Ethan was out cold.
Sprawled across the futon like a ragdoll, one leg hanging off the edge, arms twisted beneath his pillow in an awkward half-tucked pose. His mouth was slightly open, soft snores escaping in rhythm with the rain that had continued through the night. If there were a "gamer sleep posture" achievement, he'd just unlocked it.
Then—
"Big brooo~!"
Ethan flinched.
A tiny body suddenly collided with his back, bouncing slightly before clinging onto him like a plush toy. Ethan let out a muffled groan, face still buried in the pillow.
"...Just… five more minutes," he mumbled.
The little boy giggled. "Mama said breakfast is ready! You have to come or she'll scold you too."
"...She what now?" Ethan peeled one eye open, blinking blearily as the events of yesterday caught up to him.
Right. Gu Masters. Soul-searing death. Venerables. Rain. Gu House.
And now... breakfast?
He sat up slowly, bones creaking, and gave Liu Xiaofan a half-smile. "Alright, alright. I'm up, little man."
The Gu House's wooden floor was warm under his feet. When he stepped out into the main hall, Liu Lan was already setting bowls on a low table. Steam wafted gently upward—fragrant, earthy, and somehow comforting.
She glanced at him, expression calm as ever. "You sleep like the dead."
"That's right," he said as he sat down on the opposite side of the table from her and Xiaofan.
Liu Lan's hand went into her sleeve, and she produced a smooth amber bead, with a slight pulsating glow like a heartbeat. She made a small motion to activate the Storage Gu, as some steaming dishes appeared on wooden trays, including some rice, preserved meat, stewed root vegetables, and a few slices of fruit.
Ethan stared. "Okay, that is ridiculously convenient."
Liu Lan raised an eyebrow. "You've never seen a Storage Gu?"
Ethan blinked. "Uh… let's just say I'm new."
She didn't question him further, but Ethan saw the flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
As they ate, he finally worked up the courage to ask.
"So… I've been meaning to ask this since, you know, nearly dying—what exactly is a Gu?"
Liu Xiaofan perked up, chewing noisily. Liu Lan set her chopsticks down gently.
For a moment, only the soft sounds of rain and chewing filled the Gu House.
Then Liu Lan spoke, voice as clear as ever. "You've heard of cultivation, yes? Gu Masters cultivate using Gu worms—living creatures born of Heaven and Earth. They're not a miracle. They're a part of Dao. They're… alive. And they're everything."
Ethan leaned forward, fully alert now.
"Everything?"
She nodded. "Every strength, every technique, every cultivation path. If you want to strengthen your body, refine your soul, control fire, fly, poison, heal, dream—there's a Gu for it. The Gu determines your power. Without them, even a Rank 1 Gu Master is just an ordinary mortal."
He swallowed. "So, they're… tools?"
"Tools. Weapons. Partners. Parasites. All of that, depending on how you treat them." Her eyes turned distant. "The Gu are miraculous. But they are also fickle. And dangerous. Every Gu must be fed properly, balanced with others, and refined continuously. One wrong step, and they turn on you."
Ethan felt a chill.
No wonder this world was so brutal. Gu weren't just skills—they were living bombs.
He looked down at his bowl, then back up at her.
"...So how does someone get their first one?"
Liu Lan sipped her tea calmly, letting Ethan's curiosity settle. Then, as if sensing his eagerness to learn more, she spoke again.
"When a mortal wishes to step onto the path of cultivation, they must first awaken their aperture—the vital point in the body where Gu can be nourished and refined. This is usually done at age thirteen, using a special Gu worm: the Hope Gu."
"Hope Gu?" Ethan tilted his head.
She nodded. "A Rank 1 Gu that resonates with a child's will and dreams. During the Awakening Ceremony, multiple methods are used to awaken. But your aperture potential is almost up to luck."
Across the table, Liu Xiaofan puffed up his cheeks proudly.
"Then I'll definitely awaken my aperture! I'll become a Gu Master! No—an Immortal! Just like Daddy and Mommy!"
His declaration was so bold and sincere that Ethan couldn't help but grin.
Liu Lan chuckled softly, hiding her smile behind her sleeve.
Liu Tieshan, who had just entered the Gu House carrying a soaked cloak, let out a rare, hearty laugh. "Immortal, is it? Hah! Do you even know what that means, brat?"
Xiaofan beamed. "It means I'll be super strong and fly through the sky and beat up all the bad guys!"
Tieshan gave him a long look before ruffling his hair. "Then keep dreaming, Yan'er. That's the first step."
The family laughed together, and Ethan found himself smiling too, despite the ever-present storm outside.
Later, after breakfast and some light packing, Ethan returned to his private room. He sat down, cross-legged again, still digesting everything.
Hope Gu. Aperture. Awakening.
This world had its own systems… but also its own soul.
And then, a phrase echoed in his mind—something he'd read long ago in a forum discussion about Reverend Insanity. A quote from Fang Yuan himself:
"Gu are the essence of Heaven and Earth. They are born of nature, refined by men. They are the foundation of all paths, and the key to cultivation."
He whispered it aloud, letting the words settle in his chest.
"Born of nature, refined by men…"
Ethan looked at his hand, curling his fingers slowly.
"Gu aren't just tools," he murmured. "They're… a reflection of the world. Of balance. They're alive. They grow, hunger, evolve. Using them isn't just casting a spell—it's a relationship. A gamble. A battle of will and harmony."
He remembered something else, another idea:
"A Gu Master does not cultivate energy. They cultivate Gu. It is the Gu who grants power. Without them, one is nothing."
Ethan's eyes narrowed with new understanding.
"In games, you level up your stats. Here? You level up your connection to Gu. Your control over them. Their abilities define yours."
He leaned back and exhaled slowly.
"No wonder Fang Yuan said humans are slaves to Gu—even if they rule them, they depend on them completely."
And yet, Hope Gu—the very first Gu—was fueled by hope.
That irony wasn't lost on Ethan.
"Even in a world as cruel as this… you can't begin your journey without a dream."
He closed his eyes.
Somewhere deep in his chest, something pulsed—quiet, steady.
It wasn't power.
It was potential.