As Gu Zuo silently refined the medicinal cuisine, Gongyi Tianheng sensed that there was something slightly different about him. Tianheng sat next to Gu Zuo, and suddenly asked: “Ah Zuo, why are you unhappy?”
Gu Zuo paused, and shook his head: “I just thought of something. I blurted out big brother’s affairs after taking your pulse… Previously, it didn’t matter that the Tianlong Guards were around, but I don’t know if these people can be trusted. Have I caused trouble for big brother?”
— What he was thinking about right now naturally couldn’t be shared with his big brother. However, he really thought that, due to the excitement and habituation, he had been a bit foolish.
When all was said and done, these servile races and battle slaves weren’t the Tianlong Guards.
The radiance in Tianheng’s eyes faintly moved. There was a flash of deep pondering.
But following this, he smiled placatingly: “There’s no harm. What Ah Zuo said is nothing but an ordinary trifle. If it was heard by people harboring evil designs, they wouldn’t be able to infer anything meaningful.”
Soon after, Tianheng transmitted a warning.
[These people have either been gifted by the sect or they chose to follow me voluntarily. Although it was done with sincerity and integrity, the situation isn’t fully understood, and we can’t trust them completely. They’re quite unlike the Tianlong Guards.]
[The battle slaves are personally trained and re-educated by the sect. They’re good at fighting and are always devoted. Their racial groups are subservient to the sect, which mutually binds them. Their trustworthiness is seven points out of ten.]
[The servile races have been adherents for many generations. Each one has its good aspects, which would’ve been grasped by the sect. It’s just that, in the end, their minds are many and diverse. The trust I have in them is six out of ten.]
[The Wu Clan is an independent adherent. The Wu Clan Head has long-term foresight and great ambitions. If I can subdue him, he’ll become a sharp blade for me. If I disappoint him, he may also turn his back and leave. They can be trusted up to four points out of ten.]
[As for the three people from the Hu Clan, although they’ve also adhered to me now, their natures haven’t been determined yet. However, their camaraderie is rather strong, and Ah Zuo is friends with them. While it may be assumed that they don’t pose a threat to Ah Zuo, if they’re viewed as subordinates, they must be cultivated some more. Merely, it’s because of their camaraderie and that this comradeship isn’t only that of friends, that I still can only place four points of trust in them.]
Gu Zuo listened to Tianheng’s transmission, and nodded his head to show his understanding.
What his big brother said made sense. Although Hu Chang’an and his siblings surprised Gu Zuo, he thought better of it after considering this matter. Brother Chang’an was sentimental and loyal, but his nature was somewhat weak. Gu Zuo was worried that he didn’t have the Wu Clan’s determination to serve and become a subordinate… To be honest, Gu Zuo wasn’t entirely sure whether Hu Chang’an could be a good subordinate and proper adherent.
Gu Zuo treated Hu Chang’an as a friend, but this fellow could only be a friend he couldn’t share secrets with.
If Hu Chang’an wanted to be trusted even more, then it would take a long period of operations to slowly reach that level.
At this moment, Gu Zuo suddenly retracted his hands. The medicinal wok immediately erupted with a strand of milky-white qi. In a split second, it was collected by Gu Zuo. Soon after, a rich fragrance drifted out, and he meticulously processed the medicinal cuisine for Tianheng. The refinement was a success!
After that, Gu Zuo sighed. He took out a large bowl, and used a ladle to scoop out the best and most essential parts. The medicinal cuisine flowed into the large bowl, and was delivered into Tianheng’s hands: “Big brother, eat it while it’s still hot.”
Tianheng took it, and easily picked up the pair of jade chopsticks that Gu Zuo provided. At once, just like every time before, he used a graceful and unhurried posture to swiftly consume that cuisine.
On the side, Gu Zuo watched Tianheng’s familiar movements. His glittering eyes gradually dimmed.
The truth was that separation had been difficult. And on the day they separated, he didn’t know when he could reunite with his family’s big brother. It was to the point that many thoughts and feelings arose within his mind. The worry, which was once hidden in the depths of his heart, also welled up to the surface.
This caused Gu Zuo, who had psychologically prepared himself long ago, to start thinking about the Void Pill he would obtain in the future as well as the subsequent matters after he returned to his own world. At that time, they would part ways for real.
Gu Zuo’s heart felt sour.
They only separated for a dozen or so days, and he had felt such longing for his big brother. In the future, years would pass by, and catching a glimpse of Tianheng would forever be out of his reach. What was he supposed to do then?
With such thoughts, Gu Zuo closed his eyes.
[System, what rank of medicinal pill…is the Void Pill?]
In the past, perhaps he still had been confused and muddleheaded, but he refined this many medicinal pills and had so many ancient texts. After coming to the Central Continent, he understood lots of general knowledge. He was certain that the Void Pill was simply a medicinal pill of a very high rank. At most, this was a special type of pill that was unusually difficult to refine.
Previously, he didn’t know when his efforts would come to an end, but now, he wasn’t like before when he didn’t understand anything. Maybe he could find out how long it would take to reach his ultimate goal?
The system probably heard the feelings in Gu Zuo’s voice, and quickly answered his question.
[Earth-level pill.]
Gu Zuo’s heartbeat sudden sped up.
An earth-level pill!
Originally, he thought that it might’ve been a sky-level pill or a sacred-level pill. Who would’ve expected that it was only an earth-level pill?
Currently, the medicine refining texts in his possession had already reached the profound-level pills. In other words, he only needed to take one more step, and there would be a large probability that he could obtain the Void Pill’s prescription!
As he thought about this, Gu Zuo still wasn’t relieved.
[Is the Void Pill’s prescription inside the <<Earth-Level Medicinal Pill Catalog>>?]
The system replied.
[<<Paradox Pills · Earth-Level Chapter>>]
Gu Zuo’s high-strung thoughts abruptly loosened.
Ah, it really wasn’t far away… Finally, he had a precise understanding.
Gu Zuo restrained the excitement in his heart. He suddenly thought of something.
[If the Void Pill can be produced the first time, then more can be made. Can each medicinal pill bring a person through space and time? If two people take Void Pills together, can it be guaranteed that their destination is the same?]
As before, the system was quick to answer.
[One Void Pill can be produced at a time. A top grade medicinal pill can guarantee that there will not be any errors when passing through spacetime.]
Gu Zuo clenched his fingers, and held his breath.
[In other words, if I want to bring big brother along with me…]
The system’s tone didn’t have any fluctuations.
[It is feasible.]
Gu Zuo’s fingers unclenched.
He was very happy. He had never been so happy. So long as he had Void Pills in hand, even if he and his big brother were separated across two worlds, they wouldn’t be separated forever!
If it was like this, he wouldn’t have to keep the guilt he’d been concealing from his big brother the whole time close to his chest anymore…
But, the joy rising in his heart disappeared in the blink of an eye.
— Indeed, it wasn’t an eternal parting, but they couldn’t always be together either. What separated them would be worlds, not just a few buildings down the road.
Gu Zuo had a clear understanding.
His big brother, Gongyi Tianheng, possessed the most outstanding of talents in this world. He had strong ambitions, vast aspirations, and the capabilities to reach the top.
For such an individual, he ought to shine brilliantly in this world filled with martial arts. He would become the strongest — Yes. Gu Zuo knew, ever since Tianheng stepped foot upon the path of martial arts, that the direction he was dashing towards was that of the strongest!
As a result, this kind of person couldn’t remain in a world like Gu Zuo’s for long.
Although Gu Zuo hadn’t cultivated when he was in that world, he knew that it wasn’t a world with a path of martial arts. What emerged were the means of science and technology. The physical bodies of humankind hadn’t been developed vigorously. That world didn’t even have dense ambient qi like this place’s numerous continents, which supplied great quantities of martial artists and pharmacists! It could be said that it would be impossible for Gu Zuo to have any realm advancements after he went back. Being unable to advance was something that Tianheng definitely couldn’t endure.
Gu Zuo, who was tethered to his family in that world, also wouldn’t renounce his relatives. He wouldn’t simply return to the Central Continent after seeing his parents.
The lifespans of his parents weren’t long. But by the time Gu Zuo was capable of refining the Void Pill, his lifespan would’ve certainly lengthened. Gu Zuo could accompany his family for a lifetime, and then go back. Yet… Why didn’t his heart feel that happy?
Gu Zuo had thought about it earlier. Once he returned to his original world, the skills he mastered would undoubtedly allow him to find his father. He would let his dad and father live long and happy lives. A hundred years? Two hundred years? He would give it his all.
As such, granted that he could come back to this world, there was still this length of time…
He suddenly recalled something, and hurriedly asked.
[Then, since the Void Pill can ensure that I’ll return to the original point in time I left the other world, can it work for when I come back?]
Unfortunately, the system’s response left him disappointed.
[There is no way to halt the Central Continent’s flow of time.]
Gu Zuo’s mood fell.
How could an earth-level medicinal pill be able to break through the torrent of time that suffused a world like the Central Continent?
…After he went back, he would surely miss his big brother very much. After one year, two years, many years, he wouldn’t change. This was because, after seeing this continent’s vastness, the many things of that world had no way of disrupting his frame of mind. But in these years, his big brother would have many experiences of surging forward with great momentum. And these experiences wouldn’t include him.
Unwillingness surged forth within his heart.
It was obvious that the one closest to his big brother was himself, but there would be a blank space of at least two hundred years between them! During this period of time, he didn’t know what realm his matured and worldly big brother would’ve broken through to. Even if he came back, could he still help his big brother? Would he be able to catch up with his big brother’s pace? How many people would replace his position? How much of the trust his big brother placed in him would remain at that time?
Even if his big brother still trusted him, how could the estrangement and unfamiliarity of two hundred years of emptiness be eliminated?
He couldn’t put down the worries he had for his dad. He needed to refine the Void Pill and promptly go back. Only, because he couldn’t ignore his own indulgences in this world, and because the modern world’s time could be chosen at will, he just took care of himself.
But…he still wasn’t reconciled.
If there was even the smallest possibility that there was another person standing by his big brother’s side after he returned —
What was he supposed to do?
What did he want to do?
At this moment, it was as if a clap of thunder echoed through his mind.
Gu Zuo was alarmed.
What were these feelings?
He wanted it to be like this all of the time. He and his big brother were closest to one another. They trusted each other the most. No one else could come between them… What kind of feelings were these?
Relatives?
He had always regarded his big brother as his most important relative.
However, Gu Zuo suddenly found that, perhaps, it wasn’t only this.
If it was his dad and father, they were also very important, but Gu Zuo didn’t want to be so close to them that he didn’t have any space for himself.
Even if they were his close relatives, one needed to keep some personal space between each other, right?
Gu Zuo covered his face.
What was going on…
Maybe he hadn’t discovered it before, but he didn’t understand this kind of emotion.
He was happy when he saw Tianheng. He felt longing when he left Tianheng. He mourned when he thought about never seeing Tianheng again. It was as if his entire heart was bursting with thoughts of Gongyi Tianheng.
The desire to occupy all of a person’s thoughts. The desire to be the most important thing in the other’s heart. No matter where one went, so long as one could be by that person’s side, there was nothing to fear.
Even if countless people by Gu Zuo’s side came and went, he would only feel sorry in the end. But so long as Gu Zuo thought about losing him, it felt like his organs were being twisted into knots…
Gu Zuo suddenly understood.
He liked Tianheng…the same way his dad liked his father.
T/N: Hello, this is the translator. I just want to put in my two cents on the reason why Gu Zuo didn’t consider bringing his family to the Central Continent.
Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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