Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 283 Change
A dull thud was heard as the palm struck Gu Jize's neck, and he fell to the ground. Gu Jingnian didn't even reach out to help him up, letting his head hit the cold stone slab.

Upon seeing this, a smile unconsciously crept onto Gu Beiming's lips.

"I knew you'd see the light one day."

“Yes,” Gu Jingnian said. “I am an alien, and my position cannot be changed. Refining and becoming stronger is my destiny. I used to be burdened by the useless moral sense of mortals, which only made me weak and vulnerable.”

Gu Beiming's eyes showed admiration as he said, "This is my son. His ambition is commendable."

Gu Jingnian smiled slightly and said, "Father probably doesn't quite understand my ambition."

"is it?"

Gu Beiming glanced at the key hanging on Gu Jize's waist, hoping that Gu Jingnian would release him. He then took two steps forward and adopted a posture of listening attentively to his son's aspirations.

Gu Jingnian straightened his clothes and said, "Father also knows that the Realm People are powerful, and I have already pledged allegiance to the most powerful Realm People, the God Venerable."

He resorted to the same excuse he used to deceive Zhao Boheng.

This explanation is effective because it is half true and half false. Since people don't understand the Realm, they are easily intimidated by the supernatural powers of the Realm people. Even Gu Beiming's eyes gradually became uncertain, unable to discern Gu Jingnian's true intentions.

"After Shen Jichi escaped the boundary, he dared to oppose the God. He was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating his own strength. Now that the God has appointed me as the Wing King, to recruit soldiers and horses for him to rule the Central Plains, the first thing I must do is to get rid of Shen Jichi for the God."

Upon hearing this, Gu Beiming remained silent for a long time.

He held Shen Jichi in awe, having served under Shen Jichi for many years and knowing full well how powerful Shen Jichi was.

But like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, his son, before he had even fully grown his wings, tried to swallow the big fish whole.

However, Gu Beiming did not dissuade Gu Jingnian. After thinking it over again and again, he pondered and asked, "Do you need my help?"

Gu Jingnian said, "Father has known Shen Jichi for many years. How about inviting him to live in the fortified city?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Beiming fully understood that Gu Jingnian had not come to save him, but to use him.

"I am trapped here, how can I invite him to come?"

“Simple,” Gu Jingnian said. “Sending a trusted confidant to deliver the message is enough.”

Gu Beiming's eyes darted around, clearly feeling that the benefits he had received were too meager, so he said, "My trusted confidants have all been eliminated by your fourth brother, so who else can I appoint?"

“I will release you once you get rid of Shen Jichi,” Gu Jingnian said. “I can guarantee that.”

Gu Beiming found it amusing and said, "You child, can you guarantee that your father will believe you?"

"To be frank, after I capture Shen Jichi, I will refine him. At that time, with my strength, why would I need to imprison my father?"

Gu Jingnian's words were somewhat arrogant and naive. Gu Beiming fell silent after hearing them. He really hadn't expected his son's ambition to grow so quickly.

Although refining Shen Jichi is difficult to achieve, he is imprisoned here and has no other way to escape so far.

As for his personal relationship with Shen Jichi, that was not within his consideration.

"Alright, you and I, father and son, should join hands and create a great enterprise together!"

As Gu Beiming spoke, he looked intently at Gu Jingnian, hoping that Gu Jingnian would give him some freedom right now.

However, Gu Jingnian simply nodded indifferently, bent down, grabbed Gu Jize by the collar, and dragged him out.

--------

When Gu Jize regained consciousness, he felt a soreness in his neck.

He opened his eyes and saw Gu Jingnian sitting not far away.

"you!"

Gu Jize struggled to sit up, frowned, and gritted his teeth, saying, "You've come back this time to help Father deal with me?"

“Fourth Brother, you still have all the tokens and talismans on you,” Gu Jingnian said. “If I wanted to deal with you, I should have taken control of Jusai City in Father’s name by now.”

Gu Jize touched his body and found that all the tokens were still there. Looking around, he realized that this was his usual office where he conducted official business. The outside world was calm and peaceful, and nothing major had happened.

His tense mood relaxed considerably.

Why did you knock me unconscious?

“If that weren’t the case, why would Father believe me?” Gu Jingnian said.

He used to despise refining and looked down on the actions of Gu Beiming and others, which is why he joined forces with Gu Jize to seize power. Now he has changed, and his attack on Gu Jize in front of Gu Beiming is proof of this change.

But deep down he may still retain his past ideals, and Gu Jize is still holding on to them.

Therefore, he wouldn't actually harm Gu Jize.

Gu Jize asked, "What do you want to lie to Father about?"

"I need to use him to lure Shen Jichi and eliminate him." Gu Jingnian didn't hide much, so he roughly told the story, only omitting some secrets about Zi Cang.

Gu Jize frowned as he listened.

The proliferation of alchemists and the frequent emergence of extraordinary individuals in recent years have already given him a major headache. Now, the appearance of such a troublesome realm has further shaken his confidence as a mortal.

Finally, Gu Jingnian said, "I have no interest in taking command of the Xiaoyi Army, but I know more about the affairs of the extraordinary. If Fourth Brother trusts me, then allow me to capture Shen Jichi with full authority, how about it?"

He knocked Gu Jize unconscious without saying a word, yet still expected Gu Jize to trust him, which was quite unreasonable.

But Gu Jize, rubbing his sore neck, thought for a moment and actually agreed. After all, Gu Jingnian possessed powerful supernatural abilities, so if he wanted to seize power, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths.

"it is good."

"Thank you, Fourth Brother."

"What is there to distrust among our own brothers?"

Gu Jingnian said, "Then let's make a deal: Fourth Brother will be in charge of military and political affairs, and I will handle matters related to the supernatural beings. How about that?"

Gu Jize said, "That would be the best."

"There's one more thing," Gu Jingnian said. "I'd like to ask Fourth Brother for two more people."

"Who?"

“First is Lü Maoxiu. Fourth Brother, you don’t need to hand him over to me. Just relax your guard against him and let him escape on his own to see Father,” Gu Jingnian said. “I want to use him to pass on a message to Shen Jichi.”

"it is good."

Lu Maoxiu was Gu Beiming's most trusted retainer. In the past, whenever Gu Beiming was away, he was in charge of Jusai City. Releasing such a person would actually pose a great threat to Gu Jize's position.

But Gu Jize did not hesitate at all and nodded in agreement.

Gu Jingnian continued, "The other one is Liang Xin, the imperial physician who helped Father refine his supernatural abilities. Fourth Brother, you can just hand him over to me."

Liang Xing was merely an alchemist, but Gu Jize hesitated for a moment upon hearing this and asked, "What use do you have for him?"

Gu Jingnian did not answer directly, but only said, "Of course it is useful."

Gu Jize thought for a moment before saying, "Alright, you go back to your residence to rest first. I'll have someone send Liang Xin to your residence later."

"Thank you very much, Fourth Brother."

--------

Gu Jingnian's residence in Jusai City was still the same small courtyard he had lived in before, next to Gu Jizu's mourning hall.

Once back here, Miao Chunniang had no excuse to stay with him any longer, so she took Huo Bo back to the main house.

Fengniang didn't like Jusai City at first, but after Miao Chunniang left, she felt more favorably disposed toward the place and said to the money-losing girls, "This place is much safer than Yongjing."

But Lao Hei, Gao Changgan, and the others were filled with awe for this military city built of obsidian, and they were timid and very reserved.

Pei Nian was the most at ease here; only here did she not feel the huge gap in superpowers between them.

After Gu Jingnian returned to his residence, he waited for quite a while before two soldiers brought Liang Xin over.

Liang Xin was dressed in prison clothes, his face filthy. He had already died once and was resurrected as a salamander. All the fur on his body had fallen off, and his skin was pale, but his spirits were quite good.

Upon seeing Gu Jingnian, he was terrified and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Young Master Eleven, please spare my life! I have already reformed!"

"Come with me, I have a few questions for you."

Gu Jingnian led Liang Xin to an empty hall and, without wasting words, said, "Although Ju Saicheng cannot use supernatural abilities, he can refine supernatural beings, is that right?"

"Yes, yes, because Jusai City can suppress supernatural abilities and makes it easier to control superhumans, making it a good refining ground, but I no longer dare to..."

Liang Xin first answered truthfully, but then worried about offending Gu Jingnian. Just as he was about to say something to smooth things over, he heard Gu Jingnian say something that surprised him greatly.

"Alright, from now on you will work for me."

"Wha...what?"

Gu Jingnian ignored his surprise and said calmly, "I have a use for the refining field that my father used to have."

Liang Xing was taken aback and stole a glance. She saw that although Gu Jingnian's face had not changed, his eyes had become more decisive and ruthless, and his aura was very different from before.

He couldn't help but think, it seems that even the Eleventh Prince has changed.

While surprised, he also felt it made sense, after all, that's how the world is, how many people can always stick to their original intentions?

(End of this chapter)