"Princess, does he still need verification? This fellow doesn't even have a trace of reincarnation aura on him. How could he possibly be Monarch Chixiao?"
Tang Manqing gazed at Gu Qingfeng and said softly, "Back then, although many people witnessed with their own eyes Monarch Chixiao being annihilated by the Immortal Dao's judgment, seeing with one's own eyes doesn't necessarily mean it's true. Moreover, this person is Monarch Chixiao, who has died and come back to life, lived and died again. Others who were annihilated might truly be dead and gone, but that doesn't mean Monarch Chixiao, who has experienced nine lives and nine deaths, is the same."
"If the Monarch didn't die back then, naturally he wouldn't have reincarnated. And... what's most important is that I believe my aunt. My aunt might have been hopelessly infatuated with the Monarch, but she was never someone who lost her reason. If the Monarch had truly been annihilated and completely dead back then, my aunt would definitely not have searched the entire world for him."
"My aunt is like this, and Fairy Su Hua is the same. If the Monarch had truly died, Fairy Su Hua, whose previous life was the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, probably wouldn't be searching the world for him like this either."
Tang Manqing was very rational, and always had been. She sat opposite him, posture very proper, and said, "Since you claim to be Monarch Chixiao, then I won't ask you why you didn't die back then, or why you're still alive."
"Oh?" Gu Qingfeng was rather surprised. He looked at Tang Manqing and asked curiously, "Why not?"
"Asking such things is utterly meaningless and cannot verify truth or falsehood. Asking would be a waste of breath. Although Monarch Chixiao cultivated in this world for only a short two hundred years, he created countless impossible miracles. His entire destiny is mysterious and unfathomable; he himself is someone who repeatedly creates miracles. Anything impossible could happen to him. Given that, what's the point in asking about his life or death?"
Gu Qingfeng cast an appreciative glance her way. "To think someone so young has such profound insight."
"It's not that my insight is profound, but that this is simply the reality. If it weren't so, there wouldn't be so many true-and-false indistinguishable Monarch Chixiaos appearing in the world. Precisely because the Monarch's existence was originally mysterious and bizarre, everyone simply cannot use common sense to judge truth or falsehood."
After a pause, Tang Manqing added, "Moreover, nothing in this world has ever been absolute. Sometimes life is death, and death is life. Life and death—who can truly distinguish them clearly?"
This time, the look in Gu Qingfeng's eyes as he regarded Tang Manqing was no longer just appreciation, but more astonishment, mixed with a bit of confusion. He sized her up and down, and only after a moment said, "Little sister, these don't sound like words someone your age should be saying."
"Indeed, these are not words I should be saying, because these words weren't spoken by me."
"Who said them?"
"My aunt."
"Oh? You've met your aunt?"
"No, I have never met my aunt, not even once."
"Then how can you say these words were spoken by your aunt?"
"Just because I haven't met my aunt in reality doesn't mean I haven't met her elsewhere..."
"Elsewhere? What place?"
"Apologies, that is my private matter."
"Is that so..." Gu Qingfeng smiled, pondering internally. If Tang Manqing said she hadn't met her aunt in reality but had met her elsewhere...
That should be a kind of illusory spiritual world, something like a dream or illusion. A mysterious painting infused with spirit, or a mysterious character infused with spirit—either could allow someone to enter an illusory spiritual world.
"You have no reincarnation aura on you, meaning you are not a reincarnated person, correct?"
"Correct."
"Since that's the case, your memories also won't be like those other self-proclaimed Monarchs who use reincarnation and fragmented memories as an excuse, right?"
"Are those fellows claiming to be Gu Tianlang all using reincarnation and fragmented memories as an excuse to fool you?" Gu Qingfeng laughed with a sigh. "I must say, that really is a reason that's hard to refute."
Reincarnation meant rebirth through the soul.
The process of reincarnation was terrifying; the soul would inevitably be affected, and no one was an exception. If the soul was affected and consciousness damaged, memories would naturally be fragmented.
Gu Qingfeng mused that if he himself had reincarnated, he wouldn't dare guarantee whether his memories would remain intact.
"Can you answer my question directly? Your memories are complete, correct?"
"More or less."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng had pretty much guessed what Tang Manqing wanted to do. He smiled and said, "Little sister, if you want to ask something, just speak up. No need to beat around the bush. But before asking, could we first get a couple jugs of wine? How about we chat while drinking?"
Shui'er, convinced Gu Qingfeng was a fraud, spoke without courtesy: "You dead fraudster, you think quite beautifully! You still want wine!"
Tang Manqing didn't say anything about that, only advised, "You're currently extremely weak. How can you drink wine?"
"It's fine."
Seeing Tang Manqing hesitate, Gu Qingfeng teased further, "Little sister, have you forgotten? I am Gu Tianlang, the renowned Monarch Chixiao. Life and death are like everyday occurrences to me, something I'm long accustomed to. And you should have heard from your aunt—I particularly enjoy drinking wine; without wine, there's no joy."
If he hadn't said this, it might have been fine. But with this tease, Shui'er, who already suspected he was a fraud, became even more convinced. She scolded, "You dead fraudster! Who calls themselves 'renowned'? And the Monarch would never refer to himself as Monarch Chixiao."
"In the past, I indeed wouldn't call myself Monarch Chixiao, but that was only in the past. It doesn't mean I won't now."
Having nothing better to do, Gu Qingfeng's old habit flared up again. He wanted to tease these two girls, half-jokingly, half-seriously saying, "These days, there are fake Gu Tianlangs everywhere. If I, the real Gu Tianlang, don't step forward, things will be a mess. What if your aunt mistakes a fake Gu Tianlang for the real one?"
"Pah! Empress Nüdi would never be fooled! You dead fraudster, if you dare spout nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart!" Shui'er shot Gu Qingfeng an extremely disdainful glare, then turned to Tang Manqing. "Princess, this guy is clearly a fraudster. Don't waste your time. Let's just act like we never saved him. Kick him out and let him fend for himself. I hate fraudsters the most, especially those impersonating the Monarch."
Tang Manqing had been staring at Gu Qingfeng, trying to discern something from his face. But look as she might, she couldn't see anything. This fellow didn't seem to be lying, yet didn't seem genuine either—a mix of true and false, ambiguous, making it impossible for her to distinguish.
She pondered for a moment, then said, "Since you mentioned wine, I'll ask you a few questions. If you can answer them, I'll give you wine."
"Alright then, ask away."