Chapter 6: Stripped Bare

The courtyard of the Gu family was now suffused with the scent of blood. Under the moonlight, in the dimness, every structure took on an eerie, unsettling air.

Having slain the second, third, and ninth brothers, Gu Feng had gained fifty experience points. Combined with the previous remainder, it was just enough to level up. Without hesitation, Gu Feng ascended, his strength surging to twelve points—one more than Wang Yuanwu. He glanced at Wang Yuanwu, confidence swelling within him.

To his surprise, Wang Yuanwu was staring at him in a daze. Gu Feng shouted, "This is my chance!" He brandished his short sword and charged at him.

Gu Yan, who had been stunned by Gu Feng’s ruthless manner of killing, finally regained her composure. Seeing Gu Feng actively attacking Wang Yuanwu, she cried out in alarm, fearing her brother would be no match for him, "Brother, be careful!"

Startled by Gu Yan’s shout, Wang Yuanwu snapped back to his senses and turned to Gu Feng, a flash of gravity passing through his eyes. For reasons he could not explain, Gu Feng now radiated a trace of danger; it felt as though Gu Feng had grown much stronger in a very short time.

Watching Wang Yuanwu's recovery, Gu Feng felt a pang of frustration. Was his sister helping him, or helping their enemy?

Wang Yuanwu, though puzzled, did not fear Gu Feng. Gripping his refined iron broadsword, he swung it fiercely at Gu Feng.

Gu Feng’s expression tightened; he could see that Wang Yuanwu’s broadsword was no inferior to his own refined iron short sword. Yet he did not shrink back, instead shouting, "Come on!"

His confidence was at its peak.

He spread his feet in a horse stance, holding his blade above his head, ready to forcefully block Wang Yuanwu's attack.

Seeing Gu Feng’s posture, Wang Yuanwu regarded him as an utter fool. He was a warrior, his strength far beyond that of ordinary men; Gu Feng’s bravado was nothing short of courting death.

Confronted with Gu Feng’s apparent stupidity, Wang Yuanwu’s face lit up with excitement. As long as he killed Gu Feng, all that exquisite equipment would be his—along with the lovely young beauty.

Wang Yuanwu could already picture Gu Feng’s head cracked and bleeding.

The broadsword crashed down onto the short sword with a harsh clang, sparks flying, adding a fleeting touch of beauty to the gloomy night.

The plan had been perfect, but the outcome was wholly unexpected.

Wang Yuanwu cried out in disbelief, "Impossible!" If not for his trembling hands and the pain in his palms, he would not have believed his own eyes.

When spear and shield are nearly matched, the spear should always pierce the shield; the shield cannot withstand the spear’s assault. Yet Gu Feng had withstood his strike head-on, proving that Gu Feng’s strength surpassed his own.

Seeing Wang Yuanwu frozen again, Gu Feng seized the opportunity. He roared, "Die!" and kicked Wang Yuanwu hard between the legs.

Feeling a chill below, Wang Yuanwu glanced down just in time to see a foot crashing into his groin. Internally, he screamed, realizing too late to evade.

Bang!

"Ah!"

With a sickening thud and a shriek, Wang Yuanwu was sent flying, his face contorted in agony.

In that instant, Wang Yuanwu finally understood the monstrous power Gu Feng possessed.

"Die!" Gu Feng shouted wildly.

To Gu Feng, Wang Yuanwu was a treasure trove of experience. As a warrior, Gu Feng was certain that Wang Yuanwu would yield considerable rewards.

He seized the moment and charged forward.

Seeing Gu Feng rushing at him like a demon, Wang Yuanwu’s expression changed drastically as he searched for a way out. Suddenly recalling Gu Yan inside the house, Wang Yuanwu found his breakthrough and darted into a nearby room.

Gu Feng saw this and cried out in horror, "Sister, watch out!"

Gu Yan, seeing Wang Yuanwu charging into the house, was already petrified—she could not even think to run. And even if she wanted to, as an ordinary girl, how could she hope to outrun a warrior?

Wang Yuanwu looked at the terrified Gu Yan, forgetting his pain for a moment, a cruel, manic smile appearing as he lunged at her and gripped her throat tightly.

"Ah!"

Only now did Gu Yan scream, her heart filled with terror and her face flushed with panic. Thinking of her brother’s sudden strength, she looked at Gu Feng, who had also rushed into the room, and cried, "Brother, save me!"

Wang Yuanwu, seeing Gu Feng burst in, flashed an excited, wicked smile and shouted madly, "Boy, if you want to kill me, come and do it!"

Gu Feng roared in fury, "Let go of my sister!"

"Hahaha!"

Wang Yuanwu, facing Gu Feng’s rage, laughed wildly and triumphantly, "Boy, aren’t you so skilled, so arrogant? You dared to kill my brothers! Now I command you: take off your equipment, drop your weapon, or I’ll kill your sister!"

"Ah!"

Wang Yuanwu’s grip tightened, and Gu Yan let out a sharp cry, gasping for breath, unable to make another sound.

Eyes wide open, Gu Yan looked at Gu Feng with difficulty, longing to survive, believing her brother could save her.

Clang!

Gu Feng threw his refined iron short sword to the ground, shouting angrily, "Let go of my sister!"

Wang Yuanwu, pleased, continued, "Take off your equipment!"

Gu Feng had no choice but to comply, beginning to remove his bracers.

Wang Yuanwu grew ever more excited. Once he had Gu Feng’s gear and weapons, he was certain of his place in Thousand Peaks Domain.

Gu Yan struggled, her voice barely a whisper, "Brother, don’t!"

She knew well that if her brother lost his equipment and weapon, he would not be able to defeat Wang Yuanwu. Then, both siblings would surely die.

Gu Feng looked at Gu Yan’s face, flushed and darkened from lack of air, his fists clenched so tightly they crackled, his gaze fixed on Wang Yuanwu, wishing he could slay him instantly.

"System, can I kill myself and blow up that bastard?"

"No! You haven’t obtained the Death Opportunity."

"Death Opportunity? What’s that?"

"In certain special circumstances, you may obtain a Death Opportunity. Only then can you perform a suicide attack. After such an attack, you will receive a death reward and may resurrect at a specific location twelve hours later. If you die without such an opportunity, you will not receive any reward, will be penalized by a level reduction, and your resurrection time will be ten times longer."

"Damn, that’s a rip-off! What am I supposed to do now?"

"Figure it out yourself."

Contempt! Gu Feng felt deep contempt for the system, blaming it for its lack of responsibility.

Still, Gu Feng understood—there was no such thing as a free lunch. To have obtained the Undying System was already a stroke of fortune.

He continued removing his leather armor. Even without equipment or weapons, Gu Feng did not fear Wang Yuanwu; twelve points of strength were no mere decoration.

His only frustration was his poor physical condition. A normal person had five points of strength; he was equivalent to a third-level warrior, who would have at least fifteen points combined. But he only had twelve, simply because his constitution was too weak.

"Boy, hurry up or I’ll kill your sister!"

Wang Yuanwu watched as Gu Feng stripped down to his pants and leg wraps, trembling with excitement—soon all the gear would be his. Once he had it, he would kill Gu Feng and enjoy the beauty; it was pure bliss.

Gu Feng looked at Wang Yuanwu, then at his despairing sister in his grasp. Forcing himself to remain calm, he knew he needed an opportunity. As long as he could get close to Wang Yuanwu, with his strength, saving his sister would be no problem.

Finally, Gu Feng removed all his leather armor, leaving only a pair of hole-ridden, shabby underwear to cover himself. In the night wind, he felt a distinct chill, but his mind was wholly focused on how to rescue his sister.