Gu Qingfeng's casual remark immediately caused Liu Yue's face to pale with shock.
She couldn't understand it at all—she had clearly sealed his acupoints, so how could this fellow still speak?
Old Master Fengxu was also stunned on the spot, utterly baffled.
At that moment, Gu Qingfeng continued asking, "The flagmaster of the Mingyu Banner under Zhou Taihe's command back in the Chixiao Sect days?"
When he first heard the name Tan Tong, Gu Qingfeng had no impression of it. Even now, seeing the man in person, he still couldn't recall anything. He only vaguely remembered that among the many battle banners of the Chixiao Sect, there seemed to have been one called Mingyu Banner. As for the people of the Mingyu Banner, he truly couldn't remember.
"How dare you!"
"Who do you think you are?"
"How dare you speak to our Branch Master like that!"
"You have no regard for your own life!"
"Seeking death!"
A group of Fated Prodigies from the Mingyu Branch immediately berated him angrily. Several of them even wanted to rush over and teach Gu Qingfeng a lesson, but they were all glared back into place by a single look from Tan Tong.
Just as Liu Yue had said, Tan Tong was a cautious and suspicious man. Gu Qingfeng, an ordinary-looking person who appeared utterly frail, sat here so brazenly, attended by Fei Kui. Coupled with Gu Qingfeng's air of utter nonchalance and indifference, Tan Tong couldn't help but feel suspicious. He had been guessing at Gu Qingfeng's identity all along, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with anything.
He couldn't understand—a person with no cultivation, no fortune, what gave him the right to sit here so casually as if nothing was wrong? What gave him the courage to be so fearless and unperturbed?
Or was he not as simple as he appeared on the surface?
Did he perhaps have some terrifying background or status?
"This old man is indeed Tan Tong," Tan Tong said, not dwelling on it too much but keeping an extra eye open. Most importantly, his primary purpose in coming to the Mountain-River Branch this time was not to fight. Therefore, he wasn't too concerned about whether Gu Qingfeng was an ordinary person or what his identity might be. After responding impassively, he asked, "Might I ask who Young Master Gu is?"
"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you know who you are."
Gu Qingfeng said something no one could understand, then waved his hand. "You all continue chatting."
Tan Tong's primary purpose was not to fight.
And Gu Qingfeng's primary purpose was even less to fight.
He had come this time only to find out what Tan Tong's intentions were, to hear what he had to say—whether, as Fei Kui had said, these people had already pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty and were now turning against their own. That was his fundamental purpose.
Old Master Fengxu, worried that continuing this line of questioning would lead to trouble, quickly changed the subject. "Tan Tong, Young Master Gu is a distinguished guest of Buddha Lord. If you wish to know his identity, you can ask Buddha Lord about it later."
"Oh? Is that so..."
As soon as Tan Tong's words trailed off, Old Master Fengxu, fearing his attention would remain fixed on Gu Qingfeng, said sternly, "Speak. What brings you here today?"
"It's nothing major. I merely wished to have a chat with all of you, that's all."
"Between you and us, it seems there's nothing to chat about, is there?"
"After all, we were all blood-sworn brothers of the Chixiao Sect back in the day. Why must you speak like that, Brother Fengxu?"
"We were indeed blood-sworn brothers of the Chixiao Sect back then, but that was only back then. Now that you have betrayed Chixiao and pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty, there is no longer any brotherly affection between us."
"Betrayed Chixiao? Pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty?" Tan Tong shook his head and laughed. "Brother Fengxu, it seems your misunderstanding of us runs too deep!"
"Misunderstanding? Tan Tong, touch your conscience and tell this old man—have you not betrayed Chixiao? Have you not pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty?"
"Of course not."
Tan Tong said dismissively, "I, Tan Tong, have never betrayed Chixiao, nor have I ever pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty!"
"Hahaha!"
Old Master Fengxu laughed in furious indignation, then glared at Tan Tong, gnashing his teeth. "Tan Tong, ah Tan Tong! In the past, this old man still considered you a man of unyielding iron backbone. I never expected you to become such a petty man now! A true man acts with courage and accepts responsibility. And you still call yourself a Chixiao brother? You don't even have that much backbone!"
"Since I haven't done it, why should I admit to it!"
Compared to Old Master Fengxu's fury, Tan Tong remained calm from beginning to end. "When have you ever seen Black Heart Old Master and the rest of us betray Chixiao? When have you ever heard Black Heart Old Master say we pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty?"
"You may not have said you pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dynasty, but you have secretly colluded with them. What is that if not betrayal!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Tan Tong, do you truly think we know nothing even now? Do I need to explain to you personally what the Chaoyang Alliance is? Do I need to tell you that the one secretly supporting the Chaoyang Alliance is none other than the current third prince of the Immortal Dynasty!"
Since the beginning of the Present-Ancient Era a hundred years ago, this world had not been the peaceful, prosperous age it appeared on the surface.
Especially after the Heaven's Mandate descended nine years ago, one could say the overall situation and power structure of this world had been quietly undergoing changes.
Whether it was major nations, great sects, or powerful clans, all were experiencing turmoil.
The situation was extremely chaotic.
A single Heaven's Mandate had given birth to who knew how many major and minor Mandates, and who knew how many major and minor Fated Prodigies born in response to the times.
And whether they were major/minor Mandates or the major/minor Fated Prodigies born in response, any of them could potentially become overlords of this world, even of the entire Present-Ancient Era. Under such circumstances, how could the world's situation not be chaotic? Who wouldn't want to follow a major or minor Mandate?
Who wouldn't want to follow a major or minor Fated Prodigy born in response?
As the saying goes, when one man attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
If you follow the right person, future wealth and honor are assured.
If you stand on the wrong side, you might not even keep your life in the future.
Therefore.
Across the world, various nations, sects, clans, and even gangs were all choosing sides. And because of this choosing of sides, internal strife was commonplace.
This wasn't just the case for major nations and sects; the Crimson-Letter Sect was now in the same situation.
Currently, Crimson-Letter branches across the world—some had broken away from the Crimson-Letter Sect, some had declared independence, some openly accepted titles from the Immortal Dynasty, and some only secretly colluded with the Immortal Dynasty.
For example, Black Heart Old Master Zhou Taihe. On the surface, he had neither broken away from the Crimson-Letter Sect, nor declared independence, nor accepted titles from the Immortal Dynasty. But in secret, he had already joined the so-called Chaoyang Alliance. The backer of the Chaoyang Alliance was the current third prince of the Immortal Dynasty. Not many people knew this news. The reason Old Master Fengxu knew was because Black Buddha Old Master had told him in a message talisman.
This matter appeared to be true. At the very least, when Old Master Fengxu spoke of it, Tan Tong did not refute it. However, he didn't show any trace of a guilty conscience either; instead, he remained very composed.
"Heh, if I'm not mistaken, this matter must have been told to you by Black Buddha Old Master."
Tan Tong unhurriedly picked up his fragrant tea, took a sip, and continued, "Originally, I didn't know how to broach the subject with you. Since you already know, it saves me the trouble of explaining. In that case, let's open the skylight and speak plainly."
"That's right. Black Heart Old Master has indeed led us in joining the Chaoyang Alliance. And the one backing the Chaoyang Alliance is indeed the third prince of the Immortal Dynasty."
Just as Old Master Fengxu was about to interrupt, Tan Tong spoke again, "Fengxu, it's not too late to hear me out before you speak."