"Even our uncles only learned the cave master's name in recent years. How could he know it?"
Mu Xiaoyou tilted her head, also frowning in confusion. Remembering how the Blood-Eyed Bald Eagle chasing her had been obliterated with a wave of Gu Qingfeng's hand, the little girl still felt a bit frightened and murmured, "And... he's so powerful."
"Hmph! What's so powerful about that!" Bai Yunfei said disdainfully. "If I had used my Colored Spirit Power just now, he would never have been able to block my sword."
Seeing Shui Yunruo lost in thought and silent, Bai Yunfei said, "Senior Sister, we've already delayed a lot of time. We should hurry on our way. Our uncles are still waiting for us at the Bingxuan Sect."
...
The Four-Steed Grand Carriage raced along the road.
Gu Qingfeng reclined lazily inside the grand carriage, holding an exquisite wine pot, slowly pouring fine wine into a simple, ancient bronze-colored wine cup.
The wine was Shuiyun Wine.
The cup was the Taixu Cup.
Shuiyun Wine was a very light, slightly bitter fine wine. But after being poured into the Taixu Cup and refined by the Yin-Yang Ice-Fire contained within it, the originally light wine became incredibly spicy, its bitterness intensifying even more.
Holding the Taixu Cup, drinking the Shuiyun Wine.
Gu Qingfeng's thoughts seemed to return to the time before the Great Calamity, to his youthful days centuries ago.
Back then, after being expelled from the Yunxia Sect, he wandered alone. In his struggle for cultivation resources, he made many enemies. Once, while being pursued and severely injured, he was fortunate to be saved by a woman. After meeting her, Gu Qingfeng learned that the Great Northwest still hid a secluded paradise. During his recovery there, the woman took great care of him, and in the end, even hoped he would stay.
Alas.
At that time, Gu Qingfeng's heart was set on the promise he had made to Hongxiu, and he ultimately had to leave.
That paradise was none other than the Taixing Cave.
And the woman was none other than Shui Yunying.
Thinking back on how he had failed Shui Yunying's feelings back then, he still felt somewhat guilty.
When Gu Qingfeng cultivated in this world, he owed many debts of gratitude. Some of these debts he repaid before leaving this world—those he could repay, he did; those he couldn't, he found ways to settle. But there were some debts of gratitude he did not repay.
It wasn't that he didn't want to.
But rather, he didn't know how.
Shui Yunying of the Taixing Cave was one of them.
When he discovered the Shuiyun Wine at Crimson-Letter Manor, he had thought of Shui Yunying, because this kind of wine existed nowhere else—only the Taixing Cave had it, and only Shui Yunying knew how to brew it.
Drinking the Shuiyun Wine, Gu Qingfeng shook his head and whispered softly, "Years pass traceless, all fades away; Returning to old haunts is like a dream. Sealed memories surface in the heart; I wonder where that beauty is today..." After saying this, he drained the cup in one gulp.
He didn't know how much time had passed. Only when Gu Qingfeng felt the weather gradually turning cold did he realize they had arrived in the Bingxuan Territory.
Although the sun shone brightly overhead, the weather in the Bingxuan Territory was exceptionally cold, permeated with a chilling, icy aura.
This was roughly Gu Qingfeng's second time coming to this place. The last time was when Leng Yanqiu fused with the Bingxuan Heart. He had come in a hurry then and hadn't properly appreciated the scenery of this territory. Perhaps influenced by the Bingxuan Spirit Vein beneath the territory, the entire area was not only cold but also shrouded in a pervasive cold mist. Under the sunlight, it offered a rather unique experience.
The Four-Steed Grand Carriage gradually made its way toward the Bingxuan Sect, and the number of people on the road increased. Some arrived flying on swords, some on mounts, and others, like Gu Qingfeng, in spirit-beast-drawn grand carriages. Especially when they reached the foot of the Bingxuan Sect's mountain, a glance around revealed a bustling scene, with people everywhere.
Indeed.
Today was the day of the Bingxuan Sect's succession ceremony. On such a grand occasion, sects, families, and gangs large and small from the surrounding territories had traveled from afar to offer their congratulations.
Everyone knew that Leng Yanqiu's fusion with the Bingxuan Heart signified the resurgence of a major sect from before the Great Calamity.
Now, with the hundred-year deadline approaching and facing the massive power of the giant Nine-Hua Alliance, many sects pinned their hopes on the Bingxuan Sect.
Gu Qingfeng sat in the Four-Steed Grand Carriage at the foot of the Bingxuan Sect's mountain, drinking wine while he waited.
He had previously agreed with Huode to meet at the entrance of the Bingxuan Sect, but no matter how long he waited, he couldn't spot Huode's figure.
Gu Qingfeng grew truly impatient with waiting. He told Fei Kui to wait outside, while he himself headed up the mountain first.
The mountain range was vast, the cold mist extremely dense, and the temperature even lower. Atop the mountain range lay the Bingxuan Sect.
There were many people at the foot of the mountain, and even more on the mountain itself. A steady stream of people came to offer congratulations to the Bingxuan Sect.
The Bingxuan Sect had a history of three thousand years. In the Great Northwest, a sect with a three-thousand-year heritage wasn't considered particularly long; at best, it was average. However, many had long yearned to visit the Bingxuan Sect. Unlike other sects, due to its mysterious founding ancestor, the wonder of the Bingxuan Heart, and tales of ice, frost, and flying snow, the Bingxuan Sect had always been shrouded in a mysterious, legendary aura.
In fact, many people were entering the Bingxuan Sect for the first time, including Gu Qingfeng. After entering, he followed the crowd, wandering around the Bingxuan Sect and admiring its scenery.
It was beautiful.
Both the sect's architecture and its flora were stunning. Amidst the cold mist, it was like a fairyland, everything draped in silver. A glance around was truly refreshing and invigorating.
After wandering for a while, Gu Qingfeng followed the crowd into a spacious plaza area.
Rows of tables and chairs were set up here, with Bingxuan Sect disciples busily attending to the guests who had come to offer congratulations.
Gu Qingfeng was just thinking about finding a place to sit and wait for Huode and the others when a voice came from beside him.
"Benefactor Big Brother?"
Hmm?
Gu Qingfeng looked over and saw a little girl running toward him. She looked about fourteen or fifteen, wearing a purple dress, with two ponytails, appearing petite and cute. It was the little girl he had saved on the road earlier, Mu Xiaoyou.
Mu Xiaoyou seemed both very surprised and extremely happy to see Gu Qingfeng here. She smiled excitedly, "Benefactor Big Brother, it really is you! I thought I was seeing things."
"What a coincidence, little sister."
Gu Qingfeng also hadn't expected to meet the little girl here. As he spoke, a white-clad woman approached from across the way—also the little girl's senior sister, Shui Yunruo.
Shui Yunruo was exquisitely beautiful, almost ethereal. Dressed in a thin, plain white cloth garment, she seemed to be amidst smoke and mist, her aura transcendent and extraordinary. She walked over slowly, looked at Gu Qingfeng, and a flicker of surprise crossed her cool expression as she asked, "Young Lord, are you also here to attend the Bingxuan Sect's celebration?"
Gu Qingfeng nodded in response. "That's right."
Shui Yunruo glanced around and noticed Gu Qingfeng had no companions. She asked softly, "Are you alone, Young Lord?"
Gu Qingfeng shrugged and smiled. "You could say that."
"In that case, why doesn't the Young Lord join us at our table?" Shui Yunruo sincerely invited. "Earlier on the road, you saved my junior sister, but we didn't have time to thank you before you hurried away. Now that we've met again at the Bingxuan Sect, my junior sister and I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude."
"Well..." Seeing Gu Qingfeng hesitate, Shui Yunruo said, "If the Young Lord has other matters, we can meet another day. It's no trouble."
"Benefactor Big Brother, do you have other things to do? If not, please sit with us, okay? You saved my life, and I haven't thanked you yet..." Gu Qingfeng had little immunity to little girls. Hearing the little girl's pitiful plea, he agreed without a second thought.