Chapter 53: Sharpen Your Blades, Prepare to Kill!

Thinking of this, Gu Fan shook his head at Lin Yi, then chuckled and said,

“Ling’er-jie, you might not know, but those Demonic Path Twin Stars are actually my fellow disciples, and they are senior and junior brothers with this friend of mine here. So, the two of us really do know them.”

Gu Ling was briefly stunned and instinctively looked toward Lin Yi.

Seeing his solemn and serious expression, not at all like he was joking, she immediately became a little excited.

“Is that true?”

“Naturally, it’s true.”

Gu Fan continued to reassure her.

“So you don’t need to be afraid. When the time comes, just wait in your room for us to come and get you. Leave everything else to us!”

Gu Ling’s eyes suddenly turned red.

During this time, how could she not have wished to reject the marriage?

But the power of the main bloodline was too great, and they had her firmly under control.

Madam Gu even claimed that as long as she cooperated, her branch line would receive sufficient care in the future.

For the sake of her family, she had no choice but to compromise.

Now that Gu Fan told her the marriage could be annulled, the frustration accumulated over many days was finally relieved.

Gu Fan then inquired about the current condition of his parents, and after learning they were unharmed, he left the Gu Residence.

Returning to the temporary dwelling.

Lin Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

“Brother Gu, I didn’t expect there to be fakes going around using our names to swindle people. Seems like we’ve gained some fame.”

Gu Fan also found it a bit ridiculous.

Someone actually dared to use his name to commit fraud, and the key point was—it had reached his ears.

All that could be said was that the good days of those two were coming to an end.

“But Brother Gu, why not just go kill them now and cancel the marriage?”

“What’s the rush? The Nalan Family is hosting the wedding, and all the various forces of Huiyun City will be present. At that time, we’ll take the opportunity to reform the entire Gu Family, kill the chicken to scare the monkey! Only then can I have a deterrent effect on all the city’s powers, and ensure that after I leave, no one dares to trouble my parents.”

“As expected of Brother Gu, thoughtful and thorough—one clean sweep.”

Gu Fan looked at the bright moon in the sky and said somewhat melancholically,

“People are not plants. Since I’ve stepped onto the path of cultivation, I naturally need to arrange a good life for my loved ones. Maybe not to wield immense power, but at the very least, I must ensure they live without worries and enjoy their twilight years.”

Lin Yi fell into thought and didn’t continue speaking.

Gu Fan, on the other hand, recalled the conversation from just now.

Through Gu Ling, he had come to fully understand the current state of the Gu Residence.

The Gu Family had a main line and ten branch lines.

Among them, besides the second and third houses tightly clinging to the first house, the other eight branches were all being exploited.

All the power in the Gu Family was controlled by the first, second, and third houses.

So if he wanted his parents to live well in the future, Gu Fan decided to massacre all three of these houses!

As for the remaining branches, those willing to submit could be spared. Those who refused would simply be slaughtered.

By then, Gu Ling’s line could be consolidated and made to manage the entire Gu Family.

As for whether the lives of the other branches would improve, he didn’t care in the slightest.

As long as the ones he cared about could live comfortably, the life or death of others didn’t matter at all.

Thinking of this, Gu Fan sighed again.

“Lin Yi!”

“Mm?”

“Sharpen your blades and swords—prepare to kill!”

“So it shall be… very well!”

…

Two days passed quickly.

Over the past two days, Gu Fan watched as the Gu Residence grew lively and festive, adorned everywhere with jubilant red decorations.

The household servants were also kept constantly busy.

Since the marriage was into the Nalan Family, the Gu Family naturally didn’t dare slack off just because it was Gu Ling.

At the very least, appearances had to be kept up.

Finally, at the prearranged auspicious hour, the Nalan Family’s Young Master arrived at the Gu Residence with his wedding procession, drums and gongs resounding.

Everything proceeded smoothly afterward—the bride, her face covered by a red veil, was carried into the bridal sedan and brought all the way to the Nalan Residence.

Gu Fan and Lin Yi casually fabricated an identity related to the Gu Family and smoothly entered the Nalan Residence.

Once the two sat down, Lin Yi couldn’t help glancing around.

“Brother Gu, are we just going to wait here like this?”

“No rush. Let’s wait until most of the city’s forces have arrived—then we strike.”

Just as these words were spoken and Lin Yi was about to reply, a hearty laugh rang out beside them.

“Welcome, welcome. May I ask which families you two young masters hail from?”

Gu Fan turned to look at the speaker. It was the middle-aged steward who had just been welcoming guests at the entrance.

Combining that with the words he just heard, Gu Fan understood—this man had come to probe their identities.

Don’t underestimate banquets like this. Every seat and its occupant were of great importance.

It looked like this steward had come to cause trouble.

Thinking of this, Gu Fan sighed. He had originally planned to wait a little longer—wasn’t this just forcing him to act sooner…

“Gu Fan, from the eighth branch of the Gu Family. He is my friend.”

Upon hearing this, the smile on the steward’s face disappeared.

Don’t underestimate this middle-aged steward. To hold such a position in a household meant being extremely well-informed.

No matter which family branch you belonged to, once you stated it, he could immediately discern your status within the clan.

The Gu Family was a marriage partner, so naturally, the structure of its internal power had already been thoroughly investigated.

In the steward’s understanding, only the first three houses of the Gu Family warranted respect and attention.

The rest of the branches could be completely disregarded.

Especially the later ones among the collateral lines.

In the Gu Residence, they were no different from the servants!

“Hehe, so you’re from the eighth house of the Gu Family. First, welcome to our Nalan Family’s joyous occasion. However, you two will need to change seats.”

As he spoke, he gestured politely to the side.

But neither of them bothered to respond. Gu Fan continued sipping his tea, while Lin Yi looked around the surroundings as if he hadn’t heard anything.

“Young masters, what is the meaning of this?”

The middle-aged steward’s face darkened as he looked at the two, his tone stiff.

Lin Yi frowned, his mood already somewhat sour.

“Do you know how many noble families are present at today’s ceremony? These seats are arranged according to each family’s status. Do I really need to point out your rank?”

At these words, Gu Fan smiled, his face full of mockery.

“So, what you’re saying is that I’m not qualified to sit here?”

“Young master, since you’ve said it so clearly yourself, must this old man repeat it?”

Zheng!

The sound of a sword being unsheathed instantly silenced the hall.

Everyone turned to look in their direction.

Lin Yi, with a cold expression, held his long sword against the steward’s neck and asked,

“Do we still need to move seats now?”

The middle-aged steward had never expected these two to act so decisively. He was so frightened he nearly wet himself.

With terror on his face, he waved his hands and pleaded repeatedly.

“No need, no need to move!”

“And are we qualified to sit here?”

“Yes, yes! Young masters may sit wherever you please!”

Seeing this, Lin Yi snorted disdainfully and re-sheathed his sword, then returned to his seat.

If Gu Fan hadn’t said not to kill, that sword would’ve drawn blood just now.

The middle-aged steward no longer dared to press them and hurried off with an ugly expression.

It was obvious he had gone to find reinforcements.

The others didn’t take it seriously, assuming the steward had just offended some important figures, which was why he left in disgrace.

Nalan Residence, rear hall.

At that moment, many people were seated in the hall. At the head of them were two individuals—Nalan Family’s Old Ancestor Nalan Hu and Gu Family’s Old Ancestor Gu Anshi.

Though both appeared elderly, it was clear that Nalan Family’s Old Ancestor had more vigorous blood and energy.

“Brother Gu! I didn’t expect our families would become in-laws. Truly, it is fate!”

“Hahaha, Brother Nalan, you are right. In the future, the Gu Family will still need your care.”

“Ai! That’s not quite right. From now on, we are one family—we should speak as such.”

On either side sat the two family heads, Nalan Xu and Gu Yun.

Seeing the two Old Ancestors chatting so happily, they also exchanged a few polite words.

Just then, a servant entered.

“Reporting to Old Ancestor, Family Head—the steward requests an audience.”

At the Old Ancestor’s signal, Nalan Xu nodded.

“Let him speak.”

A moment later, the middle-aged steward entered.

As soon as he saw the Family Head, he knelt and cried out,

“Family Head, this old servant was almost killed in the main hall just now! I beg you to send someone to arrest the culprits!”

Nalan Xu frowned, clearly displeased.

“What exactly happened?”

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the steward then gave an exaggerated account of the events.

When Gu Yun heard it was someone from a collateral branch of the Gu Family, his expression changed immediately.

He appeared utterly furious.

“Brother Nalan, rest assured. Since this was caused by a collateral branch of my Gu Family, our main family will not let it go easily!”

After speaking, he turned to the steward and asked with patience,

“Do you know which collateral branch of the Gu Family they belong to?”

“This old servant knows. They claimed to be from the eighth house of the Gu Family!”

“What? The eighth house?”

As these words were spoken,

Gu Yun’s expression changed drastically.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep