"Saying it like that makes this old man seem a bit shameless."
Perhaps even Gu Qingfeng himself felt he was being too brazen, as he added, "After all, Huode was the one who threw the punches for me. Now that the old fellow is in seclusion, if I just stand by and watch, or worse, add insult to injury, that old rascal will probably go around badmouthing me again tomorrow."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment, then said, "Here's the deal. If you can wait, wait for the old fellow to come out of seclusion and then take your revenge on him. If you really can't wait... then this old man will just have to shoulder the responsibility for Huode."
"What do you mean?"
Jinyan Xianshi stared at Gu Qingfeng, his voice cold. "Speak plainly."
"Isn't what I said plain enough?"
Gu Qingfeng replied, "It means if you want to take revenge on that old fellow Huode, you'll have to get through me first. Kill me, then you can go kill him. It's that simple."
"Oh?"
Jinyan Xianshi's expression stiffened. Originally, he hadn't placed Gu Qingfeng in his eyes at all. Especially after witnessing Gu Qingfeng stab his own companion in the back, he was even more convinced that such a cowardly, treacherous individual who valued his own life over friendship couldn't possibly be any kind of expert.
Yet, to his utter surprise, Gu Qingfeng had suddenly turned the tables, claiming he would shoulder the responsibility and even saying they'd have to get through him first to take revenge on the old Taoist?
This not only puzzled Jinyan Xianshi—what gave this guy the guts to say such a thing?
"Truth be told, it's been a long time since this old man stretched his limbs. This is a good chance to move around a bit and digest those three ten-thousand-year Vermilion Fruits while I'm at it."
Although Gu Qingfeng said this, he didn't seem to have any intention of actually moving. He remained lazily reclined in his chair, legs crossed, sipping his wine as he looked at Jinyan Xianshi and said, "So, do you plan to come one by one, or all together?"
What!
As soon as these words fell, the expressions of Jinyan Xianshi, Wuhua Xianzi, and the group of immortal experts from the Wuling Immortal Realm changed repeatedly. Their demeanor grew vigilant, and their eyes as they stared at Gu Qingfeng were filled with incomprehensible confusion.
None of them could understand where Gu Qingfeng got the courage to utter such arrogant words.
Especially Mo Baiyu and the others. They knew Gu Qingfeng's existence was extraordinary and had even witnessed him obliterate a monster with strength comparable to a Nine Luminaries Great Luo Golden Immortal with a mere wave of his hand. But even so, that only proved his physical body was powerful. A mortal's flesh and blood, no matter how strong, had its limits. Moreover, the several hundred people from the Wuling Immortal Realm who had come this time were all Great Wasteland Spirit Immortals, among them dozens of Spirit Immortal experts who had opened the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Brances Life-Death Gates, as well as two immortal experts with ancient reputations like Jinyan Xianshi and Wuhua Xianzi.
What gave him the right to be so arrogant?
So arrogant as to ask whether they'd come one by one or all together.
This was clearly not placing Jinyan Xianshi, Wuhua Xianzi, and the several hundred people from the Wuling Immortal Realm in his eyes at all!
Jinyan Xianshi and his wife Wuhua Xianzi exchanged a glance. Neither of them made a move. For one, they felt that something unusual was afoot and couldn't gauge whether Gu Qingfeng was putting on an act or truly fearless. Moreover, the extreme reverence Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing showed toward Gu Qingfeng made them even more uncertain.
Besides, there was another, more important reason.
That was, Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing had never made their stance clear.
Earlier, they had heard that Upper Immortal Qingqing's Lingyu Sword was forged by Gu Qingfeng, and now they were on Upper Immortal Qingqing's Xuantian Vessel. Even if they really wanted to take action, they would need Upper Immortal Qingqing's consent.
"Li Xin Xianzi, Upper Immortal Qingqing, I believe you both heard what this person said. Today, we seek justice for our disciple. We do not ask you two to uphold justice for us, only that you grant us some leeway and do not interfere in this matter."
Interfere?
This auntie wishes you would make a move!
It would be the perfect opportunity to test whether this guy is really the You Di.
This was what Li Xin Xianzi thought inwardly, but her beautiful face did not reveal the joy in her heart. She still pretended to be in a difficult position, looking at Gu Qingfeng and asking, "Great Lord, what is your opinion?"
"Oh? Big sister, are you asking for my opinion?"
Li Xin Xianzi was stunned by Gu Qingfeng's question. She stood there, somewhat at a loss, especially under the gaze of Gu Qingfeng's eyes at that moment. She felt extremely uncomfortable, as if her thoughts had been seen through, and her mind couldn't help but tremble. She stammered, "Great Lord...
You...
What do you...
mean?
I...
Of course I'm asking for your opinion."
Perhaps out of guilt, Li Xin Xianzi hurriedly explained, "This matter has nothing to do with you, Great Lord. If you don't wish to step forward, this humble woman...
can resolve this matter. After all, Senior Huode...
is Qiao'er's life-saving benefactor. We...
won't let anyone disturb Senior Huode..."
"Really?"
Gu Qingfeng looked at Li Xin Xianzi with a smile. "Why does this old man feel those words are a bit insincere?"
"No...
I...
I'm telling the truth."
"The truth?
That's not right, is it?
Just now, I heard you and Big Sister Qingqing whispering over there, saying something like if this old man is a fake, your faces would be lost all the way to your grandmother's house. And also...
what was it?
You said that if the people from the Wuling Immortal Realm make a move later, you'll stay out of it, planning to use them to test whether this old man is real or fake?"
Boom!
As Gu Qingfeng's words reached her, Li Xin Xianzi felt as if she had been struck by thunder. Her face turned deathly pale, without a trace of color, and she could barely stand steady. She collapsed to the ground, her appearance like someone who had seen a ghost.
No!
To be precise, it was a thousand, ten thousand times more terrifying than seeing a ghost!
She never imagined that the secret telepathic conversation between her and Qingqing...
would actually be heard by Gu Qingfeng.
Thinking back to what she and Qingqing had discussed in their telepathic exchange, Li Xin Xianzi wished she could slap her own mouth until it was raw.
She clearly remembered that when Gu Qingfeng said he was a good person, she had not only called him thick-skinned but also shameless to the extreme.
She also clearly remembered that when Gu Qingfeng added insult to injury against Huode, she had called him shameless.
Not only that, she had even said that if this guy really wasn't the You Di, she would definitely skin him, pull out his tendons, and grind his bones to dust!
Although Li Xin Xianzi was growing increasingly suspicious that Gu Qingfeng wasn't the real You Di, it was only suspicion. She couldn't be one hundred percent sure. The reason she had been serving him so carefully was precisely to avoid offending him. She wanted Jinyan and Wuhua to make a move and test him because she was afraid that Gu Qingfeng might actually be the You Di.
Now that all these words had been heard by Gu Qingfeng, Li Xin Xianzi knew that if this guy really was the You Di, then she was probably not far from death.
At this thought, Li Xin Xianzi's consciousness grew blurry from fear.
She was in such a state, and Upper Immortal Qingqing wasn't faring much better either. She was also terrified, her beautiful face pale, feeling as if the sky was spinning and the earth was turning. Her mind went blank from fright, and she immediately knelt on the ground.