Fearing Gu Qingfeng might refuse, Immortal Li Xin quickly added, "Of course, we would not ask Great Old Master to suffer a loss for nothing. If Great Old Master is willing, please state your conditions. Whatever they are, we will agree to them."
Beside her, Upper Immortal Qingqing looked rather embarrassed. Just as she was about to speak, a secret voice transmission from Immortal Li Xin reached her ears.
"Qingqing! Now is not the time for embarrassment, nor should you feel awkward. Your auntie's three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits have already ended up in this fellow's belly. Today, I am determined to get the Lingyu Sword back. If this guy refuses to give it, your auntie will snatch it back by force. No matter what, my three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits cannot be eaten by him for free. If you dare say you don't want to reclaim the Lingyu Sword, you'll have to compensate me with three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits yourself!"
Upper Immortal Qingqing shook her head slightly, truly at a loss for words. She really couldn't afford to compensate three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits.
"So that's what this is about. You're talking about this sword."
Gu Qingfeng threw back his head and drained his cup of wine in one gulp. As he raised his hand, palm facing upward, the Lingyu Sword condensed into being, radiating an azure-blue glow and emitting a series of cheerful sword songs.
"To be honest, this thing isn't much use to me anyway."
As soon as Gu Qingfeng finished speaking, Huode, sitting beside him, rolled his eyes and said, "Nonsense. I've known you for so long, and I've never seen you use any magical treasures or flying swords!"
"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean I haven't used them."
"Didn't you say you dislike using magical treasures and flying swords? Something about only weaklings using magical treasures and immortal swords, and that true powerhouses don't care for such rubbish?"
Huode seemed to still be angry that Gu Qingfeng hadn't saved any of the Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits for him earlier. Now, in front of Immortal Li Xin, he was pulling the rug out from under Gu Qingfeng without the slightest courtesy.
"I wasn't a powerhouse back then. I needed a few treasures for self-defense."
"Oh my, Great Master Gu, Ancestor Gu, since when have you become so humble? That doesn't sound like something you'd say, old man."
"Can't be helped. One must be humble when humility is called for. After all, I don't have anything to my name now."
"Alright, cut the crap. You ate all three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits, damn it. If it were me, I'd have given this sword to them long ago. How can you have the nerve?"
"I never said I wanted to keep the sword, right?"
Hearing Gu Qingfeng say this, Immortal Li Xin's heart leaped with joy. The anger that had been weighing on her instantly evaporated. She smiled and said, "They were just three Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruits, a mere token of respect. If another opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly present Great Old Master with a few more to express my gratitude."
"You're quite sensible, little sister."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, looking at the Lingyu Sword in his hand. "Returning it isn't out of the question, it's just that..."
The words "it's just that" made Immortal Li Xin's heart skip a beat. She hurriedly said, "Great Old Master, please speak your needs. Miraculous pills and medicines? Or other magical treasures? Or perhaps cultivation resources?"
"I'm not interested in those things, and I don't need them either."
"May I ask what Great Old Master is interested in? What do you need? Please speak frankly. If it is within my power, I will certainly do my utmost."
"What do I need? Let me think."
Gu Qingfeng thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything he needed. He said, "I can't think of anything I need right now. How about this: you treat me to good food and drink these next few days, and I'll tell you when I think of something. How's that?"
Immortal Li Xin had mentally prepared herself for Gu Qingfeng to make exorbitant demands. She never expected him to propose such a strange request.
Treating him to good food and drink wasn't a big problem.
But what if this fellow came up with some extraordinary demand in the end? What would she do then?
After thinking it over, Immortal Li Xin decided to agree first and deal with it later. She nodded her assent.
Gu Qingfeng casually handed the Lingyu Sword to Immortal Li Xin, who then passed it to Upper Immortal Qingqing, urging, "Silly girl, hurry up and thank Great Old Master."
Upper Immortal Qingqing looked at the Lingyu Sword in her hand, her beautiful face etched with a complex expression. Holding the sword with both hands, she said, "I must ask Great Old Master to take the Lingyu Sword back."
Hearing Upper Immortal Qingqing say this, Immortal Li Xin beside her instantly flared up. She glared furiously at Qingqing, disregarding any semblance of decorum and not even bothering with a voice transmission, directly scolding, "Has your stupid brain been squeezed by a door or kicked by a donkey? Are you an idiot?"
Gu Qingfeng also asked, "What's the matter? Don't you want this sword?"
"No, it's not that, Senior. It's just... I feel unworthy of the Lingyu Sword."
"It's just a sword. What's there to be worthy or unworthy of?"
"It's like this, Great Old Master."
Immortal Li Xin explained, "Qingqing has been nurturing the Lingyu Sword for several hundred years but has never been able to awaken its sword spirit. Moreover, she has always sensed that the Lingyu Sword has been waiting for you, Great Old Master. Meeting you here and seeing how excited and agitated the Lingyu Sword became, Qingqing was also happy for it. Although Qingqing is deeply reluctant to part with it, she neither wants nor can bear to separate the Lingyu Sword from you again, Great Old Master."
"Oh? So it seems Little Sister Qingqing has a very kind heart."
Gu Qingfeng said with a smile, "No wonder so many youngsters are infatuated with you. Not bad at all."
Gu Qingfeng's words left Upper Immortal Qingqing at a loss for a response. Immortal Li Xin beside her also smiled and said, "Qingqing has a gentle temperament and has been kind-hearted since childhood. She is also very thoughtful, emotionally steadfast, and possesses great perseverance. All these years, she has been nurturing the Lingyu Sword and has never nurtured any other magical treasure."
To reassure Gu Qingfeng about handing the Lingyu Sword to Qingqing, Immortal Li Xin praised Qingqing relentlessly, praising her until Qingqing felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered her head.
"What a fine girl. I believe this sword will have a very bright future with you. As for what the Lingyu Sword thinks..." Gu Qingfeng crooked a finger and said, "Come on, hand it to me. Let me talk to it."
Upper Immortal Qingqing handed the Lingyu Sword back to Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng looked at the Lingyu Sword and said, "Yunshui, from now on, you follow Little Sister Qingqing. It'll be much more comfortable for you with her than with me. You'll be treated to good food and drink every day. What more could you be dissatisfied with? Isn't that much better than suffering with me back in the day?"
The Lingyu Sword emitted a low hum, as if protesting something.
"It's not that I don't want you to follow me. It's just that I'm old now, too lazy to bother, and don't have the energy for it anymore. Even if you continued to follow me, I'd just toss you into some corner. Forget ten or fifteen days; I might not remember you for a hundred or eighty years."
The Lingyu Sword continued to emit low hums, seemingly unwilling to part with Gu Qingfeng.
"What's that? You still want to continue guarding me? Listen, Yunshui, it's not that I look down on you, but I don't need your protection anymore. To put it bluntly, I'm not the same person I was back then. I have great abilities now, considerable power. Forget about stray cats and dogs; even if the Heavenly Emperor descended to the mortal realm, or even the Old Man Heaven himself, they'd have to kneel respectfully when they see me."