After waiting a while without any response from Gu Qingfeng—not even the slightest reaction—Qian Niao couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "You...
Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"You've already said everything that should and shouldn't be said. What else is there for me to add?"
"But...
I mustered all my courage to say these things to you. How can you act like nothing happened, without any reaction at all?"
If she didn't know that Gu Qingfeng was immensely powerful and far beyond her own strength, Qian Niao would have really wanted to give this guy a good beating right then and there. She had prepared for a long time to say these words, finally gathering the courage to speak her mind. Yet, to her utter disbelief, not only did this guy show no reaction whatsoever, he even acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, still sitting there drinking.
This made Qian Niao feel a mix of shame, anger, and embarrassment, as if she had confessed her feelings to someone only to have them dismiss it entirely—a blow to her pride.
"What kind of reaction do you want?"
"What do you mean, 'what kind of reaction do I want'?
My Great Lord!
We've spent decades together day and night. Now that you're about to leave, don't you have anything to say to me?"
Gu Qingfeng asked with a smile, "Do you really want me to go?"
"What if I don't want you to?"
Qian Niao pouted and said softly, "Just because I don't want you to, does that mean you won't leave?"
"Of course. If you don't want me to go, then I won't. Didn't I tell you before? As long as you're willing, I'll stay with you until the end of time!"
Qian Niao rolled her eyes. "I'm not a three-year-old child. Only a fool would believe your nonsense."
"But I swore an oath."
"I could swear hundreds of oaths like that in a single day. It doesn't mean anything anyway."
"Alright then."
Gu Qingfeng smiled helplessly.
"And then?"
Gu Qingfeng asked, puzzled, "What do you mean, 'and then'?"
"You really have nothing to say to me?"
"Didn't I just say? If you don't want me to leave, then I won't."
"Save that nonsense for fooling children!"
"Then what exactly do you want me to say?"
"You!
!"
Qian Niao glared at Gu Qingfeng, her heart filled with resentment that made her teeth itch. She took a deep breath and said, "Forget it, I won't force you. You're the lofty Great Lord, and I'm just a tiny, insignificant little immortal. A Great Lord like you naturally wouldn't have anything to say to a little immortal like me."
"Little sister, some words are better kept in the heart. There's no need to say them out loud—it makes them vulgar. Especially when it comes to emotions; they're sincere by nature, but once spoken, they lose their flavor. So sometimes, not saying something doesn't mean it isn't there."
Gu Qingfeng's voice carried over. Though Qian Niao scoffed dismissively on the outside, inwardly she felt quite pleased.
"Come here."
Gu Qingfeng beckoned with his hand. Qian Niao asked, "What for?"
"You personally sewed a robe for me. I can't just take it for nothing. As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another."
"I don't want anything from you."
"Really? You don't want it?"
"No!"
Qian Niao turned away, shaking her head without even looking.
"Fine. If you don't want it, then forget it."
"Wait!"
Qian Niao suddenly turned back. "What were you going to give me?"
"Didn't you say you didn't want it?"
"Well, now I do. Is that not allowed?"
"If you want it, just say so."
Gu Qingfeng smiled and took out a crystal-clear bracelet. Inside the bracelet, something resembling mist or chaos seemed to be evolving and transforming. Seeing it, Qian Niao's eyes went wide, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "What a beautiful bracelet! Is it really for me?"
"Of course."
Gu Qingfeng handed her the bracelet. "I crafted this myself."
"Really? When did you make it? I didn't know."
"There are plenty of things you don't know about."
"Hmph!"
Qian Niao put on the bracelet, unable to take her eyes off it, growing fonder of it the more she looked. "Does this bracelet have a name?"
"Let's call it the Qian Niao Bracelet."
"The Qian Niao Bracelet? Named after me?"
Qian Niao felt both surprised and delighted, almost wanting to rush over and kiss Gu Qingfeng.
"When you have some free time later, try refining and cultivating this bracelet."
"What mysteries does it hold?"
"You'll find out once you refine it. After refining it, keep nurturing it. Whatever you do, don't lose it."
"I would never lose it."
As Qian Niao lovingly admired the bracelet, she thought to herself: Even if I lose myself, I would never lose the bracelet you gave me.
"That's good."
"Hey, when do you plan to..." Qian Niao seemed to sense that Gu Qingfeng was about to leave again. After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, "When do you plan to leave?"
"We'll see. I'm not sure yet."
"Oh."
Qian Niao let out an 'oh,' then lowered her head to look at the bracelet, her mood clearly dampened. After a while, she asked again, "Will I ever see you again?"
"What a silly question. It's not like we're parting forever, of course you'll see me again."
"But if... if after you leave, I miss you... where can I find you?"
"That..." Gu Qingfeng shook his head, took a swig of wine, and said, "It would be very hard for you to find me. I don't even know where I'm going myself, so how could you possibly know where to look? Besides, the Great Wasteland is vast and full of dangers. You shouldn't go running around. When I have some free time, I'll come visit you."
"Really? You'll really come back to see me?"
"Do you want me to swear a blood oath?"
"No! I believe you!"
After saying that, Qian Niao added, "If you're going to leave, could you... could you leave quietly while I'm in seclusion?"
"Why's that?"
Gu Qingfeng said with a smile, "Can't bear to see me go?"
Turning away, Qian Niao whispered, "I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back my tears..." Gu Qingfeng didn't respond, simply pouring himself another drink.
"Since you're leaving, can you at least tell me your name? I don't want to have known you for so long, only for you to leave without me even knowing your name."
"Me? My surname is Gu."
"I know your surname is Gu. You told Ling'er Jie, and she told me. I just want to know what your given name is. As for who you are, what your status is, whether you're a good person or a bad person—I don't want to know. I just want to know your name, that's all."
"My name is Gu Qingfeng."
"Gu Qingfeng?"
Qian Niao repeated the name, feeling it sounded somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. Suddenly, as if remembering something, her expression changed dramatically. She looked up at Gu Qingfeng in shock and said, "What did you say your name was? Gu Qingfeng?"
"What's wrong?"
"Of all names, why did you have to choose Gu Qingfeng?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Gu Qingfeng was the alias of the You Di! Wait! You..." Qian Niao's expression was one of utter astonishment. "You're not going to tell me... you are... you are the You Di, are you?"
"That's right. I did indeed ascend to the Nine Nethers Imperial Throne. You could say I'm the previous generation's You Di."