It was precisely for this reason that Yuanwu dared to act so arrogantly and domineeringly in the Great Desolate.
"You little bastard! You're already at death's door, and you still dare to talk tough with this old man? What, do you think I really don't dare to kill you?"
Huode tightened his grip on Yuanwu's neck, applying force with a sharp crack. Yuanwu immediately let out a piercing, agonized scream.
"We beg you, sir, to show mercy for the sake of the Baiye Family, for the sake of the Wuling Immortal Realm, and even more for the face of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao!"
The dozen or so senior cultivators from the Wuling Immortal Realm were frantic, pleading incessantly. If Yuanwu died here today, they would have no face to return.
Although Yuanwu was an Upper Immortal bearing the Immortal Dao Edict Fate, and most people wouldn't dare kill him, that was only 'most' people. Mortal Immortals killing an Upper Immortal was defying the Immortal Dao and showing disrespect to it. But if someone from the Eternal Life Pavilion, like Bai Ze or Leng Jue present here, killed Yuanwu, it would be no trouble at all.
Even without a major background like the Eternal Life Pavilion, there were plenty of people who would kill an Upper Immortal and then flee, especially those old loners with no family background or connections. If they killed an Upper Immortal and ran, they'd be hard to track down. If they kept a low profile and changed their appearance afterward, as long as their identity wasn't exposed, it wouldn't be a big issue.
At this moment, Old Lady Jin Hua also stepped forward and said, "Fellow Daoist Huode, although this Yuanwu has always been arrogant, domineering, and ignorant of his own limits, he is, after all, an Upper Immortal bearing the Immortal Dao Edict Fate. As the saying goes, 'If not for the monk's sake, then for the Buddha's.' I hope Fellow Daoist will punish him appropriately but refrain from taking his life."
Lixin Xianzi also came forward to persuade him. "He's just a young and ignorant little fellow. Why should Fellow Daoist Huode bother with him? Besides, this little fellow has already received the lesson he deserved. He should learn some sense from now on. Let's spare him this once."
Qiao'er also chimed in. "Yes, yes! Senior Huode, you really don't need to stoop to his level."
Seeing that Old Lady Jin Hua and Lixin Xianzi from the Eternal Life Pavilion had stepped forward to plead for Yuanwu, the senior from the Wuling Immortal Realm quickly shouted, "Yuanwu! Hurry up and apologize to Senior Huode!"
Yuanwu, choked by Huode, was in excruciating pain. Although he felt unwilling and resentful, for the sake of survival and to end his suffering, he ultimately chose to lower his head and admit his fault.
"S-Senior! I... I know I was wrong... A thousand wrongs, I shouldn't have... shouldn't have offended you... I beg... I beg Senior to show mercy! I... I won't dare again..."
The senior from the Wuling Immortal Realm cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Huode, Yuanwu has already admitted his mistake and apologized. Please be magnanimous and spare his life."
"This bastard brat didn't offend this old man! Whether his little life can be saved today isn't up to me!"
Huode's words left everyone bewildered.
What did he mean, 'didn't offend him'? If Yuanwu hadn't offended Huode, then who had he offended?
And what did he mean by 'whether Yuanwu's life can be saved today isn't up to him'? If it wasn't up to him, then who was it up to?
Just as everyone was confused, Huode, holding Yuanwu, flashed back to the deck and threw Yuanwu right in front of Gu Qingfeng.
"Ancient Lord, Ancient Ancestor, it's up to you to decide how to deal with this bastard brat."
Everyone was dumbfounded.
They couldn't understand why Huode would let this mysterious lord handle Yuanwu. They racked their brains but couldn't figure out when Yuanwu had offended this mysterious lord. Moreover, judging by Huode's words, whether Yuanwu's life could be saved today depended on this mysterious lord's decision?
Everyone was baffled, including Old Lady Jin Hua and Lixin Xianzi. They were also utterly confused, unable to make sense of the situation.
"I say, Huode, you're the one who beat him. What do you mean by asking me to handle it now?" Gu Qingfeng was still lazily reclining in his chair, sipping his wine. He glanced at Yuanwu, who was beaten bloody and unrecognizable by Huode, and said indifferently with a smile, "What's the plan? Are you preparing to have me take the blame for you? Shoulder the crime of slaughtering an Upper Immortal?"
"What kind of talk is that, kid! When did I ever ask you to take the blame? This bastard brat was shooting his mouth off earlier, disrespecting you. Wasn't I just helping you teach him a lesson!"
"Oh, really? So I should thank you, then?"
"Thank me for what? Who are we to each other? No need for formalities with this old man." Huode sat down, took a swig of wine, and said, "So, how do we deal with this kid? Kill him? Slaughter him? Boil him? Or stew him?"
"He's an Upper Immortal bearing the Immortal Dao Edict Fate. Killing him would carry a serious crime. I can't afford to shoulder that."
"Aiyo! Ancient Lord, my Ancient Ancestor! Is there anyone in all the heavens and earth you don't dare to kill? Any crime you can't shoulder? Come on, stop with this talk that wouldn't even fool a three-year-old. Why pretend to be a good person in front of me?"
"What do you mean 'pretend'? I am a good person, and moreover—"
"Alright, alright, alright!" Before Gu Qingfeng could finish, Huode cut him off with an impatient look. "Stop right there. I can't be bothered to listen to your nonsense. Just tell me directly how to deal with this kid."
"Deal with him? What's there to deal with? Who hasn't been young and reckless? We've all been through it. It's understandable."
"So you're sparing this bastard brat's little life?"
"Otherwise? Are you planning to kill him? Do you have the guts?"
"Kid Gu, don't look down on me. If you just say the word, I'll slaughter this bastard brat right here on the spot!"
"Really?"
"Nonsense! Of course it's true!"
"Alright then, kill him."
As soon as the words left Gu Qingfeng's mouth, Huode's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed hard and said with a choked voice, "Really kill him?"
"What? Don't dare?"
"Who says I don't dare? It's just... this bastard brat, although he's a bit arrogant and offended you, he was just running his mouth, venting verbally. Wouldn't killing him just like that be a bit too... harsh? Besides, you just said it yourself: who hasn't been young and reckless? When you were young, kid, you were ten times more arrogant than this bastard brat. Not to mention the prominent figures of the Ancient Times, you didn't even give a damn about the Jade Emperor or Heaven itself!"
"You're the one who beat him. After beating him, you tell me to handle it. I say kill him, and then you start hemming and hawing. You play the bad guy, and then you play the good guy too. Damn it, you've played both the bad guy and the good guy for me. What else is there for me to do? Handle what? Huode, can we cut down on the scheming and tricks in the future? Be a little more sincere, stop with all this empty show. Speaking of which, you're not young anymore. Can't you do something proper?"
Huode's old face flushed red at Gu Qingfeng's words. He muttered, "I was just afraid you... kid would get angry, wanted to give you a chance to vent. If you don't appreciate it, fine, but why lecture me?"
"Huode, I've been wandering in this Great Desolate for so many years, experienced so many things. Even if I can't achieve a mind as still as water or complete detachment, I'm not going to get angry over some trivial matter like this, am I? Besides, if I were really angry, I would have gotten angry long ago. Would I still be sitting here watching you jump around putting on a show for me?"