Stronger by Killing

On a snowy night,

The entire Guo Mansion, shrouded in lamplight, looked sinister and terrifying. The falling snow could not cover the stench of blood, nor could it drown out the screams echoing in the air,

A ruthless massacre was underway.

Gu Zhan sat at the entrance to the grand hall, listening and watching the slaughter. Yet he seemed to feel nothing, smiling faintly as he sipped his tea,

The two maidservants trembled in fear at his side, faces pale as death, dare not even breathe loudly.

After a long time, outside the inner courtyard,

Zuo Yang and Wu Xiang entered, carrying their blood-drenched Brocade Spring Sabers. Seeing Gu Zhan’s indifferent posture in the hall, even as veterans of the Martial World, they couldn’t help but feel their scalps crawl.

Neither of them were saints,

But to act so calmly while exterminating an entire family—impossible for them. They had never seen anyone wipe out men, women, and children so casually.

"Reporting, Lord! Seventy-eight members of the Guo Family—all have been executed!"

Gu Zhan nodded. He rose slowly.

Now,

The swordsmen of Gu Mansion gathered again in the main courtyard, all eyes fixed on Gu Zhan, a thick shadow weighing on their hearts.

Gu Zhan walked to the doorway, speaking slowly: "You—all deserve reward."

Everyone stayed silent, not daring to even breathe.

Gu Zhan stepped calmly out from the doorway, his tone flat: "My name is Gu Zhan, newly appointed Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand Households here in Pingyang City. The reason I let you live? Simple. Just arrived, I need men. If you’re willing, stay and follow me. If not, turn around and leave now."

The wind and snow howled. The courtyard was silent.

After a while, someone gathered courage to ask: "Lord Gu, do you truly allow us to leave?"

"Of course." Gu Zhan’s smile was light.

Another silent pause,

A few swordsmen stepped forward, cupped their hands: "Lord Gu, we do not wish to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Farewell!"

With that, a handful turned and began to leave.

"Hmm?" Gu Zhan chuckled suddenly: "You’re really going to walk out?"

As soon as the words fell,

Gu Zhan reached out; the Cold Iron Bow and quiver appeared in his hands. He loosed an arrow in a flash.

"Bang!"

The feathered arrow struck a swordsman’s back, the force of it sending him flying several yards to the ground where he convulsed—head lolling, mouth filled with blood.

The remaining swordsmen froze in shock, shouting: "Lord Gu, didn’t you say you’d let us leave?"

"Swish!"

An arrow pierced a man’s mouth, splitting half his head apart.

"I did say that," Gu Zhan laughed softly, "but I changed my mind!"

"I’ll fight you to the death!"

A swordsman roared, charging Gu Zhan with blade drawn.

"Kill!"

At that moment, Zuo Yang bellowed, making the first move. The other Embroidered Uniform Guards followed,

And soon, shrill screams rang out,

The rebellious swordsmen were quickly cut down in the courtyard.

Gu Zhan slowly lowered his bow and arrows, speaking calmly: "Anyone else unwilling to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

The courtyard fell silent.

Gu Zhan nodded slowly, looking toward Zuo Yang: "Hundred Households Zuo, I’ll leave the rest to you. This residence is decent. Clean it up; from now on, it’ll bear the Gu name."

Zuo Yang cupped his hands: "Understood, Lord."

Gu Zhan casually pointed at a swordsman: "You—take me to a side room. I need to rest."

The swordsman, pointed out by Gu Zhan, shuddered in terror, almost collapsing. Hearing Gu Zhan’s order, he let out a long breath and hurried, stammering, "Lord, this way, this way!"

Gu Zhan nodded, then looked at Wu Xiang and said, "Mm, just assist Zuo Yang from now on."

Wu Xiang froze for a moment, bitterness in his heart,

That one moment’s delay—now the difference would be like heaven and earth,

Back at the Gu Mansion gate, when the doors needed smashing, Zuo Yang had acted first,

And now,

Wu Xiang suddenly felt a pang of emotion,

Old ginger is hotter—they say. Zuo Yang simply moved a step faster,

But that one step, from now on, meant he’d fall far behind,

Gu Zhan won,

And showed unfathomable strength. The situation in Pingyang City would surely change. The Embroidered Uniform Guard would turn upside down,

He and Zuo Yang—a mere step between them,

It was clear,

The bigger the Embroidered Uniform Guard grew, the wider that step would stretch.

Just as Gu Zhan reached the courtyard gates,

A sudden clatter of footsteps sounded outside. Several figures appeared.

These were the top ranks of nearly ten Hundred Households Offices who’d waited outside without entering.

They’d waited long outside,

Hearing chaos inside Gu Mansion but unable to judge the situation. When they sensed things had grown quiet, nervous and not seeing anyone emerge, they finally agreed to enter and take a look,

Along the way, blood and corpses everywhere,

When they saw bodies of Gu Yuanzhong’s kin, they had a vague guess,

And at the inner courtyard gate, seeing Gu Zhan,

The guess was all but confirmed. Taking in the mutilated corpses in the courtyard, they understood at once,

Gu Yuanzhong was defeated,

Gu Zhan had won,

The sky of Embroidered Uniform Guard had changed!

"Gu... Lord Gu..."

The top ranks hurriedly bowed to Gu Zhan, each hesitating, thinking about how to make amends.

Gu Zhan waved them off: "Enough. From now on, you needn’t show up in the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"What?"

An advisor spoke quickly, "Lord Gu, we... we simply didn’t enter, but didn’t break any orders. Isn’t this... unreasonable?"

"Yes," another advisor added, "Lord Gu, our Embroidered Uniform Guard isn’t just the same as Martial World Gangs... uh!"

The advisor’s voice stopped abruptly,

Because Gu Zhan suddenly reached out, grabbed his neck, squeezed gently—"crack!"—his neck broke, corpse slumping to the ground.

Gu Zhan shook off his hand, muttering, "Who gave you the courage to tell me how to run things?"

At once, the Embroidered Uniform Guard higher-ups panicked,

"Lord Gu, you..."

"Lord Gu, we... we..."

Gu Zhan’s eyes narrowed, voice deep: "Back at the Hundred Households Office, I said it—my rules are the only rules. If you can’t grasp that, you have no need to stay alive!"

With that, Gu Zhan beckoned: "Slaughter them all!"

This time, Hundred Households Wu Xiang moved fast—following Gu Zhan’s command he slashed into the fray, quickly cutting down two men.

Then, in the courtyard, all the swordsmen surged forward, not wasting any motion, killing outright.

"Lord Gu... you’ll die a cruel death!"

"Lord Gu, I was wrong, spare me!"

"Gu Zhan, you’re doing evil..."

"..."

Behind him rose screams and curses,

The violence soon faded to silence,

Gu Zhan walked alone into the wind and snow, never once looking back.