If only that Gu Qingfeng really were Monarch Chixiao!
Tang Yunhao sighed with such longing in his heart. He understood all too well that given the current predicament of the Yanluo Royal Family, only the appearance of Monarch Chixiao could possibly save them.
Speaking of which.
He had once shared the kind of friendship with Monarch Chixiao that involved visiting brothels together. Not only that, even his Dao Companion Ling Yan had been introduced to him by Monarch Chixiao back in the day.
For this, the two of them had always held Monarch Chixiao in gratitude. During their travels abroad, whenever they heard news of Monarch Chixiao, they would rush over immediately.
Alas.
Like most Chixiao People, hope after hope only brought them disappointment after disappointment.
Let alone those Monarch Chixiaos of unknown authenticity.
They didn't even know if the true Monarch Chixiao was still alive or not.
"Mother, if we refuse the Immortal Dynasty's enfeoffment, what if the Immortal Dynasty uses that as an excuse to move against us..." The speaker was Tang Manqing.
Despite her young age, she worried about the safety of the Yanluo Royal Family more than anyone else.
"Don't worry, my good daughter. As long as your father and I are here, the Yanluo Royal Family will not be in danger."
Ling Yan offered a faint smile, comforting her daughter.
But it was merely comfort.
In truth, she herself had no confidence. Originally, they could have counted on the Taiji Sect. However, after returning to the Taiji Sect yesterday, apart from a small faction that supported the Yanluo Royal Family, most leaned towards the Immortal Dynasty. Even the attitudes of Yanluo's Ancestral Patriarchs were ambiguous, fearful of inviting trouble.
How could Tang Manqing not hear the forced reassurance in her mother's words?
She was also acutely aware of how dire the Yanluo Royal Family's situation was. It was simply not something her parents could contend with. To be precise, facing the Immortal Dynasty, no amount of personal strength was of any use. Unless an existence that could make the Immortal Dynasty wary stepped forward, perhaps then the Yanluo Royal Family's plight could be resolved.
Was there such an existence in this world that could make the Immortal Dynasty wary?
Yes.
That would be Monarch Chixiao.
But was the old master still alive?
Tang Manqing did not know.
As for that Gu Qingfeng, even though her Ancestral Grandfather believed in him without a doubt, Tang Manqing simply did not believe it.
Just as she was worrying, her mind suddenly trembled slightly.
It was the sign of a Message Talisman.
Everyone could refine their own Message Talismans. One only needed to fuse a wisp of their own divine sense and intent during the refinement process. If someone held another's Message Talisman, crushed it, infused their own wisp of divine sense and intent, the talisman would then return to its owner.
If the distance between the two parties was relatively close, the recipient's mind would detect it quickly.
If the distance was far, the Message Talisman might 'drift' for a while.
Of course.
If an accident occurred along the way, the recipient would not receive the talisman.
This happened from time to time; one could say it was quite common.
But it wasn't absolute either. This thing depended on the quality of the Message Talisman, the mood of nature, and also on whether the wisp of divine sense was powerful enough. If the talisman's quality was excellent, the laws of nature were relatively stable, and the divine sense was strong enough, as long as the distance wasn't too great, the recipient would receive the talisman.
Tang Manqing did not have many friends, and even fewer possessed her Message Talisman. Only her two close sisters, Liu Yue and Lin Xiang'er, Sister Chu Jiaohong from Linglong Villa, and Sister Miao from Yunchuan Garden had them. However, Liu Yue was right here in the mausoleum grounds, and Lin Xiang'er, Sister Hong, and Sister Miao were all at the foot of Panlong Mountain. If they wanted to find her, at such a short distance, there was no need to use a Message Talisman; a secret sound transmission would suffice.
If it wasn't those four, then who could it be?
She thought and thought but couldn't remember giving her Message Talisman to anyone else.
Sensing the talisman drawing closer, after a short while, she saw a faint, flickering light, like a firefly, flying over. This was indeed Tang Manqing's Message Talisman. As she raised her hand, the talisman instantly appeared in her palm. Crushing it, a wisp of divine sense and intent flowed into her mind.
Beside her.
Ling Yan knew her daughter had just received a Message Talisman. She also understood her daughter was no longer a child and had her own private affairs, so she hadn't intended to inquire. But she noticed her daughter looked quite surprised after receiving the talisman and couldn't help but ask, "Manqing, what happened?"
"Sister Hua... she...
She's on her way here."
Sister Hua?
Ling Yan asked, "You mean Fairy Su Hua?"
Seeing Tang Manqing nod, Ling Yan pressed further, "Did you ask Fairy Su Hua to come?
Manqing, we cannot trouble Fairy Su Hua with our Yanluo matters. She is, after all, a member of the Immortal Dynasty and a noble Nine Heavens Emissary. Asking her to come would only put Fairy Hua in a difficult position, wouldn't it?"
"Mother, I know we cannot trouble Sister Su Hua with this matter, so I have never asked her for help."
"In that case, why is Fairy Hua coming?"
"She's coming because of Gu Qingfeng."
"Gu Qingfeng?
That person who claims to be Monarch Chixiao?"
"Yes, him."
Tang Manqing nodded and explained, "Nine years ago, Gu Qingfeng killed dozens of Immortal Dynasty nobles in the Great Northwest. It was only after Sister Su Hua personally stated that Gu Qingfeng was dead that the Immortal Dynasty relented. But now Gu Qingfeng is alive again and has appeared in our Yanluo Kingdom. Although that fellow's identity hasn't been recognized yet, it's only temporary. With so many people at the foot of Panlong Mountain, someone is bound to recognize him eventually."
"Mother, think about it. Sister Su Hua personally announced Gu Qingfeng's death. If everyone discovers he's still alive, wouldn't Sister Su Hua face questioning from the Immortal Dynasty? I was worried about this, so I sent a Message Talisman to Sister Su Hua a few days ago."
"So that's how it is."
Ling Yan pondered for a moment, then asked, "What did Fairy Su Hua say to you?"
"Sister Su Hua said in the Message Talisman..." Tang Manqing furrowed her brows, looking both incredulous and unable to comprehend. "Sister Su Hua said she personally witnessed Gu Qingfeng turn to ashes nine years ago. It's impossible for him to still be alive. And I could sense that Sister Su Hua was very certain about this."
"Fairy Hua's previous life was a Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden. If she says Gu Qingfeng turned to ashes nine years ago, then he definitely turned to ashes. It cannot be false."
"If that's the case, then who is this Gu Qingfeng?"
Tang Manqing opened her mouth in astonishment. "Could it be that fellow is even impersonating the identity of Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng? Heavens!"
Tang Manqing's feelings at this moment were as complex as they could be. All along, although she didn't believe that fellow was the true Monarch Chixiao, she hadn't doubted his identity as Chiyan Young Master. She had also thought that perhaps back then, Sister Hua, seeing that he had truly fused with a remnant wisp of the Monarch's consciousness, didn't want him to die at the hands of the Immortal Dynasty, and thus falsely announced his death.
But Tang Manqing never expected that Fairy Su Hua would say in the Message Talisman that she hadn't shielded him at all, but had truly witnessed Gu Qingfeng perish completely.
Just as Ling Yan said, Fairy Su Hua's previous life was a Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden. If she said someone was dead, then that person was definitely dead and absolutely could not still be alive.
But...
If that fellow who claims to be the Monarch isn't Gu Qingfeng, then who is he?
Wait!
This doesn't add up!
Su Hua thought carefully and suddenly felt the situation was very confusing. Because a few days ago, to verify whether that fellow was Chiyan Young Master, they had specifically invited Old Master Hong and others from the Great Northwest. They had all seen Chiyan Young Master in the Great Northwest, and back at Yunchuan Garden, they had all unanimously agreed that fellow was Gu Qingfeng!
Fairy Su Hua says Gu Qingfeng is dead.
Old Master Hong says that fellow is Gu Qingfeng.
Fairy Su Hua couldn't possibly be lying, and Old Master Hong had absolutely no reason to lie either.
What in the world is going on?