In his daze, Heishui saw Old Mei, Black Buddha, and the other Chixiao people inexplicably kneel down. Heishui asked in confusion, "I say, what are you all kneeling for out of the blue? I'm just having hallucinations, seeing the Monarch, it's not real..." As he spoke, Heishui suddenly realized something was wrong. If his vision of the Monarch was just a hallucination, Old Mei and the others would never kneel. Could it be that the Monarch he saw wasn't an illusion, but real?
Thinking of this, Heishui gave a violent shudder. Just as he tried to stand up, perhaps due to severe mental exhaustion causing his physical body to be utterly fatigued, this sudden agitation caused him to faint on the spot.
The truth was exactly as Heishui had realized. What he saw was not an illusion, but the real Gu Qingfeng.
"What's going on with Er Gou? Why is his essence, energy, and spirit so weak?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced over, then noticed that not only was Heishui's spirit weak, but the spirits of Black Buddha and the other Chixiao people were each weaker than the last. Even Old Mei's mental state wasn't too good.
"Monarch, after we returned from Panlong Mountain, we've been waiting here for you. We waited and waited, but you never came. Everyone was very worried, so they used their divine senses to search for your whereabouts. The result..." Old Mei said cautiously while kneeling on the ground.
Gu Qingfeng shook his head. "What a mess you've made of things."
With that, he gently raised a hand. No radiance flashed, no spiritual power circulated, yet the natural energy within the hall underwent a sudden transformation. Yin and Yang merged, the Five Elements condensed and evolved, as if the Taiji itself had stirred. In an instant, pure spiritual energy surged forth like ocean waves, engulfing everyone present. It seeped into their bodies through their pores and acupoints, irrigating their physical forms and Dharma appearances, while also nourishing their souls and minds.
This sensation was like a sudden enlightenment, or like the soul leaving the body. It made their blood surge and their spirits refreshed. In the blink of an eye, the previously weakened Chixiao people each became full of vigor, their bodies seemingly brimming with power.
What kind of technique was this?
No one knew.
Black Buddha didn't know, nor did any of the other Chixiao people.
Even Old Mei, the demon immortal who had lived for who knew how many years, wore a look of utter bewilderment. Beyond bewilderment, there was more shock, disbelief, and awe—awe at the fact that the Monarch's current existence was already beyond his comprehension.
Not long after, Heishui, who had been unconscious, also woke up. Opening his eyes and looking at Gu Qingfeng, he seemed unable to believe it.
"What's the matter, Er Gou? Still don't believe I'm Gu Tianlang?"
"Monarch! I... I was wrong!"
Heishui, terrified, scrambled up from the ground, not daring to raise his head, and quickly knelt down.
"When did you all learn this habit of kneeling?" Gu Qingfeng frowned. "What, after I've been gone all these years, have you forgotten the old rules of the Chixiao Sect?"
The Chixiao Sect didn't have many rules, just a handful. And the very first one was: no kneeling.
However, none of the over three hundred Chixiao people present stood up. Old Mei spoke first, "Monarch, it was our blindness before. We failed to recognize your identity at the foot of Panlong Mountain. We hereby beg for your forgiveness."
"Speaking of that matter, there's one thing I've never quite understood." Gu Qingfeng looked at the crowd. "To be fair, after three hundred years, it's understandable that you didn't recognize me. After all, it's been so long since we last met, and I'm vastly different from three hundred years ago, almost like a different person. Plus, with so many people in this world impersonating me, your skepticism is completely reasonable. The only thing I can't understand is this: even if you didn't believe me when I said it, and even if you didn't believe others when they said it, that's fine. But why did you believe it the moment that little lass Su Hua opened her mouth?"
Neither Black Buddha nor Heishui knew how to answer this question. The others were even more clueless. Old Mei also remained silent, offering no reply.
"Well? Is it because you think the young lady is pretty?" Gu Qingfeng looked at them with a playful smile, then his gaze fell on Heishui. He walked over, squatted down, and asked, "Hmm? I'm asking you, Er Gou."
"Monarch, no... you've misunderstood."
"Misunderstood what? Isn't it the truth?"
"It is true, but... but we really didn't believe her because Fairy Su Hua is pretty."
"Then why?"
"We... we all trust Fairy Su Hua's character, that's why..."
"Oh ho, looks like there's a story here. Trust her character? Er Gou, you're quite familiar with that little lass Su Hua, aren't you?"
"Not too familiar. I've only... only met Fairy Su Hua a few times."
"You've only met a few times, and you damn well trust her character? I say, Er Gou, you're something else. You're a married man, and you're still this dishonest?"
"Monarch, it's not like that, really not! You know me, I'm a rough fellow, I don't have that many tricks up my sleeve!"
Heishui was on the verge of tears, his face mournful as he kept explaining. Perhaps his mouth was too clumsy—the more he explained, the less clear it became, and the worse it sounded. In the end, he could only look to Old Mei for help.
Old Mei said, "Monarch, the situation is like this. Fairy Su Hua's previous life was the lofty Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden. In this life, she serves as the Nine Heavens Emissary. Moreover, she is kind-hearted, virtuous, and approachable. She has helped our Chixiao Sect many times. Over the past century in the Modern Era, if not for Fairy Su Hua, irreconcilable conflicts would likely have already erupted between our Chixiao Sect and the Immortal Dynasty. Therefore, everyone has always trusted Fairy Su Hua deeply."
As soon as Old Mei finished, Heishui nodded vigorously. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Monarch, what Old Mei said is exactly what I wanted to say. That's why I trusted Fairy Su Hua too, definitely not because she's pretty. Please don't misunderstand, Your Majesty!"
"Since that's the case, then get up."
Gu Qingfeng was indeed somewhat displeased about this matter, but it was just displeasure, not anger, and he wouldn't dwell on it. Bringing it up today wasn't to deliberately punish them, but just to tease them a bit, nothing more.
"Tiger, this is your territory, right?"
Gu Qingfeng's sudden question left Black Buddha Dong Tiger somewhat confused. He asked doubtfully, "Monarch, what do you mean...?"
"Is your brain addled or crushed by a door? Since it's your territory, what are you standing around for? Hurry up and serve good wine and food. Bring out all the fine wine you've been hoarding."
Hearing this, Dong Tiger immediately perked up, his whole person becoming excited. He quickly nodded. "Alright, no problem, Monarch. You wait, I'll go right now."
"Let's get this straight first—if it's not good wine, I won't drink it. You're known as the richest man in Yanluo; don't you dare tarnish your big tycoon's reputation."
Gu Qingfeng waved a large hand and declared, "Let's go, brothers! Today, we drink until we drop, until our souls leave our bodies—that's the only way to make it count!"