"Do I look like I'm okay to you?"
Although Gu Qingfeng's current state looked quite poor—his face deathly pale, his forehead beaded with sweat, leaning against the stone pillar in a frail posture—strangely, he didn't show any trace of fear. Not only that, there wasn't even a hint of worry, just a wry, helpless smile.
"You..." Worried that others might notice she knew Gu Qingfeng, Lan Feier secretly transmitted her voice: "You... you're not faking this, are you?"
"Big sister, I may be idle, but I'm not so idle that I'd go through this kind of pointless pain."
Gu Qingfeng returned to the pavilion, leaning against the stone pillar as he sat back down.
"You... you're so powerful, how could you possibly be intimidated by Kang Zhengqi's Nature's Might?" Lan Feier frowned, her brow furrowed as she inquired via secret transmission: "Are you injured or something?"
"You could say that."
"Ah? Is it serious?"
"Weren't you the one who just said you didn't know me? Why are you so concerned about me now?"
"You..." Gu Qingfeng chuckled, tilting his head back, closing his eyes, and rubbing his forehead as he responded: "It was a bit serious just now, but it's much better now..." Strangely enough, just moments ago, the vitality within that gray Lonely Star had grown increasingly vigorous, but then, for some inexplicable reason, it had gradually weakened again. As the vitality diminished, the effect on his Heart-Mind lessened. Once his Heart-Mind gradually settled, his Spiritual Power and blood energy also ceased their chaos.
"What's going on here?"
A dignified and resonant voice rang out. Everyone looked over to see Old Master Shi Tong, his eldest disciple Feihe, and the six young masters—Renshen, Renwu, and the others—approaching. Moreover, besides them, there were some reclusive seniors from Tai Xing Cave and Black Crow Mountain. Among the crowd, one ethereal woman in white robes was particularly eye-catching—her graceful figure seemed to drift amidst clouds and mist, giving off an otherworldly aura. It was none other than Shui Yunruo, the successor of Tai Xing Cave.
She spotted Lan Feier at once and was about to greet her when she suddenly noticed Gu Qingfeng sitting in the pavilion. The serene beauty on her face instantly changed, and she froze in place.
Seeing Old Master Shi Tong arrive, everyone began speaking all at once, roughly explaining the situation.
Kang Zhengqi, for his part, showed no fear. Clasping his hands in salute, he said, "Old Master, I meant no disrespect to you, sir. I merely heard that the Chiyan Young Master was quite remarkable and wished to spar with him. I just never expected him to be so weak that he couldn't even withstand my Ninefold Flowing Color Nature's Might. I overstepped; I hope you can forgive me, Old Master."
Hearing that Gu Qingfeng had been intimidated into such a state by Kang Zhengqi's Ninefold Flowing Color Nature's Might, Old Master Shi Tong first showed surprise and suspicion, but then said nothing. He walked over and asked, "Chiyan Young Master, you... are you injured?"
"It's nothing." Gu Qingfeng shook his head helplessly, finding the situation rather laughable.
"Your spiritual aura is extremely unstable, and your complexion is terribly poor. This old man has some slight proficiency in medical arts. How about I examine you?"
After obtaining Gu Qingfeng's consent, Old Master Shi Tong took hold of his wrist and began carefully probing.
Not far away.
The sixth young master, Renxu, sneered, "Hmph! I thought this upstart was something special. To think he can't even stand steadily after being intimidated by Kang Zhengqi's Ninefold Flowing Color Might. With skills like his, he still dared to act arrogantly in front of us? Truly doesn't know life from death."
Renshen and Renwu merely shook their heads, saying nothing. Indeed, for someone who couldn't even withstand Kang Zhengqi's first-stage Ninefold Flowing Color Nature's Might, they couldn't even be bothered to mock him. In their eyes, such a person was no different from an ant.
Originally, they had thought that since Old Master valued this person, he must have some extraordinary qualities. They had harbored a trace of wariness. But now, that last shred of caution had completely vanished. They could only sigh that the Old Master had grown old and his judgment wasn't as sharp as before.
They might think this way, but Shui Yunruo beside them certainly wouldn't—or rather, dared not—think so. Like Lan Feier, she clearly understood just how terrifying Gu Qingfeng's existence was. How could he possibly be intimidated into such a state by Kang Zhengqi's Ninefold Flowing Color? Puzzled, she transmitted her voice to inquire.
"He might be injured... that's why..."
"Injured? What injury could he possibly have?"
"I'm not sure either."
Inside the pavilion, Gu Qingfeng allowed the Old Master to examine him. The longer the Old Master probed, the stranger his expression became.
Feihe beside him inquired, "Master, how is the Chiyan Young Master's injury?"
"The Chiyan Young Master's Spiritual Power and blood energy are both in severe chaos..." Anyone with a bit of common sense knew that when Spiritual Power and blood energy become chaotic, there's only one cause: the Heart-Mind has been shaken. And if the Heart-Mind is shaken, it must be due to intimidation. It seemed Gu Qingfeng must have been intimidated by Young Master Kang's Nature's Might, causing his Heart-Mind to falter, which in turn led to the chaos in his Spiritual Power and blood energy...
"Is it serious?"
"Not too serious. Some days of meditation and recuperation should suffice."
Old Master Shi Tong spoke apologetically: "Chiyan Young Master, I am truly sorry. Today, I invited you here, yet such a thing occurred, causing you distress..."
"You overstate the matter, Old Master. My situation has nothing to do with anyone else; I brought it upon myself."
"Chiyan Young Master, we must not delay. Allow this old man to take you to a quiet chamber for meditation and recuperation."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head in refusal. He stood up, stretched lazily, and moved his limbs about, smiling as he said, "No need. It was a bit serious just now, but it's much better now..." Noticing that many people were still waiting over there, Gu Qingfeng added, "Old Master, please attend to your other guests first. There's no need to mind me here."
The Old Master insisted on taking Gu Qingfeng to recuperate, but the gray Lonely Star within Gu Qingfeng's Purple Mansion had already lost its vitality. His Heart-Mind had stabilized, and his Spiritual Power and blood energy had long since returned to normal. There was truly no need for any recuperation.
Seeing Gu Qingfeng so determined, the Old Master didn't persist further. He personally accompanied Gu Qingfeng to the manor up on the mountain.
The manor was vast and bustling, filled with rows of tables and chairs. On the tables were placed various delicious spirit fruits. Guests were taking their seats one after another. Gu Qingfeng also casually found a seat and sat down. Since not all the guests had arrived yet, the Old Master couldn't stay long. After seeing everyone seated and once again instructing the disciples responsible for receiving guests in the manor to maintain order, he finally departed.
On the way down the mountain, Old Master Shi Tong remained deep in thought, his brow tightly furrowed, not uttering a word.
"Master, did you misjudge him?" his eldest disciple Feihe said. "You said earlier that Gu Qingfeng was no ordinary person, possibly more complex than imagined. But... if that were truly the case, how could he be intimidated by Kang Zhengqi's Ninefold Flowing Color?"
Seeing the Old Master remain silent, Feihe continued, "This person might truly be as the rumors say—just an upstart who stumbled upon some fortuitous encounter. Disciple believes it's best to have him leave. He previously injured Renxu, which already put Renshen and the others in a foul mood. The key point is, he also opposes the Chizi Head... If we let him stay here, whether he'll even leave Liuren Mountain alive is hard to say."
Feihe sighed. "We can restrain Renshen and the others, but as for the Wind-Cloud Branch and the Fire-Cloud Branch... we... can't really say much, can we?"