Central Plain, Donglan region. When the Tang still reign.
"The Gu Clan" a man said, he has a nicely trimmed beard and a neatly tied hair with a hair crown holding its topknot. An elegant man, who despite his wrinkled feature, remained peerless in his out-look.
"Is a Clan of High-borne noble bearing the Royal bloodline of the Ming Dynasty…"
He said as he held an ordinary looking smoking pipe in which a white smoke waft from it. His mouth is also expelling this white smoke that smells exquisite.
Across from him is a boy, 6 years old yet he has a manner befitting of an adult gentleman. Straight posture, and stern face that lets out nothing as he sat in a Kneeling position. The boy that is molded to become perfect, a sculpted statue.
His piercing blue eyes reminded the man of his brother who is this boy father. Gu Tientiang is the current head of the Gu Clan, he has ten wives and 50 Concubine, a number that can be considered small for such a massive Clan.
This boy is the first son of the First wives, the brother of a Siblings. His name is…
"Gu Liang, what are the qualities that befit a former Royal of the Ming Dynasty?" The man asks, as he inhaled the smoke from the pipe and exhale it quietly and slowly, savoring each hit of the loaded drugs inside.
"A peerless outlook, one must be a gentlemen adorned by many and respected among Noble and low-born alike" he said with practiced ease, yet his answer is not an honest one, it's a mere text imprinted upon a sheet of paper that he had remembered each word of.
"An answer, yet not your own" the man said, huffing more aggressively as if dissatisfied by the answer.
"Again, what are the qualities that befit us, a noble and large Clan?"
Young Gu Liang hesitates for a moment, yet his face display none of this hesitation.
"A respectable manner, befitting of Heaven, for us, are a Clan chosen by them and their court."
"Again, with the written answers, seek not the imprinted lies and search into yourself…"
Another foil for Gu Liang, he cannot understand what was wrong, he gives off a correct answer. Was it the voice? The vocal? The characters? What is the wrong answer?
At this point, it is more like what is the question?
'Uncle is always fickle with his teaching.'
Gu Liang contemplates for quite some time, yet he cannot reach an answer, for he did not know himself.
"…What is self? Where can I find an answer when I was not allowed to look for it?"
.
.
.
"…. ter"
"…Master"
"Young Master"
A whisper woke Gu Liang up from his slumber, his body jolts up from the wooden chair in which he fell asleep in. The one who woke him up has a slender body, long ashen hair that cascades down and covering the right side of her face and red eyes. She was Namgoong Hien of the Namgoong Clan hailing from the Western Region.
"…I fell asleep, didn't I?"
Gu Liang said as he pinch his own temple, he then slowly straightened his posture.
"Yes, fortunately its in a time where none was to watch your folly" Namgoong Hien said, her face, like his, were sculpted to let out none of her true emotions.
"I see…" Gu Liang tried to recall the event that had transpired. Searching in his brain like it was a library as he finds his most recent memory.
Vividly, the image of Wu Chen saying that he cannot assist him in aiding with the murderer problem, so they settle on an agreement that Gu Liang will teach him the Flame Wheel Cultivation as well as several labour for building Wu Chen camps in exchange for his assistant.
'Yet why did he covet the Gu Clan foundation method? The Flame Wheel is opposite of the Wu Clan Tarnished River body' Gu Liang ponder, but this deal is not really that bad since he does not have to give up his dwindling supply.
"It seems that the deal is a bit disadvantageous for young master…" Namgoong Hien said to Gu Liang.
"Is that so? As far as I can tell, Wu Chen can't use the Flame Wheel, so the deal favours me" Gu Liang inquired, he knows that this girl is much smarter than he is in regard to strategy and politic, a subject Gu Liang sadly fall short.
"What Wu Chen after is the information regarding the Flame Wheel, if I have to guess, he considered that Foundation path to be more troublesome than young master Poison Body" Namgoong Hien said as she closed her crimson eyes, her face is a practiced calmness and aloof that Gu Liang can hardly see through
"So, it's a precaution should he ever wanted to fight the Gu Clan in the future…" Gu Liang said as he crossed his leg.
'I knew it, he is dangerous, I have to coax sister away from him' Gu Liang thought, but his mind kept wandering towards the vision where he saw Gu Tian cheerful face when she was with Wu Chen. He had never seen her sister make that kind of face after the death of their mother.
Deep down, he is conflicted. On one hand, he just wanted his sister to be safe, but he cannot bear to watch her suffer.
'It's probably because of that time that we grew distant… Enough of this reminiscing, there is a more pressing matter to do' Gu Liang ceased his pondering and look at Namgoong Hien. Her crimson eyes swept his form as if trying to understand his thought.
"Gather all of the Noble, we'll strike at dawn…" Gu Liang said to which Namgoong Hien just nods and exit the building.
On the other side of Gu Liang camp is Wu Chen group. They were told to wait here in the open until further notice. Which was a rude thing to do to a guest, especially when they are the one who requested their assistance in the first place.
"So, their internal strife isn't that good either…" Ni Len muse, observing the otherwise well-constructed camp.
"I've heard tale that those outside the south cares more about fame and political power, humph, how foolish" Wu Chen interjects as he crosses his arm.
"Indeed" Xiu agreed, finding this entire trifle pitiful and useless, why bother seeking fame when strength is all that matter? For strength beget fame anyway.
Gu Tian, who stayed silent all this time and has been hiding behind Wu Chen then said.
"Rotten camp filled with nothing but trashy noble, just like the leader!" Gu Tian said with such malice that its genuinely surprising.
"But miss Gu Tian is of the same Clan as young master Gu Liang, right?" Ni Len asks.
"…" But Gu Tian just glares at him with contempt that Ni Len decided to shrink behind Xiu.
"N-never mind" he mutters weakly.
Gu Tian continued to glare at Ni Len while Xiu can do nothing but to resigned on being his shield from the scrutinizing gaze of Gu Tian piercing blue eyes.
Yet this foolishness only stands for a moment as a group of boys approaches. They wear a fancy robe or at least made out of fancy material. The one who stood in the centre stood tall, his hand clasped behind his back as his smugly smiles.
Wu Chen group immediately sensing the charged atmosphere stood tall, as to not lose their ground.
"So, this is the group Gu Liang desperately tries to recruit…" The leading boy said, he wears a white and blue robes. His black hair is tied in a ponytail by a black ring, and his eyes is piercing red.
He did not even try to hide his judgemental gaze before it quickly turns to mocking.
"From what I see, you are no more than just a Vagabond" he said with a jeer that draws laugh from the following boys.
'So, this is the opposing faction' Wu Chen quickly draws a speculation, and he is disappointed that the adversary was so… Straight forward, this is no political battle, this is just someone flaunting around their fame and authority.
"Boss" Ni Len said in a whisper, yet the sound is as clear as if he is speaking directly to him. Clearly, he infused his own energy inside his speech.
"That boy is someone from the Ouyang Clan in Donglan Region, his name is—"
"Ouyang Pinah, it's an honour to meet you~" Wu Chen said with a smile, already knowing his name even before Ni Len told him which surprised him.
"Oh~ a Vagabond knows my name huh? It seems my fame has reached even to this remote bog" Ouyang Pinah said with a smug expression which again, draws some laughter from the noble. Xiu finds it ridiculous that he just called the Southern Region as a whole a 'bog.'
"Tell me then Vagabond, how come you were able to know my name?" He asks Wu Chen with stern face, as if insulted that he could know his identity in the first place.
Yet Wu Chen maintained his smile under the Contemptuous Gaze, keeping his composure as he delivered his attack.
"Of course, ~ Young Master Ouyang Pinah of the Ouyang family, the disgrace who lost to his younger sister Ouyang Xue."
"What…"
Ouyang Pinah face dropped, some of the Noble around him makes a grim, maddened face. Others, pity, and some are trying not to laugh.
'So, not all of them were loyal to him'
Wu Chen took a note in his head, the face of those seems to bear no loyalty to Ouyang Pinah
Ouyang Pinah then rushed forward towards Wu Chen, grabbing him by the collar as he makes a furious face. "Repeat that again you motherfucker…"
Xiu was about to rushed before he was held down by Ni Len who seems to know about Wu Chen intention of trying to provoke Ouyang Pinah.
'Boss wanted to make Ouyang Pinah attack him…'
"I said you lost to your sister who just hold the sword for less than 5 months. Oh~ perhaps you are referring to the time you vomit after boasting about how you can drink like an adult at an official gathering at Nanking?" Wu Chen throws more of the shameful facts about Ouyang Pinah.
The previously furious face of Ouyang Pinah contorts more as his nose flairs up and his eyes was sharpened more.
The noble that follows him wears all kind of different emotion, some keep their stern face, others cannot hold back their furious expression as their knuckles tensed up. While those who are trying not to smile earlier are currently dying to contain their laughter.
"Why are you making such a face young master? Aren't you happy that your name was associated with foolishness in the South? In fact, many guards were all so thrilled as they laugh their ass off telling your shameful conduct…"
Wu Chen relentless insult makes the vein in Ouyang Pinah face bulges as his cheek flustered from anger; he then furiously let go of his grip at Wu Chen collar as he strides away. None of the elegance he had when he first arrived here were visible.
"I will make sure your lives will become a living hell!" He said as he leaves, his follower was all rushing to get to his side until the solace of an empty yard fall once more.
Ni Len, who has been holding Xiu, finally released his grip that is throbbing from holding such a beast down throughout the entire exchange. Xiu of course, calmed down, but he sneers at Wu Chen insults.
But the most extreme reaction was of course.
"BUAHAHAHAHA~" Gu Tian who let out a flurry of satisfied laugh. She clutches her stomach, as if it were hurting from the intensity of her laughs.
"…What's with you?" Wu Chen asks with concern as he saw her rolling around, dramatizing her action even more.
"Ahaha.ha…ha…. haaaa" She finally ceased her laugh, she then slowly rise from after rolling around in the dirt, her black hairs cascades in a messy wave as she does so. Yet strangely, not a speck of dust cling to her form.
"Ouyang Pinah once tried to force me to marry him…" She confessed.
"What!" Chen face darkens, his face flustered. It is the rare occurrence of what Gu Tian called 'Rare Chen' where he reveals his true emotion, he usually kept hidden.
She smiles lightly at this sight as she relishes more from his shocked.
"Mm, he even almost kidnapped me once because I refuse" she said, feigning sadness with her fake tears.
"WHAT!!!!" Chen becomes more flustered. Not only him, even Xiu and Ni Len was shocked as well.
"IS THAT TRUE??!!" Chen grabs her shoulder, Gu Tian was surprised by his sudden boldness, but she decided to come clean before it barrels out of control.
"Of course, not~" she said as he smiles.
"…" Chen face dropped into a bewilderment, yet his face is of a neutral expression.
"O-of course the part where he forced me to marry him is real, it's just that my uncle quickly chases him out" Gu Tian tried to salvage the situation once she realizes that both Xiu and Ni Len make the same expression. The kind that screams 'Seriously?'
"…" Wu Chen then strides away from her.
"Chen?" Gu Tian calls out to him, but once she realizes he is not stopping, she started tailing him.
"Cmon Chen, it's just a joke~" she said, but Wu Chen did not cease his strides.
Gu Tian can only watch his gait goes further and further. She cannot do anything but to watch in bewilderment.
"Well, you reap what you sow" Ni Len said, as if mocking Gu Tian.