The sky was still dim, the sun yet to rise, with only a faint light beginning to appear in the east. The blackness of the night was gradually fading, and the air still carried the fragrance of the night.
On the nearly deserted street, a series of light footsteps could be heard.
The mountain morning was always a bit damp and chilly, but Gu Yue Fang Zheng felt no cold at all, his heart filled with surging passion.
A flush of excitement appeared on his face as he briskly made his way to the academy.
"I've been training hard these days, spent two pieces of primordial stone, and stayed up all night last night. I've finally succeeded in refining the Moonlight Gu. I have Grade A aptitude and have worked so hard. No one will be faster than me, no one! Father, Mother, I promised I wouldn't let you down."
Thinking about how he had just shared this good news with his uncle-in-law and aunt-in-law, and their expressions of joy and relief, Fang Zheng felt a genuine sense of happiness and pride.
"Just wait, all those clan members who used to look down on me, and my brother. From today on, you'll see me, Gu Yue Fang Zheng, in a new light!"
The more Fang Zheng thought about it, the more excited he became, clenching his fists and quickening his pace.
He arrived at the academy's entrance.
The two guards at the academy saw him and, puzzled, asked, "Hmm, Gu Yue Fang Yuan, why are you back again?"
"What, my brother was just here?" Fang Zheng heard this and a trace of surprise and confusion flashed across his face.
"Never mind that!" He couldn't have predicted that Fang Yuan would take first place. Shaking his head with a hint of pride, he cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, I'm not Gu Yue Fang Yuan, I'm Gu Yue Fang Zheng. I've successfully refined my Life-Bound Gu and I'm here to claim the first-place reward."
"You're Gu Yue Fang Zheng? You brothers look so alike, no wonder even the Academy Elder mistook you." The guard on the left widened his eyes and exclaimed.
The guard on the right shook his head and said, "You're a step late. Just last night, your brother Gu Yue Fang Yuan already met with the Academy Elder and claimed the first-place reward."
"My brother!" Fang Zheng's eyes widened instantly, and he exclaimed, "Wait, you said he took first place?"
How could this be! Wasn't my brother only Grade C aptitude?
Taking first place, are you kidding?!
"It's true. Why would we joke about something like this?" Seeing Fang Zheng's disbelief, the guard was a bit displeased.
"This matter has already been confirmed by the Academy Elder. The list will be released shortly. What, your brother didn't tell you?" the other guard added.
Fang Zheng was dumbfounded, standing blankly at the entrance.
The reality was far from what he had imagined, and he couldn't even understand what had happened.
In Fang Zheng's mind, there were a few imagined formidable opponents. The two most threatening were Gu Yue Mo Bei and Gu Yue Chi Cheng.
These two had Grade B aptitude, backed by the two largest branches of the clan, with their grandfathers being influential elders with ample financial resources.
If either of these two had taken first place before him, Fang Zheng would have been prepared, though disappointed, he could have accepted it.
But now, the one who took first place wasn't Gu Yue Mo Bei or Gu Yue Chi Cheng, nor any of his imagined rivals.
It was Gu Yue Fang Yuan, his brother!
The one with Grade C aptitude!
The one who became despondent and degenerate after the Aperture Opening Ceremony!
The one who slept through classes every day!
The one who got drunk and didn't return home at night!
The one who bullied Chen Cui, slapped him twice, and took all his primordial stones!
The one who had always overshadowed him, like a shadow lurking in his heart!
"How could this happen? It's impossible!" Fang Zheng roared in his heart, "I've worked so hard, yet he gets drunk every day, and he ends up taking first place. Is there any justice? Why? Why?!"
The sun rose in the east, birds chirped, and the vibrant spring swept over Green Reed Mountain.
Gu Yue Fang Zheng bathed in the warm sunlight, but he slowly lowered his head, gritting his teeth, staring at his solitary shadow on the ground.
The surging emotions in his heart, like a deflated balloon, had long since dwindled. Replacing them were confusion, frustration, incomprehension, unwillingness, fear, and other complex feelings.
...
Time passed, and the sun climbed higher.
A new list was posted on the academy's announcement wall, with only two names: Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng.
As the list appeared, the news gradually spread.
Those youths who had received their Gu insects and were focused on refining them at home were all in an uproar upon hearing the news.
To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].
"How could this be!"
"If Fang Zheng took first place, I would believe it, but Fang Yuan, isn't he Grade C aptitude?"
"Is there a mistake, Grade A aptitude Fang Zheng actually lost to Grade C aptitude Fang Yuan, is this a fantasy?"
At the Mo branch.
The small courtyard was lush with greenery, the fragrance of tea wafting through the air.
Gu Yue Mo Chen, one of the influential elders of the Gu Yue Clan, sat at his desk, looking at the spring scenery outside the window, leisurely sipping tea. "Hasn't Mo Bei continued refining his Gu?"
The steward standing beside him quickly replied, "Since hearing the news about Fang Yuan this morning, Young Master Mo Bei seems deeply affected and has no mood to continue refining the Moonlight Gu. It's really a pity, Young Master Mo Bei was so close to success. Actually, if Fang Zheng had taken first place, it would have been fine, but it was that Grade C aptitude Fang Yuan. So it's understandable that Young Master Mo Bei lost interest."
"Hmph! Don't make excuses for him." Gu Yue Mo Chen snorted coldly, his expression stern, his tone like iron. "The path of a Gu Master is fraught with hardships, what is this small setback? That Fang Yuan is merely Grade C, and the reason he took first place must be due to luck. The Moonlight Gu he chose had a weak will, allowing him to get ahead. If Mo Bei can't see through this, can't endure this setback, how will he lead our Mo branch in the future, how will he compete with the Chi branch? No one is to console him, let him think it through himself!"
"Yes, Master." The steward dared not argue.
Almost at the same time, at the Chi branch.
"Sigh, Gu Yue Fang Yuan..." Elder Gu Yue Chi Lian let out a long sigh, furrowing his brow as he thought, then waved to his attendants, "Someone, call Young Master Chi Cheng in."
In a short while, Gu Yue Chi Cheng entered the room with a face full of disappointment, kneeling in salute, "Grandson pays respects to Grandfather."
"It seems you've already heard the news." Gu Yue Chi Lian gazed at his only grandson, his tone gentle, speaking slowly, "I called you here to prevent this matter from affecting you. Refining the Life-Bound Gu depends on aptitude and the Gu insect."
"Fang Yuan's aptitude is only Grade C, yet he took first place this time, indicating that the Gu insect he chose had a much weaker will compared to the Moonlight Gu you all have. It's purely luck. So, grandson, don't be discouraged or disappointed, it's nothing. He's only Grade C aptitude, though the same as you, he doesn't have the same resources, and his path to advancement will be more difficult. Trust Grandfather, you'll surpass him soon."
"So, put aside this trivial matter. Fang Yuan won't be your rival, nor is he worthy of being called your rival. Your true formidable opponents are Fang Zheng with Grade A aptitude and Mo Bei from the Mo branch. Do you understand?"
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Grandfather. I understand. I'll go back and continue refining my Gu!" The disappointment on Gu Yue Chi Cheng's face disappeared, replaced by a spirited determination.
"Good." Elder Gu Yue Chi Lian nodded in satisfaction, showing a kind and gentle smile. "Good grandson, although your true aptitude is only Grade C, rest assured, with Grandfather's full support. Later, Grandfather will use the aura of a Rank Three Gu to suppress the will of the Moonlight Gu, helping you refine this Gu!"