Under Immortal Li Xin's strong insistence, Bai Ze had no choice but to stand up and apologize to Gu Qingfeng.
Seizing the opportunity, Immortal Li Xin also hurriedly expressed her apologies to Gu Qingfeng, saying, "Young people don't know any better. I hope the Great Old Master can be magnanimous."
"Ah, Sister Li Xin, please don't say that. I'm the one who should be apologizing," Gu Qingfeng replied. "You see, I'm a man who hasn't seen much of the world and hasn't tasted many delicacies. So when I saw these fine things, I couldn't control my hands and feet and ate a bit too quickly. I'm truly sorry."
Though Gu Qingfeng's mouth said he was sorry and he seemed apologetic, his hands didn't stop, nor did his mouth. After devouring three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits, he set his sights on the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. By the time he finished speaking, one of those had also disappeared down his throat.
"The Great Old Master jests," Immortal Li Xin said. Although her mood at this moment was utterly terrible, her beautiful face still wore a smile. It was a strained smile, but a smile nonetheless. "Besides, the Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits were prepared for you, Great Old Master. It makes no difference when you eat them."
"That's what I figured too," Gu Qingfeng said without any pretense of modesty, laughing. "And to be honest with you, Sister, my body is quite weak right now. Those three Vermilion Fruits were just what I needed to replenish myself. I must say, these things are really something else. After three of them, I genuinely feel different."
"Great Old Master..."
At this point, Qiao'er, who had been silent until now, seemed unable to bear it any longer and spoke up with grievance. "Among those three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits, one of them was originally prepared by me for Senior Huode."
Qiao'er's eyes reddened with grievance. Wiping away tears, she continued, "Senior Huode once saved my life... I hadn't even had the chance to thank him properly, and now you've eaten them all. Wuwu..."
Hearing this, Huode immediately couldn't hold back. Glaring furiously at Gu Qingfeng, he roared, "Did you hear that, you brat? One of those three fruits was for me!"
"Oh? I really didn't know that. You should have said so earlier. I thought they were all for me," Gu Qingfeng said with a laugh. "Besides, I left one for you, but you didn't eat it."
"Left one for me? You left nothing but a damn pit! How am I supposed to eat that? You did it on purpose, you bastard!"
At this point, Huode stopped pretending to be a dignified senior expert. He felt that if he kept up the act, not only would he miss out on the three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits, but probably every delicacy on the table would end up in Gu Qingfeng's stomach. Seeing another plate of Thousand-Year Snow Lotus about to be annihilated by Gu Qingfeng, Huode, in a fit of anger, simply reached over and snatched it away.
"You've already scarfed down three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits, and now you want to polish off the Snow Lotus too? This is mine, damn it! All of it is mine!"
Once he let loose, Huode not only abandoned his senior expert persona but also cast aside any concern for face or image. He'd worry about filling his belly first.
"I say, Huode, can't you have a little more dignity, you old codger? In front of all these people, can we try to save some face? Don't let them laugh at us."
"Bah! If I cared about face any more today, I probably wouldn't get a single damn bite to eat!" Huode retorted, picking up a piece of the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus and taking a bite directly. He glared at Gu Qingfeng. "And don't you talk to me about dignity or face, you brat! Compared to you, I'm a damn paragon of virtue!"
Watching Gu Qingfeng and Huode trade curses and insults so freely left Immortal Li Xin, Old Lady Jin Hua, High Immortal Qingqing, and the others utterly dumbfounded. They had previously believed Huode to be a genuinely proper and traditional senior expert. Only now did they realize this dignified old senior was just an act?
Heavens!
What kind of people were these?
Weren't they just too bizarre?
Immortal Li Xin and the others had met all sorts in their lifetimes—from various great Dao progenitors and Heaven-Mandated Emperors to all kinds of decree-bearers and Immortals above, and below, the three teachings and nine schools, demons, ghosts, and monsters... they'd seen their fair share of the messy and miscellaneous.
But today, they truly experienced that under heaven, there was nothing too strange to exist.
One of them had no cultivation to speak of, no destiny, no bearing, no imposing presence. He sat without proper posture, stood without proper stance. His demeanor was lazy and slovenly, his words and actions utterly casual. Look at him from any angle, and he resembled a spoiled young master from the mortal world. No! Even a spoiled mortal young master couldn't possibly be this lacking in refinement. This was practically a street thug from the mortal realm.
As for the other... he looked like a proper senior expert, but that was only on the surface. Beneath that proper mask hid a slovenly old bachelor!
This made Immortal Li Xin and the others deeply doubt: Could the Lingyu Sword really have been forged by such a street thug? Could the one who had saved Qiao'er's life really be such an improper old bachelor? Wasn't this all too absurd?
"This old fellow comes from a small mountain village. He hasn't seen much of the world and has no real prospects. Please don't mind him, everyone," Gu Qingfeng said, wiping his mouth. He then addressed Qiao'er, "Little sister, don't cry. Later, I'll get you a little trinket to cheer you up. As for that life-saving favor, you really don't need to take it to heart. An old-timer like Huode isn't used to fancy things like Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits. Get him a couple of apples, and he'll be perfectly content."
"Who says I'm not used to them?" Huode shot back.
"Then what do you want me to do? Should I vomit the three Vermilion Fruits back up for you?"
"Get lost! I can't be bothered with you!"
Immortal Li Xin stood up to pour wine for Gu Qingfeng and Huode. Then, they all raised their cups in a toast. First, they expressed gratitude for Huode saving Qiao'er's life all those years ago. Then, they thanked Gu Qingfeng for forging the Lingyu Sword, which had once helped High Immortal Qingqing escape a dire situation.
"Great Old Master, about the matter mentioned earlier... have you given it any thought?"
After three rounds of drinks, Immortal Li Xin cautiously broached the subject of the Lingyu Sword. In her mind, since Gu Qingfeng had already eaten everything he was supposed to and even things he wasn't, and since this Great Old Master had shown himself to be so unrefined, she saw no need to stand on ceremony either. It was time to get to the main point.
"What matter?" Gu Qingfeng's voice came in reply.
Immortal Li Xin's expression froze. Internally, she thought, *This guy gobbled down three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits in one breath, and now he's playing dumb? Trying to renege? What, does he think he can eat for free?*
Suppressing the fury in her heart, she tried to keep her tone even. "It's like this. The Lingyu Sword was forged by you, Great Old Master. Meeting you here today, we should, of course, return it to you. However... Qingqing has been nurturing the Lingyu for hundreds of years. She has developed a deep bond with the sword. One could even say that in Qingqing's heart, Lingyu is not merely an immortal sword; she is a sister, as close as flesh and blood! Therefore... we have an impertinent request. Could we ask that Lingyu be allowed to remain by Qingqing's side?"