"Now that you're back, that's good. Only you can keep those little bastards in line, otherwise... they'll end up getting hurt sooner or later."
Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Times are different now. After the Cataclysm, a new Immortal Dynasty has been re-established, but that's secondary. The most important thing is that after the Reincarnation Storm, many great powers have reincarnated..."
"Are there many reincarnated great powers in our world?"
"Many... all sorts of great immortals from the Celestial Realm, like the Great Immortal Hongyu, the Great Immortal Yuanyang... I've heard there are even a few Da Luo Golden Immortals, and maybe even Immortal Lords... Anyway, there are quite a few, and those are just the ones with names. Who knows how many Celestial Realm great powers have reincarnated into this world... So, I want you to advise those little bastards to rein themselves in a bit."
"Fatty Wang and the others might seem careless, but they're all shrewd people. They know when to hold back. Those guys won't get hurt, and I'm not worried about them."
Gu Qingfeng drained his cup of wine, stood up, stretched, and sighed. "Besides, I don't plan to see them again this time..."
"Why?" Elder Huode was puzzled.
"No reason. I just feel tired..." Gu Qingfeng sat back down, closed his eyes, and tapped his forehead. "I really feel tired... In the past, I lived a life of constant fighting—either against the Immortal Dao, or the Demonic Dao, or the Heavenly Dao... I'm truly exhausted... I don't want to live like that anymore. I want to change my way of living."
"Change your way of living? What kind of life do you want?"
"I don't know yet... Let things take their natural course. The Heavenly Dao took everything from me. Although I kept my life, I'm still very weak. I'll recuperate for a while first."
"Recuperate? That's easy. Recuperate here with me! My place might not compare to your old Chixiao Sect, but it has everything you need!"
Gu Qingfeng opened one eye a slit, glanced around, and chuckled. "Won't I be troubling you?"
"Get lost! Are you being polite with me now?"
"Hahahaha!"
...
Gu Qingfeng and Elder Huode drank wine and reminisced about the past, chatting for a full three days and three nights.
While they were happily chatting here, Yunxia Sect had been very lively these past three days. Both the outer and inner sects were buzzing with a piece of gossip.
"Hey! Have you heard? It turns out that guy who came with Senior Sister Ouyang that day was Young Lord Chiyan!"
"Yes! I always thought Senior Sister Ouyang made him up, but it turns out he's real."
"It's true. I heard that at the First-Class Villa, Young Lord Chiyan could evoke the artistic conception of 'Drunken Chanting of the Azure Sea' just by playing an empty tune. Even Master Wenzhu called him a musical prodigy."
"Sigh! What a pity! A perfectly good musical prodigy failed his Foundation Establishment. Although he coincidentally became a mutated body with a strong physique and immense strength, in the end, he's still a wasted body. He can't cultivate anymore!"
"Who says otherwise? You know what? I heard Young Lord Chiyan failed his Foundation Establishment and was driven out by his family and sect, so he came to seek refuge with Senior Sister Ouyang."
"Senior Sister Ouyang couldn't bear to see her beloved become a waste, so she brought him to find Elder Huode, hoping Elder Huode could think of a way to help Young Lord Chiyan recover."
"Elder Huode's cultivation is profound, but to say he can help a Foundation Establishment failed body recover... that's simply impossible!"
"Sigh! Senior Sister Ouyang is truly devoted. She must be heartbroken."
"Yes! Senior Sister Ouyang is beautiful, kind-hearted, talented, and highly cultivated. She's the goddess in my heart... but... how should I put it? If Young Lord Chiyan hadn't failed his Foundation Establishment, I'd hope they become Dao companions. But now that he's failed... he's simply not worthy of Senior Sister Ouyang!"
"That's why everyone feels Senior Sister Ouyang is getting the short end of the stick. That Young Lord Chiyan is really something. He's already failed his Foundation Establishment, so why come looking for Senior Sister Ouyang? Isn't he putting her in a difficult position?"
"Exactly! He's failed his Foundation Establishment. Does he still want to become Dao companions with Senior Sister Ouyang? If Senior Sister agrees, her life would be ruined. But if she refuses, Senior Sister Ouyang would be called heartless and unjust. This Young Lord Chiyan is really despicable."
"Sigh, I wonder what Senior Sister Ouyang plans to do!"
Early this morning, in a garden within Yunxia Sect.
A girl of seventeen or eighteen was pacing back and forth with her arms crossed. Although she only wore a white cultivation robe, it couldn't conceal her proud, curvaceous figure. Her exquisite face wore no makeup yet was flawlessly beautiful. She looked deeply worried, her willow-like eyebrows tightly knitted.
The girl was none other than Ouyang Ye.
The girl was frustrated, extremely frustrated, almost to the point of going crazy.
Back then, she had only asked Gu Qingfeng to impersonate Young Lord Chiyan to fool Yun Hong and Ye Hui.
Bringing Gu Qingfeng to Yunxia Sect was just to repay him, but... but Ouyang Ye never imagined things would develop to this point. Gossip about her had spread throughout Yunxia Sect almost overnight.
They said Young Lord Chiyan was truly a musical prodigy before, but he failed his Foundation Establishment and was driven out by his family, so he could only seek refuge with her?
And that she brought him to Yunxia Sect to beg Elder Huode to help him cultivate again?
Heavens! What nonsense is this! How did it come to this?
If it were just disciples spreading rumors, Ouyang Ye wouldn't mind. But the sect's seniors had taken it seriously. Over the past three days, many seniors had spoken to her, saying she was still young and shouldn't consider Dao companions yet, that she should focus on cultivation. They also said that even if she wanted a Dao companion, she should find someone of equal status... otherwise, it would only harm both.
Ouyang Ye felt like crying but had no tears.
The key was that ever since that guy Gu Qingfeng left with Elder Huode, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. She had gone to Elder Huode's residence several times over the past three days but couldn't find anyone.
"Damn it, where did Elder Huode take him?"
Ouyang Ye was pacing anxiously, unsure how to deal with the rumors outside.
Just then, a voice sounded in her ear.
"Disciple."
Hmm? Ouyang Ye's heart skipped a beat. She turned and looked, only to see a graceful, beautiful woman walking toward her.
"Mas... Master..." This graceful woman was Ouyang Ye's master, True Being Feixue, who was also the Grand Steward of Yunxia Sect.
"Master, you... weren't you in seclusion? How... how did you come out..." Seeing her master, Ouyang Ye felt both surprised and guilty. She wondered if her master had emerged from seclusion because she heard these rumors. If so, that would be terrible. She stole a glance at her master's frosty expression and grew even more worried.
True Being Feixue snorted coldly. Ouyang Ye's heart sank. She thought to herself: It's over now.
"I originally thought the Young Lord Chiyan you often mentioned was just talk, but I didn't expect it to be true..." True Being Feixue's expression was grim, her face full of authority as she stared at Ouyang Ye. "If he were truly a dragon among men, that would be one thing. But he actually failed his Foundation Establishment. Since he failed, why did you bring him to the sect?"
"Master, I..." Ouyang Ye had no idea how to respond. True Being Feixue was a good friend of her mother, and she deeply respected this master.
"Do you know that doing this puts you in a dilemma? Now the entire sect is discussing this matter. Almost all the disciples know that the Young Lord Chiyan you brought back is the man you fell in love with at first sight. Didn't you say at the First-Class Villa that you would become Dao companions with him in the future? And dual cultivate?"
"Disciple, how could you be so foolish? Do you know the consequences of dual cultivating with a Foundation Establishment failed body? Your life would be ruined, do you understand? Never mind whether he was truly a dragon among men before. Even if he was, failing his Foundation Establishment means his cultivation path has ended."
Heavens! Ouyang Ye was almost collapsing. She hurriedly said, "Master, that's not how it is at all. That guy isn't Young Lord Chiyan. I just found him to impersonate him temporarily. I never expected things to develop like this..."
"Disciple, disciple, your master has been through this before. I understand your feelings, but I advise you to let go of this childish infatuation at first sight. There's no possible future for you two."
"Master... I... I'm not lying to you! He really isn't Young Lord Chiyan!"
No matter how Ouyang Ye explained, True Being Feixue didn't believe her. In her view, her disciple must be afraid everyone would criticize Young Lord Chiyan and was protecting him by saying this. True Being Feixue shook her head helplessly and continued persuading.
"Disciple, do you think Elder Huode can really make him cultivate again? Let me tell you, it's impossible! Even with Elder Huode's profound mastery of formations, he can't make someone who failed Foundation Establishment cultivate again. Moreover, he's a mutated Foundation Establishment failed body. Even a Celestial Realm immortal couldn't save him. So, don't hold onto any illusions."
"Master! He really isn't Young Lord Chiyan!"
Ouyang Ye was so anxious she was about to cry. She never imagined things would turn out like this. Before, she had tried every means to make everyone believe Young Lord Chiyan existed. Now, when she said Young Lord Chiyan was fake, no one believed her!
"Let this matter end here. Don't go out during this time. Enter seclusion and cultivate. As for that Young Lord Chiyan, I'll deal with him when I return after finishing my business."
Looking at Ouyang Ye squatting on the ground, holding her head in distress, True Being Feixue sighed softly and said gently, "Disciple, don't blame your master for being harsh. I'm thinking of your future. You're still young and should focus on cultivation. Even if you want a Dao companion later, you must find someone of equal status. Your family and our Yunxia Sect have high hopes for you. Your future Dao companion must be a heaven-defying talent."
Ouyang Ye squatted on the ground, clutching her hair fiercely, her face woeful. "Master... he really isn't..." But her words were cut off halfway by True Being Feixue.
"Enough! It seems that boy has truly bewitched you. All he can do is play a tune of the Monarch! Your aunt once said playing the Monarch's tunes could cause obsession. I thought it was alarmist talk, but now it seems she wasn't wrong. A stinking boy who failed his Foundation Establishment has you this infatuated!"