Just as Huo Dong was hesitating, two more Little Hidden Dragons arrived with their followers in tow. One was Ma Zhengtian, the young master of the Thundercloud Branch, and the other was Wang He of the Tiger Might Family. Accompanying them were several other Young Masters of the Hua Pavilion, including Xu Jintong.
Their reactions upon seeing Gu Qingfeng were identical to Huo Dong's: shock, followed by hatred, then pleasant surprise, and finally a healthy dose of wariness. Perhaps because Huo Dong hadn't made a move, Ma Zhengtian, Wang He, and the others also held back.
Not long after, Lan Feier, Shui Yunruo, Huo Wu Chenyue, and the other Little Phoenix Hairpins also arrived.
Seeing Gu Qingfeng again, the three women wore complex expressions, their inner turmoil growing with each passing moment.
Back at the Taixuan Platform, the exposure of the Black Crow Secret Realm incident had brought shame upon the three women. Although Gu Qingfeng hadn't acted improperly in that matter and hadn't wronged them in any way, they were still furious and had long wanted to teach this fellow a harsh lesson.
However, since learning of Gu Qingfeng's failed Golden Core formation, the three had spent the past few days reflecting deeply. While some resentment still lingered in their hearts, it was now overshadowed by sympathy and regret.
They sympathized with this fellow for his failed Golden Core formation, the complete loss of his cultivation, and his subsequent fall into obscurity. They regretted the loss of his unparalleled musical mastery and his incredibly formidable True Body—all of which would vanish with the failed breakthrough.
Especially now, gazing at Gu Qingfeng sitting cross-legged amidst the ruins, his slightly pale complexion and weak aura caused the last vestiges of their hatred to vanish completely, leaving only sympathy.
At that moment, an angry shout suddenly rang out from the sky.
"Gu! I've been searching for you for days!"
Everyone looked up to see a group of several dozen people flying grandly toward them. Leading them was none other than Tu Gao.
Tu Gao appeared particularly agitated upon seeing Gu Qingfeng, his face twisted with fury as he sneered, "Weren't you so impressive at the Taixuan Platform?
Weren't you so powerful?
Didn't you possess unparalleled musical mastery?
Wasn't your True Body incredibly formidable?
Didn't you break through nine realms in succession after just a few cups of wine?
Why have you lost all your cultivation now?
Why are you hiding here like a turtle withdrawing into its shell, hmm?
Hahahaha!"
Tu Gao was ecstatic, his face flushed red as he laughed wildly. After his laughter subsided, he summoned a sapphire-blue flying sword, pointed it at Gu Qingfeng, and declared with imposing authority, "Let me tell you, no one who dares oppose me, Tu Gao, in the Four Directions Great Domain ever comes to a good end. Die!"
Just because Huo Dong, Wang He, and Ma Zhengtian hadn't acted didn't mean Tu Gao wouldn't.
Relying on the fact that the Qixing Sect was backed by the Nine Flowers Alliance, Tu Gao was arrogant and overbearing, looking down on everyone. Having lost all face at the Taixuan Platform, he was determined to reclaim it from Gu Qingfeng. With an angry roar, he charged forward, flying sword in hand.
But in the blink of an eye.
The moment Tu Gao moved, three figures flashed past, simultaneously intercepting and stopping him.
A closer look revealed they were Lan Feier, Shui Yunruo, and Huo Wu Chenyue.
"What are you doing? How dare you block me?"
While the cultivation levels of Lan Feier and the other two might not match Tu Gao's, that was only in terms of cultivation. In an actual fight, who would prove stronger was uncertain, given their extraordinary natural endowments. Even if their cultivation fell short, their endowments could compensate. Moreover, it wasn't just Lan Feier blocking Tu Gao—Shui Yunruo and Huo Wu Chenyue stood with her.
Lan Feier mocked, "Tu Gao, you despicable villain! Gu Qingfeng is seriously injured, yet you want to take advantage of his weakness to kill him? Have you no shame!"
"At the Taixuan Platform, all of you joined forces to attack Gu Qingfeng, and he didn't even fight back. Not only are you ungrateful, but now that he's seriously injured, you want to exploit his vulnerability. Truly a petty man!"
Lan Feier and Huo Wu Chenyue's words infuriated Tu Gao, his face alternating between green and white. He wanted to retort but found himself unable to refute them.
Indeed.
Everyone knew Lan Feier spoke the truth. It was precisely because of this truth that Huo Dong, Ma Zhengtian, and the others hadn't acted—afraid that even if they killed Gu Qingfeng, they would inevitably be branded as petty men.
However, Tu Gao seemed unconcerned about such matters. He snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "Hmph! He dared to make me lose all face at the Taixuan Platform. Today, no matter what you say, I, Tu Gao, will definitely kill him!"
Shui Yunruo stepped forward and said calmly, "Who told you to be so presumptuous and challenge him that day? Losing face was your own fault—you have no one else to blame."
"What did you say!" Tu Gao flew into a rage, roaring, "Shui Yunruo, do you believe I'll wipe out your Taixing Cave today!"
Unfazed, Shui Yunruo responded softly, "Then go ahead and wipe it out."
Furious, Tu Gao was about to order the Qixing Sect members to attack together when Huo Dong suddenly spoke up. "The three young ladies are deeply principled and compassionate. I admire that greatly. However..." Huo Dong smiled faintly, one hand behind his back and the other in front, resembling a refined gentleman once more—completely devoid of the disheveled and dejected he displayed at the Taixuan Platform, as if the calm and composed leader of the Hidden Dragons had returned. "However, if the three of you are trying to exonerate an Evil Demon, you might invite criticism."
Huo Dong's words immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding crowd.
Evil Demon?
Was he referring to Gu Qingfeng?
"Huo Dong, what do you mean?" Lan Feier frowned, demanding, "What right do you have to call Gu Qingfeng an Evil Demon!"
"At the Taixuan Platform, Gu Qingfeng astonished everyone with his unfathomable musical mastery, then opened our eyes with his inconceivable True Body. Later, drinking a few cups of wine to instantly advance his Purple Mansion nine realms left me utterly impressed."
Huo Dong smiled faintly, speaking eloquently, neither hurried nor slow. "To be honest, I lost that day, and I lost wholeheartedly. After returning, I reflected deeply for several days. And during that reflection, I discovered a earth-shattering secret—that Gu Qingfeng is an Evil Demon!"
"Huo Dong! Don't make baseless accusations!"
"Nonsense! Just because you couldn't defeat him, you're slapping the label of Evil Demon on him. Huo Dong, you disgrace your position as the top successor disciple of the Four Directions Great Domain!"
Facing the questioning of the three women, Huo Dong remained neither anxious nor agitated, continuing, "Slapping the label of Evil Demon on someone? That's the act of a petty man, something I, Huo Dong, have always disdained. I dare say this because I have evidence."
"What evidence?"
"As everyone knows, Gu Qingfeng possesses no natural endowments whatsoever. So, I ask the three young ladies: since he has no endowments, why is his ordinary True Body so formidable?"