The more Qianling thought, the more chaotic her heart became; the more chaotic it became, the more flustered she grew; the more flustered she grew, the more worried she became; the more worried she became, the more fearful she felt.
She had originally intended to let everyone enjoy the Eight Treasures Feast first, but she was far too worried. She came to the garden alone and called Gu Qingfeng out.
"I say, big sister, what matter can't be discussed in front of everyone that you have to call me out here? People who don't know better might think there's something unspeakable going on between us."
Gu Qingfeng had been chatting animatedly with Qianniao and the people from the Xiaoluo Secret Realm in the garden. Seeing Qianling's troubled expression, he asked, "Judging by your worried and frowning face, are you overthinking things again?"
"I've thought it over and over, and I still feel it's not right. Let's leave this place first."
"As expected, it's the same again."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a bitter smile. "I say, big sister, could you have a little faith in me? Didn't I tell you? The Jinwu Li Clan won't dare to come looking for trouble with us anytime soon. Even if we take a step back and say they do come, I'll make them roll as far away as they can."
"But the problem now is no longer as simple as whether the Jinwu Li Clan comes looking for trouble or not."
"Besides the Jinwu Li Clan, what other problem is there?"
Qianling stared at Gu Qingfeng, pondered for a moment, and said seriously, "Right now, rumors are spreading outside that you might be... might be possessed by a Demon Spirit."
"What? A Demon Spirit?"
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh. "What's this? Does this lord look like some old demon to you?"
As he spoke, he seemed to realize something and asked, "Could it be that you think this lord is also a Demon?"
"I don't know, I don't want to know, and I don't care."
Qianling said solemnly, "Humans have good and bad, Demons also have good and evil."
"Well, well, in this Great Desolation where people turn pale at the mere mention of Demons, you're quite a breath of fresh air. You actually know that Demons can also be good or evil."
"I've seen a real Demon."
"You've seen a Demon?"
Gu Qingfeng was quite surprised. "Not simple at all. That Demon didn't devour you?"
"No. Demons are no different from Humans. If you don't provoke them, Demons won't trouble you either."
"It seems you've had some special experiences. Tell me what happened."
"How could I be in the mood to talk about that now?"
"What's the problem?" Gu Qingfeng asked. "Didn't you say you don't care if I'm a Demon or not? Since you don't care, there's really no need to agonize over whether I'm a Demon."
"The problem now isn't whether I care if you're a Demon, but the Fengyue Small World. As you just said, this Great Desolation is a place where people turn pale at the mere mention of Demons."
"Then you have even less reason to worry. I can tell you very responsibly, this lord is a proper, genuine Human, not a Demon."
"But what if someone insists you are a Demon?"
"Who would be so bored as to have nothing better to do?"
"The Jinwu Li Clan has framed others as Demons more than once, using such despicable means to plunge their opponents into eternal damnation. You scared four Taibai Golden Immortals to death on the Floating Sky Island. That kind of method can indeed intimidate the Jinwu Li Clan, and they might not dare to act rashly for a while. But if the Jinwu Li Clan spreads the rumor that you're a Demon behind the scenes, secretly fans the flames, and finds people to incite others, then we'll become the target of public criticism."
After a pause, Qianling continued, "The Jinwu Li Clan has always been despicable and shameless. They are absolutely capable of doing such a thing. Moreover, many of the powerful and influential in the Fengyue Small World are in cahoots with the Jinwu Li Clan. Many of them will also help the Jinwu Li Clan."
"So then?"
"So I think we should leave as soon as possible."
"Sister!"
Gu Qingfeng looked around, casually found a large rock, and sat down on it. "Even if we're leaving, it won't make a difference to wait a little longer, right? Let everyone have a good meal together later, then you can leave. It won't be too late."
"You're not coming with us?"
"I'll pass."
"What do you mean, 'pass'?"
Qianling said, "Are you afraid of implicating our Xiaoluo Secret Realm? Let me tell you, you've lived in our Xiaoluo Secret Realm for decades. Whether it's me, Qianniao, or the others, we've long considered you one of our own. Although I don't know who you really were before, we don't care about that. Even if you really are a Demon, I believe you are definitely not an evil Demon. What's more, you've given me guidance. And this time, getting involved with the Jinwu Li Clan—it's not you implicating us, it's us implicating you."
"What implication or not, sister! You've misunderstood my meaning. I'm not refusing to go back with you because I'm afraid of implicating you."
"Then why?"
"How could you forget? Back on the Floating Sky Island, I told you that these days, I'll accompany Qianniao to eat, drink, and have fun for a while longer. When we've had our fill of fun, then you can go back."
Gu Qingfeng said with a smile, "During the time I was recuperating in your Xiaoluo Secret Realm, that little girl kept pestering me every day, saying she wanted to come to the Fengyue Small World to eat the best food and play with the most fun things. She never had the chance before. Now that she has the chance, naturally, we should let the little girl eat and play to her heart's content. It's only right, considering how long she took care of me."
"And then?"
"And then? Then you go back, and I'll... play it by ear."
"What if the Jinwu Li Clan retaliates against you? What if they frame you as a Demon? What will you do when you become the target of public criticism? You can use some strange methods to scare four Taibai Golden Immortals to death, but if you're framed as a Demon and become the target of public criticism, then it won't just be four Taibai Golden Immortals dealing with you, nor just the people of the Jinwu Li Clan. It will be countless Immortals from Secret Realms large and small across the entire Dual-Pole Celestial Domain."
Gu Qingfeng took a puff of spirit smoke and said with some helplessness, "Sister, earlier I said I swallowed a mouthful of Chaos Qi, boasting about heaven and earth above, the universe and primordial chaos below. There might have been some element of bragging in that. But as for these so-called Secret Realms, large and small, in the Dual-Pole Celestial Domain, this lord truly doesn't put them in the slightest regard. Don't you think about it? This lord isn't a fool. If I didn't have some real ability, would I dare to be this arrogant?"
Qianling stared at Gu Qingfeng. She simply couldn't imagine what kind of person wouldn't put the Secret Realms, large and small, of the Dual-Pole Celestial Domain in their eyes.
Anyone with a normal mind wouldn't be so ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, right?
But if you said this guy's mind wasn't normal, he didn't seem that way either.
Just what was he relying on?
What was he relying on?!
Qianling felt like she was about to collapse.
"It seems if I don't show you a little of my skill today, you won't believe this lord has real ability, is that it? Alright then."
Gu Qingfeng pointed at the sun hanging in the sky. "Do you believe this lord can make Old Man Sun roll down the mountain with just a flick of my finger?"
Qianling felt a splitting headache and looked utterly weary. Staring at Gu Qingfeng, she felt a deep sense of powerlessness. "I'd be a fool to believe your words!"
"How about a bet?"
"You!"
Just as Qianling was about to speak, she suddenly noticed Qianniao running over. She immediately said to Gu Qingfeng, "Don't talk nonsense in front of Qianniao. I don't want her to worry!"