Chapter 10

"Hmph, escape from the Great Xuan Kingdom? You really think the Heart Nourishing Pills the family head bestows every year are some kind of miraculous medicine? Think about what happened to those who betrayed the Bai family back then. Besides, my entire family is still with the Bai family. If I leave, how could they possibly survive? If I’m not mistaken, the beautiful bride you married last year was also pregnant at the beginning of the year. According to that divine doctor, there's a high chance it's a boy," Guan Lao Da snorted, his expression dark as he replied.

"This..." Gu Lao San, upon hearing these words, felt as if cold water had been poured over his head, and he stood there speechless.

"If all else fails, I do have a way to seek survival from the brink of death, but the chances of survival are no more than two in ten, and we would have to give up all our wealth accumulated over the years," Guan Lao Da's eyes flickered for a moment before he spoke.

"Give up all our wealth, and only have a two in ten chance of survival?" Gu Lao San's face turned completely bitter upon hearing this.

"Hmph, if it weren't for my connections with the madam, we wouldn't even have this slim chance of survival. If you're unwilling, I won't force you," Guan Lao Da said indifferently.

"Guan Lao Da, you misunderstand. How could I not agree? As long as we can save our lives, material possessions are nothing," Gu Lao San was startled and hurriedly smiled apologetically.

"Good, if you understand this, then we shouldn't delay. Before this matter is reported back home, we must secretly return to the Bai family and quickly make all the necessary arrangements," Guan Lao Da's expression eased.

This time, Gu Lao San naturally nodded in agreement, no longer showing any reluctance.

Thus, after a brief discussion at the new grave, Guan Lao Da immediately pulled out a blue glove made from an unknown animal skin from his chest and put it on, then let out a loud shout.

The blue glove glowed with a blinding white light and struck the ground in front of him forcefully.

A loud boom echoed.

Countless weeds and dirt flew in all directions, and a three-foot-deep pit immediately appeared in front of them.

Gu Lao San moved, circled the pit, and kicked the other bodies into it with a few swift kicks.

But when he reached the young man's body, he hesitated for a moment, then reached back and pulled his long sword out of its sheath.

A finger swipe across the sword released a thread of blue light.

Gu Lao San's wrist trembled, about to activate the sword to do something to the body.

But at that moment, Guan Lao Da, who had been standing nearby, suddenly turned his head with a start, his face changing as he shouted toward the river:

"Who is it, daring to eavesdrop on our conversation!"

As he spoke, Guan Lao Da's arm moved, and a bright light flashed on his fist, sending an invisible energy ball shooting through the air with a startling force.

A muffled sound!

A dozen feet away, a patch of grass was violently swept, and a thin figure rolled out, lying motionless on the ground.

Guan Lao Da, seeing this, walked over in a few steps and kicked the thin figure, making it roll over to lie face up.

It was a young man with tightly closed eyes, his clothes tattered and his body drenched, appearing unconscious.

"Could he have come from the other side of the river? From the looks of it, he won't survive much longer even without my intervention," Guan Lao Da looked down at the new arrival, relieved after confirming he posed no threat.

"Since that's the case, let's finish him off quickly. We can't afford to let any of this leak out," Gu Lao San, standing by the pit, relaxed but said without hesitation.

"You don't need to tell me that. Hmm, this boy's appearance..." Guan Lao Da replied irritably, his arm trembling as the blue light on his gloved fist brightened again, but his expression suddenly changed when he glanced at the drenched young man's face.

"What's wrong? What about his appearance?" Gu Lao San, seeing this, naturally became curious.

"Come and take a look!" Guan Lao Da retracted his fist and gestured to Gu Lao San with a strange expression.

Gu Lao San, seeing this, became even more curious and, without much thought, sheathed his sword and walked over.

"Who is this boy? How can he look so much like the young master?" Gu Lao San exclaimed in surprise when he saw the drenched young man clearly.

"He looks about six or seven parts similar, just paler, with thicker eyebrows, a few more scars on his face, and rougher skin. He doesn't look as pampered as the young master," Guan Lao Da exhaled deeply.

"There are many people in the world who look similar. It's not too strange to encounter one here. Besides, the young master is already dead. Even if this boy looks similar, what good is it? The young master was a Spirit Vein possessor. If not for the accident, he would have at least become a Qi Practitioner like us," Gu Lao San shook his head after regaining his composure.

"But if this boy also has a Spirit Vein, I have a better way to save our lives. However, such a coincidence is rare. For a Qi Practitioner family, it's easier to produce a Spirit Vein possessor through bloodline power. But for ordinary people, finding one Spirit Vein possessor among thousands is already a good outcome. Moreover, without cultivation methods and sufficient resources, how could they become Qi Practitioners? We, too, only achieved our current realm after being identified as Spirit Vein possessors and joining the Bai family as servants," Guan Lao Da sighed, seemingly lost in thought.

"That's true. Even the Spirit Vein disciples cultivated by the sects are carefully selected for their outstanding talent and character. Compared to these true disciples, we, the family's children, are far inferior," Gu Lao San replied without much thought.

"What's the point of talking about this now? We need to save our own lives first. Considering this boy's youth, I'll give him a full body this time," Guan Lao Da said no more, his arm moving as a faint blue light appeared on his fist again.

Gu Lao San, standing nearby, naturally did not interfere.

Guan Lao Da's arm moved, and the fist, glowing with blue light, struck the young man's dantian silently.

This attack used the gentle power of a talisman weapon. Although it seemed to have no momentum, its power was far less than the previous attack, yet it was enough to shatter the young man's internal organs and instantly take his life.

Gu Lao San, seeing this, turned to return to the pit to continue handling the 'young master's' body.

But at that moment, a shocked voice came from behind him:

"Impossible, this boy actually has Primordial Energy and is truly a Spirit Vein possessor."

Guan Lao Da's voice trembled slightly.

Gu Lao San was startled and quickly turned around again.

Guan Lao Da held his gloved fist, but the light on its surface had vanished.

On the unconscious young man's abdomen, a faint white glow appeared, barely visible, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

"Primordial Energy protection, this boy is truly a Spirit Vein possessor and seems to have a solid foundation in Primordial Energy," Gu Lao San found it hard to believe.

"Ha ha, this time, heaven has not abandoned us. Gu Lao San, we don't need to return to the Bai family now. With this boy, we can ensure our safety," Guan Lao Da, after staring at the unconscious young man for a while, suddenly laughed loudly, his expression slightly manic.

"Guan Lao Da, what do you mean? How can we save our lives just because this boy has a Spirit Vein?" Gu Lao San blinked, a bit confused.

"Why would the family head want to take our lives?" Guan Lao Da stopped laughing and immediately asked.

"Of course, it's because the young master died under our protection!" Gu Lao San was puzzled.

"Hehe, but isn't the young master right here?" Guan Lao Da pointed at the unconscious young man in front of him and replied with a cold laugh.

"What? You mean..." Gu Lao San, not stupid, immediately understood, but his face turned even paler than before.

"Exactly. We will use a substitution strategy, take this boy to the Savage Ghost Sect, and then hand him over to the sect's envoy. We can return to the Bai family confidently, saying we have delivered the young master. As long as the family head receives confirmation from the sect, he won't suspect a thing. This way, we will have accomplished our mission without fault," Guan Lao Da said calmly.

"Will this really work? The boy doesn't look exactly like the young master. What if we are exposed? Moreover, his background is unknown. How can he easily agree to this?" Gu Lao San's expression changed, speaking hesitantly.

"Hmph, what are you afraid of? Once this boy enters the sect, the Bai family won't see him for at least a few years. Besides, given the intensity of the Spirit Opening Ceremony, he will most likely die without specialized training. This way, we will have no worries. As for his appearance, have you forgotten what you relied on for a living before becoming a Qi Practitioner? He doesn't need to look exactly like the young master; just a bit more similar will do. After all, the sect only has the young master's image from a year ago, and some changes are normal," Guan Lao Da said confidently.

"But what if he really passes the Spirit Opening Ceremony and becomes a sect disciple?" Gu Lao San was still hesitant.

"Become a sect disciple? Are you still asleep? In past Spirit Opening Ceremonies, how many family disciples became sect disciples? Besides, once we return, we will do everything to detoxify the Heart Nourishing Pills and find a way to completely leave the Bai family. Even if this boy doesn't die and causes trouble, what does it have to do with us? We just need to solve the immediate threat to our lives, and everything else will fall into place. As for convincing this boy, it will be easy for us. Let's do it this way..." Guan Lao Da spoke a few words, then leaned close to Gu Lao San's ear and whispered something.

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(Note: The promotional content and author's note have been omitted for clarity.)