His eyes were calm, deep as an abyss.
His expression was lazy, carefree and at ease.
His black hair danced like ink in the wind.
His white robes, purer than snow, made him seem like a solitary shadow.
It was none other than Gu Qingfeng.
Perhaps Gu Qingfeng's appearance was too abrupt, for Feiyan, Fenghua, Feng Lie, and the others standing in the great hall did not react at all. Coming to their senses, Feiyan, filled with trepidation, hurriedly knelt and bowed to the ground, saying respectfully, "This lowly one did not know of the Young Lord's grand arrival. I beg for your forgiveness."
Fenghua, Feng Lie, and the others exchanged glances. None dared to be negligent. Though they did not kneel, they all bowed and cupped their hands in salute.
Moreover, they truly could not understand why Feiyan would perform a kneeling bow to Gu Qingfeng. Could it be simply because he was the successor of the Chixiao Monarch?
Wasn't that a bit absurd? Fenghua and Feng Lie had not failed to ask this question before, but Feiyan only said that Gu Qingfeng's surname was Gu and that he represented the Chixiao Monarch. As for what this statement truly meant, neither Fenghua nor Feng Lie had been able to figure it out to this day.
If it were before, Gu Qingfeng might have politely declined the courtesy, or at least offered an explanation. But now, he couldn't be bothered with either. He simply nodded, casually sat down on a nearby chair, pulled out a jug of wine, and took a drink. "How has your Yao Yue Palace been lately?"
"Thank you for your concern, Young Lord. With the threat of Second Elder Feilu gone, Yao Yue Palace has long since returned to its former tranquility. Everything within the palace is well."
"That's good."
Gu Qingfeng nodded, looked around, and asked casually, "What about Handong? I don't see her."
"We plan to have Handong formally inherit the authority of the palace master in a few days. She is currently in seclusion, fusing with the Demon Moon Heart."
"Is that so..." Feiyan kept her head lowered, responding cautiously. Then she added, "Young Lord, have you come this time to see Handong? If so, I... I can go call her out now..."
"No, I was just asking. I'm not here for her. To be precise, I'm here for you."
Feiyan's heart skipped a beat. "May I ask what matter the Young Lord seeks me for?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced at Fenghua and Feng Lie. "Feng Lie, I have some private matters to discuss with Feiyan. Would you mind giving us some privacy?"
"This..." Although Fenghua, Feng Lie, and the other elders were curious, they did not ask anything. Cupping their hands, they took their leave and departed.
After they had left, Gu Qingfeng drank three cups of wine in succession. A hint of hesitation seemed to flicker in his eyes.
Yes.
He was indeed hesitating.
Hesitating about whether to search for Feng Zhuyue.
To be honest, searching for Feng Zhuyue was the very purpose of his trip here. There shouldn't have been anything to hesitate about. After all, Feng Zhuyue had once shown him kindness. Now that he had awakened, visiting an old friend was only natural. But who would have thought that Feng Zhuyue was not at Yao Yue Palace and had mysteriously vanished?
Her mysterious disappearance shouldn't have given him cause for hesitation either.
What truly made him hesitate was the Karma between himself and Feng Zhuyue.
If it were only Karma from this life, it wouldn't be a big deal. What he feared was that this might involve more than just the Karma of this lifetime.
Especially after the incident with Yun Nichang, he became even more uncertain.
Yun Nichang had created the Yunxia Sect for the sake of Karma from a past life. He was truly afraid that Feng Zhuyue might have also created a Yao Yue Palace for the sake of Karma from a past life.
And then there were those words from Little Jin'er, advising him not to search for Feng Zhuyue, otherwise, he would definitely become entangled.
Although Little Jin'er didn't specify, Gu Qingfeng could more or less infer that this 'entanglement' likely meant becoming entangled in Karma.
He just didn't know if it would be Karma from this life, Karma from a past life, or Karma connecting past and present lives.
For several days in a row, he had been hesitating about whether to look for Feng Zhuyue.
Because he had long since given up on seeking Karma and couldn't be bothered with such troublesome entanglements anymore.
However.
After pondering for several days, he still came to Yao Yue Palace.
Call it an inability to let go of Feng Zhuyue, call it unwillingness, or call it a desire to thoroughly understand what was really going on.
In any case.
He had come.
After a long, long while, he finally spoke up and asked, "It's actually nothing much. I just wanted to ask you about Feng Zhuyue."
Upon hearing that Gu Qingfeng wanted to ask about the Empress, Feiyan's expression instantly became complicated, as if she were somewhat agitated. Even her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "What does the Young Lord wish to ask about the Empress? If this old woman knows, I will certainly tell you truthfully."
"Since I'm here today, you might as well tell me everything about Feng Zhuyue from beginning to end."
"Everything?"
"What? Is there a problem?"
"No! Not at all. It's just... what does the Young Lord mean by 'everything'?"
"Start from after I left Yao Yue Palace back then."
With a *thump*, Feiyan knelt and bowed to the ground once more, her expression becoming especially agitated, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
"Just speak. Why are you kneeling again for no reason?"
"Monarch... It really is you... You... you've really returned... you've really come back!"
Ever since she first saw Gu Qingfeng at Yao Yue Palace and heard him speak of many events from those years, Feiyan had already begun to suspect that Gu Qingfeng was the Chixiao Monarch. But suspicion was one thing; she never dared to believe it was true. Later, with the artistic conception of 'Youth's Journey' played at Five Colors Mountain, the reforging of Old Man Ku Mu's primordial spirit, the enlightening guidance given to Feng Lie, and the fact that all the Dragon-Elephant Spirits of the Chixiao people showed nothing but reverence upon seeing Gu Qingfeng...
All of this, everything, made Feiyan even more certain of her inner speculation. Yet she still could not bring herself to believe it.
Because from beginning to end, Gu Qingfeng had never personally admitted that he was the Chixiao Monarch. He only said he represented the Chixiao Monarch.
However, today, just now, he had finally admitted it with his own mouth.
That single word 'I' was enough to explain everything.
It also completely dispelled the last shred of doubt in Feiyan's heart.
Therefore, she knelt on the ground, overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her aged face. "Empress! Do you see? The Monarch has truly returned... He has come back to see you! The Monarch has truly returned!"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head and sighed. He had intended to interrupt Feiyan, but upon careful thought, something seemed off. What did she mean by 'truly returned'?
From the sound of it, it was as if Feng Zhuyue had long known he would definitely return. When he asked, Feiyan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded heavily. "Yes, the Empress said that you would definitely return... She has been waiting for you all along... waiting for you to come back... Ah! The Empress has been waiting for you all this time!"
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, somewhat unable to understand. "When did Feng Zhuyue say this?"
"The Empress always believed you would definitely return! Back then, after you were judged by the Immortal Dao and turned to ashes, everyone in the world thought you were dead. Only the Empress knew you were not dead. Not only were you not dead, but the Empress was also firmly convinced that you would definitely return!"