Temporarily hide?
To avoid being implicated?
Han Dong shook her head. Although her nature was cold and aloof, she was not heartless, nor was she an ungrateful person.
In Han Dong's mind, whether that Lao Jiu was the real Chiyan Young Master or a fake, one thing was undeniable: he had impersonated the Chiyan Young Master to help her. That was a favor, unrelated to anything else.
Now that Lao Jiu had stirred up trouble, if she were to simply walk away... such a thing, Han Dong truly could not bring herself to do.
She felt this way, and Ouyang Ye was no exception.
Compared to Han Dong, the unrestrained Ouyang Ye was naturally more inclined to value loyalty and righteousness.
Although she also did not know Lao Jiu's true identity, she was well aware in her heart that Lao Jiu was someone she had found to impersonate the Chiyan Young Master. Back in the Peach Blossom Secret Realm, it was thanks to Lao Jiu's abilities that she had obtained many storage pouch treasures, and he had even gifted her a Seven-Colored Sword.
Now that Lao Jiu had stirred up a huge mess, if she were to hide away, that would be far too lacking in loyalty.
Most importantly, she desperately wanted to figure out whether Lao Jiu was truly the real Chiyan Young Master.
Qian Shan tried earnestly to persuade them, but no matter how she tried, both Han Dong and Ouyang Ye were resolute in their decision not to hide.
"You two...
You're really too young. My meaning was just for you to hide for now, not for you to simply abandon him and leave. Those are two different concepts."
Qian Shan shook her head and sighed. "Think about it carefully. With your strength, what can you possibly do if you don't hide?
Besides becoming lambs to the slaughter, nothing. I'm asking you to hide so you can at least avoid unnecessary trouble. That way, we can observe the situation calmly. If they find Lao Jiu, we can decide what to do then. It won't be too late."
Hearing Qian Shan's words, Han Dong and Ouyang Ye thought it over, and it seemed to make sense.
"Sister Han Dong, how about... we hide for now and wait? Let's see how things develop. If they can't find Lao Jiu, then so be it. If they do find him, we can think of another plan then."
Ouyang Ye's voice came through. After a moment of contemplation, Han Dong finally nodded and agreed to the persuasion.
...
That night.
The moon was dark and the wind high.
The sky over the entire Great Northwest was shrouded in dark clouds. Groups of cultivators, wave after wave, scoured the area for Gu Qingfeng's traces.
Just as Qian Shan had predicted, the events at Wuse Mountain had spread throughout the entire Great Northwest within just a few hours.
Upon receiving the news, the major sects were all furious. They immediately summoned their disciples and began a carpet-style search.
The casualties this time were either council elders or direct disciples—a severe blow to any sect. Not only were the sect heads of the major sects alarmed, but even the Grand Elders who had been in seclusion for years, and even the sect ancestors, emerged from their closed-door cultivation over this matter.
Whether it was Hunyuan Gate, Yao Yue Palace, Blackwind Cave, or the Huwei Wang Family, all were giants of the Great Northwest. Most of the ancestors within these sects were Daozun-level old monsters who had cultivated for many years, either reaching the pinnacle of perfection or having completed their tribulations. Among them were also ancestors who had forged their Dao-hearts.
Besides the major sects, the Changhong Branch Hall also immediately summoned other branch halls of the Crimson-Letter Sect to search for Gu Qingfeng.
It was well known.
The Crimson-Letter Sect governed the underground order of this world.
Additionally, operating under the banner of Lord Chixiao, Crimson-Letter Sect branch halls were spread across the entire world. Therefore, for the past hundred years since ancient times, no one had dared to provoke the Crimson-Letter Sect—at the very least, no one had dared to so arrogantly and wantonly kill the direct disciples of a Crimson-Letter Sect branch hall. Not even the Immortal Court dared.
Moreover, the Changhong Branch Hall was one of the three major branch halls of the Crimson-Letter Sect in the Great Northwest.
And the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants were renowned far and wide.
Now, Wuhen, Chiyu, and Flying Eagle—not only were their cultivations crippled, but they themselves had become disabled.
It must be known that Chiyu's identity was not just one of the Nine Dragons and Eighteen Elephants; his grandfather was also an old Chixiao veteran stationed at the Changhong Branch Hall.
And Wuhen was even more significant; his maternal grandfather was one of the three old Hall Masters stationed at the Changhong Branch Hall.
They could be said to have status, position, and background. Under normal circumstances, absolutely no one would dare provoke them. Yet now, they had become cripples.
When the news spread, it also alarmed the several old Hall Masters stationed at the Changhong Branch Hall who had long ignored worldly affairs. At the old Hall Masters' command, everyone from the Hall Master and elders down to the ordinary disciples of the Changhong Branch Hall mobilized to search for traces of Gu Qingfeng. Other branch halls of the Crimson-Letter Sect in the Great Northwest also joined in the search.
With the major sects and the Crimson-Letter Sect making such a huge fuss over this matter, the Immortal Office, as the absolute giant of the Great Northwest, naturally did not remain idle either.
Wei Chaoqun was not only one of the Twenty-Four Pride Immortals of the Immortal Office but also an Immortal Official bestowed by the Immortal Court, and an Immortal Official protected by two Immortal Light Halos. Such an identity was undeniably powerful. Merely attacking him was already an act of disrespect toward the Immortal Court. If he were killed, it would be no exaggeration to say it was outright contempt for the sacred majesty of the Immortal Court and a trampling of its dignity. Regarding this, no matter who the perpetrator was, the Immortal Office would not let it go easily.
Even more terrifying was that besides the major sects, the Crimson-Letter Sect, and the Immortal Office, those reincarnated individuals hiding within the Great Northwest territory were also quietly searching for Gu Qingfeng's traces, because no one could resist a Mystic Tortoise that could turn one's flesh into something as solid as bedrock.
This night was absolutely unforgettable for the people of the Great Northwest.
The forces from all sides searched frantically everywhere, wave after wave, time after time. Every major domain, every city, every region was turned upside down in the search.
But after one night passed.
No one had found any trace of Gu Qingfeng.
The search continued during the day, with even more people mobilized. The Grand Elders of the major sects even personally took action, releasing their divine senses to search. Yet, the result was the same—still no sign of him. Gu Qingfeng seemed to have evaporated from the mortal world. No one knew his whereabouts.
Unable to find Gu Qingfeng, some began searching for the whereabouts of Han Dong and Ouyang Ye.
The Little Fold Mountain Villa where the two had previously resided had long been turned upside down by the various forces. They searched for a full two days, but not only did they fail to find Gu Qingfeng, they also found no trace of Han Dong or Ouyang Ye.
For two consecutive days, the atmosphere in the Great Northwest felt exceptionally cold and desolate, filled with a murderous aura everywhere.
Ordinary cultivators all knew a major incident had occurred and obediently hid away, fearing they might bring disaster upon themselves.
On the third day, there was still no success.
However, on this very day, news came from Yao Yue Palace.
It was said that Han Dong had colluded with a fraudster, first deceiving the people of Yao Yue Palace, then plotting to murder the Grand Elder Fenglie of Yao Yue Palace, and further harming the disciples of various major sects. Yao Yue Palace not only stripped Han Dong of her position as Heir Apparent but also expelled her from the sect.
The former Palace Master of Yao Yue Palace, Daozun Feiyan, for condoning her disciple's deception and thus being an accomplice, was also stripped of her position as Palace Master and had already been imprisoned.