Qing Xi was gentle by nature and rarely rude to anyone—in fact, she never had been.
She could tolerate many people and many things.
But the one thing she could not tolerate was a swindler attempting to deceive Wuse Mountain by impersonating the Monarch's heir.
She knew very well that today's Wuse Flower Festival was being hosted by Old Master Kumu. Because of the events at Great Green Mountain back then, Old Master Kumu had always been filled with guilt toward the Monarch, a burden he still could not let go of. Fifty years ago, precisely because of this, he had been easily deceived by Gu Tiansheng. She did not want the old master to be fooled again.
Thus, she had no choice but to ask him to leave.
As for Gu Qingfeng,
he felt nothing but helplessness.
Ever since learning about the Gu Tiansheng incident, he had known that once his identity was recognized, he would inevitably be labeled a fraud.
As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy. Wuse Mountain had likely been deceived so often it was now overly cautious.
He glanced at Qing Xi, then looked at Liu Qingyan, shaking his head. "Little sister, I sympathize with and understand Wuse Mountain's past deception, but that's all. I am not a fraud. Of course, you may not believe me, but whether you believe me or not isn't important to me."
He paused, picked up the wine pot, and poured a cup. "As for me, I came this time only to see Old Master Kumu. I've already waited so many days; I don't mind waiting a little longer. If I don't get to see him today, I won't leave."
As soon as he finished speaking, disciples of Wuse Mountain surged forward. It seemed if Gu Qingfeng did not leave, they would not let the matter rest.
Seeing this, Gu Qingfeng chuckled wryly. "Do you plan to drive me out by force or something?"
"We won't resort to force against you. We only hope you will leave voluntarily."
"And if I don't?"
"Then don't blame Wuse Mountain for being impolite."
The one who said this was Liu Qingyan. For Old Master Kumu's sake, she did not mind using force to expel this fraud.
At that moment, a stern shout rang out.
"Do not be rude!"
In response appeared a middle-aged man. Many present recognized him—he was the leader of Wuse Mountain's Eighteen Swords, Daozun Xuanxin, also the current administrator of Wuse Mountain, and even a potential future ruler of the mountain.
"Senior Brother, he is that Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng, and he even said he wants to visit Uncle Kumu..." Liu Qingyan's words were cut off by Daozun Xuanxin, who replied, "I know."
"Since you know, why are you still..." Daozun Xuanxin did not respond to her. Instead, he took a deep look at Gu Qingfeng and stepped forward. "Young Lord Chiyan, we meet again."
Gu Qingfeng nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
However, Xuanxin's words sounded strange to Liu Qingyan and the others. What did he mean by 'meet again'? Had Xuanxin met this fraud before?
And he knew his identity?
If so, why was he being so polite to him?
While they were puzzled, a group of twenty-three people entered the garden.
They were all from Wuse Mountain, and all were members of the Eighteen Swords.
Walking at the front was an elderly man.
The old man had gray-white hair and wore a cyan robe. He appeared aged, his face etched with the marks of time. Although he was a cultivator and possessed spiritual aura, that aura was extremely faint and weak. Anyone could sense the frail breath of his Nascent Soul.
Seeing the old man, Liu Qingyan, Qing Xi, and the others were startled, for the old man was none other than Daozun Kumu, one of the Nine Solitary Elders of Wuse Mountain. Exchanging a glance, they saw mutual concern in each other's eyes. Without hesitation, they immediately went forward to pay their respects.
Old Master Kumu was a highly respected senior expert in the Great Northwest, once one of the top grandmasters of musical arts.
While people like Ding Rui and Wei Chaoqun might have come for Qing Xi, most of the thousand-year-old veterans present had come for the old master. They had all received news that this was the last flower festival the old master would host, and they knew that after the festival, he would retire into seclusion. That wasn't the important part; the important part was that the old master's injuries likely couldn't be delayed much longer. Whether he could survive the year was unknown. Thus, they had come this time to bid farewell to the old master.
Now, seeing the old master arrive, everyone stepped forward to offer greetings and respects.
Old Master Kumu nodded and smiled in response to each one.
At this moment,
Gu Qingfeng stopped drinking. He, who had been sitting all this time, rose from his chair.
The leisurely him was no longer leisurely; he became solemn.
The casual him was no longer casual; he became cautious.
He stood and gazed.
His expression was complex—filled with self-reproach, regret, and guilt. Yet, after the heartache, there was also a trace of joy, a trace of relief.
What made him reproachful was that the old master had been severely injured back then while helping him escape from Great Green Mountain.
What made him regretful was that due to various reasons, he had never been able to visit the old master since then.
What made him feel guilty was that the old master's injuries were extremely severe. Although his Nascent Soul still existed, it was already withered, like burning embers that would scatter with the slightest breeze.
What made him joyful was that although the old master's Nascent Soul was on the verge of extinction, others might have no solution, but that didn't mean he didn't. Helping the old master's Nascent Soul recover was not a difficult task for him.
Therefore, he felt relieved—relieved that he hadn't been executed by the various Heavenly Daos, relieved that he had awakened, and even more relieved that he could see the old master at this time. If he had been a few years later, even if he had the skill to bring the dead back to life, he would have been powerless.
Fortunately,
Everything was still in time.
Closing his eyes, Gu Qingfeng took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said respectfully, "This junior Gu Qingfeng pays his respects to Old Master Kumu."
Old Master Kumu did not seem surprised. He simply stared deeply at Gu Qingfeng.
Beside him, Daozun Xuanxin said gravely, "Uncle Master, he is the Young Lord Chiyan Gu Qingfeng I mentioned to you."
In the crowd, both Liu Qingyan and Qing Xi found this unbelievable. They had been worried that Old Master Kumu would be deceived by a fraud again, so they had kept it secret. How could Xuanxin have already met this fraud, not only not keeping it secret but even proactively mentioning him to the old master? What was his intention?
Did he want the old master to be fooled once more?
"You are the Gu Qingfeng who claims to be the Monarch's heir?"
Gu Qingfeng looked at the old master. After a moment, he nodded. "That is correct."
As soon as he spoke, the surrounding crowd immediately pointed at Gu Qingfeng, chattering that he was a complete fraud, urging the old master not to believe him and not to repeat past mistakes. Liu Qingyan, Qing Xi, and even the people of Wuse Mountain all earnestly tried to persuade him.
Throughout this, the old master did not speak. He simply kept looking at Gu Qingfeng.
And Gu Qingfeng offered no explanation, nor did he attempt to prove anything.
After a while,
the old master finally spoke. "I heard you came to visit this old man?"
"Yes. Passing through this place, I wanted to come see you, Elder."
"Is there any other matter?"
"To repay a debt of gratitude."
"What gratitude?"
"Back then, you were injured saving my master. My master never had the chance to visit you in his lifetime, which was a lifelong regret. For this, he always felt guilty in his heart. This junior has come this time on behalf of my master to see you."
Qing Xi's junior sister, Qing Lian, stepped forward and shouted, "Hey! Since it's a visit, you should have seen enough by now, right? Shouldn't you be leaving?"
"Once the old master's injuries are healed, I will leave."