Chapter 723: What's Wrong with That

"Hey, Huixiang Tower! Can a mere kid at the Divine Travel realm prop up such a grand establishment?" Gu Changshun sneered.

"Patriarch, that brat relies on Jun Tianyu's backing and doesn't take our Gu family seriously at all!" Gu Hong said indignantly.

Gu Changshun looked at Gu Hong with a half-smile, making him feel a pang of guilt.

"Gu Hong, it seems I've been too lenient with you these past few years," Gu Changshun said with a sigh.

Gu Hong's heart skipped a beat. He fell to his knees with a thud and said mournfully, "I wouldn't dare! It's just... they went too far!"

"Heh, went too far? I suspect you were the one who went too far first. To be honest, I'm surprised you came back alive. It seems Jun Tianyu still has some fear of the city lord," Gu Changshun said.

The more Gu Hong listened, the more uneasy he felt. Could it be that the patriarch knew about the things he'd done behind his back?

With that thought, Gu Hong began to blubber, "Patriarch, you must stand up for me! When I went to invite Ye Yuan, he cut off my ear without a word! This... this is a complete disregard for you!"

Gu Hong didn't notice Gu Changshun's face gradually turning cold.

"Gu Hong, this is your last chance!"

Gu Hong shuddered, instantly snapping back to reality.

From the patriarch's eyes, he knew nothing could be hidden!

Gu Hong was shrewd; he knew everything he had was given by Gu Changshun!

So he spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube, recounting all that had happened in the past few days.

Of course, his version differed from the truth, but it couldn't be verified.

Gu Hong had perfected this act long ago, and even Gu Changshun couldn't see through it.

For instance, when he went to cancel the mission and ran into Ye Yuan and Yu Ming, he claimed Ye Yuan was weak but arrogant and looked like a fraud, so he refused them entry.

This, combined with Ye Yuan's conditions, made the story seem all the more plausible.

Sure enough, after hearing him out, Gu Changshun's earlier coldness faded. He said flatly, "At least you're honest. If you'd dared to hide anything, I'd have sent you on your way before Jun Tianyu could act!"

Gu Hong broke out in a cold sweat, feeling he'd just returned from the brink of death.

But knowing Gu Changshun, he figured he was in the clear this time!

"Patriarch, I was momentarily foolish and made a grave mistake. Please punish me! But although Ye Yuan is formidable, I didn't believe he could surpass Master Shuming, which is why I acted against him!" Gu Hong argued.

Gu Changshun nodded. "To be honest, I find it hard to believe a kid at the Divine Travel realm could be stronger than He Shuming. But Qing'er's illness can't wait any longer! If he wants Huixiang Tower, give it to him, as long as he can cure Qing'er!"

...

Early the next morning, Jun Tianyu and Ye Yuan arrived at the Gu residence.

Gu Changshun personally welcomed them, accompanied by an elder with an immortal air.

After the pleasantries, Gu Changshun said, "Master Ye, I entrust my daughter's care to you."

"I take money to solve problems; it's my duty," Ye Yuan replied coolly.

He and the Gu family were unlikely to become friends, so he didn't bother being polite.

But the elder sneered, "Heh, young and arrogant! A beardless boy dares to call himself a master—how utterly ignorant of the world!"

This elder was clearly He Shuming, whom Gu Changshun had mentioned.

Since Ye Yuan was here to treat Gu Changshun's daughter, Gu couldn't say certain things himself, so he brought He Shuming to say them.

Ye Yuan glanced at him sideways and said flatly, "First, achievement doesn't depend on age; healing requires real skill! Since Miss Gu isn't cured, you clearly lack that skill! Second, 'master' is a title others give; I've never claimed it myself! But I see nothing wrong with being called a master! Third, who are you?"

"You! You don't even know me, yet you dare spout nonsense here! You haven't even seen the patient, yet you act so confident—do you think you're an Alchemy Emperor?" He Shuming fumed, his beard bristling.

"Ridiculous! Why should I know you? And though I'm not an Alchemy Emperor, I can definitely cure Miss Gu!" Ye Yuan sneered.

"Arrogant, ignorant brat! If you can't cure Qing'er today, I'll make you pay for your arrogance!" He Shuming was thoroughly enraged.

But then, Jun Tianyu, who had been silent, spoke up.

"It seems I've been out of action too long; some in Gufeng City have forgotten my existence."

A threat!

A naked threat!

But Jun Tianyu had always been this domineering!

Only Jun Tianyu would dare threaten an Alchemy Saint in front of the heads of the three great families!

Gu Changshun suddenly felt that Ye Yuan and Jun Tianyu together were a perfect match!

Both were equally arrogant and dismissive of others!

He Shuming choked, his earlier momentum vanishing.

He had been so furious with Ye Yuan that he momentarily forgot Jun Tianyu was right there.

Jun Tianyu had been following Ye Yuan like an attendant, making it easy to overlook him.

"Haha, let's all calm down. Master Ye, Brother Jun, and Brother He are all my honored guests. Let's keep the peace!" Gu Changshun quickly stepped in to mediate.

"Hmph!" He Shuming snorted and turned away, saying nothing more.

"Patriarch Gu, let's not waste time. Let's go directly to your daughter," Ye Yuan said.

Ye Yuan didn't have a good impression of the Gu family and didn't want to linger.

"Very well!" Gu Changshun agreed.

The group entered the inner courtyard of the Gu residence and wound their way through a long path, only for Gu Changshun to lead them to a dungeon.

Ye Yuan was surprised, as he knew from Yu Ming that Gu Changshun's daughter was the only child of his first wife and was usually doted on.

Gu Changshun had even unhesitatingly offered Huixiang Tower to save her, showing his deep affection.

So why was she locked in this sunless dungeon?

The deeper they went, the more bitterly cold it became.

At the far end, Ye Yuan saw an ice bed on which lay a woman in sky-blue clothes.

Her hands and feet were chained!

"This is my daughter Gu Qing! Three years ago, she went mad and attacked everyone she saw. I had no choice but to bind her limbs," Gu Changshun explained.