SMACK!
A sharp, deafening slap echoed like a thunderclap across the courtyard.
Gu Chen's eyes widened in absolute shock as the sheer force of the blow sent him flying backward.
His boots slammed into the stone path in a desperate attempt to stop himself from smashing into the wall of the courtyard, as it shattered the white marble and carved deep, jagged trenches into the earth before he tumbled through the dust.
He coughed up blood, as his pristine white robes were covered in his own blood and dust.
"Ughh!" Groaning, Gu Chen pushed himself up with great difficulty, his legs trembling slightly from the overwhelming pressure of an Origin Realm strike.
As he finally straightened up, a bright red blistering handprint rapidly welled up on his otherwise flawless cheek.
"Matriarch?!" Gu Chen gasped, holding his stinging face, completely stunned.
As the dust settled, the scene was finally revealed, and Madam Li stood directly between Gu Chen and Gu Fan.
She had that annoyed look on her face as she looked down on Gu Chen, her terrifying Origin Realm aura flaring wildly around her, and her slender hand was still raised high in the air from the vicious slap.
"Don't you dare touch him, Gu Chen!" Madam Li snapped overwhelming with fury, "We are standing outside the Grand Council Hall! I will not have you shedding Young Master GU FAN's blood over a simple misstep!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself! He is the son of your Patriarch!"
Gu Chen gritted his teeth, his face burning with humiliation in front of the guards and the Steward. He bowed his head, unable to refute her logic, "I... I apologize, Matriarch. I acted out of turn."
Steward Wang, who had been watching the scene unfold from his knees, felt the blood drain completely from his face.
He stared at the servant standing calmly behind the Matriarch.
He thought the boy following the Matriarch was just a mere servant, but following the Matriarch's outrage, the boy slowly lifted his head, and Steward Wang saw those piercing, glowing green eyes.
It can't be!
Steward Wang's heart completely stopped. It was really Gu Fan, the Seventh Young Master.
Steward Wang's breath hitched. A few days ago, the Matriarch had personally ordered him to leave Gu Fan alone, claiming she had "some use for him." Wang had assumed she meant using the trash for some menial, degrading task to torture him.
But looking at the scene before him, the truth was far more terrifying.
This man standing tall behind the Matriarch... He didn't look like a crippled victim... He looked menacing.
Sensing his gaze, Gu Fan turned his head, and stared the shaking Steward Wang in the eye.
Gu Fan stared at Steward Wang for a while before his lips curled up in a smile and he winked, a slow, deliberate, terrifying wink.
And suddenly Steward Wang felt his knees turn jelly. He opened his mouth wanting to say something, but no sound came out of it. Absolute terror had seized his throat like a snake.
Why would the Matriarch, the most ruthless, untouchable woman in the clan slap the supreme genius Gu Chen across the face to protect a cripple, illegitimate son whom she went to kill herself?
She had publicly defended the illegitimate trash of the clan against the Golden Boy.
Why???
Steward Wang felt like pulling his hair. This made absolutely no sense.
Gu Fan had somehow gotten incredibly, dangerously close to the Matriarch. He had the ruler of the inner court dancing on his strings, protecting him, playing them all like absolute fools.
"Steward Wang?" Gu Fan noticed the old man violently shaking, and smiled, "Are you feeling cold? You don't look that good."
"I..." Steward Wang squeaked.
This boy looking at him with that smile was the new favourite of the Matriarch. What was he supposed to say to him?
"I... I am just overwhelmed by the Matriarch's righteous anger!" Steward Wang lied, bowing frantically, cold sweat pouring down his face, "Forgive me, Matriarch!"
Madam Li ignored him, as she was still staring at Gu Chen, her eyebrows stitched together in a big furrow.
"The smell is making me sick," she hissed, waving her hand dismissively. She shot a lethal glare at Gu Chen, "Do not test my patience today, Gu Chen. Focus on the Chen Clan envoys and stay out of my way."
She turned her gaze to Gu Fan, "Boy! You deliver the body to the Ice Chamber attendants immediately at the Ancestral Hall."
"Yes, Matriarch..." Gu Fan mumbled, grabbing the cart handles.
Madam Li turned and walked away, her entourage of guards scrambling to follow her. But after ten steps, she paused. She couldn't help it. She glanced back over her shoulder.
Gu Fan was still standing there, watching her walk away. Even from this distance, she could feel his possessive gaze burning into her hips.
"And once you are done, come find me in my chamber."
(About an hour or so later)
Gu fan was right now in the Ten Thousand Poison Forest.
Gu Fan had quickly pushed the cart to the Ancestral Hall and handed the body over to the terrified attendants at the Ice Chamber.
But he didn't linger there for longer.
He walked straight past the hall, slipping quietly through the heavy iron gates at the very back of the Gu Clan estate.
[System Notification]
[Steward Wang's Absolute Terror.]
[Bonus Rewards: Random Spin x 2, Yin Cultivation Qi : 10,000, 1 Earth Grate crate]
Gu Fan laughed softly. "Steward Wang won't sleep a single wink tonight. Good. Let him stew in his own paranoia."
He had fed the Matriarch's addiction, completely derailed Gu Chen's war plans, and planted the seed of utter terror in the Steward.
He looked ahead. Beyond the iron gates stood the dense, imposing green wall of ancient trees that marked the absolute edge of civilization.
The Ten Thousand Poison Forest.
Gu fan has been in the Gu Clan for some time, but he can't stay cooped in the Clan and rely on the system rewards.
And what better place to search for them than the treasure trove, 'Ten Thousand Poison Forest'.
And though it was a a gold mine with rare herbs and treasures, it was also a terrifying place where deadly venomous beasts roamed.
For anyone else, it would be an enticing death trap.
But for Gu Fan, it was an all you can eat buffet.
"Time to go farming!"
Gu fan grinned.