"Heavens!
Big Brother Benefactor, you... you're actually... that Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng..." On the way here, the name Mu Xiaoyou had heard most often was Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng. She was very curious about this mysterious figure, but she never could have imagined that the person who had saved her life was actually the Chiyan Young Master.
She felt this way, and Shui Yunruo was no exception. Staring at Gu Qingfeng, besides shock, she felt a sudden realization dawn upon her.
He said his surname was Gu.
His physical body was exceptionally formidable.
And according to rumors, that Chiyan Young Master was named Gu Qingfeng, and his physical body was also exceptionally formidable.
No wonder...
I should have realized earlier that he was the Chiyan Young Master.
Shui Yunruo shook her head slightly, smiling with a sense of helplessness.
"So you are Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng!"
Bai Yunfei's tone was complex, filled with both shock and astonishment, but also a touch of shame and anger. He never expected that the person he had looked down upon earlier was actually the recently famous Chiyan Young Master. Especially after Gu Qingfeng's identity was exposed, many people swarmed around him, instantly making Gu Qingfeng the center of attention, which made Bai Yunfei burn with jealousy.
He hadn't expected it.
And Jingtao Gongzi had expected it even less.
Bai Yunfei was ashamed and angry.
But at this moment, Jingtao Gongzi's feelings could not be described simply as shame and anger.
It was sheer, unadulterated fury.
Earlier, Liu Piaopiao's 'pay respects to the Young Lord' had made him feel flattered and honored, but the subsequent 'get lost' had utterly humiliated him.
How could he not be furious?
But was that all?
No!
Perhaps because they hadn't expected their salutes to inadvertently expose Gu Qingfeng's identity, the expressions of Wei Qing and the other two changed repeatedly, as if they were extremely frightened. They bowed again with cupped fists, saying, "We truly did not know, Young Lord..." When Wei Qing and the others arrived and saw Gu Qingfeng sitting there, they dared not be negligent and immediately went to pay their respects, not thinking much of it. It was only after saluting and seeing so many people gather around that they realized they had unintentionally revealed Gu Qingfeng's identity. The three of them were terrified and immediately apologized.
But as soon as they began to speak, Gu Qingfeng, as if knowing what they were about to say, waved his hand, his expression rather helpless, and said, "Alright, enough. Go do whatever you need to do."
Witnessing this scene, everyone looked at each other, wide-eyed with confusion. Whether it was the leaders of various sects, the hall masters and commanders of the Nine-Hua Alliance, or even Wen Yansheng, Tianxiang Yue, Luowen Zhenghao, and Jingtao Gongzi, no one could understand why this was happening.
Even if this person was that so-called Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng, why would Wan Wei, Wei Qing, Liu Piaopiao, and the others need to pay him such grand respects?
What gave him the right?
Suddenly, Jingtao Gongzi seemed to realize something. Staring at Wan Wei and Wei Qing, he said word by word, "You three, I'm afraid you've misunderstood. He is not a member of our Crimson-Letter Sect at all!"
In Jingtao's mind, the reason Wei Qing and the others would pay such grand respects must be because of Old Sen's previous kneeling. Seizing this opportunity, he immediately spoke up to explain, deliberately raising his voice: "Today, I can tell you all very responsibly that this Gu Qingfeng is not a member of our Crimson-Letter Sect!"
A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.
As soon as Jingtao spoke these words, they immediately caused an uproar.
Indeed.
After the battle at Chixu Manor, everyone had speculated that Gu Qingfeng might be from the Crimson-Letter Sect; otherwise, why would Old Sen kneel to him? After all, Old Sen was not only the master of Chixu Manor but also a highly respected senior in the surrounding regions, with a very high seniority within the Crimson-Letter Sect.
The Nine-Hua Alliance had refrained from taking action against Gu Qingfeng for this very reason.
Now, hearing Jingtao Gongzi say he was not from the Crimson-Letter Sect, everyone was greatly surprised.
"Jingtao, what are you saying!
He's not from your Crimson-Letter Sect?"
Luowen Zhenghao stepped forward to question him.
Although the tone was interrogative, Jingtao didn't care at the moment. Compared to Luowen Zhenghao, he wanted more to salvage his own dignity. He nodded and said, "That's right. I swear on my own name, and I can testify on behalf of the Fire Cloud Branch, that he is absolutely not a member of our Crimson-Letter Sect. As for Old Sen kneeling to him, that was merely a private matter between them and has nothing to do with the Crimson-Letter Sect!"
Perhaps to make everyone believe him, Jingtao Gongzi stared at Gu Qingfeng and asked sharply, "Gu Qingfeng!
I ask you, dare you claim to be a member of the Crimson-Letter Sect?"
From beginning to end, Gu Qingfeng had been sitting there leisurely, one leg crossed over the other, sipping his wine.
Apart from looking somewhat helpless when his identity was exposed, his face showed no other emotion—no worry, no fear, no terror. Facing Jingtao's questioning, he didn't seem flustered either. He merely shrugged indifferently and replied casually, "Now that you mention it, I really am not a member of your Crimson-Letter Sect."
Hearing Gu Qingfeng admit it himself, the crowd immediately began to discuss.
"So Gu Qingfeng isn't from the Crimson-Letter Sect after all!"
"Turns out this guy has been using the Crimson-Letter Sect's reputation to act recklessly outside!"
"I thought Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng was something special, but he's just a fox borrowing the tiger's might!"
"Exactly!
How laughable! I heard the reason Ice Profound Ancestor ordered Leng Yanqiu to form a dual-cultivation partnership with him was because he mistook Gu Qingfeng for a Crimson-Letter Sect member. Now that Gu Qingfeng isn't...
Hah...
I wonder if Ice Profound Ancestor will be devastated."
"It's not just Ice Profound Ancestor who'll be devastated. Hall Master Wan Wei, Wei Qing, and Liu Piaopiao are probably devastated too. The three of them paid such grand respects to Gu Qingfeng; they must have thought he was some important figure from the Crimson-Letter Sect."
The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion. Many believed that Wei Qing and the others had saluted Gu Qingfeng precisely because they mistook him for a major figure from the Crimson-Letter Sect. Now, with Jingtao Gongzi—a Ninth Young Master of the Red Gang's Fire Cloud Branch—stepping forward as a witness, and Gu Qingfeng himself admitting it, Wei Qing and the other two were probably in for a shock.
However, to everyone's surprise, neither Wei Qing, Wan Wei, nor Liu Piaopiao showed any sign of shock—not even a hint. They didn't even frown; they just kept their heads bowed, bodies bent, not daring to look up.
"Didn't you hear what I said?
He's not from our Crimson-Letter Sect at all. Why are you..." Jingtao stepped forward to question them, but no one paid him any attention.
Across from him, Gu Qingfeng held his Taixu wine cup, his expression slightly impatient. "Alright, what are you standing around for? Don't you think this is enough trouble? Go on."
"Hmph! You're not even from the Crimson-Letter Sect, yet you dare act so arrogantly! I'll have you know..." Bai Yunfei suddenly slammed the table, pointing at Gu Qingfeng, about to berate him. Before he could finish, Shui Yunruo beside him reached out. A flash of light later, Bai Yunfei couldn't utter a single word. Then, Shui Yunruo pulled him aside.
Because she saw that after Gu Qingfeng impatiently spoke, Wei Qing and the other two, after bidding farewell, did not turn and leave. Instead, they bowed their heads, bent their bodies, and retreated backward.
She knew this was an ancient etiquette called the Retreating Salute.
Bowing the head, bending the body, and cupping fists showed respect and reverence.
But bowing the head, bending the body, and retreating backward—this Retreating Salute was far more complex. It surpassed the Salute to a Venerable One. Shui Yunruo truly couldn't imagine what status Gu Qingfeng held that would make Wei Qing and the others perform the Retreating Salute when taking their leave.
Liu Piaopiao and the other two retreated nine steps before straightening their bodies, raising their heads, turning around, and departing.
Jingtao seemed unable to believe this was real. He rushed over and shouted, "Liu Piaopiao, I already told you he's not from our Crimson-Letter Sect! Why on earth did you..."
"Scram!"
Without even looking at him, Liu Piaopiao coldly uttered the word 'scram' before leaving.