The Attack of the Wastrel

As Chengze turned to purchase the Metal Yarn, Gu Lingzhi turned to face Qin Xinran. “I don’t care what intentions you have in getting close to him. Chengze helped me before and I consider him one of my few good friends. I don’t want him to come to any harm.” 

Gu Lingzhi did not like seeing Qin Xinran make use of Gu Chengze like this.

Qin Xinran laughed, and replied, “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”

“That’s good then,” Gu Lingzhi said, smiling. Qin Xinran took the blow for her on the Snow Mountain, so Gu Lingzhi had decided to trust her.

Looking over Qin Xinran’s shoulder at the stall where Gu Chengze was, she saw that he had already selected the length he wanted and was currently completing the purchase. Sweeping her gaze across the rest of the items on sale, Gu Lingzhi suddenly paused. 

Hmm?

Taking a closer look, Gu Lingzhi picked up a black stone about the size of a small human head.

Seeing Gu Lingzhi’s actions, the stall owner warmly praised, “You have a good eye, Miss! This piece of Black Steel Ore might not look like much, but it is definitely a good quality item. It’s only 500 spirit stones if you want it.”

Gu Lingzhi didn’t immediately respond, but instead held the stone in her hand up to the sunlight. Under the light, she carefully inspected the lines on the rock. When she was absolutely certain of herself, she put the rock in her Storage Ring. Her heartbeat quickened from excitement.

After she had paid the 500 spirit stones to the stall owner, she calmed down, knowing that the item was truly hers.

“Lingzhi, what’s so special about that ore?”

Qin Xinran waited until they had gone some distance from the stall before carefully asking the question.

A piece of Black Steel Ore was a very commonly found material used in weapon forging. It was strong and didn’t bend easily, and the cost of the material was not too expensive. That made it a good choice for many Martial Student Weapon Forgers. However, Gu Lingzhi already had a pretty good sword and had no need to buy pieces of Black Steel Ore for that purpose. This made Qin Xinran very curious about her actions.

Looking at Qin Xinran, Gu Lingzhi answered mysteriously, “It’s just a piece of Black Steel Ore.”

However, seeing their expressions of disbelief, she added, “Well, it’s just that underneath the outermost layer of this piece of Black Steel Ore, there is an even more valuable material.”

As to what exactly the material was, she did not say, and Qin Xinran and Gu Chengze did not probe any further.

Still, this incident made the two of them even more interested in the wares being sold. They paid close attention to each item, in the hopes that they would get lucky like Gu Lingzhi and pick up a true gem.

It was obviously not that easy to find such treasures, and even as the sky darkened, the two of them had not managed to pick up many good things. Strangely, it was Gu Lingzhi who had the biggest haul. Amongst the things she found were a good number of ice-type materials for both Weapon Forging and Alchemy.

Faced with their incessant questioning, Gu Lingzhi simply responded, “I’ll tell you in the future.” Dissatisfied with her response, Gu Chengze muttered under his breath, “She’s just pretending to be mysterious.”

After leaving the marketplace, the three of them went to a nearby teahouse for dinner, before saying goodbye to Qin Xinran and returning to their own accommodations.

Yet, even after she had left, Gu Chengze repeatedly turned to look in the direction where she had gone. Finally, Gu Lingzhi could not take it anymore and grabbed Gu Chengze’s sleeve, pulling him to face herself.

“Alright, you can’t even see her shadow anymore, stop looking. Can you be any more embarrassing?” she admonished.

Gu Chengze looked slightly guilty. Suddenly, he tugged on Gu Lingzhi’s sleeve and begged, “Lingzhi, aren’t you good friends with Xinran? Would you put in a good word for me in front of her next time? I’ll… I’ll definitely work hard to become someone worthy of her!”

Qin Xinran was the daughter of the Qin Clan’s Leader, which meant that her future husband had to be someone of a decent social status. Still, even knowing that, Gu Chengze was determined to do his best for the person that had moved his heart for the first time.

Gu Lingzhi fell deep in thought upon seeing the desperate look on his face.

Deep down, she absolutely did not want Gu Chengze to get involved with Qin Xinran. This was not because of the difference in their status alone. No, she was more concerned that given Xinran’s personality, Gu Chengze would be seriously hurt by her mischief.

Yet, the hopeful look in Gu Chengze’s eyes made her reluctant to turn him down. In the end, she said, “Chengze, well, I think that before you make this decision, you ought to really understand the other person’s character and whether she is really compatible with you.”

“I understand, I really do!” Gu Chengze’s reply was instantaneous and certain. “Xinran is the cutest girl I’ve seen. I liked her the moment I laid my eyes on her.”

He understood nothing!

In response to Gu Chengze’s obliviousness, Gu Lingzhi could only smile helplessly.

“I can put in a good word for you in front of Xinran, but…,” Gu Lingzhi began. Seeing the delight in Gu Chengze’s eyes, she continued, “When school resumes next year, you must come down to the Royal School to visit her. If you still feel the same way about her, then I’ll help you.” 

“Awesome! Lingzhi, I knew you’d help me!” Gu Chengze agreed excitedly. He had apparently not taken what Gu Lingzhi had said to heart, as he immediately turned and rushed back to the Gu Clan lodging, shouting to himself, “Cultivation! I must work hard in improving my cultivation!” Along the way, he drew many stares from passers-by.

Ignorance is bliss, it seemed.

Gu Lingzhi pursed her lips as she stared at the lively Gu Chengze.

The trading fair would last for about seven days, but as the Clan Leader, Gu Rong could not waste that much time here. Two days after the Flower Hunt ended, Gu Rong began making preparations to return back to the clan.

When he asked Gu Lingzhi if she would return with them, she immediately turned him down.

“Father, I’ve already made plans with some friends to return straight to the capital after the fair. We’re planning to take some missions to train ourselves.”

Gu Rong frowned as he heard this, asking, “You won’t be back even for the New Year?”

Gu Lingzhi calmly replied, “I won’t. I believe that right now, the greatest priority should be improving my strength. I can only rest once I’ve become stronger.”

“Hmph! You’ve said it so nicely, but I think you just don’t want to return home, do you? You’re something now, huh?” Naturally, this was said by Gu Linglong, who had cut in before Gu Rong even said anything. As always, she was trying to put some sow dissension between Gu Lingzhi and Gu Rong.

However, Gu Lingzhi was not angered. She simply turned around and said blandly, “If you want to think of it that way, then so be it. It’s just that I entered the school through unconventional means and currently, I’m still weaker than others. If I don’t utilize this time during the vacation to improve myself, I may not be so lucky as to score enough points next term.”