"Knock, knock."
Two steady knocks came from the courtyard gate, interrupting Gu Chengming's mental review.
He pulled himself out of that state of enlightened clarity, dragged his sore and limp body over step by step, and opened the gate.
A man stood outside.
He wore the same Huiyuan Gate disciple uniform as Gu Chengming. His face wasn't handsome, but his features were distinct, his expression slightly mature, and his brow carried a steadiness that didn't match his age.
The visitor was named Jiang Lu.
Seeing the door open, he was about to speak, but the words swallowed back down the moment he saw Gu Chengming's appearance.
The Gu Chengming before him had hair matted to his forehead with sweat. His breathing hadn't fully settled, and he was drenched, his clothes soaked through, looking somewhat wretched.
Jiang Lu's eyes flickered.
He still remembered when he had first joined the Wenjian Sect, feeling strange and terrified of everything. It was this Senior Brother Gu who had taken him to handle the entry procedures and shown him around the sect.
He quietly sized up the man in front of him.
'Although this Senior Brother's cultivation talent is truly somewhat terrible, I have to admit, based on looks alone, he really deserves the description "peerless celestial appearance."'
'It's just a pity that his ambition doesn't lie in the Dao, and he wastes his prime years elsewhere.'
Jiang Lu reined in his chaotic thoughts, his face returning to its usual calmness. He cupped his hands toward Gu Chengming and exchanged pleasantries:
"Fellow Daoist Gu, sorry to intrude. You are..."
His gaze swept over Gu Chengming's soaked clothes with a hint of inquiry.
"Nothing..." Gu Chengming smiled, his breathing already much steadier. "Just practiced the sword for a while."
Hearing the words "practiced the sword," Jiang Lu's expression became subtle, and he hesitated for a moment.
He had come on behalf of his master to deliver a message. He expected to see a depressed and decadent Gu Chengming, but he didn't expect this scene. It made the speech he had prepared seem a bit out of place.
But master's orders could not be disobeyed. After pondering for a moment, he decided to speak plainly.
"Fellow Daoist Gu."
Jiang Lu's tone became more solemn:
"I came this time because I was entrusted by Master to tell Senior Brother something."
He slowly explained that the Wenjian Sect had not been peaceful recently. There was a lot of overt and covert strife between the various "Gates" under its jurisdiction, and their Huiyuan Gate was inevitably dragged into the turmoil.
"Master asked me to give you a reminder."
Jiang Lu's voice dropped very low:
"Please improve your cultivation as soon as possible. Otherwise, if you perform poorly in the sect assessment a month from now, there is a risk you might be expelled from the sect."
Speaking of this, Jiang Lu thought of another possibility circulating privately among the disciples.
It was said that the reason Huiyuan Gate was pushed to the forefront of the storm was inseparable from the absurd thing this Senior Brother Gu had done a while ago.
He had actually gone directly to the genius Junior Sister from the Daoning Gate, known as the "Dao Seed," and publicly confessed his love, wanting to become Dao Companions with her.
Setting aside the fact that the Junior Sister had a personality as cold as ice and never spoke pleasantly to anyone, the gap between the two of them was like heaven and earth.
This Senior Brother Gu naturally returned in defeat, getting a nose full of dust.
After this incident, not only did he become a laughingstock, but the entire Huiyuan Gate couldn't lift its head in front of disciples from other branches, being secretly mocked for a long time.
'A toad wanting to eat swan meat' was almost the consensus of everyone.
Not to mention the elite disciples of other branches who admired the "Dao Seed" Junior Sister, even within Huiyuan Gate, there were probably many who felt he had lost the sect's face and wished he would hurry up and get out of the Wenjian Sect.
Of course, Jiang Lu didn't voice these dirty speculations and discussions happening behind his back.
He simply fulfilled his duty as a messenger.
If Gu Chengming knew what Jiang Lu was thinking right now, he would probably just feel speechless.
After all, the reason the original "Gu Chengming" did such a thing was simply because in the game, that "Dao Seed" Junior Sister's character portrait was just too good-looking and completely hit his XP system.
'Who could have thought that with just a few clicks of the mouse, I would actually transmigrate here?'
After listening to Jiang Lu, Gu Chengming fell into silence.
Actually, he knew from this body's memories that compared to other cultivation sects, the Wenjian Sect was already considered quite humane.
Disciples like him, facing the risk of "expulsion" due to stagnant cultivation, were rare to encounter even once every few years.
Gu Chengming had been in the sect for so long, yet his cultivation remained at the Third Layer of the First Realm. Looking at the entire Wenjian Sect, this was rare.
The sect provided cultivation resources; naturally, they couldn't let you keep taking resources and eating for free forever.
Moreover, even if one were truly expelled from the sect, the process wasn't ruthless.
The sect would cripple your cultivation techniques, use a secret method to "Clear the Spirit Platform" to make you forget about cultivation matters, and then give you a large sum of money to return to the mortal world to be a wealthy man and live out the rest of your life in peace.
But!
'Cripple my cultivation techniques? Clear my Spirit Platform?'
In a situation where his romance target was a Cultivation Method, and the romance had officially begun, wouldn't this be a direct ticket to a Bad End?
'If the technique is gone, the romance target disappears directly. Then what the hell am I playing for?!'
With this thought, a strong sense of urgency seized Gu Chengming's heart.
He raised his head, his gaze becoming more solemn than ever before. He bowed deeply to Jiang Lu and said in a low voice:
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I have noted it."
Here is the translation of the next part, maintaining the same fluid style and specific formatting.
Hearing the address "Senior Brother," a hint of embarrassment surfaced on Jiang Lu's face. He quickly waved his hand, correcting:
"Senior Brother is too kind. Not Senior Brother, I am your Junior Brother."
Gu Chengming looked at the man's "slightly mature" face, which looked at least thirty, and was momentarily at a loss for words.
'Seriously? Your looks are in a bit too much of a hurry, aren't they?'
Of course, he couldn't possibly say that out loud. He went with the flow and corrected himself:
"Many thanks, Junior Brother."
Jiang Lu waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned about titles. His gaze landed once again on the iron sword in Gu Chengming's hand. As if sensing something, he said:
"Senior Brother, were you practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art just now?"
He paused, then added:
"Coincidentally, this Junior Brother has some insights into this sword art. If Senior Brother has any confusion, feel free to ask me at any time."
Although Jiang Lu's cultivation talent was average, his comprehension of martial arts and techniques far exceeded the norm.
Perhaps it was out of consideration for the friendship from when Gu Chengming guided him upon entering the sect that he added this offer.
Moreover, amidst the strife between the various Gates, if Gu Chengming were truly expelled from the sect due to failing the assessment, it would likely become new ammunition for other factions to attack the Huiyuan Gate.
It was precisely due to this consideration that their Master had uncharacteristically sent him to remind this Senior Brother.
Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Gu Chengming's eyes, and he sincerely thanked him again.
Seeing that the message had been delivered, Jiang Lu didn't stay longer. He cupped his hands and took his leave.
Gu Chengming watched his retreating figure disappear at the end of the path. In the night sky, a bright moon hung high, sprinkling cold, clear moonlight across the courtyard.
He closed the courtyard gate, his gaze burning with intensity.
The news the other party brought didn't depress him; instead, it ignited his fighting spirit.
'If I don't clear a limited-time event, what's the difference between me, the Galgame Grandmaster, and a filthy casual?'
'System, add points!'