Chapter 62 Dual

The old Jia Clan leader knew perfectly well that Jia Fu and Jia Gui had no intention of allowing Jia Jinsheng to receive any share of the family inheritance. Their hostility toward him was obvious, which was why they had resorted to such a method.

These brats were becoming more unruly by the day. They could not even tolerate their own brother.

The old Jia Clan leader snorted coldly. Although Jia Jinsheng’s aptitude was poor, he was still the son who resembled him the most and had been favored by him since childhood. He was not even dead yet, and these brats were already daring to scheme against his own flesh and blood.

Still, perhaps this was for the best. Only after experiencing a gambling duel firsthand would Jinsheng finally understand that he was merely a Rank One Gu Master and stop spouting ridiculous words like “fortune changes every thirty years” and “don’t underestimate a young man’s potential.”

Could shouting a few grand words really change one’s fate?

D-grade aptitude was still D-grade aptitude. Even after cultivating for an entire lifetime, one might never reach Rank Two. A person had to recognize his own limitations.

The best outcome for Jinsheng was to accept reality as soon as possible, abandon the struggle for the family inheritance, and spend the rest of his life as a wealthy young master. With the Jia Clan behind him, he would never lack wealth or comfort.

After pondering for a moment, the old Jia Clan leader finally spoke. “Tell those brats to know their limits. Jia Jinsheng is still my son and their brother. If they dare go too far, they shouldn’t blame this old man for being ruthless.”

___

Outside the Jia Clan’s martial arts arena, a huge crowd had gathered, packed almost shoulder to shoulder. The reason was simple. Jia Jinsheng, the third young master of the Jia Clan, was about to fight a gambling duel against Jia Shouyi, one of the clan’s guard leaders.

“Is that Jia Jinsheng, the Jia Clan’s third young master? Why is he wearing the belt of a Rank One Gu Master?” A few Gu Masters from other mountain strongholds who were unaware of the situation could not help but stare in surprise.

After all, the young masters of major clans in the Southern Border generally possessed respectable cultivation. Someone like Jia Jinsheng, who was already over twenty yet still wore the crystal belt of a Rank One Gu Master, was extremely rare.

“Hahaha, you outsiders wouldn’t know. Jia Jinsheng only has D-grade aptitude, and he doesn’t even cultivate diligently. Even at his age, he’s still stuck at Rank One. Everyone in Jia Family Village knows he’s a useless young master,” a Gu Master familiar with the situation explained mockingly.

Many Jia Clan Gu Masters in the crowd were also discussing the upcoming duel with great interest. Their days in the stronghold were usually uneventful, so the spectacle of a young master being challenged by a mere guard leader naturally gave them something entertaining to talk about.

“I didn’t expect Jia Jinsheng to actually accept Jia Shouyi’s challenge. Although Jia Shouyi is only a guard leader, he’s still a Rank Two middle stage Gu Master!” A Jia Clan member shook his head. Jia Jinsheng’s cultivation had barely progressed in nearly ten years. Challenging a Rank Two middle stage Gu Master with his Rank One cultivation was practically asking to humiliate himself.

Someone nearby gloated, “Jia Jinsheng has always been too arrogant. Now he’s finally going to suffer for it. He used to shout things like, ‘Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river,’ and ‘Don’t underestimate a young man’s potential.’ He’s just a useless good-for-nothing, yet he still dreams of becoming clan leader? Hahaha!”

Among the crowd, a man stroked his beard and sneered. He wore a brown brocade robe, with a dragon-shaped jade pendant hanging from his waist. His figure was tall and thin, and although his appearance was ordinary, his narrow eyes gleamed with shrewdness and cunning.

He was Jia Gui, the second young master of the Jia Clan.

“If Jia Jinsheng loses today’s gambling duel, more and more people will challenge him afterward. Once that happens, even Father won’t be able to interfere. Through gambling duels, getting the Gu in his possession will become much easier.”

Although Jia Jinsheng, Jia Fu, and Jia Gui were brothers, they had different mothers. Before her death, Jia Jinsheng’s mother had left him a precious Rank Four Gu, and that Gu was precisely what Jia Gui had been coveting.

On the training ground, Jia Shouyi looked at Jia Jinsheng with undisguised contempt, not regarding him as a worthy opponent at all. This fourth young master of the Jia Clan had always been known as a useless good for nothing with poor aptitude. Defeating him would be effortless, and afterward, Jia Shouyi could comfortably collect the reward promised by Young Master Jia Gui.

Soon, the Gu Master serving as the notary entered the arena. He was a Rank Three clan elder who was usually rather isolated within the Jia Clan. Yet today, he had specifically been invited to oversee the gambling duel, which made the situation somewhat interesting.

With an elder present, the noisy training ground quickly fell silent as everyone waited for the gambling duel to begin.

“Young Master Jinsheng, you violated the clan rules and refused to cooperate with the inspection. Even though you’re a young master of the Jia Clan, I cannot make an exception for you.” Jia Shouyi grinned maliciously. The Gu within his aperture were already prepared, ready to defeat this useless young master in a single exchange. “So don’t blame me for being rude.”

Jia Jinsheng knew perfectly well that one of his brothers was behind this provocation. However, instead of feeling nervous, he sneered inwardly.

He was no longer the weak and easily bullied good-for-nothing he had once been.

Jia Jinsheng stepped forward and sneered. “Heh, Jia Shouyi, since you’re speaking so righteously, why are you backing away in fear?”

“Afraid? How could I, a Rank Two middle stage Gu Master, be afraid of Rank One trash like you?!” Jia Shouyi was about to mock Jia Jinsheng when he suddenly realized that he had somehow taken two steps backward.

His expression stiffened.

Impossible. Jia Jinsheng was merely a Rank One good-for-nothing. How could someone like that possibly frighten him? Then why had he retreated?

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Jia Shouyi unconsciously took another two steps back. This time, even he was stunned. Doubt and unease crept into his heart.

Was he actually afraid of Jia Jinsheng?

Of course not. Jia Shouyi’s strange behavior was the result of a Blood Path Gu that Jia Jinsheng had secretly activated. Its influence was limited and could only subtly affect his opponent, but against someone completely unaware of what was happening, that was already enough.

Seeing that his method had worked, Jia Jinsheng smiled arrogantly. “A coward like you isn’t even worthy of being my opponent. Still, since I’m feeling generous today, I’ll give you the chance to fight me!”

Cold sweat appeared on Jia Shouyi’s forehead. He had entered the arena believing this would be an effortless victory, but now, for the first time, he felt that something was wrong.

Outside the arena, the spectators immediately erupted into discussion. Some laughed at Jia Shouyi for retreating before the fight had even begun, while others looked at Jia Jinsheng with newfound surprise. His little display had clearly achieved its intended effect.