Chapter 8: Everything Has Changed
A gu room was set up next to the school. It wasn't large, only sixty square meters.
For gu masters, gu insects were the key to their strength.
As soon as class ended, the excited youths swarmed toward the gu room.
"Line up, come in one by one!" a sharp shout rang out as guards were naturally stationed at the door.
The youths entered one by one and then exited.
It was Fang Yuan’s turn to walk into the gu room.
Inside, the room was surprisingly spacious. The walls were lined with compartments, square cubbies nested side by side. Some were large, no bigger than a casserole dish, while others were small, no larger than a fist.
In the densely packed cubbies sat all sorts of vessels—some were gray stone basins, others were jade green plates, delicate grass cages, or ceramic warmers.
Inside these vessels, various gu insects were kept.
Some gu insects were silent, while others were quite noisy, producing squeaks, clicks, rustles, and a host of other sounds, blending into a symphony of life.
"Gu insects are also divided into nine tiers, corresponding to the nine-turn cultivation realms of gu masters. These are all one-turn gu insects," Fang Yuan noted after a quick scan, understanding immediately.
Generally, a gu master at the first-turn realm could only use first-turn gu insects. If they attempted to drive a higher-level gu insect, they would often pay an extremely heavy price.
Moreover, gu insects required feeding, and the cost of nourishing higher-level gu insects was often unbearable for lower-level gu masters.
For novice gu masters, unless under special circumstances, they would choose a first-turn gu insect for their initial refinement.
The first gu insect a gu master refined held great significance, known as their vital gu, linked to their very life. If it perished, the gu master would undoubtedly suffer severe harm.
"Sigh, I originally hoped to obtain the Wine Gu of the Drunken Sage and refine it as my vital gu. But now, there's still no sign of the Drunken Sage's remains, and it's unclear when or if they’ll ever be found—or discovered by someone else. To be safe, I’ll choose a Moonlight Gu instead."
While sighing inwardly, Fang Yuan walked straight toward the left-hand wall.
On a slightly elevated layer of cubbies on this wall sat a row of silver plates. Each plate held a gu insect.
The gu insect was translucent and curved like a crescent moon, resembling a piece of blue crystal. Against the backdrop of the silver base, it exuded a serene aura.
This gu insect was called the Moonlight Gu, a signature gu insect of the Gu Yue clan. The vast majority of clan members chose it as their vital gu. It was not a natural gu insect but was bred through the clan’s secret methods, making it a unique symbol of the Gu Yue clan.
All were first-turn Moonlight Gu, with only subtle differences between them. Fang Yuan selected one at random and held it in his hand.
The Moonlight Gu was light, weighing no more than a sheet of thin paper. It fit neatly in his palm, about the size of an ordinary jade pendant. When held up, Fang Yuan could see the faint lines of his palm through its translucent body.
After a final glance to ensure there were no issues, Fang Yuan placed it in his pocket and exited the gu room.
Outside, a long queue still waited. The youth next in line hurried excitedly into the gu room as Fang Yuan emerged.
Had it been anyone else, obtaining a gu insect would prompt them to rush home and refine it immediately. But Fang Yuan was not in a hurry—he still had his eye on the Wine Gu.
The Wine Gu was far more valuable. While the Moonlight Gu was a specialty of the Gu Yue clan, it didn’t offer as much benefit to a gu master as the Wine Gu.
Leaving the gu room, Fang Yuan headed straight to the tavern.
"Owner, two jars of aged wine," he said, reaching into his pocket and placing the last few fragments of spirit stones on the counter.
Over the past few days, he had been buying wine here and then wandering around the surrounding areas, hoping to lure the Wine Gu into the open.
The owner was a short, plump middle-aged man with a shiny face. Over the past few days, he had come to recognize Fang Yuan.
"You’re back, sir," he greeted, reaching out with his thick, stubby fingers to deftly sweep Fang Yuan’s spirit stone fragments into his palm.
He jingled them in his hand, judged the weight to be sufficient, and his smile grew even warmer.
Spirit stones were the currency of this world, used to measure the value of all goods. They were also condensed essences of heaven and earth, usable by gu masters to aid their cultivation.
With both monetary and practical value, they were remarkably similar to gold on Earth. While Earth once had the gold standard, this world operated on a spirit stone standard.
In terms of purchasing power, spirit stones were incredibly valuable, much like gold.
However, no amount of spirit stones could withstand Fang Yuan’s continuous spending.
"Two jars of wine a day for seven days straight—the spirit stones I had saved are nearly all gone," Fang Yuan muttered, his brow slightly furrowed as he left the tavern with the two jars.
Once one became a gu master, they could draw pure true essence directly from spirit stones to replenish the essence sea within their aperture.
Thus, for gu masters, spirit stones were not just currency but also tools for cultivation.
With ample spirit stones, one could accelerate their cultivation, somewhat compensating for shortcomings in innate talent.
"Tomorrow, I won’t have any spirit stones left to buy wine, and the Wine Gu still hasn’t shown up. Do I really have to refine the Moonlight Gu as my vital gu?" Fang Yuan felt a twinge of reluctance.
Stepping out of the tavern with two wine jars in hand, Fang Yuan walked while pondering: "The academy elder said that the first person to refine their vital gu in this assessment would receive a reward of twenty spirit stones. Right now, many are probably at home, putting all their effort into refining their gu insects, vying for first place. Unfortunately, refining a vital gu tests one’s talent greatly. Those with high talent have a clear advantage. With my C-grade aptitude and no other means, I stand no chance of winning."
Just then, a voice came from behind: "Brother, you’ve really come to the tavern to drink again! Come with me—Uncle and Aunt want to see you."
Fang Yuan stopped and turned around.
He noticed that his younger brother no longer kept his head lowered as he spoke, unlike before.
The brothers’ gazes met.
A gust of wind swept by, lifting the elder brother’s unkempt black hair and stirring the younger brother’s hem.
In just one month, everything had changed.
The Opening Ceremony a week prior had been a turning point for both brothers.
Elder brother Fang Yuan had fallen from grace, stripped of his genius status without mercy. Meanwhile, the younger brother began to shine, rising like a new star.
For the younger brother, Gu Yue Fang Zheng, this change felt earth-shattering.
He finally experienced what his brother had once felt—being the subject of hope, watched with envy or jealousy.
He felt as though he had suddenly been transported from a dark corner into a paradise filled with light.
Each morning, he woke feeling as if he were living in a dream. The drastic shift in treatment left him in disbelief and discomfort.
He was not accustomed to it.
Going from obscurity to being constantly scrutinized and pointed at.
Sometimes, while walking down the street, Fang Zheng would overhear passersby discussing or praising him, causing his face to flush, his hands and feet to fumble, and his gaze to shift—he nearly forgot how to walk!
Over the first ten days or so, Gu Yue Fang Zheng inexplicably lost some weight, but his spirit and vitality grew more robust.
Deep within him, a sense of "confidence" began to sprout.
"So this is how it felt for my brother before—it’s both wonderful and painful!" He couldn’t help but think of his brother, Gu Yue Fang Yuan. How had his brother handled such scrutiny and attention before?
He instinctively began to imitate Fang Yuan, trying to maintain an expressionless face, but soon realized he wasn’t cut out for it.
Sometimes at school, a girl’s call would make him blush furiously. On the road, teasing from older women often sent him fleeing in embarrassment.
Like a baby learning to walk, he stumbled through adapting to his new life.
In the process, he inevitably heard rumors about his brother—that he had become despondent, taken to drinking, stayed out all night, and slept through classes.
At first, he was shocked. His brother, once so powerful and talented, had become like this?
But gradually, he began to understand. His brother was only human—faced with such setbacks and blows, feeling dejected was only natural.
With this understanding came a wave of indescribable relief.
This feeling of relief was something he was reluctant to admit, but it undeniably existed.
The brother once hailed as a genius, the one who had overshadowed him like a shadow, was now so downcast. This contrast, in a way, highlighted his own growth, didn’t it?
The truth was that he was the exceptional one.
Thus, seeing Fang Yuan disheveled, unkempt, and holding wine jars, Gu Yue Fang Zheng felt a deep sense of relief, his breathing easing inexplicably.
But outwardly, he said, "Brother, you can’t keep drinking like this. You don’t know how worried those who care about you are. You need to pull yourself together!"
Fang Yuan remained expressionless and silent.
The brothers locked eyes.
The younger brother’s eyes shone brightly, with a sharp edge. The elder brother’s eyes, however, were dark and deep, like an ancient, still pond.
Those eyes made Fang Zheng feel an inexplicable sense of oppression. After a moment, he averted his gaze, looking to the side.
But once he realized what he’d done, a surge of anger rose within him.
Anger at himself.
What was wrong with him? Did he not even have the courage to meet his brother’s gaze?
I’ve changed, he thought, I’ve changed completely!
With that thought, his gaze sharpened again as he looked back.
But Fang Yuan was no longer looking at him. Instead, holding a wine jar in each hand, he walked past, his voice calm: "What are you waiting for? Let’s go."
Fang Zheng’s breathing faltered, and the tension he had built up inside had nowhere to release, leaving him with an indescribable sense of frustration.
Seeing his brother already walking away, he hurried to catch up.
This time, however, his head was no longer lowered. Instead, he lifted his face toward the setting sun.
His eyes, meanwhile, were fixed on his own feet, stepping one by one into the shadow cast by his brother, Fang Yuan.