Light Fortress
Chapter 411 - 84: Family Feast (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Chapter 411: Chapter 84: Family Feast (Seeking Monthly Votes)

"Family Head..."

Hearing these two words, the old patriarch fell into brief contemplation before he smiled and asked casually, "Isn’t that already yours?"

Gu Nanfeng said in a deep voice, "You should understand what I mean. I’m not after an empty title."

"I understand. Of course, I do."

Gu Qilin asked leisurely, "But do you understand my point? I am not the Family Head, nor is Gu Lushen of the new faction. Even without a Family Head, after the split, the Gu family remains the premier family in Changye. Why?"

At that question,

Gu Nanfeng was taken aback.

"Because the title of Family Head... has always been nothing more than an empty name."

The old patriarch spoke calmly, "The reason Gu Changzhi is the Family Head is simply because... he is Gu Changzhi."

"Eight years ago, many people fell in Changye... all to send you to the North Continent."

The old man’s voice carried a solemn weight, "If not to make you the ’Family Head,’ for what were these people’s sacrifices?"

"The title of Family Head does not need my acknowledgment, nor does it need approval from the others... As long as you are strong enough, truly strong, you are the Family Head of the Gu family."

"And..."

"It seems you have some misunderstanding about me... always thinking that it is fear of war that made me choose to withdraw..."

Gu Qilin narrowed his eyes and flicked the ash from his cigarette, "On the battlefield, such behavior is called desertion. If an inevitable battle arises between the old and new factions, then I will be the one who fights to the bitter end. I will never compromise, never back down, let alone... become a deserter."

"The reason why the old and new factions have been ’peaceful’ is because neither side is certain of victory."

"Sixty years ago, when I headed north to the Fortress to combat the Disaster Realm, I was an ambitious young man just like you, believing that I could change the course of the entire war with my own strength."

Gu Nanfeng stood dumbfounded.

"But now I am old."

The old patriarch spoke softly, "If you have the ability, to grasp the sword of victory and bring true peace to the Gu family... then go ahead."

People always think that power and great fame are the swords of constant victory.

But in reality, it’s the exact opposite.

It is only because one holds a long sword that one is blessed with a name revered by the world.

Withdrawing, compromising, are all ways of gathering strength... When an outburst means destruction, then even a roar becomes an ineffective scream.

Suddenly, Gu Nanfeng understood what the old patriarch had been doing all these years, what it all meant - sending him away from Changye, refusing to let him return... All to wait for his growth.

At this point,

Gu Nanfeng fell silent instead.

He looked at the old patriarch, "Are you... willing to let me take the risk?"

"If I were not willing, would you give up so easily?" The old patriarch replied calmly, "If I were in your shoes, sixty years ago, and negotiations failed, I would probably carry a Source Energy Cannon and fire away, shattering all those troublesome people from the new faction."

Gu Nanfeng chuckled, "The Source Energy Cannon is outdated... The North Continent Military Department now has more powerful weapons."

"Back to the main topic."

He inhaled lightly and continued, "If you are willing to support me, I plan to reclaim the scattered forces of the Gu family... This is not a short-term process, it might trigger significant conflicts."

The words were elegantly put.

In essence, it means "consolidation."

The Gu family will no longer be divided into a new faction and an old one!

The elder propped his elbows with his hands, listening quietly, "What do you plan to do?"

Gu Nanfeng said, "Considering where the greatest chance of success lies... I will start by drawing together the other three major families out of the Five Great Families."

The old patriarch squinted, "But this will expand the scope of the conflict, and if a clash breaks out, the entire Changye will be dragged into it."

"Therefore... we need greater strength, strength from outside."

Gu Qilin was silent for a moment.

"You’re talking about allies outside of Changye... the Hua Standard?"

"And perhaps even more allies," Gu Nanfeng said evenly, "I understand your concern; for many years the Five Great Families have maintained a delicate balance... Domestic strife within Changye does not involve forces outside of Changye. Each family maintains equilibrium, coexisting. Once external forces are involved, the situation will become increasingly complex, and the rules set by the Five Great Families could be broken."

The old patriarch nodded, "This is... taboo!"

Suddenly, Gu Nanfeng asked, "What do you do if you agree to fight with bare hands, but the enemy pulls out a knife at the last moment?"

"..."

The old man narrowed his eyes, understanding his grand-nephew’s point.

"I would bring out the Source Energy Cannon. Although you just said... that it’s outdated, it really comes in handy for a duel," the old patriarch said gravely. "Are you suggesting that someone has already broken the rules?"

"It’s not hard to guess."

Gu Nanfeng spoke seriously, "Think about it, not long ago, two Angel Envoys jointly entered Dadu District. If there were no instructions from the Divine Throne behind them... how would they dare to disrupt the balance between continents? The Source Tower has been coveting Qingzhong for many years; without some hint, how could they act so recklessly?"

And the one most closely related to Qingzhong.

Is Changye, the Gu family.

"Before the Angel Envoy invasion case broke out, Master Qianye said to me... she felt someone was spying on Qingzhong. After employing Divination Skill, she predicted that misfortune would come upon Dadu District related to a spark from the Outer Continent, which could be the Angel Envoys taking action."