Chapter 378: 378. Chapter 378: Only a Fool Would Believe

378. Chapter 378: Only a Fool Would Believe

"Huang Shu—him, him, him…"

Gu Zhangjun's face showed anxiety; the reason he had prepared in advance, however, he just couldn't utter it.

"Speak."

Bai Yan sneered, "I actually want to hear it—what reason can you give?"

Gu Zhangjun looked at his mother timidly.

"Still not telling the truth!"

"I'll say it, I'll say it."

Gu Zhangjun suddenly, like a frost‑hit eggplant, recounted the previous events in full detail.

He only concealed some details, such as shifting the matter onto Huang Xing, who volunteered and took it on.

He also hid that, before the action, he had called him to try to borrow a powerful treasure.

Bai Yan's face showed disbelief after hearing it.

The reason she could sense something was wrong.

It was also because Huang Xing bore not only the responsibility of protecting Gu Zhangjun, but also supervised for her, calling to report to her every few days.

But after two days passed without a call from Huang Xing, she couldn't help but call him; when she tried to ask what happened, his line was already dead, and no matter how many times she called, the result was the same.

So she sent someone to investigate and unexpectedly learned that in recent days Huang Xing's figure had not been seen near Gu Zhangjun, which made her uneasy, and she immediately summoned Gu Zhangjun.

But she never imagined that Huang Xing had actually died, killed by Gu Zhangkong's hand.

A trace of sorrow surfaced from her eyes.

Because Huang Xing had watched her grow up; although master and servant, in fact he was like an elder who cared for her, but his talent was average, and after so many years he only barely broke through to Grandmaster.

But his loyalty was there, which is also why she placed Huang Xing beside Gu Zhangjun.

Result.

"Did he just die like that?" "Mother."

Gu Zhangjun became a bit flustered.

Startled by that voice, Bai Yan glared at him with reddened eyes, her voice laced with anger, "You sent him, right?"

"No, no, it's not."

Gu Zhangjun hurriedly denied, "It was after Huang Shu learned of the matter that he wanted to share the burden with me…"

"Shut up!"

Bai Yan barked.

"Others don't understand you; do I still not understand you? It must be that you pressured him, forcing him to agree, but if so, I don't blame you—I placed him with you precisely to have him do work for you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhangjun instantly let out a sigh of relief.

Until Bai Yan's voice sounded again.

"But you knew you were acting right under Gu Zhangkong's watchful eye, so you should have expected to rouse him; you shouldn't have refused even a decent treasure."

"No, Mother, I did give it; it's just that Huang Shu didn't take it."

"Snap!"

Bai Yan slapped his face.

Though angry and sad inside, the force was just right.

Gu Zhangjun covered his burning cheek, no longer daring to retort, and hurriedly begged for mercy.

Unlike Gu Zhangkong and the others, his greatest fear is not his father but the mother before him.

"You admit you're wrong now, but what good is it? The dead can't come back to life, can they?"

Bai Yan looked at his pathetic demeanor, even more infuriated.

She took several deep breaths, steadied herself, and asked, "You say you know you're wrong; then tell me exactly where you erred?"

"The mistake was being stingy, not lending the powerful treasure to Huang Shu," Gu Zhangjun hurriedly said, truly regretting it.

Looking back, he kept thinking that if he had lent Huang Xing a fourth‑grade talisman treasure and a fifth‑grade defensive treasure from his own, that Jiang‑named kid would probably have been reduced to nothing long ago.

Even Gu Zhangkong could have killed him. "Anything else?"

"Anything else?"

Gu Zhangjun opened his mouth wide.

After racking his brain, he tentatively asked, "I shouldn't have let Huang Shu do this; if it were someone else, even if something went wrong, it would be better than Huang Shu getting into trouble."

Bai Yan lifted her arm.

Gu Zhangjun, frightened, quickly covered his face.

"You..."

Bai Yan, halfway raising her arm, lowered it again, sighing lightly.

"You erred by, after this incident, making an agreement with Gu Zhangkong to treat it as if nothing happened, so it took so long for me to learn of it."

"Mother, I feared that if I didn't agree, the matter would reach Father's ears and he would be displeased."

Gu Zhangjun said, shrinking his neck.

"Then you could have just told me this."

"A mere Refining Alchemy practitioner—I could send anyone over and kill him. Your Huang Shu's corpse could be brought back; even if it can't be, destroyed, there'd be no proof of death. Once the story spreads, what then? You, even though you're not young, how can you have no improvisation?"

Gu Zhangjun was stunned.

Seems that's the logic.

The strongest he could use nearby was Huang Xing, a First-level Grandmaster.

But Mother was different.

Don't say it's only Level Two and Level Three Grandmasters; those of Level Four, Five, and Six can also be mobilized.

It's all that bastard Gu Zhangkong!

Gu Zhangjun gritted his teeth, "That guy was sensationalist and scared me outright; actually, over the past few days I've felt something was off, and I'm hesitating whether to tell you about this, mother."

Bai Yan kept shaking her head as she listened.

Only a fool would believe such nonsense.

But she had to admit one point: in terms of conduct, Gu Zhangjun indeed has a considerable gap compared to his few half‑brothers, especially the eldest Gu Zhanglin.

In his view, that's not something that can't be made up; after all, Gu Zhangjun is still young—no one is born knowing these things; they're all learned later.

Moreover, with her and the Bai Family's support behind him, any trouble that arises won't matter.

"Xiao Jun, since this has already happened, there's little point in talking about it now. However, I hope you remember this: learn the lesson from this time and don't repeat such a low‑level mistake next time."

"It won't happen, mother; I promise, if there is a next time, I will definitely give my all, and before that, I will discuss it properly with you, mother."

Gu Zhangjun extended his hand and said solemnly.

"Hmm."

Bai Yan then nodded.

"That Refining Alchemy master is Jiang Cheng, right?"

"Yes!"

Gu Zhangjun realized something, and his eyes lit up.

"Hmm, I'll arrange someone to handle it in a moment."

"Mother, and that Gu Zhangkong fellow as well."

"No rush."

Bai Yan squinted slightly, "Acting against him now carries more risk than gain. Besides, he's just an unloved third son of your father; once you become Family Head, you can deal with him and avenge Huang Shu in due time."

"Alright!"

Gu Zhangjun clenched his fists.

When that day truly comes, not only Gu Zhangkong but also those two, he won't let them off! (End of chapter)