Chapter 472 A Toast to the Future

That one sentence changed everything.

Everyone sensed something was off between the two of them.

"Hey, hey, hey..."

Li Qingsui blinked her big eyes, poked Gu Shen, and asked curiously, "What's the situation with those two?"

Was this little girl's gossiping soul starting to burn again?

Gu Shen narrowed his eyes and took a sip of wine. "Little kids are always worrying about things. Don't ask so much..."

Li Qingsui puffed out her cheeks and took a big gulp of juice.

Fine, don't tell me. It's not like I'm stupid.

Besides... even a blind man could see the relationship between those two right now!

"I noticed something was off about a year ago," Mu Nan sighed, meaningfully. "As for when those two started, I'm afraid it was even earlier than that, right?"

Laughter erupted at the table.

Shen Li quickly raised his glass and said loudly, "You surnamed Gong, you're really good at hiding things!"

According to Mu Nan's words, the "underground romance" between these two had been developing secretly, hidden from both their families...

Gong Zi coughed, waved his hand awkwardly, and said helplessly, "It's not so much hiding, but things aren't as simple as everyone thinks..."

Luo Yu was stunned.

"I've already told the family head, and the Elder Council is discussing it," Gong Zi looked at Mu Ya and smiled softly, "But... since I've already won the rookie competition, I think they'll respect my wishes."

Mu Ya lowered her head and smiled, not saying anything.

They only said a few words.

Everyone at the table heard some unusual information.

Thinking about it carefully, perhaps this matter... was indeed not so simple.

Free love might not be a concern for ordinary people, and could be brought out into the open, but for behemoths like the Five Families, it was not child's play, and not so free.

Gong Zi was the eldest son and heir of the Gong family.

From the moment he was born, his identity dictated that future "marriages" had to consider the interests of the family.

And Mu Ya faced a similar situation, as she was also an important direct descendant of the Mu family.

The reason why the two of them hadn't announced their relationship was simple.

Only by possessing enough "power" could one possess true "say."

Gong Zi knew very well that as the eldest son, if he couldn't sit in the corresponding position... he would have to make corresponding sacrifices. So he cultivated desperately, striving hard, not only to win the "Dream of the Tinder," but also to be worthy of the name "Eldest Son."

The reason why the Five Families could stand at the peak of Longye.

Was because only the strongest person in the family was qualified to become the "Family Head."

It had been this way for six hundred years.

...

...

Seeing the topic become a little heavy.

Shen Li suddenly didn't know what to say.

Luo Yu quickly raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, changing the subject and asking with a smile, "I just heard that Brother Gong is going out to train. What are your plans?"

"I want to go to the Tundra to train. Or somewhere even further away. I might leave Dongzhou, who knows."

Gong Zi lowered his head and smiled, saying, "After the battle with Bai Xiu... I understood the gap between us, and found the direction for my next cultivation."

Although Longye City was warlike.

But because of the existence of the Federal Security Council, apart from a very small number of containment missions with high risks... most missions and actions were carried out under strict supervision.

This place cultivated a large number of extraordinary geniuses, the cradle of titled powerhouses of the Dongzhou Federation... but one thing was undeniable.

Those who truly achieved something were all those who went out from Longye, went to the battlefield, and returned full of glory. They experienced desperation and faced life and death head-on.

In a sense, this was indeed a "greenhouse."

A "greenhouse" strictly protected by [Wind Eye] and [Earthworm], creating a "gladiatorial arena" environment.

If you want to truly become stronger.

Staying in Snow Forbidden City... was not enough.

Luo Yu, who was always good at dealing with people, regretted asking that question.

He saw Gong Zi's eyes.

The look in those eyes was extremely firm... he had seen it once when he challenged Bai Xiu.

It had to be said that after comprehending the "Dream of the Tinder," the Gong family's young master's temperament had indeed undergone a huge change.

Luo Yu could tell.

Going on a long journey, training, Gong Zi wasn't just talking.

He was serious.

The people at the table looked at each other.

Mu Ya spoke.

She asked softly, "How long... will you be gone this time?"

"A year, a month, a day?"

The moment Gong Zi raised his head, the firm look in his eyes instantly disappeared. He didn't dare to look directly into Mu Ya's eyes, but looked around and said with a wry smile, "Everyone at the table knows me... I'm not a person with perseverance. What life-and-death training, I'm just saying it. Maybe I'll go to the Tundra, get frozen and run back the next day."

A very funny joke.

Normally, everyone would have laughed.

But this time, no one laughed.

Li Qingsui, who was originally sucking on her juice straw, couldn't help but laugh. But when she saw the solemn atmosphere at the table, the smile on her lips disappeared.

She looked a little dazed.

Originally, this celebration banquet was happy... Gong Zi had finally won the rookie competition. According to the story she usually saw, he should have successfully won the beauty's heart.

Why was the situation different from what she imagined?

She looked at Gu Shen in confusion.

Gu Shen silently took a sip of wine and said softly, "You'll understand this when you grow up."

The Gong family's eldest son had a lot of freedom in many things.

Gong Zi could "freely" mobilize the [Wind Eye] and command the [Earthworm] of Snow Forbidden City. As the next family head, he had most of the Gong family's privileges.

However, in a few things, he didn't have so much freedom.

"The Gong family had a marriage alliance with the royal family of Advance City in Beizhou twenty years ago." Chu Ling's voice was a little regretful. "According to the agreement, Gong Zi will marry the daughter of Duke Duanyang of Advance City. Although I can't understand the binding force of this kind of marriage contract... from the current situation, the Gong family is afraid that it will be difficult to respect Gong Zi's personal wishes."

So... that's how it was.

No wonder, after the rookie competition that day, this woman sat alone in the corner, waiting for everyone to leave before daring to look at Gong Zi a few more times.

This was a love affair that lived underground.

The more radiant Gong Zi was, the more it was so.

The marriage contract and the person Gong Zi truly liked were actually tacit understandings between the two families.

There were no secrets in Snow Forbidden City.

Not mentioning it was actually the greatest "respect."

The atmosphere at the table was a little stiff.

The next moment, Mu Ya raised her glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"You just said... a year, a month, a day?"

She looked at Gong Zi and smiled. "No matter how long, I'll wait for you."

Her voice was a little trembling.

At that moment, the sound of salutes rang out.

On the main stage of the celebration banquet, it was announced that Gong Zi was about to become the next family head.

The Five Families were very strict in the selection of "heirs."

This position was not hereditary, but for the capable to live in.

So today, the Gong family officially announced Gong Zi's name as the heir to the family head, which was also a huge piece of news!

Amidst cheers.

Gong Zi quickly went on stage. The spotlight focused on him alone. He gave a prepared congratulatory speech, his eyes darting around, constantly glancing at the table where the Chun Yu Guan people were.

Mu Ya invited the others to drink together, not letting unpleasant things stay today.

Everyone toasted each other.

Gong Zi finished his speech on the main stage, and finished some miscellaneous socializing. He hurried back to the table. At this moment, he was already tipsy, but the guys at the table weren't much better off.

He didn't see the figures of the little girl Li Qingsui and Uncle Gao.

As the future family head of the Li family, it was already a great honor to come to this banquet. Now that it was late, Li Qingsui should have left.

Mu Nan sat like a small mountain on the chair, snoring loudly.

Luo Yu's consciousness hadn't completely blurred. He burped for a long time, grabbed Shen Li's arm, and wanted to continue drinking.

However, the little iron man Shen Li had already drunk under the table, unconsciously gnawing on the table leg, chewing a mouthful of sawdust...

Mu Ya, the "culprit" of all this, fell asleep on the table.

Lu Nanjin, who only took a sip of wine, sat aside, closing her eyes and resting with her wooden knife in her arms, obviously taking care of the drunk Mu Ya.

Gong Zi was grateful. He knew what kind of person Lu Nanjin was. Leaving aside the identity of Da Du, a knife maniac who was obsessed with cultivation and didn't leave the courtyard for twenty-four hours, was willing to attend his celebration banquet, and stayed until the end of the banquet.

This was not an emotion that could be expressed in a few words of thanks.

But before he could speak.

"No need to thank me."

Lu Nanjin said calmly, "I heard about the marriage contract from Gu Shen."

Gong Zi was stunned.

The next moment, he thought of Gu Shen's identity as a "descendant of divination"... Gong Zi's eyes were a little complicated. From the situation just now, Little Gu didn't say anything after he sat down. Could it be that he had predicted it long ago?

"Before we are strong enough, we will all encounter similar situations... If you want to hold something, you have to give up something." Lu Nanjin said softly, "It's hard to have everything in the world. Putting yourself in your shoes, if I were you, I wouldn't be able to do better."

After saying this, she slowly got up and left the banquet.

Gong Zi sat beside Mu Ya, smiling silently.

A figure sat down beside him.

It was Gu Shen, who had gone to deal with a round of "socializing."

As a popular figure in Snow Forbidden City, the "goodwill" Gu Shen received at this banquet was no less than Gong Zi, the protagonist. According to his character, these conversations could be avoided... but this time, he chose to stay until the end of the banquet.

"It's really hard to be a young master of a large family."

After Gu Shen sat down, he sighed softly.

This sigh.

Made Gong Zi raise his head.

He smiled wryly and murmured, "Tell me about it..."

The two silently drank a glass.

Ordinary alcohol was already difficult to stimulate the nerves of transcendents. If they used breathing techniques, the alcohol would be quickly metabolized... As for Shen Li, who was drunk and gnawing on the wooden table, it could only be said that people's physiques couldn't be compared.

Some people were "gifted" and fell down at the first sip.

"I don't feel anything after drinking this wine..." Gong Zi muttered, looking at the tipsy people, "Why are these guys so embarrassed?"

He wanted to drown his sorrows with wine.

But after drinking it, his sorrows were even heavier.

"I have something good here."

Gu Shen took out a small bottle of unidentified liquid covered with a black cloth.

Gong Zi was stunned, looking at Gu Shen with a subtle expression.

"Good stuff..."

Gu Shen poured some in front of Gong Zi, poured it into the wine glass, and then took a sip.

"This is wine?"

Gong Zi also took a glass.

The moment it entered his throat, it was a little spicy, like a knife cutting down, followed by warmth all over his body.

And a "dizziness" that went straight to the spirit!

It was a kind of anesthesia that directly acted on the spirit... Even transcendents could not resolve this huge effect.

After only one cup, Gong Zi's face turned red. He propped his head, widening his eyes in surprise, trying to make himself more awake, but the alcohol came up, inevitably causing a trance.

Seconds later... was a new "sobriety."

"Lion's Awakening Wine, the top technology of the Huazhi, a unique product that disappears with every sip." Gu Shen said lightly, "How does it taste?"

Seconds later.

He got the following long answer: "Whoa..."

Gong Zi's expression was like discovering a new continent.

He had never drunk such... wine.

But he looked at Gu Shen as if he had seen a ghost.

The effect of this wine was so terrifying... why did Gu Shen drink cup after cup, sip after sip, without stopping?

Judging by his tone and expression, he didn't seem to be affected at all?

"Looking at your appearance, you want to drown your sorrows with wine." Gu Shen said calmly, "But judging from your drinking capacity, it seems that you are almost at your limit... Do you want another glass?"

Gong Zi gritted his teeth, stretched out a finger, and slowly bent it in half, "Half a glass... Give me half a glass."

Another half glass...

He poured out all his bitterness in one go. "Damn it... I haven't even met that damn duke... and I don't want to marry a woman I've never met..."

Gu Shen listened quietly, while using his mental power to condense a narrow field, preventing these sounds from leaking.

"I told the family head to cancel the marriage contract."

"The Elder Council said they still have to consider it... Consider?" Gong Zi slammed the table angrily, like a lion. "Those good guys, why do they decide my fate! If anyone disagrees, I'll blow up their..."

Speaking of this, his voice stopped abruptly.

Gu Shen thoughtfully reminded him, "I have set up a barrier with my mental power, no one can hear it."

"Very good!"

Gong Zi gritted his teeth and said, "If anyone disagrees, I'll blow up their heads..."

It could be heard that the last few words were obviously weak.

"I decided to go out to train... not just to become stronger."

Under the alcohol stimulation of Lion's Awakening Wine, he supported his head and smiled slowly. "I mainly want to go to Beizhou in person. I will cancel the marriage contract myself and come back... I have been looking at those old bastards with dissatisfaction for a long time. What can they do when they know?"

Gong Zi smiled slyly. "Little Gu, since you know about the marriage contract, you must have guessed this step, right?"

Gu Shen looked complicated.

He quickly took a sip of wine to calm himself.

"He's got the guts." Chu Ling said, "This guy is a real madman."

Indeed.

The "plan" Gong Zi said was really... unexpected.

Gu Shen glanced at Mu Ya, who was drunk. If this girl knew that Gong Zi was going to act like this, she probably wouldn't be so sad to the point of drinking like this.

Presumably Gong Zi kept this matter in his heart and didn't tell anyone else... Obviously, compared to challenging Bai Xiu after comprehending the Dream of the Tinder, directly going to Beizhou to cancel the marriage contract was a more crazy thing.

After waiting for a long time.

Gu Shen's face was still as calm as water.

Gong Zi was a little disappointed.

"Okay, I know I can't hide it from you." He smiled wryly, his consciousness already beginning to be chaotic and blurred. Taking advantage of his last bit of consciousness, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Little Gu... since you know everything, can you help me calculate... what will be the end of me and Ya?"

"Divination can't calculate everything." Gu Shen couldn't bear to deceive Gong Zi.

"Help me... calculate..."

Gong Zi was lying on the table, just repeating this sentence.

Gu Shen stood up and put a coat on Gong Zi.

He shook his head, not saying anything.

"Drink..."

Luo Yu, who was half-asleep, was sitting sideways in the chair. He raised his glass to Gu Shen and gestured to Gu Shen to continue fighting in a heroic manner, "I can still drink three hundred cups!"

Gu Shen looked at Fatty Luo and helplessly clinked glasses with him.

By the way... he added some ingredients to him.

Luo Yu muttered while gulping down the wine, "Why is this wine... so strong..."

He fell backward with a thud.

Shen Li, who was lying under the table, smelled the wind and came. He spat out the sawdust in his mouth, squinted his eyes and approached Fatty Luo's "iron hand," sniffed it carefully, bit it down before opening his big mouth, revealing a satisfied smile.

...

...

Gu Shen left the banquet.

There was a familiar black car outside the door.

Li Qingsui fell asleep in the back seat of the car.

Uncle Gao didn't leave. He was waiting for Gu Shen outside the manor.

"The wine you gave me earlier tasted good."

Gao Tian leaned against the car, put out the cigarette, narrowed his eyes, and hadn't been in such a good mood for a long time.

"I'll have someone send you another bottle later." Gu Shen said softly.

"No need... I know that stuff is precious. What's more, I'm a driver." Gao Tian said leisurely, "Federal law clearly stipulates that drunk driving will have your license revoked... I've always been a law-abiding citizen."

Gu Shen shook his head with a wry smile.

With Gao Tian's mental power, a little Lion's Awakening Wine was nothing. If he wanted to, he could dissipate it all with just one or two long breaths.

"Love what you do." Gao Tian said his second cold joke in a calm tone.

He looked into the car, his eyes softening. "I want to be the young lady's driver for a long time... but I know that one day she will leave Longye, just like the Gong family's kid."

"For the Five Families... Longye is a power field, and also a gilded cage."

"In Longye, you can get the greatest freedom."

"In Longye, you are also the most unfree."

...

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