Chapter Forty-One: Raised by a Stepmother

Shen Wan stood at the shop entrance, gripping a stick, blocking the way as he stared at the four people before him.

The shop assistant, upon seeing the stick in Shen Wan’s hand, felt a pang of familiarity.

“Isn’t that...the Prosperity Banner from outside our shop?”

The Prosperity Banner was a treasure of the earth grade, a magical artifact designed to attract fortune for Sage Treasure Pavilion. It had stood outside the shop for ten thousand years, ensuring a constant flow of business within.

Yet Shen Wan, upon entering, had casually pulled it up, found the banner itself an eyesore, and simply stripped the fabric away. The bare stick felt just right in his hand. Little did he know, this stick was crafted from Heavenly Fortune Wood, making it exceptionally rare and valuable.

The shop assistant, on the verge of tears, cowered behind the counter. Both parties facing each other seemed equally intimidating; whatever he’d wanted to say was swallowed back down. He ducked beneath the counter, seized his communication talisman, and began calling for the Cloud Banner Guards.

Meanwhile, Gu Zhiping narrowed his eyes. He didn’t know exactly what had happened outside, but it no longer seemed to matter. He took two steps back, exposing the three guards behind him.

“Go beat him up. As long as you don’t kill him, I’ll take responsibility for any injuries or disabilities.”

His words were delivered lightly, but the three guards exchanged glances, each showing a touch of helplessness. Orders were orders; they had no choice but to obey. Channeling their spiritual power, the three moved out together, casting spells as they charged at Shen Wan.

Shen Wan had gotten into plenty of fights at school, but he never bothered with targeting the leader first; he simply punched whoever was closest. Luck would decide the unlucky one.

Gu Zhiping spun away, slipping behind the counter—safer in there, relatively speaking. He shot a glare at the cowering shop assistant, then turned his attention back to the shop door.

But what he expected did not transpire. Instead, he was greeted by a storm of flying sticks and the anguished screams of his three guards.

The guards unleashed their arts—sword gleams, blade flashes, thunder and fire mingling—shattering shelves and tables in the process. But—

A lightning strike hit Shen Wan squarely, only to fizzle in a burst of sparks.

A heavy punch carrying thirty thousand pounds of spiritual pressure landed on Shen Wan’s face, but the attacker was flung several meters back.

Sword lights, as swift and writhing as serpents, slashed wildly at Shen Wan, until the blades themselves curled and dulled—yet this fellow remained unscathed.

The three guards threw everything they had, but to Shen Wan, it was as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Shen Wan swung the stick with relentless vigor, each blow landing solidly, one after another. The sound of breaking bones, cries of pain—each chilling to the bone.

In less than five minutes, all three guards lay on the ground—one clutching his wounds and groaning, another furtively swallowing a healing pill before shutting his eyes and playing dead.

Seeing that all three had lost the will to fight, Shen Wan rested the stick on his hand and gave it a casual flick.

The stick now bore several cracks, its surface no longer smooth.

He pursed his lips.

“Not sturdy at all.”

With a muttered complaint, he lifted his gaze toward the counter.

Meeting Shen Wan’s eyes, Gu Zhiping felt a chill rush to his head, his body trembling, and a dampness spreading below his waist.

Shen Wan strode forward, unhurried, stopping before the counter.

“Will you come out, or shall I come in?”

His tone was languid, but to Gu Zhiping, it sounded like thunder cracking beside his ear.

“What...what do you want? I—I am the Young Master of the Primordial Gate! My father is Gu Daobian, the sect leader of the Primordial Gate!”

Gu Zhiping’s lips trembled; he could barely form the words.

Shen Wan had no idea what this so-called Primordial Gate was, let alone who Gu Daobian might be. Hmm...hopefully his mother wasn’t named ‘Outside the Pavilion.’ Heh heh...

Well, he wasn’t the ‘Daddy Ma’ from his own world; as far as Shen Wan was concerned, Gu Daobian was no different from any random passerby.

With a bang, Shen Wan tossed the stick onto the counter, about to speak when Gu Zhiping, startled by the sound, stumbled and landed on his rear.

Yet even on the ground, Gu Zhiping was not idle—he burst into loud, wailing sobs.

“There’s no way out! Ah! Everyone bullies me—from my father to my mother! Even the household servants look down on me! Just because I’m my stepmother’s son! But still, my surname is Gu, I’m a descendant of the Gu family!”

His voice caught, interrupted by a few loud hiccups.

“Since I was young, my father never cared for me. All the best food and drink went to my siblings, and as for me, I only got what was left over!”

“Even cultivation resources—it was the same! Others ate meat while I didn’t even get the broth. I’m twenty-three this year, and my cultivation is only at the second stage of Spirit Condensation. Is that my fault? Huh?!”

“And these guards—they’re all cast-off servants from the household. My father only handed them to me because he had nowhere else to send them! Others have at least a Golden Core guard, but me?!”

The three guards lying on the ground twitched at these words, but none dared make a sound for fear of attracting another beating from Shen Wan.

As Gu Zhiping sobbed, Shen Wan began to waver inside. Judging by the depths of his misery, it didn’t seem like an act.

Gu Zhiping nearly choked as he gasped for breath, then resumed his weeping:

“All my life, I don’t know how I managed to survive! Afraid to eat, afraid to drink—for over twenty years, I’ve only managed to save a little over eighty thousand spirit stones, all of which were swindled away by this shop!”

“What have I done to deserve this? My sister’s hairpin is worth millions of spirit stones, my brother’s underpants cost tens of thousands—yet after a lifetime of scrimping, I’m not even worth a pair of their shorts!”

He turned to glare at the cowering shop assistant, his misery peaking once again.

“It’s all your fault! I’m so naive, just wanted to stroll the streets, and you targeted me for a fleecing! Even a sheep shouldn’t be sheared by one person alone! There’s no justice! Ahhhhhhh!”

The shop assistant, listening to Gu Zhiping’s wailing, inwardly cursed his own fate.

“I’m just trying to do honest business—what did I ever do?”

By now, Shen Wan had pieced together the gist of things. So this Gu Zhiping fellow had been coaxed into giving up his underpants.

“Tsk, that’s a bit much.”

He clicked his tongue. His anger, upon seeing Gu Zhiping’s pitiful state, had ebbed considerably.

With a sigh, he turned to the shop assistant and asked,

“He’s this miserable, and you still went through with it?”

The shop assistant quickly dropped to his knees, bowing repeatedly.

“Sir, I didn’t cheat him! He just lacked the strength but insisted on entering our shop’s third floor. I tried again and again to dissuade him, but he wouldn’t listen!”

“Nonsense! If you hadn’t told me about the third floor, how would I have known what was up there? You were obviously dangling the bait!”

Gu Zhiping retorted immediately.

Shen Wan now understood—this was a case of mutual consent, both sides willing. Looking at Gu Zhiping sprawled on the floor, this wasn’t baiting with a hidden agenda; it was more like an old fisherman with a crafty hook, and this fish had bitten far too eagerly—no wonder he was always bullied.

Gu Zhiping, still fuming, felt a mixture of indignation and grievance. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked to Shen Wan.

“Brother, don’t listen to his nonsense. He knew my cultivation was low, yet still enticed me to try my luck on their third floor. I admit, I was blinded by those treasures—but only afterward did I realize none of them can be taken away without Golden Core cultivation!”

He shot the shop assistant another furious glare.

The shop assistant seemed uneasy, unable to meet Gu Zhiping’s eyes, his gaze dodging.

Shen Wan raised his brows, turning to the shop assistant as well.

“What’s on your third floor?”

The shop assistant dared not hide anything, and answered honestly,

“Sage Treasure Pavilion has been open in Cloudghost City for ten thousand years. Over the years, we’ve acquired many superior magical artifacts. Some of these treasures, due to their unique experiences, have developed a trace of spiritual sentience.”

Here he paused, sounding uncertain as he continued,

“These artifacts are very stubborn, and unless someone has exceptional fortune and fate, they won’t easily recognize a master.”

It sounded as though he was speaking for Gu Zhiping’s benefit, then he muttered under his breath,

“If you lack fate, you accuse me of being a swindler...”

“Nonsense! Even with great fortune, would any artifact take a fancy to someone at my cultivation level? You’re obviously a con artist!”

Gu Zhiping replied with righteous indignation.

Shen Wan glanced at him, thinking,

“At least he’s self-aware.”

The shop assistant was growing angry as well—he was just doing honest business; what was there to be ashamed of? His mind cleared, and he met Gu Zhiping’s gaze directly.

Shen Wan, arms crossed, paid no heed to the two, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

“Hmm...”

Both men, unwilling to yield, turned to Shen Wan, hoping for his judgment.

But Shen Wan had little interest in their quarrel.

He glanced at the wooden stairs leading to the second floor, and suddenly his eyes sparked gold.

“You—lend me some spirit stones.”

He pointed at Gu Zhiping on the ground, utterly unabashed.

Gu Zhiping was stunned—after all that, this guy was just as bad as the other one!

Shen Wan, unconcerned, said,

“Didn’t you want me to help you get justice? At the very least, let me verify whether he was really trying to swindle you.”

It made sense. Gu Zhiping gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed,

“All right!”

Shen Wan smiled slightly, a glint of cunning in his eyes, then turned to the shop assistant,

“You—take me to the third floor!”