Although Elder Huang did not explicitly state it, Fei Kui could more or less guess.
The Mingyu Branch Hall had long coveted the Blue-Yun Primordial Essence of Fengxu Mountain in the Mountain-River Branch Hall, eyeing it greedily, always wanting to claim it for themselves. Coupled with the fact that the Black Buddha Lord was currently not within Yanluo Kingdom, it went without saying that the Mingyu Branch Hall's visit was definitely not merely a simple courtesy call.
Outright robbery was unlikely, but they had certainly come prepared.
Moreover, the traitor Zhan Zhiming, Old Master Fengxu's direct disciple, had lured many members of the Mountain-River Branch Hall to join the Mingyu Branch Hall. This coincidentally gave Mingyu Branch Hall a better pretext and excuse.
And Fei Kui also knew that the situation was probably far worse than imagined.
Within Yanluo Kingdom, the Black Buddha Lord and the Blackheart Lord had been locked in both open and covert strife, fighting like fire and water, utterly incompatible. In recent years, the Black Buddha Lord had been consistently suppressed, unable to lift his head. Now that he was not in Yanluo Kingdom, who knew if the Blackheart Lord would seize this opportunity to take down several branch halls supporting the Black Buddha Lord, like the Mountain-River Branch Hall, in one fell swoop, thereby completely dominating the Crimson-Letter faction within Yanluo Kingdom.
Fei Kui secretly transmitted his speculations to Gu Qingfeng via sound transmission. Gu Qingfeng signaled him to discuss it further after going up the mountain.
Fei Kui nodded and asked, "Elder Huang, although I am not a member of the Mountain-River Branch Hall, I do work for the Black Buddha Lord, so I'm considered half a Crimson-Letter man. Now that the Mountain-River Branch Hall is in trouble, I certainly cannot stand idly by."
"This..." Elder Huang didn't know how to respond. The Black Buddha Lord's business operations were vast, and the people managing them for him came from all walks of life, a motley crew of every description imaginable. Many dealings could only be handled by people like Fei Kui who weren't formal Crimson-Letter members. And the Black Buddha Lord's rules were clear: business was business, and the Crimson-Letter faction was the Crimson-Letter faction; the two were not connected.
Elder Huang didn't distrust Fei Kui, but he was momentarily bewildered by this businessman, who had little connection to the Mountain-River Branch Hall, suddenly showing up saying he wanted to see the Old Master. After a moment's thought, he gestured with an inviting hand and said, "Steward Fei, you speak too seriously. Please, come inside. I'll take you to see the Old Master."
Led by Elder Huang, Fei Kui and Gu Qingfeng ascended Fengxu Mountain.
Fengxu Mountain was brightly lit, the atmosphere solemn. Most disciples were refining their flying swords, as if preparing for an imminent battle.
Since Old Master Fengxu was currently discussing important matters with the veteran Chixiao members, Elder Huang did not take them directly to see him. Instead, he arranged for them to wait in a guest room, planning to notify Fei Kui after the meeting concluded.
The guest room was spacious but very plain. Even the tea served was ordinary. The only luxury on the mountain was probably the pure Blue-Yun spiritual energy.
Fei Kui took out a flask of fine wine from his storage bag, intending to pour some for Gu Qingfeng. But Gu Qingfeng waved his hand, indicating he wasn't in the mood for wine. He simply sat casually in a chair, closed his eyes, and sent out his divine sense to investigate.
At this very moment.
In the main hall of the Mountain-River Branch Hall.
A group of over twenty people were discussing something. They sat upright, each looking fierce and imposing, their expressions resolute, eyes cold, majestic and extraordinary—clearly veterans who had waded through seas of blood and experienced countless battles. They were the Chixiao members stationed at the Mountain-River Branch Hall.
The white-haired elder sitting at the head of the hall was none other than the former banner master of the Golden Glory Banner under the Black Buddha Lord of the Chixiao Sect, now the hall master of the Mountain-River Branch Hall—Old Master Fengxu.
Gu Qingfeng's divine sense swept over, observing the twenty-some people in the hall. His heart immediately grew complex, filled with a sense of familiarity. Although he couldn't recall most of their names and had little impression of them, the Blood Fiend Aura on these Chixiao members and the Dragon-Elephant Spirits within their bodies stirred him deeply.
One must know that the Blood Fiend Aura was condensed from the blood of all Chixiao members; all Chixiao members could be said to share a blood connection. And the Dragon-Elephant Spirits were nurtured from the essence blood of the Great Hidden Dragon-Elephant, which had once formed a life-and-death contract with him, making them inseparable. How could Gu Qingfeng's heart not be complex? How could he not feel a sense of kinship?
He initially thought of revealing himself to meet them.
But then he reconsidered and decided against it.
What would revealing himself accomplish?
Tell them his identity?
When he first awakened, Gu Qingfeng didn't want to expose his identity simply because he didn't want to cause more trouble.
Now, having learned that even if he didn't stir up trouble, the Three Thousand Great Daos would not let him off.
Given that, whether his identity was exposed or not no longer mattered.
The key point was, even if he said he was Gu Tianlang, no one would believe him.
Back in the Great Northwest, he had done everything he could—and shouldn't have—playing the 'Youth's Journey', condensing the Chixiao Command Seal, even extracting the Dragon-Elephant Spirits from Chixiao members. In the end, it was all futile.
Gu Qingfeng didn't know how to prove that he was himself.
Having stirred up so much trouble in the Great Northwest, to be honest, he was tired. He couldn't be bothered to prove anything anymore.
Remembering what Fei Kui had said—that three years ago, Old Master Fengxu had been severely injured by a Heaven's Mandate prodigy—his divine sense immediately probed over. The injuries were indeed serious, especially his Primordial Spirit Dharma Form; it was extremely weak, blurred into a shapeless mass. If not for the Old Master's profound Dharma Form foundation and the protection of his Blood Fiend Aura and Dragon-Elephant Spirit, his Primordial Spirit Dharma Form would likely have already dissipated.
Once a Primordial Spirit Dharma Form was injured, recovery was difficult. It couldn't be rushed; it required a long period of gentle nurturing to gradually heal. Even if Gu Qingfeng intervened, he couldn't instantly restore Fengxu's Primordial Spirit Dharma Form to its original state. He thought for a moment, considering that after resolving this matter, he would help him refine it and then have him enter seclusion to recuperate.
"Old Banner Master, when that beast Zhan Zhiming arrives tomorrow, you must not stop us! This time, I will definitely slaughter that ungrateful wretch on the spot!"
One of the Chixiao members declared angrily. The others nodded in agreement. They were all Chixiao members stationed at the Mountain-River Branch Hall. Although Zhan Zhiming was only Old Master Fengxu's disciple, they had all instructed him and watched him grow up. Now, not only had Zhan Zhiming betrayed the Mountain-River Branch Hall, but he had also lured away many elders, joined the Mingyu Branch Hall, and turned against the Mountain-River Branch Hall. This resentment had been festering in their hearts; they had long wanted to tear Zhan Zhiming limb from limb.
"For the sake of the bigger picture, you must not act impulsively."
Perhaps due to his injured Primordial Spirit Dharma Form, Old Master Fengxu's spirits were not high. Even so, he sat upright and said gravely, "Right now, the enemy is strong and we are weak. The only thing we can do is wait—wait for the Black Buddha Lord to return. Before he left, the Black Buddha Lord specifically instructed us not to engage in any conflict with them before he returns."
"But... but the Black Buddha Lord has been gone for so long, and there's still no news. How much longer must we endure this humiliation!"