In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 389 It’s easy to change a country but hard to change one’s nature

The voice was not loud, but it was as steady as a rock, solid and unwavering. There was no domineering force from deliberately exerting one's power, but rather a vastness like a lake or sea, and a calmness like an abyss, as if the speaker was not announcing something outside the house, but rather strolling leisurely in the courtyard.

"Waves overturning clouds?"

Upon hearing these three words, Qin Wangchuan's body trembled violently, and the irritation and displeasure on his face were instantly replaced by a look of astonishment.

The woman next to her also changed her expression, clearly having heard of the name "Lang Fanyun".

Even Gu Shaoan raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Qin Wangchuan took a deep breath, quickly suppressing the shock on his face. He glanced at his grandson sleeping peacefully on the bed, then at Gu Shaoan, whose expression was calm but whose eyes were deep. Suddenly, he lowered his voice and said to Gu Shaoan very quickly, "Young Master Gu, if I am not mistaken, the purpose of Long Xiaoyun and Lang Fanyun of the Nujiao Gang's visit is also this Acacia Flower."

"However, since Young Master Gu has already healed Yuan'er, this flower belongs to Young Master Gu. But..."

Although he hadn't finished speaking, Gu Shaoan knew exactly what Qin Wangchuan meant.

But he hoped to step forward and take charge.

Gu Shaoan chuckled in response, “Don’t worry, Old Master Qin, this flower is now mine. I will take full responsibility for anything related to this flower from now on, and it will not involve the Qin family.”

Hearing Gu Shaoan's words, Qin Wangchuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

After a pause, Qin Wangchuan said with a look of shame, "This old man is of meager strength. The Qin family cannot afford to provoke such a behemoth as the Angry Dragon Gang. For the safety of the entire Qin family, I hope Young Master Gu will not take offense."

Gu Shaoan nodded and said, "As the head of the Qin family, it is only natural for Mr. Qin to consider the Qin family in everything he does, and I understand."

Then, with a flick of his right sleeve, a burst of energy instantly drew the acacia flowers and their pot from the bedside to his front.

Reaching into his robes, he took out a piece of silk and wrapped the roots of the Acacia 'Linglong' flower, along with some soil, in it.

Throughout the process, Qin Wangchuan calmly watched from the sidelines without making any attempt to stop him.

A few breaths later, as Gu Shaoan put the Acacia Flower he had placed in his bosom into his system backpack, Gu Shaoan changed the subject and said, "Perfect timing. I have long heard of the name of Lang Fanyun of the Angry Dragon Gang. Today, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to see this Rain-Covering Sword."

In Gu Shaoan's judgment, among the original first-class experts in the Great Wei Kingdom, after Zhu Wushi, the only other first-class experts worthy of his attention are the female demon who has lived for over a hundred years with three thousand feet of white hair, Lang Fanyun of the Angry Dragon Gang, Li Ruohai of the Evil Sect, and Li Xunhuan whom he met yesterday.

Lang Fanyun, in particular, was praised by Zhang Sanfeng several times.

However, the Nujiao Gang is located on Nujiao Island in Dongting Lake, which is far away from the Emei Sect. Gu Shaoan had no prior dealings with the Nujiao Gang, so until now, Gu Shaoan has not found a suitable opportunity to meet this Fuyu Sword.

I never expected to run into Lang Fanyun in Baoding Prefecture today.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan did not show any anger or dissatisfaction, Qin Wangchuan finally relaxed completely.

He then said to the butler at the door, "Please invite them to the front hall!"

The butler immediately agreed.

Qin Wangchuan whispered a few words to the woman, asking her to take good care of the sleeping Qin Siyuan. Then he straightened his robes and gestured for Gu Shaoan to enter.

Gu Shaoan, holding the pot of acacia flowers that still exuded a strange musky fragrance in one hand, walked calmly side by side with Qin Wangchuan towards the main hall.

After passing through several courtyards and corridors, the front hall came into view.

The hall doors were open, the interior was brightly lit, and the furnishings were simple yet elegant.

Just as Qin Wangchuan and Gu Shaoan sat down in the front hall, the butler led the three of them into the hall.

The leader was a tall and imposing man, more than a head taller than the average person. He had a majestic figure, a rugged and heroic appearance, an ugly face, and a pair of yellow eyes that seemed to be half-awake and half-drunk. His hair and fingers were thinner than those of ordinary people, and his hands were at least two to four inches longer than those of ordinary people.

At his waist was a long sword that was four feet and nine inches long.

The words "Fu Yu" (覆雨, meaning "overturning rain") are clearly visible in the center of the ancient pattern on the scabbard.

He seemed to be just standing there casually, without any deliberate movements or aura, yet an indescribable air of authority emanated from him, drawing people's attention to him unconsciously.

It was none other than Lang Fanyun, the number one expert of the Angry Dragon Gang.

Two people followed half a step behind Lang Fanyun.

The man on the left, about forty years old, had a handsome face, a slight beard, and wore a fine brocade robe. He had a beautiful jade pendant at his waist and an elegant demeanor. He had his usual warm smile on his face, but at this moment, there seemed to be a slight tension deep within that smile.

It was Long Xiaoyun of Xingyun Manor, who had orchestrated the attack on Li Xunhuan yesterday.

Beside Long Xiaoyun was a boy who looked to be about twelve or thirteen years old. He was dressed in fine clothes, with a handsome face and even a touch of childishness. However, his eyes were unusually bright and quick, revealing a shrewdness far beyond his years and a hint of sinister malice.

It was a year ago that Gu Shaoan, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yang Yan had met Long Xiaoyun in the dilapidated temple.

Just as Gu Shaoan and Qin Wangchuan's gazes fell upon the three of them, Lang Fanyun, Long Xiaoyun, and Long Xiaoyun, who had just entered the front hall, were also sizing up Gu Shaoan and Qin Wangchuan.

To be precise, she was sizing up Gu Shaoan, who was handsome and had a distinguished bearing.

As the three approached, Qin Wangchuan stood up and took the lead in bowing, his tone cautious and polite: "I was unaware of the arrival of Chief Lang. I apologize for not welcoming you properly and hope you will forgive me."

In his words, he only bowed to Lang Fanyun and did not greet Long Xiaoyun.

Such disrespect caused a shadow to flash across Long Xiaoyun's eyes.

Lang Fanyun cupped his hands and said, "Old Madam Qin, you are too kind. I came uninvited, and I hope you will forgive my abruptness."

As Lang Fanyun finished speaking, Long Xiaoyun, who was standing to the side, put on a smile.

"To be honest, Elder Qin, the reason I came to the Qin family to ask for that rare flower and herb was not because I wanted it myself. It was because the wife of Master Lang was unwell and had trouble sleeping every night. I happened to hear that the Qin family had a rare flower and herb that had the effect of calming the nerves and promoting sleep, so I thought of asking for it so that Master Lang could solve his wife's insomnia."

"We hope that Elder Qin can lend a helping hand."

At this point, Long Xiaoyun paused, as if he had made up his mind, and said, "As long as Elder Qin is willing to give me that rare flower and herb, I am willing to pay any price, even if it means exchanging my Xingyun Manor."

Seeing Long Xiaoyun's "sincere" words, Gu Shaoan couldn't help but find it amusing.

Li Xunhuan wasn't particularly clever to begin with, and then he encountered Long Xiaoyun, a master of acting. No wonder he was completely fooled by Long Xiaoyun and did all those stupid things. Hearing Long Xiaoyun's words, Lang Fanyun seemed to have a change of heart and couldn't help but turn to look at Long Xiaoyun, saying, "I will always remember the kindness of Manor Lord Long, but this concerns me, how can I let Manor Lord Long do this?"

As he spoke, Lang Fanyun cupped his hands to Qin Wangchuan and said, "My wife is unwell, and I have sought out famous doctors to treat her, but to no avail. She is now suffering from insomnia. I hope that Elder Qin can help her. I will do my best to meet any conditions."

Looking at Lang Fanyun, who was sincere and had no airs of a top-tier expert, Qin Wangchuan pondered for a moment and then shook his head, saying, "Chief Lang knows that my Qin family has a rare and exotic flower and herb, but do you know what this rare and exotic flower and herb of my Qin family is?"

When asked by Qin Wangchuan, Lang Fanyun was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and said, "I don't know about that."

Seeing this, Qin Wangchuan continued, "It seems that Chief Lang is grasping at straws in his desperation!"

Qin Wangchuan explained, “The rare flower in my Qin family is called the Acacia Flower. At first, I also thought that the flower had the effect of calming the mind and promoting sleep. But I only recently learned that the Acacia Flower is not a rare flower, but a poisonous flower. The so-called calming and sleep-inducing effect is just due to the toxin in the fragrance of the flower.”

“My grandson only had simple insomnia a few years ago, but now, due to the poison entering his body, he can only sleep for one or two hours every night. Are you sure you want to use that poisonous flower on your wife, Chief Lang?”

Upon hearing Qin Wangchuan's words, Long Xiaoyun's expression changed drastically.

Lang Fanyun was also stunned.

However, before Lang Fanyun could speak, Long Xiaoyun suddenly sighed.

"If Elder Qin doesn't want to take out those rare flowers and herbs, just say so. Master Lang has a good reputation and is not the kind of person who would take things by force. Why do you have to make up these stories to deceive people?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wangchuan's face darkened and he said angrily, "I, Qin Wangchuan, have lived in Baoding Prefecture for decades. Just ask any powerful force and you'll know that I, Qin Wangchuan, always keep my word. That Acacia Flower is indeed a poisonous flower, and I have already given it to someone else. It no longer belongs to the Qin family."

Long Xiaoyun said, "Old Qin still says he didn't lie? If the Acacia Flower is poisonous, why did Old Qin give it to someone else? If the Acacia Flower wasn't in the Qin family from the beginning, why is Old Qin only saying this now? His words don't make any sense."

Qin Wangchuan's expression darkened slightly, and he glared at Long Xiaoyun, saying, "Then should I have your Master Long search my Qin family estate?"

Long Xiaoyun didn't say anything more, but just sighed.

This action made Qin Wangchuan's expression darken even further.

Lang Fanyun, standing to the side, took a deep breath and bowed to Qin Wangchuan, saying, "Elder Qin, I only wish to borrow this Acacia Flower to alleviate my wife's insomnia. I will certainly return it to you in its entirety afterward. If Elder Qin does not believe me, I can bring my wife to Baoding Prefecture. I only ask that Elder Qin lend me the Acacia Flower at that time."

Qin Wangchuan's expression softened slightly as his gaze fell upon Lang Fanyun.

“Master Lang, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but every word I’ve said is true. The Acacia Flower is indeed a poisonous flower that harms people. Furthermore, I gave that Acacia Flower as payment to the doctor who cured my grandson.”

Lang Fanyun pressed on, "May I ask where that physician is?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wangchuan hesitated.

Just then, a soft voice suddenly rang out.

"Mr. Qin was not lying. He has already given me that acacia flower."

Upon hearing the voice, Lang Fanyun, Long Xiaoyun, and Long Xiaoyun all turned their gazes toward Gu Shaoan.

Meeting the gazes of the three, Gu Shaoan put down his teacup, picked up the Heaven-Slaying Sword beside him, and stood up.

As Gu Shaoan stood up, Long Xiaoyun, who was standing next to Long Xiaoyun, glanced at the Yitian Sword in Gu Shaoan's hand with a scrutinizing gaze.

With that one glance, Long Xiaoyun's gaze suddenly froze, and then she stared intently at the Heaven-Slaying Sword in Gu Shaoan's hand.

Immediately afterward, as if confirming something, Long Xiaoyun's gaze shifted to Gu Shaoan's face. Her eyes first showed disbelief, then resentment, and then she suddenly spoke sharply: "Father, it's him. The one who crippled my martial arts in the dilapidated temple last year is this guy."

Immediately afterward, Long Xiaoyun quickly walked a few steps to Lang Fanyun's side, her eyes instantly filling with tears, her voice trembling with sobs and boundless resentment: "Uncle Lang, you must avenge me! He's the one who ruined me! He's turned me into a cripple, you must avenge me!"

With her back to Lang Fanyun, Long Xiaoyun's eyes were filled with resentment and venom, wishing she could make Gu Shaoan taste all the hidden weapons and poisons on his body.

This sudden accusation made Lang Fanyun swallow back the words he was about to say.

Long Xiaoyun's eyes instantly turned sinister.

"So it was you who crippled my son's martial arts?"

Gu Shaoan did not respond to Long Xiaoyun, but instead focused his gaze on Long Xiaoyun.

"You can recognize me just by the sword in my hand. You have a good memory."

At this point, Gu Shaoan paused, then continued, "But unfortunately, old habits die hard. Even after crippling your martial arts, it still hasn't taught you a lesson. It seems that we should have broken your arms and legs back in the dilapidated temple, so that there wouldn't be another troublesome child in Baoding Prefecture."

With nothing else to do, Gu Shaoan took the opportunity to inquire about the reputation of Long Xiaoyun and his son in Baoding Prefecture while at the inn today.

What you hear isn't very pleasant to listen to.

Gu Shaoan also learned from the people he questioned that after Long Xiaoyun's martial arts were crippled, her methods became even more ruthless than before.

According to Gu Shaoan's inquiries, almost every day some of Xingyun Manor's servants would be carried out of the back door and sent to the mass grave outside the city.

"court death!"

Seeing that Gu Shaoan dared to say such things in front of him, Long Xiaoyun immediately roared and shot up like an arrow.

He crossed his palms, his left palm extending like a dragon reaching for its claws, while his right palm concentrated its power like a tiger pouncing on its prey. The wind from his palms was fierce, faintly carrying the sound of metal and stone breaking through the air, aiming straight for Gu Shaoan's vital acupoints on his chest.

However, faced with this seemingly fierce and swift attack, Gu Shaoan didn't even lift his eyelids.

He didn't even look at the two palms coming at him. His left hand, which was holding the Heaven-Slaying Sword, remained casually hanging at his side, while his right hand seemed to be raised casually, with his five fingers slightly spread. The movement appeared relaxed and unhurried, without a trace of worldly malice.

Just as Long Xiaoyun's fierce palm strike was about to reach his body, Gu Shaoan's raised right hand, though delayed, arrived first, deftly passing through Long Xiaoyun's impenetrable palm shadow like a willow branch flitting through flowers, and then casually gripping Long Xiaoyun's neck.

With a slight exertion of force from his five fingers, Long Xiaoyun's frantically charging figure suddenly froze halfway, as if he had been frozen in place.

His expression of rage instantly turned into terror.

(End of this chapter)