late."

Gu Xiaopang couldn’t be bothered to let Murong Ying sully his pure heart with another word. As he spoke, he struck without mercy.

"No! Please—"

"Friend, spare him! I don’t know what my boy did to offend you, but for the sake of the Murong family of the capital, could you let him go?"

Just as the killing blow was about to fall, a protective jade charm on Murong Ying’s body flashed, and a phantom figure appeared, speaking these words.

"The Murong family of the capital? Such a big name!"

With a cold snort, Gu Xiaopang shattered the phantom with a single strike, incinerating Murong Ying as well.

...

"Who is it?! Who dares to kill my Ying’er?!"

"I will grind you to dust!"

In the blink of an eye, Old Master Murong Quan, who had been sipping tea at the Murong estate, teleported to the alleyway—but found no trace of a battle.

Meanwhile, after delivering a fatal blow, Gu Xiaopang activated his spatial power, tearing open a rift and stepping through.

When he reappeared, he was in the rear courtyard of the Murong estate. With his spirit sense enhanced by mental power, he quickly located the room where the beast-woman was held.

...

"You don’t need to look at me with such hatred."

"I don’t care what kind of beast you are, or how you ended up in this plight."

"There is no relationship of master and slave between us—I'm simply a passerby who couldn’t bear to ignore injustice."

...

"I’ll free you now and see you out of the Murong estate. What happens next is up to you."

Chains clattered to the floor.

"Here, put on these clothes. Don’t worry, they’re new—I bought them for my girlfriend, but she hasn’t worn them yet."

"Master, help undo the restrictions on her."

"Hold on tight! Let’s go!"

With another tear in the void, two figures vanished in an instant...

Returning calmly to the Nanyan residence, Gu Xiaopang looked into the distance at the figure of the beauty, fleeing the city, growing smaller and smaller...

"The capital is about to get lively," he murmured.

With a sigh, Gu Xiaopang composed himself and resumed his cultivation.

...