Chapter 85: 2) Valley.
Krick! Krick!
Bai Long’s footsteps echoed softly on the wooden floor of the dimly lit inn as he settled into a shadowed corner booth, the phantom shadow leopard resting silently inside his shadow.
The cheap inn reeked of stale ale and beggar wine, and the bawdy laughter from the adjoining brothel spilled in like a tide, mingling with the haze of smoke curling from crooked candles.
The place was a filth, a lowly stay for useless sinners, yet, this place was also a nest of secrets, an ideal den for gathering information unnoticed... Well, that’s what Bai Long thought.
He quickly scanned the people and quickly spotted a gaunt, shivering beggar cloaked in tattered rags.
Seeing him, Bai Long had a smirk. Just a perfect guy to ask for information.
Bai Long approached him with a calm sophisticated face like a true young master from the orthodox clan, sliding a few spirit Stones across the wooden counter, paired with a cup filled to the brim with dark, sticky alcohol.
It was made from the lily and spiritual lotus essence.
The beggar’s eyes gleamed faintly, and within moments, his nose smelled the alcohol like a dog smelling a profound smell.
"Gu Fuang Chu’s forces have tightened the noose," the man muttered under his breath, eyes darting every way, making sure there was no one looking at him.
Bai Long: "..."
He knows that. He can SEE.
When he came here he saw many forces looking for someone and he knew it was his pathetic bastard son.
"Tell me more..." Bai Long spoke in a cold, commanding manner, voice as icy as it could get, instantly lowering the temperature of the surroundings, making everyone feel chill.
"Hidden Valley’s gates sealed tight ever since the last tournament saw that Bai Huan limp away... but not alone. Some shadows say the mysterious woman, old as time itself, walks with him. Strange that, ’cause last I heard, no outsider dares tread the valley’s cursed grounds without paying dearly."
Bai Long: "..."
The beggar was talking rapidly and his mind was foggy with numbness, Bai Long couldn’t even properly comprehend the words that were uttered.
Mysterious woman old as time? Following Bai Huan?
Could it be that Bai Huan found a new woman? What a lucky bastard.
And what does he mean by the last tournament where Bai Huan lay limp?
"At the inn’s back alley, some say Gu’s men rarely rest, the hungry wolves have to finish the hunt. The deer can run, but for how long, till when? It will eventually meet its end..." the beggar continued full of metaphors voice dropping even lower.
If the Young Man understands then he understands, if not, the Old man couldn’t care less.
"I see..." Bai Long felt disappointed. He knew that much information. The only new thing was a woman as old as time.
"Do you know where that Bai Huan is or Gu Fuang Chu?" Bai Long asked.
The beggar looked as if he were looking at a fool.
"Hehe... The river moves where the earth leads it, the mortal mind isn’t capable enough to understand the flow of nature," The beggar said before raising his hands like a king, full of grace and majestic aura.
He gulped down the alcohol and looked at Bai Long.
He looked at Bai Long and asked "Young man who are you?"
It was a code that their conversation had ended and what happened between them should be forgotten by both parties but how would Bai Long know it?
"I am Hong Baizi, young master of the Hong Clan," Bai Long replied. It’s always a good idea to use someone’s name, someone strong.
The beggar: "..."
"Fate is blind, karma is slow, the fox sees a hen and it says—" Before he could finish his profound poetry Bai Long cut him off.
"I will pay you, tell me where is Gu Fuang Chu..." Bai Long asked.
His system couldn’t sense him within the nearby area, and his system wouldn’t reveal the info so, he wanted to ask others to gain the upper hand.
"Forgive me Young Lord but this one doesn’t have all the information in the world, I am merely a beggar who once loved a woman only to have his heart broken mercilessly... But Young Master you said you are from the Hong Clan, hehe, don’t you know you shouldn’t borrow the name of Hong so casually. Ah, the snow is cold yet my heart feels none, the world is shallow and my heart feels none," The beggar said.
Bai Long looked a little unhappy. This guy was a heartbroken poet, but what does he mean by borrowing the name of Hong so easily? How does he know about it?
"Who are you? How do you know I am not from the Hong Clan?" Bai Long asked.
"Too many questions, I haven’t been paid enough. This Zhongli begs pardon..." The beggar left the table.
Damn, even a beggar has a more sophisticated manner compared to Bai Long.
Bai Long watched the beggar shuffle away into the smoky haze of the inn.
"Tch. A drunkard’s riddles and a poet’s self-pity..." Bai Long muttered, his lips curling in disdain. Not that it matters much anyway.
Talking to a few more, it seems they really have no clue on where Bai Huan nor Young Master Gu is.
**
Young master Gu was in his luxurious tent, watching as his guards brought in another captured cultivator. This one was young, barely out of his teenage years, with a look of terror in his eyes as he was shoved to his knees before Gu.
The young Daoist was shaking like a leaf, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. He knew who Gu Fuang Chu was, what he was capable of. The rumors of his cruelty were well-known, and the cultivator could only pray that he would be spared.
Gu Fuang Chu sat on a lavish jade chair, sipping from an expensive jade goblet of fine celestial wine, his eyes cold and unfeeling as he gazed down at the trembling figure before him.
"Tell me where Bai Huan is hiding, and perhaps I’ll let you live," Gu spoke, his voice low and menacing.
The Young Daoist shook his head frantically, his eyes wide with fear. "I don’t know, Young Master! I swear, I haven’t seen him since the tournament... I just met him at the tournament and we helped each other, I don’t know him," he pleaded, his voice cracking.
He was a young talented man of 15 years old with a good cultivation base. Given time, he will surely make a name for himself. Alas, only IF GIVEN TIME.
Gu Fuang Chu’s expression didn’t change. He set down his goblet and rose from his chair, towering over the cowering cultivator, his eyes glowing menacingly.
His hands began to glow with a menacing red aura as he punched the head of the kid, instantly crack opening it like a walnut, killing him before he could realize what had just happened.
"Useless people shouldn’t exist. It only creates unnecessary competition for all..." Young Master Gu said cruelly.
He looked at the servant to the left.
"Clean it, find Bai Huan anyhow..." He said while cleaning the blood from his hand with a cloth.
"Everybody leave..." With his command, the tent was empty.
He opened his system panel.
He was currently at the second stage of the Great Foundation Realm and he had slaughtered two protagonists and 5 female leads after coming to this world. He even raped three of the female leads and kept them as his servants.
He currently possesses 30,000 systems points. So, he wanted to make a purchase.
Unlike Bai Long’s guide system, his system was a traditional blue panel.
He plans to purchase a minor cultivation realm breakthrough card.
He had already broken through to the next realm with his own effort and it is a waste not to buy the breakthrough card. It cost 20,000 system points.
Woosh!
He used the breakthrough card to make a breakthrough to the third stage.
Woosh!
Golden energy surrounded his body, the breakthrough was successful, and he felt his body was full of energy.
Sss~
The golden energy faded slowly, leaving Gu Fuang Chu standing taller and more confident than ever, he had a sinister smirk on his face.
His eyes sparkled with ruthless ambition as he surveyed the tent clenching his fist like a boss-level villain who is ready to destroy the world, because why not?
"Third stage of the Great Foundation Realm," Gu murmured to himself, the words tasting like victory. "Soon, nothing will stand in my way, all protagonists are but ants to be crushed..."
As a first-rate family, he already had information about Bai Huan, and thanks to his system he knew all the female leads about Bai Huan’s story.
And based on system information Bai Huan’s story was on the verge of collapse. As smart as he is, he could already tell there was someone just like him a "Villain" who was trying to destroy Bai Huan’s plot.
All the names Young Master Gu has are Yang Kai, who sounds like a protagonist.
Bai Long who is Bai Huan’s brother, and a trash.
Young Master Zhao, who seems like a typical third-rate villain.
This Zhao could be a reincarnated villain just like him thus, Young Master Gu is a thoughtful man, he has already sent his troops to destroy the Zhao Family.
Alas, Young Master Gu can’t be more wrong.
***
A/n:
((( From the next Chapter onward Mc will grow rapidly and will be the number 1 GENIUS OF THIS ERA. This is for volume 1. From the next volume, we will start hunting the protagonist. Thanks to everyone who donated Powerstone and Golden Ticket. Keep supporting )))