Huode stared at the towering Sect Stele, as majestic as a solitary peak, filled with nothing but regret.
Just as he had said, bringing Gu Qingfeng back this time was meant to show off, to brag a little, to act the big shot, and thoroughly enjoy the moment. Yet, no matter how he had imagined it, he never expected that before he could even finish his display, Gu Qingfeng would want to dismantle the Sect Stele.
How could Huode not regret it?
Of course.
He knew Gu Qingfeng didn't want to owe Su Hua a favor, and he didn't want to put Gu Qingfeng in a difficult position, nor did he want this matter to cause Gu Qingfeng trouble in the future.
Therefore.
Despite the immense regret and reluctance in his heart, Huode had decided to dismantle the Sect Stele.
"Then I'm going to dismantle it."
Gu Qingfeng's voice came through. Huode turned his back, closed his eyes, unable to bear watching, and waved his hand. "Dismantle it, just dismantle it."
"If you, old scoundrel, beg me, this master might reconsider."
Hearing this, Huode was instantly overjoyed and asked excitedly, "Really?"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng nod, Huode immediately spoke up, "Master Gu, Ancestor Gu, I beg you. Could you, in your esteemed kindness, consider that I've gone through countless hardships and nearly lost my life searching for you all these years? Please don't dismantle the Sect Stele. Take pity on this old man, and take pity on the hard-won Yunxia Sect, alright?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head and refused, "No!"
"What!"
Huode was stunned. He thought there was a turn of events, but never imagined Gu Qingfeng would refuse so decisively. Instantly furious, he shouted, "Are you fucking messing with me?"
"Hahahaha!"
Gu Qingfeng patted Huode's shoulder, said nothing, and vanished in a flash.
"Hey! Hey! Gu kid! Where are you going? Are we dismantling it or not?"
Returning to the serene manor from before and seeing Gu Qingfeng drinking in the pavilion, Huode stormed over angrily. "What do you mean, kid? Are we dismantling it or not? If you're going to dismantle it, hurry up and do it. Don't dawdle like an old woman."
"Dismantle what? I was just having a bit of fun earlier, teasing you. Did you actually take it seriously?"
"What did you say? You motherf... you motherf..." Huode glared at Gu Qingfeng, his face livid with anger. "So after all this fuss, you really were just messing with me?"
"Not entirely. For a moment, I really did consider dismantling that Sect Stele. But then I thought about it—you, old scoundrel, rebuilding Yunxia Sect wasn't easy. Besides, didn't you say Yunxia Sect carries too many of your memories and dreams? How could I bear to do it?"
"Really or fake? Would you, kid, be so kind-hearted?"
"Then should I go dismantle it now?"
"Don't! I admit I was wrong, alright!"
Huode sat down, poured wine for Gu Qingfeng, and said, "Gu kid, you mustn't suffer yourself just to pity this old man. If that single Sect Stele ends up causing you major trouble in the future, I would never forgive myself in this lifetime."
"This master is already entangled in the great catastrophe of the Present Era. In this heaven and earth, what trouble could be bigger than that?" Gu Qingfeng smiled faintly. "Moreover, as you said, it wasn't me begging Su Hua to come support you. She came on her own, and she carved the Sect Stele herself. From beginning to end, it has nothing to do with me. If I considered that as owing Su Hua a favor, wouldn't I be too narcissistic?"
"What if... I mean what if... what if Empress Saintess truly wants you to owe her a favor?"
Huode scratched his head and said quietly, "Originally, I didn't think in that direction. I just felt Empress Saintess came to support me personally out of respect for you. But now, hearing you say this, I've thought it over carefully, and the more I think about it, the more something feels off. Besides, I never told Empress Saintess about rebuilding Yunxia Sect. She descended suddenly. The matter of the Sect Stele was also proposed by Empress Saintess herself; I never opened my mouth about it. Thinking about it, this whole thing seems to carry a whiff of conspiracy. It feels like a trap."
"It's not quite a conspiracy, nor a trap."
"Then why would Empress Saintess suddenly descend to support me for no reason? It must be because of your face. I reckon, no matter how much she likes you, she wouldn't need to curry favor with you by buttering me up, would she?"
"It's not as complicated as you think."
"Even if it's not a conspiracy or a trap, and Empress Saintess purely wants you to owe her a favor, then what?"
"Then we'll deal with it as it comes. It's just a favor. Can't I repay it? Besides, even if I don't repay it, what can she do to me?"
"Based on my understanding of you, kid, if you owe money, you might not repay it. But if you owe a favor, you definitely will."
Huode said seriously, "Empress Saintess studied you thoroughly back then. She understands your character even better than I do. She must know that if you owe a favor, you definitely won't refuse to repay it. So, she deliberately descended, nominally to support me, but actually used me to give you a favor?"
As he spoke, Huode remembered something else. "Could Empress Saintess be planning to use this to threaten you? No! That's not right. A favor can't threaten someone. But it is a universal favor card. Played at the right time, it can make things very difficult for someone."
Huode fell silent for a long while, thinking and thinking. "Gu kid, should we still dismantle the Sect Stele? The more I think about it, the more something feels off."
"Dismantling it now won't help. You've already accepted her favor. It's like someone giving you a gift. You accept the gift, then throw it away later. Does that mean the gift was never given? That's two different things."
"This... what do we do then? I was only thinking about being happy at the time; I didn't consider so much. Now I'm in a pickle. Without realizing it, I've been used."
Huode said, "I say, you big shots play your schemes way too deep. Even a sly old fox like me got fucking tricked."
"So, keep your eyes wide open from now on. Just remember one thing: gold never falls from the sky. Even if it does fall, it won't hit you. If it really does hit you, then that gold is either a conspiracy or a trap."
As soon as Gu Qingfeng finished speaking, Huode sprang to his feet, his expression panicked. "Not good!"
"Don't fucking startle me like that. You're the Founding Ancestor of a major sect now. Can't you be a bit steadier? With me here, the sky won't collapse. Even if it does, I'll hold it up for you."
"No! Gu kid, I suddenly remembered something else."
"What is it?"
"Perhaps... perhaps this time, you won't just owe Empress Saintess one favor. You'll also owe..."