Withered Tree ascended the high platform, first welcoming everyone for attending the Five-Color Flower Banquet, then stating that this would be the last banquet he would preside over. From now on, he would no longer concern himself with any worldly affairs, quietly retreating into seclusion. Taking this opportunity, he displayed the various musical scores he had collected over his lifetime. Besides offering them for others to contemplate, they could also be gifted to those fated to receive them.
"Honestly!"
Little Qinglian grumbled below the stage, "My perfectly good mood has been ruined by a swindler!" she said. "Great-Granduncle is also being unreasonable. He clearly knows that guy is a fraud, so why is he still letting him stay here? It's infuriating!"
Beside her, Liu Qingyan also asked, "Senior Brother, since you've met this swindler before, why didn't you tell us? Fine, you didn't tell us, but when we tried to kick him out, why did you stop us?"
Daozun Xuanxin sighed. "Do you think I wanted to?"
"What do you mean?"
Daozun Xuanxin glanced towards Gu Qingfeng, who was sitting in a pavilion deep within the garden, and said in a low voice, "That fellow is not someone to be trifled with."
"Not to be trifled with? How so? He's just got a tough body and some brute strength, what's so untouchable about that?"
Qing Xi also said, "Master, I heard he possesses the Unbreakable Boulder Body and the Unstoppable Absolute Force."
"Silly girl, the so-called Unbreakable Boulder Body and Unstoppable Absolute Force are just legends. No one has ever truly seen them. I don't believe in any 'unbreakable' or 'unstoppable' nonsense."
"Whether this person truly has the Boulder Body and Absolute Force, I don't know. Whether he is the King's successor, I'm also unclear. I don't even know if he's the real Young Lord Chiyan."
Daozun Xuanxin said with a complex expression, "But I witnessed with my own eyes how a single shout from him sent the Black Wind Twin Evils sprawling, unable to even stand up. And he didn't use any immortal arts or techniques—it was just a pure, intimidating roar."
Both Liu Qingyan and Qing Xi knew that the Black Wind Twin Evils were both Daozuns with fully perfected ninety-nine and eighty-one transformations Nascent Souls. Having cultivated for thousands of years and steeped in various evil auras, their strength was unfathomable. Even shape-shifting Daozuns dared not provoke them. And now Xuanxin was saying that swindler had roared them off their feet? Without using any immortal arts?
If anyone else had said this, the two might have doubted it. But since it came from Xuanxin's mouth, they had no choice but to believe.
"Is his strength truly that terrifying?" Liu Qingyan frowned deeply, her heart filled with shock. Qing Xi was no different, finding it utterly unbelievable.
"Otherwise, why do you think I stopped you? His power is bizarrely, profoundly strong, truly unfathomable."
Daozun Xuanxin said, "So, even knowing he's a fraud, we cannot act rashly. Moreover, Old Master has prepared for this Five-Color Flower Banquet for so long. If we start a fight, all his efforts over the years would be wasted. Let's just peacefully let Old Master preside over his final banquet."
"And then what? What if after the banquet, he still has designs on our Wuse Mountain?"
"Don't worry, I've already thought about it. For now, don't make any rash moves. Let's see what his true intentions are. If he really does covet our Wuse Mountain, we'll have no choice but to invite a few of the other Old Masters out of seclusion."
"Senior Brother, I have to say, aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Liu Qingyan truly couldn't understand. "Even if that swindler roared the Black Wind Twin Evils off their feet, we don't need to fear him, do we? Are you saying all of us on Wuse Mountain are afraid of a single fraud?"
"Junior Sister, you don't understand. Back in the swamp lands, Old Monster Feng Lie used every trick he had and still couldn't do anything to him. Not only that, but..."
"But what?"
"But..." Remembering what happened in the swamp lands, Daozun Xuanxin still felt a lingering fear. The methods Gu Qingfeng used to torment Old Monster Feng Lie were too brutal, too terrifying. He shook his head. "It's best if our Wuse Mountain doesn't provoke this person if we can avoid it. His existence is far too mysterious and bizarre."
In the garden.
Some were listening to Old Master Withered Tree lecture on musical theory.
Others were contemplating the musical scores.
And still others were engaged in discussion.
Meanwhile, Gu Qingfeng sat in a secluded pavilion, taking occasional sips of wine, his mind pondering how to help Old Master recast his Nascent Soul when the old man didn't believe him. No matter what method he thought of, it all required Old Master's cooperation.
"Damn it all! What a mess."
Gu Qingfeng tilted his head back for a swig. Just then, an angry voice came from behind him.
"Old Nine! So you really are here!"
Gu Qingfeng looked over. The newcomer was a beautiful woman—it was Ouyang Ye. She looked furious as she barked, "Do you have any idea we've been looking for you for days, almost going crazy!"
"Looking for me for what?"
"For what? Have you forgotten your identity? You're impersonating Young Lord Chiyan right now! If you run around everywhere, what if you slip up?"
"Didn't we already prove it back at Xiao Zhe Manor? Who would still doubt it?"
"Better safe than sorry. The real Young Lord Chiyan does possess the Boulder Body and Absolute Force, but that doesn't mean everyone with a strong body is Young Lord Chiyan. People will still be suspicious."
"And then? You've been searching all the way here?"
"Han Dong-jie and I have been looking for you for many days. She's still out there searching for you right now."
Ouyang Ye shot him a glare, saying unhappily, "Little Jin'er and I came to attend the Flower Banquet. I never expected you'd be here too."
"Where's Little Jin'er?"
Gu Qingfeng looked around but didn't see Little Jin'er.
"Little Jin'er and Master Wenzhu went ahead to greet the seniors of Wuse Mountain."
"Oh? Master Wenzhu is here too?"
"Of course! Old Master Withered Tree is a renowned musical master in the Great Northwest, and he once instructed Master Wenzhu. Today is Old Master's final time presiding over the Flower Banquet; Master Wenzhu would definitely come."
After speaking, Ouyang Ye sneakily glanced around again, then pulled at Gu Qingfeng. "Come with me, quick!"
"I have business here at Wuse Mountain. I'll leave after I'm done!"
"You!" Ouyang Ye forced down the rage in her heart, glaring fiercely at Gu Qingfeng. Choking back her words, she said in a low, heavy voice, "Let me tell you something, Old Nine. Don't think I don't know anything. I just heard from others that you, this guy, are impersonating the King's successor to swindle Wuse Mountain's Mountain-Guarding Spirit Treasure."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a bitter smile, feeling so frustrated he almost wanted to curse.
"I knew from the start you were up to no good, that you weren't someone who'd stay out of trouble. No wonder you kept calling yourself Young Lord Chiyan in front of me. You'd already hatched this little scheme in your mind, daring to come to Wuse Mountain to pull off a fraud!"