What was puzzling was that after Bai Susu arrived at the scene, she neither paid attention to the desperate pleas of Danshou and the others from the Lotus Secret Realm, nor did she acknowledge the explanations from Qinglu and the other elders of the Guardian Court. Even towards Hua Die Xianzi, Mu Lingyao, and others who were as close to her as sisters, Bai Susu merely gave a slight nod without uttering another word.
Instead, she walked directly towards the carriage drawn by the nine-headed Fire Cloud Crimson Flame Tigers. Everyone thought Bai Susu was preparing to seek justice for the people of the Lotus Secret Realm, including Hua Die Xianzi and Mu Lingyao, who believed the same.
However.
To everyone's astonishment, when Bai Susu reached the front of the nine-headed Fire Cloud Crimson Flame Tiger carriage, she actually gave a slight bow, lowered her head in salute, and said, "This humble girl, Bai Susu, pays her respects to the Great Old Master."
As soon as Bai Susu performed this salute, the previously clamorous scene instantly fell silent.
Danshou and the others were dumbstruck, Qinglu and the Guardian Court members were wide-eyed with shock, while Hua Die Xianzi and Mu Lingyao were utterly flabbergasted.
Everyone knew that Bai Susu was a Nine Heavens-appointed Luo Shang Immortal, a status of the utmost nobility. Whether you were the head of some illustrious immortal family or a senior expert cultivated for countless years, even the master of a secret realm would have to respectfully address Bai Susu as 'Shangxian' upon meeting her.
And now.
Such a noble Luo Shang Immortal, facing a mere mortal, not only bowed in salute but also humbly referred to herself as 'this humble girl' and respectfully addressed the other party as 'Great Old Master'.
Why?
Could it be that Bai Susu feared this mortal Great Old Master's unfathomable strength? That didn't make sense either. Bai Susu was the law enforcer of the Fengyue Small World, wielding the laws of the world. In other words, within the Fengyue Small World, her existence was akin to a sovereign. No matter how great one's abilities, they would be useless against her.
How could she possibly fear the other's strength?
But if not out of fear of his strength, then why?
Could it be that Bai Susu knew his identity?
That didn't make sense either.
Never mind that he had now lost all his cultivation and was no longer any 'Great Old Master'. Even if he truly had been one in the past, with Bai Susu's status as a Luo Shang Immortal, she shouldn't need to salute him, right?
Just what was going on?
No one present knew.
Everyone was utterly shocked.
However.
What was even more unbelievable was that in response to Bai Susu's bowing salute, that mortal Great Old Master remained seated in his chair, munching on bitter bodhi seeds, tilting his head, and squinting at Bai Susu with an indescribably nonchalant expression, as if he couldn't care less whether Bai Susu saluted him or not.
After a moment, he finally spoke in a casual tone, "Well, well, if it isn't Big Sister Bai?"
From the sound of it, did the two of them know each other?
When did they meet?
Others might not know, but Qian Ling clearly understood that Gu Qingfeng had never been to the Fengyue Small World before this—this was his first time. Moreover, after arriving in the Fengyue Small World, he had been with her the whole time. How could he possibly know Bai Susu?
Qian Ling simply couldn't figure it out.
"So, are you here to seek justice for them?"
"No."
Bai Susu shook her head and said, "Great Old Master, please do not misunderstand. These people brought this entirely upon themselves; they got what they deserved. The fact that the Great Old Master did not kill them is already an exceptional act of mercy."
At this, Danshou and the others were plunged into utter despair.
When Bai Susu had appeared on the scene, hope had ignited in their hearts. They all knew that as long as Bai Susu intervened, she would surely seek justice for them. Yet, they never imagined that after arriving, not only did Bai Susu not seek justice for them, she even treated this mortal Great Old Master with such reverence.
"Then why are you here?"
As Gu Qingfeng's words fell, everyone present was also curious. If Bai Susu hadn't come to seek justice for the Lotus Secret Realm people, then why had she come?
"Earlier, when the Great Old Master ascended to the eighty-first layer of the Tower of Stolen Gold and won the ten trillion prize, this humble girl has come specifically to deliver the prize money to the Great Old Master."
As she spoke, Bai Susu walked over, took out a white jade token, and handed it over, saying, "If the Great Old Master requires Immortal Stones, you may withdraw them at any time from any bank within our Fengyue Small World."
"Oh? That was quick. I thought it would take a few days."
"We dare not delay in matters concerning the Great Old Master."
If Bai Susu's earlier salute to Gu Qingfeng had still left people skeptical, then after hearing these words, the doubts in everyone's hearts completely vanished. From Bai Susu's attitude, everyone could see that Bai Susu wasn't merely wary of this mortal Great Old Master; it was a thoroughgoing reverence.
Yes.
Reverence.
Respect mixed with fear.
This couldn't help but make people wonder: what kind of terrifying strength did this mortal Great Old Master possess, and what kind of identity and background did he have, to make Bai Susu—a council elder of the Fengyue Small World, a Nine Heavens-appointed Luo Shang Immortal—treat him with such reverence?
No one knew the answer to this question, and no one could even imagine it.
Sitting in his chair, Gu Qingfeng took a puff of spirit smoke, lowered his head to play with the white jade token in his hand, and said with a smile, "Sis, you're suddenly being so nice to me. It's making this lord feel a bit uneasy, you know?"
"The Great Old Master worries too much. This humble girl has prepared fine wine and delicacies at the waterside pavilion to celebrate the Great Old Master's ten trillion prize. Might the Great Old Master honor us with his presence?"
"Oh?"
Gu Qingfeng seemed rather surprised. "Big Sister Bai, I never realized you were so good at handling affairs."
"It is this humble girl's honor to be of service to the Great Old Master."
Gu Qingfeng glanced at her, a playful smile on his lips. "It's not going to be another 'Dragon Gate Formation' like last time, is it?"
Hearing Gu Qingfeng mention the previous incident, Bai Susu's expression changed slightly, seeming somewhat embarrassed and awkward, with a hint of shyness. She raised her head, about to reply, but upon meeting Gu Qingfeng's deep, abyssal, tranquil, and unadorned gaze, she immediately lowered her head again and said, "Please rest assured, Great Old Master, it won't be like that. This humble girl sincerely wishes to congratulate the Great Old Master on winning the ten trillion prize."
"Is that so..." Gu Qingfeng seemed somewhat doubtful. After a while, he finally spoke, "Alright then, let's do it. You know, this lord loves drinking more than anything, especially when it's wine you're treating. Come on, let's not just stand here."
"Great Old Master, please go first. I will follow shortly."
Bai Susu instructed, "Xiao Ya, first escort the Great Old Master to the waterside pavilion."
Bai Susu's personal maid, Xiao Ya, nodded and walked over, saying, "Great Old Master, let's go. I'll take you to the waterside pavilion."
Gu Qingfeng snapped his fingers and ordered, "Old Ma, drive the carriage. We're off to drink."
Ma Wangye was perhaps the only person present who knew that Gu Qingfeng had met Bai Susu before. As for what Gu Qingfeng and Bai Susu had discussed, or why Bai Susu revered Gu Qingfeng so deeply, Ma Wangye wasn't entirely clear either. Without overthinking it, he jumped onto the carriage, brandished the Fire Cloud Whip in his hand, and drove the carriage away.