After Old Master Fengxu and the others left with Liu Yue, Gu Qingfeng also returned to his guest room. After a while, Fei Kui came back as well. Seeing Gu Qingfeng sitting alone, he hurried over to pour wine, saying, "Young Master, I have already met with Old Master Fengxu. I said that while passing by, I learned of the Mingyu Branch Hall's matter and came up to ask if they needed any help. Old Master Fengxu initially didn't want me to get involved, but after I insisted repeatedly, he eventually agreed."
"That's fine."
"Young Master need not worry about anything. Earlier, Miss Liu Yue came and even brought a message talisman from Lord Buddha. In my opinion, Lord Buddha had already foreseen this matter and made arrangements long ago."
"I'm not worried about anything."
Indeed.
Gu Qingfeng was not worried. Even if he hadn't encountered this matter today, he wouldn't have been concerned in the slightest. He still trusted Dong Laohu's ability to handle affairs. Coming up the mountain this time was simply to see Old Master Fengxu and the other Chixiao brothers with whom he had once shared life and death.
Of course.
Since he had run into this matter, he also wanted to see just how much skill those Chixiao people from the Mingyu Branch Hall had damn well developed.
He didn't care whether the Chixiao people still acknowledged their Chixiao identity.
Really.
He didn't care one bit.
He couldn't be bothered even if the Chixiao people established their own sect and declared independence, or even if they defected to the Immortal Dynasty.
But they couldn't turn around and attack their own brothers with whom they had once shared life and death.
This was no longer a question of righteousness or not.
Nor was it a question of having a conscience or not.
It was being a damn beast worse than a dog!
That was the real reason for his displeasure!
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
Gu Qingfeng was deep in sleep when he was suddenly awakened by a commotion outside. Opening his eyes, he asked, "What's happening outside?"
Fei Kui was standing by the door looking out. Hearing Gu Qingfeng's question, he quickly replied, "It seems the people from the Mingyu Branch Hall are about to arrive."
"So early?"
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the sky; the sun had just risen. He stood up and stretched. Seizing the moment, Fei Kui brought over a wooden basin, saying, "Young Master, please wash up first."
Gu Qingfeng looked; the wooden basin was filled with a clear, azure-blue water. Reaching out to touch it, it felt quite cool. Without overthinking it, he began to wash up.
It must be said, this kid Fei Kui was quite considerate. After Gu Qingfeng finished washing, he handed over a towel, then offered fine wine, attending to him meticulously. Gu Qingfeng himself wasn't a particularly fastidious person, and being rather lazy to boot, having someone like Fei Kui serving him, more devoted than a servant, he rather enjoyed it.
After washing up and three cups of fine wine, Gu Qingfeng followed Fei Kui to the main hall.
On the mountain, the disciples of the Mountain-River Branch Hall stood in neat rows, fully armed, awaiting orders.
The spacious, bright meeting hall was now gathered with over a hundred people. Among them were eighteen Chixiao members; the rest were core members of the Mountain-River Branch Hall like elders, heads, and stewards. Liu Yue, who had arrived yesterday, was also in the hall today, dressed in blue military attire.
When Fei Kui entered the hall, many people greeted him. Clearly, they already knew Fei Kui was here to help. Their words were filled with gratitude towards him. After all, Fei Kui wasn't a member of the Crimson-Letter Sect. Learning that the Mountain-River Branch Hall was in trouble and coming to help—how could one not be grateful? Moreover, Fei Kui himself was an Earth Immortal cultivator; standing there, he carried some weight.
However, Liu Yue seemed unaware of this matter. Seeing Fei Kui, she was first surprised, then quietly asked, "Old Master, why is Fei Kui here?"
Old Master Fengxu briefly explained the reason for Fei Kui's arrival. Hearing this, Liu Yue looked very puzzled, as if she couldn't quite figure it out.
"What's wrong? Is Fei Kui untrustworthy?"
To be honest, Old Master Fengxu had little interaction with Fei Kui. Although they had met, it was only a few times, so he didn't know him well. But he knew Fei Kui was personally appointed by Lord Black Buddha. Since he was someone Lord Buddha trusted, he naturally wouldn't doubt him.
"It's not about trust. My grand-teacher holds Fei Kui in high regard, and as far as I know, Fei Kui was personally recommended by Old Master Huode of the Great Northwest. However, my grand-teacher has always kept business and the Crimson-Letter Sect clearly separate. He neither allows Crimson-Letter Sect members to interfere in business nor allows businesspeople to meddle in Crimson-Letter Sect affairs. Fei Kui manages business for my grand-teacher; he should be very clear about the rules my grand-teacher established. How could he get involved in the Mountain-River Branch Hall's matter this time?"
"This old man also knows Lord Buddha's rule. I refused him yesterday, but he insisted, saying that if he hadn't known about the Mountain-River Branch Hall's plight, that would be one thing, but since he knew, he naturally couldn't stand by idly. He also said he came this time just to see if he could help in any way, not to interfere in Crimson-Letter Sect affairs. 'One more person means one more strength,' he said. With him saying that, how could this old man drive him out?"
Liu Yue slightly furrowed her brows, looking at the person beside Fei Kui, and asked puzzledly, "And who is that person next to Fei Kui?"
Old Master Fengxu looked over. He was also puzzled, saying, "Haven't seen him before. Probably an errand-runner for this kid, or maybe a disciple he took in?"
Liu Yue looked at Fei Kui, then at Gu Qingfeng, feeling something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly. It wasn't that she distrusted Fei Kui, nor did she find Gu Qingfeng suspicious, but for some reason, she just felt something wasn't right.
After Fei Kui entered the hall, someone immediately prepared a seat for him.
After all, he was the one managing business for Lord Black Buddha. The Mountain-River Branch Hall didn't dare neglect him. Even without that connection, Fei Kui was, after all, an Earth Immortal cultivator, and he had come to help. For that alone, the Mountain-River Branch Hall would certainly treat him with courtesy.
However, after the chair was prepared, Fei Kui didn't dare sit down. What was baffling and jaw-dropping was that Fei Kui stood obediently to the side, while the white-clad man who had come with him sat in the chair.
This scene instantly stunned everyone in the hall.
Like Old Master Fengxu, although they didn't know Gu Qingfeng's identity, they had also speculated he might be an errand-runner for Fei Kui or perhaps a disciple he had taken in. But now it seemed that wasn't the case. What logic was there for the master to stand while the servant sat? Nor was there any logic for the master to stand while the disciple sat.
But if this white-clad man wasn't Fei Kui's errand-runner nor his disciple, then who was he?
All eyes, without exception, fell upon Gu Qingfeng.
He had no cultivation level, no special endowments whatsoever. Moreover, probing with Divine Sense revealed that this person seemed extremely frail.
Such a young man, lacking both cultivation and endowments—why would Fei Kui give up his seat for him?
"Fei Kui, may I ask who this young man is..." Old Master Fengxu asked with a deep frown.
"Old Master, my apologies. I haven't had the chance to introduce him yet. This is my Young Master."
"Young Master?"
This was a term of respect, specifically a servant's respectful address for the young master of a household.
But...
When had Fei Kui become someone's household servant?
And what exalted figure was this Young Master?
Everyone waited for Fei Kui to elaborate, but they waited in vain. Fei Kui stood there with a bowed posture, looking rather troubled. It wasn't that he didn't want to introduce him; he simply didn't know how to introduce Gu Qingfeng.
At that moment, Liu Yue seemed to suddenly remember something and exclaimed, "I remember now! You're that imposter at Linglong Mountain Villa who pretended to be the Monarch!"