For several days now, Ouyang Ye had been immersed in inescapable joy. The more she learned about the Cloud-Color Sword, the more she liked it, to the point where she couldn't bear to put it down. Even before resting, she had to stroke it several times before she could fall asleep peacefully.
To express her gratitude to Lao Jiu, the little girl had been serving him all sorts of delicacies and fine drinks—every kind of rare mountain treasure and delicious dish imaginable. As long as she could name it, she would find a way to get it, sparing no expense in spirit stones.
Of course, this wasn't just to express her gratitude to Lao Jiu. The little girl also had her own little scheme in mind: to observe, to see if this person was trustworthy, if he could be believed.
Because as the days of contact went by, Ouyang Ye increasingly discovered that this fellow called Lao Jiu was far too similar to that guy, Young Lord Chiyan. Both were equally lazy, equally casual, equally seeming not to care about anything, and both gave off the feeling of being a good-for-nothing second-generation heir.
Not only were their tones of speech similar, but their words and actions were also very much alike.
Especially in recent days, this fellow lying back in a chair, basking in the sun while sipping wine, was practically identical to that guy, Young Lord Chiyan.
Several times, the little girl had almost mistaken Lao Jiu for Gu Qingfeng.
If she hadn't witnessed Gu Qingfeng turn to ashes with her own eyes three years ago, Ouyang Ye would strongly suspect that this Lao Jiu might be Gu Qingfeng in disguise.
Unfortunately.
She knew it was impossible.
Although she wished it were true, it was only a wish.
She knew Gu Qingfeng was dead, utterly dead, and couldn't possibly still be alive.
This day.
The sun set in the west, dusk descending.
After waiting for Han Dong to return, Ouyang Ye immediately voiced the idea in her heart, trying to persuade Han Dong to have Lao Jiu impersonate Gu Qingfeng. However, before she could finish speaking, she was met with Han Dong's opposition.
"Elder Sister, this Lao Jiu fellow is absolutely the perfect candidate to impersonate Gu Qingfeng. If I didn't know that Gu Qingfeng turned to ashes three years ago, I'd suspect this guy might be Gu Qingfeng in disguise. And from observing him these past few days, I think Lao Jiu is also a trustworthy person. If we ask him, he probably wouldn't refuse."
Han Dong shook her head slightly. It wasn't that she thought Lao Jiu was unsuitable to impersonate Gu Qingfeng, nor that she distrusted him. Although she still didn't know who Lao Jiu really was, just based on how he had repaid Ouyang Ye's life-saving grace, Han Dong wouldn't doubt his character.
She opposed it only because she didn't want to drag more people into her troubles, nor involve others. She said, "Ye Ye, I know you mean well for me, but let's not bring this up again. Back when you had Sister Ling impersonate Young Lord Chiyan, I didn't agree, and I've felt guilty about it ever since. Now that we've finally persuaded Sister Ling to go back, I beg you, Elder Sister, please don't look for others to impersonate Young Lord Chiyan anymore."
"Elder Sister, since things have already reached this point, please don't overthink it, okay?"
Ouyang Ye tried to persuade her. "What's more, the current situation leaves us no other choice. We must continue to find someone to impersonate Gu Qingfeng. Otherwise, those elders from Yaoyue Palace will soon become suspicious. And that's not even the most important part—how will you explain it to your master?
Ever since she learned you had formed a Dao-companion bond with Young Lord Chiyan, her spirits have improved greatly, and her injuries have been slowly recovering. If you tell her now that Young Lord Chiyan is fake, to put it bluntly, you'd be crushing her hope. If she can't bear it...
It's very likely she might..." Ouyang Ye's words made Han Dong deeply conflicted, her coldly beautiful face twisting with anguish.
She wasn't unaware that there was no way back from the current situation.
Just as Ouyang Ye said, if they didn't find someone to continue impersonating Young Lord Chiyan, those Yaoyue Palace elders would inevitably grow suspicious, and she, the heir apparent, would fall into crisis once more.
But that wasn't what troubled and conflicted her the most. What troubled her most was her master.
Han Dong understood clearly in her heart. Ever since she took the impersonating Sister Ling to visit her master last time, her master's vitality and spirit had noticeably improved greatly. What surprised and delighted her most was that her master's injuries were gradually healing. She knew all of this was because of Young Lord Chiyan. It was Young Lord Chiyan who gave her master hope, the hope of regaining control of Yaoyue Palace.
Han Dong wasn't unaware.
On the contrary.
She understood the importance of Young Lord Chiyan better than anyone.
However.
She feared that going down this path would only sink them deeper.
If they were impersonating someone else, it might be one thing, but they were impersonating Young Lord Chiyan—a figure hailed as the successor of Monarch Chixiao.
Finding someone to impersonate the successor of Monarch Chixiao—what consequences that might trigger, Han Dong couldn't even imagine. Setting aside whether the real Young Lord Chiyan was truly Monarch Chixiao's successor or not, if he were fake, it might be manageable, but if he were real, what then?
Wouldn't that break the hearts of all Chixiao followers under heaven?
That was a price she couldn't bear, and didn't dare to bear. Most importantly, her conscience wouldn't allow it.
Hurting others for her own sake.
Han Dong didn't want to do that.
And Ouyang Ye seemed to know what Han Dong was worried about. She continued to persuade, "Elder Sister, things aren't as serious as you think. There are so many frauds in the world impersonating Monarch Chixiao's successor; one more from us won't make a difference. What's more, I've already spoken with Elder Ziyang and the other seniors, and they've all agreed. Even Elder Huode agreed, saying to tell him if we need anything."
"But..." Just as Han Dong was about to say something, a faint, drifting voice suddenly came, saying, "Han Dong, Ye Ye is right. At a time like this, you shouldn't overthink things."
Hearing the voice, both Han Dong and Ouyang Ye's faces lit up with pleasant surprise, and they immediately looked at the bracelet on Ouyang Ye's wrist.
The bracelet was an ordinary-looking jade-green bangle. As the voice came, the bracelet erupted with a dazzling radiance that flashed and vanished. Then, a blurry human figure appeared before the two of them.
This figure seemed both illusory and real, ethereal and indistinct, giving a very illusory sensation. She appeared to be a noble woman, her long hair coiled high, her features gentle and beautiful, giving off a very dignified and elegant feeling, like a noble consort from the imperial palace.
"Aunt Xue!"
Both Ouyang Ye and Han Dong cried out in delight.
Aunt Xue wasn't human, but a spirit ghost—more precisely, a profoundly mysterious spirit ghost.
They had met her half a year ago in an ancient cave manor. At that time, Aunt Xue was already on her last breath. Fortunately, the two of them helped Aunt Xue through her crisis. To repay them, Aunt Xue had been guiding them for the past half year. The rapid advancement in Han Dong and Ouyang Ye's cultivation also could not do without Aunt Xue's guidance.