Light Fortress
Chapter 434 - 91: A Snowscape (Long - ! Vote for Monthly Tickets!)_3

Chapter 434: Chapter 91: A Snowscape (Long Chapter! Vote for Monthly Tickets!)_3

"The rules of the world generally fall into two sets: one is apparent on the surface, and the other lurks underground."

"For hundreds of years, the five great families have adhered to the underground rules they set for each other. No matter how much their faces were torn, they would not involve outside forces to resolve internal conflicts... Yet, in the recent years while the Divine Throne has been dormant, the conflicts have intensified without any hint of cessation."

Gu Shen deliberately paused.

Bai Xiu said, "What you mean to say is that someone has begun to violate the underground rules."

Gu Shen slowly nodded.

The reason for such a thought

was because of his last meeting with the elder of the Gu family.

Gu Shen vaguely felt... that something like a great storm was brewing under Changye.

If it was truly as he anticipated,

then someone in the five great families had broken the rules and "colluded" with external forces to reshuffle... it wouldn’t be long before Changye as a whole would face an unprecedented impact!

"I know what you want to say, but..."

Bai Xiu shifted her gaze slowly towards Gu Shen, "Even if it’s true... there’s nothing we can do about it."

"Of course, an individual’s power is limited," Gu Shen spoke calmly. "What I actually want to say is... no matter where you are, you need to be careful. Because such assassinations could very well happen a second time, a third time."

Bai Xiu fell silent.

Killing him... what benefit would the Bai Family gain?

At first glance, it seemed utterly detrimental to the Bai Family. How could there be anyone within the Bai Family wishing for his death?

But on closer consideration... it wasn’t so.

The "Bloodline Doctrine" that had been upheld for six hundred years was broken by him. With the speed at which he was now progressing, the brilliance of the legitimate eldest son, Bai Chen, would be completely overshadowed in just a few years.

And by then, how would the position of the Family Head of the Bai Family be inherited?

Would the Elder Council truly be willing to pass the position of the Family Head to an ignoble orphan from Jiangbei, and one with an inferior bloodline at that?

And sometimes, whether you want it or not, it isn’t up to you to decide.

If you don’t want it, someone will force it into your hands.

And then... there would be another group of people trying to chop off your hands.

Or... chop off your head.

"You said just now that the assassin... is in the Tundra?"

Gu Shen continued, "If the Bai Family catches the assassin successfully, verifies his identity, and executes him... then some of our earlier suspicions could be laid to rest. However, I have this premonition, I feel like the assassin won’t be caught; he might actually escape from the Tundra."

Making friends, one should be wary of being superficial in deep conversations.

At this point, things had gotten "deep."

Gu Shen quickly stopped himself.

He spoke earnestly, "In any case... be careful."

A streak of dawn light fell upon the forest.

Gu Shen and Bai Xiu stood before that stone stele.

The clouds dispersed, leaves rustled, and birds sang softly.

A ray of sunlight, which rarely penetrated the Qingzhong Forest, fell upon Yu Shu’s stele.

Bai Xiu gave Gu Shen a meaningful look.

He neither agreed nor disagreed; he only nodded slightly and said in a soft and earnest voice, "I will remember these words."

...

...

"Bai Xiu has not yet come out... but Gu Shen has come out first!"

Quite a few people had gathered around the periphery of Qingzhong.

Because they didn’t dare disturb the tranquility of the cemetery,

they waited just outside the entrance.

They had never expected that after a night of tempest, the first to emerge from Qingzhong would not be Bai Xiu, but Gu Shen!

The expression of Gu Shen, walking out of the Qingzhong Cemetery, was very complicated.

Although he had anticipated that where Bai Xiu went, there would certainly be many onlookers, he had never thought... that there would be so many, and that most of them were young and beautiful women.

He himself had slipped into Qingzhong when Bai Xiu entered the city, precisely to avoid the noise and clamor of the secular world.

But no matter how much he tried to evade, what was inevitable would come; he could neither hide nor avoid it.

When the crowd saw Gu Shen coming out, they were somewhat disappointed.

"You kid... are pretty impressive!"

An iron hand slapped onto Gu Shen’s shoulder and then forcefully, a tall figure slowly but powerfully made his way through the crowd, bringing Gu Shen onto a carriage. Luo Yu’s deep voice sounded, "Didn’t think you’d actually make it out alive... you really do have a big life!"

Make it out alive?

That’s rather unlucky... Gu Shen smiled wryly, "Brother Luo, what do you mean by that, are you hoping something happened to me?"

Luo Yu chuckled heartily, "I wouldn’t dare. If something happened to you, both the Young Master and the old Family Head would probably hold me accountable!"

That smile contained a touch of schadenfreude.

"Gu Shen... how come you... are unharmed?!"

A long sigh laced with frustration came from the back seat of the carriage.

Gu Shen turned and saw the familiar Eldest Young Master Gong, as well as Shen Li, who was resting with his eyes closed.

"What’s the stake?" Gu Shen realized the reason behind Gong Zi’s sullen mood, sneering, "Don’t tell me you bet all-in on me getting killed by Bai Xiu?"

"How could that be!" Gong Zi exclaimed angrily, "Do you think I’m that kind of person?"

"The news of Bai Xiu entering Qingzhong last night was too sudden," Shen Li opened his eyes, speaking indifferently, "By the time someone dragged me to the prison to bet, the bookies had already closed. Forget all-in, he didn’t even get the chance to place a bet."

Gu Shen was puzzled, "Then why the gloomy face..."

"Blame his never dying greed for trying to make a fortune," Shen Li extended his hand, showing off a new jade bracelet on his wrist, speaking coolly, "Brother Gong, a bet is a bet... this sealed item is now mine."