Chapter 34 - Brother, Please Restrain Yourself

Weight?

Gu Han was somewhat puzzled.

Murong Yan had mentioned that possessing this token would make one the Murong family’s honored guest. Today’s events just confirmed that. Otherwise, how could a small, unknown cultivator like him receive such unwavering protection from an unfathomable person like Murong Chuan?

Can I really eat, drink, and stay at the Murong family’s for free?!

Murong Chuan suddenly brought up another matter. “Little Brother, you must know about the Ten Nations, right?”

“I do.” Gu Han nodded.

The world was not limited to just the Great Qi. The Great Jin, Great Qin, Great Chu, Great Yan, Great Wei... together with Great Qi, they formed the Ten Nations, all located within the Eastern Wasteland.

However, Tianwu City was too small, and Gu Han had never traveled far, so his knowledge of the other nine nations was minimal. He had never even met anyone from them. All he knew was that each nation had its own Martial Academy, and the borders of all ten nations adjoined the Wild Forest.

Murong Chuan smiled. “Then, do you know that these Ten Nations are actually vassal states of the Yuqing Sect?”

Gu Han was slightly taken aback. “Yuqing Sect? Vassal states?”

Had any other person his age heard this news, they would’ve been stunned, needing a while to digest it. Yet Gu Han remained so composed. His calm temperament alone surpassed most people.

For a moment, Murong Chuan held Gu Han in a higher regard. Unbeknownst to him, Gu Han’s consciousness space housed a Demon Monarch who hailed from beyond the heavens. What did the Ten Nations being vassals of the Yuqing Sect matter in comparison?

Gu Han seemed to realize something. “Could it be that the upper sect everyone talks about is the Yuqing Sect?”

Murong Chuan laughed. “You’re right! Despite how vast it was, the Yuqing Sect has its own rules and rarely interferes with its vassal states’ affairs. Thus, its name is little known.”

Gu Han’s heart stirred. “Then... The Martial Academy...”

“The Martial Academies established by each nation are meant to periodically send outstanding talents to the Yuqing Sect. People like you, Little Brother.”

Gu Han nodded. “I understand. Murong Yan must be a disciple of the Yuqing Sect, right? And the reason people here fear the Murong family so much is because of her?”

Murong Chuan smiled. “It’s not that simple. It’s true that she is a disciple of the Yuqing Sect, but what these people truly fear is the Murong family itself. Our family’s ancestor is one of the three Supreme Elders of the Yuqing Sect.”

Gu Han suddenly understood.

Supreme Elder? No wonder someone as arrogant as Liu Tong was terrified!

With such an ancestor, the Murong family was practically half of the Yuqing Sect. Forget a minor noble family in the capital, even if the entire Great Qi banded together, they wouldn’t dare provoke the Murong family.

Glancing at the token in his hand, Gu Han suddenly felt that this gift held far more weight than he’d imagined.

Murong Chuan sighed. “Frankly, this token is exclusive to our ancestor. Even the clan leader isn’t qualified to touch it. Since the founding of our family, the ancestor has only given out eight such tokens. The one in your hand is the ninth.”

Gu Han was perplexed. “Exclusive? Only eight? Then why...”

Murong Chuan seemed awkward. “Well... Actually, the one the young lady has...

ahem

... was bestowed by the ancestor because he dotes on her.”

He wasn’t telling the whole truth. Murong Yan had only obtained that token after pestering her ancestor relentlessly, nearly pulling out all his beard.

“If that’s the case, does that mean we can stay in the heaven-class room for free?” Ah Sha asked.

Murong Chuan became serious. “That’s just a side benefit. This token has another purpose.”

“Another purpose?”

“Indeed! If the token’s owner encounters trouble, they can use it to summon all nearby Murong family experts to assist them a single time. This is the token’s true value. Aside from the Murong family, even within the Yuqing Sect, only few know of this secret.”

Gu Han was taken aback. “Assist? For anything?”

“For anything!”

“Even if it means death?”

Murong Chuan said gravely, “They must go! Such is the rule set by our ancestor. Whoever holds the token commands the Murong family's absolute obedience. Otherwise, they will face clan punishment. Now, Little Brother, you should understand why the ancestor has only given out eight tokens. In the wrong hands, it would bring ruin to our family.”

Gu Han fell silent for a moment. “Then what about the other eight?”

“Over the years, no matter what requests the token owners made, big or small, difficult or easy, our family fulfilled every one without fail. To this day, only the token in your hand remains. And in this world, only you, Little Brother, can command the Murong family to do one thing for you. Of course, that includes me.

“For example, Liu Tong offended you. If you ask me to act, I can exterminate his entire family. Just give me half an hour, and I’ll deliver the heads of every Liu family member to you.”

Chills went down Gu Han’s spine. “Exterminate his entire family? Liu Tong must have some backing, right? Aren’t you afraid of retaliation?”

Murong Chuan scoffed.

“Retaliation? Forget a small fry like Liu Tong, even if I killed a few members of the imperial family, they wouldn’t dare do anything to me.” His tone radiated absolute confidence as he said enticingly, “So? Whether it’s Liu Tong or anyone else, as long as someone in the capital threatens you, you can use this token. Rest assured, aside from...

ahem

... no one in this capital is a match for me. Just say the name, and they won’t live to see another day.”

Gu Han saw through him.

This old fox has ulterior motives.

As long as this token remained outside the family, it posed a potential risk to the Murong family. If they could get Gu Han to use up this opportunity early, it would be for the best.

Gu Han grew wary. “Senior, I think... repaying malice with kindness isn’t so bad...”

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

After learning the token’s true worth, he realized just how significant Murong Yan’s gift was. Knowing it was basically an extra life, he’d never use it carelessly.

Murong Chuan was speechless.

Repay malice with kindness? How can you say that with a straight face?!

Seeing his enticement fail, he chuckled and let it go. “Forget it.”

He had only mentioned it casually. If it worked, great. If not, he’d just follow the family’s rules. He wouldn’t dare force Gu Han. Not only were the family’s laws ironclad, but if Murong Yan found out, she’d never let him off.

Murong Yan...

Thinking of the young lady’s eccentric temper, he sighed. Of course it was her. If any other family member had casually given away the token, the furious ancestor would have slapped them to death long ago.

***

Meanwhile, in the Liu residence...

Liu Xun glared at Liu Tong. “This is outrageous! They’ve gone too far!”

Liu Tong’s eyes were bloodshot, his face full of resentment. “Father, I can’t swallow this humiliation!”

Glowering fiercely, Liu Xun said, “You’ll have to! Need I remind you what the Murong family is capable of?! Even the imperial family wouldn't risk touching so much as a hair on their heads!”

“Then we’re just going to let it go?” asked Liu Tong.

Liu Xun shifted his gaze to Liu Ying, who stood nearby in a daze. “Of course not! Niece, I heard that boy is also from Tianwu City?”

Liu Ying snapped back to reality. “

Huh?

Yes, his name is Gu Han. He’s...”

She proceeded to recount Gu Han’s background and experiences.

Liu Xun turned cold. “So he’s just a country bumpkin who got lucky. I thought he had some grand backing.

Hmph,

how dare he make my son kneel to him. He must be tired of living!”

Because of Liu Tong’s fall from grace, his own honor had been dragged through the mud.

Liu Ying hesitated. “Uncle, but now he...”

Liu Xun waved his hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter! As if he can stay holed up in that inn forever! Didn’t you say he’s also joining the Martial Academy? Unless the Murong family follows him around day and night, we’ll have plenty of chances to deal with him once he’s there!

“For the next few days, stay home and keep Liu Ying company. We’ll deal with everything once the Martial Academy opens. By then, your cousin will also be joining.”

Liu Tong was stunned. “Cousin? Wasn’t he already guaranteed a spot as an upper sect disciple? Why would he—”

Liu Xun shook his head. “Don’t ask. He has his reasons for going there. With him around, dealing with that brat will be child’s play!”

With that, he left, seemingly to give the two some privacy.

After Liu Xun left, Liu Tong looked at Liu Ying, stammering, “Junior Sister, about today...”

Liu Ying suppressed her irritation and softened her tone. “There’s no need for that. I remember everything you’ve done for me. Today’s incident was just unexpected. It’s not your fault.”

As he looked at her stunning face, Liu Tong’s eyes glazed over, and he instinctively reached for her delicate hands.

Liu Ying quickly stepped back, feigning anger. “Senior Brother, please restrain yourself!”

Desire dyed Liu Tong’s face red, his soul ensnared by Liu Ying. The humiliation from earlier was long forgotten.

He thumped his chest. “Don’t worry! With my cousin around, once that brat enters the Martial Academy, I’ll make him wish he were dead!”

***

On the streets, the fatty wandered aimlessly, bored out of his mind.

His eyes darted around as he muttered to himself. “Human tribulation, oh human tribulation. What exactly is my human tribulation? Damn it, I never should’ve listened to that old man’s nonsense! What a load of crap... Before anything even happened, I almost got eaten by a demonic beast! If I’d known, I’d have stayed home as the young lord, living the good life. How great would that be!”

As he grumbled, a conversation between a master and servant nearby caught his attention.

“With your talent, you’ll surely shine brightly once you enter the Martial Academy!”

“

Hahaha,

of course! I’ve trained tirelessly in Yue Mountain City just for this day!”

The fatty’s eyes lit up. “

Hmm?

Martial Academy? Interesting. Since I’ve got no leads on this human tribulation, why not go have some fun?”

With that, he stared at the spirited young man nearby, his eyes narrowing into slits as he chuckled and quietly followed.

“Hey, brother, you and I are fated!”