Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Changxianmen Token

Before the dawn of the second day arrived, Gu Yao and Chi Changye stood outside the Gu family's courtyard. Gu Yao used a token to secure his departure from the Gu family, gaining 10,000 taels of silver and a thousand spiritual beads.

He didn't ask for much. After his mother's death, the relics were all in the hands of the Gu family. His possessions were taken by them under various pretexts. If he asked for more, leaving the Gu family might cost him his life. All it took was a rumor from the Gu family, and he could end up dead in the streets.

"Let's find a temporary place to settle down."

"Agreed." Chi Changye took the lightly packed bundle from Gu Yao.

To avoid awkwardness, Gu Yao explained the origin of the Changxianmen: "Changxianmen is considered a holy place for cultivation, not in our region. Each time they accept disciples, they use a teleportation array and only accept disciples with single spiritual roots or mutated spiritual roots. When a family's member is accepted, the family's status rises."

"So, I don't think the Tian and Lu families know about this token in my possession. Otherwise..." Gu Yao chuckled. Otherwise, the Lu family would want him back to elevate their status. His uncle, the son of the Lu family, likely knew about the token, planning to enter Changxianmen. Thus, his aunt, part of the Lu family, wouldn't inform his maternal family. Otherwise, even if the Lu family couldn't get the token, they'd obstruct the Gu family from becoming too powerful.

"My blood is on this token. I need to retrieve it personally for others to use it. If I die, the token becomes useless. It's a precaution my uncle left behind. I believe his cultivation surpassed even the ancestor of the Gu family." Otherwise, they would have forcefully taken the token and extracted his blood, as Gu Yao had refused to give it willingly. The Gu family's patriarch and Gu Zhiming likely harbored resentment towards him.

Chi Changye considered and said, "Actually, being in a major sect isn't as good as it seems. Various accidents claim disciples' lives every year. Entering a major sect doesn't guarantee a worry-free life. Your concerns are valid."
In Chi Changye's view, Gu Yao's decision to surrender the token was correct. Without a powerful background and lacking exceptional aptitude, there would be almost no chance of standing out in a major sect. Gu Yao probably could have guessed the reason behind not surrendering the token earlier—it was likely a way to make the Gu family regret mistreating him.

Of course, this was just a temporary measure. Both of them understood that they would have to reclaim their dignity in the future to avenge the oppression from the Gu family.

In the distant Yang Town, controlled by three cultivation families, Gu Yao couldn't stay in the Gu family's territory. He wouldn't go to the Lu family either. Naturally, he chose the Tian family. He didn't know why Tian Feirong had revealed the existence of the Drunken Beauty, but currently, conflicts with the Tian family seemed minimal compared to the Lu family, where people had long grown tired of him.

Shortly after entering the Tian family's territory, two individuals intercepted him and Chi Changye. "Young Master Gu Yao, our young master requests your presence."

"Tian Feirong?"

"Exactly."

"Lead the way, then." Gu Yao nodded. It seemed Tian Feirong had specifically kept an eye on the Gu family. That would explain this encounter. He wondered about Tian Feirong's motives.

Thoughts about Tian Feirong flashed in his mind. In Yang Town, Tian Feirong had a somewhat bad reputation, with mediocre cultivation aptitude. Still, he was pampered by his birth mother, often indulging in a carefree lifestyle. However, considering the current situation, these might just be surface appearances.

Before long, Gu Yao and Chi Changye stood in front of Tian Feirong. The latter was still fanning himself, looking lascivious as he circled around Gu Yao. Chi Changye shifted his foot and felt the urge to step in front of Gu Yao, his fists itching to send this person flying.

Perhaps sensing an unexplained danger, Tian Feirong finally stopped. "Didn't expect the Gu family to be so heartless, sending you two away like this. I heard the Gu family's head is cunning. Would he really let Gu Yao go like this?"

Would that old man willingly bear a bad reputation? Regardless, Gu Yao's mother died trying to save her son.

"Of course not," Gu Yao knew what he was trying to find out. The Lu family likely wanted to know as well. The current Gu family probably wasn't afraid of being exposed, or else he wouldn't have been able to enter the Tian family's territory. "I exchanged my freedom for this using a Changxianmen token."

"Clap!" Tian Feirong's fan dropped to the ground. He stared at Gu Yao wide-eyed, forgetting about picking up the fan, and hurriedly asked, "Is it the Changxianmen token I'm thinking of?"

"It's exactly what you're thinking. With this token, one can directly cultivate in Changxianmen. It was left by my uncle." Gu Yao explained kindly, though there might be a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes. Wasn't his show so entertaining?

Tian Feirong stamped his foot, realizing the trouble. He picked up his fan and rushed outside. He needed to report this news quickly. Just as he reached the door, a message came over, "This is my territory. If Young Master Gu Yao has nowhere to go, stay here for now. I'll come to see you when I have time."

The two accompanying guards also left. The small courtyard suddenly became quiet. Gu Yao felt a bit uneasy as he glanced at Chi Changye. Suddenly, he became somewhat awkward in speech, "Let's just stay here for now. You pick a room."

Chi Changye glanced at Gu Yao and casually chose the nearest one, saying, "This one will do."

"Then I'll take this one. It's late today; we can talk more tomorrow." Gu Yao picked a room on the other side of the hall. After Chi Changye nodded and took his bundle into the room, Gu Yao didn't see the sly smile in Chi Changye's eyes as he casually walked toward his own room. Despite falling into such a dire situation, it seemed that accepting it wasn't as difficult as he thought.

Changxianmen? Never heard of it. The spiritual energy here is thin enough. He had likely left his original place far behind. That was good—it meant leaving everything behind and starting anew. However, the immediate priority was to heal his injuries; without cultivation, he would be at the mercy of others and unable to protect anyone.

Chi Changye meditated in his room all night. Gu Yao, burdened by the recent events upon waking up, fell asleep without a care. He expected to sleep until dawn, but someone entered his dream—a man of incredible beauty left the dreaming Gu Yao utterly stunned.