Although the Shangqing Sect of the Present Era was vastly different from the Shangqing Sect of the Ancient Era, Gu Qingfeng still felt a wave of emotion upon entering. The nine years he had spent cultivating here remained vivid in his memory, as if they had happened just yesterday.
"Kid Gu, so many years have passed. Why won't you let them off the hook? They've all had it tough too. Even though they talk about seeking justice from you, they don't have the guts for it. Just give them a break."
The words of Wine Immortal Zhen Yang reached Gu Qingfeng, leaving him puzzled. "Old drunkard, what do you mean? Who have I offended?"
"What are you playing dumb for with this old man? When you were outside just now, saying you'd drink and reminisce with them, wasn't it obvious you were planning to settle old scores?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a bitter smile. "You've misunderstood."
"Misunderstood how?"
"I have no intention of settling old scores with them."
"Then why tell them you'd drink and reminisce?"
"I genuinely want to invite them for a drink and to catch up on old times. There's no other meaning."
"Really?"
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang looked at Gu Qingfeng with deep suspicion. "Since when are you this kind-hearted? This doesn't sound like your style at all."
"I'm not a kid anymore. I can't go around fighting and killing all day like I used to. Everyone has it hard in this world. Why let some old, trivial matters from back then cause lifelong estrangement?"
After Gu Qingfeng said this, Wine Immortal Zhen Yang froze on the spot, his eyes wide as he stared at Gu Qingfeng as if looking at a monster. Beside him, Immortal Master Zhen Ting also seemed stunned. It took a good while before Wine Immortal Zhen Yang finally spoke. "Damn it, that doesn't sound like something the arrogant, uncompromising Kid Gu I remember would say. Tell me, kid, are you another imposter?"
"What do you think?"
"You can't be an imposter. From the first moment I laid eyes on you, old man knew you were Kid Gu. That indescribable, unorthodox aura of yours is something no one else could imitate. But... it's only been... how many years has it been? How have you changed so much you're like a different person? Changed so much this old man damn near doesn't recognize you."
"People change after experiencing a lot. Haven't you gone through the same?"
"But your change is way too drastic! Wait, you said you've experienced a lot. This old man has always wanted to know, what exactly happened to you back then? And where have you been these past three hundred years?"
Gu Qingfeng only half-truthfully said he had wandered around the Great Desolate Celestial Realm, not elaborating further. Wine Immortal Zhen Yang seemed very interested in this topic and wanted to get to the bottom of it, but Gu Qingfeng evaded and brushed him off with vague answers.
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang was no fool. Naturally, he understood Gu Qingfeng didn't want to discuss this, so he didn't press further, instead preparing to find a place to drink his fill with Gu Qingfeng.
At that moment.
Su Hua Fairy rushed over in a hurry, her expression seeming very anxious. The moment she saw Gu Qingfeng, she asked sternly, "Can you tell me seriously!"
"What's wrong?"
"Do you really plan to drink and reminisce with them tomorrow, or do you intend to settle the old scores from back then?"
"Didn't I already tell you? Drink some wine, catch up on old times, maybe offer an apology along the way, and clear the air about what happened back then."
"But... but..." Su Hua was both anxious and helpless. "But they all think you're going to settle old scores with them."
"Go explain to them that I don't mean that."
Su Hua sighed weakly in response. "I tried. But it's no use."
Just thinking about this matter gave Su Hua a headache. Earlier, she had intended to follow Gu Qingfeng back, but worried these people would misunderstand his intentions, she had specifically stayed behind to explain. What she never expected was that her explanation didn't help—it made things worse. The more she explained, the more muddled things became. The more she explained, the more those people became convinced Gu Qingfeng planned to settle old scores with them tomorrow.
"No way? They don't even believe what you say?" Gu Qingfeng laughed. "In my memory, whatever you say, nobody ever doubts it. Back in Yanluo, when I said I was Gu Tianlang, no one believed me. But when you said it, hey, everyone believed."
It would have been better if Gu Qingfeng hadn't said this. Hearing it, Su Hua's anger flared. Staring at Gu Qingfeng, she said through gritted teeth, "And whose fault is that!"
"Sister Su, let's be fair. What did I do to you?"
"Nine years ago in the Great Northwest, I announced to the world that you had died. But... the result? You didn't die... Now many people say I deliberately shielded you nine years ago. Some even say I... that you and I... Ugh! It's just... so infuriating!"
"Sister, you can't pin this on me. I never said I died. You're the one who went looking for trouble, announcing my death, which led to no one believing you now. What does that have to do with me? Huh? Just because you said I died, I have to stay dead?"
"You..." Su Hua was furious, seething with anger. She stared at Gu Qingfeng, feeling like crying but having no tears.
She felt wronged.
Even now, thinking back to the events of nine years ago filled her with regret.
Nine years ago, she had witnessed with her own eyes Gu Qingfeng being judged by the Sacred Judgment, reduced to ashes.
That was why she had announced his death to the world.
She never could have imagined that Gu Qingfeng would be alive again nine years later...
It was this incident that caused her reputation to plummet.
To be honest.
Su Hua didn't care about her reputation, nor did she mind what others said.
But she couldn't stop the gossip. And the rumors spread, becoming more and more outrageous. There were all sorts of stories. Some not only said she had deliberately shielded Gu Qingfeng, but also that she had long known Gu Qingfeng was the Chixiao King, that she had intentionally lied to the world about him being Young Master Chiyan to conceal his identity. What Su Hua found even more unacceptable was that some even said she had long been infatuated with Gu Qingfeng, so besotted she forgot her identity as a Nine Heavens Emissary, willing to do anything to be with him.
Earlier, outside, when she was explaining on Gu Qingfeng's behalf, someone had raised such doubts.
And there were many who doubted her.
It was because Su Hua tried to explain this that things got worse. The more she explained, the more suspicious people became, until eventually, she couldn't even explain it clearly herself.
Su Hua felt deeply wronged, utterly and completely wronged. She even felt like killing Gu Qingfeng.
"Should I go explain it then?"
Gu Qingfeng's words came, and Su Hua said angrily, "Why didn't you explain clearly just now? What's the use of going to explain now? It's already too late."
"How is it too late?"
"They've all gone back to their respective places now."
"Gone back to do what?"
"What do you think? They all think you're going to settle old scores with them. They've gone back to discuss the matter. When they come again tomorrow, it won't just be them. The elders of their various sects and clans, even their patriarchs, might all come..."