Chapter Nineteen: Your Sister Says You’re a Despicable, Shameless Scoundrel (Two Chapters Combined)

If one were to speak of the attitude held by everyone in the Prince’s residence toward Gu Fangchen, then if Gu Lianqian despised him most, Gu Youren looked down upon him with the greatest disdain.

The eldest princess, Gu Youren, was only twenty-one years old, yet she had already attained the Fourth Rank of the Divine Path—a master’s cultivation. In the more than thirteen hundred years since the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty, one could likely count on one hand those who could compare to her.

Furthermore, she was both a disciple of the Sage of Destiny and a scholar at the Yaoshan Academy, a position of unparalleled prestige and nobility.

Once, on the front lines of the Iron Thorn Mountains, thousands of miles away, she had planted a single peach tree. Overnight, she shifted the seasons, melting the biting winter ice and snow, reversing the course of the war, and saving the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians.

To this day, a shrine dedicated to Gu Youren still stands at the foot of the Iron Thorn Mountains, where the locals worship her as the "Spring Goddess."

In terms of cultivation, status, and character, she was light-years ahead of someone like Gu Fangchen, the fake heir. Naturally, she had the capital to look down on him. Of course, given the original body’s abysmal reputation and anthropomorphic antics, any normal person could look down on him. Comparing Gu Youren to him was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

However, Gu Fangchen had not returned to the residence to plead guilty on behalf of his predecessor. Even if Gu Youren had valid reasons to look down on him, he could not show the slightest hint of insecurity, guilt, or retreat.

On one hand, he had to maintain the original persona; on the other, he had already burnt bridges with Gu Yuoye, so trying to curry favor with the people in the residence was futile. The impressions these people had built up over nineteen years would not be changed by a simple apology or show of weakness. While Gu Fangchen needed to win them over to weaken Gu Yuoye’s influence, he was in no rush, and there was no need to demean himself. He hadn't transmigrated here just to be a punching bag.

He might as well give them a little "player shock" first.

Gu Fangchen knew clearly that the most important label for the character Gu Youren was "integrity." She was cold, arrogant, and aloof, but she was meticulous in everything she did. At the same time, she held herself to extremely strict standards of conduct. This disciple of the Sage of Destiny, the academy’s premier female scholar, truly lived her life adhering to the Way of the Gentleman.

Her ending was also a source of great regret for many players. In every ending route, Gu Youren would eventually fall on the battlefield, protecting the world and its people at a moment when the player could not intervene. Her body would transform into a thousand-mile forest of peach blossoms, bestowing blessings upon all sentient beings and becoming the true "Spring Goddess Dongjun" who blooms in harmony with the peach blossoms.

There were six endings. In the "Good Ending," the player had to face Qingman, rebellions, and the Demonic Sect simultaneously; the internal and external pressures were explosive, and the enemy’s forces were overwhelming. Her death could cut off a main enemy force, securing one of the front lines. Even if saved, Gu Youren would be left critically injured, while the player’s own lines would still face collapse. No matter how much the players adored this cold beauty—ranked fifth in the Beauty Index—they were forced to abandon her after weighing the costs. As for the "Bad Endings," the players would either fail to develop their strength or turn traitor to join the enemy, causing the situation to crumble entirely.

Given Gu Youren’s impeccable, spotless track record, there were two ways to build favorability with her.

The first was to walk the righteous path honestly. Do good deeds, farm reputation, and let Gu Youren gradually develop admiration for you. This path was time-consuming but stable, and righteous reputation was required for the Good Ending anyway. It was just a matter of convenience.

The second was reverse thinking—doing the opposite. The method was simple: first, cause Gu Youren to misjudge you, whether it be your character or your actions. Let her assume you are doing something evil, then resolve the misunderstanding to trigger a strong sense of shame within her. Under these circumstances, Gu Youren’s guilt over her error, combined with the sharp contrast, would cause her favorability to skyrocket.

Of course, there were risks. First, performing in front of a Fourth Rank Divine Path master required passing a deception check. If your skills weren't up to par, you would be exposed immediately, and your favorability would plummet. Second, one had to master the "degree" of the misunderstanding; if you acted too well, there was a risk of being killed on the spot. After all, trying to commit "evil" in front of someone who despised wickedness could easily get you crushed.

Gu Fangchen’s current identity put him in a perfect position. Gu Youren’s existing bias made it easy for her to jump to conclusions. He didn't even need to act; Gu Youren would subconsciously assume he was up to no good. With a little guidance, he could easily manufacture a misunderstanding. And Gu Youren, for her part, could not kill him outright.

That was why Gu Fangchen had provoked her. Luring her into making a mistake was the best way to deal with a person of integrity.

Hearing his words, Gu Youren immediately said coldly, "It was naturally I who said it. What? Do you intend to complain to Mother again?"

Gu Fangchen looked at the cold beauty in her plain white robes, then turned to Ning Caiyong with an innocent expression. Ning Caiyong opened her mouth but remained silent, watching her eldest daughter be toyed with by Gu Fangchen without even realizing it. She felt both amused and helpless. *Chen'er is being mischievous again...*

But in this instance, it was indeed Gu Youren who had made a presumption and was in the wrong. In the past, whenever Chen'er was at fault, Ning Caiyong would still offer some protection. Now, for such a baseless matter, her eldest daughter had added another crime to Chen'er's name, as if he were beyond redemption. Ning Caiyong had just argued with Gu Yuoye precisely because the latter had never bothered to guide Gu Fangchen, yet treated him as a born evildoer. Gu Youren had fallen into the same trap.

*To punish without teaching is cruelty.* Ning Caiyong felt a wave of disappointment toward her eldest daughter. Back at the Baima Temple ferry, it was Gu Yuoye and his son who had been aggressive, not Chen'er. Therefore, this time, Ning Caiyong chose silence.

Seeing Ning Caiyong remain quiet, Gu Fangchen knew she tacitly approved of his actions and chuckled inwardly. On the surface, however, he acted as if his plea for support had failed, wearing an expression of exasperation. He wiped the smirk from his lips and said testily, "Fine, have it your way. Princess Banruo has a compassionate heart and can distinguish good from evil; naturally, whoever she guards against must be the despicable villain."

Gu Youren was slightly surprised by how quickly he had conceded, but she assumed he simply had no argument. She lifted her chin and retorted coldly, "I knew it—it is indeed the behavior of a scoundrel. After all these years, your habit of seizing what belongs to others remains unchanged! Now that the true heir has returned, you feel neither shame nor fear; instead, you harbor malicious intent! I had thought that, though foolish, you at least would not consort with the Demonic Sect. It seems I thought too highly of you! Even Princess Banruo, an outsider, sees clearly; otherwise, she would not have sent Attendant Xiyin to protect Yuandao. Today is likely your last day in this residence. I advise you to tell the truth; it may be your only chance."

Gu Youren’s gaze was icy. Having seen Gu Yuandao return pale and vomiting blood, and with Gu Yuoye implying it was Gu Fangchen’s doing, she had already concluded he was colluding with the Demonic Sect. Otherwise, how could a cripple like Gu Fangchen, who couldn't even cultivate, have nearly destroyed Gu Yuandao’s Dao heart? The traces of a formation master left in Gu Fangchen’s room were further proof! Someone behind the scenes must be manipulating everything and directing his actions. Everything he was doing now was just a desperate attempt to use Ning Caiyong’s affection for him to resist.

Gu Youren’s thoughts stirred. In a place unseen by others, a translucent Dharma image floated up. It was a white-clad immortal identical to Gu Youren, holding a peach blossom branch, her eyes radiating a pure, divine light.

"Halt!"

The immortal opened her mouth, emitting a sound that shook the soul. An invisible ripple expanded in mid-air, and a divine pressure descended, intended to shatter Gu Fangchen’s spirit. For Divine Path practitioners, this was a common technique used for interrogation and disruption. For ordinary people, or even standard martial artists, the spirit was very fragile. A sudden, unexpected shock to the spirit could easily terrify a person into telling the truth.

In the past, Gu Youren had refrained from such methods out of respect for Gu Fangchen’s status, Ning Caiyong’s protection, and the fact that he hadn't committed any earth-shattering crimes. But now, since he was colluding with the Demonic Sect and was no longer truly her brother, such methods were not excessive.

Gu Youren watched with cold eyes, waiting for Gu Fangchen’s spirit to be shaken so he would speak the truth. However, when the ripple hit Gu Fangchen, it vanished instantly, like a drop of water in the ocean. Gu Fangchen’s spirit merely swayed like a phantom before stabilizing.

Gu Youren froze. *No effect? Impossible!*

Her expression shifted. She focused her gaze and discovered that Gu Fangchen was surrounded by a faint, protective white light visible only to Divine Path practitioners.

*This is... the Meditation State?!*

Gu Youren was stunned. Because Gu Fangchen’s Divine Path aura was so weak and she was biased against him, she hadn't even considered that he might have cultivation. She hadn't even bothered to probe his spirit, only to discover now that he had reached the Ninth Rank of the Divine Path! But indeed, only the Meditation State could resist the spiritual suppression of a Divine Path practitioner.

For a moment, Gu Youren could hardly hide her shock; her usually cold face lost its composure. "You... how do you have cultivation?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present, including Ding Xingfeng, was stunned. *Wait... cultivation?! Is she talking about Gu Fangchen?*

*His dantian and meridians are destroyed! That’s a known fact! How could he suddenly be able to cultivate?*

Old Man Ding’s face twitched. He grabbed Gu Fangchen’s wrist to investigate and was left dumbfounded. Inside this guy, it was still a mess of tangled threads and rot. But miraculously, his upper dantian—the Spirit Platform—which should have been scattered, had abruptly condensed a point of spiritual light. The spiritual energy had condensed, taken root, and was stable.

Although Ding Xingfeng was a martial artist, he was not entirely ignorant of the Divine Path. This was clearly the hallmark of the Ninth Rank Meditation State! *This is evil, truly evil!*

Ning Caiyong widened her beautiful eyes, as if in a dream, and asked in a daze, "Chen'er... you can cultivate?"

Gu Fangchen shrugged. "I don't know. I was just chatting with Princess Banruo, and suddenly there was a flash of inspiration, and I was Ninth Rank. Maybe I’m a genius." He added thoughtfully, "After all, Master, you told me I was a legendary martial arts prodigy. Since I’m a prodigy in martial arts, perhaps I am one in the Divine Path too!"

Ding Xingfeng: "..." *I was just spouting nonsense, and you actually went and did it?*

If anyone had told him before today that one could cultivate without a dantian or meridians, he would have thought they were insane. But now... he had truly seen something new. In nearly two hundred years of life, this was the first time he had seen such a monster. Ding Xingfeng clicked his tongue in wonder, and his previous suspicions grew even stronger. This "Gu Fangchen" must have an origin related to Tan Yuan; otherwise, how could he possess such means that defied common sense?

Gu Youren’s expression shifted rapidly. "Princess Banruo... how is that possible?" This contradicted her entire theory. If Princess Banruo had helped Gu Fangchen obtain cultivation, why would she send people to protect Gu Yuandao?

Gu Fangchen chuckled and teased Qingjian, "Qingjian, would you say I’m a genius?"

The Attendant Xiyin glanced at him, her expression calm, and replied without any principles, "Yes, Young Master is naturally a genius."

When she used that address, Gu Youren’s body swayed, her pupils constricted, and a look of disbelief crossed her face. With Qingjian’s clear attitude, Gu Youren could no longer be mistaken. *Young Master Gu... it actually referred to Gu Fangchen!*

Gu Youren opened her mouth, her face turning pale. She realized that everything she had just done was nothing more than an unreasonable, trumped-up charge.

Gu Fangchen grinned, but intentionally turned and walked toward the main hall in the center of the residence. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hey! Gu Yuandao, your sister says you’re a despicable, shameless villain!"

At the same time, he caught his breath and looked upward. Tangling with Gu Youren for so long wasn't just to mess with the siblings' heads. More importantly, he had finally waited for his class to refresh!

The moment Gu Fangchen stepped into the hall, the countdown for the [Emperor] class above his head finally reached zero. With a flash of colorful light, Gu Fangchen’s class shifted.

[Fisherman (7 days)]

Gu Fangchen silently recited, "View details!"

The class info unfolded.

[Fisherman (7 days)]
[Skill 1: Baiting the Nest (Active)]
[Description: You firmly believe that if the fish aren't biting, it’s because there isn't enough bait. You can choose to throw an item you possess into the water. There is a 1% chance to obtain a higher-quality item, a 33% chance for a lower-quality item, and a 66% chance to get nothing.]
[Skill 2: It’s Not Bought (Active)]
[Description: You insist, with absolute certainty, that this fish was not bought at the market. When you possess a counterfeit, you can spend a certain amount of money to make it real. (The amount of money depends on the counterfeit’s recognition and the actual value of the item.)]

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