Looking at Li Xin Xianzi, who had collapsed to the floor in terror, and at Upper Immortal Qingqing, who knelt trembling on the ground—every single person present was stunned into speechless shock. One by one, they stood frozen, eyes wide, mouths agape, faces etched with utter astonishment.
They had initially thought Li Xin and Qingqing were merely showing respect.
Only now did they realize that Li Xin and Qingqing’s attitude toward Gu Qingfeng was not respect, but fear!
Yes!
Fear.
Everyone could see it, could feel the dread emanating from Li Xin and Qingqing.
Earlier, they had witnessed Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing playing music and giving massages, attending to Gu Qingfeng with meticulous care. They hadn’t understood why the two would show him such deference.
Now, witnessing Li Xin and Qingqing collapse and kneel in terror, they were even more baffled as to why the two would fear him so.
Gu Qingfeng had only spoken a few brief sentences—no threats, no intimidation. He merely said he had overheard the conversation between Li Xin and Qingqing, and then…
And then they were scared into this state?
Why in the world?
They didn’t know.
Every heart in the hall was screaming with confusion.
In the scene, Jinyan Xianshi, Wuhua Xianzi, and the group of immortal experts from the Wuling Immortal Realm were also deeply shaken by this sight. They, too, couldn’t fathom why figures of Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing’s status would be so terrified of a seemingly ordinary mortal that they lost their composure and couldn’t even stand steady.
Even if he wasn’t a mortal, but some so-called Upper Being…
Even if he were some powerful Great Old Master, with the status Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing possessed, they shouldn’t need to fear him to this extent, should they?
After all, they were people of Changsheng Pavilion. Given Changsheng Pavilion’s standing in the Great Wasteland, they need not fear even the Great Old Masters of major families, major immortal realms, or even the World-Honored Great Old Masters of entire worlds, let alone the overlord Great Old Masters of celestial domains.
Could it be that this person truly was one of those Great Old Masters who roamed freely between heaven and earth?
Was that possible?
What a joke!
Since ancient times, there had only been a handful of Great Old Masters who truly roamed heaven and earth. To this day, they were either dead, perished, or had vanished without a trace.
How could this man possibly be one of those heaven-and-earth-roaming Great Old Masters?
Absolutely impossible!
Yet if that wasn’t the reason, why were Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing scared into such a state?
No one knew.
Everyone felt a creeping sense of dread and stared at Gu Qingfeng with profoundly complex gazes.
“I say, you two, is this really necessary?”
Looking at Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing, Gu Qingfeng shook his head and chuckled helplessly. “I was just teasing you for fun. No need for this, right?”
“We…
We know we were wrong…
We shouldn’t have…
Shouldn’t have doubted the Great Old Master…
Please, Great Old Master, spare us this once.”
Li Xin Xianzi forced herself to suppress the fear in her heart and pleaded in a trembling voice. “We…
Won’t dare again, truly won’t dare…” Li Xin was terrified.
Qingqing was also terrified.
Although neither dared to be a hundred percent certain that Gu Qingfeng was You Di, and even strongly suspected he might not be, their hearts were still filled with fear—deadly fear.
As for why they felt this way…
Qingqing didn’t know, and Li Xin didn’t know either.
Perhaps what they feared was that legendary saying: It’s not the ten thousand times you’re prepared for, but the one time you’re not.
“You two ladies, I was just speaking casually, joking around, looking for some amusement. Aren’t you two overreacting a bit? I told you long ago, I’m a good man, not as terrifying as you imagine. Why won’t you believe me?”
Gu Qingfeng was truly at a loss for words and had gained a renewed understanding of his own notorious reputation. “Besides, I completely understand your suspicion. To be frank, that old fellow Huode watched me grow up, and even he isn’t sure whether to believe or not, let alone you two.”
Hearing this, Li Xin Xianzi hurriedly explained, “We weren’t doubting the Great Old Master, we just…
Just weren’t entirely certain, so…
We wanted…
We wanted to…
Please, Great Old Master, forgive…
Forgive our ignorance.”
“Not being entirely certain is the same as doubting, isn’t it? Alright, enough explaining. I never said you had to believe me, right?
Moreover, whether you believe or not, I don’t care. And from the start, this was all you two scaring yourselves. I never said a word about it, did I?”
Gu Qingfeng waved his hand. “Come on, get up quickly. So many people are watching.”
Neither Li Xin Xianzi nor Upper Immortal Qingqing dared to rise.
“Hey, big sister, you just said that if I were a fake, you’d be embarrassed to your ancestors today, and wouldn’t have the face to see anyone ever again. Why aren’t you worried about embarrassment now?”
Li Xin Xianzi felt like crying but had no tears. Her heart was filled with both awkwardness and fear. She truly wished she could find a block of tofu to smash her head against. “Great Old Master, we truly know we were wrong…”
“Since you know you were wrong, then get up quickly. Stop kneeling. Those who know will think you scared yourselves; those who don’t will think I did something to you.”
Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back and took a swig of wine. “My reputation isn’t great to begin with. After your little performance, it’ll probably only get worse. If I had actually done something to you two, that would be one thing. The key is, I didn’t do anything at all. From start to finish, I’ve just been quietly drinking my wine, meek as a little bride, not provoking anyone. Tell me, isn’t it unjust for me to bear such a wicked reputation?”
At this moment,
Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing were caught in a dilemma—kneeling wasn’t right, and not kneeling wasn’t right either.
If they continued kneeling, Gu Qingfeng had already spoken to this extent. If they kept kneeling and ended up displeasing him, that would be terrible.
But if they simply stood up, it would seem they lacked sincerity.
Just as the two hesitated, Gu Qingfeng suddenly shouted loudly, “Hey!
Not getting up, huh? If you don’t get up, I’ll make you kneel here for the rest of your lives!”
Hearing this, Li Xin Xianzi and Upper Immortal Qingqing didn’t dare hesitate any longer and hurriedly stood up.
“That’s more like it.”
Gu Qingfeng pointed at his empty wine cup. “Fill it up for me.”
Li Xin Xianzi quickly picked up the wine jug to pour, while Qingqing obediently stood to the side with her head bowed, not daring to make a sound. She had never encountered a situation like this in her entire life. From the moment she began suspecting Gu Qingfeng was You Di, her mind had been in a state of chaos, her spirit trembling incessantly, never stopping. As a result, her entire being felt muddled; not only were her thoughts in disarray, but her consciousness was also somewhat unclear.