Gu Qingfeng had cultivated for five hundred years, experiencing countless brushes with death and enduring numerous tribulations.
The path he had walked was extremely rugged.
If not for the help of noble individuals along the way, he likely wouldn't have survived to this day.
He never had many friends in this world, and even fewer in Yanluo Kingdom.
Apart from those familiar faces in the Yanluo Royal Family, True Being Lihuo of the Jinxiu Grand Domain was definitely one of them.
In his memory, that was a highly refined senior expert.
He was particular about everything—how he treated people, how he handled matters, and even how he appreciated fine wine.
Back in the days in Yanluo Kingdom,
Gu Qingfeng, besides mingling with the Yanluo Royal Family, would occasionally venture out to play chess with True Being Lihuo. It was during those chess games that he gained deeper insights into the Great Dao.
Although True Being Lihuo called himself a True Being, Gu Qingfeng knew that senior's cultivation and life experience were far beyond that of an ordinary True Being. His speech and demeanor carried the aura of a transcendent master—at least, that's what Gu Qingfeng had thought back then.
So many years had passed; he wondered how that senior was doing now.
Alas.
Times had changed. The Jinxiu Grand Domain of today was no longer the one he remembered, and he had no idea where to find True Being Lihuo.
Just as he was sighing with emotion, a maidservant's voice reached him.
“Young Lord, why not wait until our Sister Hong arrives and ask her?”
“Sister Hong again?”
Gu Qingfeng had heard the name Sister Hong from the maidservants more than once. From their discussions, this Sister Hong seemed to be the owner of the mountain villa, a woman of considerable influence and social grace. Within Yanluo Kingdom, she was on good terms with both the Four Great Families and the Seven Great Sects. Even the Yanluo Royal Family, the Yanluo Immortal Manor, and the Crimson-Letter Sect gave her some face.
“I hear this Sister Hong is quite capable.”
Gu Qingfeng shifted his posture, took a cup of wine from a maidservant's hand, and took a small sip.
“Of course! In Yanluo Kingdom, the only person who can maintain good relations with the royal family, the immortal manor, the Crimson-Letter Sect, the Four Great Families, and the Seven Great Sects simultaneously is our Sister Hong.”
One of the maidservants, who seemed to admire Sister Hong greatly, said, “If you want to find someone or get something done in Yanluo Kingdom, just look for our Sister Hong. As long as she steps in, there's no one she can't find and nothing she can't accomplish. Of course, the prerequisite is that Sister Hong is willing to help you. If she refuses, it doesn't matter if you're an Immortal Dynasty noble or a royal prince—it won't make a difference.”
“Oh?
There's such a formidable figure in Yanluo Kingdom?
Then this lord must meet her.”
Perhaps lying down had made him a bit tired, Gu Qingfeng stood up and stretched vigorously, his bones crackling like firecrackers. After resting in the mountain villa for a few days, although his essence, energy, and spirit were still somewhat weak, he was much better than when he first awoke.
Suddenly.
A wave of cheers and screams erupted from outside the main hall.
Curious, Gu Qingfeng opened the window, leaned on the windowsill, and peered out to see what was happening.
He found the men in the hall as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, each more thrilled than the last, all gazing eagerly at the high stage.
On the stage, a previous musical performance had just ended, and now a new songstress was ascending the platform.
Gu Qingfeng also looked over, and his eyes lit up when they fell upon the songstress.
This songstress wore only a red bustier on top and a red skirt below, her alluring figure clearly visible, her fiery physique enough to make anyone's blood boil. With a bewitching face, captivating peach-blossom eyes that could intoxicate, and a head of fiery red hair, she was truly a delicate, dewy rose—no wonder the entire hall erupted in cheers when she took the stage. So, a stunning beauty had arrived.
In the few days Gu Qingfeng had spent at the villa, he had seen quite a few songstresses. To be fair, they all had both looks and talent. But one like this, whose every smile and glance was enough to stir wild fantasies, was truly rare.
What surprised Gu Qingfeng even more was that he could tell this songstress was at the Earth Immortal cultivation level.
Although Gu Qingfeng had heard that the descent of the Heavenly Mandate and the spiritual transformation of the natural world had pushed this world's cultivation civilization to new heights, and that nine years later, Dharma Idol Great Venerables were as common as hairs on a cow, for an Earth Immortal to be reduced to singing for a living—and performing seductive tunes in a pleasure house at that—wasn't that a bit too exaggerated?
Even if an Earth Immortal wasn't a True Immortal, they had at least one foot in the immortal gate. At the very least, they shouldn't have to sing for money, right?
If this songstress were merely a pure Earth Immortal in cultivation, it wouldn't have struck Gu Qingfeng as so unbelievable.
The truth was, he could also see that she possessed the natural blessings of colored spirits, numbering at least over two hundred. Her Primordial Spirit Dharma Idol was also extraordinary—a blessed Dharma Idol, neither from reincarnation nor rebirth, nor a possession-revival. Her cultivation years didn't seem too long either. With such blessings and such cultivation, she really shouldn't be here singing!
“Who is that?”
“Young Lord, how could you not recognize the famous Miss Xiang'er? She's a very popular songstress in our Yanluo Kingdom.”
“Is that so…” Very popular?
How popular?
Gu Qingfeng had no frame of reference.
“Young Lord, your luck is really good today, catching Miss Xiang'er's performance. You should know, Miss Xiang'er performs entirely based on her mood, and…
in the entire Yanluo Kingdom, only our Sister Hong can invite Miss Xiang'er.”
“It seems your Sister Hong's face really carries quite some weight.”
“Of course! Everyone in Yanluo knows our Sister Hong has the greatest face.”
Gu Qingfeng mused that he would definitely find an opportunity to meet that Sister Hong. He looked at Miss Xiang'er on the high stage and said, “You said earlier she performs completely based on mood. In other words, she doesn't perform for money?”
“Of course not, how could that be? With Miss Xiang'er's fame and talent, whatever she wants, many young masters in Yanluo Kingdom would line up to give it to her. How could she lack money?”
Gu Qingfeng nodded, finally understanding. He sighed inwardly, reflecting this world was truly diverse and colorful, and reflecting people really lived their lives in their own ways.
Some pursued the Great Dao.
Some pursued fame and fortune.
Some pursued wealth.
And some pursued what they themselves desired.
Gu Qingfeng didn't know if this songstress named Xiang'er was pursuing the life she wanted, but from her dreamy, intoxicated peach-blossom eyes, she seemed to live freely and unrestrainedly. At the very least, her eyes showed no signs of worry or entanglement.
Perhaps this was truly the life she desired.
When Miss Xiang'er took the stage, over ten maidservants bustled about attending to her—quite the grand display. She sat sideways on a soft chair, slowly raised her delicate jade-like hand, held a crystal-clear crystal cup, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip. At that moment, an elderly man also ascended the stage and said, “Today, my young master is deeply honored to witness Miss Xiang'er's performance. This is a small token of my young master's esteem. We hope Miss Xiang'er will accept it.”