As Gu Pinglin expected, the young masters of the Gu family were looking for him in the garden. Because Gu Pinglin was lost, everyone was implicated, and Madam Gu ordered that he must be found. Even the eldest son Gu Ping'an got the news and rushed over from the front, also because he was afraid that Gu Pinglin would get into trouble alone in the Duan family.
Being implicated for no reason, Gu Pingsheng was furious: "Damn it, I knew he would get into trouble if he ran around!"
Gu Ping'an, with a stern face, led the crowd forward. Gu Pinglin was of humble status and posed no threat to him, so he didn't have the energy to make things difficult for him. However, he had just met two young masters from aristocratic families in front of him, and before they had said a few words, he received a letter from his mother, so he had to hurry over. He was also angry that he was being held back by Gu Pinglin for no reason.
When they reached the water pavilion, Gu Pinglin happened to be walking over the bridge.
"Xiao Jiu is there!" Gu Pingsheng shouted, and then realized something was wrong, "Huh? Then... is it really that maid's son?" Gu Ping'an glared at him, and he quickly shut up. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he breathed a sigh of relief and cursed in a low voice, "It's him!"
In just about an hour, Gu Pinglin's clothes were changed into gorgeous brocade robes.
Gu Pingsheng stamped his feet: "This kid, didn't he steal some clothes from somewhere?"
"Nonsense! Xiaojiu has never stolen anything!" The third young master Gu Pingxin retorted. He was not speaking for Gu Pinglin, but his mother Zhang was extremely favored, so he naturally did not accept Gu Ping'an's dominance and wanted to compete for everything.
As he was speaking, Gu Pinglin had already walked in front of everyone and said to Gu Ping'an, "I got lost accidentally and made you worried."
Gu Pingan was stunned when he heard this. He had never paid attention to this inconspicuous younger brother. Seeing that his words seemed to be particularly different and he had changed his clothes for no apparent reason, Gu Pingan was afraid that he had really done something shameful like stealing clothes. There were many people in the garden, so it was not easy for Gu Pingan to ask on the spot. He lowered his voice and said sternly, "Father has ordered that you all follow me out."
Hearing his father's words, Gu Pingsheng and others who were used to bullying Gu Pinglin were gloating. In fact, Master Gu didn't know anything at all. Gu Ping'an rushed over after receiving the news from his mother, intending to find Gu Pinglin first and then report back to his father, so as to show that he was careful in handling things. Even if Gu Pinglin got into trouble, it couldn't be blamed on him.
Gu Pinglin saw it all and followed Gu Pingan and the others out of the garden obediently. Master Gu and Madam Gu were already waiting beside the carriage. Madam Gu, Zhou, was well-maintained, fair-skinned, and a bit plump. Master Gu, named Gu Jin, was dark and fat, with a few strands of black beard on his chin. He was serious and his sons were a little afraid of him.
"Father..." Gu Ping'an stepped forward to report.
Gu Jin waved his hand to interrupt him: "I know everything, get in the car." Then he remembered something, "Xiaojiu, don't squeeze with the servants, take a car with Pingxin."
Gu Pingxin looked at Gu Pinglin with disdain, then remembered her mother Zhang's teachings and pretended to agree happily.
Zhou's face was not very good, and she forced a smile at Gu Pinglin: "You should have told me if you wanted to play. I was worried that something happened to you, so I asked your eldest brother to come and look for you. Fortunately, Young Master Duan Liu sent someone to tell me. Xiaojiu, when did you get to know Young Master Duan Liu?"
The eldest son of the Duan family? Gu Pingan and the others were really dumbfounded.
In his previous life, he missed the banquet and was beaten. Gu Pinglin didn't want to cause trouble, so he borrowed Duan Qingming's clothes on a whim. Unexpectedly, Duan Qingming sent someone to explain, probably in return for the tip. Gu Pinglin said bluntly: "We just met."
Gu Jin immediately asked: "When you came out, did he say anything else to you?"
Gu Pinglin shook his head.
Idiot. Gu Jin began to regret his neglect of his son. He should have taught him some principles of dealing with things and chatting earlier. He missed a good opportunity. Gu Jin held back his anger and taught him: "It's better to make more friends. If Mr. Duan Liu comes to you, you must not neglect him."
Gu Pinglin said "Oh".
It was impossible to prop up a rotten wall, so Gu Jin turned around, turned around and got into the carriage with Zhou.
The Gu family carriage had no magic to bless it, and it took five days to reach the Gu Mansion. Knowing Duan Qingming, Gu Pinglin was spared a beating, but Gu Jin didn't take it seriously. Who was Duan Qingming? He was the eldest son of the first family, the future head of the Duan family. How could he be friends with the bastard of the Gu family? Most likely he just asked a child to play with him on a whim. Therefore, Gu Pinglin's life did not change much.
Early in the morning, in a remote courtyard.
A creaky sound broke the silence, the wooden door opened, and Gu Pinglin walked out. He stood in front of the steps, stretched, and rolled up his sleeves to get water to wash his face.
Originally, there lived an old woman named Wang and a maid who served Gu Pinglin in the yard. Old woman Wang had been a lonely and childless woman all her life. Gu Pinglin's biological mother died when he was five years old. Thanks to her care, Gu Pinglin was able to grow up safely. However, she died of illness last year. After Gu Pinglin was reborn, he simply gave the lazy maid to Gu Pingsheng. Now Gu Pinglin is the only one left in the yard.
Gu Pinglin had been feeling depressed since he came back from the Duan family after finding out that Duan Qingming had made some progress in cultivation. He was familiar with the Lingxin Sect's techniques and the "Creation Art", but the Lingxin Sect was always strict in accepting disciples, and he could not hide his cultivation in advance. With such a background, his cultivation would only arouse suspicion. If it was discovered that he was using the Lingxin Sect's techniques, the consequences would be even more serious. And he had to join the Lingxin Sect.
The sky is turning white and the red sun is about to rise. It is said in "The Book of Creation" that a ray of the essence of the first sun is the most precious thing in heaven and earth.
Gu Pinglin sighed, gave up the idea of moving, poured out the remaining water, and went to the fire room as usual. The fire room was already busy, preparing breakfast for the Gu family. Gu Pinglin didn't say anything, but quietly took the axe and started chopping wood. His thin body swung the axe, which seemed very strenuous, and soon he was sweating profusely. In fact, as a young master, Gu Pinglin didn't have to do these rough jobs even if he was looked down upon and bullied. But he was willing, and everyone in the fire room was happy to ignore it.
If you can't practice, then strengthen your physique first, which will also be beneficial for the future. Gu Pinglin has a deep understanding of this. Although he hasn't gained much weight in the past three months, his face and lips have become slightly redder, and he is no longer the pale and sickly look of his previous life. Not only is his breathing slower, but his steps are also much lighter.
After chopping a few pieces of firewood, Gu Pinglin knew he had reached his limit, so he stopped immediately, went back to the yard to get some water to clean himself, changed into clean clothes, and then went back to the fire room to get some food. After finishing his meal, the sun was high, and Gu Pinglin thought that Gu Pingsheng was going to come over to cause trouble, so he went out from the corner gate and walked straight out of the village.
Compared with the Duan family, the Gu family can only be regarded as a small family in the mountains. There are no spiritual veins or eyes underground, and there is not even a magic formation to protect the manor. It looks no different from an ordinary people's manor. The tall gate walls exude the flavor of a nouveau riche.
Eleven years old.
Gu Pinglin sat on the old willow tree, staring at the sky in a trance. Today was his eleventh birthday, and the Gu family had habitually forgotten about it. Gu Pinglin didn't care about it, and silently calculated how long it would take for him to join the Lingxin Sect.
"Where did you come from, little beggars? Are you all here to eat for free? Why don't you chase them away?"
"I'll exchange it for jade."
"It's just a broken piece of jade, I don't want it even if you give it to me!" Gu Pingsheng said with disdain, "This is the Gu Mansion, the immortal family, not a pawnshop outside! Get out of here!"
Gu Pinglin frowned and turned his head to look.
He was a ragged, skinny boy with a particularly eye-catching cinnabar mole between his eyebrows. Unfortunately, his hair was messy, his face was thin and his cheeks were deeply sunken, making him look a little ugly. His thin lips were tightly pursed, showing his strong will. He must have been too hungry to ask for help, but he was humiliated by Gu Pingsheng.
The young man was pushed to the ground by the gatehouse servants. His face turned pale. He glanced at the plaque on the gate of Gu Mansion, then got up and walked away in silence.
Gu Pinglin didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but the young man's face was so special that he suddenly remembered someone and was shocked.
No wonder... I was puzzled for a long time, but unexpectedly the truth is here, that's it!
Gu Pinglin turned over, got down from the tree, and walked over quickly.
"So you were hiding here!" Gu Pingsheng became excited when he saw him and shouted.
Gu Pinglin ignored him and stopped the young man.
Hearing that his surname was also Gu, the young man stepped back cautiously, his eyes full of hostility.
"Come with me," Gu Pinglin whispered, "I'll take you to dinner."
With Gu Pingsheng in front of him, the boy thought he was playing a trick on him and refused to move. In just a moment, Gu Pingsheng came running over with his servant: "Gu Pinglin, are you deaf? I'm calling you!"
"I heard it." Gu Pinglin answered calmly.
"How dare you talk back!" Gu Pingsheng had been looking for him in vain for the past few months. Now that he finally found an opportunity, he became more aggressive, "Lingdan, teach him a lesson!"
The servant boy named Lingdan agreed, but as soon as he took a step forward, he was met with two cold gazes.
"A servant dares to hit me. This is not a rule in the Gu family."
His eyes were dignified and cold, not the eyes of an eleven-year-old child, but the majesty of a leader of a sect in the world of cultivation. Lingdan felt inexplicably frightened and was shocked to the point of standing still.
Gu Ping said angrily: "It's just a maid's son, what are you afraid of? Beat him!"
Lingdan weighed it over and finally didn't dare to step forward, with a bitter face: "This..."
"Useless thing!" Gu Pingsheng kicked him away and sneered at Gu Pinglin, "I'm your second brother, it's always right for me to teach you a lesson."
Seeing him swinging his palm towards him, Gu Pinglin was quick to grab his wrist and twist it. Gu Pingsheng was already fourteen years old, and he was originally stronger, but he had always been spoiled and did not practice diligently, so he did not have the experience of Gu Pinglin in fighting against enemies, and screamed in pain like a pig being slaughtered.
"Young Master!"
"If you dare to attack me, my father will not forgive you!"
As if he didn't hear the threat, Gu Pinglin threw away the straw bag, turned around and said to the silent boy next to him, "If you don't want to starve to death, follow me", and then walked away without caring about the other party's reaction.
Soon, the boy followed.