"By the way, Fei'er, regarding Gu Qingfeng's identity, have you asked the Senior Chixiao elders?"
Hearing the name Gu Qingfeng, an even more helpless bitter smile appeared on Lan Feier's face, along with a hint of embarrassment. She replied, "The Senior Chixiao elders said that Gu Qingfeng might be the successor of Lord Chixiao, or perhaps his descendant..."
Upon hearing this, Shui Yunruo's first reaction was: fraud.
In this world, there were far too many fraudsters impersonating Lord Chixiao's successors or descendants—so many they were countless, a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, making them difficult to distinguish. Not only had they deceived many ignorant people, but even the Chixiao people of old had been fooled. Even the Tian Gang and Di Sha of the Chixiao Sect, along with the various Banner Lords and Incense Masters, had been deceived, let alone others.
Could it be that the elders from the Fengyun and Huoyun branches had also been taken in?
When Shui Yunruo asked, Lan Feier replied, "I thought the same, but the Senior Chixiao elders were very certain. They said even if Gu Qingfeng isn't Lord Chixiao's successor or descendant, he must have some connection to Lord Chixiao."
"Why would the elders say that?"
Lan Feier shook her head. She had asked the Senior Chixiao elders this question as well, but had received no response. As for why they were so certain, she couldn't figure it out either.
Just as the two were chatting, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Oh my, isn't this the famous Young Lady of the Fengyun Branch, Lan Feier, and the successor of Taixing Cave, Miss Shui Yun?"
The one who approached was a woman dressed flamboyantly, wearing a bright, elaborate gown, holding a fox in her arms, followed by over ten young men—mostly Taixuan Young Masters from the Nine-Hua Alliance and a few young masters from the Hua Pavilion.
The woman was none other than Wei Jiaojiao.
Both Lan Feier and Shui Yunruo deeply disliked Wei Jiaojiao, especially Lan Feier, who found her utterly repulsive. There had been several times when she had nearly lost her temper and wanted to strike her.
"Oh, Young Lady Huo Wu is here too."
It wasn't just Lan Feier and Shui Yunruo who disliked Wei Jiaojiao; Huo Wu Chen Yue also found her extremely distasteful. All three knew exactly what kind of person Wei Jiaojiao was, and none paid her any attention.
Nearby, Ouyang Feiyue and Ouyang Ye, seeing Wei Jiaojiao approach and knowing how vicious this woman was, were about to lead Xia Pan'er and Xiao Jin'er a bit farther away. But just as they turned, Wei Jiaojiao's voice came again.
"Halt!"
Surrounded by her entourage, Wei Jiaojiao gently stroked the little fox in her arms without looking up, and said, "Did this Young Lady give you permission to leave?"
It was truly a case of fearing something and having it happen. Ouyang Feiyue had only heard of this woman's arrogance and tyranny before; she never expected it would be directed at her now. She retorted, "Do we need your permission to leave?"
"Hey, whether we leave or not, what's it to you?" Ouyang Ye also said unhappily, "You're overstepping your bounds."
"What do you think you are, daring to speak to this Young Lady like that?"
Lan Feier and the other two paid no heed. Wei Jiaojiao might not dare to do anything to them, but she absolutely wouldn't spare Ouyang Feiyue a second glance. With a cold snort, she barked, "Someone, slap her mouth for me!"
Wei Jiaojiao had many followers, including some die-hard loyalists. Immediately, someone stepped forward to act.
Lan Feier was the first to flash into position, shielding Ouyang Feiyue and the others.
Both Ouyang Feiyue and Ouyang Ye were considered half-members of the Crimson-Letter Sect. Not only were they good sisters with Lan Feier, but they had often chatted together in the past.
Following suit, Shui Yunruo also flashed into position, sweeping a glance over the young men who had stepped forward, and said, "Who dares to move!"
She might not be very familiar with Ouyang Feiyue and Ouyang Ye, but her own junior sister was present after all. Shui Yunruo naturally wouldn't allow anyone to harm them.
Similarly, Huo Wu Chen Yue's younger sister Xia Pan'er was also there. She stepped forward as well, saying, "Wei Jiaojiao, don't you dare act tough in front of me!"
As for Shui Yunruo and Huo Wu Chen Yue, their lack of response was purely due to their disgust for Wei Jiaojiao as a person; it didn't mean they were afraid. Far from fear, they didn't even feel the slightest apprehension. Shui Yunruo had a cold disposition and never feared anyone. Huo Wu Chen Yue possessed Phoenix bloodline; how could she possibly feel apprehension?
"Hehe."
Wei Jiaojiao wore a smile, glancing at Shui Yunruo, then at Huo Wu Chen Yue, and said, "Huo Wu Chen Yue, when did you start mixing with them?"
"Who I associate with, what does that have to do with you?"
Huo Wu Chen Yue came from a great clan and had been pampered since childhood. To say she had no young lady's temper would be false; it was just that she usually knew how to restrain herself. But when encountering someone who displeased her, she wouldn't show the slightest courtesy.
"Wei Jiaojiao, today you're clearly targeting me. Why bother deliberately making trouble for my sisters?"
Lan Feier and Wei Jiaojiao were sworn enemies. At the very least, Lan Feier understood very clearly that Wei Jiaojiao had always disliked her. Every time they met, Wei Jiaojiao would either sneer and mock or deliberately provoke her, even though Lan Feier had no idea when she had ever offended Wei Jiaojiao.
"Hehe... Lan Feier, aren't you being a bit too narcissistic? Why would I target you? What about you is worth me targeting?"
Wei Jiaojiao, heavily made-up and dressed with extreme flamboyance, had a shrewish look between her brows and disdain in her eyes, appearing utterly arrogant. She said, "Get out of my way!"
"They are all my little sisters. I won't allow anyone to harm them."
"Oh? So you're saying you'll stand up for them?"
"What if I am?"
"Just based on you?"
"Just based on me!"
"Lan Feier, you're merely a disciple of the Fengyun Branch Hall Master, not even a successor. This Young Lady doesn't even spare your master a second glance. How dare you, based on just yourself, presume to interfere in my affairs?"
Lan Feier didn't respond, simply staring at her.
Huo Wu Chen Yue, Shui Yunruo, Lan Feier, and even Wei Jiaojiao were all among the very famous Ten Little Phoenix Hairpins of the Four Great Regions. Now that the four of them were confronting each other, it attracted quite a crowd. At this moment, Ma Zhengtian, Huo Dong, Wang He, and a group of other Little Hidden Dragons also walked over.
"Jiaojiao, what's going on?" Ma Zhengtian inquired.
"Oh, it's nothing." Wei Jiaojiao fixed a very unfriendly gaze on Lan Feier, continuously stroking the fox in her arms, and said with a laugh, "The Fengyun Branch is meddling in other people's business again."
Ma Zhengtian reminded her, "This is the Dao Lecture Gathering. Su Hua Immortal will be descending soon. Don't cause trouble."
"I'm not causing trouble." Wei Jiaojiao stepped forward, staring at Lan Feier with a malicious smile. "I'm just chatting with Young Lady Lan. This Young Lady Lan loves meddling in other people's affairs the most, especially matters of our Leiyun Branch. Senior Brother, do you remember? This Young Lady Lan even once lectured us that 'those who do many unrighteous deeds will inevitably bring about their own doom.' Hehe..."
Almost everyone familiar with Lan Feier knew that she was kind-hearted, gentle, and always ready to help others, often standing up for justice. What she involved herself in wasn't idle gossip. As for that phrase 'those who do many unrighteous deeds will inevitably bring about their own doom,' Lan Feier had indeed said it. It was because Wei Jiaojiao had been spouting arrogant nonsense at the time, treating the Senior Chixiao elders with disrespect and hurling insults, that she had uttered those words.