Absolute Death Game

After giving Gu Shaobang a call, the voice on the other end was brimming with excitement, "Hey, President, out for some fresh air again, huh? To think you actually have time to give me a call."

Xiao Buli couldn't help but let out a wry smile, "What do you mean 'fresh air'? Why do you have to put it so unpleasantly?"

With a snicker over the phone, Gu Shaobang said, "If you can only get out once a week, if that's not 'fresh air' then what is it? Speak up, what do you need me for?"

Xiao Buli thought to himself that Gu Shaobang certainly knew him well, "Of course, it's a good thing. Is your family's Old Mr. Gu at home?"

Gu Shaobang couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled, "What do you want with him? Old Mr. Gu is indeed at home, but it looks like he has guests today. It might not be convenient if you want to see him."

Xiao Buli replied, "No worries, I just wanted to borrow the place to practice a bit of swordsmanship."

Gu Shaobang said, "Aha, I thought it was something serious. That's no big deal; the area is huge, anyway. Just let me know, there's no need to ask Grandpa."

Xiao Buli said, "That's great, I'll head over right now."

An hour later—Gu Estate:

"Haha, big brother, you finally made it. We haven't seen much of each other these days, I was starting to miss you," Gu Shaobang said half-jokingly.

Xiao Buli replied, "Can't we cut out the mushy talk?" After saying this, he laughed and gave Gu Shaobang a light punch on the shoulder, causing Gu Shaobang to wince in pain and complain, "President, what have you been eating lately? How come your punch is so strong?"
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Xiao Buli was startled inside, having forgotten that his strength was no longer what it used to be, yet he maintained an unchanged expression and retorted, "Maybe you're just too weak, kiddo. If you go on like this, it won't do. You need to exercise more when you have time." He managed to bluff his way through with a chuckle.

The two walked into the Gu residence and followed a pebble-paved path to the Sword Training Field, which was usually under the care of the Gu family's housekeeper.

"Butler Liu, my friend and I are going to use the sword training field for a bit. You can tell Grandpa about it later," Gu Shaobang said.

The housekeeper, stoic as ever, nodded, handed the keys to Gu Shaobang, and turned away without a word.

As Gu Shaobang led Xiao Buli inside, he said, "Don't mind him; that's just the way he is. Big brother, since when did you start liking sword practice again? With all the time you spend gaming, do you even have the interest for this?"

Xiao Buli just smiled. He really didn't know how to explain this.

However, Gu Shaobang wasn't the type to dig too deep, so he just grinned and said no more.

The Sword Training Field was a spacious courtyard with a flat sandy stone ground, surrounded by weapon racks that gave off an ancient vibe.

Xiao Buli hadn't brought his online-purchased replica Han Sword; after browsing the weapons on the racks, which all seemed quite extraordinary despite being practice weapons, he moved past the wooden swords and blades and went straight to the last row of weapon racks, which held genuine sharpened swords.

Picking one at random, it was so shiny that one could almost see their reflection in it. Although he wasn't much of an expert in swords, he could tell that even though it was just another sword among the weaponry, it was much better than his replicated Han Sword.

Turning back to Gu Shaobang, Xiao Buli inquired cautiously, "There's no outsider coming here, right?"

"Of course not," Gu Shaobang replied. "Other than me and Grandpa, nobody comes here on regular days." He then quipped jokingly, "If you're worried about outsiders stealing your peerless swordsmanship, I'll just lock the courtyard door."

He was speaking offhandedly, but to his surprise, Xiao Buli nodded seriously, "That would be for the best."

With that, Xiao Buli casually swung a few sword flowers through the air and began to dance with the blade. At first, his movements were random, but he soon found his rhythm. The swordplay suddenly intensified, thrusted into the air three times with almost a sound of tearing the wind.

(This is the feeling!) Xiao Buli rejoiced inwardly, following the lingering momentum to continue executing the moves. The Gale Sword Skills' forty-nine techniques were as clear in his mind as if they were imprinted there.

Initially pausing to think occasionally, he soon flowed into an uninterrupted sequence, his figure enshrouded in a faint haze of Sword Shadows, leaving Gu Shaobang with his eyes wide in astonishment.

He was jolted back to reality only when someone sharply patted his shoulder from behind, "Brother Nine, what are you doing?"

A crisp, pleasant voice came from behind, and when Gu Shaobang turned around, he was startled to see the person behind him. With neat eyebrows and pearly teeth, she wore a white lace top and a pleated skirt that barely reached her knees, paired with half-high black leather boots. Her hair was dyed silver into a cool short style; it was his cousin Gu Yanran.

Although her name suggested a demure lady, her personality was definitely of a little devil sort, and she was one of the few among the Gu relatives favored by Old Mr. Gu. Gu Shaobang would typically avoid her, and seeing her now, he couldn't help feeling a bit depressed, wondering how he had managed to draw her out.

"Nothing much, just taking a walk," he replied.

"Just a walk? Oh! Is that your friend? Such a handsome swordplay," she said as she squeezed past Gu Shaobang, her eyes widening as she watched the man practicing with the sword.

——————

Old Mr. Gu's real name was Gu Baichuan, but very few dared to call him that to his face anymore.

When Butler Liu walked into the hall, Old Mr. Gu was in the midst of a game of Go with a middle-aged man, the endgame already approaching. The old man's several large dragons were being ruthlessly surrounded and killed by black stones, threatening a complete collapse, yet he was still staring intently, refusing to concede defeat.