"Fei Kui?
Elder Jin, you said the person currently in Qinggui Garden is Fei Kui?
That Fei Kui who manages business for my grandmaster?"
"That's right, it's that lad."
Liu Yue and Tang Manqing exchanged a glance. They never would have imagined that the person Elder Jin referred to as 'one of our own' was actually Fei Kui. Upon hearing Fei Kui's name, both of them immediately thought of one person. Tang Manqing pressed further, "Elder Jin, is there another person who came with Fei Kui?"
"Yes, indeed. It seems to be a young lord."
Since Fei Kui managed business for the Black Buddha Lord and often entertained guests at the Yunchuan Garden Pavilion, Elder Jin was long accustomed to it. Business dealings naturally involved social engagements.
Hearing it was a young lord, Tang Manqing and Liu Yue were almost certain in their hearts. That fellow was none other than that surnamed Gu swindler who impersonated the Monarch!
"Truly, after searching high and low without success!"
Tang Manqing said indignantly, "I was just about to look for him, and I never expected that guy would be hiding here. Perfect, it saves me the trouble of searching everywhere for him!"
"This person's audacity is simply too great."
Liu Yue frowned and murmured. She was well aware that people from the Yanluo Immortal Mansion and Zhou Taihe's faction were both looking for this fellow. Yet, he dared to show his face at the garden pavilion. Today, both Yanluo Immortal Mansion and Zhou Taihe's people were present at the pavilion. If they found out this swindler was right here, wouldn't that be...
"Two young ladies, do you know that young lord?"
"You could say we know him, and you could say we don't. It's complicated, Elder Jin. You don't need to worry about our affairs. Just tell Sister Miao that we'll be in Qinggui Garden."
With that, the two immediately walked into Qinggui Garden.
They left behind a bewildered Elder Jin, who couldn't understand at all what the two young ladies had just meant. However, one thing he could tell: the relationship between the two young ladies and that young lord seemed more than just acquaintance. Judging by their tone, it sounded more like they were enemies.
Thinking this, Elder Jin dared not delay. He immediately ordered a nearby attendant to inform Sister Miao of this matter. Worried for the safety of the two young ladies, he also followed them into Qinggui Garden.
Among the many gardens within the maple forest, Qinggui Garden was neither the most luxurious nor the most imposing. But when it came to exquisiteness, Qinggui Garden was definitely among the best.
At this moment.
In Qinggui Garden, four maids stood respectfully at the entrance, awaiting orders.
Inside a pavilion made entirely of white jade, a short, rotund man with a dwarf-like stature was introducing the various delicacies on the stone table.
A young lord dressed in white sat casually on a stool, one leg crossed over the other, sipping wine while listening to the short man describe the delicious dishes.
That dwarf-like short man was none other than Fei Kui.
And the white-clad young lord was also none other than Gu Qingfeng.
In the afternoon, at Molan Peak, he had discovered the cave abode opened by Tang Hengshu and was completely certain she was still alive. Therefore, Gu Qingfeng was in an excellent mood and insisted on having a few drinks. Hearing from Fei Kui that Lin Xiang'er would be performing today, Gu Qingfeng had come.
Back at Linglong Villa, he had heard Lin Xiang'er play a tune, which gave him a sense of déjà vu. He wasn't sure if it was the melody or Lin Xiang'er herself that evoked this feeling. Last time, people from the Yanluo Immortal Mansion had caused trouble, so he hadn't been able to enjoy it fully. Gu Qingfeng thought to himself that since he happened to be here today, he must enjoy it to the fullest and also figure out why he felt that sense of familiarity.
"It really is you!"
Suddenly.
A voice filled with surprise and anger rang out. Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow slightly and looked over. Seeing Tang Manqing and Liu Yue, he couldn't help but smile in surprise. "Well, well, if it isn't my little niece and little granddaughter."
"Who's your little niece!" Tang Manqing snapped.
After her, Liu Yue also retorted, "Who's your little granddaughter!"
"Tang Yunhao and Dong Laohu both treat me as a sworn brother. One of you is Tang Yunhao's daughter, the other is Dong Laohu's grand-disciple. In front of me, aren't you just my little niece and little granddaughter?"
"You swindler!
Don't impersonate the Monarch in front of me. You're definitely not him!"
Liu Yue also chimed in, "I already know you're that Young Lord Chiyan from the Great Northwest, Gu Qingfeng. Don't you dare impersonate the Monarch in front of me!"
"As long as you're happy, call me whatever you like. Not only can you call me a swindler, you can even call me Old Wang next door."
Gu Qingfeng looked at the two of them and asked, "Did you come specifically looking for me, or what? Care to sit down and have a couple of drinks?"
Both Tang Manqing and Liu Yue knew Gu Qingfeng's strength was unfathomable, so they dared not act rashly. Tang Manqing stepped forward and said, "Let me tell you this: people from the Yanluo Immortal Mansion and Zhou Taihe's faction are both here right now."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"At Linglong Villa, you crippled an Immortal Dynasty noble son, played around with the Great Sun Radiance Dharma Form, openly challenged the Immortal Dynasty's dignity, and killed so many people from the Mingyu Branch at the Mountain-River Branch. The Yanluo Immortal Mansion and Zhou Taihe's people have been looking for you all along."
"Let them look. Do you think I'm afraid of them?"
"Do you really think you're the Monarch!"
"Heh, that's right. Today, I really do consider myself Gu Tianlang. What are you going to do about it?"
"You!"
Tang Manqing and Liu Yue felt such hatred their teeth itched with annoyance. At the same time, they were also quite worried.
It wasn't that they were worried about Gu Qingfeng himself.
To be honest, in their eyes, Gu Qingfeng was a complete and utter swindler. They couldn't be bothered with whether such a swindler lived or died.
But now, this swindler was swaggering about everywhere under the Monarch's name, which forced them to worry.
Liu Yue worried that the Yanluo Immortal Mansion would use this matter as a pretext to target her grandmaster.
Tang Manqing worried that her grand-uncle deeply believed this swindler's words and even wanted this swindler to stand up for the Yanluo royal family against the Immortal Dynasty. In Tang Manqing's view, if the Yanluo royal family pinned their hopes on this swindler, then the Yanluo royal family wouldn't be far from destruction.
Both Liu Yue and Tang Manqing wished this guy would disappear, preferably vanish without a trace, and stop swaggering about under the Monarch's name. Otherwise, the consequences would be truly unimaginable. To that end, they had even planned to join forces to deal with this swindler. Tang Manqing had also secretly taken the Immortal-Binding Rope that belonged to the Female Emperor Tang Hengshu, with the aim of first tying this fellow up.
However, this plan wasn't fully formed yet. How to act, when to act, and the method of action hadn't been discussed. If they acted rashly, what if they failed to capture this guy and instead caused a huge commotion?
"The way you two are looking at me seems a bit off."
Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze over the two of them. "You're not planning some crooked scheme, hatching some conspiracy, are you?"
Liu Yue and Tang Manqing's hearts both skipped a beat, feeling somewhat guilty. Especially under Gu Qingfeng's sweeping gaze, they felt extremely uncomfortable, as if they were standing naked before this guy. It gave them an indescribable sense of unease.