Wang Chengyang thought for a moment and then said, "Countless people in the jianghu have been looking for the Bai Family, but there has been no news... until now."
A dead silence fell.
After a while, seeing that the leader didn't respond, Wang Chengyang couldn't help but look up at him. Just as he was about to open his mouth, he heard the leader's voice coming faintly.
"Go to the Valley of Witheredness."
Wang Chengyang was stunned for a moment, then curled his lips and gave a sinister smile. Suddenly remembering something, he looked up and said obsequiously, "By the way, leader, the Gu Family has now suffered a calamity that wiped out the whole family. They've fallen into utter destitution."
The leader lifted his eyes and looked at Wang Chengyang. There was a hint of weariness on his face. He said, "It's really a pity that the once - renowned Gu Family has declined like this. But it was destined from the very beginning. Since they got involved with the Rebirth Fruit money, the Gu Family was doomed to end up badly."
The jianghu was no longer what it used to be. It was impossible to tell right from wrong. Everything was like the clouds floating in the sky. Just a gentle breeze blew, and on the surface, the grudges seemed to have dissipated. But the bright moon didn't shine for long before it was covered by another cloud. Even when the moon rose to the west, it would be caught up.
This was the current jianghu.
The night was thick. A young girl holding a lantern was walking briskly towards the courtyard, humming a melodious tune as she walked.
"The moon is charming. The wet flowers gather dew early in the evening. My lover's heart is not as good - looking as his appearance. How can he guess that my jade hairpin with eight treasures is my favorite? I secretly feel annoyed while staring. The red wall surrounds. My heart is longing. The apricot and plum blossoms are in bloom, but the mandarin ducks have flown away..."
There were two big red lanterns hanging at the entrance of the mansion. The dim red light shone on the somewhat mottled wooden door, which looked very old. As the girl stepped over the threshold, she could hear the rustling sound of the leaves on the ground.
Suddenly, the sachet on her body fell outside the door. The girl bent down, put the lantern in her hand in front of the door, and reached out to pick up the sachet.
Faint voices came from inside the door.
"Hey, Xiao Liuzi, you lost this round." A servant with a cloth wrapped around his head said with shining eyes. He threw the small card in his hand in front of him and stretched out his hand towards the thin servant opposite, who looked miserable and was scratching his head, asking for copper coins.
The thin servant scratched his head. Looking at the definite losing situation in front of him, he had no choice but to reach into his bosom and rummage around. He also said, "What's going on? I clearly saw that the card in your hand wasn't this one..."
The moonlight shone brightly on the ground, illuminating everything.
A handsome young man in white brocade clothes and a high hat came walking with a lantern from the long corridor.
The once - prosperous mansion had now fallen into such desolation, which made people feel melancholy and sad.
His gaze fell on the two servants playing small cards not far away. The handsome young man sighed softly, walked over, and put some silver on the stone table. He said, "You two should leave soon. The Gu Mansion can no longer afford to pay your salaries. After you leave, find another mansion to work in."
The two servants looked up at the handsome young man. They hesitated and glanced at each other. Then the servant with the cloth wrapped around his head looked up and said, "The Gu Mansion is our home. If we leave, we'll have nowhere to go. Please let us stay here no matter what."
After hearing this, the thin servant also nodded. They tugged at each other and suddenly knelt down together, shouting, "Let us stay here. We'll definitely clean the Gu Mansion on time, just like before!"
The thin servant quickly picked up the silver on the table and handed it over. Looking at the young scholar, he said, "We've been in the mansion for so many years. Mr. Qiongxue and you have taken good care of us. Let us guard the Gu Mansion and do our bit!"
The young scholar named Weng Tong looked at the two of them. His face twitched, and his heart skipped a beat when he heard the name Gu Rongxue. He quickly helped the two of them up from the ground and said, "Get up quickly. Just stay here. Keep the silver. Mr. Qiongxue will surely be very gratified to know that there are such loyal people guarding the Gu Mansion. It's worth all the prosperity of the Gu Mansion over the years."
The two servants looked at each other and lowered their heads shyly. They felt even more grateful.
Weng Tong gave a faint smile, but he couldn't hide the sadness in his heart.
Mr. Qiongxue, I finally understand what you meant by 'everything is arranged by God'. You meant that the decline of the Gu Family today was actually predestined, right?
Mr. Qiongxue...
Weng Tong lowered his head. He felt that tonight's night was especially long.
The moonlight was shifting, the evening breeze was gentle, the tree shadows were dancing, and the candlelight was flickering.
The wind was a bit cold. After the girl picked up the sachet and fastened it to her dress, a golden tassel hung down. She bent down to pick up the lantern. Just as she was about to look up, a shadow fell.
"Is this the Gu Mansion?"
A nice voice sounded in front of her, slightly cold, as cold as frost.
The girl looked up. At first sight, she was stunned for a moment.
The man in front of her was wearing a dark red robe. A black cloak covered his whole body, only showing half of his face. There were crabapple flowers embroidered on the robe. His long black hair hung in front of his body. His perfect lips were a faint pink - white color. His nose, like polished jade, reflected the light. There was an invisible sense of oppression coming from him. There was also a white horse beside him. There were gold, silver, and jade ornaments hanging on the horse's head. A soft cushion embroidered with patterns was laid on the horse's back. The man's long and good - looking fingers were holding the horse's reins. There was a red string wrapped around his wrist. The red string made his wrist look so white that it was almost transparent.
The girl was stunned. After a moment, she came to her senses. Holding the lantern and facing the man directly, her smart eyes flashed. She said, "This is the Gu Mansion. Who are you looking for, sir?"
The man didn't say a word. His dark red robe trailed on the ground. It was hard to see his expression under the black cloak. After a while, he threw something at the girl with his other hand and said, "From today on, I'm the master here."
The girl was stunned for a moment. She quickly caught what the man had thrown. Looking down, she was shocked.
Why was this thing so familiar...
In her hand was a piece of white jade in the shape of a pixiu with a silver tassel hanging down. Suddenly remembering something, she looked up at the man abruptly and said tremblingly, "Mr. Qiongxue..."
The man led the horse towards the mansion. After hearing what the girl said, he stopped and turned slightly to the side. A cold voice came from under the black cloak.
"I'm not him. Don't call that disgusting man's name." Seeing the girl was stunned, he added, "My name is Gu Fangxie, Gu Fangxie."
Gu Fangxie?
The girl was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, her smart eyes widened. Her face lit up, and she said, "Eldest Young Master?"
She remembered that there was an eldest young master in the Gu Family who worked for the court. The eldest young master was older than Mr. Qiongxue and had disappeared for many years. The man in front of her was actually the eldest young master Gu Fangxie who had been exiled by the court? She had thought... she had thought that the eldest young master was already dead.
Also, did the eldest young master hate Mr. Qiongxue very much? The girl frowned slightly and thought to herself.
The man didn't say a word. His lips under the black cloak were as pale as snow. He led the white horse towards the mansion.
After walking two steps, he suddenly stopped and said coldly, "What's your name?"