A full moon peeked in and out of the drifting clouds.
The school elder hurried along the road, his face shifting between light and shadow with the fleeting moonlight.
Life was hard in this world, and the disappearance of gu masters was common. The school elder's rich experience told him that such unexplainable disappearances usually meant death.
But anyone could die—except Jia Jinsheng! Especially not here at Gu Yue Village.
He had a special status: his father was the clan leader of the Jia clan, and his elder brother was Jia Fu, a fourth-turn gu master.
A fourth-turn gu master possesses golden true essence and formidable combat strength. In the entire Gu Yue clan, only the clan leader was at the fourth turn and could match him. The other elders were only at the third turn.
The Jia clan leader's cultivation had reached the fifth turn. Under his leadership, the Jia clan had thrived in recent years, becoming a large clan that occupied all the resources of a mountain and had numerous members. In comparison, Gu Yue Village was merely a medium-sized village.
If war broke out, Gu Yue Village would definitely be at a disadvantage.
What's more, if this news got out, the reputation of the Gu Yue clan would also suffer. Many other merchant caravans would carefully choose their routes. If Gu Yue Village lost trade with caravans, its surplus local resources wouldn't be sold, and needed external resources wouldn't be bought. Over time, it would inevitably decline.
“This is no small matter. If not handled properly, it will be a great disaster!” the school elder thought anxiously as he hastened to the clan leader's pavilion.
As soon as he stepped into the council hall of the clan leader's pavilion, the school elder felt a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
Sitting in the main seat was the current Gu Yue clan leader, Gu Yue Bo. Meanwhile, the short and fat Jia Fu stood in the center of the hall with five or six attendants, looking like he had come to demand an explanation.
Under the bright lamplight, many elders stood beside their seats, their grim faces clearly visible.
Jia Fu was a fourth-turn gu master. He hadn't even sat down, so these elders, who were only at the third turn, naturally didn't dare to sit either.
This was the deterrent power of a fourth-turn gu master.
And also a reverence for strength.
“Greetings…” the school elder began to bow, but the clan leader Gu Yue Bo reached out to stop him.
Gu Yue Bo, with graying temples, was rubbing his temples with his fingers, looking distressed. “Let's not talk about other matters. You have always been in charge of the clan school. I ask you, where is Gu Yue Fang Yuan?”
The school elder was startled, thinking to himself, “How is this matter related to that kid Fang Yuan again?”
But he respectfully replied, “At this hour, he should be cultivating in the school dormitory.”
The clan leader sighed. “Brother Jia now strongly suspects that his younger brother Jia Jinsheng's disappearance is related to Gu Yue Fang Yuan. I order you to go immediately and bring Fang Yuan here.”
The school elder's heart tightened. “Yes!”
Knowing the seriousness of the matter, he hastily bowed and turned to leave.
“Brother Jia, Fang Yuan will be brought here soon. Please sit.” Gu Yue Bo pointed to a seat beside him and said to Jia Fu.
Jia Fu gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands toward Gu Yue Bo. “Please forgive my rudeness, Brother Gu Yue! I am extremely anxious right now. It's been several days and I haven't seen my younger brother. I fear the worst. I really cannot sit.”
Some things become clear only after they are lost.
Jia Fu had only just realized why his father had arranged for Jia Jinsheng, that burden, to lead the caravan with him.
It was to test his character—whether he could value family ties while under pressure and also take care of his younger brother Jia Jinsheng.
Now, if Jia Jinsheng died, how would his father view him, Jia Fu?
Once he fully realized this, he immediately launched an investigation in the caravan and quickly zeroed in on Gu Yue Village.
He rushed back almost without stopping.
Now, standing in the center of the hall without sitting, he wanted to create an imposing and accusatory atmosphere. This was both to pressure the Gu Yue clan and to give an accounting to his father when he returned to the Jia clan.
“Clan leader, I have brought Fang Yuan.” Soon, the school elder brought Fang Yuan to the hall.
“Gu Yue Fang Yuan greets the clan leader, Lord Jia Fu, and all the elders.” Fang Yuan wore an indifferent expression and bowed as well.
“Is this him?” Jia Fu coldly sized up Fang Yuan and asked a female gu master beside him.
This female gu master was the same one from whom Fang Yuan had bought the purple-gold stone when he entered the bets stone market.
“It's him! Without a doubt,” the female gu master said affirmatively, her eyes burning as she looked at Fang Yuan.
Jia Fu nodded, and in that instant, his gaze turned into two blades that fiercely stabbed at Fang Yuan. But he didn't directly interrogate him. This was Gu Yue Village; he had to give face to the Gu Yue clan leader.
So he looked at the seated Gu Yue clan leader.