Chapter 55: If We Are to Die, Let Us Die Together

Looking at the words on the screen in his mind.

Gu Jiangming's heart sank.

Before this, the events he encountered all required necessary, special trigger conditions to be called encountered events.

For example, his interactions with Long Xi, although he did not know how they were triggered, certainly had some unknown hidden threads buried within them.

This included being taken by Ye Liaocang outside Shangxi City to temper his temperament and will, obtaining the Taicang Sword at the Taicang Ruins, and being able to improve his sword arts in the identity of a Lanke Person.

The triggering of these Opportunities all had prerequisites; they were not things one could just bump into for no reason.

But this time, being able to trigger an event while inside the sect clearly could not be triggered by a single person or a single special Opportunity.

This could only prove that this was a time-limited event.

That is to say, when the time arrived, no matter who it was, as long as they were a person with the possibility of being drawn into this event, it would be triggered.

This was an event with an extremely wide scope.

【Zhenyuan Calendar Year 97, you felt a sense of unease in your heart; your father-in-law Wang Jiangxing had been gone to the Taiyi Sect for two years now, and he had not returned.】

【Although the disciples dispatched to the Taiyi Sect had returned to the Zhenggang Sect and brought a letter from Wang Jiangxing reporting his safety, informing everyone that he was unharmed.】

【But you still felt that there were some suspicious aspects to it.】

【However, two years was not much for a cultivator at the Enlightenment Stage like Wang Jiangxing; after seeing the letter, many people within the Zhenggang Sect set their minds at ease.】

【But there were still some who felt suspicious; Lu Zhiyao attempted to probe what had happened to the Taiyi Sect through other sects.】

【However, all the information was like a stone sinking into the sea.】

【Late one night, you sensed that the formation beneath the entire Zhenggang Sect was invisibly starting up; you shook awake Wang Qinghe, who was sleeping beside you.】

【She opened her eyes, bleary with sleep, still holding your young son Gu Shengqian in her arms.】

【"What is it?" Wang Qinghe asked with a look of surprise; she knew your character well, and you would not act so recklessly unless it was a matter of urgency.】

【Over these years, the relationship between you two as Dao companions had gone from being as close as glue and lacquer in the beginning to being plain and simple now, which could be considered as treating each other with mutual respect.】

【"The sect is abnormal." You hesitated, seemingly still listening to the sound of the formation's fluctuations, and finally confirmed: "I don't know why the Protective Array beneath our feet has suddenly activated."】

【Wang Qinghe's expression also changed; the fact that the Zhenggang Sect's formation could trigger its effect at this time proved that someone had snuck into the place where the Zhenggang Sect was located.】

【But as one of the Seven Great Sects, the Zhenggang Sect's foundation was not to be underestimated; who exactly had the audacity to do this?】

【Was it the Taiyi Sect?】

【Wang Qinghe thought it over and could only see this as a possibility, and for these two years, she had not been unwilling to search for the whereabouts of her father, Wang Jiangxing.】

【At one point, Wang Qinghe had actively wanted to go to the Taiyi Sect to investigate, but considering that her three children were still young and her father had regular letters coming back, she had not been in a hurry to visit the Taiyi Sect.】

【"No—" Wang Qinghe's expression changed abruptly, "There is a problem with the formation beneath our feet."】

【A sluggish gravity appeared on your feet; you felt the Qi within your body being pulled and absorbed by an invisible force.】

【"Clang—Clang—Clang—"】

【Inside the Zhenggang Sect, the bell that was struck every morning rang out, but at this moment, the bell ringing in the middle of the night was more like a warning.】

【"Go." You looked at Wang Qinghe's face, "I fear those who have come are not here with good intentions."】

【"Then what about you?" Wang Qinghe also felt an extremely dangerous aura and asked with some worry.】

Wang Qinghe looked at the screen, watching the solemnity on Gu Jiangming's expression, and her heart grew tense as well.

【"I will follow shortly." Gu Jiangming reached out and gave a light grasp to the Flying Sword hanging on the wall, drew the sword, and walked outside.】

【In the main hall of the Zhenggang Sect.】

【"Sect Leader Yi, visiting the Zhenggang Sect in the middle of the night is truly abrupt, but we are not here to destroy the Zhenggang Sect's Dao roots and heritage; we have only come to realize Great Harmony for the world."】

【"As long as you are willing to surrender and bring the disciples of the Zhenggang Sect to go with us for a trip."】

【"I guarantee that everyone's lives will be safe."】

Yi Lezhi laughed softly, not losing any elegance at all, "I see you have been prepared for a long time."】

【"No matter how much we struggle, the Zhenggang Sect is already in your pocket, right?"】

【"I only want to know now, who exactly secretly swapped the Zhenggang Sect's Protective Array?"】

Yi Lezhi knew well that having the Protective Array swapped was not something that could be done in a day or two; the entire formation had Array Eyes, array lines, and array formations long prepared at the location where the Zhenggang Sect was situated.】

【To temporarily swap the Protective Array, one would not only need to be very familiar with the locations of these formations but also hold a very high status within the Zhenggang Sect.】

【The visitor did not answer directly, paused, and said: "Someone already wants to break the barrier I set up and leave the Zhenggang Sect; there is no need to talk about idle matters anymore."】

【As the voice fell, a sound rang out, "It's bad, Hall Master, the barrier we set up has been broken by a sword strike."】

【"How is that possible?" That person revealed a moment of distraction and was immediately covered in cold sweat, "Quickly send people to guard that gap; anyone who wants to leave from there is to be killed without exception."】

The scene shifted here and came to the other side.

【"Father..." Gu Shengxi's face showed a solemn look, "Are you not coming with us?"】

【Gu Shengxi, who had just stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage, was already a heaven-gifted talent of the younger generation within the Zhenggang Sect, but because he had been raised by Wang Jiangxing since he was a child, his relationship with Gu Jiangming was actually somewhat distant; at least Gu Jiangming never showed the enthusiasm of a father.】

【"Go?" Gu Jiangming looked quietly at his eldest son, "Without me here, who can block the pursuers for you?"】

【"Besides, the Zhenggang Sect has suffered such a great disaster; if our whole family just leaves without a word, how can you face your grandfather's hard work?"】

【"A foolish child is beyond teaching."】

【Gu Jiangming turned his back and sighed, saying: "Protect your mother; in the future, do not show off that so-called talent of yours and think too highly of yourself."】

【Speaking to this point, Gu Jiangming lowered his voice.】

【"Qinghe... take care of yourself."】

Wang Qinghe looked at the scene in her mind, and a sense of tragedy arose from her heart.

"Silly son..."

"Your father is using his own life to trade for yours."

Wang Qinghe was, after all, from an official family, and she was very clear about the human sentiments involved.

If Gu Jiangming had run away with them, they would have shouldered the infamy of abandoning the sect, and even if they survived, they would be the most looked-down-upon people.

But if Gu Jiangming died here, he would have died fighting for the sect, not failing the friendship of the Zhenggang Sect, and even if Wang Qinghe fled with a few foolish sons, no one would say anything.

Furthermore, the most important point is that, at present, only Gu Jiangming can play a role in this situation.

If he does not choose to cover the retreat, the possibility of surviving is too low.

It is precisely because she can see the intention Gu Jiangming has hidden deep down that Wang Qinghe is very clear that Gu Jiangming is making his final farewell to them.

At this moment.

On Gu Jiangming's screen.

A line of text appeared.

【Congratulations, you have changed the established history.】

【You have spared those who were not supposed to survive from calamity.】

On the other side, Wang Qinghe watched Gu Jiangming's figure gradually moving away on the screen.

She gritted her teeth.

Let those few foolish sons run away on their own.

Gu Jiangming, however, is a person she raised through all kinds of hardships.

If they are to die, they will die together.

How could there be any reason for her to live on in disgrace while watching her own husband die?

(End of chapter)