Chapter 261 : Capital
Chapter 261: Capital
Gu Haochuan had extensive connections and even had friends in Xiazhou City. They were members of the Eight Righteous Gates, though which specific branch, the other party didn’t mention, and he didn’t ask.
During his days in Xiazhou City, he stayed at this friend’s residence.
After nightfall, Chen Ming informed Gu Haochuan and left to look for Xia Mudan.
After he left, Gu Haochuan’s friend asked curiously, “Your nephew has certainly made quite a stir in Xiazhou City. I didn’t expect that he’d still report to you before going out.”
Gu Haochuan smiled somewhat oddly. “Indeed. This nephew of mine always conducts himself impeccably.”
……
“Young Master Gu, you’re finally back.”
As soon as Chen Ming knocked on Xia Mudan’s door, a young maid saw him and burst into tears. “Miss was taken away by Madam. She said she’s going to marry her off to that old man in the palace. You have to save her...”
Hearing this, his heart sank. “What happened exactly? Tell me everything in detail.”
Then, the young maid sobbed and recounted the events.
Just three days after Chen Ming left Xiazhou City, Xia Mudan’s mother suddenly appeared and forcefully took her away. In that situation, Xia Mudan only managed to give the young maid a few hurried instructions.
The young maid had stayed here waiting for his return ever since.
She had waited for over a month.
After hearing the whole story, Chen Ming remained calm and asked, “Wasn’t your madam imprisoned by the Gang Leader Xia? How did she get out?”
“I don’t know either. Seems someone in the gang released her.”
“What about the Gang Leader Xia?”
“No idea.”
When asked where Xia Mudan was now, she still didn’t know.
Seeing that she knew next to nothing, Chen Ming asked no further. He instructed her to remain here and then left.
On his way back, he sighed inwardly. “Living off a woman isn’t that easy after all.”
Back then, the daughter of Prince Yan had insisted on marrying Xia Shaowen—she must’ve loved him deeply. Yet twenty years into the marriage, she now insisted on marrying her daughter into the palace.
To say she didn’t regret the marriage would be a lie.
Even though Xia Shaowen had reached First Grade and was starting to break into the Divine Repository Realm, he still couldn’t win against his noble-born wife.
To the Emperor of Great Jin, who ruled over twenty-seven provinces, a Divine Repository Realm cultivator was nothing.
……
Two days later, after handling some procedures and giving instructions to his five subordinates, Chen Ming set off for the capital with Gu Haochuan and his nephew.
They traveled north by boat, then switched to land after half a month.
When not in a hurry, Gu Haochuan was particular about quality of life. Food and lodging had to be of a certain standard, and the carriage they rode was luxurious.
Traveling with breaks along the way, it took nearly a month before they finally reached the capital.
From a distance, Chen Ming saw a towering and majestic city wall, bearing the marks of time. It exuded an indescribable aura of grandeur.
This was a historic, mighty city. Reportedly, it housed several million residents—a staggering number in this era.
At the city gate, Chen Ming noticed that even the ordinary gatekeeping generals were of Third Grade cultivation.
If there was any place in the world with the most experts, it was undoubtedly the capital of Great Jin. Rumor had it that if you threw a brick at random, you’d hit three Third Grades out of ten.
Of course, that was an exaggeration, but it reflected the sheer number of experts in the capital.
The First Pavilion of the World had branches in all twenty-seven provinces—except the capital.
The capital was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; no one knew which inconspicuous alley might house a peerless expert. Allegedly, the capital once had a branch of the First Pavilion of the World, but after provoking an extraordinary powerhouse, it was demolished.
Since then, the First Pavilion of the World had withdrawn from the capital and never dared return.
As the carriage rolled down the streets, Gu Haochuan reminded Chen Ming, “The waters in the capital run deep. There are families far more prestigious than ours. Don’t show off. If you provoke someone we can’t afford to offend, I won’t be able to save you.”
“I shall remember Fifth Uncle’s teachings.”
Chen Ming recognized this as a warning. Outwardly, he respectfully agreed, but what he truly thought remained his own secret.
The Duke Jing Residence was located in the Inner City—the very heart of the capital.
Without Gu Xianyu’s identity, he wouldn’t have been allowed in.
Before entering the Duke's residence, Gu Haochuan said, “Once home, focus on cultivating. Don't concern yourself with anything else. The Night Banquet of the Ghost Festival is in a month. As long as you can win a spot for the Celestial Mansion on behalf of the Gu Family, I will not treat you unfairly.”
“Understood.”
Chen Ming responded humbly, though he didn’t take it to heart.
Perhaps Gu Haochuan was sincere, but he would never entrust his fate to others.
Before the Night Banquet of the Ghost Festival, he was at least safe.
During this time, he needed to do everything possible to improve his strength.
So Chen Ming made a request. “Fifth Uncle, I want to spar with some Second Grade experts to enhance my combat ability.”
Gu Haochuan frowned slightly. “That won’t be easy. There are only a few Second Grades in the family, and I don’t have authority over them.”
He wasn’t the head of the family; all major power rested in the hands of Gu Xianyu’s biological father.
Chen Ming said, “Fifth Uncle, you know I just advanced to Second Grade. I was only able to kill Du Rusong thanks to the Taiyue Sword. After that one strike, its power greatly diminished. With my current strength, I may not stand out at the Night Banquet. If I want to go further, I need more Second Grade opponents to hone my skills. The more, the better.”
Gu Haochuan found his reasoning sound and fell into contemplation, pondering where to find Second Grade opponents to spar with him.
Chen Ming suggested, “Back in Xiazhou City, I often sparred with prisoners in the jail. That’s how I improved so quickly. I wonder if Fifth Uncle has any connections…”
Gu Haochuan glanced at him. For some reason, a trace of unease flashed in his heart. His instinct was to refuse, but the words got stuck in his throat.
After careful consideration, he found nothing wrong with the idea and replied, “I’ll look into it.”
As they spoke, the carriage entered the gates of the Duke’s residence.
……
“Seventh Brother, from now on, you’ll stay with me. Outwardly, we’ll be fellow disciples.”
Gu Zhengshan brought Chen Ming to a courtyard and arranged a wing room for him.
Chen Ming had no objections. Once the servants cleaned it up, he moved in.
“Seventh Brother!”
Suddenly, an excited voice called out. Gu Yuyin, carried in by a fragrant breeze, ran over and said happily upon seeing Chen Ming, “You’re finally back. I was so worried when I heard something happened to you. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Chen Ming smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Sister.”
Gu Zhengshan arrived upon hearing the commotion. “Ah, it’s Yuyin.”
Gu Yuyin asked, “Fifth Brother, why is Seventh Brother staying with you? Doesn’t he have his own courtyard?”
“His old courtyard is too far. Staying with me will make it easier for Master to teach us both.”
Gu Yuyin found the explanation reasonable. “With Fifth Brother around, I won’t have to worry about anyone bullying you.”
Gu Zhengshan said, “Times have changed. With Seventh Brother’s current strength, who could even bully him?”
“True,” Gu Yuyin said, then added, “Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother are back too. It’s rare for everyone to be here for the Ghost Festival.”
At the mention of the eldest and fourth brothers, Gu Zhengshan’s expression became somewhat unnatural.
Chen Ming, however, understood it all.
Among the current generation of the Gu Family, only the second and third brothers had any real chance at becoming family head.
The eldest lacked talent. He was nearly thirty and still hadn’t reached Third Grade, indulging himself in pleasures.
The fourth had decent talent but suffered a major blow in his early years. He became reclusive and rarely left his mountain estate outside the city.
The sixth was already dead.
As for the eighth, ninth, and the rest—they were still too young to pose a threat to the second and third.
Those who tried to assassinate Gu Xianyu were, in all likelihood, either the second or third brother.
And the one who allowed it all to happen was the current family head, Gu Haoran—Gu Xianyu’s biological father.
What Gu Haochuan would report to Gu Haoran about him remained to be seen.
And how the Gu Family’s upper echelon would respond—he would find out soon enough.
……
Chen Ming’s return to the Gu Residence stirred no waves.
Apart from Gu Yuyin, who came to visit him, no one else appeared. The second and third brothers only sent gifts, congratulating him on his breakthrough to Third Grade.
He later learned it was Gu Haochuan who had spread the word, asking everyone not to disturb his cultivation.
That suited him just fine—peace and quiet.
Chen Ming originally thought Gu Haoran would summon him, but two days passed without a word from this so-called father.
Instead, he received good news.
Gu Haochuan had secured him a special token that allowed access to the Celestial Prison. With it, he could interrogate prisoners below Second Grade.
When Gu Haochuan handed over the token, Chen Ming was delighted. Using enemies to strengthen himself—what a brilliant move.
From then on, he rode the Gu family’s carriage to the Celestial Prison daily, entered with the token, and “sparred” with Second Grade inmates under the pretense of interrogation.
Indeed, the Celestial Prison in the capital was on another level. Though modeled similarly to the one in Xiazhou City, it was much grander.
There were over twenty Second Grade inmates alone.
However, nine of them were off-limits—they were important prisoners.
These inmates weren’t just locals. Half had been transferred from other provinces of Great Jin for interrogation and detention.
Reportedly, in another section, there were over a dozen First Grade inmates.
There were even Divine Repository Realm experts held in the lower levels—but he didn’t have clearance to enter, so he couldn’t meet them.
Thus began Chen Ming’s joyful grind for experience. Every morning, he set out early, and after “sparring” with a dozen Second Grades, he’d return to the Duke Jing Residence by nightfall.