The Clan Plaza. One Week Later.
It had been a week since Gu Fan quietly buried his mother in a serene, hidden glade on the immediate outskirts of the Venom Forest. For seven days, the Gu Clan estate had been locked down, suffocating under a heavy blanket of paranoia.
During this time, the rhythmic beating of patrol gongs echoed through the estate day and night. The lockdown had tightened to an extreme degree. Patrols had doubled, and maids, servants, and even the younger generation were strictly barred from leaving the gates. Gu Fan couldn't risk a deep expedition to find the Ghost Fire, not with the Elders personally sweeping the perimeter for Chen Long's "assassin."
So, he had slipped the cracked Jade Pendant securely into his inner robes. He would have to wait for the right opportunity to decipher it and claim the flame.
And today, that opportunity finally presented itself.
A horn blasted, deep and resonant, echoing off the surrounding mountains. It was a summons for a Grand Assembly.
Gu Fan, hugging the shadows of the outer wall, effortlessly scaled a large, ancient oak tree near the perimeter, hiding amidst the dense foliage. From here, he had a clear view of the main plaza.
Several hundred outer and inner disciples were gathering in neat rows. The atmosphere was incredibly tense.
Two days ago, the Chen Clan envoys had finally arrived to answer the emergency summons regarding Chen Long's death. They were six in number, their faces hidden beneath deep cowls, draped in menacing black and crimson-red robes that seemed to swallow the light around them. The sheer, oppressive bloodlust rolling off their bodies was thick enough to choke on, terrifying the local clan guards so badly that two of them had actually fainted at the gates. They didn't walk; they glided like grim reapers seeking a soul to reap.
Gu Fan had desperately wanted to be in that high-stakes meeting, even if it meant risking discovery by slipping in as a lowly serving boy to pour tea. The political fallout was too crucial to miss. But the Grand Council Hall had been locked down tighter than a fortress. Layers of silencing arrays were activated. Except for Gu Chen—who strutted in claiming to be the sole hero who fought the 'assassin'—only the core Clan Elders, Madam Li, and Patriarch Gu Yangtian were permitted inside the heavy bronze doors.
But Gu Fan didn't need to be in the room to know the political reality. His author's knowledge painted a clear picture. The Gu Clan was backed by the Chen Clan, but the Bai Clan wasn't standing alone either; they had the formidable Ye Clan behind them. An all-out, overt war over a dead young master was impossible without sparking a catastrophic regional conflict.
On the raised platform at the front of the plaza stood Patriarch Gu Yangtian. He looked weary but resolute. Flanking him were the Elders and Madam Li, while Gu Chen stood slightly to the side, his white spirit-armor gleaming.
Patriarch Gu Yangtian raised his hand. The murmuring crowd fell silent instantly.
"Brothers! Sisters! Disciples of the Gu Clan!" The Patriarch's voice was amplified by Qi, booming across the plaza. "For a week, darkness has befallen our clan! The cowardly assassination of our esteemed guest has pushed our honor to the brink!"
He paced the stage, his gaze sweeping over the furious disciples.
"But an overt war will only bring ruin to Poison Valley Town! The Chen Clan envoys and the Ye Clan representatives have intervened and mediated a resolution. We will settle this blood debt not with a blind siege, but in the Ten Thousand Poison Forest!"
Gu Fan, perched high in the tree, frowned. Wait... what?
This was completely out of his author knowledge. In the original plot, there was no joint event right now—just Gu Chen leading a rogue expedition to farm meat shields. The butterfly effect of killing Chen Long, stealing his ring, and framing the Bai Clan had forcibly rewritten the timeline.
"The Bai Clan and the Gu Clan will hold a Joint Hunting Competition!" Gu Yangtian declared. "Heavy wagers have been placed on this trial. Spirit mines, herb monopolies, and our very pride! The clan that places the most younger generation disciples in the top ten will claim the ultimate victory and the right to exact justice!"
The crowd murmured, a mix of apprehension and boiling blood.
"This competition concerns the future of our younger generation," the Patriarch continued, his voice hardening. "Only those younger than forty years of age are permitted to participate. You have three days to prepare your weapons, harden your hearts, and submit your names to the Registry Pavilion! In three days' time, we march into the Venom Forest!"
The crowd went completely wild. "Glory to the Gu Clan!"
Gu Fan dropped from the tree, a dark smirk forming on his face. He had the map to the Ghost Fire, and now, the entire younger generation of both clans would be in the forest, distracted by a manufactured competition. Gu Chen, who still didn't even know the Ghost Fire existed since he never found the pendant, would likely spend the entire trial desperately searching the forest for his stolen storage ring. Meanwhile, Gu Fan would use the chaos to slip away and claim the ultimate treasure right under everyone's noses.
He needed to get into that competition. But as a crippled servant, he couldn't just walk up and register.
The Matriarch's Chambers. That Evening.
Gu Fan slipped through the locked doors of Madam Li's private quarters like a ghost, courtesy of his Phantom Veil Cloak.
As soon as he materialized and pulled the hood down, a pair of soft, desperate arms wrapped around his neck.
Madam Li pulled him deeper into the dimly lit room, pressing her voluptuous body flush against his chest.
"Mmm..." A soft, needy moan escaped her lips as she immediately captured his mouth in a passionate, deep kiss. It wasn't aggressive or violent; it was deeply longing, filled with the pent-up tension of a stressful week of clan politics.
Gu Fan hummed in appreciation, his hands naturally sliding down to grip her waist. He could feel the heavy, soft weight of her breasts pressing warmly against his chest.
"Ah... Gu Fan..." she breathed heavily against his lips, her tongue tasting him hungrily. Beneath her sheer purple silk robes, she intentionally arched her hips, slowly and seductively rubbing her wet, aching pussy against his hard crotch.
"Seven days..." she whimpered softly between kisses, her nails digging into his back. "You didn't visit me for seven whole days... do you have any idea how much I missed this? How much I needed you while dealing with those wretched envoys?"
They swayed together in the quiet room for a long moment, lost in the slow, sensual heat of the kiss and the wet, slick sounds of their mouths moving together.
Finally, Madam Li pulled back slowly. A thick, glistening string of saliva connected their lips before snapping softly. Her dark eyes were hazy, her cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of pink.
She rested her forehead against his chin, her chest heaving slightly as she caught her breath.
"You've been ignoring me," she whispered softly, tracing a delicate finger over his collarbone. "Why did my sweet stepson finally decide to visit me tonight?"
Gu Fan smiled, his hands sliding down to give her soft ass a firm squeeze.
"I want to join the competition."