Gu Zuo's first reaction was: Failure won't actually lead to obliteration!
Although the number of times weren't many, since the very beginning, the matter of the system threatening to explode so that they would both die together if he didn't work gave him a seriously deep impression. Now that this upgrading mission didn't have any penalties, it left Gu Zuo with a better opinion on the system.
He thought, presumably, that so long as he was able to maintain the system's operation, there wouldn't be any danger of obliteration. The upgrading mission was only for upgrading. The status quo could also be maintained, so there wasn't any need to self-destruct… Right?
If it really was like this, the system was nevertheless pretty good. Moreover, once the system upgraded, Gu Zuo was very interested in what functions the system would have and what privileges would be opened to him.
However, Gu Zuo didn't continue asking questions. First, he accepted the mission. Then, he considered another matter.
Gu Zuo: System, pertaining to asking you about the problem with Huangfu Zhanghao's unbelievable luck, how much medicinal qi do I need to get a detailed explanation?
[Five strands of medicinal qi.]
Gu Zuo blanked again: So cheap?!
He thought that it'd be over one hundred strands at the very least. The result the system bestowed was just a simple five strands of medicinal qi? This was a little inconceivable.
Gu Zuo didn't urgently respond. He transmitted to ask his big brother.
Tianheng slightly muttered: Maintaining the system's monthly operations only needs thirty strands of medicinal qi, but one question being worth five strands also can't be considered cheap. This, I'm afraid, is merely the beginning. Placed in the Cangyun Empire, our outlooks are really narrow. We'll need to widen our horizons or there'll be many things we won't be able to find out. And to live well, the frequency of making inquiries like today won't be small. More questions will naturally use up more medicinal qi.
Gu Zo understood.
Indeed, if he suddenly asked a handful of questions, wouldn't he just end up spending dozens of strands of medicinal qi? This sort of thing was possible.
He nodded: In that case, system, make the exchange.
The next moment, Gu Zuo discovered that after a whoosh, there were five less among the countless strands of medicinal qi in his storage s.p.a.ce.
Immediately following that, the system started to speak.
[Huangfu Zhanghao's circ.u.mstances are caused by Fate Layering.]
[During the Hundred Countries Tournament, because his strength was of no use, he should have died. The Host gave him a Rejuvenation Pill, which let him escape death. That in itself was a reversal of fate. For a short time, this manifested in his body.]
[Because his death was averted by the host, there exists a faint link between you two.]
[Furthermore, the Tiandu Body exudes elegance and shocking talent, and has a robust fate. Yet, even more than that, it's in defiance of heaven [1] and normally cannot live beyond adulthood. However, aside from an unavoidable death, while the Tiandu Body is alive, its luck will not diminish. Once death is averted, the previously suppressed luck will rebound and will be even better than before. The host had prevented the Tiandu Body's death and forged a guardian contract. The two of you complement one another, and your fates have already formed a connection.]
[With the host acting as the intermediary, a bit of the luck that inexplicably protects the Tiandu Body has been lent to Huangfu Zhanghao. Because Zhanghao's brilliance has overshadowed the Tiandu Body, this allows the Tiandu Body to develop without any problems.]
[Under Fate Layering, Huangfu Zhanghao will experience smooth sailing.]
Gu Zuo helplessly said: In other words, this is big brother's luck giving him a shield?
[Correct.]
Gu Zuo: …
Considering this reason, if it wasn't for Zhanghao, his big brother would've received the same kind of incessant attention like now. Instead, it was Huangfu Zhanghao. After going to the Qingyun Sect, Zhanghao might encounter loads of trouble.
This feeling of shifting the blame onto someone else… Although, he didn't do it deliberately and it wasn't his big brother's intention, why did he feel that it was still fishy?
Gu Zuo thought about it, and asked: Then, will Zhanghao get hurt? How long has he been borrowing luck? Is he going to borrow even more? If he is, what'll happen to him?
[Luck never remains constant. Even though a boost in false luck will eventually return to its source, if there's enough effort, one's own luck can still strengthen and maintain one's good fortune afterwards.]
[Huangfu Zhanghao has borrowed the Tiandu Body's luck. Provided that he is mindful, he can grasp many opportunities. From this, although many dangers will be produced, they can normally be avoided, and once they are avoided, his own luck can grow.]
The system was very concise and comprehensive.
[He has a small advantage.]
Gu Zuo felt even more helpless.
No matter what was said, this didn't come to pa.s.s with that guy's approval… But thinking it over again, this wasn't a matter they could resolve. Wasn't big brother doing it automatically? There really was no need to give himself a pile of responsibilities.
Gu Zuo felt the sputtering flames of guilt puff into existence before immediately going out.
In fact, he also knew that even if he made Zhanghao chose beforehand, he certainly would still accept this… En, this business deal.
Moreover, he didn't hypocritically delude himself into thinking as if this was in consideration of Zhanghao. Because if he had to choose again, he would choose to save Zhanghao and have him act as a shield.
Gu Zuo silently sighed once more.
In any case, Tianheng was okay, so he was okay. He was happy that he was still alive, and that he could still hope to go back and find his dad.
As for other things, he felt that thinking about them too much was pointless.
There were many matters in this world that were unfair. What he should do was carefully improve himself. He could always bully others and prevent others from bullying himself in the future.
After convincing himself, Gu Zuo also understood that he was still measuring this world with the standards of another world. However, where in this world was it just as peaceful as that world? What's more, even if it was that world, it also had too many injustices. He could only find an internal balance. If he kept thinking this way about this world, he might…not live much longer.
Gu Zuo didn't share these small thoughts with Tianheng. He only told Tianheng what he knew about the matters of Huangfu Zhanghao's luck.
Tianheng was also somewhat astonished. After a good while, he faintly nodded: Since it's like this, it's just a coincidence. What's in store for Zhanghao's destiny can only be witnessed by himself. However, you and I shouldn't entrust everything based on that illusory luck. That is, pay only a little bit of attention to it.
Gu Zuo felt somewhat embarra.s.sed.
Previously, he always struggled and thought carefully. As for Tianheng, he had a different point of view after listening to it once. Sure enough, there was a gap in their thought processes.
As a result, he obediently said: Got it. Rest a.s.sured, big brother.
On the side, the Prince Beside the Emperor told the Cangyun Emperor everything from beginning to end in front of everyone. The Cangyun Emperor's eyes flashed and often landed on Zhanghao and Tianheng.
Tianheng wore a smile on his face that people couldn't see through.
Although Zhanghao was very happy, there was a trace of apprehension that couldn't be hidden in the depths of his eyes.
— This definitely wasn't strange for him. Rather, because his strength was insufficient and he still obtained so many things, a rational person wouldn't be so… Ahem, only a sweet and naive girl would believe this without any hesitation.
Just like with Gu Zuo's previous thinking, this was an opportunity.
No matter what kinds of poison [2] or evil consequences were contained within that opportunity's sweetness, as a martial artist, he would go forwards to taste it without the slightest hesitation!
After the Cangyun Emperor sized them up, he let out a faint sigh.
Obviously, he antic.i.p.ated Tianheng, but Zhanghao was completely outside of his expectations. Cang Yu's performance was also even better than what he imagined.
In any event, this was a huge service to the Cangyun Empire.
In the future, and under his jurisdiction, he could improve the qualities of the Cangyun Empire's foundations once more!
Everything was for the sake of the Cangyun Empire!
Afterwards, the Cangyun Emperor didn't speak too much. He knew that there were still very many things to handle and plan for. However, he definitely didn't have a lot of time.
Before they went back, that Immortal realm martial artist mentioned that there would be only one month before they left for the sect. The journey from the Qingyun Boundary back to the Cangyun Empire took over ten days. Going back would take around the same amount of time, so in order to not miss this opportunity, Tianheng and the others could only stay in the Cangyun Empire for no more than three days.
And in these three days, the Cangyun Emperor still needed to let several talented martial artists make their arrangements, as well as quickly consider the placements on hand and choose the candidates.
Troublesome matters would pile up one after another. He truly couldn't let delay his actions.
After the banquet ended and the Cangyun Emperor left, Gongyi Tianheng and the others rushed back to their ancestral residences in the imperial capital.
During this period of time, Tianheng couldn't return to the villa.
______
In the Gongyi ancestral residence.
The Clan Head Gongyi Yan and some of the elders in the know were already waiting within a secret hall. At this moment, they all heard news from various channels that the people who partic.i.p.ated in the Hundred Countries Tournament had returned. However, they were unable to find out the specific achievements and circ.u.mstances.
It was only natural that their moods were anxious at this time.
Suddenly, several familiar strands of qi energy came through from outside. Gongyi Yan hastily stood up to go out. He was greeted with the sight of his father Zhuoyue, eldest son Tianheng, and Gu Zuo, whom he considered his adopted son. They'd all come back. Their expressions didn't carry any sorrow, so he felt greatly relieved.
— In actuality, that these people could safely return already made him very happy.
Tianheng always handled matters decisively. After he entered the hall and paid his respects to the elders, he swiftly and succinctly reported the events of his partic.i.p.ation in the Hundred Countries Tournament.
Gongyi Yan was quick to understand, and so were the elders. After hearing such shocking news, they all similarly showed looks of rapture.
In the next moment, those elders couldn't help but watch each other closely.
Those were ten slots for entering the sect!
Couldn't their flesh and blood children vie for those slots?
Tianheng saw their reactions, yet the look on his face was still a little solemn: “Clan elders, please remain calm! We can take our time before making a decision on this matter.”
Gu Zuo demurely stood behind Tianheng, and felt in his heart how rare a sight it was for his big brother to have this kind of grave expression… It was rather dignified. Whatever impressions one had of that face would all fade away.
In any case, the elders knew that Tianheng had the greatest speaking rights. In addition, through Tianheng's imperceptible influences, he could already make decisions in clan matters. As a result, it became peaceful very quickly.
Yet, when Tianheng opened his mouth, the words he said made them a little restless.
Tianheng said: “This time, before I go, I have no intention of bringing the children of the clan.”
[1] 上天忌讳 - Shang tian (heaven) ji hui (taboo).
[2] Actual words were censored by China's river crab. This is only a guess.