Little Pink Starfish

Gu Bai sighed silently.

If he had a choice, he wouldn’t want to go there either. TAT

But if he didn’t, just staying in Tiandu City wouldn’t be enough to increase his martial strength. Simply wandering the world without the protagonist’s plot armor wouldn’t necessarily lead him to his own opportunities either.

So, Qingtian Academy, a well-known institution where he met the requirements, was the most suitable choice.

Gu Bai had been in the Lingwu Continent for over ten years. What was once just a story he casually wrote had become reality.

Back then, to make the book more dramatic and the protagonist more unique, he had created many special settings and designed a dark and ruthless world where human rights, kindness, and freedom meant nothing. Everything was reduced to one principle—might makes right.

Under his planning, Tiandu City had been secured in its first stage, but Qingyang Town, which was under its jurisdiction, was also the protagonist’s starting base.

If the protagonist suddenly decided to take action against Tiandu City, what then?

As the City Lord, even if he was afraid of that lunatic, Gu Bai had to think ahead.

Of course, he never expected to truly defeat the chosen one of this world. But no matter what, the stronger he became, the more control he would have over his own fate.

If in the past he thought avoiding the protagonist would be enough, the longer he lived in this world, the more he realized how naive that idea had been.

He needed to work hard, at least to escape the ranks of cannon fodder.

A senior wu jun might be enough to support a city, but not all cities were the same. When the protagonist inevitably shook the world, this level of strength would only make him another disposable side character. So, Gu Bai had to keep fighting for his survival.

That was why he made this decision.

However, he couldn’t just tell Qi Guan Rui all of this. After all, a child should grow under an adult’s protection.

But he had also promised not to lie.

So, Gu Bai said seriously, “For strength and survival.”

That was absolutely not a lie.

Qi Guan Rui stared into Gu Bai’s eyes for a long time before finally smiling. “I will work hard to grow stronger too. One day, I will protect gege.”

Gu Bai, once again touched, reached out and pinched Qi Guan Rui’s cheek.

Qi Guan Rui tilted his head, blinking innocently. “Gege?”

Gu Bai withdrew his hand, expressionless as he nodded. “I’ll be counting on you.”

The two continued their usual routine. Time passed quickly, and soon, the third day of the next month arrived.

It was time to leave.

The City Lord’s Mansion had a luxurious carriage, five meters long, three meters wide, and two meters high.

The entire carriage was carved from green jade, reinforced with a special material, making it incredibly durable.

It had sixteen wheels, also made of an exceptionally sturdy material, nearly indestructible.

Inside, the carriage walls were designed with countless hidden mechanisms, equipped with deadly weapons.

Anyone foolish enough to pick a fight would be instantly eliminated.

This carriage was a project Gu Bai had poured countless resources into, specifically for future travels.

And now, it was finally being put to use.

Of course, if the City Lord was traveling to study, he needed a proper entourage.

Aside from the extravagant carriage, he had attendants as well.

There were four impeccable maidservants and four elite, highly loyal shadow guards.

The maidservants handled daily affairs and assisted with various tasks, while the shadow guards took care of protection, errands, assassinations, intelligence gathering, and other crucial duties.

With everything prepared, Gu Bai, under the respectful gazes of the head steward and many servants, led Qi Guan Rui into the innermost section of the carriage.

Yes, because the interior was even more extravagant.

The carriage was divided into three sections.

The innermost chamber was designed like a luxurious private room, with hidden compartments, silk bedding, and a low-key yet lavish aesthetic. This was Gu Bai’s personal space, shared only with his personal guard, Qi Guan Rui.

The middle section housed the four maidservants, who were always on standby to serve the City Lord.

The outermost section was where the shadow guards rested in shifts.

Yes, the shadow guards also doubled as carriage drivers, taking turns at the reins.

Once the City Lord and his close companion disappeared into the carriage, the four elegant maidservants gracefully followed, under the envious gazes of onlookers.

As for the shadow guards, they endured the jealous stares before swiftly boarding as well.

A shadow guard snapped the reins—“Crack!”

The four powerful red-horned qilin horses neighed and charged forward.

Haoyang City lay to the east, while Tiandu City was in the southwest. The distance between them spanned tens of thousands of miles.

Even if red-horned qilin horses could run a thousand miles a day, it would still take months to reach Qingtian Academy before enrollment.

To ensure a timely arrival, Gu Bai had set off half a year early.

Inside the carriage, Gu Bai pulled open a drawer and retrieved a tray.

Qi Guan Rui patted the floor, activating a mechanism that raised a small table between them.

Gu Bai placed the tray on the table and lifted the lid.

A strong, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.

Inside were twelve fist-sized pieces of cooked meat, emitting an irresistible fragrance.

Each piece was made from the heart of a Gu Nao Beast, containing the essence of a ferocious creature. It replenished a martial artist’s blood and provided immense nourishment.

Simply put, a small amount was enough to fill the stomach.

Gu Bai picked up a pair of silver chopsticks and handed them to Qi Guan Rui. “Try it.”

Qi Guan Rui didn’t hesitate. He picked up a piece and placed it in his mouth.

With just a few chews, the meat melted smoothly down his throat, transforming into a warm energy that spread through his body, leaving his stomach feeling comfortably warm.

An incomparable enjoyment.

In Tiandu City, only the City Lord could casually eat Gu Nao Beast hearts as a common meal.

For the lords of smaller martial towns, catching a Gu Nao Beast was an achievement in itself.

A fully grown Gu Nao Beast was equivalent to a martial master-level expert, classified as a second-rank ancient beast. Only senior martial masters or higher could hunt one without injury.

But for the sake of Gu Bai’s refined palate, Tiandu City maintained a private stock of them.

Whenever necessary, a hunting team would capture one, providing it for the City Lord’s table.

Gu Bai thought to himself, I live in luxury, and I’m proud of it.

The citizens, shadow guards, maids, and everyone else: We are loyal, and we are proud of it!

Truly, a harmonious scene.

For this journey, the maids had prepared a large supply of fresh Gu Nao Beast hearts. They had packed one large bag of raw hearts in storage and three trays of cooked ones in hidden compartments.

Each tray held twelve pieces. Gu Bai ate eight, leaving four for Qi Guan Rui.

It wasn’t that Gu Bai was being stingy, but such a powerful supplement wasn’t suitable for just anyone.

As a senior wu jun, eating lower-ranked beast essence only filled his stomach. But for Qi Guan Rui, who was still a senior wu shi, consuming this would significantly aid his martial growth. However, too much at once could be hard to digest, so he had to be cautious.

Qi Guan Rui finished eating and licked his lips.

Truthfully, even as the ruler of Qingyang Town, he couldn’t afford the same luxury as Ziche Shubai. A single town could never match the wealth of a city.

Since following the City Lord, his treatment had been far better than when he ruled Qingyang Town. Besides, Ziche Shubai was quite interesting… for now, he had no plans to leave.

Fortunately, as a junior wu jun, he felt full after just four pieces. Otherwise, he would have needed to eat something else to avoid suspicion.

After finishing their meal, both quickly circulated their martial energy, absorbing the nourishment into their meridians.

The carriage remained stable as it traveled. The red-horned qilin horses were also second-rank ancient beasts, requiring special methods to tame. Tiandu City had only a few of them, and Gu Bai had brought them all for this journey.

Gu Bai leaned back against a thick fur blanket, wearing a snow-white silk robe, his long hair draped over his chest, a book in hand.

Qi Guan Rui sat cross-legged nearby, meditating.

After finishing his practice, Qi Guan Rui glanced at Gu Bai and smiled. “Gege, if you’re tired…” He patted his shoulder. “You can lean on me.”

Gu Bai hesitated but eventually moved closer, resting his head on Qi Guan Rui’s lap.

Qi Guan Rui gently brushed his fingers through Gu Bai’s hair, smiling silently.