The Attack of the Wastrel

The commotion had drawn the attention of many people. Those who recognized them had already begun guessing what it was about and spreading the gossip.

“Isn’t it all because of you? Stop pretending to be a good person!” Gu Linglong retorted. Gu Linglong was not one who would accept a loss. Being insulted by Gu Chengze, Gu Linglong was not going to take it lying down. Now that Gu Lingzhi interceded, her anger was naturally redirected towards Gu Lingzhi.

“Sister, how could you say that?” Gu Lingzhi said, biting her lip and looking extremely aggrieved.

Gu Linglong clearly was not going to fall for Gu Lingzhi’s facade. Looking at Gu Lingzhi, she felt her temper rising and clenched her fist, striking at Gu Lingzhi. However, just before her fist connected, Gu Rong stopped her.

“Are you done yet? Haven’t you embarrassed our clan enough?”

“Father…” Being stopped by Gu Rong, Gu Linglong pouted, intending to complain further. However, when she saw the stern look in Gu Rong’s eyes, she stopped herself.

They started to walk through the Wunian City gates. Walking in the middle of the group, Gu Lingzhi kept her head slightly bent. No one could see the derision in her eyes.

Despite receiving all of Gu Rong’s attention since young, Gu Linglong was still clueless about her father’s temperament.

No matter how she argued with Gu Chengze, Gu Rong did not care. After all, to him, it was just an argument between two teenagers. Yet, Gu Linglong was too quick to lose her temper, resorting to violence after Gu Lingzhi had said a few words. To Gu Rong, who was only concerned about the Gu Clan’s reputation, her behaviour had been extremely disgraceful. 

No matter how much he doted on Gu Linglong, he would never allow her to hit her sister in public. This would only allow bystanders mock their family for not teaching their children properly.

Still, even though Gu Linglong did not manage to hit Gu Lingzhi, everyone had clearly seen what had happened, and there was no longer any doubt about the sisters’ relationship. Gu Linglong had resorted to violence too readily to get back at her sister. This was not the sort of behaviour that developed overnight.

Indeed, as though it was ordained that the day would not pass peacefully, the moment they entered the city, they heard a shrill voice mocking them. “I was wondering which family’s young mistress was being so boorish, making such a clamor the moment they entered the city. Of course it had to be the Gu Clan Leader’s precious daughter. I say, Clan Leader Gu, you’re a pretty lousy father. It seems like both your daughters are of poor character.”

This voice came from a group of about ten people that had just arrived. Among them, Gu Lingzhi recognized Tianfeng Wei and Tianfeng Jin. It was easy to guess who they were.

Gu Rong’s face flashed with anger. Taking a deep breath, he said, “So it was Madam Jin. I’m sure Madam Jin must be an expert at raising children. I wonder if your family’s young master has been located?” 

Madam Jin was the wife of the Tianfeng Clan Leader, Jin Qingyu. She was also the person in-charge of the Tianfeng Clan’s team in this excursion. Upon hearing Gu Rong’s words, Madam Jin’s face also flashed with anger.

Everyone knew that the oldest son of the Tianfeng Clan, Tianfeng Yu, had fallen in love with his servant. After facing strong opposition from his family, he had decisively eloped. Till this date, he had yet to be found, which had been made into a big joke among the Four Great Clans. When this was raised up again by Gu Rong, Jin Qingyu could only grind her teeth in anger. She had brought this upon herself when she first insulted Gu Rong. 

Yet, she did not back down. Her daughter, Tianfeng Wei, was engaged to the Third Prince and her position essentially enabled her to throw her weight around. She responded, “My son has nothing to lose. After all, he’s a male. However, Clan Leader Gu, you should look after your daughters properly, lest they follow in his footsteps. It would be difficult for a girl with a bad reputation to marry anyone.”

As she said this, Jin Qingyu deliberately gazed at Gu Lingzhi. Even an idiot could figure out what she meant.

Nevertheless, Gu Lingzhi did not back down. Instead, she laughed blandly and said, “I know how to take care of myself, you don’t have to worry about me, Madam Jin.”

“Hmph, I hope that is so!” Jin Qingyu harrumphed, before turning away and leading her group further into the city.

In the face of Madam Jin’s attitude, Gu Rong’s fist was already shaking, but ultimately, he managed to control his temper.

In recent years, the Gu Clan’s martial prowess had sharply declined and was no longer what it used to be. They were ranked last among the Four Great Clans, and it was only thanks to the older generation that they were not kicked out of the Four Great Clans. Therefore, whenever they met with the other three clans, they had to put up with the insults. Jin Qingyu had no reason to spare them the insults after Gu Lingzhi’s “scandal” with the Third Prince. 

Gu Linglong was surprisingly astute on this point. The moment they reached the Gu Clan’s lodging in Wunian City, she immediately started blaming Gu Lingzhi, saying, “If it weren’t for you, Father would not have had to put up with that woman’s insults.”

Gu Lingzhi blinked, amused. “Wasn’t it your actions that caught Madam Jin’s attention? You gave her an excuse to mock us.”

“I wouldn’t hit you if you weren’t pretending to be a good person,” Gu Linglong retorted, speaking as though she was completely justified in her actions. Gu Lingzhi could not help but find it laughable.

“Then, should I have let you embarrass us all in front of everyone?”

“Who would dare to make fun of me? I am the…”

“Enough! Shut up, all of you!” Glaring at the two girls quarrelling non-stop, Gu Rong felt his head hurt. “Have you both not embarrassed us enough? Go back to your room and reflect on it!”

Maybe it was because Gu Rong was thoroughly angered, but he did not notice how Gu Lingzhi had been calmly rebutting all of Gu Linglong’s arguments.

Gu Chengze noticed, however, and he was slightly surprised but also amused.

The news about what happened with the Gu Clan at the city gates had already spread throughout the city; those who paid attention to such things would have easily found out about it. Various people had different reactions to it. One of them, upon hearing the news, immediately rushed towards the Gu Clan’s residence. This person was none other than Qin Xinran.

Gu Lingzhi had just set down her things and was about to go out, when she heard that someone had been looking for her.

Looking in the direction the servant who delivered the message came from, she saw Qin Xinran seated in the hall.

“Lingzhi, there you are!”

Gu Lingzhi looked at Qin Xinran speechlessly. She figured that Qin Xinran must have come for the Flower Hunt as well.

“I’m busy, go look for someone else,” Gu Lingzhi said.

Qin Xinran put on a pitiful expression upon hearing that.

“No one wants to play with me…”

If it was not because Gu Lingzhi knew of Qin Xinran’s craziness, she might have been tricked into thinking of her as a pitiful young girl.

“I wonder why no one wants to play with you. After all, no one hates or likes another for absolutely no reason.”

“But I don’t have a reason for liking you,” Qin Xinran said innocently. Hearing this, Gu Lingzhi was speechless. Gu Chengze, who had also came to find Gu Lingzhi, nearly choked on his own saliva.