Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 203: Chapter 123: Hundred Refinements Heavy Armor! The Decadent Gu Jingang!_3

”The county magistrate has sent a message, warning us to be wary of the Black Sand Gang’s desperate retaliation. Within no more than six months, the Black Sand Gang will surely be wiped out!”

Some of the clan elders revealed smiles at the corners of their mouths.

”During this period, strengthen the patrol and guard within the manor. As long as we endure, once Xiao Jiang enters the Red Cloud Guard, Gu’s Manor will truly be unshakable in Canghe County!”

”Understood!”

One matter after another was handled systematically and without chaos.

Yet, one person was missing—Gu’s Manor’s top martial artist, Gu Jingang.

Since that incident, Gu Jingang had claimed he was mentally exhausted and applied to take a break, distancing himself from clan affairs.

Finally, the Great Clan Elder frowned and asked:

”How has Jingang been lately?”

Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang exchanged bitter smiles.

”Since that incident, Jingang has stayed home, refusing to see visitors. It’s said he’s become addicted to drinking, drunk to the point of stupor every single day...”

”Not even you two?”

The Great Clan Elder couldn’t help but curse:

”Good-for-nothing!”

Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang lowered their heads without responding, as they held ties of friendship with Gu Jingang.

After a moment, the Great Clan Elder still sighed and said:

”Alright, tomorrow you two go visit him. Tell him I sent you, have a proper talk with him. After all, he’s one of Gu’s Manor’s top three martial artists. How can it be acceptable for him to be in such a state? Ask him to return. A month’s rest should have been enough.”

Gu Changming responded respectfully:

”Understood, Great Clan Elder.”

Watching the two leave, the Great Clan Elder snorted coldly:

”Ungrateful wolves. The moment something doesn’t go their way, they start to act like this. Xiao Jiang has likely learned from him. We must teach Xiao Jiang properly in the future, or else a fine gem will turn into a worthless stone.”

The other clan elders nodded in agreement.

They had experienced such matters before. Gu’s Manor hadn’t always treated those outside the main family so harshly. However, ever since they had once carefully nurtured a genius martial artist who ultimately left quietly, wasting the clan’s investment, the manor had gradually turned into what it was now.

Martial artists outside the main family, no matter how talented, were ultimately useless—unless they became one of ”our own.”

Even if they did become ”our own,” they would never receive the same treatment as those of the main family.

They placed greater trust in the ties of bloodline.

...

Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang stepped out of the clan hall, exchanged glances, and both sighed.

Regarding the estrangement between Gu Jingang and the clan elders, they too were powerless. They had repeatedly tried to persuade Gu Jingang in the past, but with the Great Clan Elder refusing to actively ease the tension, there was little they could do.

Now that the Great Clan Elder was instructing them to convince Gu Jingang, they finally felt more confident.

”Let me change my clothes, and then we’ll head over together. It’s been some time since the three of us gathered,” said Gu Changming.

A short while later.

Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang arrived at the gate of a small courtyard paved with green stone. Gu Dajiang knocked lightly, and soon a young maid peeked out. Seeing it was the two of them, she bowed respectfully and greeted:

”Greetings, my lords!”

”Who is it?”

A moderately beautiful woman walked over, slightly startled, then quickly performed a formal bow and said:

”Brother Changming, Brother Dajiang, you’re here.”

This was the woman Gu Jingang had married back then—a daughter of the main family. Her face revealed difficulty as she spoke:

”Two elder brothers, it’s not that I refuse to let you in. It’s truly that my husband Jingang has been in such a poor state lately. He’s said he doesn’t want to see anyone. Please let him rest for a while...”

Gu Changming sighed and comforted her:

”We’re here under the Great Clan Elder’s orders. Don’t worry, we’ll try our best to persuade Jingang. You wouldn’t want to see him continue like this either, would you?”

The woman opened her mouth to say more.

But from behind her already came a low voice:

”Let them in. Since it’s the Great Clan Elder’s orders, to block them would make me, Gu Jingang, seem unreasonable.”

Gu Changming and Gu Dajiang exchanged a wry smile, hearing the resentment in Gu Jingang’s tone.

The two walked into the courtyard and quickly saw Gu Jingang.

At this moment, Gu Jingang looked disheveled, his hair unkempt and clothes dirty, reeking of alcohol. When he looked at the two of them, his gaze was clouded with drunkenness.