Within the Cloud Mist Sect's detached courtyard.
Huode asked in astonishment, "Looking for you?"
"Sounds like it might be for me."
"What do you mean 'sounds like'? They called out 'You Di' by name!
And they called you 'dear'?
Damn it!
Could it be one of your old flames?"
"Probably not."
"How is it not possible? If she wasn't one of your old flames, why would she call you something so sickeningly sweet? And damn it, that voice spread across the entire Lingluo Heavenly Domain! Tell me, which old flame is it? Did she come to collect a love debt?"
"I don't have any old flames."
"I spit on that!
What are you pretending to be some pure, innocent boy in front of me for? Don't I know what kind of character you are?
This woman's voice doesn't sound like a decent sort at all. Who the hell is she?"
Gu Qingfeng was also pondering the other party's identity. Could it really be some little lady he'd flirted with in the past?
He thought carefully, running through all the women he'd ever flirted with, but couldn't think of anyone who would do something like this.
At that moment, that eerie, sinister, spine-chilling voice came again.
"Dear Imperial Venerable, this humble servant has been waiting for you...
for so, so long... really...
miss you so much."
In the courtyard, Huode hugged his arms, goosebumps rising all over. He could barely stand steady, because the voice was not only terrifying but also exceptionally seductive. It entered the ears, disturbed the mind, and made one's heart surge uncontrollably.
Gu Qingfeng stood quietly, hands clasped behind his back, frowning slightly as he gazed at the night sky.
"Dear Imperial Venerable, why don't you answer this humble servant? Have you already forgotten me..."
Meanwhile.
Mo Ruyi, master of the Immortal Court in the Primordial World; the Heavenly Immortal Yun Wan of Shangqing Sect; and Lotus Granny, the Heavenly Dao ruler; Shark Xiang, Domain Lord of the Immortal Court's mansion; the Founding Ancestor of the Longevity Pavilion and the High Immortal Qingqing—all across the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, across its various worlds and immortal realms, everyone was searching for the source of the voice. Yet, none could find it.
Like Huode, they all suspected the owner of the voice must be one of You Di's old flames, probably here to collect a love debt.
Regarding You Di's old flames, legends spoke of Empress Jun Xuanji, Empress Ye Tianlan, Empress Tang Hengheng, Empress Feng Zhuyue of the Demonic Path, including Empress Su Hua, Empress Yun Nishang of Nature, Empress of the Netherworld, and so on...
There were quite a few.
No one could figure out if the owner of this voice might be one of these Empresses, or perhaps You Di had other old flames no one knew about.
"Dear Imperial Venerable, you...
have you really forgotten this humble servant?"
"Hmph!
No wonder the world says you are the heartless You Di, a faithless man. You have truly betrayed this humble servant's devoted heart for you...
This humble servant's heart aches so..."
"Dear Imperial Venerable, do you really not remember?"
"That day, the great sun hung high in the sky, its light illuminating the world. This humble servant was alone, lonely and drinking on Heishui Mountain, even though...
many admirers were below the mountain, but in this humble servant's eyes, there was only you standing among the crowd."
"Dear Imperial Venerable, do you remember?
That day, you walked from the crowd, ascended Heishui Mountain, and embraced this humble servant in your arms before everyone..."
Too sinister!
Too eerie!
Eerie enough to make one's hair stand on end, sinister enough to bewitch the soul. The feeling was complex—both frightening and heart-stirring.
Huode rubbed his face vigorously, walked over to Gu Qingfeng's side, his face flushed, and said with a choked throat, "Kid Gu, don't tell me you damn well still don't know who she is!"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head and replied, "I really don't know."
"What? What?
She's already given you the details, and you still don't know?
You damn well did the deed, so why won't you admit it?
I won't say anything about it. Why are you pretending with me?"
Gu Qingfeng said helplessly, "I really don't know who this woman is."
"She said you hugged her on Heishui Mountain!"
"I've never been to any Heishui Mountain. I don't even know where Heishui Mountain is."
"That can't be right?
Could it be you've flirted with so many women you can't remember which one it is?
Don't tell me you're incapable of such a thing. Back in the day, you dared to tease Empress Jun Xuanji right in front of the Nine Heavens. Hugging a young lady in public is absolutely something you'd do."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin and thought. Although each time he was reborn from nirvana, his memories became fragmented and his memory grew worse, logically speaking, if he had really been to some Heishui Mountain, even if he forgot, he should have some impression, right?
But the problem was, Gu Qingfeng thought and thought, and he had not a single impression of the words "Heishui Mountain."
"Mmm, dear Imperial Venerable, it seems... you have really forgotten this humble servant..."
"This humble servant is so...
sad, so heartbroken..."
"Dear Imperial Venerable, why don't you answer this humble servant? Are you really ignoring me?"
"This humble servant knows...
you are in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain...
and knows you can hear this humble servant's words...
Why are you ignoring me?"
"Even if you have forgotten this humble servant, it's alright... This humble servant never expected the Imperial Venerable to remember me...
This humble servant only wishes...
to see the Imperial Venerable...
If only I could see the Imperial Venerable once, this humble servant would be content..."
Listening to the sinister, eerie voice, Huode asked solemnly, "Kid Gu, tell me honestly, do you really not remember who this woman is?"
"It's not that I don't remember; I simply don't know her. This woman is talking nonsense."
"If this woman really is talking nonsense, then what's her point?"
Suddenly, Huode seemed to realize something, his heart sinking. "Damn it, could this be a trap?
Is this little lady trying to lure you out?"
"You only just realized that now?"
"Damn it!
To use such a method to lure you out, this trick is played way too deep. You better not fall for it, kid."
"This trick is played quite interestingly."
Gu Qingfeng said with a smile, "I like it."
"Your heart is truly big enough. She's already come out to tempt you, and you damn well like it. Who knows how many experts are waiting for you out there. The moment you show your face, a net will descend from heaven and earth."
"The fact that I'm at the Cloud Mist Sect, the people of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain might not know, but the Three Thousand Great Daos know, and this woman is no exception."
"You mean this woman wants to lure you out to cause chaos in the Great Desolation?
Could it be that this woman is the mastermind behind the scenes, the one orchestrating everything?"
"She doesn't seem like the mastermind; more like a troublemaker."
Gu Qingfeng said, "Alright, since the troublemaker has shown up, I guess I'll have to meet her."
"What do you mean? You're not...
planning to show yourself, are you?"
"She's invited me so enthusiastically. It wouldn't be good for me to refuse."