Because of his disciple Second Master Hai, Old Sen could be said to have watched the little girl grow up. Moreover, the little girl had been intelligent since childhood and could play the Monarch's tunes with a touch of their divine charm, so Old Sen had always doted on her greatly.
At this moment, looking at the little girl in his arms pouring out her grievances, Old Sen felt very distressed.
If it were anyone else who dared to bully the little girl like this today, Old Sen would absolutely not let them off easily.
But the person in the little girl's mouth was actually Gu Qingfeng.
When he heard this name, Old Sen's face also turned pale and then flushed. He didn't say much, only comforting the little girl.
"Grandpa Sen, just who is that guy Gu Qingfeng..." Ouyang Ye wiped her tears and asked tearfully.
"This..." Old Sen hesitated for a moment. Looking at the pitiful Ouyang Ye, his heart was very reluctant. He shook his head and sighed. "This old man...
also doesn't know."
Doesn't know?
Ouyang Feiyue opposite him could hardly believe her ears upon hearing this answer. Ouyang Ye, who was wiping her tears, was also a bit dumbfounded, because both of them knew that when Gu Qingfeng had fought here earlier, Old Sen had knelt before him in front of so many people. If he didn't know him, how could he have knelt?
"This matter is rather complicated. It can't be explained in a sentence or two."
Old Sen sighed with a sigh, also wearing a troubled expression.
Indeed.
He truly didn't know what Gu Qingfeng's identity was. The reason he had knelt was solely because of the Chi-Shang Seal Token.
Only those from the original Chixiao Sect would recognize the Chi-Shang Seal Token. Only those from the Chixiao Sect would know the significance represented by the Chi-Shang Seal Token, and they would know that the Chi-Shang Seal Token represented a person—that person was the Chixiao Monarch.
'Chi-Shang Xiao, the Seal is Supreme, its Command the World, None Dare Disobey...'
This phrase referred to the Chi-Shang Seal Token.
It was no exaggeration to say that the existence of the Chi-Shang Seal Token was akin to the Chixiao Monarch's personal presence.
In Old Sen's memory, the one who condensed and manifested the Chi-Shang Seal Token might not be the Chixiao Monarch himself. It could be anyone from the Chixiao Sect or even the world, perhaps even a spirit beast. However, this command must have been issued by the Monarch. There were no exceptions.
But the Monarch was dead.
He had been judged and executed by the Heavenly Dao three hundred years ago.
How could someone be condensing and manifesting the Chi-Shang Seal Token three hundred years later?
For days, Old Sen had been pondering this question, but until now he had not come up with an answer.
He wasn't without suspicion that the so-called Chiyan Young Master was the Chixiao Monarch. After all, rumors of the Monarch's reincarnation had been circulating for three hundred years. However, he quickly dismissed the idea. That Chiyan Young Master bore no trace of turbid aura. He was neither a reincarnated soul nor a body-snatcher reborn. He simply couldn't be the Monarch.
Just then, a knock came at the door. A woman entered—the manager of the Chixu Manor restaurant.
"Old Sen, someone is looking for you."
"Who is it?"
The female manager's expression was rather strange. She looked up at Ouyang Feiyue and Ouyang Ye, then looked at Old Sen and said solemnly, "It's the Chiyan Young Master!"
Upon hearing 'Chiyan Young Master,' Old Sen's heart jolted violently. His expression changed dramatically, and even his tone seemed to shift. "Quick, take me to him!"
With that, he hurriedly left.
Ever since Gu Qingfeng had condensed and manifested the Chi-Shang Seal Token last time, Old Sen had always wanted to meet him, but had never had the chance. The matter of the Chi-Shang Seal Token was of grave importance, and he dared not publicize it. He could only wait anxiously. Fortunately, today he had finally waited.
This filled Old Sen's heart with both excitement and nervousness. Leaving the restaurant, he soon saw a man in white robes on a small path within the manor, eating Red-Leaf Monster Fruits with a smile, admiring the manor's scenery.
It was him!
Old Sen secretly took a deep breath, walked forward, bowed, cupped his fists in salute, and said respectfully, "This humble one, Wan Sen, pays his respects to...
the Chiyan Young Master."
Because the manor was crowded and tongues wagged, Old Sen dared not pay improper respects. He could only address him as 'Young Master' for the time being.
Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, looked him up and down, nodded, and said softly, "Find a place to chat for a bit."
Perhaps his words were spoken too casually, so much so that Old Sen was momentarily caught off guard. Not daring to be negligent, he gestured with an inviting hand and said, "Young Master, please come inside..." Gu Qingfeng didn't stand on ceremony. But just as he was about to leave, an angry shout came from behind him.
"Gu!"
Hmm?
Gu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow slightly and looked over. Seeing Ouyang Ye, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, if it isn't Sister Ouyang. You're here too."
"You damned pervert..." Ouyang Ye's words were cut off as Ouyang Feiyue covered her mouth. The little girl might not think much of it in her anger, but Ouyang Feiyue was well aware in her heart just how mysteriously terrifying, how bizarrely dreadful this seemingly harmless fellow before them was.
"Yeye, don't be rude!"
Ouyang Ye's one word, 'pervert,' truly frightened Old Sen. The old man quickly spoke up in angry reprimand, then proactively begged for forgiveness. "Yeye is young and ignorant. Her words have offended the Young Master. I beg the Young Master not to take it to heart with her."
Gu Qingfeng gave a faint smile, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Old Sen secretly wiped away a cold sweat. The stone hanging in his heart finally settled. He glared fiercely at Ouyang Ye and secretly transmitted his voice. "Girl, are you trying to get yourself killed?
You must never offend him in the future, understand?
Otherwise, no one can save you. Feiyue, what are you standing there for? Hurry and take Yeye away!"
Ouyang Feiyue's expression was also extremely flustered. Hearing Old Sen's words, she didn't hesitate for a moment. Taking the little girl, she hurriedly departed.
The scenery of the manor was quite beautiful.
Antique and elegant, full of charm.
Following Old Sen into a relatively quiet garden, there was a pavilion within. As soon as Gu Qingfeng sat down, Old Sen waved his hand. Brilliant light bloomed, and the stone table was immediately covered with a full spread of fine wine and delicacies.
"You're quite efficient."
Gu Qingfeng smiled. Without standing on ceremony now, he opened a wine jar. A rich aroma of wine assailed his nostrils. He nodded in praise. "Good wine."
He poured a cup, drank it in one gulp, and praised again. "Not bad, not bad."
Seeing Old Sen standing respectfully to the side with his head bowed, he smiled. "Don't stand on ceremony. Sit together."
"I dare not."
Gu Qingfeng invited him twice more, but Old Sen still did not dare. He just stood there properly, head bowed, lifting it several times as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Do you have something to say?"
Old Sen's expression changed slightly. After a moment's hesitation, he bowed and cupped his fists again, pleading, "This humble one has an impertinent request. If it offends, I beg the Young Master's forgiveness."
"Speak."
"I wonder...
I wonder...
if the Chiyan Young Master could condense and manifest the Chi-Shang Seal Token once more?"
"What's the matter?"
Gu Qingfeng poured himself another drink and smiled. "Didn't see it clearly last time, or don't believe it?"
"This humble one merely..." Old Sen had seen it clearly last time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have knelt then. It was just that deep down, he found it somewhat hard to believe. Even though he knew the Chi-Shang Seal Token could not be impersonated, he still found it hard to believe.
Just as he hesitated, not knowing how to answer this question, Gu Qingfeng, sitting in the pavilion, lightly raised a hand. His five fingers condensed and manifested, light flickering at their tips. In an instant, a profound seal totem suddenly appeared in his palm.
The seal totem was ethereal to the extreme, like a mass of turbid flames burning fiercely. The flames were sometimes bright, sometimes dark. When bright, they seemed like immortal traces, creating and transforming heaven and earth. When dark, they were like a demonic sea, incinerating all things. Darkness and light intertwined, seeming both immortal and demonic, even more like an immortal among immortals, a demon among demons, immortals containing demons, demons containing immortals, both immortal and demon, both demon and immortal...