Yu Heng’s heart gave a jolt, and he dared say nothing more, for at this moment he suddenly felt the awe emanating from the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant within him. It wasn’t just him; every Chixiao person in the great hall felt the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant’s reverence. This reverence seemed innate, deeply ingrained, causing their minds, even their souls, to tremble slightly. None dared remain seated any longer; they all stood up.
“It’s one thing if outsiders don’t believe me, but you are all old comrades from the Chixiao Sect back in the day. You should know very well what the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant is. If you don’t believe me, do you not even believe the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant within yourselves?”
The Chixiao people present weren’t disbelieving the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant. Precisely because they believed, they treated Gu Qingfeng with such respect.
They understood better than anyone that under heaven, the only one who could command the awe of the Bloodsha Dragon-Elephant was the Monarch.
However.
They truly couldn’t tell whether Gu Qingfeng had merely fused with a wisp of the Monarch’s residual consciousness, or if he really was the Monarch.
Gu Qingfeng’s expression was placid, his words rather cold as he continued, “Back in the Great Northwest, I told them my identity too, but they didn’t believe me. So I, your lord, had to settle for the next best thing, forced to falsely claim I’d fused with a wisp of my own residual consciousness. But it was just a wisp. What can a single wisp of residual consciousness accomplish?
Nothing at all.”
“Moreover, haven’t you considered, if I really had just fused with a wisp of my own residual consciousness, why would I come out impersonating myself? What would be the point?
To live the high life?
Scam a few magic treasures?
If that were truly the case, I could have just told you I’d fused with Gu Tianlang’s residual consciousness. That would at least make me his inheritor. Given our past friendship, you wouldn’t have treated this inheritor of yours poorly, would you?”
“When you think about it, you people have seen all sorts of scenes, big and small. Why are you so hung up on this one matter?
Furthermore, do you really think I, your lord, have nothing better to do?
Travel all the way from the Great Northwest to Yanluo just to trick you?
Wouldn’t I be happier drinking my little wine and listening to my little tunes all day?
If I were impersonating, why would I go to all the trouble of messing with your Crimson-Letter Sect’s trivial affairs? Am I sick in the head?”
Gu Qingfeng’s words moved every Chixiao person present.
Thinking it over carefully, they realized he had a point.
Over the years, they had encountered quite a few frauds impersonating the Monarch. Most of those who impersonated the Monarch did so to swindle some treasures from the Crimson-Letter Sect. Even those frauds who weren’t after treasures were mostly mysterious and elusive, rarely showing their faces, like dragons glimpsing a head but never the tail.
Never had there been a fraud who would personally discipline Chixiao people who had defected to the Immortal Court. Nor had there been one who would stir up a huge fuss for the sake of the Crimson-Letter Sect and openly make an enemy of the Immortal Court. Doing so made no sense whatsoever; not only was it pointless, it would invite fatal disaster.
Could it be that the man before them was truly the Monarch?
No one dared be a hundred percent certain.
Yes.
They didn’t dare.
After all, this concerned the Monarch’s identity. Who would dare recognize him recklessly?
What if he was a fake?
They weren’t afraid of losing some wealth.
Nor were they afraid of being ridiculed by the world.
The only thing they feared was recognizing a fake, which would be a grave injustice to the true Monarch.
“Alright, everyone sit down. I, your lord, didn’t come today to prove my identity. Whether you believe me or not doesn’t matter to me. Knowing you’re all alive, and living well, puts my mind at ease.”
Gu Qingfeng stood up and said, “As for the matter of Zhou Taihe, you don’t need to worry. Since I’m here, I’ll take care of it one way or another. There’s not much else to say. In the future, don’t go stirring up trouble anymore. You’re all getting on in years, with flocks of descendants. What’s the point of all that fuss? Just live out your days in peace and stability.”
“The wine’s about done too. I have some business at the Imperial Mausoleum, so you all keep drinking.”
Gu Qingfeng intended to leave.
It wasn’t that his mood was affected; he genuinely had matters to attend to. Just moments ago, he had received a message from that old scoundrel Tang, who urged him repeatedly to go to the Imperial Mausoleum as soon as possible.
Just as he was about to depart, *thump*—Yu Heng knelt on the spot. Immediately after, Feng Xu, Elder Hong, and all the other Chixiao people also knelt. Though Haoyang and Liu Yue didn’t understand why, with everyone kneeling, they didn’t dare delay and knelt as well.
“Sir, please forgive our discourtesy. It is not that we do not believe, but this matter concerns the Monarch’s name. We truly dare not recognize you recklessly. If it is later proven that you are indeed the Monarch, this old man will certainly atone with my death!”
With that, Yu Heng was the first to kowtow, swearing his oath.
Then, Feng Xu and all the other Chixiao people spoke in unison: if Gu Qingfeng was proven to be the Monarch, they too would willingly atone with death. They all kowtowed, pledging their word.
“Prove?
Prove with what?”
Gu Qingfeng shook his head, his tone indifferent. “I, your lord, have no way to prove I am myself. How could you prove it?”
“We old folks may not be able to prove your identity, but the Buddha Lord can!”
“Dong Laohu?”
Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. “That greedy bastard Dong Laohu? Give him a treasure and he might be able to tell real from fake, but counting on him to prove my identity? Might as well count on a blind man!
Besides, isn’t there already someone in Yanluo impersonating me?
And I hear Dong Laohu meets him every now and then?
If that bastard could tell the difference, would that impersonator in Yanluo still be running free?”
“The Buddha Lord has said that the Monarch in Yanluo is a fake!”
“Nonsense!
Of course he’d say that!”
Gu Qingfeng laughed scornfully. “I, your lord, obviously know he’s a fake!”
Remembering the fellow impersonating him in Yanluo, Gu Qingfeng asked again, “Dong Laohu knows that guy is fake, but does he know who that person’s identity is?”
“This… the Buddha Lord hasn’t said. He only said it was a fake Monarch.”
“Does Dong Laohu know if that person is male or female?”
“This…
We don’t know.”
Yu Heng shook his head.
“He doesn’t even know if it’s a man or a woman, so how does he know the guy is fake?
And since he already knows it’s fake, why does Dong Laohu let that guy keep impersonating me?”
“The Buddha Lord only told us it was a fake Monarch, and instructed us old folks not to inquire further into the matter.”
“This sounds a bit odd. He knows it’s fake, yet tells you not to ask.”
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, pondering carefully. The more he thought, the more suspicious it seemed. He murmured, “Looks like Dong Laohu is tacitly allowing that guy’s existence. Could it really be her?”
“Regardless, please be patient and wait a few days, sir. Once the Buddha Lord returns, if he proves you are truly the Monarch, we…
We will certainly atone with our deaths!”