Chapter 27: Returning to Linjiang City

Gu Chudong, still utterly confused, smiled and asked, "In short, we only know who's stronger or weaker after a fight, right?"

"Precisely," Gu Mo replied with a smile.

Grinning, Gu Chudong said, "But, big brother, I still think you're definitely more powerful than Shen Bai. Even though Shen Bai has Grandmaster martial arts, it's true that he couldn't defeat Tang Tianqi, isn't it? While he certainly had trump cards, Tang Tianqi's sword-switch nearly killed him before he even had a chance to use them. But you killed Tang Tianqi, so doesn't that prove you're stronger than Shen Bai?"

"But he still had unrevealed trump cards!"

"Don't you have them too?" Gu Chudong countered.

"Who said I have trump cards?" Gu Mo asked.

"Heh heh," Gu Chudong chuckled slyly. "Brother, based on my understanding of you, if you weren't absolutely confident that day, you would have made me leave immediately. But you didn't let me leave that day, which means you were absolutely confident, either that you could defeat Tang Tianhao, or that you could take me away even if you couldn't win."

Gu Mo smiled slightly. His sister truly understood his character perfectly.

That day, Tang Tianqi's Blood Cauldron True Scripture combined with the divine weapon, the Immaculate Sword, pushed both offense and defense to an extreme. Before a real direct confrontation, Gu Mo wasn't certain he could defeat Tang Tianqi. However, he was confident he could escape.

At that time, he had already acquired the max-level Cloud Treading Movement, a top-tier lightness skill created by Zhang Sanfeng—the legendary qinggong that allows one to ascend to the heavens by stepping on one's own foot. With max-level Cloud Treading Movement, Gu Mo naturally had absolute confidence that even if he couldn't win, he could still take his sister, Gu Chudong, and leave.

Moreover, all the martial arts he received as system rewards were max-level. Upon instant empowerment, they would reach the perfected mastery stage, immediately putting him into a special state of enlightenment where he would comprehend the true essence of martial arts on his own.

Therefore, he was very confident in his Cloud Treading Movement. The Cloud Treading Movement itself, at its perfected mastery stage, was already very powerful, and he had also comprehended the technique of using an opponent's force against them. His lightness skill had reached an extremely formidable level.

Gu Mo said, "Chudong, after we return to Linjiang City this time, I will teach you two ultimate skills: a lightness skill called Cloud Treading Movement, and a hidden weapon technique called Flicking Finger Divine Art."

"Brother, did you meet a white-bearded old man who passed on his skills?"

"Yes, I really did."

"So you know many martial arts?"

"Yes."

"Have you mastered every single one?"

"Naturally."

"Then aren't you very powerful?"

"So-so."

"Do you have a way to help me become a master quickly?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Really."

***

Outside the city gate of Zhushan County.

Tang Tianhao and Tang Buyi were returning to the manor in a carriage. Tang Tianhao's face was still ashen, and he looked extremely weak, coughing up poisonous blood.

"Father," Tang Buyi said, very worried, "Although Grandmaster Shen is of high status, you are currently severely poisoned and shouldn't move much. You should rest well at home. Grandmaster Shen has already taken the Immaculate Sword. We've gained the reputation we could from it, but that's as far as it goes. Do you really believe that with just one sword, our family can form a connection with Grandmaster Ye? Grandmaster Shen might not even take our Tang family seriously, so why go through all this trouble?"

Tang Tianhao coughed lightly and waved his hand. "Do you think I'm seeing off our guest in this injured state for Shen Bai?"

"Could it be for Brother Gu?"

"It's precisely for Gu Mo," Tang Tianhao stated. "If you can understand this principle, how could I not? For Shen Bai, maintaining sufficient respect is enough; there's no need to be overly enthusiastic. A Grandmaster's disciple, with his noble status, won't hold our Tang family in higher regard just because of our enthusiasm, nor will he likely form a connection merely over a sword. Just showing respect and not offending him is sufficient.

But Gu Mo is different. This young man's future is boundless. Who is Shen Bai? A Grandmaster's disciple, noble in status, a renowned martial artist, highly skilled, and extremely arrogant. Didn't you see how your second uncle displayed demonic arts earlier, and Shen Bai didn't even bat an eye, going in alone? That shows his arrogant nature. Yet, even someone as arrogant as Shen Bai regards Gu Mo highly and proactively gave him the Grandmaster Token."

Tang Buyi was puzzled. "Wasn't that to thank him for saving his life?"

"Use your brain and think. That's a Grandmaster Token; under certain circumstances, it can represent Grandmaster Ye," Tang Tianhao said. "Given Shen Bai's status, there are many ways he could thank Gu Mo. For example, if an ordinary person accidentally saved you, wouldn't you think of offering them money or a house as a token of gratitude? Under what circumstances would you think of using gratitude as a reason to befriend someone?"

Tang Buyi realized. "Ah, I see! In Shen Bai's eyes, even though he is a Grandmaster's disciple, Gu Mo is qualified to be his equal, or even superior, because the other person's status is not lower than mine, or even higher?"

Tang Tianhao nodded. "Even Shen Bai values Gu Mo's potential so highly. Shouldn't our Tang family seize this opportunity to form a good connection? If we wait until Gu Mo rises to prominence and becomes famous in the martial world, what right would our Tang family have to connect with him? It's just like Shen Bai; everyone knows his future is extraordinary, so how could ordinary people possibly befriend him?"

Tang Buyi nodded. "But Father, is it truly alright for us to approach this with such a strong sense of utilitarianism?"

"When making friends, it's not the utilitarian motive that's to be feared, but a lack of sincerity," Tang Tianhao said. "As long as you treat him with genuine sincerity and then make good use of your advantages, you will be able to steadily board Gu Mo's ship, which is about to set sail."

Tang Buyi frowned. "I understand sincerity, but what advantages do I have?"

Tang Tianhao replied, "You have two advantages. First, you're not particularly clever, and your simple thoughts are easy for others to see. You don't even need to pretend to be sincere; just acting normally is sincere enough. Second, you have a wealthy and capable father. That's your advantage. In a while, once my injuries heal, the family won't need you here anymore. You can go to Linjiang City and spend money!"

"Oh, I understand," Tang Buyi nodded, then suddenly asked, "Father, I've had something on my mind these past few days that I wanted to ask you... Did you really interfere back then and take mother away from Second Uncle?"

"No," Tang Tianhao sighed. "Actually, that decision was made by your maternal grandfather. The reason was that I was the legitimate son, the future head of the family, and your mother marrying me would maximize the benefits of the alliance."

"Then why did you apologize to Second Uncle and offer no explanation?"

Tang Tianhao said, "There was no way to explain. Because I knew then that your second uncle liked your mother, and I also knew that I was chosen as the marriage partner. I could have refused, but I didn't. I enjoyed the benefits of being the legitimate son, so naturally, I had to bear the treatment that came with it and take on the corresponding responsibilities, such as marriage.

My marriage was destined to be for the family's alliance. At the time, I thought that since I was going to marry a woman I had no feelings for anyway, instead of someone I knew nothing about in the future, it might as well be your mother. Though I didn't know her personality or anything, at least she was beautiful. I truly didn't realize back then how deep your second uncle's feelings for your mother were!"

Tang Buyi pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, it's not necessarily that Second Uncle's feelings for Mother were truly that profound. Instead, it might be because that incident happened to coincide with the disparity in status between the legitimate and illegitimate lines, which created an obsession for him. Sigh..."