Chapter-five: A bug?
Heaven's will was cold, and the biting wind seemed to pierce straight to the bone.
Late autumn had descended upon Gu yue Mountain Village. Apart from the withered trees dotting the mountainside and the lifeless yellow leaves scattered underfoot, the bone-chilling cold of winter had already arrived.
Ning Chen sat quietly in the village's only wine shop. The shop housed only four tables, all of which were crowded with patrons. Ning Chen occupied one in the corner.
With a calm demeanor, he picked up his chopsticks and methodically brought food to his mouth, chewing slowly to warm his stomach and intestines.
Raising the Wine Gu to his lips, he tilted his head back and drank. But it was not wine that warmed his throat—it was tea, soothing his spleen and stomach. A knowing smile crept across his face as he murmured to himself:
"Winter kills, and this autumn's chill is already biting."
His gaze drifted out the side window, losing itself in the distant horizon. A profound thought settled in his heart:
*Now that I've refined the Moonlight Gu, logically, there should be no one faster than me. But the reward of twenty Yuan stones is a double-edged trap.*
*Without outside interference, my refining speed surpasses even Grade B. Claiming the reward too quickly might expose my secrets. It's better to bide my time before collecting it. Perhaps this afternoon will be best. By then, if anyone inquires, I can simply dismiss it as the Moonlight Gu having a weak will...*
Ning Chen's millennia of experience had tempered his once fiery impatience into a steady, deliberate prudence—a calm resolve that had become second nature to him.
"Hey, kid! When you're done eating, hurry up and leave. Can't you see us waiting here for a seat?"
The rough, hoarse voice cut into Ning Chen's thoughts. He turned his head to face the source of the rude demand.
Several middle-aged hunters, fresh from their outing, stood nearby. Their breaths were heavy like cattle, and sweat dripped profusely from their brows. Their bows, arrows, and hunting knives carried an unmistakable, lingering aura of death.
But Ning Chen did not react with anger or irritation. His expression remained calm as he stood and walked to the front desk to pay for his meal.
By common convention, no matter how weary hunters became, they wouldn't dare utter harsh words to a Gu Master. Even a young, first-level Gu Master like Ning Chen was far beyond their capacity to offend.
However, at the moment, Ning Chen was not wearing the distinctive martial robes of a Gu Yue Gu Master, nor did he carry the bronze badge at his waist that marked his identity. Those symbols would only be granted after a year of formal study at the school.
Thus, the hunters assumed he was just an ordinary youth. And to them, an ordinary youth posed no threat—Gu Master or not. They believed that, even if such a youth complained to his family, it wouldn't matter as long as he wasn't formally recognized as a Gu Master.
As Ning Chen departed silently, the hunters turned their attention back to themselves, one of them spitting casually on the ground.
"Let's order some food first. And get more meat and rice—we're completely spent after today's hunt!"
"Agreed! Did you see the size of that boar's tusks? They were massive—longer than my forearm! A single charge from it could've skewered me!"
"You're telling me! That beast was so powerful, it knocked over a tree as thick as a barrel in one strike. If it hadn't stumbled into Brother Li's trap, we'd have had no way to take it down."
Laughter erupted at the table as one of the men—Li Shan—joined in.
Li Shan, whom they referred to as "Brother Li," had a physique like an iron tower. His wheat-colored skin bore the marks of exposure to harsh winds and rain. A centipede-like scar snaked its way across his rugged face, twisting into a fearsome display that made his appearance all the more intimidating.
"I'm not that impressive," Li Shan said, his voice carrying an air of humility. "I simply set up a few more traps and exercised some extra caution. Without your relentless pursuit, the boar wouldn't have been driven into my trap to begin with."
Despite his intimidating appearance, his tone was honest and down-to-earth, entirely devoid of arrogance.
"Hey now, Brother Li, don't be so modest! You deserve 50% of the share this time—no arguments!" one of the hunters exclaimed.
"That's right! You've earned it, no question!" echoed another.
Li Shan glanced around the group, his vision momentarily softening, his expression almost nostalgic.
"Hahaha! Well, if it'll make my brothers happy, I'll gladly accept!"
The room filled with laughter, camaraderie brimming between the hunters.
Suddenly, one of them interjected:
"By the way, we still haven't dealt with that bug yet."
"Yeah, that one's motionless, as if it's dead. I've never seen a bug like that before!"
"Oh, stop overthinking it. Let's eat."
"Alright, food first!"
As soon as the food arrived, the hunters devoured their meals like starving beasts, eating at a pace that would put the hungriest ghosts to shame.
Meanwhile, Ning Chen had not actually left the area.
He stood outside the door, near the window by the corner table, listening intently to the conversation between the hunters. Once he had heard enough, he walked away, strolling along the street with a mind as sharp and clear as ice.
*"God is truly helping me. Originally, I intended to wait until tomorrow to claim the reward, but now I'll need to collect it this afternoon—and then acquire the 'Black Boar Gu.'"*
*"Plans rarely keep pace with changes. However, taking this step will elevate my standing in the eyes of others, along with my perceived talent."*
*"Not that it matters,"* he thought with a smirk. *"C-level qualifications won't earn much recognition from the family elders or the clan leaders. At most, I'll receive faint praise..."*
Ning Chen had an 80–90% certainty about the bug the hunters had been discussing:
It likely came from the extraordinary wild boar they had described—large, powerful, and unusual. The bug was black and resembled a beetle. For hunters, who relied on the mountains for their livelihoods and had seen nearly every type of insect, this one was evidently unique.
Narrowing down the possibilities, Ning Chen locked onto an answer:
*The Black Boar Gu.*
A first-turn rare rank-1 Gu capable of permanently increasing strength—a prized find.
As this realization dawned, a sinister smile curled at the corners of Ning Chen's lips. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace toward the school, his footsteps carrying a sense of purpose.
---
"Stop! The school isn't open to students yet. Please turn back."
Arriving at the school entrance, Ning Chen was met by a Gu Master standing guard. Calmly, he explained:
"I'm not here to report. I've come to claim the reward for refining the first Gu worm."
The gatekeeper Gu Master raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Show me your palm and your orifice," he requested.
Ning Chen extended his palm, revealing the crescent-shaped silver mark—a clear indicator of having refined the Moonlight Gu.
The Gu Master then probed Ning Chen's orifice.
Within, the emerald-green sea of true essence shimmered with clarity, and the Moonlight Gu swam calmly within it, confirming its authenticity.
The two gatekeeper Gu Masters exchanged puzzled glances.
*"How could a C-level qualification surpass a B-level qualification in refining speed?"*
Unable to reach a conclusion, they decided to consult the school elder.
"Wait here while I inform the school elder," one of them said before rushing off, leaving Ning Chen standing at the gate.
---
At that moment, the school elder was seated in his quarters, poring over the list of participants who had completed the awakening ceremony.
His sharp eyes scanned the names as he mused silently:
*"I wonder who will be the first to refine a Gu worm this time? Perhaps Gu Yue Qing shu, with his grassroots determination? Or maybe Gu Yue Chi shan or Gu Yue Mo yan, heirs of the side branches? It has to be one of them."*
He took a slow sip from his teacup, his thoughts betraying his confidence in his assessment.
"Sir, someone has refined the first Gu worm!"
The gatekeeper Gu Master burst in, panting heavily.
"Oh? Who is it?" the school elder asked, his calm demeanor unshaken, as though everything was unfolding within his expectations.
"Sir, it's not Gu Yue Qing shu or the others... It's a C-level talent—Gu Yue Ning Chen."
The elder's brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise breaking his composure.
*"Gu Yue Ning Chen? A C-level talent? First to refine the Gu worm? Interesting…"*
"Take me to him," the elder ordered, setting aside the list.
---
The elder soon arrived at the gate, his sharp gaze landing on Ning Chen.
His eyes scrutinized Ning Chen from head to toe, his tone laced with inquiry:
"So, you're Gu Yue Ning Chen—the first to refine the Gu worm?"
Ning Chen knelt on one knee, lowering his head in deference, though his voice remained steady:
"It is me."
But the school elder, as shrewd as he was, caught the faint trace of nervousness Ning Chen tried to conceal beneath his composure.
With a slight smile, the elder extended a hand to help Ning Chen to his feet, then handed him a small bag.
"Inside are twenty primeval stones. Well done. Keep it up—I'll be watching you."
Ning Chen's lips twitched as he suppressed his unease.
"Thank... thank you for your kindness, elder," he stammered.
Opening the bag, he found it filled with twenty Primeval stones. Clutching the reward, Ning Chen hurried away, his steps uneven and hurried.
---
Watching him leave, the gatekeeper Gu Masters turned to the elder and asked:
"Sir, what do you make of this 'Ning Chen'?"
The elder let out a faint chuckle, his tone dismissive.
"What do I think? Hmph. He's just a student with a stroke of good luck."