Chapter 273 : Eliminating Future Troubles
Chapter 273: Eliminating Future Troubles
【You have slain an LV89 enemy, gaining 800,000 experience points.】
Chen Ming glanced at the notification and did not pay much attention to the number. His main concern was simply confirming whether this person was truly dead.
At his current level, advancing just one rank required fifty million experience points. The amount was far too vast—killing one or two people barely made a dent. The gain was negligible.
He crouched down and began to search the corpse.
“Nothing?”
He searched every inch but found no trace of the black token the old Daoist had mentioned—one said to communicate with the Heaven-Slaying Sect.
“Could it be that it wasn’t him?”
Chen Ming frowned slightly. Or perhaps the man had been too cautious to bring such an item into Qingwei Heaven.
He wasn’t sure if the Heaven-Slaying Sect had any way to confirm the life or death of their clients. If Gu Zhengwu had died, but the sect remained unaware and continued with the assassination plan, wouldn’t that make this kill pointless?
“No, just to be safe, I’ll kill the second brother, Gu Zhengtian, too.”
After all, that second brother wasn’t any better—his secret bullying and suppression of Gu Xianyu were not in the least inferior.
He eyed the divine weapon Gu Zhengwu had left behind. Its quality was quite impressive.
However, the thing was too conspicuous; it could never be taken out. He decided to leave it here in Qingwei Heaven.
Chen Ming suddenly realized another advantage of this “Qingwei Heaven.”
Aside from being an excellent place for farming experience, it was a private space entirely his own—he could safely store things here.
A day later, the second young master of the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence suddenly announced that he was entering seclusion, stirring up a wave of speculation.
This second young master’s aptitude was mediocre, and he rarely devoted much time to cultivation, knowing full well that he could never outshine the third brother on that path.
Thus, he usually focused on networking and managing business affairs instead.
His sudden decision to enter seclusion was, therefore, quite the curiosity.
Most people thought it must have been because he had been provoked by the Seventh Young Master.
By now, all of the Capital knew that the Duke’s Residence had produced a peerless prodigy—one who could rival the famed Three Young Masters of the Capital from a few years prior.
Everyone felt proud and honored.
Yet no one knew that both the second and third young masters, who were said to be in seclusion, had already perished.
Chen Ming used the same trick again, and the second brother, Gu Zhengtian, fell for it just as easily.
This time, he was aided by someone from the Princess Royal’s faction.
It could only be said that the temptation of the “Immortal-Summoning Token” was something few could resist.
Had the two brothers simply informed their family before acting, they would not have died so quietly and cleanly.
Unfortunately, on Gu Zhengtian’s body, there was still no sign of the black token.
“This won’t do.”
Chen Ming still felt uneasy and decided to seek help.
“Seventh Brother, I’ve come to see you.”
Gu Yuyin entered the small courtyard, sat down in the yard under Gu Zhengshan’s watchful eyes, chatted a little with Chen Ming, and then took her leave.
She had come specifically because Xiao He had sent her a secret message.
Earlier, Fifth Uncle had said that Seventh Brother was focusing on cultivation and was not to be disturbed. She hadn’t dared to come before.
Back in her own courtyard, Gu Yuyin unfolded the small note Chen Ming had secretly slipped her. Her expression immediately changed.
Seventh Brother wanted her to steal something from Third Brother’s Grinding Blade Hall.
If she were caught, the consequences would be…
Although the note said that Third Brother wasn’t home, this was still far too risky.
She sat in her room, face shifting through hesitation after hesitation, until she finally made up her mind to go.
At worst, she would be scolded.
She trusted that Seventh Brother would not let her suffer for it.
If she succeeded, Seventh Brother would owe her a great favor.
Everyone in the Duke’s Residence knew that, ever since the Seventh Young Master had risen to fame, the struggle for the heirship had practically ended.
How could the second and third young masters possibly compare?
Even in the worst case, with his talent, Seventh Brother’s position within the Duke’s Residence would always be of great importance.
Thus, Gu Yuyin set out for the Grinding Blade Hall, claiming she wanted to borrow a book, and forced her way inside. The servants of the hall dared not stop her.
After all, she was still a young lady of the house.
They could only wait until the Third Young Master himself returned.
However, there was no response from within. The young lady boldly pushed the doors open.
“Third Brother! Huh? Where is he? Wasn’t he supposed to be in seclusion?”
Gu Yuyin entered the chamber where Gu Zhengwu was said to be cultivating, and sure enough, he wasn’t there. The surprise on her face wasn’t entirely an act.
“Since he’s not here, I’ll just take it.”
Her courage grew, and she stepped right inside.
The servants outside exchanged looks filled with humiliation and unease.
In the past, who would have dared barge into the Grinding Blade Hall?
Everyone knew exactly whose protection she relied on.
With a bang, she shut the door behind her.
Someone whispered fearfully, “If the Third Young Master learns of this, he’ll never forgive us.”
“So what? Would you dare raise your hand against the young lady? Do you not fear the cane?”
“We’re dead either way, might as well—”
“…”
They argued for a long while, but no one dared to act.
After some time, the door opened again. The young lady finally emerged, holding two books.
“These two, I’ll borrow for a few days. When Third Brother returns, I’ll give them back.”
With that, she left.
The servants could only stare helplessly as she walked away, not daring to utter a word.
After leaving the Grinding Blade Hall, Gu Yuyin’s heart pounded wildly. Only then did the fear set in—what she had done today was like slapping Third Brother across the face in public.
Given his temper, if he ever found out, wouldn’t he go mad?
“Seventh Brother, I’ve really risked everything for you this time.”
She hurried to find Seventh Brother and handed him the black token she had taken from the hall, saying with a bitter smile,
“Seventh Brother, this time I’ve truly offended Third Brother. If he lashes out at me later, you can’t just ignore it.”
“Don’t worry. With me here, he won’t dare touch you.”
Chen Ming felt a wave of relief upon seeing the black token. The real mastermind had indeed been the third brother.
He reassured Gu Yuyin briefly, but when Gu Zhengshan came over again, he had her leave.
Gu Zhengshan coldly said, “Don’t get too close to Yuyin. Remember your place.”
Chen Ming glanced at him and closed the door.
He looked down at the black token in his hand and followed the method the old Daoist had taught him, sinking a wisp of consciousness into it.
Instantly, that wisp seemed to be transported into a gloomy, pitch-black palace.
On the central plaque hung a single word—“Kill.”
The Hall of Slaughter?
A man in black sat high upon a throne, looking down coldly. “You are not Gu Zhengwu!”
“He’s already dead.”
The man in black’s tone sharpened. “You are… Gu Xianyu?”
Chen Ming didn’t answer. He simply said, “I came to inform you that he’s been killed by me.”
The black-clad man remained indifferent. “Very well. From now on, that Heaven-Slaying Token is yours. If you ever have someone you wish dead, you may trade with me under the same terms—kill one person, and later, you will perform one task for me.”
“If such a need arises, I’ll come find you.”
Chen Ming did not close the door completely with his words and withdrew from that eerie space.
Back in reality, he exhaled in relief.
At last, the crisis from the Heaven-Slaying Sect was temporarily resolved.
That organization was not one he could afford to provoke, and there was no need to turn them into enemies.
Who knew—one day, if he was ever cornered, he might even rely on the Heaven-Slaying Sect to settle a problem or two.
After all, what did Gu Xianyu’s debts have to do with Chen Ming?
Still—
“That black palace… it looked somewhat like the old Daoist’s cave-dwelling.”
Chen Ming pondered for a moment and silently recited three times in his heart: “Daoist Wang Chenzi.”
In the next instant, his consciousness entered the cave and saw the old Daoist.
The old Daoist said, “Judging from your relaxed expression, you must have handled things smoothly.”
“Daoist, your eyes truly see through all. I just contacted the Heaven-Slaying Sect through the Heaven-Slaying Token. Could they have marked me?”
“The Heaven-Slaying Sect thrives on long-term dealings. They would never do something so crude as to offend a customer.”
Chen Ming thought about it and nodded.
Indeed, to the Heaven-Slaying Sect, the better and more promising the client, the greater their value.
How could such people tolerate being branded or restricted? If the sect truly did such a thing, the moment the client grew strong, their first act would be to turn on them.