"I wonder why Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan is so urgently looking for Gu Qingfeng."
"What else could it be? Everyone's been saying Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan betrothed Leng Yanqiu to Gu Qingfeng because he thought he was from the Crimson-Letter Sect. Now that Gu Qingfeng's identity has been exposed and he's not from Crimson-Letter, the Ancestral Patriarch naturally wants to question him face-to-face."
"Young Lord Jingtao has already come forward to testify, and Gu Qingfeng himself admitted it outright. I don't know what else Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan has to ask!"
"This matter probably isn't that simple. We'd better not speculate wildly. We'll find out soon enough."
"Right! I also feel things aren't that straightforward."
"Look! Gu Qingfeng is sitting right there in the pavilion."
The various big shots attending the celebration all wanted to get to the bottom of this, so they followed Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan down the mountain. Seeing Gu Qingfeng sitting leisurely in the pavilion, drinking wine, truly surprised quite a few people.
In everyone's minds, Gu Qingfeng had left earlier precisely because his identity was exposed. Intimidated by the formidable strength of the three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance, the Nine Sons and Eighteen Chief Disciples of the Bingxuan Sect, and Young Lord Jingtao, he simply didn't dare stay. Scared, he publicly declared he wouldn't form a Dao-companion bond with Leng Yanqiu and fled in a panic.
Almost everyone thought so.
What no one expected was that he hadn't actually left. Instead, he was sitting in the pavilion, leisurely enjoying a drink.
This guy really has no sense of self-preservation!
Amidst the crowd's chatter, a dense mass of several hundred people arrived in front of the pavilion at the mountain's foot.
Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia of Bing Xuan, supported by a young girl, emerged from the crowd. Her originally grave expression became complex the moment she saw Gu Qingfeng—seeming agitated, panicked, but mostly worried, endlessly worried...
At this moment, no one paid attention to Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan's emotional shift. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the man in white inside the pavilion.
They accused this fellow of being far too bold, far too presumptuous.
Who didn't know Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan was the disciple of the three-thousand-year-old Bing Xuan Founder? Having lived for three millennia, she was absolutely a senior among seniors. Even figures of great status and background like Luo Wenzhenghao and Young Lord Jingtao wouldn't dare show the slightest neglect. Forget them—even master-level experts from the hundred-plus territories across the Four Directions Great Domain would have to respectfully address her as 'Senior' upon meeting.
And this guy?
Upon seeing Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan, not only did he not perform a greeting, but he remained lazily leaning against the pavilion's stone pillar, sitting casually, legs crossed, head slightly tilted. Holding a simple, reddish-bronze wine cup, he squinted his eyes, gazing at Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan with keen interest.
Presumptuous! Utterly presumptuous! He truly doesn't know his place!
"You surnamed Gu! Upon seeing my sect's Ancestral Patriarch, why don't you kneel and pay your respects immediately!"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng remain unmoved, the Bingxuan Sect elders, led by Elder Yuhua, immediately stepped forward, shouting angrily.
"You have no sense of self-preservation!"
Yu Dingxing also stepped out. He had initially been wary of Gu Qingfeng, but ever since Gu Qingfeng clarified the Dao-companion matter and left midway, he no longer held any wariness and certainly didn't regard him highly. Seeing Gu Qingfeng's attitude toward the Ancestral Patriarch, Yu Dingxing decided he would teach this foolhardy fellow a lesson!
Just as he was about to move, a sharp, angry shout suddenly rang out.
"Presumptuous!"
Such a shout held no intimidating force. On the contrary, it sounded pale and weak, like an elderly person roaring with all their might.
It truly did.
Even so, this weak shout stunned Yu Dingxing into dizziness. Not only did it stun Yu Dingxing, it also left everyone present somewhat bewildered.
Because the one who had sharply rebuked Yu Dingxing was none other than Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan herself.
No one knew why. Even less did anyone understand why Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan would angrily reprimand Yu Dingxing.
Everyone present saw perfectly clearly—the presumptuous one wasn't Yu Dingxing, but Gu Qingfeng sitting in the pavilion!
How could this be!
Just as everyone was puzzled, a scene occurred that left them all dumbfounded.
They saw Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia, her face somewhat pale and body clearly weak, suddenly shake off the girl supporting her. Then she took a step forward, lowered her head, bowed, and cupped her hands, calling out with utmost reverence: "This old woman, Zhu Xia, pays her respects... pays her respects to Young Lord... Young Lord Gu..."
The gathering held nearly a thousand people. When they came, everyone had been speculating about why Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan was so urgently seeking Gu Qingfeng.
Some said Gu Qingfeng had impersonated a Crimson-Letter Sect identity, and the Ancestral Patriarch wanted to question him directly.
Others said things weren't that simple.
But no matter how not simple, no matter how complex the situation, no one would have imagined Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan would actually perform a Sage’s Salute toward Gu Qingfeng.
Why! Why on earth?
Witnessing this scene, the various elders of the Bingxuan Sect, the Nine Sons and Eighteen Chief Disciples, the three noble young masters of the Nine-Hua Alliance, the commanders of hundreds of branches, and Young Lord Jingtao of the Red Gang's Fire Cloud Branch all froze in place. Their expressions were utterly shocked, eyes wide, mouths agape, faces filled with disbelief.
Even the aloof, transcendent Shui Yunruo, upon seeing this, wore an expression as if she had glimpsed ghosts or gods on her beautiful face. Her lovely eyes were wide, her small mouth open, as if witnessing something earth-shattering.
Stunned. Everyone was stunned.
Perhaps this scene was too abrupt, too inconceivable, causing everyone to hold their breath and their thoughts to solidify.
They were like this, and even Fei Kui, who had been standing in the pavilion pouring wine for Gu Qingfeng, was no exception.
Although Fei Kui hadn't followed Gu Qingfeng for very long, it certainly wasn't short either. He had experienced many unbelievable, earth-shattering events along the way—from the Yunxia Sect's succession struggle, to the mysterious cave dwelling, to Chixu Manor...
He knew Gu Qingfeng's existence was extraordinary.
Yes. He knew.
But exactly how extraordinary, he didn't know, couldn't imagine, and had no concrete concept in his heart.
At this moment, witnessed the three-thousand-year-old Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan performing a Venerable ritual to pay respects to Young Master, Fei Kui was still quite frightened.
Within the entire scene, only Gu Qingfeng, leisurely leaning against the pavilion's stone pillar, remained normal. Not just normal—he was normal to the point of utterly normal. Facing Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan's salute, he neither felt overwhelmed by the honor nor showed any surprise. He merely furrowed his brows slightly, as if somewhat puzzled.
Picking up the wine pot, he poured himself a cup, squinted at Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan, and asked nonchalantly: "So you are Zhu Xia?"
"This old woman is indeed!"
Zhu Xia's attitude remained respectful. She still bowed, hands cupped, head lowered, not daring to look directly.
It was reversed. In everyone's minds, at this moment, it should have been Gu Qingfeng performing a Sage’s Salute to Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan. How had it become the opposite? Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia was performing a Sage’s Salute to Gu Qingfeng, and that Gu Qingfeng merely asked unhurriedly, 'So you are Zhu Xia?'
What did that mean? Had he never even met Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia before?
"Ancestral Patriarch, that Gu Qingfeng is not from the Crimson-Letter Sect. My sworn brother Jingtao can testify," Yu Dingxing said immediately after recovering, reporting this to the Ancestral Patriarch. After he spoke, Jingtao also added: "That's right. That fellow surnamed Gu merely has some personal acquaintance with Old Sen. He has no relation whatsoever with our Red Gang. I questioned him earlier, and he admitted it himself. Everyone present can testify."
Bai Yunfei wanted to step forward but was stopped by Shui Yunruo.
Among the many people here, under such provocation, she was one of the few whose rationality could remain clear.
She knew whether Gu Qingfeng was from the Crimson-Letter Sect was no longer important at all.
Even if he was, so what? Even if the branch master of the Fire Cloud Branch and those elders came, upon meeting Ancestral Patriarch Zhu Xia, they would likely have to respectfully address her as 'Senior'.
Under these circumstances, was it still important whether Gu Qingfeng was from the Crimson-Letter Sect or not?
The answer was definite: it was no longer important.
After stopping Bai Yunfei, Shui Yunruo didn't say another word. She directly cast a spell, sealing Bai Yunfei.
She didn't know exactly who Gu Qingfeng was, but Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan's bow made her realize Gu Qingfeng's existence might be even more terrifying than she had imagined. Especially facing Ancestral Patriarch Bing Xuan's salute, the natural, effortless demeanor Gu Qingfeng exuded—that calm composure, that utter ease, that casualness, that leisure, that laziness, and particularly that twilight-like twilight—suddenly gave her a hair-raising, spine-chilling feeling.