Chapter 18 - Soul Snatching, The Truth Revealed!

Inside the quiet room.

Just as the Seventh Prince was about to leave, the scene outside caught his attention.

“Chief Steward Li.”

“Hm?”

“It seems there’s some more fun to be had here.”

As Chief Steward Li saw Gu Han’s figure, his face darkened like the bottom of a pot, and his heart twisted in discomfort.

What shitty luck! Why do I keep running into him!

Noticing his odd expression, the Seventh Prince asked curiously, “Chief Steward Li, do you know him too?”

“Huh? Your Highness, you mean you also...”

“I saw him once from afar.”

As he remembered Gu Han’s attitude in the Wild Forest, Chief Steward Li’s face darkened.

***

Gu Chang roared in fury, “Bastard! You’re nothing but a beast who murdered his own father! How dare you spout such nonsense here!”

The heads of the Zhang and Wang families sneered again.

“

Tsk tsk,

you sure know how to curse people!”

“Exactly! You didn’t even let the boy finish what he had to say. The way you’re acting here almost makes me think I’m in Gu City instead of Tianwu City!”

Gu Chang ignored them both and said, “City Lord! This boy is the shame of the Gu family and of Tianwu City. It’s best to capture him immediately!”

What the hell is Gu Cheng doing! Six Acupoint Unsealing experts surrounded him, and he still managed to escape!

Liu Yan’s expression turned gloomy. “Gu Han, step back!”

Instead of backing down, however, Gu Han met his gaze directly. “I want justice!”

“You... dare say that again?” Liu Yan narrowed his eyes.

In the past, he had admired Gu Han somewhat, and he had even betrothing Liu Ying to him. But after Gu Han was branded a patricide, Liu Yan no longer paid him any mind.

Moreover, now that the Seventh Prince was in Tianwu City, he had Liu Ying fawn over him at every opportunity, so Gu Han was even more beneath his notice.

Gu Han took a deep breath. “I want justice. I hope you will give me a chance!”

Liu Yan raged, “The audacity! Guards, seize—”

Mid-sentence, his expression suddenly changed. He sat back down, and attitude shifted dramatically.

“Fine. I’ll give you a chance.”

Seeing the city lord’s unexpected reaction, Gu Chang grew anxious. “City Lord! What is—”

“Shut up and watch.”

***

Inside the quiet room.

Chief Steward Li looked displeased. “Your Highness, that brat has a foul temper. What’s there to see?”

Of course, the sudden change in attitude of the city lord was because the Seventh Prince had ordered Chief Steward Li to transmit a message to Liu Yan. The duel was to be allowed.

The Seventh Prince glanced at him, smiling faintly. “You’re biased. Whatever his attitude, he gave us the Crimson Flame Snake’s beast core. For that alone, I should return the favor and give him a chance.”

Chief Steward Li’s face darkened again.

What favor?! That beast core was traded for pills personally refined by the Ghost Physician! That brat made a killing!

***

Seeing that Liu Yan agreed, Gu Han turned to Gu Yang again.

“Gu Yang, fight me. Do you dare?”

At this moment, his body was drenched in blood, with several gruesome wounds clearly visible. But although he looked wretched, his aura completely overwhelmed Gu Yang’s.

Just then, a Gu family member rushed to Gu Chang’s side and whispered a few words into his ear.

A flash of killing intent crossed Gu Chang’s eyes as he crushed the sturdy armrest of his chair to splinters.

“You little bastard, you’re looking for trouble!”

Meanwhile, Gu Yang was backed into a corner. He couldn’t possibly refuse an open challenge like this, or he’d be branded a coward.

He glared at Gu Han. “Fine! Today, I’ll cleanse the Gu family’s disgrace and rid us of this scourge once and for all!”

If Gu Han had been unharmed, he wouldn’t have dared to agree so readily. But seeing Gu Han’s current state, and due to his confidence in his own improved techniques, he felt a boldness he’d never had before.

Gu Han handed the spirit tablet to Ah Sha and stepped onto the stage. “Today, I will avenge my father!”

Avenge?

The crowd was stunned.

“Did he just say he’s avenging Gu Tian?”

“Seems like it.”

“Wasn’t he the one who murdered Gu Tian? What, is he going to kill himself on stage?”

“Don’t be stupid. Let’s keep watching and we’ll find out.”

While they were murmuring to each other, their eyes remained fixed on the stage; none of them wanted to miss a thing.

Gu Yang swung his spear and activated all his qi. A faint red glow, like flowing water, spread over his body and even enveloped the spear.

“Is that... the Gu family’s Blazing Flame Scripture?”

“Incredible, truly incredible!”

“Young Master Gu Yang’s cultivation is no joke either!”

A Gu clansman smirked proudly. “Our young master is exceptionally talented. His mastery of the Blazing Flame Scripture has reached the level of unity in form and spirit! He’s a rare genius of the Gu family. Dealing with Gu Han will be child’s play!”

Suddenly, a rogue cultivator who had followed the commotion laughed.

“What’s so funny!”

“I’m laughing at your young master’s overconfidence. He’ll probably be cut down by Gu Han in no time!”

“Nonsense! Our young master’s spear is a supreme-grade spirit item! With Gu Han’s shabby sword and his injuries, there’s no way he can win!”

The rogue cultivator ignored him. “You’re not blind. See for yourself!”

These rogue cultivators had witnessed Gu Han’s prowess firsthand and knew exactly how lethal that “shabby sword” of his was.

Meanwhile, Gu Yang glared at Gu Han. “Gu Han, today, I’ll use your life to prove my worth!”

Defeating Gu Han in a fair fight had long been his deepest desire. Gu Yang launched his attack first. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, his figure blurred as the spear’s tip shot straight for Gu Han’s forehead.

But Gu Han didn’t move.

Gu Yang accelerated, and the red glow around him intensified. “Go to hell!”

Just as the spear was half a chi away, Gu Han moved. He swung his sword, and there was a light slash, followed by a crisp sound. And the source of this sound made the surrounding spectators fall dead silent.

Gu Yang stood frozen as Gu Han’s sword edged half a cun from his forehead. As for his supreme-grade spear, it was now severed in two, and the half with the tip lay on the ground completely useless. It was no longer radiating that fiery-red glow.

The rogue cultivator sneered. “

Tsk tsk.

Unity in form and spirit? Supreme-grade spirit item?

Pft!

”

The Gu family members paled. “No... That’s impossible! How could the young master lose?”

The crowd was stunned. Just moments ago, Gu Yang, the unrivaled genius of Tianwu City’s younger generation, had been brimming with confidence. Yet now, he couldn’t even withstand a single strike from Gu Han.

In the distance, Gu Chang shot to his feet. “Gu Yang!!”

Gu Yang’s face was ashen, his expression one of utter disbelief. “You’re injured, and my cultivation has improved... There’s no way I could lose!”

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Gu Han ignored him, and pressed the sword down slightly. Instantly, blood trickled from Gu Yang’s forehead. He was helpless and had no choice but to lower his stance. But the sword pressed down further, and Gu Yang dropped even lower.

The crowd gasped and suddenly understood Gu Han’s intent.

He is forcing Gu Yang to kneel!

Gu Chang’s face twisted in rage. “You bastard! Let him go or I’ll tear you to pieces!”

Gu Han remained calm, and looked at Gu Yang. “Speak. How did you guys plot against my father?”

As he spoke, two eerie glints flashed in his eyes, seeming to pierce straight into Gu Yang’s soul. It was the Soul-Snatching Technique.

Gu Yang’s eyes glazed over, and he collapsed to his knees. Then, he started to speak in a monotonous tone. “Gu Tian’s cultivation was too high, and my grandfather was no match. So we bribed Commander Gu to secretly drug his food—”

“Shut up! Shut your mouth!” Gu Chang was getting ready to lunge at Gu Han. But the other family heads stood in front of him, their expressions grim. The chance to topple the Gu family was at hand, and they wouldn’t let anyone ruin it.

“Let him speak!”

“Exactly, let everyone hear how the Gu family is full of hypocrites!”

Gu Yang continued dazedly, “After the drug took effect, my grandfather stole your sword and, along with my father and two elders, attacked Gu Tian. But he fought back desperately and almost escaped...”

Gu Han shivered as he listened to the story. “Why?!?! My father spent half his life toiling for the Gu family....”

Gu Yang’s voice suddenly carried a trace of hatred. “Because he was selfish! He always favored you, he always gave you all the benefits. Why you?! You’re just a stray he picked up! I’m the Gu family’s true heir! I should’ve been the young lord from the beginning—no, the family head!”

Word by word, the crowd heard everything clearly. For a moment, silence reigned.... until a storm of criticism erupted.

“How vile!”

“The mighty Gu family is just a bunch of hypocrites!”

“To think Gu Han was actually framed! The Gu family’s actions are despicable!”

“The number one family in Tianwu City? What a goddamn joke!”

Aside from the Gu family members, the crowd overwhelmingly sided with Gu Han.

“Haha! Well, they are number one, but how did they even become number one?”

“We all know it was because of Gu Tian’s hard work!”

“And they dare call Gu Han a stray? Who secured the ore veins in Red Maple Valley? Who won the medicinal herb fields and spirit veins outside the city from the other families? Every year, when the Gu family handed over a mountain of beast cores, who was the one who led the charge into the Wild Forest to slay demonic beasts?”

“Most of the Gu family’s wealth was built by him and his father. Without them, where would Gu Yang get the essence crystals to buy that supreme-grade spirit spear?”

“Exactly! A bunch of parasites enjoying the fruits of others’ labor, and they have the balls to call him selfish? Hilarious!”

The crowd cursed vehemently. Of course, while some genuinely felt remorse and spoke up for Gu Han, most were from the other families and were merely fanning the flames. But either way, the effect was undeniable. From this day onward, the Gu family’s reputation was ruined, and their downfall assured.

In the crowd, the Gu family members hung their heads in shame. With their facade torn away, they were mortified, yet instead of feeling remorse, they only hated Gu Han more.

In the end, they had never truly accepted him. And now, Gu Han no longer needed their acceptance.

He gently took Gu Tian’s spirit tablet and placed it before Gu Yang.

With a flick of his hand, a fiery red spear stabbed into the stone ground. It was the Firecloud Spear.

“Father, those who harmed you will pay with their lives!”

As he spoke, he took out four heads, arranging them neatly before Gu Tian’s spirit tablet. The first was Commander Gu’s. The next two belonged to the Gu family’s elders. The last was none other than Gu Cheng’s.

With that done, he struck Gu Yang’s shoulder with his sword, sending sword qi into his body and shredding his meridians to pieces.

Intense pain jolted Gu Yang back to consciousness. “

AHHHH!!

You... what did you do?!?! My cultivation, my meridians!”

But then, in the middle of his agonized cries, he saw Gu Cheng’s head, and his already distorted face twisted in horror. “FATHER!!!”

Gu Han stared at him, his voice icy. “No different from a dog. A stray dog!”

Gu Yang’s face paled. These words were the exact same ones he’d once thrown at Gu Han. Now, with their positions reversed, the insult was returned verbatim.

His eyes bloodshot, he glared at Gu Han. “You... How dare you humiliate me like this?!?! How dare you kill my father?!?!”

“He murdered my father. It’s only fair that he pays with his life.”

Meanwhile, Gu Chang’s face was a mask of cold fury. “You little bastard! You killed my son and crippled my grandson... You won’t leave this place alive!”

As he spoke, flames erupted around him, and he charged at Gu Han. This time, the other clan leaders didn’t stop him; they had already achieved their goal of tearing down the Gu family, so now they could just sit back and enjoy the show.

As Gu Han watched Gu Chang raging at him, his eyes also turned red.

Father, this is the last one.