"There’s one thing I’ve been curious about..."
Gu Shen turned his head and glanced at Li Qingsui, who was sound asleep in the car, and asked softly, "The Li Family, after all, is a major family in Jiangbei with endless talents emerging. Why let a young girl bear so much at this age?"
He knew that the competition among the great families was exceedingly fierce.
Even a genius like Gong Zi had to strive diligently to maintain his status.
Yet... Li Qingsui was only about fifteen years old.
To place the heavy burden of the Li family on the shoulders of such a young girl seemed excessively burdensome.
"This... actually was the Family Head’s decision."
Gao Tian shook his head.
He said somberly, "The Family Head has been confined to his sickbed for years, his body terribly weak... You know how many people are envious of the position of the Family Head in the great families, how many covet it. The initial designation of Li Qingsui as the successor created a huge uproar in the Elder Council. It was only because both the Family Head and the former Protector of Divine Temple Mountain stepped forward that they were able to suppress the dissenters and settle the matter."
If it were possible, the Li Family Master also wished to give his daughter a wonderful childhood.
There are not so many ifs in this world.
To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.
If Li Qingsui, this fledgling, could not spread her wings before her father’s protection vanished, her ultimate fate... would likely be a fall off a cliff.
This was both tragic and a reality.
"For six hundred years, the great families have controlled this place, and they too have been controlled by it..."
Gao Tian laughed as he looked towards Gu Shen, "Did the great families become the owners of Changye, or... has Changye caged the great families?"
Some things, when viewed from a different angle, may yield entirely different answers.
"If you say Divine Temple Mountain is a cage, so is Changye outside of it."
Gao Tian turned slightly, looking toward the sleeping young lady in the car, and said softly, "We are all caged birds, living under the giant wall of the North Continent, perhaps only by finding the route to the ’Oasis’ can we truly see ’freedom’?"
"Your teacher is a great man."
Gao Tian smiled, "I hope he succeeds."
He always felt that Uncle Gao wasn’t here just to say these things.
Gao Tian lit another cigarette.
He exhaled slowly, smiling, "I know your relationship with the Li Family is merely a ’cooperative’ one. I don’t have the right to ask you to do anything for the Li Family... but this isn’t a demand, consider it a request. I would like to ask you for a favor."
Gu Shen was startled.
He had not expected the word ’request’ to come from Uncle Gao’s mouth.
Gao Tian’s power, considered one of the strongest titles in Changye.
This absolutely was top-tier combat power of the great families.
"If one day... I can no longer provide thorough care for the young lady, I hope you can... help out a bit."
Gao Tian drew on his cigarette, and coughed dully.
He was among the most powerful in Changye; regardless of how down and out, he shouldn’t need to ask help from a junior whose Extraordinary Power hadn’t reached the Third Rank.
Even though Gu Shen and the other "Extraordinary Third Ranks" of Changye Village were different.
Gu Shen vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
What had happened to the Li Family?
Why would they suddenly seek him out and say these things?
Gao Tian chuckled lightly, casually saying, "Don’t worry... considering my age and the level of my physical exertion, if I’m just a law-abiding driver, that day is still far off."
He sat elegantly in the car, slowly saying, "I almost have no friends in Changye. The reason I stay with the Li Family is to repay a debt of gratitude. The Family Head has shown me great kindness, and I intend to repay it in this lifetime. Having no friends is a good thing as it means I have no worries... but it’s also a bad thing, because if I need help, having no friends means there will be no one to assist me."
If he just wanted to protect himself,
Then reaching Uncle Gao’s level of "power" would basically mean that nothing could truly trouble him.
Only... even the toughest armor hides a tender heart beneath.
"The Li Family Master’s health has degraded to such an extent?" Gu Shen sighed softly.
This was not difficult to guess.
Only something could cause Gao Tian such worry.
"Worthy of being a disciple of Master Qianye." Uncle Gao neither confirmed nor denied but simply smiled and flicked the ash from his cigarette, "Regarding the future, to what extent can you see? Can you help take a look at my end?"
Before Gu Shen could reply,
Gao Tian patted him on the shoulder, laughing softly, "Just joking... Don’t take it to heart. I know that Divination, like Prayer Technique, comes at a great cost..."
"Uncle Gao, there’s only so much I can do..."
Just then, Gu Shen raised his head and said solemnly, "But if that day truly comes, I will definitely take action."
Gao Tian was taken aback.
He slowly lit a third cigarette, showing a faint smile.
The day Gong Zi left Snow Forbidden City, he didn’t notify anyone to see him off.
It wasn’t until the morning sunlight in the Spring Rain Temple’s courtyard was missing one person,
that everyone realized... Gong Zi had left Changye.
People always find joy in meeting and sorrow in parting.
Perhaps for Gong Zi, celebrating to the fullest at the banquet was already a form of farewell.