The reasoning was something anyone could understand.
What Huode was worried about, Gu Qingfeng also knew.
But understanding was one thing, knowing was another.
Understanding didn't mean he would endure.
Knowing didn't mean he would restrain himself.
A person's temper might gradually mellow with the passage of time and the accumulation of experience, but a person's character would never change. Whether you cultivated for a hundred years or a thousand, no matter how many things you experienced, your inherent nature would never alter.
Moreover, Gu Qingfeng cultivated a heart of Great Freedom.
His mood, good or bad, determined his attitude.
As the saying goes, character determines destiny. What kind of person Gu Qingfeng was, he didn't need to say himself—Huode knew perfectly well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed back in such a frantic hurry.
Perhaps afraid of upsetting Gu Qingfeng, Huode stopped complaining and scolding. Instead, he started playing the humble servant. But while he was acting the part, Gu Qingfeng couldn't be bothered to play the master. He patted his backside and went back to sleep, leaving Huode alone to stew in his frustration.
However, soon something even more frustrating happened. The Li Clan arrived in a great, imposing crowd, angrily demanding that he hand over Gu Qingfeng.
Many members of the Li Clan held important positions within the Yunxia Sect. Furthermore, the Li Clan was a major family in the Qingyang region, and many within the sect usually curried favor with them. Most importantly, almost everyone knew the Li Clan had a good relationship with Elder Jin De.
Now that Li Ziheng had been severely injured by a disciple, his cultivation completely dissipated—forget cultivating, whether he could even wake up in the future was a question—the Li Clan was naturally furious. They came with a large contingent of people to demand the culprit.
But it was useless. Completely useless.
Old Master Huode just sat in the Spirit Seclusion Garden, sipping his little wine. No matter how fiercely the Li Clan shouted and argued, he had only two words: not handing him over.
Say I'm relying on my status as Grand Elder to ignore sect rules, say I'm shielding a disciple—fine. Not handing him over means not handing him over.
Although the Li Clan was a major family in the Qingyang region, faced with Huode's obstinacy, they could do nothing.
Despite having cultivated for seven or eight hundred years, Huode had no prestigious family background, no powerful backing, and no significant influence. Within the Yunxia Sect, apart from holding the title of Grand Elder, he seemed to have little real authority.
However, Huode had one thing others couldn't match, and it was also the reason the Li Clan didn't dare move against him.
That was Huode's connections.
The old master had many friends, from all walks of life—high-ranking elders of major sects to small-time merchants and peddlers. There was hardly anyone he didn't know. Having mixed in the Qingyang region for seven or eight hundred years, he wouldn't dare say friends were everywhere, but it wasn't far off. If the old master put out a call, at least half of the notable old-timers in the Qingyang region would come.
If the old master asked them to get involved in Yunxia Sect's affairs, these people might not be able to participate for various reasons. But if the old master said he was being bullied, these friends would absolutely come charging over without a second word.
To be honest, the fact that the Yunxia Sect survived the Cataclysm of the Heavens was largely thanks to the old master's many friends and extensive connections.
Therefore, no matter how angry or furious the Li Clan was, if they wanted to move against Huode, they had to carefully weigh the consequences.
Later, the Li Clan, unable to swallow their anger, invited Elder Jin De and Elder Mu De over. Yet, it was still useless.
Not handing him over meant not handing him over.
No matter who came, it wouldn't work.
The stalemate lasted for over an hour or two. In the end, the Li Clan could only leave in a rage.
In the evening, a rare guest arrived at the Spirit Seclusion Garden—at least, that's how Huode saw it.
The visitor was none other than his Senior Brother, Elder Ren De.
The reason Huode called him a rare guest was because Elder Ren De almost never came to the Rear Mountain to look for him. The last time had been over ten years ago.
The two were fellow disciples, but their relationship wasn't great. It wasn't terribly bad, but it wasn't good either.
In Ren De's eyes, Huode was an old, irresponsible, good-for-nothing scoundrel and an extremely negligent elder. In the past, he was rarely at the sect, staying only a few days a year before going out again. He never managed any of the sect's affairs, so Ren De had always looked down on him.
That was how Huode appeared in Ren De's eyes.
And in Huode's eyes, Ren De was a stubborn, foolish, inflexible old fossil who only knew how to stick to outdated rules and showed no understanding of adaptability.
As Huode put it, the two had never been able to get along since they were kids and shared no common language.
Now that Ren De had surprisingly come to the Rear Mountain's Spirit Seclusion Garden, Huode naturally couldn't resist a few sarcastic remarks. What surprised him, however, was that Ren De just smiled and didn't react much.
This rather astonished Huode. In his impression, Ren De couldn't take a joke. Every time he joked, Ren De would become very serious. Why was today different...
What surprised Huode even more was that not only did Ren De greet him with a smile, he even suggested finding a quiet place to reminisce.
This completely baffled Huode. He didn't understand what medicine Ren De was selling in his gourd.
Of course, Huode didn't refuse. Although he found Ren De very disagreeable, disagreeable was one thing. One point he had to admit: ever since the Sect Head went into seclusion, for all these years, it had been Ren De managing the sect. And he clearly understood that if not for Ren De holding the fort, Jin De and Shui De would have long since carved up the Yunxia Sect.
Knowing Ren De didn't drink, Huode didn't prepare anything. He just found a quiet place, wanting to hear what he had to say.
As soon as Ren De sat down, he truly began reminiscing—recounting those old stories between them as fellow disciples. When he mentioned the Cataclysm of the Heavens, Ren De sighed, "Back then, if not for Junior Brother you... our Yunxia Sect probably wouldn't have held on..."
"Alright, alright, don't put a tall hat on me. I can't bear it. Senior Brother, if you have something to say, just say it directly."
"After the Cataclysm, Senior Brother Sect Head went into seclusion. That seclusion has lasted nearly a hundred years. Although I've been the one presiding over the Yunxia Sect all these years... well..."
Ren De never drank alcohol, but this time he poured himself a cup. Taking a sip, he said with some helplessness, "Junior Brother Jin De has been secretly pulling in some families, propping up many people in both the inner and outer courts. I know he's been coveting the position of Sect Head. And Junior Brother Shui De... I also know he has the Nine Blossoms Alliance behind him. As for Junior Brother Mu De... let's not even talk about him. He's long been in the same pants as Jin De."
Huode didn't respond, just listened quietly, curious about what Ren De really wanted to say.
"Senior Brother Sect Head has been in seclusion all along. We all know he probably... won't make it past this hurdle. I can guess it, and Jin De and Shui De must know it too. Those two have been cultivating disciples all these years, waiting for the right moment to contend for the position of Heir Apparent."
Huode pondered for a moment, then said, "Senior Brother, if you have something to say, just say it directly. No need to beat around the bush."
"Fine, Junior Brother. I'll ask you one question: is that Gu Qingfeng someone you brought in to contend for the Heir Apparent position?"
Hmm?
Huode inwardly made a sound of surprise. He didn't respond immediately but looked at Ren De, considering for a while before saying, "What if he is? What if he isn't?"
"If my guess isn't wrong, he probably is."
Elder Ren De looked very serious and earnest. As Huode opposite him was about to speak, Ren De cut him off.
"Gu Qingfeng is no ordinary person. Although I don't know who he is, from the moment I first saw him during the inner gate examination, I already knew he wasn't ordinary. He lacks the vigor of youth, remains unflustered when facing events, acts without arrogance, handles matters without impatience. His speech and behavior may seem frivolous and exaggerated, but in reality, it's a kind of carefree ease."
"Aren't you overthinking it?"
Huode gave an awkward laugh, though inwardly he was muttering to himself.
"Junior Brother, don't misunderstand. I'm not asking you who Gu Qingfeng is, nor am I asking about his identity. I believe since you brought him here, you must trust him. I just want to know if he has the strength to contend for the Heir Apparent position. This question is very important to me."
"Oh? How so?"
"If he does, then I'll lend you a hand."
Ren De's words truly took Huode by surprise. Because in his impression, Ren De was a thoroughgoing neutral party. Although he hadn't colluded with Jin De and Shui De, he also wouldn't stop them. As for who would become the Yunxia Sect's Sect Head in the future, he didn't care, as long as the Yunxia Sect could continue its legacy.
"I was wrong before. I always thought that as long as the Yunxia Sect could continue its legacy, it didn't matter who became Sect Head... But as Jin De and Shui De kept fighting openly and covertly, I gradually discovered their selfish motives... If the Yunxia Sect truly fell into their hands in the future, I'm afraid... So, I came this time just to clarify this matter. Does Gu Qingfeng truly have the strength to contend for the Heir Apparent position?"
"And if he does..."
"If he does, then I'll withstand the pressure and arrange for him to be promoted to a personal disciple of the Nine Halls as soon as possible..."