People are sitting everywhere in the Gu conference hall. Everyone is drinking happily. Gu Tingfuang was very happy.
Gu Tingfuang said, "Bring in the choose guards."
One of the elder lead ten choose guards into the conference hall.
Gu Tingfuang smiled and said, "Yingjie, these ten guards are well-trained and are the best. They are the finniest guards that Gu Household have. I know that you already have a guard, but right now you will need more than one guard to protect both of you and Chaomei."
Gu Yingjie looked at Zhu Mingyang and Gu Tingfuang. He said, "Father, I really don't want another guard."
Gu Tingfuang said, "None sense, I have three guards, and your other brothers and sisters have many guards." He smiled at Gu Yingjie. "Guards are servants, not companions. You are the master, and you can have as many guards as you want."
Gu Xiaowen, "Yingjie, I have three guards and father is right, guards are servants, not companions. If you refuse father's gratitude, it is a bit disrespectful, don't you think?" Gu Xiaowen knew that Zhu Mingyang is very royal to Gu Yingjie. He tried several times to kill Gu Yingjie, but he failed because of Zhu Mingyang. Therefore, Gu Guoliang and he came up with a method of guard replacement and drove Zhu Mingyang out of the Gu residents.
Gu Gouliang suggested, "Very true Yingjie, we are their master. We can choose as many guard as we want."
Yuan Chaomei, "Dear, why don't you choose one for me? When you and Mingyang go out to do father's task, the other guard can stay by my side to protect me. "
Gu Yingjie looked at Zhu Mingyang and then he said, "Which one do you want to choose?"
Yuan Chaomei said, "This one."
Gu Yingjie said, "Father, I will choose him as my second guard."
Gu Tingfuang smiled and said, "Good choice. He is the best of ten men. How about you picked another one for yourself."
Gu Yingjie then said, "This one." He pointed to the middleman.
Gu Tingfuang said, "Mingyang, you have to fight these two men. If your skills are better than them, then you are the leaders of these two new guards. If your skills are less than these two men, then... they will be your leader."
Gu Yingjie, "Father, Mingyang came first, he should be the leader of rhe two new guards."
Gu Tingfuang said, "Nonsense, who has higher skill should be superior."
Gu Yingjie, "But Mingyang has not fully recovered yet. He took a sword for me. ''
Gu Tingfuang, "That's the duty of the guards. They died for you. They are your shield."
Gu Yingjie, "But…"
Zhu Mingyang walked forward and said, "Chief Gu, I'm ready."
Gu Tingfuang, "Very good."
The two newly selected guards rushed towards Zhu Mingyang. When the three guards violently aimed at each other's lives, the music rang loudly in the conference hall. Their masters and their masters' guests ate happily and enjoyed the three guards performance.
Zhu Mingyang watched the Gu family and their guests eating happily, clapped their hands, and enjoyed themselves. He glanced at Gu Yingjie who was sitting next to Yuan Chaomei, which hurt his heart deeply. In his life, he has been hurt three times. The first was his mother's death when his mother decided to hang herself because she no longer want to be his burden. The second was when Gu Yingjie told him that Gu Yingjie is going to marry Yuan Chaomei; the third was when Gu Yingjie decided to choose another guard to protect his wife. Everything Gu Yingjie promised him in the past was broken. Then, a guard slammed his injured right shoulder. He knew he could block it and could easily defeat the two guards with the devil's fists, but he chose to be hit.
The guard slammed his wound and smashed him into a pole inside the conference hall. He landed on the ground and vomited a mouthful of blood.
Gu Yingjie stood up suddenly, and Lin Ruchao helped him walked to Zhu Mingyang. He called, "Mingyang…" He helped Zhu Mingyang up. "Are you alright?"
Zhu Mingyang replied, "I am fine, master."
Gu Yingjie knew that every time Zhu Mingyang called him a master, it was because Zhu Mingyang was angry with him. He asked, "Mingyang, are you bleeding?"
Gu Tingfuang, "Yingjie, guard Zhu can't defeat the two guards, which mean that his skill is not good." He looked at Zhu Mingyang. "You will be theirs underling."
Gu Yingjie, "Father, when Mingyang's condition improves, let them fight again."
Zhu Mingyang said, "No need."
Gu Yingjie said firmly, "Mingyang."
Zhu Mingyang walked to the middle of the conference hall and knelt in front of Gu Tingfuang. He said, "Chief Gu, I am not capable of protecting my master anymore. I want to redeem my freedom."
Gu Yingjie said softly, "Mingyang, what are you saying?"
Gu Tingfuang, "Do you know the rule of redeeming your freedom?"
Zhu Mingyang, "Yes, I am ashamed to stay knowing that I am incapable of being a good guard to protect my master."
Gu Tingfuang, "Is this what you want?"
Zhu Mingyang, "Please fulfilled the request."
One of the elder walked over and handed Zhu Mingyang a small ceramic bottles. Zhu Mingyang took the small ceramic bottle. Zhu Mingyang removed the cap and drank it.
Gu Tingfuang, "Live or die, let your fate decide it for you." He looked at his guard. "Prepared the whip."
Zhu Mingyang took off his robe, one of the elders tied his hand to the pole and began to whip Zhu Mingyang. Each whip left a deep wound on his back, and as each whip landed on his skin, it reminding him of the happy time he has with Gu Yingjie. The promised they made. The tears they shed together. After he received ten whip for the ten years he stayed inside the Gu Manor, blood soaked his back and pants. The elder untied his hands. He fell to the ground, slowly grabbed his robe, and walked out of the Gu Manor.
When Zhu Mingyang arrived at the main entrance, Gu Yingjie stood waiting for him. Without looking at Gu Yingjie, he slowly walked past Gu Yingjie.
Gu Yingjie shouted, "Stop." Zhu Mingyang continued to walk out of the front door. He chased Zhu Mingyang. "Mingyang, stop." He held Zhu Mingyang's left arm. "Why?"
Zhu Mingyang pulled his arm away and he said, "I'm tired."
Gu Yingjie, "Mingyang, you promised me that you belong to me, both body and soul."
Zhu Mingyang sighed and said, "You also promised me that except for me, you will never choose another guard. Do you remember?" He looked at Gu Yingjie. "You promised me many things, but you never kept any promises. I understand that I am not a person in the eyes of the Gu."
Gu Yingjie, "For me, you are always a person. A very special person."
Zhu Mingyang, "Yingjie, if you think of me as a person, you should know that this person has feelings. He will feel pain. He will be hurt. He also shed tears.."
Gu Yingjie, "Mingyang, I'm sorry. I promise I will make it up to you. Please don't leave me."
Zhu Mingyang, "I must leave you. If I stay any longer, I might kill your wife and your unborn child."
Gu Yingjie, "Mingyang…please…"
Zhu Mingyang said, "Yingjie, you know better than me why I stayed in the Gu Manor. I am not crazy enough to watch the person I love, love another person in front of me. Soon, I will forget you, even who I am. Take care of yourself and stay blind until you successfully find what you want. "He started walking down the stairs. "I wish you all the best. We are not alike. For you, everything is replaceable."
Gu Yingjie watched Zhu Mingyang walk down the stairs and slowly despaired down the steps. He lowered his head and saw Zhu Mingyang's blood stained the steps on stair.
Gu Yingjie muttered to himself, "Mingyang, I also wish you the best. I'm sorry."