Chapter 497 - 436: Spiritual Roots
Chapter 497: Chapter 436: Spiritual Roots
Bai Junfan was, of course, well aware of this. Compared to the Gu family brothers, he was more polished and shrewd, with a far more meticulous mind. When Gu Shaojun acted like a stranger, he would often seek out Gu Shao Feng to reminisce about their lifelong friendship. But Gu Shao Feng was an ice block, even more unapproachable than Gu Shaojun. No matter how warmly or emotionally Bai Junfan spoke, Gu Shao Feng would walk away without a word, sparing him no face at all. It made Bai Junfan look quite pathetic in front of his comrades.
After that, Bai Junfan got the hint and stopped trying to get close to the brothers. That is, until this latest mission was completed, and they were allowed to return home for leave in batches. Gu Shaojun was the major, with four team leaders under him, and he was responsible for arranging everyone’s vacation time. Bai Junfan was supposed to return to Beijing for the Lantern Festival, yet here he was today at the Tang family’s banquet. This meant he had swapped his leave with someone else. Swapping leave without the major’s approval required authorization from a higher-ranking officer. Furthermore, the special operations team was unique; although stationed in a border defense field unit’s camp, it wasn’t under the army’s direct command. No one without significant background and connections would casually handle the team’s internal affairs. Giving Bai Junfan the green light to swap his leave and return to Beijing early... it seemed the Bai Family’s network in the military ran deep indeed.
Bai Junfan pretended not to notice Gu Shaojun’s cold gaze sweeping over him. His expression remained calm and composed, but inwardly he thought, ’It’s no big deal. I was going to leave eventually anyway. One mountain can’t hold two tigers. My military achievements might be a step behind yours for now, so I’ll just get out of your way. I’ll find a new military region to build my career. Given time, I’ll eventually catch up to you!’
He knew Gu Shaojun was messing with him on purpose. They were both scions of influential Beijing families and should have returned home for the New Year together. Instead, Gu Shaojun had deliberately left him behind, scheduling his leave for the very last slot. But a soldier’s duty is to obey orders, so he couldn’t show even a hint of protest.
Of course, he was resentful in private. As kids, he could always get the better of the Gu family brothers, both in Combat Power and sheer presence. Even now, he and Gu Shaojun were the same rank. Yet fate seemed to favor Gu Shaojun. In the past two years, he’d had a string of outstanding performances that dazzled the top brass, earning him their high regard and the position of major. Just like that, Bai Junfan had been pushed down a peg.
Bai Junfan lowered his eyelids, concealing the profound look in his eyes. ’During the international military competition, the Huaxia Team was trapped in a primeval jungle. We were facing a harsh environment and a ruthless, ferocious enemy that was not only better equipped but also several times our number. Gu Shaojun remained calm and composed in the face of mortal danger, suddenly revealing a side no one had ever seen. He unleashed an extraordinary ability, leading our teammates to annihilate the enemy, turn the tables, and seize the championship. They were all rewarded and praised for it. Our teammates could only look on with blind admiration, praising how amazing and powerful Ancient Martial Arts were, completely clueless about the real reason. But as a descendant of an Ancient Martial Arts Family whose ancestors had included Cultivators, I vaguely sensed that Gu Shaojun was hiding a secret!’
Sure enough, his grandfather had intervened to get his leave changed, allowing him to rush back to Beijing ahead of schedule. After the events of last night, followed by a long, sleepless, all-night talk with his grandfather, the confusion in Bai Junfan’s heart was finally resolved.
He didn’t even have time to be shocked or awed by the revelation. His biggest regret was that when he’d gone to Ping County, he hadn’t been more calculating. ’If only I had been more far-sighted and determined, if I had won over Tang Manman then and there... everything Gu Shaojun has now would have been mine!’
Last night, upon meeting the grandfather and grandson from the Gongsun Family, a Cultivation Family, Bai Junfan felt as if he were dreaming. The secret topics and magical realms his grandfather and father had often spoken of when he was a child were now unfolding naturally before his very eyes. The Spells a member of the Gongsun Family performed with a flick of his wrist were just like the superpowers people talked about. A Crystal Ball appeared from thin air and determined that he possessed a dual Gold and Fire Spirit Root of superior purity. His talent was exceptional; he was currently the best and strongest prospect in the Bai Family. As long as the conditions were right and he applied himself to Cultivation, he was destined for greatness!
Bai Junfan’s heart pounded with excitement, and he saw the rapture in his grandfather’s eyes. He understood and shared his grandfather’s emotions. ’The Bai Family’s heritage has been severed for generations. It’s up to me, as its main pillar, to reconnect it!’
The Bai Family was once prosperous, wielding both power and prestige, revered by all. Their name brought glory to their ancestors. But they had fallen into decline, a pearl gathering dust. However, the ambition of the Bai family had never faded. The ancestral teachings stated: As long as a single breath remains, you must strive to rise above all others, to become one of the world’s most powerful, to become a leader to whom the people will bow!
As the eldest grandson of the Bai Family’s direct line, it was only natural that he shoulder this responsibility.
His grandfather personally fed him the elixir from the Gongsun Family. In three days, he would be able to perform Energy Introduction and begin his focused Cultivation!