Chapter 9: Gu Xueliu's Letter

Early morning.

Outside Qingzhou Prefecture, in Lower Er Village.

After a night of wandering, Chen Tiansheng finally left Little Qiong Mountain and returned to the village where he lived.

To avoid being seen by others, he took a narrow path back.

“This should be safe now. First, I’ll go home to check on my sister-in-law, then head to the inn.”

Chen Tiansheng gathered a pile of dry grass and covered the buried soil with it. Only then did he rise with satisfaction.

Buried in the earth was the Dragon and Phoenix treasured sword.

This sword belonged to Fang Chenghu. Carrying it around easily aroused suspicion, and without sufficient strength, Chen Tiansheng had no intention of using it yet. Venturing into the martial world was premature for him, and carrying the sword served little purpose.

As for wandering the martial world, he planned to delay that for now, focusing instead on improving his family’s life and providing Gu Xue a safe haven—after all, Gu Xue was his only close relative in this world.

He hoped nothing had happened to Gu Xue in the past few days.

After gathering his thoughts, Chen Tiansheng entered the village.

“Brother Sheng!”

Just as he reached the village entrance, Zhao Daqiang, sitting under the great banyan tree, ran up excitedly. Circling around him with a thorough look, he finally sighed in relief: “That day when Fang Chenghu took you away, I was worried sick. I asked around everywhere but couldn’t find any news of you. I feared what that scoundrel might have done to you. Seeing you return safe, I’m finally at ease.”

Warmth filled Chen Tiansheng’s heart.

Though a bit simple-minded, Zhao Daqiang was a true brother who cared deeply for him. In this world where strength was everything, coming from poverty, having such a brother was rare.

“So, how did that bastard Fang Chenghu let you go?” Zhao Daqiang, straightforward as ever, asked without hesitation.

Knowing his nature, Chen Tiansheng didn’t mind and responded with a prepared excuse: “He suddenly had urgent matters and it was inconvenient to take me along, so he left alone and let me go. Don’t worry, I’m fine and wasn’t mistreated.”

Hearing this, Zhao Daqiang finally relaxed, then angrily declared, “If that bastard dares to harm you, I’ll report him to the authorities and see him rot in prison!”

Chen Tiansheng nodded and quickly asked, “Is my sister-in-law home?”

Mentioning Gu Xue, Zhao Daqiang’s expression darkened. He said helplessly, “Since you left that day, there has been no news of Madam Gu in Qingzhou Prefecture. I heard the Zhang family is looking for her too, but no luck so far.” He patted Chen Tiansheng’s shoulder reassuringly. “My mother says Madam Gu hasn’t returned because she fears the Zhang family’s revenge. Once the storm passes, she’ll be back. Don’t worry—good people have heavenly protection.”

Chen Tiansheng nodded helplessly.

At this point, complaining was useless. All he could do was pray for Gu Xue’s safety.

After a brief chat, Chen Tiansheng returned home.

The house had only three large tile-roofed rooms, with very simple furnishings and decorations.

Though he had earned considerable rewards at the inn over the past year, he had borrowed extensively from villagers before, and had only recently repaid those debts. There was no time yet to buy new furniture, otherwise, he wouldn’t still be renting.

After tidying the courtyard, Chen Tiansheng found some eggs and a large Chinese cabbage in the kitchen, preparing to cook a meal.

Though the Yin energy transforming into Yang helped strengthen his body, he hadn’t eaten much and was famished after a night of wandering.

Just as he was about to start a fire and reach under the stove for kindling ash, he discovered a heavy object. Thinking it might be charcoal hidden beneath the ash, he dug it out and found a pottery jar, about the size of a human head, sealed with mud. It looked as if it had been sealed only a few days ago.

Why would there be a pottery jar hidden here?

Chen Tiansheng was puzzled.

Perhaps Gu Xue had hidden something. The jar was heavy; he wondered what it contained.

The ash pit beneath the stove was usually overlooked, making it a good hiding spot.

But for him, it was different—since he was family, and made fires at home regularly, he would inevitably discover anything hidden there.

Maybe Gu Xue intended it to be hidden only for a few days, since he worked at the inn for several days before returning.

Now that Gu Xue was missing, leaving the jar under the stove wasn’t a good idea.

With that in mind, Chen Tiansheng carried the jar back to his room, planning to keep it in the cabinet until Gu Xue returned.

He had no intention of opening the jar to see its contents—after all, it was Gu Xue’s privacy, and he respected that.

However, as he placed the jar down, the wooden board in the cabinet suddenly broke, and the jar shattered on the floor, spilling its contents.

Chen Tiansheng was stunned.

Inside were ten gold bars, each as thick as a thumb, and a letter!

He stood frozen, unable to believe what he saw.

He picked up one gold bar and weighed it—it was real, genuine gold.

All the bars were real!

Where had Gu Xue gotten these gold bars?

Chen Tiansheng had entered this body as an infant and witnessed his elder brother Chen Changqing’s execution at the prison grounds. Since then, he had lived with Gu Xue.

Gu Xue had always been a modest woman, working odd jobs for over ten years. There was no way she could have earned so many gold bars.

Stealing?

He refused to believe Gu Xue was capable of that.

As for other possibilities, he dared not think or doubt her character.

Because Gu Xue was the woman he trusted most and who had shown him the greatest kindness.

He didn’t think further but wrapped the gold bars in a piece of clothing.

Just as he reached for the sealed letter, three characters on the front stopped him.

“To Tiansheng.”

This letter was addressed to him!

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Tiansheng opened the envelope. The handwriting was unmistakably Gu Xue’s.

Reading the contents, his pupils dilated. After finishing, he stood dumbfounded for a long while before breaking into a smile mixed with happiness and helplessness.

The letter contained several points:

1. The gold bars were left to him by Gu Xue.

2. Gu Xue was from a sect of immortals. After being injured and pursued by enemies, she had no choice but to hide among commoners, where she met Chen Changqing.

3. Gu Xue had escaped the clutches of Zhang Chengnan.

4. Her strength had mostly recovered. She had planned to explain her departure on his thirtieth birthday but was forced to leave earlier due to Zhang Chengnan’s pursuit to avoid implicating him. She intended to return to the immortal sect to avenge Chen Changqing.

5. She did not bring him along because he was a mortal, and she hoped he would live well.

6. Gu Xue knew he wouldn’t open the jar but would hide it in the cabinet, so she had tampered with the cabinet accordingly.

Putting away the letter, Chen Tiansheng picked up the wooden board that had fallen from the cabinet. It bore clear signs of deliberate cutting. A touched smile appeared on his face.

Gu Xue knew his character and hiding spots so well, which showed how deeply she cared for him.

Leaving these gold bars, along with the kindness she had shown him, was proof of her concern.

He was truly moved.

At the same time, a burning determination filled his heart.

“Sister-in-law, I can’t let you face revenge alone. Wait for me!”

Chen Tiansheng’s face grew solemn, his eyes filled with resolve.

In the past, he wouldn’t have dared make such a promise. But now, he owned the City Inn and wielded the Ten Thousand Yin Soul Devouring Art as well as the Dragon and Phoenix treasured sword.

He must go to the immortal sect!

After a long while, he put the gold bars away and, for security, burned the letter.

The letter mentioned Zhang Chengnan’s matter; if it fell into the wrong hands, others could accuse him or bring trouble to Gu Xue. He would not allow that.

After handling this, he cooked a simple meal to fill his stomach, closed the door, and sat on the bed.

He glanced at the Ten Thousand Yin Soul Devouring Art in his hands, then tucked it back into his bosom.

“Training this art can wait. I’ll break through the second level first. I can’t let street skills hold me back. Besides, practicing this art won’t increase my proficiency in the ‘House Mastery Technique.’”

With this thought, Chen Tiansheng sank into his consciousness.

In an instant, he arrived at the City Inn.

The countdown at the second-floor door had disappeared, and the gates were wide open.

“Even if it’s me, the real me cannot lose to the fake you.”

Chen Tiansheng snorted coldly and strode up to the second floor...