"A bunch of random people?"
Seeing Han Dong's expression of suspicion and confusion, as if she intended to get to the bottom of this, Gu Qingfeng shook his head. Just as he was pondering how best to explain, someone suddenly flew towards them.
With fiery red hair and a flowing skirt, her delicate features were unmistakable—it was Ouyang Ye.
The little lass still seemed to be holding a grudge over Gu Qingfeng's earlier claim of being Young Lord Chiyan. She first shot him a fierce glare, then said to Han Dong, "Sister, should we go to Yao Yue Palace first, or head to the Rear Mountain?"
Han Dong glanced at the not-too-distant Moon Demon Mountain and said, "Let's go to the Rear Mountain first."
The Rear Mountain of Moon Demon Mountain was a forested area containing many gardens. These gardens were used for recuperation. Typically, if a disciple of Yao Yue Palace was injured outside or experienced cultivation mishaps, they would recuperate in the Rear Mountain gardens. Here, there was the Cloud-Moon Formation personally arranged by Lady Zhuoyue back in the day, which enveloped the entire garden, making recuperation twice as effective.
At this moment.
Han Dong and Ouyang Ye walked ahead in the Rear Mountain garden, while Gu Qingfeng strolled behind, admiring the scenery.
In his memory, the Rear Mountain of Yao Yue Palace back then was still a wild forest, without these so-called gardens.
However, several old fellows from Yao Yue Palace seemed to have been in seclusion in the Rear Mountain.
From what he recalled, those old fellows were a bunch of no-good bastards, each a master of sinister cultivation who had practiced for who knows how many years. Back when Gu Qingfeng was living incognito at Yao Yue Palace, somehow the eighty-one Golden Cores within his body were discovered by these old fellows. He was dragged over for a round of 'research,' suffering quite a bit for it.
Of course.
Gu Qingfeng could be said to have profited from misfortune. Not only did he learn many sinister, murderous tricks from those old fellows, but he also owed his later ability to condense the Heaven-Stealing Nascent Soul to their help. The one he remembered most deeply was an old fellow called White Crane Elder. At the time, to help him successfully form his Golden Core, the old man nearly lost his life.
He wondered if those old fellows were still around.
Gu Qingfeng released his divine sense to sweep the area and was quite pleased to find that the cave dwellings of those old fellows were still there. Just as he was about to probe deeper, Ouyang Ye ran over.
"Hey, Lao Jiu!"
Ouyang Ye still wore a fierce expression, her tone filled with displeasure towards Gu Qingfeng. She didn't even look at him directly as she said,
"We're about to meet Daozun Feiyan herself. Don't you dare slip up then, or I won't let you off!"
"I say, Miss Ouyang, have you got our roles mixed up? If I recall correctly, I'm the one helping you out here, right?
Why does it sound from your tone like I owe you something!"
"You!"
Ouyang Ye was choked with anger but couldn't lash out. She snorted coldly, "Who told you to make me unhappy!"
"How did I make you unhappy?"
"Alright, it's in the past. Let's not bring it up again. I was angry earlier; that was my fault. I apologize, okay?"
Ouyang Ye was someone with an open personality and a clear sense of gratitude and grievance. She always kept things separate—one was one, two was two; gratitude was gratitude, resentment was resentment, never mixing them together. Though she was angry, she also knew this guy was indeed helping her.
"Hey, you haven't forgotten why we brought you here, have you?"
"Isn't it to visit Daozun Feiyan?
What other purpose is there?"
"You!
You actually forgot?"
Gu Qingfeng thought carefully but really couldn't remember.
"You!
You really are..." Ouyang Ye was fuming. She took a deep breath, glared at him, and reminded, "Daozun Feiyan has never been able to forgive herself for exposing Lord Chixiao's identity back then. The purpose of our visit is for you to use your identity as Young Lord Chiyan, the successor of Lord Chixiao, to help Daozun Feiyan resolve her inner turmoil!"
"Oh, that's what it is."
Gu Qingfeng suddenly understood. He took a sip of wine and said, "Just resolving Daozun Feiyan's inner turmoil, right?
No problem, rest assured. Leave it to me. Guaranteed to cure her with one dose."
"You, impersonating Gu Qingfeng, are getting more and more...
You've even learned his knack for bragging quite convincingly!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed heartily.
"But I warn you, it's true that Gu Qingfeng liked to brag, but he also had a talent you couldn't help but admire: no matter how big the boast, even if it shook the heavens, he could always make it convincing, awe-inspiring, and admirable in the end. Don't just focus on bragging and end up bursting your own bubble!"
"Little sister, just set your heart at ease. I'm not bragging to you, but when it comes to the skill of boasting, if I claim second place, no one dares call themselves first."
Gu Qingfeng wore a playful smile as he said, "That so-called Young Lord Chiyan could make his boasts convincing, awe-inspiring, and admirable, you say?
And that's considered a skill?
That's just child's play. To be honest, when I start boasting, I can not only make you worship me, but also make you question your entire life..."
"You..." Ouyang Ye pointed at Gu Qingfeng with a deeply wounded expression, wanting to say something but ultimately holding back.
For some reason, hearing this guy boast so extravagantly, the little lass who had been full of confidence suddenly felt very unsure, her heart filled with worry.
It wasn't that his imitation was poor.
On the contrary, it was too good, so good it seemed real.
This guy had learned all of Gu Qingfeng's bad habits quite convincingly, but when it came down to it, he was still a fake! That Gu Qingfeng, though only at the Golden Core realm, had heaven-defying abilities!
And this guy? Also at the Golden Core realm. His abilities...
Probably...
Could Gu Qingfeng make his boasts awe-inspiring, convincing, and admirable? Could this guy do that?
And what was this about making people worship him and question their lives?
Heavens!
When it comes to bragging, he's even more outrageous than the real Gu Qingfeng.
This really is...
What made Ouyang Ye even more speechless was that when this guy boasted, he was just as calm and casual as the real Gu Qingfeng, as if he were telling the truth. At this moment, she really wanted to grab him by the collar and demand to know what gave him the right to make such grand promises.
For no apparent reason, Ouyang Ye began to feel some regret. Was finding this guy to impersonate Gu Qingfeng a mistake?
She sighed and said, "Lao Jiu, I'm glad you've learned to imitate Gu Qingfeng so well, but there are some things he could do that you might not be able to. Some boasts he could make, you shouldn't just spout recklessly...
You must always remember, you are not the real Gu Qingfeng. Don't get so into the role that you actually start believing you are Gu Qingfeng!"
"Little sister, before we came, you repeatedly reminded me to forget my previous identity, to think of myself as the real Gu Qingfeng from now on. You even said something about life being like a play, that one must be utterly devoted to succeed. Why are you now reminding me that I'm not Gu Qingfeng..."
"You...
I...
Earlier...
Now..." Ouyang Ye suddenly felt a headache coming on, not knowing what to say.
"Alright, little sister, just watch."
Gu Qingfeng patted Ouyang Ye's shoulder and said with a laugh, "Just watch how I'll put on a good show for you later, broaden your horizons. And by the way, witness my boasting skills. Forget a little inner turmoil; even if it's her very spirit, I'll have her blooming with joy from my words."