"What do you mean, 'flaunting the banner of the Saintess Empress to show off your might'? Can't you speak a little less harshly, kid?"
"What? Did I wrong you, old man?"
"Nonsense! This old man knew you'd look down on people. Let me tell you, Gu kid, I can say with full responsibility that I've never shown this Qiankun Refining Gourd to outsiders before. All this time, I've only used it to save my life a few times in moments of danger."
"If you didn't flash that broken gourd, how would others know you're under the protection of that woman Su Hua?"
"That's because when this old man rebuilt the Yunxia Sect, the Saintess Empress personally came to lend her support!"
"Su Hua came to support you?"
"Of course! The three characters for 'Yunxia Sect' on the sect stele were even personally written by the Saintess Empress herself. If you don't believe me, I can take you to see it right now."
Huode pulled Gu Qingfeng to the outside of the Yunxia Sect. A stone stele resembling a solitary peak stood in the center of the square before the sect gates, upon which were prominently carved the three characters: Yunxia Sect.
Gu Qingfeng might not recognize Su Hua's handwriting, but he could tell that these three characters were extraordinary—profoundly mysterious, wondrously subtle, endlessly changing, radiant and sacred. They not only contained immense imposing force but also powerful energy, capable of protecting the entire Yunxia Sect and intimidating demons and monsters. They were truly formidable.
"Not bad, Huode," Gu Qingfeng teased. "You old codger really keep opening my eyes. That woman Su Hua gives you a gourd, personally comes to support you... your face is quite big, huh."
"Ai-ya, Master Gu, Ancestor Gu, the Saintess Empress only came to support this old man out of respect for you! If not for your connection, how could I possibly have such great face?"
Huode was a man who knew his own limits. He understood clearly in his heart that the Saintess Empress's personal support for the Yunxia Sect was not for his sake, but for Gu Qingfeng's.
He said, "That's why I said earlier that the Yunxia Sect's development is all thanks to borrowing your light, kid."
"What game is that little woman Su Hua playing? I can't quite figure it out."
"What's there to figure out? Don't measure the heart of a noble person with your own petty standards, alright? What a fine young lady the Saintess Empress is, devotedly waiting for you all these years. It's bad enough you ignore her, but you even suspect her intentions?"
Speaking of the Saintess Empress Su Hua, Huode couldn't help but advise, "Yes, the Saintess Empress is the ordained tribulation-bearer of the Present Era, and you, kid, are a being of Original Sin delusion. You two are fated adversaries. But the Saintess Empress holds no malice toward you. Not only no malice, she even... treats you with sincerity. The entire Myriad Heavens and Worlds knows the Saintess Empress's feelings for you. Why is it only you who doesn't understand?"
"The Saintess Empress defies the world to treat you with such devotion. This old man is baffled—what exactly are you thinking? If the Saintess Empress doesn't mind, why should you?"
"You understand nothing!" Gu Qingfeng stared at the three characters on the sect stele. "Sometimes, killing doesn't require a blade."
"What do you mean? You suspect the Saintess Empress wants to kill you? That can't be right. With the Saintess Empress's current status, position, cultivation, and power, killing you shouldn't be difficult, should it? Even if it's a bit hard, she wouldn't resort to underhanded tactics, would she? This old man reckons the Saintess Empress isn't that kind of person."
Gu Qingfeng said lightly, "There are many things in this you don't understand. I'm not saying Su Hua wants to kill me. Besides, even if she really did, I wouldn't fear her."
"If that's the case, why do you look so displeased?"
"Huode, get rid of this sect stele. Dismantle it immediately."
"What?! What?!"
Hearing this, Huode was startled. He scurried in front of Gu Qingfeng, spreading his arms to block him, eyes wide as he shouted, "You little brat! Why on earth would you dismantle this old man's sect stele for no reason? Do you have any idea that the Yunxia Sect's development relies entirely on these three characters written by the Saintess Empress!"
"After dismantling it, I'll personally carve three new characters for you. I guarantee they'll be more profound than Su Hua's."
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Don't you just want to develop and expand the Yunxia Sect? From now on, you don't need to wave Su Hua's banner. Just wave mine, alright? I've been around the Great Desolate for so many years; I still have a bit of deterrent power. Forget the Immortal families of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain—even the Three Thousand Great Daos wouldn't dare refuse to give me face."
"No! No! Absolutely not!"
"What's this? In your eyes, can't I, your old man, protect your measly little Yunxia Sect?"
"It's not a question of whether you can protect it or not, but... Gu kid, let me be honest with you, don't get angry. Your reputation is indeed huge—I admit that. Your fearsome name goes without saying; even the Three Thousand Great Daos wouldn't dare refuse you face. I know that. But... to say something you won't like hearing, your reputation, damn it, is all ill repute. The kind that makes people fear and dread you on sight."
"Isn't that better? With me covering you, no one in the entire Myriad Heavens and Worlds would dare bully you."
"Yes, yes, yes! This old man believes that. But... just protecting the Yunxia Sect isn't enough. I want to pass the Yunxia Sect down through generations. You can protect it for a while, but can you protect it for a lifetime? Knowing you, kid, you're only enthusiastic for a day or two, then damn it, you'll run off to some godforsaken corner to drink and flirt with girls. When trouble comes knocking later, who will I turn to?"
Before Gu Qingfeng could speak, Huode continued, "Also, if the Yunxia Sect is under your protection, I'm afraid no one would dare cultivate here anymore. Who in the Myriad Heavens and Worlds doesn't know you're a sinner rejected by heaven and earth, with such deep-seated hatred for the Immortal Dao? How could disciples of the Yunxia Sect dare to become Immortals? Wouldn't they get beaten up every day after ascending? With a sinner rejected by heaven and earth like you as a backer, who would dare come to our Yunxia Sect to cultivate!"
No matter how Gu Qingfeng tried to persuade him, Huode adamantly refused to erase the sect stele. He said, "Gu kid, I just don't get it. Why must you erase the sect stele? Did it offend you? Can't you stand to see this old man have even a little bit of good fortune? Do you have to see me destitute and miserable before you're satisfied?"
Gu Qingfeng said helplessly, "I don't want to owe Su Hua any favors, nor do I want to have any connection with her."
"This sect stele was given to this old man by the Saintess Empress. Even if there's a favor owed, it's this old man who owes it. What does it have to do with you? It's not like you asked the Saintess Empress to write it for me. Moreover, when the Saintess Empress came to support me, she didn't tell you, did she? I say, Gu kid, aren't you being a bit presumptuous?"
Though Huode spoke this way, deep down he knew better than anyone that the immense favor granted by the Saintess Empress was entirely for Gu Qingfeng's sake. Therefore, this favor would naturally be counted on Gu Qingfeng's head.
Looking at the silent Gu Qingfeng, Huode let out a deep, heavy sigh. "Damn it, I originally wanted to show off a bit in front of you, kid. If I'd known it would be like this, I wouldn't have brought you back even if beaten to death. Forget it, forget it. This old man knows you don't want to owe anyone favors. You... go ahead and dismantle it."