Clearly.
Whether it was Huo Dong, Ma Zhengtian, Wang He, or Murong Xian, the reason they stepped forward and spoke out one after another was to tell everyone present one thing: that day at the Taixuan Platform, their combined assault failed to shake Gu Qingfeng not because Gu Qingfeng was a genius or had high cultivation, but solely because he was an Evil Demon who had taken shortcuts and exploited loopholes.
In other words, their defeat that day was a loss to an Evil Demon, not to Gu Qingfeng. If Gu Qingfeng weren't an Evil Demon and competed on true strength alone, he would be no match for them.
"Well? Do you three ladies have anything else to say?"
Lan Feier, Huo Wu Chen Yue, and Shui Yunruo exchanged glances, each seeing anxiety and worry in the others' eyes.
The reason the three of them were now standing up to protect Gu Qingfeng might be due to sympathy and pity, but more than that, it was gratitude. Though they were reluctant to admit it, they couldn't deny that during the Black Crow Secret Realm, it was Gu Qingfeng who helped them dispel the Harmonious Bliss breath. None of the three women could refute this point.
Even if Gu Qingfeng weren't an Evil Demon, but truly was one, the three women still wouldn't stand by and do nothing.
However, the Ten Little Hidden Dragons and the Thirty-Six Hua Pavilion Young Masters were aggressive and relentless, slapping one label of 'Evil Demon' after another onto Gu Qingfeng's head. Each label they pinned on him left the three women unable to refute it. Watching as more and more people in the gathering wanted to denounce Gu Qingfeng, the three women were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, somewhat at a loss. Finally, Lan Feier had no choice but to shout,
"Whether Gu Qingfeng is an Evil Demon or not cannot be proven by just a few words. I guarantee to everyone in the name of the Wind-Cloud Branch Hall that if he truly is an Evil Demon, our Wind-Cloud Branch Hall will be the first to not spare him."
"Heh heh...
What a bold claim."
At that moment, a mocking voice came.
A woman dressed in flamboyant attire, holding a small fox, walked over. Many recognized her—Wei Jiaojiao, another of the Little Phoenix Hairpins. Accompanying her were a group from the Leiyun Branch Hall, led by her grandfather, True Being Longsheng.
"Lan Feier, you're just a mere disciple of the insignificant Wind-Cloud Branch Hall. Not to mention you, even if your master, the Hall Master of the Wind-Cloud Branch Hall, came in person, he wouldn't have the qualification to guarantee anything."
Wei Jiaojiao was still as arrogant and domineering as ever, holding the little fox and saying disdainfully, "Even if several of the old Chixiao fellows from your Wind-Cloud Branch Hall came today, they still wouldn't be qualified. The only one in the entire Four Great Domains with the qualification to guarantee anything is our Leiyun Branch Hall!"
"Wei Jiaojiao!
Don't go too far!"
Lan Feier gritted her teeth in anger, yet she was helpless. It was at this moment that she realized how important cultivation strength was. If her own cultivation were powerful, Wei Jiaojiao wouldn't dare disrespect her master or the senior Chixiao elders.
She deeply regretted it!
Regretted usually being too playful and not putting effort into cultivation!
"Three ladies, I advise you not to meddle. If you continue to protect him, you'll be suspected of sheltering an Evil Demon."
As soon as Ma Zhengtian's words fell, Wei Jiaojiao beside him mocked, "Oh my, Senior Brother, why haven't you realized it yet? These three are simply in cahoots with that guy surnamed Gu!"
Huo Wu Chen Yue angrily shouted, "Wei Jiaojiao, if you dare spout nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
"Oh my!
I'm so scared!"
Wei Jiaojiao giggled and said, "I wonder who it was in the Black Crow Secret Realm, crying and begging to dual cultivate with that guy surnamed Gu. Have you all forgotten?"
As soon as Wei Jiaojiao brought up the events of the Black Crow Secret Realm, the expressions of Lan Feier and the other two women immediately changed drastically. The surrounding crowd also remembered what Little Jin'er had said that day—it seemed that in the Black Crow Secret Realm, the three women, poisoned by the Harmonious Bliss breath, had begged to dual cultivate with Gu Qingfeng and were even rejected.
"That day we were poisoned by the Harmonious Bliss breath and were not in our right minds!"
Huo Wu Chen Yue tried to explain, but how could such a matter be explained clearly?
"If I recall correctly, only Evil Demons are tainted by the Harmonious Bliss Poison Breath. Knowing this, you still deliberately shelter him—this inevitably makes people suspect the relationship between you three and Gu Qingfeng!"
"Gu Qingfeng was not tainted by the Harmonious Bliss Poison Breath. Not only that, he actively helped us dispel the poison breath from our bodies. If he were truly tainted by it, why would he help us..." "Enough!"
A loud, angry roar came—it was True Being Longsheng. Stroking the beard on his chin, he said sternly, "Three young ladies, don't forget your identities. One is the successor of the Wind-Cloud Branch Hall, one is the successor of the Taixing Cave, and another is the successor of the Huowu Family. If word gets out that you are sheltering an Evil Demon, this crime is something none of you can bear. Not only can you not bear it, even the elders of your families cannot bear it. Don't doubt my words. I, in my capacity as the Grand Elder of the Chizi Head Leiyun Branch Hall, solemnly warn you three: step aside immediately. Otherwise, you will be considered as colluding with an Evil Demon, and everyone in the Four Great Domains will have the right to punish you!"
Such a heavy label being slapped on them truly frightened Lan Feier and the other two.
After all, the speaker was True Being Longsheng—not only a renowned Nascent Soul senior in the Four Great Domains for thousands of years but also an old-timer who had made military contributions for the Chizi Head back in the day. If he said the three couldn't bear the crime of sheltering an Evil Demon, then they certainly couldn't.
"Since Elder Longsheng has spoken, you three ladies should know when to stop."
Huo Dong said with a faint smile, "Moreover, all of us know that at Liuren Mountain, Gu Qingfeng personally admitted he was an Evil Demon. Given that, are you three still going to persist in your delusion?"
Lan Feier looked at Shui Yunruo, then at Huo Wu Chen Yue. None of the three knew what to do. Looking again at Gu Qingfeng sitting cross-legged in the ruins, his pale face and weak breath—whether he could even survive was an unknown, let alone with so many people here now wanting him dead.
What to do?
Just let these people kill Gu Qingfeng?
No!
They couldn't!
All three remembered the kindness Gu Qingfeng had shown them in the Black Crow Secret Realm. No matter what, they couldn't stand by and do nothing.
But...
Facing so many hostile people here, what could they do?
They couldn't prove Gu Qingfeng wasn't an Evil Demon, and they couldn't defeat these people.
What else could they do?
Just as the three were at a loss, a voice came.
"I say, you three ladies, this old man accepts your good intentions on behalf of Young Gu."
The speaker was a somewhat slovenly-looking old man. The old man was sitting on a stone in the ruins, drinking wine and smoking a pipe. It was none other than Huode True Being of the Yunxia Sect. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, don't bother with this matter anymore."
Don't bother?
The three women were bewildered. In their impression, Huode and Gu Qingfeng had a deep friendship. How could it be that now, with so many people wanting to kill Gu Qingfeng, Huode was still there drinking and smoking?