On the Xuantian vessel belonging to Mo Baiyu.
Gu Qingfeng still lay reclined in his chair, one leg crossed over the other and propped on the table, enjoying a massage from the two courtesans. He drank wine while watching the lively spectacle in the sky.
When he saw the mischievous Qiao'er, he couldn't help but think of Xiao Jinr.
Even now.
He still clearly remembered that time at the end of the Ancient Era when he faced the judgment of heaven and earth, his cultivation was crippled, his peerless Immortal-Demon throne, his Nine Nethers Emperor Seal, and all his other attainments were stripped away. After awakening in the mortal realm, he first met Ouyang Ye—the reincarnation of Yun Nishang—in his own mausoleum beneath the Crimson Flame Ridge, and later met Xiao Jinr in a manor.
Actually.
The very first time he saw Xiao Jinr back then, he felt a sense of déjà vu. And it wasn't just déjà vu; there was also an indescribable, inexplicable feeling. This feeling gave him an impulse to protect Xiao Jinr.
It wasn't until later, when he began seeking the truth of karma, came into contact with the Wu Dao Age, and encountered the Original Sin, that he realized Xiao Jinr's existence, like his own, was connected by karma to the Wu Dao Age. As for what specific karma Xiao Jinr had with the Wu Dao Age, Gu Qingfeng didn't know. He only had a very bad feeling about it.
Sure enough.
Before the descent of the Wu Dao Mountain, an omen appeared in the mortal realm.
The great sun fell, yin and yang reversed, a Blood Moon hung in the sky, and the Calamity Star descended upon the world.
This was an ancient legend.
The great sun falling represented the scattering of light.
The reversal of yin and yang represented the descent of darkness.
The Blood Moon in the sky represented the descent of the Calamity Star.
And the descent of the Calamity Star represented impending disaster.
The one who triggered this heavenly omen was none other than Xiao Jinr.
Xiao Jinr was the Calamity Star.
And she wasn't just the Calamity Star of the Present-Ancient Era; she was the Calamity Star of the Wu Dao Age.
Because that Blood Moon at the time was not the Blood Moon of the Present-Ancient Era at all, but the Blood Moon of the Wu Dao Age.
This Blood Moon acted like a wedge, stirring Xiao Jinr's soul, and the two even began to fuse with each other.
Once Xiao Jinr's soul fused with the Blood Moon,
Xiao Jinr might no longer be that innocent, naive Xiao Jinr.
For Xiao Jinr's sake, Gu Qingfeng disregarded everything and fused the Blood Moon into himself.
But this did not stop Xiao Jinr's soul.
Later, with no other choice, Gu Qingfeng had no option but to reduce Xiao Jinr to ashes, only then stopping her transformation.
When the Wu Dao Mountain descended, before he ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire, he entrusted Xiao Jinr's blood spirit to Su Hua. Because he didn't know if he would survive after igniting the Original Sin Karmic Fire. In that situation, he could only temporarily entrust Xiao Jinr's blood spirit to Su Hua, because apart from Su Hua, he trusted no one else.
He knew that if anyone could protect Xiao Jinr, that person would be Su Hua.
He also believed Su Hua could do it.
But he had slept for nearly ten thousand years. Was Xiao Jinr safe and well now?
Had Su Hua helped Xiao Jinr reconstruct her physical body?
If she had already helped Xiao Jinr reconstruct her body, where was she now?
Was she living well?
Was she happy?
Was she still as innocent and naive as she was back then?
He didn't know.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at Huode and asked, "Huode, do you still remember Xiao Jinr?"
"Xiao Jinr?"
Huode seemed not to have expected Gu Qingfeng, who was currently enjoying himself, to suddenly and inexplicably bring up Xiao Jinr. He was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Xiao Jinr is so cute and well-behaved. Even if this old man forgot you, kid, he wouldn't forget Xiao Jinr."
"Last time you saw Su Hua...
Did you ask about Xiao Jinr's news?"
"What a stupid question!"
Huode shot Gu Qingfeng a disdainful glare and said irritably, "Do you think this old man is as heartless and brainless as you, kid, who only knows how to enjoy himself all day?
It's not that this old man wants to say..." Huode originally wanted to take this opportunity to give Gu Qingfeng a good scolding, but when he noticed Gu Qingfeng staring at him with a serious expression, especially those deep eyes that were clearly growing impatient, Huode forcibly swallowed back the words he wanted to say.
He had practically watched Gu Qingfeng grow up and understood his temper better than anyone.
He knew very well that if Gu Qingfeng was in a good mood, you could do almost anything. Not only could you scold him, you could even ride on his head and relieve yourself, and he wouldn't mind.
But once this kid got serious, especially when he was stern and impatient, it was best not to provoke him. If you pissed him off, you'd definitely get more than you bargained for.
"Alright, last time this old man saw Su Hua, he specifically inquired about Xiao Jinr's news."
Perhaps sensing that Gu Qingfeng seemed somewhat worried about Xiao Jinr's situation, Huode said, "Don't worry, Xiao Jinr is doing very well now. She's still as innocent, naive, cute, and well-behaved as before."
"You've seen Xiao Jinr?"
"I saw her once, but..." Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng suddenly sat up straight, waved his hand to dismiss the two courtesans, and asked, "But what?"
"But...
It seems Xiao Jinr doesn't remember this old man anymore, and she's lost her previous memories...
She doesn't even remember you, kid. This old man asked Su Hua, and she said...
It was she who Sealed Xiao Jinr's previous memories...
She said Xiao Jinr's previous memories would cause Xiao Jinr to... what was it?
This old man can't remember either. It seems she said the previous memories would cause Xiao Jinr pain. Anyway, it was very bad for Xiao Jinr. So, Su Hua Sealed Xiao Jinr's previous memories."
Gu Qingfeng nodded, picked up a cup of wine, but didn't drink it. Instead, he sank into deep thought.
Xiao Jinr had experienced the incident with the Blood Moon before and knew she was the descended Calamity Star. If she reconstructed her physical body and awakened, this matter would surely weigh on her mind, causing her to dwell on it. That little girl had a kind heart; she couldn't bear to step on an ant. Back in the mortal realm, she would rather take her own life than fuse with the Blood Moon or become a Calamity Star to bring disaster to the innocent. If she awakened again, given her personality, she might do the same thing.
Moreover.
If the memories related to the Blood Moon remained imprinted in Xiao Jinr's heart, they could very likely stir her soul again. It wasn't impossible for the Blood Moon of the Wu Dao Age to reappear then.
Although he had forcibly fused the Blood Moon into himself back then, that thing had mysteriously disappeared after he reduced Xiao Jinr to ashes.
Gu Qingfeng pondered. Su Hua Sealing Xiao Jinr's previous memories was indeed for Xiao Jinr's own good.
If it were Gu Qingfeng, he would do the same, and even more thoroughly. Not only would he Seal Xiao Jinr's memories, he might directly erase them.
As long as Xiao Jinr was safe and sound, whether she remembered him or not was not important.
"Is Xiao Jinr... always by Su Hua's side now?"
"That shouldn't be the case. It seems she's cultivating under Su Hua's Eldest Senior Sister."
Gu Qingfeng knew Su Hua's Eldest Senior Sister. She was a legendary woman famous throughout the Great Desolate, and also the master of Langya, one of the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands.
Not only did he know her, he had dealings with her back in the day. His impression of Cang Yan was quite good. For Xiao Jinr to cultivate under her guidance wasn't a bad thing at all.