BDSMST -Chapter 164 A “Hero’s Summons” from the Martial World

Gu Yan and Jiang Suisui returned to their bedroom. The candlelight flickered steadily, casting their long shadows on the walls. A night breeze drifted in through the half-open window, carrying a hint of the mountain forest’s chill—but it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere in the room.

The small sandalwood box lay quietly on the table, like a dormant volcano holding within it a searing secret capable of overturning the past.

“Letting them go… Chen Jing will certainly not let this go quietly,” Jiang Suisui broke the silence, carefully applying a cooling ointment to Gu Yan’s wrist, where the rough rope had left a red mark. “By returning the token booklet, you want him to feel that you don’t care about Jingyun Hall’s internal authority, only about that fragment of the map and the key.”

Gu Yan let her delicate fingers work while his gaze rested on the night outside. “Chen Jing is suspicious and narrow-minded. If I kept the booklet, he would think I want to control Jingyun Hall completely. Out of fear, he might resort to extreme measures—perhaps even harm my father. By returning the booklet, I’m telling him: I only want the items, not his life or his position. This reassures him, while giving him a reason to come to me.”

Jiang Suisui understood his plan. It was a clear signal, forcibly turning a conspiracy that could have remained in the shadows—targeting the old marquis—into a direct confrontation between Gu Yan and Chen Jing. In this way, all the danger would focus on Gu Yan, keeping his father safe.

“Will he come in person?” she asked.

“No,” Gu Yan shook his head. “People like him value their lives above all. He’ll find another way, one that allows him to maintain a moral high ground while still forcing me to hand over the items.”

Just as he finished speaking, a subtle commotion arose outside. It wasn’t the warning of the guards, but a louder, mixed noise of shouts and scolding.

Gu Yan and Jiang Suisui exchanged a glance, both rising and stepping quickly out of the room.

In the open space leading to the rear mountain of the estate, the torches had been rekindled, illuminating the surroundings as brightly as day. Several patrolling guards from the estate confronted three newcomers.

The three were dressed differently. In the center stood an elderly man in a blue robe, holding a long sword, radiating arrogance. To his left was a burly man carrying a nine-ringed broadsword, looking impatient. On the right was a flamboyantly dressed middle-aged woman, twirling two golden coin-shaped throwing knives in her hands.

“Move aside! We come on orders from our fellow martial artists, to pay respects to Senior Gu ‘Qianji Computation Master!’ If your servants dare block us, we won’t be merciful!” The broadsword-wielding man’s voice boomed like a bell, making ears ache.

“Outrageous!” Gu Yan’s captain of guards arrived, placing his sword across their path. “This is the ‘Number One Manor of the Realm’! How dare you make a commotion here! State your names!”

“Hmph! You don’t even recognize ‘Clear Wind Sword’ of Mount Hua, Master Liu of the Ba Dao Sect, or Red Third Lady of the Gold Coin Gang—truly ignorant!” The middle-aged woman laughed, her words dripping with contempt.

All three names carried significant weight in the martial world. Their late-night visit, specifying that they wanted to see the “Qianji Computation Master,” was clearly no coincidence.

“Let them through,” Gu Yan’s calm, commanding voice came from behind.

The guards immediately cleared a path.

The three approached, seeing Gu Yan and then Jiang Suisui’s remarkable presence behind him. Their arrogance softened slightly. The blue-robed elder stepped forward, bowing to Gu Yan, though his gaze passed beyond him toward the direction of Jingxin Court.

“You must be General Gu of the Zhenbei Marquis. We mean no offense. There is an urgent matter—we must see the Old Marquis Gu in person.”

Gu Yan stared at them expressionless. “My father has long retired and no longer concerns himself with worldly affairs. Whatever matter you have, you can speak to me just the same.”

“This…” The blue-robed elder hesitated, his face troubled. “This matter concerns the safety of the entire martial world—it is no small issue. Moreover, it is connected to someone your father knew back in the day.”

His words hinted at their purpose: it had to do with Jingyun Hall.

“No need for circumlocution,” Gu Yan cut straight to the point. “Chen Jing sent you here, didn’t he?”

The three’s expressions shifted slightly. They hadn’t expected Gu Yan to know so clearly.

“Since General Gu already understands, we won’t beat around the bush,” the blue-robed elder said. He produced a document wrapped in red silk from his chest and presented it with both hands. “Chen Jing did indeed contact us. But we did not come on behalf of Jingyun Hall—we came for the entire martial world!”

He opened the document and read aloud:

“A century-old lost Martial Alliance Order has resurfaced in the jianghu, sparking disputes and renewed bloodshed. Good and evil are hard to distinguish, justice remains unclear, and the martial world faces catastrophe. We earnestly request Senior Gu, the ‘Qianji Computation Master,’ to step forth once more. With your wisdom and reputation, uphold justice, provide a clear path for all martial artists, and establish rules! This is not a private matter, but the righteous cause of the martial world. We hope you, remembering the people of the realm, will generously consent!”

The so-called “hero’s summons” was written with grandiose righteousness and solemnity.

Jiang Suisui listened silently and inwardly scoffed. What a clever scheme Chen Jing had crafted. Knowing that sending his own people directly would make him appear in the wrong and gain nothing, he escalated the matter, dragging the entire martial world into it.

He exaggerated Gu Changming’s past deeds as the “Qianji Computation Master,” added the fragment of the Martial Alliance Order, and created a sense of looming chaos. Then, by rallying either uninformed or colluding sects, he positioned Gu Changming on a pedestal of moral authority, making him the “arbiter of justice.”

Now, if Gu Changming refused, he would appear neglectful of the martial world and its “justice,” losing face. If he accepted, he would have to act—and Chen Jing would have countless ways to pressure him publicly, forcing him to hand over Jingyun Hall’s treasures under the guise of morality and rules.

This was not just a ploy—it was a cunning trap, a “kill with praise” scheme.

“My father…” Gu Yan began to speak, intending to refuse.

“Let them in,” came an old, calm voice from the direction of Jingxin Court.

Everyone turned to see Old Marquis Gu Changming, already wearing a coat, standing at the corridor of the study. His figure looked thin in the torchlight, but his eyes shone with unusual clarity.

Step by step, he walked forward, his gaze sweeping over the three martial artists, finally resting on the red summons.

“This cup of wine… I’ve avoided for twenty years,” he whispered to himself, “but in the end, I must drink it.”

He reached out and took the heavy hero’s summons.

“Go back and tell them,” the old marquis said to the blue-robed elder, his voice low but carrying throughout the courtyard. “I will attend the martial world assembly. But I am old now—I cannot walk far. If they wish to resolve disputes and want me to oversee justice, very well.”

He paused, speaking each word carefully: “They can all come to my ‘Number One Manor of the Realm’ to discuss it.”