Translator – Misty

Chapter 38: Discussions

Witnessing Guang Yuan, the grand enforcer, being tossed out by Huo De, like a small chicken, everyone present was left wide-eyed and filled with shock and endless surprise.

Especially Yun Hong, Tan Siru, and Ye Hui, who originally thought that by following Guang Yuan and Elder Li, they could avenge their past humiliations and restore their dignity. They never anticipated the situation turning out like this. Not only did they fail to get their revenge, but they also ended up losing face alongside the grand enforcer and Elder Li.

As Li Ziheng, with a disheveled Li Sen, left the scene, the others dared not linger any longer and quickly departed.

All had left.

And Gu Qingfeng still lay leisurely on his armchair, sipping wine as if the recent events had nothing to do with him. Throughout, he had not even risen from his seat, nor had his brows furrowed in the slightest.

Elder Huo De stood beside him, waving his fan with a servile smile. He asked, “Gu lad, when did you become so merciful? I thought you were going to slaughter Guang Yuan.”

“You wish,” Gu Qingfeng replied with a dismissive look. “If I had killed him, wouldn’t I be playing right into your hands? Even if I didn’t want to, I would have had to involve myself with your Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect’s affairs.”

If Guang Yuan had been killed, his master, Jin De, would surely seek him out. Of course, Gu Qingfeng was not afraid, but then he would inevitably become embroiled in the affairs of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect.

Most importantly, his issue with Guang Yuan had been a thing of the past for five hundred years. Gu Qingfeng, although idle, was not idle enough to dwell on such trivial matters from his youth.

Elder Huo De grinned and said, “You’re overthinking things, lad.”

“Who’s the cunning one between us?” Gu Qingfeng scoffed, glancing disdainfully at Huo De. “Did you think I didn’t see what you were doing by throwing Guang Yuan in front of me? You just wanted me to make a move. I must say, Elder Huo, you’re quite the actor, but unfortunately, your acting skills are rather poor.”

“I wasn’t acting. I truly… I genuinely can’t stand that rascal Guang Yuan.”

Huo De spoke as if he was being straightforward, but his evasive gaze betrayed him.

Indeed, he had thrown Guang Yuan over with the hope that Gu Qingfeng would act. He thought that once Gu Qingfeng made a move, he would be compelled to get involved in the affairs of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. He didn’t expect his intentions to be seen through.

Perhaps feeling a bit guilty under Gu Qingfeng’s piercing gaze, Huo De coughed and quickly changed the subject.

“Ouyang girl, why are you still standing there?”

“I…”

Ouyang Ye was truly stunned, her eyes wide and brows deeply furrowed, her delicate face filled with shock. Her heart was brimming with endless questions. “Elder Huo, do… do you really know each other?”

Before, when Gu Qingfeng claimed to know Huo De, she didn’t believe it, but the recent events made her question it.

“What do you mean by really know each other? Ouyang girl, your question sounds a bit strange.”

“I… Elder Huo, who… who is he?”

At this moment, Ouyang Ye desperately wanted to know the identity of this man.

She couldn’t imagine what kind of status would make Elder Huo De serve him like this. Moreover, what Elder Huo said earlier, that if it were in the past, the Li family would have been long dead, clearly referred to Gu Qingfeng.

“It’s not easy for me to say who Gu lad is; you should ask him yourself.”

Ouyang Ye nodded earnestly, turning to Gu Qingfeng.

After finishing his wine, Gu Qingfeng stood up, stretching leisurely, and asked with a smile, “Girl, do you really want to know who I am?”

Ouyang Ye nodded vigorously.

“Come closer, and I’ll whisper it to you.”

Ouyang Ye eagerly leaned in, and then Gu Qingfeng’s voice reached her ears.

“Actually, I am a god.”

“A god?”

Ouyang Ye was momentarily stunned, struggling to grasp the meaning of the word “god.” After a moment, she realized that Gu Qingfeng was just teasing her.

“Ha ha ha! Girl, I need to rest now. Go and amuse yourself.”

Watching Gu Qingfeng leave with a hearty laugh, Ouyang Ye was so irritated she clenched her teeth. Just as she thought to chase after him, Elder Huo De stopped her.

“Ouyang girl, Gu lad has gone to rest, don’t bother him now.”

“Elder Huo, who is he, really?”

Ouyang Ye was almost on the verge of a breakdown, especially since Huo De had seriously told her not to disturb Gu Qingfeng. This only intensified her curiosity about Gu Qingfeng’s identity. She had never seen Elder Huo be so serious about not disturbing someone.

“Why are you so curious about his identity?”

“I just am! Elder Huo, please tell me, won’t you?” Ouyang Ye pleaded, shaking Elder Huo’s arm and pouting: “I know you’re the best, Elder Huo… please tell me!”

“Be a good girl and go back to your cultivation. I have important matters to attend to.”

After shaking off Ouyang Ye, Huo De disappeared in a flash.

“Elder Huo!”

Ouyang Ye called out a few times, but there was no response. As she turned to leave, she suddenly noticed a beautiful woman standing at the entrance of the Hidden Spirit Garden.

The woman was stunningly beautiful, dressed in a long red dress, exuding a mature charm like a woman of the world, but her gorgeous face was filled with a puzzled expression. Her eyes showed confusion as she looked at the Hidden Spirit Garden, as if trying to understand something.

“Auntie?”

Seeing the beautiful woman, Ouyang Ye was startled and asked in surprise, “When did you arrive?”

This beautiful woman was none other than Ouyang Ye’s aunt, Ouyang Feiyue, not just the master of the First Rate Villa but also a guest elder of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. In the Qingyang region, she was known as a great beauty, addressed as Daoist Master Feiyue.

“I came as soon as I received your message.”

“My message?”

Ouyang Ye then remembered that she had sent someone to inform her aunt when she learned that Guang Yuan was coming to trouble Gu Qingfeng, hoping her aunt would take Gu Qingfeng away.

“It’s been two days, and you just arrived… if I had waited for you to save someone, they’d be dead by now…”

“Auntie couldn’t get away; there was an issue at the villa that took a long time to resolve. Otherwise, I would have come right after learning that your beloved could play the ‘Serenade of the Azure Sea’ with such depth…”

Ouyang Feiyue looked Ouyang Ye up and down, teasing, “I thought the Young Master of Crimson Flame you mentioned was just a made-up character. I didn’t expect such a person to exist. Well done, girl, you’ve kept him well hidden…”

“Auntie! It’s not what you think…”

Ouyang Ye explained in detail how she met Gu Qingfeng, everything from their encounter at the King of Crimson Heavens’ tomb to seeing his failed Foundation Establishment and feeling pity for him, which led her to bring him to the First Rate Villa. She wouldn’t have sought Gu Qingfeng to pretend to be the Young Master of Crimson Flame if it weren’t for Li Sen’s pestering.

“Auntie, I regret it so much… What should I do now? If I say he’s not the Young Master of Crimson Flame now, no one will believe me. Now that he has offended the Li clan, I’m worried that they will…”

“You didn’t know he was acquainted with Elder Huo?”

“He… he said so earlier… but I thought he was lying… Now it seems he really does know Elder Huo.”

“Not just acquainted… their relationship is definitely more than just acquaintances.”

Ouyang Feiyue had been there earlier, witnessing everything in the Hidden Spirit Garden. Whether it was Elder Huo’s words or Gu Qingfeng’s calm demeanor, everything puzzled her. It was her first time seeing Elder Huo treat a young person with such courtesy!

No.

It wasn’t just courtesy.

It was more like casualness, the kind shared among friends.

And Gu Qingfeng, his serene aura was not a pretense. When Guang Yuan arrived, he had been lying on the armchair the whole time, seemingly unconcerned and indifferent.

And Elder Huo’s warning to Li Ziheng about getting killed if this were the old days…

Was it referring to Gu Qingfeng?

Why?

Why so unconcerned?

And why did Elder Huo say those words?

“Auntie, who exactly is this Gu Qingfeng? Why does he seem so mysterious?”

“This person has a quiet temperament, composed demeanor, leisurely and content, speaking lightly and moving as if carefree but actually following his heart.”

Ouyang Feiyue recalled the scene, murmuring, “Such a person is certainly extraordinary, not ordinary at all. His family background might be even more powerful than you imagine.”

“A powerful family background?” Ouyang Ye tilted her head, puzzled: “Auntie, I’ve seen the young masters of big families. They all have a certain arrogance and nobility, even those from ancient families, but he doesn’t seem like one of those young masters at all.”

“That’s true!”

Ouyang Feiyue, who managed the largest villa in the Qingyang region and often dealt with big families, had met all sorts of people, from young masters of the ancient families to various figures in the three paths. She had never encountered someone as unique as Gu Qingfeng.

“Auntie, if he’s not from a big family, what could he be?”

After a moment of thought, Ouyang Feiyue murmured, “If… if he’s not from a big family… then… that would be terrifying!”

(End of Chapter)