"I'll ask one more time, is there anyone else who wants to make a move?"
Gu Qingfeng's voice rang out again, yet still, no one dared to respond.
"Since no one wants to make a move, let's have a talk."
Gu Qingfeng walked over to the table, picked up some spirit fruits, and began eating. He said, "To be honest, I'd almost completely forgotten about the events of those past years. But hearing you all bring them up just now, and seeing how much resentment you all seem to harbor, each one of you shouting about killing and seeking revenge, all wanting to settle the scores from back then."
"Seeking revenge... that's understandable. After all, I did kill quite a few of your people back then. As for the events of that time, I don't want to say much. I killed them, that's a fact. I don't want to explain it excessively. So, if you want revenge today, I can completely understand. However..." His tone shifted, "This business of revenge depends on strength. If you have the strength, it's called revenge. If you come seeking revenge without the strength, that's not revenge, that's suicide."
"Whether you're from the Four Great Families or the Seven Great Sects, I'll make this clear today: if you want revenge, come at me. I'll be ready anytime."
"At the same time, I hope you understand this: revenge isn't impossible, but when you seek it, you'd better have your affairs in order. Although I'm a man of leisure, I'm not so idle that I'll waste time messing around with you."
"I've rambled on quite a bit. I don't know if you've understood me. If not, then let me put it plainly for you: today's matter ends here. But only today's. I can forgive you this once, but there absolutely will not be a second time. If you dare to offend again, come one, I'll kill one; come two, I'll kill a pair; come however many, I'll kill that many, until I've completely exterminated you all!"
"You can take this as a warning or a threat, just remember what I've said."
Gu Qingfeng's meaning was very clear, summed up in eight words: If you dare offend again, kill without mercy!
After speaking to the Four Great Families and the Seven Great Sects, he then looked towards the Immortal Dynasty side. "Does the Immortal Dynasty have someone in charge here?"
Looking at Yun Bao, Gu Qingfeng said, "Yun Bao, I hear you're the Immortal Dynasty emissary who descended upon Yanluo this time, is that right?"
Yun Bao was terrified, so terrified he not only dared not respond, but even lacked the courage to meet Gu Qingfeng's gaze.
In the end, it was Chief Administrator Xun Nian who stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute. "I am Xun Nian, Chief Administrator of the Immortal Dynasty. May I ask what your intentions are?"
"Xun Nian?"
Hearing this name, Gu Qingfeng's eyebrows rose slightly. "Of the Haoran Xun Clan?"
"Indeed!"
"Since you're from the Haoran Xun Clan, that's even better. Let me ask you, has the Immortal Dynasty descended this time to subjugate Yanluo?"
"Yes."
"And if Yanluo does not submit?"
"Then we shall use force to intimidate."
"And if force fails to intimidate?"
"If intimidation fails, we can only regretfully return to the Immortal Dynasty to report our mission's failure."
"Fine. In that case, go back and report."
This...
Xun Nian was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
"On your way back, tell the Immortal Dynasty this: there's no need to send anyone else to Yanluo in the future. They can come directly to me."
Gu Qingfeng's words not only startled Xun Nian, but also made Tang Laoguai's heart tremble. He asked, "Kid Gu, this... you don't need to do this."
In Tang Laoguai's mind, the fact that Gu Qingfeng was willing to step forward this time to help their Yanluo resolve this urgent crisis was already something he was immensely grateful for. He hadn't expected Gu Qingfeng to, with a single sentence, shoulder all of Yanluo's troubles.
Moreover, he knew that Gu Qingfeng always meant what he said. If he said this, he would definitely act accordingly.
In other words, as long as Gu Qingfeng gave his guarantee, their Yanluo would no longer need to worry about the danger of being annexed by the Immortal Dynasty in this world.
"Since I'm helping, I might as well solve it completely. Consider it me doing something for Hengxi. Besides, I have an account to settle with the Immortal Dynasty sooner or later anyway. Adding your Yanluo's matter to it doesn't make much difference."
Great kindness needs no thanks. Tang Laoguai understood this principle well, so he said nothing more.
"Earlier, our Immortal Dynasty's Noble Scions offended you. On their behalf, I offer my apologies. If we depart, might you be willing to forgive them?"
In Xun Nian's view, with a mysterious, unfathomable expert like Gu Qingfeng present today, the matter of Yanluo could only be abandoned. The most important thing now was to safely bring Noble Scions like Long Qianren back.
"Of course."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng agree so readily, Xun Nian felt a surge of joy in his heart. Just as he was about to reply, Yun Bao's voice secretly transmitted to him: "Xun Nian, what do you mean? Do you really intend for us to just leave Yanluo like this?"
"Otherwise, what do you want to do? Fight him? I'm afraid we wouldn't even know how we died!"
To be honest, Yun Bao didn't know what to do either.
But to leave Yanluo just like that... he really couldn't accept it.
To be precise, he couldn't bear the loss of face.
In his previous life, he had been torn apart alive by Lord Chixiao.
Now, in this life, he encounters in Yanluo a monarch whose authenticity is unknown. If he flees in fear, once this matter spreads, his reputation would be utterly ruined. He would never be able to hold his head high again, and his future career in the Immortal Dynasty would likely be affected.
"This person clearly fears the majestic authority of our Immortal Dynasty. He absolutely wouldn't dare to kill the Immortal Dynasty's Noble Scions. Since that's the case, why should we fear him!"
"What if he dares? If something really happens to Long Qianren or Liuguang Que, can you bear that responsibility?"
This responsibility, Yun Bao could not bear.
Liuguang Que was the trump card of the Liuguang Family, and the Liuguang Family was a prominent Immortal Clan currently riding high in the Present-Ancient Era.
As for Long Qianren, he came from the ancient Immortal Clan, the Cloudtop Long Family, with its powerful background. That responsibility, Yun Bao could bear even less.
"Emissary Yun Bao, I advise you to give up. If you truly anger this person, I'm afraid the issue won't just be about bearing responsibility then. Whether we can even survive will be an unknown!"
Qian He's transmitted voice made Yun Bao's heart tremble with even greater fear. He took a deep look at Qian He, thought it over carefully, and finally abandoned the notion in his heart.
"Well? Have you all considered it clearly?"
Gu Qingfeng was not only asking the Immortal Dynasty, but also the Four Great Families and the Seven Great Sects.
As his words fell, the Immortal Dynasty's Chief Administrator Xun Nian was the first to step forward, cupping his fists and saluting. "We have considered it clearly. As long as you are willing to release our Immortal Dynasty's Noble Scions, we will set off tomorrow to return and report."
With even the Immortal Dynasty saying this, the patriarchs and sect masters of the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects dared not hesitate in the slightest. They all stepped forward one after another, expressing that they would leave immediately and absolutely not pursue the matters of the past.
"Fine. I've noted your words. One last thing from me: I hope you all keep your word. Don't harbor any illusions of luck. If I decide to kill you, it would be as easy as slaughtering pigs and dogs."
Gu Qingfeng stood there, hands clasped behind his back, his pair of profound, dark eyes sweeping across the scene. Everyone present felt their hearts tremble with fear.
"Today's matter ends here!"
As his words fell, Gu Qingfeng didn't even bother to look. With a wave of his hand, the myriad supernatural abilities and Immortal Arts filling the sky instantly vanished into nothingness, as if they had never existed. At the same time, the over thousand people who had been Restrained in mid-air like statues all fell to the ground.
"Whoever's people they are, come and claim them."