The debate over the authenticity of Young Lord Chiyan had never truly ceased.
Even though many had personally witnessed Gu Qingfeng crush a Nature Treasure with his bare hands at Little Fold Manor, they still refused to believe. Just as Flying Eagle had said earlier, the real Young Lord Chiyan's physical body was indeed formidable, but a formidable physical body did not necessarily mean one was Young Lord Chiyan.
If it were anyone else, people wouldn't argue so fiercely.
The truth was, the matter of being reduced to ashes and then resurrected from death was simply too outrageous.
Coupled with Young Lord Chiyan's claim of being the Monarch's successor and all the other rumors, Gu Qingfeng had rapidly become a topic of heated discussion throughout the Great Northwest.
Everyone had always wanted to know if Han Dong's Dao companion was truly Young Lord Chiyan, and whether Young Lord Chiyan was truly the Monarch's heir.
Therefore, seeing Wei Chaoqun and other prominent figures coming to test the authenticity of Young Lord Chiyan, the other attendees of the Five-Color Flower Festival also gathered around.
Ouyang Ye, who was already feeling somewhat guilty, now felt even more so. Her heart pounded wildly, and her mind was in complete disarray. Back at Little Fold Manor, with Han Dong and Qian Shan backing them up, she hadn't been afraid. But now, she was alone, facing such a scene, and truly didn't know what to do.
"I really don't understand why you people keep doubting whether my Big Brother is real, calling him a fraud. It's so annoying."
Little Jin'er said unhappily, "Let me tell you, my Big Brother is not fake, and he's definitely not a fraud. Don't talk nonsense."
Beside her, Master Wenzhu wanted to take Little Jin'er away, because he had heard from Ouyang Ye that this Young Lord Chiyan was fake; it was just that Little Jin'er believed he was real. Seeing so many people now wanting to test him, although he was also worried for Ouyang Ye, he knew he couldn't be of any help.
"Grandpa, why are you pulling me? I'm telling the truth. Big Brother isn't fake at all."
Little Jin'er shrugged her shoulders, signaling Master Wenzhu not to stop her, and said, "Big Brother, since they all don't believe you, why don't you just play a piece? Let them listen, and see if they dare call you fake again in the future."
Gu Qingfeng had remained seated the entire time, from beginning to end.
His expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. However, when Old Master Ku Mu walked over, he stood up and nodded in greeting.
"No need for such courtesy."
Clearly, Old Master Ku Mu also seemed to want to know whether this Gu Qingfeng before him was real or fake. He stared at Gu Qingfeng and asked, "This old man has also heard of Young Lord Chiyan's profound mastery of Musical Arts. But you, Young Master..." Gu Qingfeng smiled, a somewhat helpless smile.
"Old Senior Ku Mu, do you not believe my Big Brother either?"
"This..." "Heh, Senior Ku Mu, the real Young Lord Chiyan's mastery of Musical Arts might be peerless under heaven. As for a fake... well, that's hard to say."
"Exactly. He claims to be the peerless Young Lord Chiyan. Let him play the Monarch's 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain' and see how many layers of Profound Mystery he can manifest."
"My Big Brother said there's no piece under heaven he can't play, especially the Monarch's pieces. My Big Brother can play them all."
Little Jin'er lifted her little head defiantly and said, "Moreover, whether it's the Profound Mystery contained within the piece, its imposing aura, or its artistic conception, my Big Brother can bring them all out."
Little Jin'er's words were truly a bit too bold.
So bold that many in the venue took them as a joke.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Ye stood there with an ashen face, looking utterly lost. Her heart kept murmuring: It's over, it's over this time, everything is finished... It's too late... Old Jiu's identity is definitely going to be exposed now...
"Since your tone is so grand, we truly must broaden our horizons this time."
"Indeed! Let's not even talk about the artistic conception of 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain,' nor its imposing aura. Even the 999 layers of Great Perfection Crimson Thunder Profound Mystery contained within it—we have never heard it played. We hope Young Lord Chiyan can play 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain' for us, to let us witness such a spectacle."
Many were mocking and ridiculing, while others shook their heads and sighed, "Fake, he must be fake. To be able to bring out the Profound Mystery, imposing aura, and artistic conception from any piece, and especially the Monarch's pieces... this... Who under heaven would dare make such an outrageous claim?"
"Exactly! We've only ever heard that the real Young Lord Chiyan's mastery of Musical Arts is peerless under heaven, but it's just hearsay. We don't know how good his Musical Arts truly are. Never mind him being a fake; even if he were real, he probably wouldn't have such ability!"
At this moment, Gu Qingfeng, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, "Old Master, is that the musical score for 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain' in your hand?"
"It is."
"May I borrow it for a moment?"
Daozun Ku Mu nodded and handed over the musical score in his hand.
Wei Chaoqun laughed, "Heh, this is not only the musical score for 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain,' but also the original manuscript personally written by the Monarch back then. Since you claim to be Young Lord Chiyan and boast of being the Monarch's successor, you surely wouldn't fail to recognize the Monarch's handwriting, would you?"
Gu Qingfeng paid him no mind. He merely looked at the musical score in his hand, a strange feeling rising in his heart.
The score was written on a piece of cloth.
And Gu Qingfeng still clearly remembered that year when inspiration struck suddenly, and he attained enlightenment in his heart. He had torn a piece of cloth from his robe on the spot and written down the musical score he had comprehended, using the five-colored powder from Five-Color Mountain. The handwriting on the score still retained traces of the spirit he had left behind that year. Probing it again with his divine sense, he felt it was somewhat childish.
The only thing that moved and saddened him was the thought that after so many years, the Old Master still kept this ragged piece of cloth. Both the handwriting and the residual spirit were preserved as if new. The Old Master must have taken meticulous care of it; otherwise, the residual spirit would have long since vanished...
Folding the musical score, Gu Qingfeng handed it back to Daozun Ku Mu and said, "You've been thoughtful. Thank you."
Daozun Ku Mu was taken aback, as if he didn't understand Gu Qingfeng's meaning. What did 'thoughtful' mean? And 'thank you'? What was he trying to say?
"May I ask why the Young Master is thanking me?"
"Thank you, Old Master, for preserving this musical score so perfectly."
"This..." "Young Lord Chiyan, returning the musical score to Senior Ku Mu—does that mean you're not planning to play?"
After Wei Chaoqun spoke, Ding Rui chimed in, "How could he not play? In my opinion, Young Lord Chiyan only needed one glance to comprehend it thoroughly. Perhaps he really can play 'Wind Rises Over Daqing Mountain' with Great Perfection Profound Mystery later."
"Ha! I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Who isn't? All of us are looking forward to it!"
Gu Qingfeng drained the wine in his cup, then poured two more cups. He offered one and said, "Old Master, may I offer you three cups of wine?"
Daozun Ku Mu frowned, not understanding the intent. After a moment's thought, he still accepted the wine cup.
"Back on Daqing Mountain, Old Master suffered severe injuries to save Gu Tianlang. He was burdened with troubles back then and could never come to see you in person. Today, I come on his behalf to offer you three cups of wine!"