Scoring Twice

Cui Shifan stood to the side, watching Gu Chengyin board the carriage with a tragic yet graceful demeanor under the watchful eyes of the crowd. The corner of his eye couldn't help but twitch several times.

This level of skill, this acting ability, was actually already on par with his own.

This boy must either be used by me, or be eliminated! Otherwise, given time, he will definitely become a major threat!

Murderous intent and apprehension intertwined in Cui Shifan's heart, but right now was clearly not the time to make a move.

He watched Gu Chengyin's carriage slowly start and leave the scene.

Cui Shifan turned around, preparing to leave this messy place as well.

But just as he lifted his foot, a string in his mind suddenly snapped.

Wait.

It seems like something is missing?

Cui Shifan suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned his head in confusion.

His gaze swept over the Golden Feather Guards who were cleaning up the bloodstains and moving the mutilated corpses of the men in black, swept over the gradually dispersing crowd around him, swept over his trusted aides...

Where was that small figure dressed in men's clothing?

Cui Shifan's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Zi... where is Zilu?!

Cui Shifan violently grabbed the collar of the trusted aide beside him and shouted sternly, Where is the Eldest Miss?! Wasn't she just here?!

The trusted aide also panicked and stammered, R-replying to Master, the Eldest Miss... seems to have helped Marquis Bingjian into the carriage and went up with him...

She got on Gu Chengyin's carriage?!

Cui Shifan only felt a rush of hot blood shoot straight to his head, and stars danced before his eyes.

His heart felt as if it was being ruthlessly squeezed by an invisible hand, making him unable to catch his breath.

Damned Gu Chengyin! You bastard! You piece of trash!!!

Cui Shifan could no longer maintain the demeanor of a Grand Secretary, cursing furiously in exasperation, Give Zilu back to me!

His vision went black, his body swayed, and he almost really fainted.

Fortunately, the trusted aide beside him was quick to react and supported him.

Cui Shifan clutched his chest, his face ashen, his breathing rapid.

Hoo... hoo...

Cui Shifan forced himself to calm down, squeezing an order out through his teeth:

Immediately dispatch a few experts to protect the Eldest Miss!

And keep a close eye on Gu Chengyin! If he dares to do anything inappropriate to Zilu, chop off his hands!

...

Compared to Cui Shifan's furious exasperation, the atmosphere inside the carriage was much more harmonious.

The expression on Gu Chengyin's face faded, replaced by complete calmness.

He leaned against the carriage wall, resting his eyes to quietly recover his stamina while sorting out his next steps.

After resting for a while, as soon as he opened his eyes, he met a pair of eyes filled with admiration and excitement.

Cui Zilu was leaning in very close, almost touching Gu Chengyin's face, her eyes sparkling with near-fanatical starlight.

Brother Chengyin!

The excitement in her suppressed tone was about to overflow. You were amazing just now! You were exactly like the peerless heroes in the plays!

No, even more amazing than the ones in the plays! Shouldering loyalty and righteousness, unafraid of power, pleading for the people... If I do not enter hell, who will! Wow! That line was said so well! I almost cried!

She cupped her face with both hands, completely immersed in her own emotion. I knew it! You are just as I imagined! A great hero who represents justice and dares to swing his sword at all evil!

We are going to the Shangguan Manor this time to uncover an even bigger conspiracy and defeat the bad guys hiding in the dark, right?

Although Uncle Dao is no longer with us, his heroic spirit will definitely protect us! We will definitely succeed! To comfort Uncle Dao's spirit in heaven!

Gu Chengyin: ...

He silently looked at Cui Zilu in front of him, who had an extremely strong imagination and clearly viewed him through heavily rose-tinted glasses.

For a moment, he was actually at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.

There was simply too much to unpack.

Could this be the natural counter to a scheming mind?

In the end, Gu Chengyin just twitched his lips into a smile, reached out to rub Cui Zilu's head, and said vaguely, Zilu is right, we are... going to uncover an even bigger conspiracy.

Instead of being annoyed at having her head rubbed, Cui Zilu acted like a kitten whose fur had been stroked.

Her eyes brightened even more as she nodded vigorously. Mhm! Brother Chengyin, I'll listen to you on everything!

The carriage driver had already been replaced by another guard from the Cui Manor, who also had a cultivation base at the Foundation Establishment Realm and a steady aura.

The underlying strength of a great noble family could be seen from the deployment of such a guard.

Moreover, this guard had clearly received strict orders from Cui Shifan. He was a man of few words, solely focused on driving the carriage, and turned a deaf ear to the conversation inside.

As the carriage slowly decelerated, it finally came to a stop.

The guard's deep voice came from outside:

Marquis Gu, we have arrived at the Shangguan Manor.

Gu Chengyin straightened his bloodstained robes and instructed Cui Zilu, Just stay in the carriage and watch.

Cui Zilu had wanted to follow, but she obediently nodded, clenching her small fists in encouragement. You can do it, Brother Chengyin!

Gu Chengyin pushed open the carriage door and jumped down.

He was immediately drawn to another carriage parked at the entrance of the Shangguan Manor.

Looking at the insignia, it was a carriage from the Censorate?

An Imperial Censor had come knocking so soon.

Thoughts flashed through Gu Chengyin's mind, while his face revealed an expression of mixed grief and indignation.

His footsteps did not stop; in fact, they began to speed up.

The true qi in his body suddenly surged, entirely converging into his legs.

Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes as he took a fierce step forward, raising his right leg like a steel whip.

Bringing with it a sharp gust of wind, he ruthlessly kicked the vermilion gate of the Shangguan Manor.

Bang!!!

A deafening explosion echoed through the air!

That solid wooden gate, which ordinary strong men working together would find hard to break open, met Gu Chengyin's kick infused with true qi.

The latch let out an overwhelmed groan, and then the entire door panel, as if struck by a giant hammer, violently caved inward and deformed.

It then flew backward into the courtyard with a crash, sending splintered wood flying everywhere amidst a cloud of dust!

Gu Chengyin retracted his leg, standing before the doorframe amid the swirling dust. Covered in bloodstains, his gaze was as cold as ice.

Circulating his true qi, he roared furiously, his voice shaking the roof tiles:

Shangguan Yuan! Get the hell out here to face this Marquis!!!

Exclamations, angry shouts, and hurried footsteps echoed from within the manor.

Soon, a figure rushed out from the direction of the main hall. It was none other than Shangguan Yuan.

He had clearly just come out of his study, still wearing his casual clothes. His hairpiece was slightly disheveled, and his face bore a look of shock mixed with rage.

When he saw that his front gate was completely deformed, the panels shattered, the hinges broken, lying miserably on the ground with wood splinters scattered everywhere...

Shangguan Yuan's pupils suddenly shrank, the color instantly draining from his face, only to flush a bright red from extreme fury moments later.

He pointed at the pile of broken wood on the ground, his fingers trembling with anger. His voice pitched up and distorted from disbelief and heartache:

My... my grand golden thread nanmu gate!!! Made from century-old timber! Passed down for three generations!

Shangguan Yuan snapped his head around, his bloodshot eyes glaring fixedly at the culprit standing in the doorway.

Anger completely overwhelmed his reason as he cursed furiously:

Gu Chengyin! I have put up with you for far too long!!!