47: How much do I resemble my former self?

Meanwhile.

At the Gu Clan mountain gate.

After seeing off guests all afternoon, the area outside the Gu Clan was finally quiet.

At this moment, Ye Linglong's voice rang in Cao Bu's mind: "Cao Bu, the mission is complete."

Cao Bu asked via telepathy: "How did it go? You weren't hurt, were you?"

Ye Linglong replied: "Rest assured, I wasn't."

"Where did you lock them up?"

"Underground in Su Li's courtyard; no one dares to search there."

Cao Bu nodded with satisfaction: "Well done."

Having just seen off the last person, Cao Bu was preparing to return to Cangfeng Residence when Grand Elder's telepathic message suddenly rang in his mind: "Master, Ninth Elder is on the verge of death. Do you wish to save his life?"

Cao Bu paused, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly: "Where are you now?"

Grand Elder replied: "I am in a cave a hundred miles outside Azure Dragon City."

"Wait for me there."

Cao Bu returned to Cangfeng Residence under the watchful eyes of several Gu Clan stewards, then concealed his aura and followed Grand Elder's directions to the cave.

Upon entering, he saw Ninth Elder, who had passed out while leaning to the side, and Grand Elder standing nearby.

Grand Elder saw this and hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute: "Greetings, Master."

Cao Bu nodded calmly, looked at the unconscious Ninth Elder, and asked indifferently: "How much strength does he have left?"

Grand Elder said: "Probably less than one hundred-thousandth of his original strength."

After hearing this, Cao Bu took out the Afterlife Golden Brick he had swiped from Gu Yingying, did a victory dance, and slid toward Ninth Elder.

Just before reaching Ninth Elder, he stopped abruptly, holding the golden brick high above his head with his right hand.

Ninth Elder's eyelids fluttered, and he just opened his eyes.

"Brother Cao, what is this?"

The golden brick fell.

It traced a blinding golden arc in the dim cave, accurately striking the old wound on top of Ninth Elder's head.

"Bang."

With a dull thud, Ninth Elder's head jerked backward violently. Blood trickled down his forehead, carving several ghastly trails across his cheeks.

His eyes were filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth to say something, but only wheezing sounds emerged. His eyes rolled back, and he passed out again.

Cao Bu shook his wrist, weighing the Afterlife Golden Brick in his hand, and a smug arc curled the corners of his mouth.

"It seems this thing is more useful than I imagined."

He crouched down, sensed for a moment, confirmed the man was still alive, and ordered: "Wake him up."

Grand Elder hurriedly stepped forward and stuffed a cyan Medicinal Pill into Ninth Elder's mouth.

In just a moment, Ninth Elder woke up coughing.

But his eyes were unfocused; he was clearly stunned by that brick strike.

"Brother Cao, we have no grudges against each other. What is the meaning of this?" Ninth Elder opened his mouth, his voice weak as a thread.

He truly couldn't understand why the other party would strike so heavily upon meeting, given they had no grievances.

Cao Bu looked down at him from a height, then leaned over and whispered in his ear: "Gu Jiuming, do I look like the past to you?"

Ninth Elder caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and suddenly saw Cao Bu's face change instantly, then revert just as quickly.

At that single glance, his pupils shook, and his face was full of horror.

"Cao, Cao..."

Cao Bu smiled slightly and whispered in his ear again: "The one who defiled your granddaughter was never Gu Yun, but me... Cao-Meng-Xian."

As soon as the words fell, Ninth Elder's pupils widened, staring straight at Cao Bu.

His gaunt hand reached into mid-air, wanting to strangle him, but he ran out of strength halfway.

"You, you will die a horrible death!"

Ninth Elder gritted his teeth as he finished speaking, then his head tilted to the side, and he breathed his last.

Cao Bu put away the Afterlife Golden Brick, looked up at Grand Elder, and said: "Take him back and say he died despite treatment."

Grand Elder bowed his head and replied: "Yes, Master."

With that, he bent down, picked up Ninth Elder, turned, left the cave, and sped toward the Gu Clan.

Behind him, Cao Bu's manic laughter echoed through the mountains and forests, lingering for a long time.

Grand Elder landed inside the Gu Clan mountain gate and, without stopping, headed straight for Misty Rain Courtyard.

He raised his hand to knock on the door; the wooden bolt struck the door panel.

"Dong, dong, dong."

"Who is it?"

Gu Chuyan's tone was full of vigilance.

Seeing it was Grand Elder through the gap in the door, she opened the door with confusion.

"Great-Grandfather, what is this..."

Gazing at the familiar figure on Grand Elder's shoulder, Gu Chuyan's heart inexplicably tightened.

Grand Elder let out a long sigh and set Ninth Elder down: "First Smoke, you must be strong."

The moment she saw that face clearly, Gu Chuyan collapsed backward a step, looking at Grand Elder with dazed eyes.

"Great-Grandfather, my grandfather... he's just passed out, right?"

Grand Elder turned his face away, his voice hoarse: "Your grandfather... is gone."

Gu Chuyan felt the world spinning; her legs went weak, and she fell to the ground.

The next moment, she threw herself onto Ninth Elder and wailed: "Grandfather, wake up, please wake up! I don't believe you've left just like this."

Soon, Gu Chuyan's heart-wrenching cries attracted passing members of the Gu Clan.

When they saw Ninth Elder's already stiff body, everyone was filled with disbelief.

A moment later, the area outside Misty Rain Courtyard was packed tightly with Gu Clan disciples.

Outside the courtyard, there was dead silence, with only Gu Chuyan's heart-piercing wails echoing.

"Great-Grandfather!" Gu Chuyan looked up abruptly, staring at Grand Elder, a wisp of black Qi flashing in the depths of her eyes: "Who did this?"