Gobsmacked

As the night deepened, dark clouds shrouded the starlight, and the mountain breeze intensified gradually. The impending mountain rain deterred many from venturing onto the streets, leaving them eerily deserted. Dim lights flickered from the houses along the road, while small debris and leaves danced in the gusts of wind, swirling aimlessly.

In the middle of the Gu Yue Village, the Chi family compound stood as an imposing structure crafted from sturdy bamboo, its silhouette dominating the landscape. Slaves and guards moved about with a practiced efficiency, their steps silent against the backdrop of the night. 

There were many rooms in this grand building, but one stood out in particular. Despite its simplicity, the furnishings exuded elegance, each piece carefully selected to complement the space. A small hearth cast a warm glow, its flickering flames providing both light and comfort in the chill of the night, creating a cozy ambiance.

"Every time when refining Gu, it is akin to a clash between two armies, a strategic battle of positioning, or a relentless war of attrition" An elderly man with silver hair and a seemingly fragile frame spoke with fervor, his words carrying the weight of decades of experience. Before him, two youths assumed meditative stances, their faces reflecting earnest concentration.

The old man's face bore the marks of years gone by, his once-dark hair now replaced with strands of gray, and his hands adorned with scars from battles long past. Yet, despite the passage of time, his demeanor exuded a quiet strength and a depth of experience. His name was Chi Lian, and he was one of the most influential elders in the Gu Yue Village, only equaled by the Mo family head, Mo Chen.

One of the two youngsters seated before him was Chi Chen, the young master of the Chi family, distinguished by his "B-grade talent." His hair bore a unique reddish tint, a striking contrast to his peers, and he was clad in garments whose value surpassed the monthly expenditures of an ordinary mortal household. At the moment, his brows were knit together in concentration, as copper-green primeval essence surged from his aperture, flowing directly towards the Moonlight Gu he held in his palms.

Beside him sat a youth whose appearance was starkly unremarkable, clad in simple garments with short, dark hair, easily overlooked amidst a crowd. In his hands, he held a primeval stone, gradually disintegrating into fine dust.

"When refining any Gu, the first consideration is the talent of the individual, and the second is the Gu worm itself. If the Gu worm's will is frail, it becomes significantly easier for anyone to refine it..." Gu Yue Chi Lian spoke, a smile playing on his lips, delighted to impart his wisdom to his grandson. Chi Chen was his pride and joy...his talent, whether C-grade or even D-grade, mattered little to him. Such was the depth of his affection and unwavering support. Even if it meant defying every rule and convention of the clan, he would still stand behind his grandson!

But then, his attention shifted to the young boy meditating beside his grandson, stirring mixed feelings within him. This boy was named Gu Yue Qin, a nobody who had assumed the role of his grandson's personal attendant just a week prior. Yet, his behavior scarcely matched that of a servant! Would a mere servant be privy to a clan Elder's teachings, personally bestowed upon his grandson? Certainly not. However, Chi Chen had argued that his friend would also gain from the instruction, and the grandfather found it not worth disputing.

This Gu Yue Qin quickly formed a bond with his grandson during the Awakening Ceremony and then he requested to serve the distinguished Chi Family branch. His grandson, lacking experience, immediately agreed, knowing full well that Qin's innate talent surpassed his own if no tampering methods were to be used. Wasn't it, then, a mark of prestige and affluence to have someone more blessed by the heavens as his servant? At least these were Chi Chen's thoughts as he agreed to Qin's proposal.

'That might be the case, but Chen fails to see the signs of ambition in him like I do'...pondered Chi Lian, using his rich life experience to see through Qin's actions. 'First, he attempted to break through to B-grade forcefully, bearing the pressure of the spirit spring. This demonstrates his resilience and strength of character...Then, he didn't falter when met with failure, like most youths his age would. Instead, he promptly sought a backer to compensate for his destitute circumstances. In other words, he sought refuge under the wing of my Chi Family, using his decently high talent as a bargaining chip...'

'For a kid raised among mortals, possessing such foresight and a keen grasp of his position indicates a certain level of intellect. Such a person is like a double-edged sword...His ambition might lead him to betray my Chi family if someone manages to tempt him...But having a capable subordinate will benefit little Chen in the long run, as long as I teach him how to manage ambitious underlings...'

All those thoughts flashed through the elder's mind in an instant. Besides a minute furrowing of his eyebrows, as he glanced at Qin, he showed no outward expression of his thoughts before he continued to explain the intricacies of Gu refining he had learned over the years.

As for the matter of Gu Yue Qin, he didn't dwell on it. For all the boy's craftiness, he was still too inexperienced to devise schemes so intricate they couldn't be seen through. Despite his decently high talent, he had no means to rapidly increase his strength. Moreover, the boy's weekly wage as a servant was merely 4 primeval stones, which was woefully insufficient in the grand scheme of things...

"*Yawn*....Grandpa...we've been refining the Moonlight Gu for over three hours now..." Chi Chen's voice suddenly interrupted the Elder's musings, his words tinged with drowsiness. "I'm sure we've made good progress by now, so why don't we call it a night and continue tomorrow?" He rubbed his eyes wearily as he spoke.

Seeing this scene, the old Chi Lian readily agreed, refraining from mentioning that despite Chi Chen's efforts over three hours and the 5 primeval stones he consumed, the Gu had only been refined by a mere 10%.

"Indeed, it has been a fruitful session. With perseverance, I have no doubt that both of you will master the basics in due time," Chi Lian spoke amiably, directing his words mainly toward his grandson, who was stretching his sore legs after sitting for so long.

"Thank you, Grandpa, for your invaluable teachings. If there's nothing else, I'll excuse myself and retire for the night," said Chi Chen as he exited the dimly lit room and made his way toward his chambers. Though it might not have appeared taxing, gu refining was extremely draining for the mind, especially for the inexperienced.

In fact, Chi Chen was so exhausted that he completely forgot about the presence of his friend Qin, who had been standing right beside him all along! The only thought occupying his mind was reaching the soft mattress of his bed and collapsing onto it...

.

.

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"Go to sleep, boy. You can continue the refinement tomorrow," Chi Lian said to the still-seated Qin as he prepared to go to sleep as well.

The only reason he shared his experiences with Qin was due to his grandson's insistence. While it was evident that Qin lingered behind, likely to continue refining his gu or to ask a few more questions, the elder remained indifferent. While he respected Qin's resourcefulness, he held no personal affection for him. Unlike his grandson, Qin didn't warrant the elder's time and effort in teaching.

Alas, the words Chi Lian heard next instantly dispelled any drowsiness he might have felt in the late hour of the night.

"Esteemed Elder... You have been nothing but kind to me this past week, so I believe it's only natural I stop lying to you..." The plain boy's voice was so soft that Chi Lian could barely hear it, but it sent a shiver down his spine. He stood frozen, his mind racing to decipher the meaning behind the words... and only one possibility emerged from the myriad of thoughts.

'A spy...' Chi Lian's thoughts roared furiously as his old frame emanated pressure, his glare piercing through Qin like daggers, demanding an explanation for his cryptic words.

'A spy sent by that accursed Mo family to infiltrate my Chi family' Chi Lian's thoughts raged on, his mind full of disbelief and suspicion. 'But it makes no sense! His talent is too high for him to be discarded like this by that bastard Mo Chen...Even if he were a spy, why would he reveal himself like this? He must surely realize that he wouldn't leave this room alive if that were true, no matter what information he might try to leverage...'

If glares possessed physical force, Qin's body would have been sliced into countless pieces by the intensity of the old man's stare. Yet, such a feat was beyond the capabilities of a mere Rank 3 Gu master. Despite this, Qin appeared entirely at ease, his eyes calm and his smile friendly as he met the elder's gaze unflinchingly.

"Please, Esteemed Elder, don't misunderstand my intentions..." Qin spoke slowly as if attempting to soothe the old man's agitation.

"Just get to the point, boy," Chi Lian snapped impatiently, racking his memory for any signs of suspicious behavior Qin might have displayed in the past week, but coming up empty-handed.

"What I'm about to share might come as good news to you... but I believe it's better demonstrated than explained. Would you be willing to examine my aperture, Esteemed Elder?" Qin inquired, approaching the Elder, whose anger had shifted to confusion. His initial suspicions didn't align with the unfolding events, leaving him increasingly unsettled by the unexpected turn.

Nonetheless, he extended his aged hand towards Qin's midsection, concentrating on his aperture, his gaze conveying a stern warning of dire consequences if satisfactory answers weren't promptly forthcoming.

However, in an instant, his eyes widened to the size of saucers, and his jaw dropped to the floor. His breath left his lungs with the force of a tempest, leaving his chest feeling hollow and his senses reeling. His pulse quickened to a frantic rhythm, pounding in his temples like the beat of a war drum. Beads of sweat formed on his furrowed brow, trickling down his weathered face like miniature rivers. His trembling hands quivered as if struggling to grasp the reality of what lay before him!

If his body was that of a mere mortal instead of a rank 3 Gu master, he might have died on the spot because of the shock!

This was understandable because the sight he expected to see as he peered through the aperture's light wall—a sea of copper-green primeval essence rising to almost six-tenths of the aperture—was nowhere to be seen!

Instead, the level of Qin's primeval sea was almost eight-tenths full!