Chapter 57: Intuition
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Gu Shenwei's half-true story moved the two young girls. Even though they did not make up their mind to steal anything instantly, he knew he had successfully taken the first step.
However, it was only a small step. Gu Shenwei could not control Shangguan Ru's thoughts, so he just waited and saw what this bossy girl would do next.
The next morning, after the twins went to school, Gu Shenwei had the chance to sneak into the Eighth Young Master's yard for reporting to Mama Xue. He did not take the methods that Mama Xue had taught him, because she obviously overrated Slave Huan's influence on Master Ru. A slave's life and death were not enough to draw her attention.
Gu Shenwei saw some people carrying a big basket from the gate. He recognized one of them was Slave San, one of the ten male slaves bought by Miss Luo.
Some of them had died and others had left. Only four still worked in Firewood Yard, however, Miss Luo had forgotten them. Hence, other people in Golden Roc Fort had no reason to remember them.
Expressionless and glassy-eyed, Slave San did not seem to notice Slave Huan. Carrying the basket, he looked down and hurriedly left with the others.
Gu Shenwei was very sensitive to these trivial matters for no reason. He wanted to know what had been put into this basket.
Even if there was a dead person inside, such was a common occurrence in Golden Roc Fort. But Gu Shenwei could not control his curiosity and the faint uneasiness. He had not stopped thinking about it, until he entered Mama Xue's room.
Unexpectedly, Mama Xue was kind to Gu Shenwei. She not only expressed her satisfaction with the progress of the plan, but also showed her appreciation for Slave Huan's wisdom. Additionally, she rewarded him a cup of tea.
As he drank the tea, Mama Xue said, "You'll know how hard it is to find a trustworthy person in the world. Even a master of kung fu can be easily hurt by people's betrayal. However, you're a trustworthy man to me. Now, we're 'master and apprentice'. Although I know a lot of kung fu skills, what I've taught you only accounts for about 20% of them. After you gain the thing I want, I'll teach you more powerful kung fu, which isn't showty, you know, but practical. Ah! You want to avenge the person who murdered your father. After learning my kung fu, you can kill anyone you want."
This was not the first time that Mama Xue had said "kill anyone you want". Gu Shenwei though she probably had learned his real identity.
Gu Shenwei cautiously thanked Mama Xue, appearing to be neither cold nor enthusiastic. He mentioned nothing about the secret of the wooden saber. In fact, he wanted to know some clues about the saber, but now he felt it was better to play the fool.
Since the twins may be calling Slave Huan to attend the kung fu competition at any moment. Gu Shenwei used this as an excuse and left.
After he walked out the door, Gu Shenwei reflected that he had been too nervous, and even he could not walk normally, due to the muscle tension.
After he ensured no one was around him, Gu Shenwei walked outside to the southeastern corner, where he had talked to Slave Qian last night.
The hole was sealed up by mud.
Gu Shenwei rushed back to the school gate.
As the sun was shining gloriously, all of the servants hid under the wall shadow and still kept using their sleeves fan themselves. But Gu Shenwei felt chilly.
Slave Qian died. Obviously, Mama Xue killed him. Her words about "trust", in fact, were a warning: She had known the two little slaves' conspiracy.
Gu Shenwei hoped to find the more convincing evidence of Slave Qian's death, so he carefully listened to people's chatting. But Slave Qian was just a killer apprentice in East Castle. The apprentices like him could die one or two every day on average in East Castle. Who else would be interested in his death?
Gu Shenwei also wondered if he was overwrought. Even if it was a dead man in the bucket, it might not be Salve Qian. But he soon insisted the original guess and even believed it. The intuition could not be wrong.
The young man, who had the overwhelming desire to take revenge, the woman, who had the overwhelming desire to steal the saber, they once walked on the same road, but now the road fork was in front of them.
Once she did not gain the wooden saber, Mama Xue would kill him. Gu Shenwei knew that Slave Qian's warning was right, while if he could not take the wooden saber to Mama Xue, he would be killed as well.
Gu Shenwei began to conceive the killing plan again. However, he did not find an assistant this time and also did not have the convenience of hiding behind the screen. The right place, the good time, the close allies, he had none of them.
Gu Shenwei was considering the complicated killing plan. Once coming up with a new one, he quickly denied it and completely did not hear someone calling him.
"Slave Huan!"
The voice became harsh. Gu Shenwei suddenly sobered up and raised his head. He saw Slave Qing's extremely unsatisfied face.
Slave Qing felt surprised and angry that Slave Huan could enter Inner Residence and became Shangguan Ru's attendant, therefore, Slave Huan's indifference made him angrier.
"What's the matter with you? Now you can't hear slaves speak after serving the master?"
"Sorry. I... I'm a little sleepy."
Gu Shenwei tried to find excuses. He had offended so many people in Golden Roc Fort, so he did not want to annoy one more person.
"Take some slaves to clean up Kun Yard. Master Fei wants to use it," Slave Qing ordered.
Shangguan Ru often gave some weird orders, so Gu Shenwei did not ask why and left for Kun Yard with other five or six slaves.
Since Gu Shenwei did not know where it was, a young slave led him into the yard. When arriving there, he found he had been Kun Yard once.
Last time, when Gu Shenwei had a narrow escape after falling down the cliff, Shangguan Yushi thought he was a ghost and then hid in this yard.
This small yard had been empty for a long time and dust accumulated so much. These young slaves took almost two days to clean it up.
The next day, Shangguan Ru and Shangguan Yushi did not go to school. They came to Kun Yard and asked the slaves carry a lot of items into it, most of which were taken from the garden in Inner Residence.
Initially, Gu Shenwei thought Shangguan Ru wanted to live alone, so she moved to many objects and tools. But later he found she actually was designing a field to practice kung fu.
That afternoon, Master Ru and Master Yu drove all attendants away, except Slave Huan. Slave Qing tried to stay, but Master Yu kicked him out.
Naturally, he blamed on Slave Huan.
Shangguan Ru was touched by the story of Dexterous Dragon, so she decided to become a great thief who could fly over the eaves and run on the walls. At first, Shangguan Yushi did not want the Ninth Young Master to be influenced by Gu Shenwei. However, she changed her attitude soon and supported him. Gu Shenwei was astonished by her behavior.
But he quickly realized she supported them because she wanted to gain the power of control.
As for Shangguan Ru's attitude, she did not hate the competition between her cousin and the slave, and even a little liked it.
Gu Shenwei had not seen himself as a child for almost a year and started to learn a lot of things, so he could clearly see the essence of the game.
"Even a kid isn't naive." He thought.
The 15-year-old girl, Shangguan Yushi, had understood the principle—A man leaning against the big tree could enjoy the shade it provided. Hence, she had to rely on "the big tree"—Master Ru and was trying to "tie" herself firmly with her. Besides, the 12-year-old girl, Shangguan Ru, knew that she should balance the two sides by natural intuition.
The truth was always ugly. When he recalled his past as a young master, Gu Shenwei also played these tricks unconsciously. Now he still needed to play the tricks. However, compared with the tricks he had played before, he had a more specific and bloodier goal.
Shangguan Fei also ran over. He was the "attendant" that the two young girls could not get rid of. Having tried to the way of begging and even threatening, he was permitted to join them. But the girls drove away his attendants as usual.
The Four Great Thieves in Golden Roc Fort was formed.
Except Gu Shenwei, the rest of them did not know the real purpose of this game, but he could not tell them. Hence, at the first three days, they only devoted themselves to practicing Qing Gong, because it was a basic skill for the great thieves.
The twins also invited a training tutor from Moonhold Academy. He was a small and plain man with the ugly mustache, but his Qing Gong was great.
The tutor taught the three masters diligently and seriously, however, he looked down upon the low-status servant, who had gained the priority to join the team.
Gu Shenwei had to stand behind the masters and followed their movements. His Qing Gong was not good, so he did not learn it very fast and could barely catch up with the two girls.
Probably the training tutor thought the servant was too stupid to teach. He checked Gu Shenwei's Internal Strength by pressing the vital acupoints on his chest. After a while, the tutor made his conclusion and impatiently said,
"You can't learn the profound kung fu in Golden Roc Fort, because you've studied a totally different one. Now you can catch up the training progress, but later you won't, so give up."
Then the tutor did not explain more. But Gu Shenwei thought his words made sense. He knew that Yin and Yang Strength, which was exclusive for the Gu family, required the learner should practice kung fu steadily and slowly. In his memory, his father Gu Lun had not paid much attention to practicing Qing Gong.
However, Gu Shenwei believed the man's efforts was the decisive factor, so he did not give up. Especially, Shangguan Yushi's attitude spurred on him. Since she had heard the tutor's talk to Gu Shenwei, she practiced Qing Gong harder. If she could surpass Gu Shenwei on one kind of kung fu, Shangguan Yushi would be very delighted.
The masters only spent three days on practicing. They did not want to practice kung fu day by day in order to become a great thief, so they started to discuss the things that they wanted to steal.
For Gu Shenwei, it was the most difficult part of his plan. If he did not lead Shangguan Ru's interest to Six Kills Temple, the whole plan would become a real game. Then all his efforts would be in vain.
Therefore, he cautiously chipped in and tried not to expose his purpose. For example, when Shangguan Fei mentioned stealing his father's token, he would point out that was improper, because the game was for fun and could not embarrass the parents. When Shangguan Ru planned to steal a good saber in East Castle, he would suggest that people in there always did not guard against the twins. Even if they succeed, people must help them secretly.
Some of the other goals were too easy. Before Gu Shenwei made his disagreement, others denied them quickly.
The four teenagers secretly discussed for the whole afternoon, but still did not come up with a good idea. They became anxious. At last, Shangguan Yushi said the place that Gu Shenwei had expected to hear for a long time.
"Six Kills Temple. It's a good place and hides a lot of treasures. Also, it's heavily guarded. Remember once we wanted to play inside but people drove us away? They can't intentionally help us steal the items."
Gu Shenwei did not say anything and silently waited for the approvement of the two masters.
No matter what other's goal was, Gu Shenwei wanted to steal the wooden saber. After that, he still needed to find a way to deal with Mama Xue. Hence, Gu Shenwei now hesitated whether to fasten the stealing plan.