No one knew what Gu Qingfeng truly wanted to say or do. He simply stood there, drinking wine and speaking.
"Not only can I tell you that I possess treasures, but I can also tell you that killing you all would be as easy as slaughtering pigs and dogs."
As soon as these words were spoken, murmurs erupted among the tavern's patrons. Everyone felt this Gu Qingfeng was far too arrogant!
What?
Killing us as easily as slaughtering pigs and dogs?
He was simply arrogant beyond measure.
Someone immediately stepped forward and declared, "Sir, you are far too presumptuous! This old man was merely watching the spectacle and had no interest in the treasures in your possession. But since you speak thus, hmph! I, True Being Yu Liu, would like to see just what ability you possess to dare be so insolent!"
The speaker was an elder, recognized by many as the sect master of a minor sect named True Being Yu Liu. He had cultivated for over a thousand years and possessed a refined Golden Core cultivation.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at him, smiled faintly, and paid him no further mind, continuing, "I speak my piece. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. I say these things not out of arrogance, nor to frighten you. It is only because I once lived in these surrounding lands. Some of you may well be descendants of my old acquaintances. That is all."
Gu Qingfeng poured himself another cup of wine and drank it. "Enough. I've said what needed saying. Those who don't wish to court trouble should leave now. Those who wish to take the risk and try their luck, stay."
The people in the tavern whispered amongst themselves. They had indeed come hoping to profit from the chaos. But after hearing Gu Qingfeng's words, they began to hesitate. After some deliberation, a few stood up and left, though their numbers were pitifully few.
"Those who remain, think carefully. Think of yourselves, think of your families. Do not let a moment of greed destroy everything."
Gu Qingfeng's words echoed again. Sadly, only a small portion of the crowd departed.
"If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave later!"
Another cup, another deep draught. The previous nonchalance had completely vanished from Gu Qingfeng's stern face, replaced by a profound stillness, a deathly silence. He poured out the last cup of wine from the jug and downed it in one go.
His dark, profound eyes swept across the room. Then, with a wave of his hand, a clattering sound!
A pile of crystalline, translucent crystal fragments scattered across the floor. Each one shimmered with a blue halo, emitting Taiyin Spiritual Energy.
Everyone knew these were fragments of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal!
And he had...
He had casually tossed out a pile of them, numbering over ten thousand!
Heavens!
Seeing this, the expressions of everyone in the tavern changed. They all stared wide-eyed, their faces a mix of shock, agitation, and excitement. Not far away, when Wu Han saw that pile of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal fragments, his eyes gleamed with unconcealable greed.
He was not alone. Murong Tai of the Murong Clan, Wen Huayu of the Bingxuan Sect, Luo Jinheng of the Spirit-Capital Sect, and others all reacted the same way.
Was that it?
No!
The white-robed youth waved his hand again, and a fist-sized crystal was tossed out, landing amidst the pile of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal fragments.
The surface of that crystal was radiant, as if flames were burning upon it, or as if something was evolving within. It emitted an extremely pure Taiyin Spiritual Energy. Could it be...
Could this be the legendary Lunar Seed?
Yes!
It must be!
Otherwise, it couldn't possibly emit such pure Taiyin Spiritual Energy. Upon seeing the Lunar Seed, the eyes of everyone present nearly popped out of their sockets.
Liu Piaopiao, standing nearby, had long lost her seductive demeanor. Her fox-like face was deeply furrowed, her willow-thin eyebrows tightly knit as she stared at the Lunar Seed amidst the crystal fragments. At that moment, Wei Qing's voice sounded in her ear: "Don't move. Absolutely do not move."
Liu Piaopiao was inwardly astonished. She glanced towards a private room on the second floor.
"The items are all here."
At this moment, the white-robed youth stopped drinking. He loosened his collar and rolled up his sleeves. His stern face was as cold as ice, devoid of any emotion. Yet, an indescribable arrogance had gathered between his brows. His dark, profound eyes swept across the room with a gaze that looked down upon the world, dominating the heavens. He pointed a finger and coldly shouted, "Those who wish to seize them, come forth."
Come forth?
Who would dare?
Some in the tavern had already summoned their flying swords and secretly circulated their spiritual power when Gu Qingfeng tossed out the pile of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal fragments. Yet, none dared to be the first to act. After all, this was the Crimson-Letter Sect's manor.
They didn't dare make the first move. Neither did the Murong Clan of the Nine-Hua Alliance, the Bingxuan Sect, nor the Spirit-Capital Sect. Again, because this was the Crimson-Letter Sect's manor.
Everyone looked towards Wu Han. Only if he acted would the others dare to follow.
Wu Han remained standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the Lunar Seed nestled among the pile of frost crystal fragments. He stared, the cold smile at the corner of his mouth brimming with boundless greed.
"Young Master, do not act impulsively," the hunchbacked elder transmitted secretly. "If you strike first, the others will surely swarm in. Then, the crime of murder and treasure theft will fall squarely on your head. According to the Crimson-Letter Sect's rules, neither you nor the Old Master would survive."
The elder glanced at Gu Qingfeng and added, "Moreover, this person... this old man finds him increasingly peculiar. It's better to wait for the Old Master to return."
Wu Han did not act. As much as he wanted to, he restrained himself. He knew, as the hunchbacked elder said, that if he struck first, the crime of murder and plunder would inevitably land on him. According to the Crimson-Letter Sect's rules, he would be executed.
At this moment.
The white-robed youth stood tall, gazing at the people in the tavern, and said in a deep voice, "Well? No one dares to make a move? Since that's the case, I'll start things off for you."
As his words fell, he raised a hand and pointed, coldly shouting, "You! Get over here!"
Whoosh!
From the crowd, an elder found himself inexplicably pulled forward.
This elder was none other than True Being Yu Liu from earlier.
"Didn't you want to see what ability I possess? Today, I'll give you that chance. Let you witness exactly how much ability I have."
With that, he placed a hand on the elder's head. A muffled *thud*! The elder's seven orifices bled, his skin split, his cultivation foundation was destroyed, his Purple Mansion collapsed, and his Golden Core shattered.
"Kneel here and watch clearly!"
Gu Qingfeng pressed down with his palm. Another *thud*! The elder knelt on the ground, his legs instantly pulverized.
Witnessing this scene, everyone present was greatly shocked. They had long heard rumors that this Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng was mysterious and bizarre, with an incredibly powerful physical body. They had thought it mere gossip, but today they learned the rumors were not false.
"You!"
Gu Qingfeng raised his hand and pointed. Another person from the crowd was pulled towards him.
"I remember you. In the cave dwelling, I even gave you a fragment of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal. Since you are not satisfied, then never be satisfied!"
Gu Qingfeng grabbed the man by the neck and slammed his palm down. A *thud*! The man's head was instantly smashed to pulp!
"You! You! You! You! You! And you! All of you, come here and accept your death!"
[Author's Note: The weather changed suddenly. I went out for a stroll and actually caught a cold...
Sweat!
My head is splitting with pain!
Not in good form today. Let's just do two chapters for now.]