The Yang trial had concluded, and those who triumphed over three consecutive opponents were awarded golden tokens. With these tokens, they chose their respective masters. The fights were gruesome, though inexperienced; it was evident these recruits had prior training. Xiao Wufeng, however, was the exception. Nervous and jittery, he knew he had to win just one fight due to his Yin path selection. His opponent was another scholar who had passed the Yin trial, a nerdy, timid fellow who seemed even more cowardly than Wufeng himself.
Looks, however, could be deceiving.”I have to win this or I die. I can’t afford to lose. He could be some martial arts genius. I need to think of a plan,” Wufeng muttered to himself, stepping onto the Yin and Yang platform. The crowd watched intently, their gazes heavy and scrutinizing. His opponent, the nerdy scholar, picked a short sword from the weapons table and spun it skillfully, making Wufeng’s stomach churn.”Ah, shit. This isn’t my lucky day. Don’t tell me he knows martial arts too,” Wufeng groaned, his eyes meeting his opponent’s mocking grin.
His heart raced as he looked over to the five masters, hoping for some guidance. Among them was a master with white hair and a veil covering her face. She tapped lightly on the desk, her eyes closed as if in a meditative nap.Wufeng approached the weapons table, unsure of what to choose. He glanced back at the masters. They all seemed indifferent, except for the veiled master who stopped tapping whenever he picked up the long wooden staff. He tested various weapons: a sword, a scythe, each time causing her to start or stop tapping.”Huh, is she helping me? Does she want me to pick this?” he wondered, putting down the sword and picking up the long wooden staff again. She stopped tapping. “Well, darn it. She’s a master after all. I’ll give this a shot. If I lose, she better make it up to me!” Wufeng muttered to himself as he walked to the center of the arena.The air was chilling, the gazes of nearly fifty disciples and a hundred guards from Hell’s Gate locked on him. His opponent began pacing, ready to strike. Wufeng’s heart pounded like a war drum.”What do I do? What do I do? This psycho kid is taking this way too seriously. But… here goes!”
He closed his eyes and swung the staff as hard as he could. A loud bang resounded, followed by the thud of a body hitting the ground.”Am I dead? I don’t feel pain anywhere. Or did my head get chopped off so quick that my neural network couldn’t process the pain?” Wufeng thought, slowly opening his eyes. The once long wooden staff he held was reduced to a splintered stick, blood droplets at the jagged end. His opponent lay ten steps away, unconscious, his skull bashed in. The arena fell silent.A guard approached, handed Wufeng a token. “What the hell. I won?” Wufeng thought. “How? How did I… never mind, I won! I wiped that grin off his face! He’d probably need brain surgery in the afterlife,” he said proudly as he walked to face the masters. A sect secretary handed him an envelope to mark his master choice.
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“Red Blade Elder? Hmm, sounds catchy, but probably an old geezer too busy drinking old age meds. Elder Agh? Sounds ancient. Who’s this… GLY?” he read on and on until he saw the initials GLY. It sounded badass to him. “Gu Luyang,” he read.Gu Luyang (顾丽阳) is a beautiful name with a rich meaning. Here’s a breakdown of the overall meaning:
- “Gu” (顾) means “to look” or “to gaze”, implying contemplation, reflection, or admiration.
- “Lu” (丽) means “beautiful” or “graceful”, suggesting elegance, refinement, or loveliness.
- “Yang” (阳) means “sun” or “daylight”, representing brightness, warmth, or illumination.
Considering the combination of characters, Gu Luyang could be interpreted as:
- “Admiring beauty in the sunlight”
- “Contemplating grace and elegance”
- “Reflecting on radiant loveliness”
- “Gazing at the beauty of the sun”
Overall, Gu Luyang is a name that evokes a sense of appreciation for beauty, grace, and illumination, making it a lovely and meaningful name “Admiring beauty in the sunlight? That sounds promising.”He imagined a brave, handsome swordsman, unparalleled and charming Without hesitation, he pressed his thumbprint, marked in blood, onto the initials GLY, and handed it over to the guard, who passed it to the masters. The Red Blade Elder read it aloud, “Xiao Wufeng, first disciple of Master Gu. Do you swear to serve your master and dedicate your life to completing your missions at whatever cost? To diligently learn from your master and give your life to them? Bow to heaven three times to bind your promise and bow three times to acknowledge Gu Luyang as your shifu.”
The other disciples stifled their laughter. “Jealous numbskulls. Wait till you see how strong my master is,” Wufeng muttered under his breath. He bowed to heaven and then to the masters. As he completed his vow, the veiled master with white hair rose, lifted a cup of liquor, and said, “Whatever, I accept.” She downed the liquor in one go and walked away.”Huh, that… that’s GLY? This lady is Gu Luyang?!!!”