Suddenly.
Wei Lao remembered the gambling incident from the previous day and spoke up to advise, "Chiyan... Young Master Gu, is it?"
"What of it?"
"Young Master Gu won quite a sum of money at the villa's gambling den yesterday."
"That's right, there was such a matter."
"I wonder if Young Master Gu recalls the gentleman Yue Jinghong who gambled with you yesterday."
"No particular impression."
"He was the young master who lost over ten Xuan-grade spirit stones to you, plus six Xuan-grade spirit treasures, among which was a top-grade Xuan-grade flying sword worth tens of millions."
Gu Qingfeng thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Ah, there was such a person. What about him?"
"That Yue Jinghong is the son of the Immortal Court's Lord Yue, and also a Nine-Star Immortal Official."
Sitting in his chair, Gu Qingfeng asked unhurriedly and carelessly, "And then?"
"Young Master Gu bankrupted Yue Jinghong yesterday. He certainly won't let the matter rest. If Young Master Gu wishes to avoid trouble, this old man advises you to return some of the spirit treasures you won, as much as possible."
"What kind of talk is that? I won that money fair and square with my own skill. Why should I return it? I've gambled my whole life and never returned money after winning. If I returned it, what would be the point of gambling in the first place? Do you think I'm so bored my balls ache? Playing house with you people?"
"This..." Wei Lao was speechless. He didn't know whether this fellow before him was truly foolish or just pretending, genuinely unafraid or merely putting on a tough front.
Usually, Wei Lao wouldn't bother with such matters. Having worked at Linglong Mountain Villa for over a hundred years, he had seen too many people bankrupted by gambling, and too many who won money from the wrong people and ended up losing their lives or suffering utter ruin because of it. He had seen far too much of this, to the point he was too lazy to intervene and long since numb.
As for who this lord was, or what status he held—whether impersonating the Monarch's successor or the Monarch himself—he couldn't be bothered to care. It had nothing to do with him.
This time, he had spoken up purely out of regard for Fei Kui's face. But what he never expected was that his well-intentioned advice would be met with this lord's complete refusal to play along—not only refusing, but speaking with outrageously arrogant tones and acting with lawless audacity.
This angered Wei Lao somewhat, but out of respect for Fei Kui, he didn't press the matter.
At that moment, Tang Manqing, who was beside him, also advised, "You are currently extremely weak. If your identity were exposed, I'm afraid... I advise you it's best not to provoke the Immortal Dynasty's people for now. They are not to be trifled with."
"Not to be trifled with? What of it?" Gu Qingfeng looked at Tang Manqing and laughed. "Little niece, do I look easy to trifle with?"
"You..." Tang Manqing very much wanted to question what gave this fellow the right to be so audacious. If your cultivation were still intact, fine. But now you have no cultivation left, you're so weak—what do you have to fight the Immortal Dynasty with?
"Enough. If you want to have a couple of drinks, sit down and have them. If not, go do whatever you need to do. Don't disturb my refined mood." Gu Qingfeng seemed somewhat impatient, waving his hand to signal them to leave.
But his words caused Tang Manqing's beautiful eyes to widen in shock. She had offered well-meaning advice, and not only did this fellow not appreciate it, he... he was actually shooing her away? Telling her to go do whatever? How preposterous!
Tang Manqing was the Princess of Yanluo, a Cloud-Nobility of the Immortal Dynasty, and a direct disciple of the Taiji Sect. Whoever met her had to show her some deference. When had she ever been dismissed like this? Even with her transcendent state of mind, she now felt a flicker of anger rising within.
Gnashing her teeth in fury, she glared at Gu Qingfeng, took a deep breath as if suppressing the fire in her heart, and after a moment, without saying another word, turned and left.
Seeing Tang Manqing depart, Wei Lao opened his mouth, words caught in his throat. He looked at Fei Kui, hoping Fei Kui would step in to advise. But before he could speak, Fei Kui said, "Wei Lao, the Young Lord wishes to rest."
What!
Wei Lao stood there dumbfounded, wondering if he had misheard. That so-called Chiyan Young Lord was over there playing the fool and acting tough, and you, Fei Kui, should know what's going on. How come you're starting to act tough too?
Wei Lao wanted to say something, but once again, before he could speak, Fei Kui forcibly pushed him out.
He was the old steward of Linglong Mountain Villa. Many people, out of respect for Sister Hong, gave him some face. In his hundred-plus years working at the villa, this was the first time he had been pushed out like this. Wei Lao's face flushed red with humiliation, trembling with anger.
Back in their own private lounge, Tang Manqing stood with her arms crossed, staring through the window at Gu Qingfeng in the opposite lounge, her beautiful eyes filled with fury.
Remembering what had just happened, the anger in her heart surged uncontrollably. That hatred—it made her teeth itch with resentment, and the flames of rage kept leaping higher. This wicked fire was impossible to suppress; the more she tried, the more violently it burned. She was so angry she wanted to scream and shout, even more so to hit someone to vent!
In all her life, she had never suffered such humiliation, never been so infuriated.
She felt this way, and Shui'er was even more furious, hopping mad. With Fei Kui beside Gu Qingfeng earlier, she hadn't dared to say anything. Now, back in their own lounge, she could no longer contain herself, exclaiming sharply.
"That fellow surnamed Gu is utterly detestable! We gave him well-meaning advice, and not only did he not appreciate it, he impatiently chased us out instead? Who does he think he is? Does he really think he's the Monarch's successor? Even if he were the real one, so what? He doesn't even have any cultivation left now, so weak even a little brat could kill him. Even so, he still dares to talk tough? What gives him the right? Just because he's good-looking? What an ungrateful, reckless fool!"
"And saying he's no longer Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng, but Chixiao Monarch Gu Tianlang? It's absolutely laughable! Does he think this is playing house? That he can be whoever he wants? How can there be such a childish person in the world!"
"This reckless fool is clearly a dead swindler. I really don't know why Fairy Hua protected him back then, even risking damage to her reputation to announce his death. In my opinion, Fairy Hua must have been bewitched. Yes! That's right! Fairy Hua has searched for the Monarch all these years without finding him. She must have been bewitched to believe this fellow is the Monarch's successor! Fairy Hua truly isn't worth it!!"
Seeing Tang Manqing standing by the window, staring at the opposite lounge, Shui'er advised, "Princess, don't be angry. Getting angry over someone like this isn't worth it at all."
"Doesn't he like to act tough? Doesn't he look down on the Immortal Dynasty's people? Let's just watch the show. That Yue Jinghong lost everything; he definitely won't let the matter rest and will absolutely not let this fellow off easily."
"Don't look at how he's strutting around now as if he really were the Monarch. Wait until Yue Jinghong comes knocking. Let's see how he struts then. He'll probably be scared pissless. By then, even that dead fatty Fei Kui won't be able to help him."