After turning into a bustling corridor, Ouyang Ye quickly withdrew her arm from Gu Qingfeng's and deliberately glanced back. Seeing that Li Sen hadn't followed, she let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Gu Qingfeng and said seriously, "Hey, don't get the wrong idea. I only took your arm to shake off Li Sen. There's no other meaning, so don't let your imagination run wild."
"Wrong idea?"
Gu Qingfeng leisurely cracked sunflower seeds, smiling faintly. "I'm not a three-year-old child. How could I misunderstand?"
"Good."
Ouyang Ye gave him an appreciative glance, then reminded him earnestly, "But once we enter the venue, you can't speak carelessly, understand? Today's manor is hosting a Musical Arts Gathering. All the famous musical masters from the Qingyang Region are here. When the time comes, just sit beside me and keep your head down eating."
"No problem."
Gu Qingfeng hadn't had good food in a long time either, thinking he'd have a big meal first.
"I didn't expect you to be quite sensible. In that case, don't worry. Since I brought you in, I'll definitely make sure you eat and drink your fill."
Gu Qingfeng smiled but said nothing.
After repeated instructions from Ouyang Ye, she finally led him into the venue.
To tell the truth, the venue was quite impressively arranged. The vast space was enveloped by seven or eight formations. Not only was the spiritual energy inside rich, but the environment was also extremely elegant. Ancient-style pavilions surrounded the area, with exquisite tables and chairs below. In the center was a circular high platform, likely the performance area.
The venue was truly crowded—old and young, men and women—gathered in small groups. Some were chatting and laughing, others exchanging musical knowledge, creating a lively atmosphere.
Ouyang Ye found an old man who seemed to be the steward here. After conversing for a while, she brought Gu Qingfeng to a table and chairs on the west side and sat down. The table was laden with many delicacies, though many were just messy spirit fruits, which disappointed Gu Qingfeng somewhat. He had originally hoped for some meat dishes, but it seemed there was little hope of that now.
At least there was wine to drink.
Gu Qingfeng poured himself a cup, tasted it, and found the flavor rather mediocre, but it would do.
"Hey, eat by yourself for now. I need to greet a few seniors."
Ouyang Ye stood up, about to leave, when she suddenly said, spotting someone, "Why is that annoying Ye Hui here too? And she's with Li Sen."
"What's wrong?"
Gu Qingfeng followed Ouyang Ye's gaze and saw two young people standing at the entrance—a man and a woman. The man was precisely that young master Li Sen who had pestered Ouyang Ye outside earlier. Opposite Li Sen was a young woman dressed in flamboyant attire.
"Nothing much. Just seeing a woman I despise most!"
Ouyang Ye pouted, clearly displeased, then suddenly realized something, her expression stiffening with worry. "Oh no, oh no... That bastard Li Sen will definitely tell Ye Hui that I brought Young Lord Chiyan... What do I do now?" As she spoke, she looked remorseful, patting her forehead. "Damn it! Why did I have to mention Young Lord Chiyan back then? What do I do now!"
Gu Qingfeng sat leisurely in his chair, legs crossed, eating bright red little fruits while sipping wine. Seeing Ouyang Ye's worried, regretful look, he said, "Just say I'm not that so-called Young Lord Chiyan. Problem solved."
"You don't understand that annoying Ye Hui. If I say you're not Young Lord Chiyan, she'll definitely sneer and mock me! She'll make sure the whole Yunxia Sect knows about it."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head, not quite understanding.
Ouyang Ye paced back and forth, then stared at Gu Qingfeng for a moment. "Hey, you surnamed Gu, could you keep impersonating Young Lord Chiyan for a while longer?"
"Why?"
Perhaps because he hadn't drunk in so long, Gu Qingfeng kept downing cup after cup, growing more spirited with each drink. But Ouyang Ye's words puzzled him. "Why go through all this trouble? Just invite the real Young Lord Chiyan over."
"There is no Young Lord Chiyan!"
"No Young Lord Chiyan?"
Gu Qingfeng grew even more confused. "Outside, I remember hearing Li Sen say you fell in love with Young Lord Chiyan at first sight, right? How come you're saying he doesn't exist now?"
"Why are you so dense! Let me put it this way: Young Lord Chiyan is completely a person I made up. He doesn't exist at all!"
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng grew even more bewildered. He shifted his posture, asking with interest, "I say, little sister, is there something wrong with your head? Why would you make up a non-existent person for no reason?"
"There's something wrong with your head!" Ouyang Ye glared at him fiercely. "I was forced into a corner, alright? In the Yunxia Sect, Li Sen and a few other disciples pester me all day long. To make them give up, I had to say I already had a sweetheart. So I made up a non-existent Young Lord Chiyan."
"Just to make those young men pursuing you lose hope?"
"Not entirely because of that. That's secondary. The most important reason is that annoying Ye Hui!"
Gu Qingfeng looked at the young woman dressed flamboyantly at the entrance. "If my eyes don't deceive me, that's a woman, right? Does she pursue you too?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Ouyang Ye said irritably. "You don't know this, but ever since I entered Yunxia Sect, this Ye Hui has always looked down on me, constantly opposing me and finding fault everywhere. Especially after I made up a Young Lord Chiyan and publicly declared him as my Dao companion, that annoying woman has been investigating Young Lord Chiyan's whereabouts everywhere, always questioning whether he truly exists."
"Why would she question it for no reason?"
"This..." Ouyang Ye looked somewhat embarrassed, hesitating before responding. "This is partly my fault for letting my vanity get the better of me. I made Young Lord Chiyan too perfect—said he was a dragon among men, proficient in all ten arts of the immortal path, especially musical arts, where he was the cream of the crop..."
"..." Gu Qingfeng shook his head speechlessly.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. You don't know Ye Hui, don't know what kind of person she is. Ever since that annoying woman hooked up with a certain Yun Hong, she's always flaunted their affection in front of me, bragging about how amazing Senior Brother Yun Hong's musical arts are. Do you think I could tolerate that? So I... I made up a dragon among men, Young Lord Chiyan..."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng began to understand somewhat. He raised his head and drained his cup in one gulp. "Let me see if I understand this correctly. You made up a Dao companion named Young Lord Chiyan, firstly to use him to make those pursuing you give up. Secondly, Ye Hui found a Dao companion with high musical attainment, and you didn't want to lose to her. So you said your made-up Young Lord Chiyan was a dragon among men, proficient in all ten arts of the immortal path, especially musical arts, where he was exceptional."
Ouyang Ye nodded her little head vigorously. "That annoying Ye Hui has always doubted Young Lord Chiyan's existence. Several times in public, she's pressured me to bring Young Lord Chiyan over, but I could never produce him. Though it was embarrassing, Ye Hui couldn't catch me red-handed. But just now, to shake off Li Sen... I lied and said you were Young Lord Chiyan... And now Li Sen has definitely told Ye Hui about this..." Ouyang Ye continued, "If I say now that you're not Young Lord Chiyan, that annoying Ye Hui will definitely seize this and run around Yunxia Sect shouting that there's no such person as Young Lord Chiyan in this world... that I made it all up... and then I'll..."
"Then you'll lose all face?"
Though Ouyang Ye didn't want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that was indeed the case. She stole a glance at Ye Hui and Li Sen standing at the entrance, who seemed to be heading their way, and hurriedly said, "Hey, help me out, will you? Don't forget I'm your lifesaver. If not for me, you might have starved to death back at the cemetery."
"Starved to death at the cemetery..." Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a bitter smile. He picked up the wine pot, poured himself another cup, brought it to his lips, took a light sip, and frowned. "Fine, let's say you're my lifesaver. Helping you out once isn't a big deal. But little sister, I have no idea what kind of person this Young Lord Chiyan you made up is. What if I slip up and say the wrong thing..."
"You were there when I was paying respects to Monarch Chixiao at the cemetery earlier, right?"
"What about it?"
"That means you admire Monarch Chixiao too, right?"
"This... I suppose so."
"Then you must have heard of Monarch Chixiao's deeds from his youth, right?"
Just when he thought he understood, Ouyang Ye's words confused Gu Qingfeng again. "What does this have to do with Monarch Chixiao?"
"I... I! Fine, since things have come to this, I might as well tell you. I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me. The dream lover I made up, Young Lord Chiyan, is modeled after Monarch Chixiao from his youth."
Gu Qingfeng, who was drinking wine at that moment, nearly choked on his breath, staring at Ouyang Ye in astonishment.
"Hey... Don't stare at me like that. There's nothing shameful about it. Can't I worship Monarch Chixiao? Can't I admire the Monarch? Can't my ideal dream lover be Monarch Chixiao?"
Ouyang Ye didn't blush or feel shy; instead, she seemed somewhat justified. In truth, the reason she made up a Young Lord Chiyan might have been to make those pursuing her give up, or perhaps not to lose to Ye Hui. But more importantly, she wanted to give herself spiritual comfort. Because ever since playing the Monarch's compositions, she had gradually become infatuated with the Monarch. Plus, with the world always circulating rumors that the Monarch would reincarnate, it gave her hope, thinking the Monarch might one day truly be reborn...
What could Gu Qingfeng say to this?
Besides a bitter smile and helplessness, he could say nothing.
"Damn it! Li Sen and Ye Hui are coming! Will you help me or not!"
Gu Qingfeng looked over. Indeed, that flamboyantly dressed girl and Li Sen were walking toward them. He glanced at Ouyang Ye, who was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and said, "Alright, I'll help you. It's just impersonating a Young Lord Chiyan made up based on Monarch Chixiao from his youth. To tell the truth, you've really found the right person. No problem, I'll definitely help with this..."