Strongest Mage with the Lust system

Chapter 997: Traitor

As her enraged shout rang out, the area quietened instantly and realization flashed on some of their faces.

Though the three elders had come here so angrily, they also felt something about this matter wasn’t right. After all, why would Zhao Ziyan, who had arguably been putting most efforts in making sure their family would remain stable and friction free despite the rapidly worsening situation, suddenly sell the shop that was earning them most money at the moment and that too without their agreement?

Now seeing her expression as she asked for Gu Wencheng who had been helping her at the shop for the past year they realized Gu Wencheng might be behind this.

“Reporting to Madam Zhao, Gu Wencheng is nowhere to be found—he isn’t at his home nor was he in the shop.” Someone reported, proving the elders’ suspicion true.

“Madam Zhao, how can he sell the shop? Isn’t the shop deed in your safekeeping?” Gu Lishu asked, his brows knitted together.

Zhao Ziyan took a deep breath to calm her boiling rage but it didn’t help.

“It is all because of my carelessness. I shouldn’t have trusted him.” she answered through clenched jaws.

Gu Lichen, the first elder, sighed and shook his head, “Don’t blame yourself, Madam Zhao. He is a member of the Gu family. How could you have expected him to do this?”

He then turned to the guy who reported Gu Wencheng missing and asked, “What about his family, where are they?”

“Elder, they left early in the morning and had yet to return.” The man reported.

Immediately the crowd erupted in a heated discussion, everyone cursing Gu Wencheng.

“That bastard, how can he be so ruthless?”

“He always acted as if he was the most modest and ready to do everything for the family. But now… he deserves to die.”

“It’s not just him… His family is also guilty and deserve to die.”

“Now that our shop is gone, the major part of the family’s income is gone. Do we all have to stop cultivating and once again to work hard labour… serve other families. It will be too humiliating.”

…

Zhao Ziyan and the three elders’ brows furrowed when they saw everyone panic.

“You all leave. No need to crowd here.” Gu Lishu, the Third Elder, barked at them.

Everyone turned around and walked away, too anxious to even acknowledge him which made Gu Lishu’s expression ugly.

…

A while later, Zhao Ziyan and the three elders were gathered in Gu Rong’s room. Gu Lan, Gu Yinyin and Gu Rong’s wife, Shui Wuhen and Li Xiaomin were also there.

After hearing about what had happened, Gu Rong fell silent, his face expressionless.

After a moment, he looked at the elders and asked, “Which family has bought the shop?”

“It’s the Liu Family.” Second Elder Gu Lizhu reported.

“…I see.” Gu Rong nodded in understanding then looked at the first elder, Gu Lichen, “First Elder, as the person who vouched for Gu Wencheng and asked mother to let him help out at the shop as he learned weapon repairing from her, do you have anything to say?”

Save for him and Zhao Ziyan, everyone present was surprised and turned to look at Gu Lichen. He was known for being very amicable and calm unlike the slightly indifferent Second Elder, Gu Lizhu, and temperamental Third Elder, Gu Lishu. Moreover, his reputation within the family was no less than stellar.

When this well reputed and amicable person became the focus of the room, everyone had expected him to lament the fact he had recommended Gu Wencheng but to their shock, his lips curled up into a cold, mocking arc as he eyed Gu Rong, “You are the most sharp among all your siblings, Rong’er. Tell me, what do you think I should say now?”

Swoosh!

Immediately, the second and third elders jumped to their feet and moved away from him, hiding Gu Lan, Gu Yinyin and Li Xiaomin behind them while Zhao Ziyan stood protectively in front of Gu Rong and Shui Wuhen, eyeing the first elder coldly.

Gu Rong’s face remained expressionless and he said, “How about you tell us why you decided to betray the family?”

“I didn’t betray the family.” Gu Lichen stayed seated and calmly shook his head. Then he smiled, “I just took my share. After contributing so much to the family, don’t tell me I don’t even deserve a single shop?”

Gu Rong stared at him silently and since he wasn’t speaking, Zhao Ziyan and the two elders, despite wanting to curse and scold Gu Lichen, also stayed quiet.

A while later, Gu Rong finally spoke, “Are you going to leave on your own, do you want us to escort you out of the family estate?”

Gu Lichen stood up and swept his gaze across everyone before refocusing on Gu Rong, “You know, after your old man passed away, I was tempted to claim the family as my own and become the patriarch. From this, you can tell neither of these three scare me. You could have, but you are unfortunately injured.”

After a pause, his eyes narrowed, “Tell me, do you think you all have what it takes to escort me out?”

“Do you want to test it?” Unable to endure his bravado, Zhao Ziyan stepped forward, murder flashing in her beautiful black eyes.

Gu Lichen stared at her, his brows furrowing briefly. Then he shook his head, “No, I don’t.”

He then swept his gaze across everyone and said, “The true reason why I decided to leave the family is because…. I can see no hope of our family rising again. If we still had hope, even the tiniest bit, I would have never done it.”

Saying this he turned around to walk away when he stopped and said, “When the three year deadline is over, I’ll try my best to save you all from Liu and Song families.”

“Just fuck off you cowardly bastard!” Third Elder Gu Lishu snapped, “If you haven’t left in half an hour, I swear I’ll fight you to death.”

Gu Lichen glanced at him, then walked out of the room.

After he left, everyone’s expressions turned ugly.

“How has things come to this!” The Second Elder lamented.

“He will regret his decision.” Suddenly Zhao Ziyan said, surprising everyone with the exception of Gu Lan, who didn’t hesitate to back her mother, “Mother is right. He will definitely regret it.”

Creation is hard, cheer me up!

…