Chapter 154: I Remember Long Xiaoyun

In the Jianghu, the strong prey on the weak.

A boss with strength can lead his gang to rise; if his fists are not strong enough, the gang will naturally decline.

Shangguan JinHong is dead now; the Money Gang can't hold on.

Gu Qing held the Dragon and Phoenix Rings, looked at Sun Xiaohong, and smiled: "Look at my face—can I become the Money Gang boss?"

"No chance."

Sun Xiaohong wrinkled her nose and said: "Shangguan Fei is still alive."

If Gu Qing hadn't interfered, Jing Wuming should have killed Shangguan Fei by now.

Gu Qing glanced at Jing Wuming; after Shangguan JinHong's death, Jing Wuming had no will to live, like an empty shell.

Afei, watching Jing Wuming's eyes, suddenly felt empathy. He rose, went into the nearby forest, quickly broke off two bamboo poles, took Jing Wuming's three-inch sword, and carved them into two bamboo swords.

Afei wanted to awaken Jing Wuming's heart, to make him want to live.

At this moment, Lin Xian'er stood beside Gu Qing and said: "Looking at your face, you're not just fit to be Money Gang boss—you could be the Wu Lin Alliance leader."

In this short while, Lin Xian'er had reviewed every situation in the Jianghu. Gu Qing had killed Shangguan JinHong, proving his extraordinary strength—he was her best protector.

Though Gu Qing despised her, Lin Xian'er was confident she could thrive under his protection, even climb into his bed.

After all, Gu Qing was the man who appreciated her naked performances.

Only now did Gu Qing look at Lin Xian'er, seeing her now demure and adorable, and suddenly asked: "How was it with Afei?"

Lin Xian'er blushed: "How can I say such a thing..."

"Oh..."

Gu Qing paused, then said: "I thought making love to someone you loved, soul and body intertwined, would be different."

If sex lacks spiritual union, and is merely seeking fleeting stimulation, it only makes one more lonely.

"Someone you love..."

Lin Xian'er laughed bitterly: "He's just a fool..."

As she spoke, Lin Xian'er looked at Afei. After pulling up his pants, he seemed to have regained his two-year-ago brilliance—his bamboo swords clashed with Jing Wuming's, and he even gained the upper hand. His speech was no longer dull or timid; it was surprisingly sensible.

This made Lin Xian'er's heart rise in alarm.

Lin Xian'er had only ever tormented Afei; she had never prepared for losing him.

"Let's go."

Gu Qing saw enough; he no longer interfered, preparing to leave with Sun Xiaohong.

Sun Xiaohong hesitated, looking at Afei and Lin Xian'er, and asked: "Aren't you afraid Afei will be fooled again?"

She spoke these words right before Afei and Lin Xian'er, causing both to turn toward Gu Qing.

Gu Qing shook his head: "Not afraid."

Afei felt this trust. His gaze softened as he looked at Gu Qing: "Why not afraid?"

Afei wanted to hear the reason. After two years of despair, he wanted to hear what was worthwhile in himself.

"Because you're the son of Shen Lang and Bai Feifei."

Gu Qing said.

Originally, Afei had suffered terribly under Lin Xian'er's cruelty—even knowing she had betrayed him, he still clung to her. Gu Qing feared that if Afei truly enjoyed himself, he might want to return to her bed and fall back into her trap, so he blurted out Shen Lang and Bai Feifei's names.

Both parents were renowned figures in the Jianghu.

Their son naturally wouldn't want their reputations stained.

Afei was stunned that Gu Qing knew this. His expression grew complex—shame, humiliation, and self-loathing.

Afei was, after all, a bastard.

Gu Qing patted Afei's shoulder and turned to leave.

At this moment, Sun Xiaohong suddenly said: "Gu Qing, I finally know your origins!"

Gu Qing glanced slightly.

"Though Shen Lang is mysterious, some in the Jianghu know he is a descendant of Shen Tianjun, the King of Jiuzhou. And Shen Tianjun's most famed technique was Qiankun First Finger."

Sun Xiaohong stated her deduction: "Gu Qing, your swordplay is extraordinary, your internal energy formidable, and your finger strength unmatched... are you also Shen Lang's son?"

Experts don't appear out of nowhere. Based on Gu Qing's martial arts, Sun Xiaohong made the most basic inference—after all, how else could Gu Qing know Afei was Shen Lang's son?

Afei stared at Gu Qing in shock... Could this really be my brother?

At this moment, Gu Qing shouted in exasperation: "I'm Shen Lang's father!"

"Take this!"

Without hesitation, Afei lunged at Gu Qing with his sword!

The Money Gang rose rapidly in the Jianghu, under Shangguan JinHong's leadership, nearly undefeated. But it declined just as fast—having risen in only two years, it lacked time to train its members or cultivate capable personnel, so its cohesion was weak. With Shangguan JinHong's death, the power collapsed like a tide receding.

The Jianghu remained the Jianghu. After the Money Gang's decline, various factions scrambled to seize its abandoned territories. These people, having gained benefits, also remembered Gu Qing's righteous act of killing Shangguan JinHong, and hailed him as the Number One Under Heaven, turning him into a Jianghu legend.

But after Shangguan JinHong's death, Gu Qing vanished from the Jianghu.

Six months passed.

Li Tanhua intercepted a boat on the Slender West Lake in Yangzhou.

"I no longer involve myself in Jianghu affairs."

Gu Qing held Sun Xiaohong's hand and said: "After a hero achieves fame and success, he must retire. Now I want to live quietly with Xiaohong."

In these six months, Gu Qing had married again and again and again, then spent his days cultivating martial arts, traveling mountains and rivers, and when needed, he intervened under a pseudonym, accumulating good karma—his life was blissful.

"Unbound by law, unbound by emptiness—Grand Hero Gu's spirit is free. Truly enviable."

Li Xunhuan's complexion had improved greatly. Seeing Gu Qing's peaceful life, he laughed.

The Jianghu would be much more peaceful if there were more heroes like Gu Qing, who cared nothing for fame or profit.

"But Grand Hero Gu, have you forgotten someone?"

Li Xunhuan reminded him.

"Forgotten who?"

Gu Qing asked, bewildered.

"Of course—Xiaoyun!"

Lin Shiyin said urgently.

For the past half-year, Li Xunhuan, Lin Shiyin, and Long Xiaoyun had been entangled in disputes. Now they wanted to find Long Xiaoyun and explain everything to him.

Since Gu Qing took Long Xiaoyun away, the boy had vanished from the Jianghu. That was why Li Xunhuan had been investigating Gu Qing everywhere, finally intercepting him here on the Slender West Lake.

"Long Xiaoyun..."

Gu Qing's expression changed gradually. He tapped his head lightly, as if struggling to speak: "Long Xiaoyun is doing well."

"But where is Xiaoyun?"

Lin Shiyin sensed something was wrong, her voice filled with dread.

"He's in... Wawa Wawa Wawa Wawa Wawa..."

Gu Qing spoke vaguely.

"Wawa Wawa Wawa Wawa Wawa..."

Long Xiaoyun frowned, confused.

Li Xunhuan's face turned pale: "The Great Joy Bodhisattva!"

Long Xiaoyun and Lin Shiyin both turned ashen.

"I originally meant to rescue him..."

Gu Qing looked embarrassed: "But these past six months have been too busy—I forgot. Now that I remember, it's not too late, is it?"

(End of Chapter)