That day.
Ouyang Feiyue was walking briskly.
Her expression was grim, the allure gone from her beautiful face, replaced entirely by a heavy, troubled look. She seemed preoccupied and unsettled.
Indeed.
She had originally intended to probe Gu Qingfeng this time, but not only had her probing failed, she had inexplicably fainted instead.
She didn't understand how Gu Qingfeng could resist her most accomplished Grand Mind Bewitchment Art, but she knew why she had fainted—because she had been bewitched.
Absolutely.
She herself cultivated bewitchment arts, so she naturally knew very well that after being bewitched, one's mind would be left empty and blank. And that was exactly how she felt upon waking up.
She hadn't bewitched him; instead, he had bewitched her?
When had he cast the bewitchment art?
Why hadn't she sensed it at all?
And what had that fellow done after bewitching her?
She didn't know.
Ouyang Feiyue knew nothing, her mind full of doubts. She wanted to ask for clarification, but she had searched the entire Yunxia Sect and couldn't find Gu Qingfeng.
Just what kind of person was he?
A reincarnated being?
No!
He didn't have the slightest trace of the Turbid Breath that a reincarnated being should possess.
But if he wasn't a reincarnated being, how could he be so casual and disrespectful with Old Master Huode? And what about when the Li Clan came knocking, the things the Old Master said, and during the trial platform incident when the Old Master said that if he acted recklessly, it would become a major event for the world?
That man was clearly an old acquaintance of the Old Master, and their relationship was very good. He might even have been a major figure in the past.
If that weren't the case, how could the Old Master possibly say such things?
But damn it!
He simply wasn't a reincarnated being.
He hadn't formed a Golden Core, and his Foundation Establishment had failed. He couldn't possibly maintain eternal youth.
It didn't make sense!
She couldn't figure it out, couldn't understand it!
However, one thing was certain: that fellow surnamed Gu was not ordinary. And judging from the things the Old Master said, it was highly likely he was a terrifying existence.
Thinking of this, Ouyang Feiyue grew worried—worried about her niece, Ouyang Ye.
That little girl was extremely curious. It was one thing for her to find Gu Qingfeng to pretend to be her love-at-first-sight sweetheart, Young Master Chiyan. But if that pretense somehow became real, that would be terrible. Who knew what kind of terrifying figure that Gu fellow was? Especially when she recalled the Old Master saying that if he acted recklessly, it would be a major event for the world.
Ouyang Feiyue truly couldn't imagine what kind of terrifying existence could make the Old Master utter such words.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened Ouyang Feiyue became. She had to make that little girl stay away from Gu Qingfeng.
The farther, the better. Even if she didn't leave, she must never oppose him in the future.
In fact, Ouyang Feiyue was right. Her niece, Ouyang Ye, was extremely curious.
Ever since witnessing Gu Qingfeng play "Drunken Chant of the Azure Sea" on an empty zither at First-Class Manor, she had begun to wonder about his identity. Then there were the events at Red Leaf Valley, the Old Master's attitude towards him, the inner sect assessment, and not long ago during the competition for Chief of Chiefs, and so on...
This series of events had made Ouyang Ye's curiosity grow more and more severe.
So severe that she simply couldn't concentrate her mind, couldn't muster interest in anything. Sometimes she would lose focus even while cultivating, and she even dreamed about it occasionally.
Ouyang Ye felt she was going crazy.
However, what made her even more despair was that her master had completely confined her, forbidding her from going out.
If that were all, it wouldn't have driven Ouyang Ye to despair.
The reality was that these past two days, True Being Feixue had frequently, intentionally or not, brought Zhong Tianying along, and each time made her accompany them. This greatly frustrated the little girl. If she didn't accompany them, her master would even get angry.
At this very moment, her master, True Being Feixue, was reprimanding her.
"Yeye, I went to great trouble to invite Tianying over. Why have you been ignoring him the whole time? Don't you know Tianying is very unhappy?"
Ouyang Ye sat in the pavilion, holding her head and covering her ears. She didn't want to listen at all.
Seeing her like this, the aloof True Being Feixue was both angry and disappointed. Just then, a woman walked in.
A beautiful, charming face, a seductive figure, alluring eyes, dressed in a light gauze gown, exuding an air of charm.
Who else could it be but Ouyang Feiyue.
"Aunt!"
Seeing Ouyang Feiyue, Ouyang Ye could no longer hold back her grievances. She ran over, threw herself into Ouyang Feiyue's arms, and immediately began to cry.
"Feixue, what have you done to my niece to make her cry like this?"
True Being Feixue snorted coldly and ignored her.
"Aunt, Master...
Master keeps bringing Zhong Tianying over...
Making me accompany him...
I'm so annoyed..." Ouyang Ye poured out her grievances, making Ouyang Feiyue very angry. Wiping the little girl's tears, she demanded, "I say, Feixue, when did you start dabbling in matchmaking?"
"I'm doing this for Yeye's own good!"
True Being Feixue's expression was indifferent, her tone haughty. "Tianying has established a Colorful Foundation, formed a Colorful True Form, possesses Dual-Color Guardianship, and his cultivation has already reached the True Form Ninth Stratum...
A dragon among men like Tianying—many families have their eyes on him. I kindly tried to matchmake Tianying and Yeye...
Who would have thought..."
"What's so great about Dual-Color Guardianship? What does it matter if he's at the True Form Ninth Stratum?
Yeye doesn't like him, why are you forcing her?"
"She's still young. I'm doing this for her own good."
"Master...
I know you mean well for me!"
Ouyang Ye's face was full of grievance, wiping her tears as she said, "But I really have no feelings for Zhong Tianying. I don't like him. Why are you forcing me?"
"No feelings?"
True Being Feixue snorted coldly, her face darkening as she reprimanded, "No feelings for Tianying? Do you mean you have feelings for that trash surnamed Gu instead? Feiyue, you've come just in time. Your good niece already promised me to cut off contact with that Gu fellow, but I've found she's almost bewitched now, unable to eat or drink properly all day, always wanting to run to the rear mountain."
Hearing this, Ouyang Feiyue's heart skipped a beat. Worried, she asked, "Is this really true?"
"I don't...
Aunt, I really don't mean anything else. You know Gu Qingfeng isn't Young Master Chiyan. He was just helping me at first. Later, he offended the Li Clan, and I was worried about his safety...
That's why..."
"Still daring to make excuses even now? It seems that Gu trash has truly bewitched you deeply..." As True Being Feixue was speaking, Ouyang Feiyue cut her off. "Let's not mention Gu Qingfeng's matter for now. But no matter what, you can't force Ye ye to do things she doesn't like."
"I said I'm doing this for Yeye's own good, and..." True Being Feixue had just started speaking when Ouyang Feiyue interrupted her again. "Good bullshit! Feixue, don't think I don't know what selfish schemes you're playing. You mess with your own affairs however you want, but don't drag my niece into it!"
Ouyang Feiyue knew that Feixue was Shui De's person, and she also knew that Shui De wanted to push Zhong Tianying to become the Heir Apparent Disciple. At the same time, she could guess that the reason True Being Feixue was trying to matchmake Ouyang Ye and Zhong Tianying was simply that if Zhong Tianying became sect master in the future, then Ouyang Ye would be the sect master's wife. As Ouyang Ye's master, her own status and position would naturally rise accordingly, and she would definitely have no problem becoming a council elder then.
"Feiyue, what do you mean! I'm Yeye's master. Would I harm her?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean."
Ouyang Feiyue's face was icy as she stared at her, her voice low. "Out of respect for you being Yeye's master, don't blame me for not warning you. It's best you don't wade into the muddy waters of the Heir Apparent selection. That Gu Qingfeng is no ordinary person, and he's certainly not someone you can provoke!"
"Not someone I can provoke? Hehehe!"
True Being Feixue said disdainfully, "Isn't he just a trash whose Foundation Establishment failed?"
"A trash whose Foundation Establishment failed?"
At this moment, Ouyang Feiyue's beautiful face was frosty, and her gaze at True Being Feixue was extremely unfriendly. "If he were a trash whose Foundation Establishment failed, could he have shattered Li Zheng's Colorful Spirit Guardianship with one kick? If he were a trash whose Foundation Establishment failed, could he have crippled Li Ziheng with a few slaps? If he were a trash whose Foundation Establishment failed, would he dare to ignore all of you on the trial platform? If he were a trash whose Foundation Establishment failed, would Old Master Huode treat him with such respect? Use your brain and think carefully!"
"So what if he defeated Mu Zibai? So what if he crippled Li Ziheng?"
True Being Feixue sneered. "Faced with a true genius like Li Wang, isn't he still so scared he doesn't even dare to show up? Hmph! A trash will always be a trash. He's only fit to bully disciples like Mu Zibai."
Ouyang Feiyue laughed loudly, then glared at Feixue, her voice sternly. "I don't know why Gu Qingfeng didn't accept the challenge, but there's one thing I can tell you with absolute certainty: he is definitely not afraid!"
"What a joke. If he's not afraid, why doesn't he dare to come out? If he doesn't even dare to face Li Wang, how can he be compared to Tianying?"
As True Being Feixue spoke, Ouyang Feiyue was already too unwilling to listen further. She spat out two words: "bitch!"
With that, she took Ouyang Ye's hand and turned to leave!
"You dare curse me? Ouyang Feiyue! Stop right there!"
Enraged, True Being Feixue instantly flashed over, glaring with wide eyes, yet didn't dare to make a move because she knew she was no match for Ouyang Feiyue. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Don't think just because your cultivation is high you're so great. Don't forget my father is a benefactor to your Ouyang family!"
"Precisely because your father is a benefactor to our Ouyang family, Yeye took you as her master, you, this bitch, as her master. And similarly because your father is a benefactor to our Ouyang family, your Grandaunt didn't lay a hand on you, this bitch, today. Otherwise, what do you think you are? Get out of the way!"
Ouyang Feiyue waved her hand, on the spot pushing Feixue aside.
"Ou! Yang! Fei! Yue! You dare lay hands on me!"
Ouyang Feiyue stopped and turned around. Her captivating eyes held infinite killing intent as she pointed at Feixue and scolded Dao: "Laying hands on you is going easy on you. If you piss me off, I'll beat you to death, you bitch."
"Ouyang Feiyue! You just wait... I will definitely tell my father about this... I will definitely..."
"Your father? Hehehe! If you keep involving yourself in the Yunxia Sect's Heir Apparent struggle, whether your father can even survive will be a question! Let me tell you, Feixue. Today, out of respect for your father once being a benefactor to our Ouyang family, your I gives you one final warning: don't involve yourself in the struggle for the Heir Apparent position. That Gu Qingfeng is someone you can't afford to provoke, someone your father can't afford to provoke, someone your entire family can't afford to provoke! Get as far away as possible, and don't you dare end up dead without even knowing how you died!"