Light at the end called hope

Strike!!!

Young master Peng was struck in shock as he started bleeding through his mouth. Three teeth had already fallen to the ground. His friends were also shocked at this unexpected development. Who would throw money at their enemy? They recovered from their shock when they saw Gu Yue Guangzhi running away. After realizing what had happened, they started chasing after him.

Gu Yue Guangzhi had no plans in his mind. He was just releasing his pent up anger towards that arrogant prick Peng. Once the hit landed, he immediately ran for cover. His attackers might even kill him if he stayed there any longer. He wanted to call for help from the guards but after witnessing they corrupt nature, he didn't call for their help and ran past them. They recognized him as the kid who got beat up yesterday and were wondering if he was being beaten up today as well. When they saw who was chasing the kid, they found a bunch of gu masters with their cloth masks getting undone.

They could overlook these shenanigans if they were done in the quiet of night but now they were creating a ruckus chasing the kid. They had to stop these gu masters before the matters get worse. As they stepped forth to stop the pursuers, enraged young master Peng shoved them aside. He formed a poison needle in his hands and shot them towards Gu Yue Guangzhi. The guards became even more alert and started chasing these gu masters with all their vigor.

"What, you would go against your fellow clansmen for a half blooded imbecile like him?" Young master Peng's friends shouted at the guards.

"This is getting out of hand! Use of gu insects to attack a child has serious penalties", the guards tried reasoning with them.

"You don't have to worry about the penalties . My father will pay the fines. Friends, don't let that filthy blooded imbecile get away." Young master Peng shouted to his friends.

The guards warned everyone present, "Seriously stop! Don't make us use force!" If this got out of hand, their jobs as guards were also at stake.

Gu Yue Guangzhi was running where his legs were taking him. He couldn't outrun all those gu masters who were attacking him but the guards trying to stop Peng and his friends had helped him. As Gu Yue Guangzhi was running around, he noticed a big building nearby with a few guards around. Young Master Peng shot once again towards him using his Poison Needle gu. It was aimed poorly and it missed Gu Yue Guangzhi and shot a guard nearby injuring him. This startled them and as they retaliated with a moonlight blade. As they got entangled in a fight, Gu Yue Guangzhi fled inside the building.

It had stairs leading downwards. He could still hear the sound of fighting coming. As he ran deeper and deeper, he realized what this building was. This was the building the housed the cave of Gu Yue clan's spirit spring. He could see a sea of moon orchids there as well. He had heard that walking across this sea would awaken his aperture. Usually no one would be allowed here as this was the most precious resource of the clan. Gu Yue Guangzhi was surprised at the lack of any guards in this place. Maybe they didn't want to disturb the environment inside the cave to allow the moonlight orchids to grow at night. Or maybe the pressure emitted by a spirit spring didn't allow guards to stay in the cave for a long time.

Either way, a precious opportunity had been opened up to Gu Yue Guangzhi. If he could awaken his aperture now, he could at least defend himself in a fight instead of running away. Thinking in that manner, he stepped into the moon orchid sea. He could feel the pressure coming from the sea. Once he took a step, he got a doubt in his mind. If awakening an aperture early was such a good thing, then why did the clan conduct the ceremony at fifteen years of age? Was it simply because of the lack of maturity to use various gu? Or was there some other reason?

Gu Yue Guangzhi wanted to step back immediately but he felt a small light enter him. It was Hope Gu. His awakening had started. If he stepped back now, would that end his awakening? Would he get another chance at awakening? He hesitated for a moment and decided to stake everything in this try. He took one step after the other.

Eight steps, Nine steps, Ten steps…

"Yes, I have some hope to become a gu master!"

Fourteen steps, Fifteen steps, Sixteen steps…

"It is getting really tough now. I must not give up!"

Eighteen steps, Nineteen steps…

"I can't see Hope Gu anymore. Is this my limit? Can I take just another step?"

As Gu Yue Guangzhi was taking the twentieth step, he felt an intense sensation. He could feel the formation of his aperture and primeval essence slowly filling up. Becoming a gu master was usually the happiest day in anyone's childhood. It symbolizes the start of their life as a gu master. But Gu Yue Guangzhi had no such emotions on his face. He had a rough estimate of the results of his awakening.

The ruckus outside seemed to die down and a guard made his way inside the building. He saw Gu Yue Guangzhi sitting down in the moon orchid sea. He realized what had happened and was shocked, "You..! Did you undergo an awakening procedure? Let me inspect your aperture." He sent his primeval essence into Gu Yue Guangzhi and made an assessment. He confirmed Gu Yue Guangzhi's worst suspicions.

"D-grade aperture! Maximum capacity at 39%."