Wuhen was one of the very low-key Nine Dragons within the Changhong Branch.
He was so low-key that everyone only knew he was a Nascent Soul Dao Venerable. As for whether his Nascent Soul had manifested or taken form, no one knew. Even the number of layers of his Color Spirit was unclear. However, given the level of respect Chiyu showed him, his strength was likely no weaker than Chiyu's, if not stronger.
Since everyone knew the ferocious and brutal Lord Kui was currently a guest at Wuse Mountain, no one else dared to say anything disrespectful about Lord Chixiao anymore—not even Wei Chaoqun, one of the Immortal Estate's Twenty-Four Pride Immortals, was an exception.
The incident of Lord Kui violently beating Chiyu quickly passed and did not dampen the crowd's enthusiasm for participating in the Wuse Flower Festival. As time went on, more and more people arrived for the festival, among whom were quite a few prominent figures on par with Chiyu, Wei Chaoqun, and others.
For example, Wang Han, the young master of the Tiger Might Wang Family, was also one of the famous Twelve Tiger Sons. Whether in cultivation attainment or actual strength, he was evenly matched with Chiyu, Wei Chaoqun, Cold Leaf Flying, Ding Rui, and others.
In addition, there was Li Qianhua from the Black Wind Cave, known as the Black Wind Young Master. It was said even the Twin Evils of Black Wind were somewhat wary of him.
Everyone chattered and laughed, discussing various topics.
Somehow, the conversation turned to the incident a couple of days ago where Young Lady Qingxi lost a game of chess. They spoke of a fellow surnamed Gu who not only won four Upper Mystic Grade spirit treasures from Elder Jin Zhong, but later, when Young Lady Qingxi came to play on Elder Jin's behalf, ended up losing Elder Jin's lifebound flying sword as well. Although Young Lady Qingxi eventually redeemed the lifebound flying sword, she was left owing that Gu fellow a huge debt.
From one to ten, from ten to a hundred, the story spread until almost everyone attending the Wuse Flower Festival knew about it.
Qing Xi was a goddess in the hearts of many. Upon hearing this, everyone felt indignant on her behalf.
Prominent figures like Ding Rui, Cold Leaf Flying, Wei Chaoqun, and others seized this opportunity to curry favor. Some expressed willingness to repay Qing Xi's debt for her, while others declared they wanted to win it back for her.
On the high platform, Qing Xi's expression was one of utter helplessness. She had been worried these past two days that this matter would come to light, and now it had been exposed just as she feared.
She didn't care much about reputation or face, but gambling at chess wasn't a good thing to begin with. To have lost, and to owe such a large debt... she felt she had let down her Uncle-Master Jin Zhong and had damaged the reputation of Wuse Mountain.
Liu Qingyan also seemed to have just found out. She asked, "Xi'er, is this true?"
"Master, I..." Qing Xi felt like crying but had no tears, filled with extreme regret.
"You really are something! A young lady gambling at chess with someone!
You gambled, fine, but you actually lost...
And you even lost Jin Zhong's lifebound flying sword...
How should I even scold you!"
After reprimanding her, Liu Qingyan's heart held more astonishment than anger. She knew her disciple's chess skills all too well. Qing Xi possessed exceptional talent; since childhood, she had never lost a single game of Go. Even some reincarnated great experts felt inferior to her. How could she have lost to a young man surnamed Gu?
"Who is this young man surnamed Gu?"
"He claimed to be a descendant of Grandmaster-Uncle Kumu's old friend, saying he came to visit Grandmaster-Uncle. And also..." Qing Xi thought carefully before adding, "And he also said you once showed him kindness, that you saved him, I think?"
"A descendant of your Grandmaster-Uncle's old friend? And I saved him?"
Liu Qingyan pondered for a moment, then quickly asked, "Where is he?
Where is he now?"
"That..." Qing Xi truly didn't know. Since arriving at the gardens, she had been busy and hadn't given it any thought. She raised her head, looking around.
Simultaneously, people within the gardens were also searching for the rumored fellow surnamed Gu. They all wanted to know what kind of person could be so tactless, and also what kind of prodigy this Gu fellow was to possess such formidable chess skills, managing to defeat both Elder Jin Zhong and Qing Xi.
It was worth noting that Jin Zhong was a famously skilled chess player, a disciple of the chess grandmaster Cangsong. In the Great Northwest, very few could defeat him.
As for Qing Xi!
Although many had never seen her play chess, rumors said her skills were peerless, to the point where reincarnated great experts felt inferior. If such rumors were about anyone else, people might not believe them, but coming from Qing Xi, they were likely ninety percent true.
Inside the pavilion.
Li Dapang sensed trouble. He whispered urgently, "Old Gu, while no one has spotted you yet, you should run. If they catch you today, even if you don't die, you'll end up crippled."
"Run? Why should I? I didn't win by cheating."
Gu Qingfeng looked completely unconcerned. He remained seated in his chair, leisurely sipping his wine, watching the commotion while waiting for Old Man Kumu.
He wasn't in a hurry.
If he were, he wouldn't have waited until now.
Since he had nothing better to do, he was quite happy to enjoy the spectacle if there was one.
"You, at a time like this, you're still..." Li Dapang was about to say more when suddenly, someone shouted, "It's him!
He's that fellow surnamed Gu!"
No one knew who shouted, but the moment the voice fell, almost everyone's eyes simultaneously swiveled to look in their direction.
"That's right!
It's him! I saw it with my own eyes two nights ago—this guy was the tactless one who beat Young Lady Qingxi!"
"Yes!
This man must have used some underhanded method to defeat Young Lady Qingxi!"
"Everyone, surround him! Don't let him escape!"
Whoosh!
A crowd instantly surged over, surrounding the pavilion three layers deep, leaving no room to escape.
Li Dapang had never experienced such a situation before. He was so frightened he could barely stand steady. Even Liu Laotou'er, who had seen his share of big scenes, turned pale with fear at the sight. Both of them now deeply regretted their association, especially Li Dapang, who wished he hadn't hung around with this Old Gu fellow—he should have kept his distance.
What to do now?
They couldn't leave.
Heavens!
In an instant, a figure flashed and appeared in the pavilion. It was none other than Qing Xi.
"Everyone, please don't misunderstand. Young Lord Gu did not cheat or use any underhanded methods. I lost because my skills were inferior to his."
Qing Xi tried to explain, but as soon as her words fell, someone immediately shouted.
"Young Lord Chiyan! He's Young Lord Chiyan, Gu Qingfeng!"
Young Lord Chiyan, Gu Qingfeng?
Hearing this, the crowd erupted into an uproar once more.
A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
The formidable name of Young Lord Chiyan had long spread throughout the Great Northwest, known to all.
No one had expected him to appear at the Wuse Flower Festival, and even fewer had imagined he was the despicable person who had defeated Young Lady Qingxi.
Ding Rui, Cold Leaf Flying, Wei Chaoqun, Chiyu, and others instantly flashed over.
"Everyone...
Please don't misunderstand!"
Just being associated with someone who had beaten Young Lady Qingxi was enough to make Li Dapang fearful. He certainly didn't want to be associated with Young Lord Chiyan as well.
Beating Young Lady Qingxi was, at worst, just shameless and despicable.
But if it were Young Lord Chiyan, the matter would be far more serious.
After all, the Yaoyue Palace, the Changhong Branch, the Immortal Estate, and the Tiger Might Wang Family had all been itching to find Young Lord Chiyan.
If it were really him, that would be one thing. But this guy just shared the same name. If people misunderstood and he got implicated... Li Dapang felt he would die of injustice. Seeing Ding Rui and the others approach, he hurriedly explained in terror, "Esteemed Young Lords, he's just...
He just shares the same name as Young Lord Chiyan! He's not actually Young Lord Chiyan! Please, everyone, don't misunderstand..."
Qing Xi also knew this was a misunderstanding and explained, "Indeed, he just shares the same name as Young Lord Chiyan. Please, everyone, do not misunderstand."