Chapter 66

"What?!"

The few elders who remained were those who valued the younger generation of the family more.

But after hearing Gu Sanhe's report, they were still astonished and all rose to their feet.

The Fifth Elder looked at Gu Sanhe in disbelief, his eyes wide open,

"You're saying that Gu Chen and Gu Han, the two brothers, have achieved great merit and become squad leaders?"

Although Gu Sanhe already knew, recalling it still left him extremely excited,

"That's right, and they also participated in Mu Shan Cheng's Ten Camps Competition."

The Fifth Elder, after all, is someone well-versed and knowledgeable.

A new recruit catching a spy and becoming a squad leader—such a thing.

Although before, let alone seeing it, even hearing about it was unheard of!

But after all, they are our own younger generation, so it's a great joy!

But they quickly accepted it.

"The Ten Camps Competition is a custom of Mu Shan Cheng; I have also heard of it before."

The Fifth Elder stroked his beard and smiled, the wrinkles on his face relaxing considerably,

"How did Gu Chen and his brothers perform in the Ten Camps Competition?"

Gu Han's strength is relatively weak; catching a spy was probably just luck.

Although it counts as a great achievement, the Fifth Elder did not think Gu Han could participate in the Ten Camps Competition.

"Gu Lin and the others each defeated three or four opponents, but then, exhausted, they were defeated one after another."

"After Gu Chen secured a spot in the top ten, he chose to withdraw due to special circumstances."

Upon hearing that Gu Chen had entered the top ten, the elders all beamed with joy.

Gu Chen's father, Gu Si, was especially relieved, feeling that the future was bright!

"Gu Chen, as a branch-family descendant, achieving such results in the Ten Camps Competition is quite impressive."

The Fifth Elder smiled and praised Gu Si, then immediately prepared to continue improving the treatment of Gu Si's family.

However, at that moment, he suddenly heard the latter part of what Gu Sanhe had said.

The Fifth Elder's face instantly darkened, he slammed the table and stood up, furious,

"Has Gu Chen's brain gone wet? Making it into the top ten of the Ten Camps Competition is such a difficult and fortunate opportunity!"

"This is of great benefit to his future military career, and could even let him rise rapidly!"

"But he actually gave up this opportunity?"

"Go investigate—see if someone is urging Gu Chen to do this!"

Faced with the Fifth Elder's thunderous rage, everyone felt fear and shrank their heads.

Gu Sanhe steeled himself and spoke softly,

"I inquired in Mu Shan Cheng, and it seems that due to a rivalry over camp rankings, the generals of other camps gave him benefits to get Gu Chen to withdraw from the competition."

"This seems to have been approved by General Guan Shan."

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Elder's anger subsided somewhat; he slowly sat back down, furrowed his brows, and spoke in a low voice,

"Since General Guan Shan agreed, there must be his reasoning."

Although Wu Shan Cheng is far from Mu Shan Cheng,

the Fifth Elder still has some knowledge of several important generals.

The Fifth Elder thought for a moment, then instructed Gu Sanhe,

"When you go to Mu Shan Cheng, tell Gu Chen: in martial arts, one must strive!"

"Only by displaying talent worthy of the generals' regard can his martial path proceed smoothly."

"The military camp is the purest place; besides enemies, no one will envy his talent!"

"Hiding one's clumsiness is absolutely unacceptable!"

The military camp consists entirely of Combat Soldiers from all over the country.

To be able to rank among the top ten there is no easy feat.

The Fifth Elder is also moved by a fondness for talent, which is why he is so excited.

The other elders also rarely see the Fifth Elder, who controls all the Gu family's resources, so agitated.

Gu Sanhe naturally nodded repeatedly, keeping the Fifth Elder's words in mind.

"If there's nothing else, you may withdraw."

The Combat Soldiers' performances have all been reported; the Fifth Elder still has important matters to attend to.

Having said that, the Fifth Elder rose to prepare to leave.

However, at that moment, Gu Sanhe suddenly continued speaking,

"Um, Fifth Elder, there's also news about Gu Han..."

"Gu Han?"

The Fifth Elder blinked,

"I know he became a squad leader; what else? Could he also have participated in the Ten Camps Competition?"

As soon as he said that, the other elders' faces turned somewhat strange.

Even though they all achieved merit, they actually favored Gu Chen more.

It's not that they look down on Gu Han.

In truth, Gu Han's ability is lacking by quite a bit; catching up to Gu Chen's pace would likely take considerable time.

If he were to join the Ten Camps Competition now, it would be no different from rushing to embarrass himself.

Gu Han indeed participated in the Ten Camps Competition.

Gu Sanhe, fearing the Fifth Elder would leave, hurriedly said,

Moreover, Gu Han took first place in the Ten Camps Competition.

Silence!

A deathly silence!

The entire Gu Family council hall fell into a sudden deathly stillness.

Gu Sanhe's words were like an immobilization talisman, freezing the Fifth Elder's body in place.

The other elders, as well as Gu Si and the others, were all dumbfounded.

Even Xu Xin Zhu covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief.

No one expected that Gu Sanhe would drop such a bombshell from his mouth!

The Fifth Elder even roared in anger inwardly.

With such important news, how could you hold back and only say it now?!!

Gulp.

The Fifth Elder swallowed his saliva, his voice clearly audible in the council hall.

His eyes stared fixedly at Gu Sanhe,

"Are the words you just spoke true?"

Gu Sanhe clasped his fists with full confidence and said,

"Replying, Elder, I am certain, sure, and definitely that the matter is true!"

You should know, when Gu Sanhe first learned this news from the Gu Family shop in Mu Shan Cheng, he was almost shocked enough to drop his jaw!

He went around visiting and inquiring, only then did he finally confirm the truth of the news.

The Fifth Elder returned to his seat and sat down, remaining silent for a long time.

The other elders also exchanged glances, shocked and not knowing what to say.

After a long while, an elder laughed and said,

"Looks like we old fellows have underestimated the youngsters nowadays."

The Fifth Elder also caught his breath and chuckled,

"Although Mu Shan Cheng is just one of the borderlands, to emerge victorious there is also an extremely difficult feat!"

"Even in our Gu Family's history, there have probably been only a few such occasions!"

At this moment, an elder spoke in a low voice,

"Gu Han has done this for the third time."

The Fifth Elder glanced; the speaker was the Ninth Elder, the most knowledgeable among the Gu Family elders.

The Fifth Elder pondered for a moment, then looked at Xu Xin Zhu, who had remained silent,

"Cold Mountain is dead; you raised the two children alone, you've worked hard."

Xu Xin Zhu, who had merely been happy that Gu Han had a promising future, upon hearing this, immediately felt her eyes well up.

She waved her hands with reddened eyes, her voice somewhat choked,

"As long as the children grow up happily, I have no regrets no matter how much I give."

The Fifth Elder nodded,

"Convey this Elder's order: the Gu Family will hold a grand feast for three days to celebrate Gu Han's victory in the Ten Camps Competition!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Yet no one stepped forward to oppose the Fifth Elder's words.

Gu Han, the third person in Gu Family history to achieve this, deserves a grand feast from the Gu Family!

"But Fifth Elder, does this matter need to be reported to the Family Head?"

The Fifth Elder waved his hand and spoke loudly,

"The Family Head is in seclusion; there's no need to disturb him over such trivial matters."

The Fifth Elder manages the family's resources; no one knows the banquet's expenses better than he.

Even reporting these matters to the Family Head would merely be a formality.

"Besides this, the treatment of Gu Han's household within the clan is to be doubled, without exception!"

The Fifth Elder said coldly,

"If I, this Elder, learn that anyone slighted Gu Han's family, they will be punished by clan law!"

The meaning of these words left everyone present shocked, yet also thoughtful.