Chapter 334: 334. Chapter 334 Poaching

334. Chapter 334 Poaching

Several more days passed.

That day, an aircraft appeared in the sky above Dinghu Residential Area.

Amidst the astonished and doubtful gazes of the people below.

This aircraft, with a streamlined body resembling a sports car yet bearing two wings, slowly descended in front of a villa.

As the wings retracted, two men emerged from the aircraft.

Leading them was a young man who looked under twenty, his eyes radiating confidence.

The other was a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance, the sort who would blend into a crowd, with little expression on his face.

Gu Zhangkong stood at the villa gate, watching this scene, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes.

The leading man was none other than his half-brother.

Being part of a great clan is not all sunshine as outsiders imagine; it is filled with scheming and betrayal, and a moment's carelessness can leave one picked clean to the bone.

Take his fifth brother, for example: because his mother was a woman from the Bai family, arms manufacturers, he had been valued by the clan since birth; moreover, his resemblance to their father made him the brother most like him, and he was especially pampered—even the eldest brother treated him politely and dared not offend him lightly.

But now, he had unexpectedly shown up.

His intuition told him it was likely a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken—no good intentions.

Despite thinking so, Gu Zhangkong went forward at once, arms spread, greeting him with a hearty laugh: 'Fifth brother, what brings you to my godforsaken place?'

'Hahaha, third brother, I just missed you, so I came specially to see you.'

Gu Zhangjun also wore a beaming smile, hugged Gu Zhangkong briefly, then, as if by mutual understanding, they each stepped back.

'Really? I'm truly honored and startled.'

Gu Zhangkong gestured for him to enter: 'Fifth brother, come inside and have a seat; you could have let me know you were coming so I could make preparations.'

'Third brother, you're joking; we're family—no need for such formality.'

The two chatted and laughed as they walked toward the house.

The middle-aged man behind them, eyes lowered, nose to heart, seemed to hear nothing.

Upon entering the living room, Gu Zhangjun looked around, his brows slightly furrowed.

Everyone said the Outer City District was rudimentary, and indeed it was; he could not stay there even a day.

'Fifth brother, would you like something to drink?'

Gu Zhangkong asked.

'Oh, no thanks, I had a drink on the way.'

Gu Zhangjun chuckled: 'Third brother, actually I came not only to visit you but also have a small favor to ask of you.'

Gu Zhangkong snorted coldly inside.

Despite not having seen each other for a long time, his fifth brother remained unchanged.

Impetuous, glory‑seeking, obviously foolish yet pretending to be deep‑minded.

'What could I possibly do to help you, fifth brother?'

He exclaimed in surprise.

'What are you saying, third brother? Among us brothers, aside from the eldest, you are the most capable; otherwise Father would not have entrusted you with the Outer City District's business.'

'Fifth brother, you overpraise me.'

Gu Zhangkong wouldn't have any of it: 'Fifth brother, spit it out—what is it?'

'First promise me, third brother.'

Gu Zhangjun laughed.

Gu Zhangkong shook his head.

Time ticked by second by second, and the atmosphere gradually stiffened.

At that moment, the middle-aged man beside them spoke: 'Third young master, it's not a big deal; Fifth young master came to borrow a person from you.' 'Yeah, yeah.'

Gu Zhangjun nodded vigorously.

'Borrow a person? Who?'

Gu Zhangkong's expression shifted slightly.

'Someone named Jiang Cheng.'

The middle-aged man smiled: 'I heard he used to be a member of the Dawn Society; after defecting, you, Third Young Master, took him in. Fifth Young Master heard the rumor and, worried the Dawn Society might act against him, came specially to take him to the Inner City—this would spare you trouble and protect him from the Dawn Society's assassins.'

'Exactly, exactly.'

Gu Zhangjun nodded vigorously and added:

'Third brother, do you think I treat you well?'

Upon hearing that, Gu Zhangkong drew a deep breath: 'Fifth brother, where did you learn of this? Surely not from that Jin fellow's mouth?'

Gu Zhangjun's face looked a little unnatural.

Gu Zhangkong had guessed correctly; although the news had reached him only after many twists and turns.

But ultimately it came from Jin Xinpeng's mouth.

'Ah, third brother, don't worry about these details.'

He let out a laugh.

'If you agree, third brother, I will be eternally grateful; should you ever need my help in the future, I will certainly not refuse.'

Gu Zhangkong took a few steps, shook his head, and said: 'Fifth brother, it's not that I don't want to help you; it's that the person you want to borrow would be of little use to you.'

'We've come this far, and you're still deceiving me, third brother?'

Gu Zhangjun said triumphantly: 'Before coming, I already inquired: in just one month he went from a complete novice outside the gates to being able to refine Second‑Grade Calming Pills? I heard he's recently managed to refine High‑Grade Calming Pills, right?'

Gu Zhangkong's face darkened.

Jiang Cheng refined a high-grade calming pill; that's what happened these past few days.

The Dawn Society people have a low chance of knowing.

In other words, his fifth brother likely learned this from his subordinates.

But he has no good way to deal with this, after all human hearts are the most uncontrollable thing in the world.

"Looks like I was right."

Gu Zhangjun's face grew even more proud.

"I knew that someone who could get Third Brother you to vouch for them, even at the risk of offending the Dawn Society, is definitely not an ordinary person."

"Third Brother, considering our good relationship, please lend me this person for a while; after this turmoil passes I'll return it to you, how about that?"

Gu Zhangkong really wanted to say it wasn't good.

But doing that is useless.

Because the latter only needs to go back, act coquettish in front of their father, or let their mother blow some pillow wind, and it's fine.

But Gu Zhangkong is even more unwilling to just hand over the hard-won talent.

As for what borrowing means,

Only a three-year-old would believe this.

"Fifth Brother, actually he isn't as formidable as you think; the reason he can refine high-grade calming pills is because he uses many medicinal ingredients, and others could do the same." Gu Zhangjun still wanted to struggle a bit.

Immediately, the fifth brother was ruthlessly exposed by Gu Zhangjun.

"Refining one batch loses one batch, but Third Brother you still let him keep refining—doesn't that exactly show his extraordinariness? I know Third Brother is reluctant, but I'm just borrowing him for a while; if Third Brother still doesn't agree, then I can only go back and discuss with father." (End of chapter)