"Oh ho!
So he's a great hero and champion, is he?"
Gu Qingfeng, with his arms around the two brothel girls, chuckled. "Then I must make his acquaintance when the opportunity arises."
"Heh heh, you brat."
Huode walked over, a teasing smile on his face. "You really should get to know him. Take a good look at what a true great hero and champion looks like. Don't be like that so-called You Di, who spent most of his life stirring up trouble in the Great Desolate. Sure, his reputation sounds grand, but most of it is infamy—just good for scaring people, that's all. How can he compare to someone like Floating Life Imperial Lord? Open and aboveboard, righteous and heroic, a true hero, a true champion!"
"What's this?
You old scoundrel, think I've never seen a true hero or champion before?"
Gu Qingfeng replied with a grin. "Let me tell you, I've seen far too many heroes and champions in my lifetime. But as for who truly deserves the title of 'true hero, true champion,' I've only ever known one person in my life."
"Who?"
Huode was genuinely curious. Someone as arrogant and domineering as Gu Qingfeng, who didn't even put the heavens in his eyes—what kind of figure could possibly earn his approval and become the true hero and champion in his mind?
"Who else could it be?
Why, it's You Di, of course!"
Huode was taken aback, as if he hadn't expected Gu Qingfeng to suddenly pull this 'self-praise' move. After a moment's recovery, he spat fiercely in Gu Qingfeng's direction, his expression full of disdain. "I say, you brat, aren't you ashamed to spout such nonsense!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed heartily, his laughter bordering on the maniacal.
"That brat—no, wait!
That so-called You Di, does he even deserve the words 'hero and champion'?
Ask him if he knows how to write those four characters—he probably doesn't even know."
Before Gu Qingfeng could respond, Lei Lie, standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer.
"Senior, with all due respect, I must disagree with what you just said."
Perhaps still smarting from Huode's earlier criticism and feeling his pride wounded, Lei Lie seized this chance to retort. "You Di's reputation is not one of infamy. Moreover, if there is anyone in the Great Desolate who deserves the title of 'hero and champion,' it must be You Di, and only You Di. Who in all the heavens and myriad realms doesn't know that when Mount Wudao descended, You Di, though he was the incarnation of Original Sin, did not bring calamity upon Heaven and Earth. Instead, he ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire, sacrificing himself to save the Great Dao and all living beings of this world. Such a selfless, righteous act—how can that be called infamy?"
"What do you know, you brat!
When Mount Wudao descended, that so-called You Di ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire not to save any Great Dao or living beings, but purely to free himself from Original Sin. Do you really think You Di is some kind of saint?"
"Regardless of why You Di ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire back then—whether it was to free himself from Original Sin, or even if it was for Saintess Niangniang—the fact remains that he ignited it. No matter how you argue it, the undeniable truth is that You Di ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire and was reduced to ashes. Since it's a fact, You Di is the great hero in our eyes."
Lei Lie spoke with firm, earnest conviction. "Furthermore, Senior, you say You Di ignited the Karmic Fire to free himself from Original Sin. That proves he never intended to bring calamity upon Heaven and Earth from the start. He would rather be reduced to ashes than harm the world. Isn't such a selfless spirit further proof that You Di is a true hero and true champion?"
"Hey!
You little..." Huode wanted to refute him, but after huffing and puffing for a while, he couldn't think of how to counter Lei Lie's argument.
Beside them, Gu Qingfeng clapped his hands in delight and even gave Lei Lie a thumbs-up. "Old Lei, you brat, you really are a kindred spirit of mine!
Say no more. Just for those words you just spoke, I'll treat you to a fine drink later. Wouldn't be right not to, after such praise!"
Lei Lie was overjoyed and clasped his fists. "Many thanks, Great Lord!"
"Huode!
Listen, just listen to what Lei Lie said. He's an honest man, and an honest man's words are the truth. Let's not even discuss why You Di ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire back then. Even if he did it because he was in a hurry to reincarnate and take a shit, the fact remains that he ignited it. That's an undeniable truth. Wasn't Lei Lie's point excellent? Such a selfless spirit—if that's not a true hero, what is? If that's not a true champion, what is?"
"Hey, you brat, give you an inch and you take a mile! Get lost! Get out of my sight!
This old man can't stand your shameless, smug face!"
Despite his irritation, Huode had to admit that Lei Lie's words made sense—at least enough that he couldn't refute them.
And upon further reflection, it really did seem that way.
Indeed.
When Gu Qingfeng ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire back then, it wasn't for the sake of the Great Dao or living beings, but to free himself from Original Sin. But think about it from another angle: the reason he wanted to free himself from Original Sin was precisely because he didn't want to bring calamity upon Heaven and Earth and all living beings, wasn't it?
And if he could free himself from Original Sin, wouldn't that be an immeasurable boon for the Great Dao of this world and all its beings?
Turning it over in his mind, it seemed there wasn't much difference between that and sacrificing himself to save Heaven and Earth.
Damn it!
This matter really was damn hard to argue.
Even though the facts were what they were.
However, Huode would never admit it out loud. At the very least, he would absolutely not admit it in front of Gu Qingfeng.
First, Huode shot Gu Qingfeng a look of utter disdain, then turned to Lei Lie. "I say, you little whelp, just a moment ago when Immortal Qingqing was mentioned, you had that infatuated look on your face. When Floating Life Imperial Lord was brought up, you spoke of him with great respect too. So why the hell are you now singing praises for that so-called You Di?
Is he your father or your ancestor?
Why are you defending him like this?"
"You Di is neither my father nor my ancestor. He is simply the person I admire and revere most in this life—bar none!"
Lei Lie wore a completely serious expression. "It's true that I respect Floating Life Imperial Lord, but it's only respect. I respect him for being open and aboveboard, for his righteousness and heroism. I deeply respect a hero and champion like him. But..." His tone shifted. "Respect does not mean admiration, much less worship. To be honest, compared to a hero and champion like Floating Life Imperial Lord, I would much rather become a true man like You Di—one who roams freely across Heaven and Earth, rampages through the Great Desolate, looks down upon the Three Thousand Great Daos, scorns all living beings, is arrogant and domineering yet free and unrestrained, a pillar between heaven and earth!"
It seemed Lei Lie truly worshipped and admired You Di to the extreme.
His expression, his eyes, his tone—all were filled with undisguised reverence for You Di.