Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Preparations and Silent Farewell

The decision to go to the Black Mist Forest solidified Gù Ti?nháo's routine. Each coin earned from the sale of its "Calming Smoke" (which it continued to produce in small secret batches) was reinvested in its preparations. He couldn't afford to buy flashy, high-quality items that might raise suspicion, so he focused on functionality and discretion. His first significant acquisition was a set of suitable clothing. He exchanged his young master silk robes, even the simplest, for a dark-colored hardened leather suit, bought second-hand from a hunter who was getting rid of old equipment on the market. The leather was thick and sturdy, stained and scratched by previous use, but offered decent protection against branches, thorns and perhaps even the claws or prey of smaller beasts. More importantly, he did not shout Young Master of the Gu Family. Then came the gun. He knew that he could not wield a sword or saber without proper training, and carrying them openly would be an invitation to trouble. He opted for a robust hunting knife, with a blade almost one foot long, heavy enough to have some impact, but agile enough to be used in hand-to-hand combat. He spent a few extra coins for a local blacksmith to sharpen until he was razor-willed. It was a humble weapon by the standards of cultivators, but in their hands, combined with its growing strength and agility, it would be a lethal tool. Then came the essential supplies for survival. He bought several meters of strong, durable hemp rope, a reliable flint with dry bait, a small pot of metal for cooking or boiling water (essential to prevent diseases when drinking from unknown sources), and a waxed canvas sleeping bag to protect him minimally from the cold and nighttime humidity of the forest. As for food, he stocked up on salty dried meat and roasted grains - light, nutritious foods that wouldn't spoil easily. He knew he would have to hunt or forage to supplement his rations, but having an initial supply was crucial. Medical supplies were his most careful purchase. In addition to antiseptic ointments and bandages, he used a significant portion of his funds to acquire two small bottles of low-grade antidotes in the Old Zhao store - one for common beast poisons and the other for paralyzing insect or spider toxins, which were rumored to be prevalent in the Black Mist Forest. Old Zhao looked at him with renewed curiosity, but asked no direct questions, happy to make the sale. Each purchase was made in different stores, on different days, to avoid creating a pattern. He hid supplies gradually in his room, under loose floorboards or inside a rarely opened chest of old clothes. The tension of keeping this secret inside the Gu Mansion was constant. His nerves were always in the flower of the skin, his facade of calm indifference demanding increasing effort. One day, while returning from one of his secret purchases, he was almost discovered. He carried a small bag containing the rope and some medical supplies, hidden under his outer mantle. When he turned a corridor near his courtyard, he came face to face with Gù Tianf?ng. The second brother looked at him from top to bottom with his usual contempt, but his eyes fixed for a moment on the clumsy bulge under the mantle of Ti?nháo. What are you hiding there, garbage? Tianf?ng asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Did you steal anything from the kitchen again? Tianháo's heart froze. He forced an expression of confusion and slight fear, imitating the reaction that the ancient Tiannháo would have. Nothing, second brother. Just... some old clothes that Aunt Liu asked me to take for washing. The lie was weak, but Tianf?ng was more interested in intimidating than in seriously investigating an insignificant theft. He mocked. Old clothes? Suitable for garbage like you. Get out of my way. He pushed Tiannháo rudely to the side and continued on his way, without taking a second look. Ti?nháo let go of breathing that he didn't even realize he was holding. It was just a bit. The need to leave that place, to escape the constant vigilance and danger of one's own relatives, has become even more urgent. Finally, after almost two weeks of meticulous preparations, he was ready. His makeshift backpack contained his essential supplies, his knife was attached to the waist under the leather clothes, and a small bag with its remaining coins and the unsold incense cones were hidden inside. He had solidly reached the middle of Level 2 of Body Refinement, his physical strength and endurance were greater than ever, and his mind was sharp by determination. He chose a moonless night when darkness would be his ally. He waited until the Gu Mansion was plunged into deeper silence, the patrols of guards passing through its longest intervals. He left no note, no explanation. For the Gu Family, he would simply disappear. Perhaps they thought he ran away, or that he finally succumbed to his weakness in some forgotten corner. It didn't matter. He was cutting ties. With the agility newly acquired, he climbed the wall of his secluded courtyard - a feat that would have been impossible for the ancient Tiannháo. He moved through the shadows of the outer corridors like a ghost, using his knowledge of the routine of the guards and his slightly improved perception to avoid being detected. Getting to the outer wall of the Gu property was the biggest challenge. He was tall and patrolled. But Tiannháo had observed the routes and schedules for days. He found a blind spot between two watchtowers, where a large willow tree cast a deep shadow. Using his rope and the strength of his arms and legs enhanced, he climbed the wall with a silent and desperate effort. For a moment, he squatted on the top of the wall, looking back at the vast dark expanse of the Gu Mansion. It was the only home he had known in this life, a place of pain, humiliation and neglect. He felt no nostalgia, only cold relief and a dark determination. Then he turned around and walked down the rope outside, pulling it down after silently landing on the ground. He was free. Under the mantle of the starry night, Gù Ti?nháo, the ancient garbage of the Gu Family, now a Level 2 cultivator with a divine secret and an iron will, began his solitary journey eastward toward the dangers and promises of the Black Mist Forest.