Although Ning Wuzhen knew little about wine, even he could tell that what Gu Fangchen had been drinking was no ordinary brew.
The fragrance was rich, the spiritual energy dense. Just the scent alone was enough to intoxicate. It had to be a top-grade spirit wine.
Such wine could only have been crafted by a master brewer of great renown.
Given Gu Fangchen's old wastrel habits, relying on his parents' reputation to associate with officials and nobles, he indeed had many connections.
Or rather, all kinds of people had always rushed to curry favor with him.
But the problem was, this was the Sword Pavilion, not Radiant Heaven City. How could Gu Fangchen have the influence here to obtain wine of this quality?
Never would he have imagined that this time, the culprit behind it all would be his own son!
Besides, everyone close to them knew full well of Ning Songjun's love for good wine.
So Ning Wuzhen wasn't surprised that Ning Songjun would do something like this.
In Ning Songjun's eyes, Gu Fangchen was the good-for-nothing troublemaker always stirring chaos. But in Ning Wuzhen's eyes, was Ning Songjun himself ever any different?
Since childhood, the messes he caused were even worse than Gu Fangchen's, and it was always Ning Caiyong who had to clean them up.
Now he had merely changed from a mischievous monkey into one that only looked mature on the surface.
See? When he was young, he snuck wine. Now, grown up, he brought his nephew along to sneak it with him.
Gu Fangchen even said righteously,
"If you don't believe me, the jar's still with Uncle."
Ning Wuzhen's face darkened. He waved his hand.
"Enough. Come here and do what you came for. We'll talk about the rest later."
Gu Fangchen obediently answered and stepped forward.
Ning Wuzhen scrutinized him.
"Your uncle said that when you defeated Xu Yuexiu and took first place in swordsmanship, it was you who controlled the puppet?"
Gu Fangchen nodded.
"It was me."
He asked openly,
"Does Grandfather think someone as ignorant and clumsy as me shouldn't have such skill, and so suspects I used other means?"
This boy really did know himself well...
But if this had been the old Gu Fangchen, the instant he was suspected he would have flown into a rage, cried, made a scene, and run to Ning Caiyong to complain.
How could he possibly speak so calmly now?
It did seem that he was no longer the same as before... though whether this change was real or fake remained to be seen.
Ning Wuzhen's gaze sharpened as he said,
"I won't make things difficult for you. Just answer a few questions for me, and I'll grant you the qualification to enter the Forbidden Ground."
Gu Fangchen didn't agree immediately. He blinked and asked,
"Grandfather, exactly how many questions? Do I get the qualification just for answering, or do I need to get them right?"
"Once I have the qualification, can I enter the Forbidden Ground immediately? Will it be this year or next year?"
"Once I enter, can I comprehend sword intent like everyone else, or can I only look around and then leave?"
"..."
Ning Wuzhen's mouth twitched. Apparently, the boy's newfound cleverness wasn't all a good thing, he'd managed to guard against every possible trick.
The Pavilion Master said irritably,
"Three questions. You answer them, and I'll throw you in immediately. Stay as long as you like. Whatever you do inside is none of my concern."
You said it yourself!
Gu Fangchen grinned, feigning innocence as he spread his hands.
"I was just asking casually, no need to get angry, Grandfather..."
He patted his chest.
"Three questions then. Ask away. I'll answer everything honestly!"
You compressed it down to only three, and you still say 'answer everything'?
The short-tempered swordsmen of the southwest were infamous for their fiery tempers, and Ning Wuzhen almost lost years of cultivation from sheer exasperation.
He sighed inwardly, calming himself before he laughed out of frustration.
Still, from this short exchange, he could already tell, his grandson's temperament had truly changed drastically.
But to think the boy's mind and scheming were this deep... hiding it so well that all of them had been fooled for years.
Ning Wuzhen thought for a moment before asking,
"First question. If, at that time, Xu Yuexiu had been bolder, giving up on dodging, and immediately used the move 'Star-Chopping Ground Leap,' rotating the sword hilt by one-third turn, blade turned toward herself, and struck your wrist with the hilt, how would you resolve it?"
This was precisely the counter Xu Yuexiu had failed to improvise during the match.
Since she lacked time to block the blade directly, she could instead rotate slightly and intercept the opponent's wrist with her hilt midway.
Gu Fangchen immediately said cheerfully,
"Simple. Since she pulled her blade back, her lower stance is unguarded, I'd just step on her toes."
Step... on her toes?!
Ning Wuzhen: "..."
He was about to rebuke him for making light of life-and-death combat,
But paused. Thinking it through carefully, it wasn't entirely wrong.
That tactic targeted the opponent's lower body, inducing pain or imbalance.
Toes would work; other places would too.
By that point, though, it wasn't swordplay anymore, it was life-and-death fighting.
Reflecting on his own first reaction, Ning Wuzhen even felt a little ashamed.
Wasn't this precisely how one should respond when life was on the line?
Still, this wasn't the question's purpose, he wanted to gauge Gu Fangchen's understanding of Sword Pavilion swordsmanship.
Though Gu Fangchen's answer was valid, it strayed far from sword technique itself.
Ning Wuzhen cleared his throat, glanced at him, and said,
"I was asking, if you were to respond using swordsmanship, how would you resolve it?"
Gu Fangchen chuckled.
"Does that count as the second question?"
Ning Wuzhen's expression didn't change. "...It does."
After all, he hadn't set the condition clearly enough. He could only let this question go.
So good at exploiting loopholes!
Gu Fangchen stroked his chin and thought for a while before replying.
Seeing him pause, Ning Wuzhen actually felt relieved, he had almost thought this boy could answer instantly without hesitation.
At least he was still human...
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Gu Fangchen looked up and said,
"If we're talking swordsmanship, then I have five solutions."
Ning Wuzhen: "?"
So it wasn't that he couldn't answer, it was that he had too many?
To think he could come up with five solutions in a heartbeat, not even Ning Songjun in his prime could have managed that!
Surely this boy was bluffing?
But under Ning Wuzhen's skeptical gaze, Gu Fangchen spoke smoothly and confidently.
"If we're using the Sword Pavilion's Basic Sword Techniques, there are two options: 'Cold Firefly Through Sleeve' and 'Guarding Flame Reflects Ice.'"
The so-called Basic Sword Techniques of the Sword Pavilion were anything but basic.
They formed a top-tier sword style encompassing seventy-two moves. Mastering all of them could elevate a swordsman to Fifth Rank.
Practical, yet profoundly intricate.
"If using other sects' sword styles, I'd recommend the twenty-first move of the Wind-Cutting Sword from Galloping Horse Relay, or the Six-Word Formula of Iron Tile Hall. As for the Thirteen Swords of Ashen Garment from Fire Blaze Sect, I'd consider that the least effective choice."
Ning Wuzhen listened, dumbfounded. After pondering each, he realized all five were feasible, and each brilliantly conceived.
But the more he thought, the heavier his heart grew.
Even in just one or two moves, the level of comprehension required was immense.
His grandson spoke as though he had laid bare the sword heritage of every great sect in the southwest!
Gu Fangchen, however, grew more animated as he spoke, even feeling a nostalgic excitement, like those late nights he used to spend making strategy videos.
After thoroughly explaining all five solutions, he smacked his lips, still unsatisfied.
What a joke!
He wasn't even fighting for real, if he couldn't come up with at least five theoretical counters, what kind of top-tier strategist would he be?
He looked at the stunned Ning Wuzhen and raised a brow.
"What does Grandfather think of my five solutions?"
Ning Wuzhen was silent for a long time before saying,
"Excellent. Even your uncle might not compare to you."
He stared deeply at Gu Fangchen.
"Especially your knowledge of other sects, so comprehensive it's terrifying."
Gu Fangchen shrugged and grinned.
"If I didn't know them inside out, how could I help the Sword Pavilion level them all to the ground?"
Ning Wuzhen looked at him, then suddenly smiled and patted his shoulder.
"You're more ruthless than your uncle."
His tone turned heavy.
"Gu Yuye raised you for nineteen years. Since you already knew the truth, that you were only a scapegoat, sooner or later you two will come to blows."
"Your mother is soft-hearted. After being married to Gu Yuye for so many years, she won't bear to see it happen."
"When that time comes, what will you do about Gu Yuye?"
Gu Fangchen met his gaze.
"That's the third question?"
Ning Wuzhen nodded. "It is."
"My answer is, "
Gu Fangchen lifted his head, his voice cold.
"Kill him."