This day.
The sun was setting in the west, dusk approaching.
At the foot of Yunxia Mountain.
A man lay reclined on a worn-out lounge chair, one leg crossed over the other, his eyes slightly closed. He ate Crimson-Leaf Monster Fruits, drank fine wine, and hummed a little tune—utterly carefree and at ease.
His snow-white robes seemed to flutter gently with the rocking of the chair.
His ink-black hair danced softly in the breeze.
Eating the most poisonous demon fruits, drinking the strongest fine wine, enjoying the dusk at sunset.
In all the heavens and earth, who else could it be but Gu Qingfeng?
For several days now, he had gone nowhere, simply basking in the sun and drinking wine here at the foot of Yunxia Mountain.
He had originally thought to bid farewell to some old friends, but after some consideration, he decided against it.
What farewell was there to bid? And what farewell needed bidding?
Not bidding farewell was the best farewell.
So.
He just stayed here drinking, waiting.
Waiting for Wu Dao Mountain to descend.
Apart from this, Gu Qingfeng thought, he seemed to have nothing else to do.
Only waiting for Wu Dao Mountain to descend.
As for what would happen after Wu Dao Mountain descended.
Whether this journey would end in life or death.
Gu Qingfeng did not know.
Nor did he care to ponder the question.
What joy is there in life?
What suffering in death?
Who cares?
Gu Qingfeng did not care.
“When you gain, sing loudly; when you lose, let it rest. Much sorrow, much hatred—all passes leisurely. If there’s wine today, get drunk today; tomorrow’s worries can wait for tomorrow…” He drained a cup of wine.
Feeling utterly content, Gu Qingfeng couldn’t help but recite a poem, then sighed with regret. “What a pity, truly a pity. It’s just too lonely drinking alone. Had I known, I would have let that old fellow Huode live a few more days. Ah, miscalculated.”
With a *thump*, he opened another jar of wine.
This wine was the Nine Lives Nine Deaths that Great Mad Monk had procured from the forbidden grounds. This stuff was absolutely top-notch. Even those ancient demonic patriarchs who had lived for who-knows-how-many years would drool at the sight of it. It was brewed from the Nine Heavens Bright Milky Way and the Nine Nethers Dark Blood River. A single sip was like experiencing nine cycles of reincarnation—neither immortal, nor demon, nor Buddha. Unique in all the heavens and earth, each jar drunk was one less jar in existence.
Suddenly.
A soft, light voice drifted over.
“May I join you for a drink?”
As the words fell.
A figure seemed to descend from the sky.
It was a woman.
A woman of peerless beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms, her transcendent aura like that of a celestial fairy untouched by mortal dust.
Her snow-white robes fluttered faintly, as if amidst mist or within fog. Her long, ink-black hair cascaded naturally, a few strands dancing gently in the breeze.
It was Su Hua.
“Well, well.”
Gu Qingfeng’s brow raised slightly. Still reclining on the chair, he tilted his head, squinted his eyes, and smiled as he looked Su Hua up and down. “I was wondering who it was. So it’s Sister Su. What wind blows you here?”
“A Yin Wind.”
Su Hua replied expressionlessly. Without ceremony, she sat on the stone stool beside him, picked up the wine jar, and poured herself a cup.
“Yin Wind?”
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, studying Su Hua. “You don’t seem to be in a great mood. Were you really blown here by a Yin Wind? Something the matter?”
“Didn’t you just say drinking alone was too lonely? I’ve come to drink with you. Is that not allowed?”
“Drink with me? From where I’m sitting, you don’t look like you’re here to drink with me. More like…”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re here to cause trouble and demand answers.”
“Is that so? Since you’ve seen through me, I won’t hide it.” Su Hua lifted her cup, drained it in one go, and said coldly, “I am indeed here to demand answers from you.”
“That’s strange. I don’t think I’ve offended you, have I?”
Su Hua said nothing more, silently drinking cup after cup.
She didn’t know what kind of wine this was, only that it was strong and strange. One cup down, and her spirit felt upended, her body burning as if experiencing the cycle of life and death—utterly bizarre. After three cups, Su Hua felt she was already drunk.
Yet.
Even so.
She did not stop, for today she had come seeking drunkenness. But just as she was about to pour a fourth cup, a hand pressed down on the wine jar. It was none other than Gu Qingfeng.
“I say, Sister Su, a little is enough. Why keep drinking without end? What will you do if you get drunk later?”
“I want to get drunk. Is that not allowed?”
Su Hua tried to continue drinking, but the jar was held firmly by Gu Qingfeng; she couldn’t budge it.
“It’s not that I mind you getting drunk, but don’t use my wine to seek drunkenness. Great Mad Monk went through great trouble to get this. I only have a few jars left. If you drink them all, what will I drink?”
“I will use your wine to get drunk!”
Perhaps sensing Su Hua’s determination, Gu Qingfeng didn’t persist. He released his grip, letting Su Hua drink as she pleased.
“Sister, what exactly have I done to offend you? Is this necessary?”
After three more consecutive cups, Su Hua was truly drunk now, her eyes beginning to glaze over. She looked at Gu Qingfeng and said, “May I ask you a few questions?”
“Of course, ask away. We’re close, you and I.”
“Can you promise to answer me truthfully?”
“Of course. You know I’ve never been one to lie.”
“Good.”
Su Hua asked, “When and where did we first meet?”
“Why ask such a thing out of the blue?”
“Just answer me.”
“Our first meeting…” Gu Qingfeng thought for a moment. “Should be ten or twenty years ago? As for where… probably right here on Yunxia Mountain? Yes, that’s right, it was here. I remember clearly. At the time, you even made a bet with me—something about musical artistry? In the end, you lost and gave me a massage. What, have you forgotten?”
“Heh.”
Hearing this, Su Hua laughed—a laugh tinged with complexity, both helpless and angry.
“Let me ask you again. When and where did we first meet?”
“Was I wrong?” Gu Qingfeng thought carefully. Back then, he had just returned and was chatting idly with Huode at Yunxia Sect. He had first encountered Su Hua through a fragment of the Wu Dao Era and had even teased her a bit. He never expected Su Hua would later come straight to the Great Northwest.
“I’m certain our first meeting was at Yunxia Sect!”
“I’m not talking about this life. I mean our previous life.”
“Previous life? I say, Sister, have you had too much to drink? How would I know about previous life matters? Besides, whether I even have a previous life is still an unknown.”
“Whether you have a previous life may be unknown, but I have one.”
“And then?” Gu Qingfeng asked with curiosity. “Has your previous life awakened already?”
“Are you still playing dumb with me now?”