Next, Gu Yuan asked a few more questions and then gave the Wu Manager a swift end.

Gazing at the two bodies on the ground, Gu Yuan turned to the Iron-backed Centipede, "Ah Wu, it's up to you now."

The innate divine technique of the Iron-backed Centipede, the poisonous fog, can corrode gold and iron, making it the most suitable for erasing all traces.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two bodies had turned into a pool of blood.

"Now that I've achieved great success in marrow refining, my strength is barely enough, plus I have Ah Huang, Ah Wu, and Big Mouth as three great helpers."

Looking at the pool of blood on the ground, Gu Yuan's eyes were deep, and a thought popped into his mind.

"Next, it's time to settle old scores and pay back grievances..."

...

The next day, Gu Yuan got up early and found that Mother Gu had already prepared breakfast.

There were fried pancakes, thick and slightly sweet rice porridge, and boiled eggs, along with a dish of salted vegetable shreds with an oil sheen, salty, fragrant, and refreshing, stimulating one's appetite.

Ever since the Wu Manager came to apologize recently, the news that the family was not lacking in money spread, so there was no need to hide their food and drink habits.

Especially now that Gu Yuan had become a Martial Master and ate well and heartily, which seemed even more justified in others' eyes.

As Gu Yuan ate, he talked about being valued by the Pavilion Master and getting a house in the county city to live in.

He didn't mention Xia Xiuxue, to avoid making the old couple overthink.

Seeing the old couple surprised and delighted, Gu Yuan then spoke about the matters Xia Xiuxue reminded him of, and said to the old couple:

"Dad, Mom, why don't you pack up and come stay in the city for a while? Beiliang County hasn't been peaceful lately, and you'd be safer in the city."

"Forget it."

Father Gu refused without even thinking, "Your mom and I have lived here all our lives, we're used to it. If we went to the county, we probably wouldn't even sleep well at night."

He said nonchalantly, "Besides, even if it's not peaceful, our Gu Family Village is so remote, how could something happen to us by chance?"

Seeing his father setting up a flag for himself, Gu Yuan was a bit helpless and looked to his mother, hoping her sharp mind could help persuade them.

But this time, Mother Gu sided with her husband, saying:

"Ah Yuan, I know you're filial, but your father is right. We've spent most of our lives in the village, going to the city, we definitely wouldn't get used to it. You just go yourself."

Gu Yuan, of course, tried to persuade them earnestly again.

But no matter what, the old couple wouldn't agree. Seeing this, Gu Yuan was a bit helpless too. He couldn't just drag them forcefully, could he?

Moreover, what the old couple said wasn't without reason.

They had lived in Gu Family Village for decades and were used to everything there, the neighbors, the way of life. Taking them to an unfamiliar place might improve the living conditions, but the old couple might not like it.

Considering their age and that traveling back and forth wouldn't be suitable,

Besides, Beiliang County might not be peaceful, but who can guarantee the county city is safer than Gu Family Village?

Thinking this way, Gu Yuan decided to temporarily dismiss the idea of moving them to the city.

However, he was determined to have Big Mouth keep a close watch on the couple, as an additional layer of protection.

"Brother Ah Yuan!"

After finishing breakfast, as Gu Yuan was about to leave, Sun Zhong, a small and skinny kid, ran into the yard, carrying a wild pheasant in his hand, excitedly shaking his catch:

"I caught a pheasant yesterday using the method you taught me!"

"Oh, it's Ah Zhong."

Seeing Sun Zhong and glancing at the pheasant in his hand, Gu Yuan smiled:

"Not bad, does your family have enough to eat? Remember to take some back later."

"No need."

Sun Zhong said shyly, "Brother Ah Yuan, my mom said you've helped our family enough already. So she asked me to bring this pheasant as a token of our gratitude."

"Alright then, just leave it here. Next time I go to the county, I'll bring you some candied hawthorns."

Gu Yuan patted his head.

Hearing the words "candied hawthorns," Sun Zhong's eyes lit up immediately, nodding vigorously: "Okay!"

After exchanging a few words, he left the pheasant and excitedly went on his way.

Gu Yuan smiled as he watched Sun Zhong leave. As he disappeared from sight, the smile faded, and a strange color flashed in his eyes.

"This little guy must have a secret!"

He hadn't forgotten that the Iron-toothed Rat, Ah Huang, instinctively felt a trace of fear the first time it met Sun Zhong.

Initially, Gu Yuan thought Ah Huang feared Sun the widow or that there was something strange about the mother and son.

But later, he realized that Ah Huang was afraid of Sun Zhong.

And not just Ah Huang, even Big Mouth and Ah Wu seemed to have a subtle fear of Sun Zhong, instinctively avoiding him and not wanting to get close.

This had to make Gu Yuan think more.

A mere eight or nine-year-old child who could instill fear in strange creatures like the Iron-toothed Rat and Big-mouthed Snake, as well as the demon insect Iron-backed Centipede, was clearly problematic.

This was akin to a human child making a tiger fear them and steer clear, truly unusual!

Even if this human child had some sliding skill, it still wouldn't make sense.

After much communication with the non-verbal trio and his own deductions, Gu Yuan finally reached a conclusion.

There was an aura on Sun Zhong that made the trio fearful!

Realizing this, Gu Yuan began to quietly pay attention to Sun Zhong.

He suspected Sun Zhong might possess some mysterious constitution or have something hidden within him.

But regardless of the reason, it meant this child was not simple...

As for Gu Yuan himself, he didn't interfere too much nor did he get overly close, intending only to be an observer.

...

"Have you heard?"

"About what?"

"Dong Gui and Sun Er are dead!"

"What? They were fine just yesterday, how did they suddenly die? Wait, could it have been Gu Yuan? Hiss... Gu Yuan is truly ruthless, crippling their limbs wasn't enough, he even killed them..."

"What are you thinking, this has nothing to do with Gu Yuan. These two were just unlucky. Yesterday afternoon, they got together to drink, got drunk and smashed an oil lamp in the middle of the night, causing a fire that burned them alive."

"Good! They deserved to die! Those two bastards never did any good, who in Gu Family Village doesn't hold a grudge against them? Their death is just karma!"

"Indeed..."

At the entrance of Gu Family Village, two idle men were huddled in the lee of a wall, sunning themselves and muttering to each other.

Just then, they saw a tall and handsome young man, holding a long sword, walking out of the village and heading into the distance.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.