Gu Qingfeng was an orphan.
Since childhood, he had no father or mother, alone and destitute. Just as Luo Xuan Ancestor had said earlier, he cared more about friends than anyone else, valued loyalty more than anyone else, and would never forget any benefactor who had once helped him.
Don't think that Luo Xuan Ancestor had merely given Gu Qingfeng bowl after bowl of Luo Xuan's Old Soup back then.
In Gu Qingfeng's eyes, those bowls of Luo Xuan's Old Soup were absolutely not just simple charity. More than that, they were a kind of motivation, a kind of encouragement, a kind of trust, and also a spiritual pillar.
Without the Luo Xuan's Old Soup that Luo Xuan Ancestor had given him back then, Gu Qingfeng truly didn't know if he could have endured those nine years in Shangqing Sect that were like hell.
After Luo Xuan Ancestor brought Gu Qingfeng back home, his excited emotions gradually calmed. He prepared fine wine and delicacies, and they began to drink heartily.
This drinking session lasted directly from afternoon until late at night.
The two of them also talked a lot, mostly about past events from back then.
As they chatted, somehow the conversation turned to Ye Tianlan.
"I say, kid Gu, even now I don't understand. How did things between you and Ye Tianlan back then just fall apart like that?"
"The matter between me and Ye Tianlan—others might not know, but how could you, old man, not know?"
"This old man does know about how Ye Tianlan set a trap for you back then. But later, after Ye Tianlan was executed by the Immortal Court and you rescued her, didn't you two reconcile? And back then, you even said you might form a Dao companion bond with Ye Tianlan. How come it just ended without any follow-up?"
"Old man, let past matters stay in the past. Don't ask about it anymore."
"Whether this old man asks or not isn't important. But there's one thing you should know, right?"
"What thing?"
"That girl Ye Tianlan has emerged from seclusion."
Gu Qingfeng nodded and said, "I've heard about this matter too."
"Ever since you were judged by the Immortal Dao back then, that girl has been in seclusion. For a full three hundred years, there was no movement. But now, as soon as news of your return spread, that girl emerged from seclusion. Clearly, she's coming for you."
"Let her come. It's time for a resolution between her and me."
"So you came to Shangqing Sect this time to resolve matters with Ye Tianlan?"
"I originally planned to come see my benefactor Elder Zhenjue and you few old men. Who would have thought Ye Tianlan would emerge from seclusion at this very time? Since she's emerged, I probably can't avoid it. Might as well settle it all at once."
"So that's how it is."
Luo Xuan Ancestor furrowed his brows and said, "But, kid, since you're coming, why make such a big fuss? Why send a Visiting Card? Now the whole world knows about it."
"Old man, do I look like someone who would send a Visiting Card?"
"What do you mean? Are you saying the Visiting Card wasn't sent by you?"
"Nonsense! I'm not that bored."
"When I heard about this matter, I felt something was off. Sending a Visiting Card simply isn't your style. But... now everyone outside is spreading that you sent a Visiting Card, saying you'll come pay respects to the mountain in a few days. If it wasn't you, then who sent it?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head. He didn't know either.
"This matter is truly strange."
Not far away.
Luo Laoba and Luo Xuan Mingyue had been standing there obediently the whole time. Neither dared to interrupt.
Luo Xuan Mingyue stared at Gu Qingfeng, growing more and more puzzled the longer she looked. The more she looked, the less he seemed like Monarch Chixiao.
As for what exactly was different, she couldn't say. In any case, he was far from the Monarch Chixiao she had imagined in her heart.
She had seen many portraits of Monarch Chixiao. In those portraits, the Monarch was aloof and domineering, cold and ruthless, like a supreme overlord looking down upon heaven and earth.
But looking at this guy—he had no cultivation, no destiny, no imposing aura. In short, he lacked everything. His speech and demeanor were also very casual. How could this possibly be the rumored Monarch Chixiao who defied all laws, acted recklessly, and was utterly arrogant?
Of course.
Despite having many doubts in her heart.
Luo Xuan Mingyue did not dare to voice her skepticism.
After all, Miss Hua had personally confirmed it.
Moreover, she clearly remembered what Luo Xuan Ancestor had said earlier: if the Gu Qingfeng confirmed by Miss Hua was truly Monarch Chixiao, he would definitely come to Food Immortal Town to visit him. In other words, as long as that Gu Qingfeng came to Food Immortal Town to visit him, he must be the real Monarch Chixiao.
Thinking carefully, Luo Xuan Mingyue felt this made sense.
In her opinion, if it were a fake Monarch Chixiao, there would be absolutely no reason to come visit her Ancestral Grandfather. There was simply no need.
As for whether this person was truly the real Monarch Chixiao, Luo Xuan Mingyue neither dared to say she believed it one hundred percent, nor dared to say she disbelieved it one hundred percent. It was contradictory—she was half-convinced, half-doubting.
At this moment, Luo Xuan Ancestor's voice came: "Mingyue, did your Shangqing Sect really receive a Visiting Card from kid Gu?"
"Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, the inner sect elders have already confirmed this matter."
"How do you know that Visiting Card was sent by kid Gu?"
"Because it bore the Chixiao Seal Command, and the wording on the Visiting Card referred to itself as the Monarch throughout."
Hearing this.
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, raised his cup to drink, and said, "I heard the other few impersonators can also condense the Chixiao Seal Command. Could it be one of them playing a joke on me?"
"Kid Gu, this is more than just a joke."
Luo Xuan Ancestor said worriedly, "I'm afraid the other party has some scheme. Precisely because of that one Visiting Card, the whole world is in chaos now. Many people from various major sects and powers have come, all wanting to see if you're truly the real Monarch Chixiao."
"What, if they know I'm real, do they still want to seek revenge for what happened back then?"
"That's hard to say. But, they're not the main concern. It's Shangqing Sect and the Immortal Court, especially the Immortal Court..." Gu Qingfeng knew Luo Xuan Ancestor was worried about his safety. He smiled and said, "It's fine. Old man, no need to worry about me. I know what I'm doing."
"That's good! That's truly good..." Since Gu Qingfeng said there was no need to worry, Luo Xuan Ancestor believed him. He looked at Gu Qingfeng, quite gratified, and said, "Kid Gu, you've changed. You've become much more mature than before, much steadier... Truly rare."
"People grow up eventually. After so many years and experiencing so many things, if I didn't become more mature and steady, wouldn't I be regressing instead of progressing?"
"Good, truly good!"
Looking at the calm and composed Gu Qingfeng here, Luo Xuan Ancestor felt both proud and gratified from the bottom of his heart. He said, "Kid Gu, don't think this old man is nagging. There's one thing I still want to advise you. Since you've returned, don't cause trouble anymore. Taking a step back opens up the sky. Some things, if you can endure them, just endure them. Going against heaven ultimately brings no good outcome."
Gu Qingfeng smiled without speaking. He raised his cup, clinked it with the old man's, and drained his wine in one go.