Supreme Master - Chapter 7: The Pretend Beloved

Translator – Misty

Chapter 7: The Pretend Beloved

After turning into a bustling corridor, Ouyang Ye quickly withdrew her hand from Gu Qingfeng’s arm and looked back to check. Finding that Li Sen had not followed, she breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Gu Qingfeng, and spoke seriously.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong. I held your arm just now only to get rid of Li Sen. There was no other meaning, so don’t misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand?” Gu Qingfeng leisurely cracked some seeds, smiling lightly, “I’m not a three-year-old kid. Why would I misunderstand?”

“That’s good.”

Ouyang Ye gave him an approving look and then earnestly reminded, “But when we enter the venue, you mustn’t talk nonsense, alright? Today’s event at the villa is a music and art festival attended by well-known music masters from the Qingyang realm. You just need to sit next to me and keep your head down to eat.”

“No problem.”

Gu Qingfeng had long been craving for some good food, thinking of indulging himself later.

“I didn’t expect you to be so understanding. Since that’s the case, rest assured, since I brought you in, I’ll definitely make sure you have plenty to eat and drink.”

Gu Qingfeng just smiled and didn’t say much.

After repeating her instructions several times, Ouyang Ye finally led him into the venue.

The venue was well-arranged, covered by several array formations, enriching the place with spiritual energy and elegance. Ancient-style pavilions surrounded exquisite tables and chairs, with a circular stage in the center for performances.

The venue was bustling with people of all ages, some engaged in lively conversations and others discussing music.

Ouyang Ye spoke briefly with an elder who seemed to be in charge, then settled with Gu Qingfeng at a table in the west side. The table was filled with delicacies, mainly various exotic fruits, slightly disappointing Gu Qingfeng who had hoped for some meat dishes.

Luckily, there was wine.

Gu Qingfeng poured himself a glass, tasted it – not great, but acceptable.

“Hey, eat first. I’ll go greet some seniors.”

As Ouyang Ye stood to leave, she suddenly spotted someone at the entrance and muttered, “Why is Ye Hui here too, and with Li Sen?”

“What’s wrong?”

Following Ouyang Ye’s gaze, Gu Qingfeng saw two young people at the door – a man and a woman. The man was Li Sen, the same young master who had been bothering Ouyang Ye earlier. The young woman was flamboyantly dressed.

“Nothing, just saw a woman I hate!” Ouyang Ye grimaced, then suddenly realized something and panicked, “Oh no… Li Sen will definitely tell Ye Hui that I brought ‘the Young Master of Crimson Flame’ here… What should I do…”

As she worried, Ouyang Ye slapped her forehead in regret, “Damn it! Why did I have to say ‘the Young Master of Crimson Flame’ of all things? Now what?”

Gu Qingfeng sat relaxedly, munching on red fruits and sipping wine, watching Ouyang Ye’s worried and regretful expression, “Just say I’m not that the Young Master of Crimson Flame.”

“You don’t understand Ye Hui, that annoying girl. If I say you’re not the Young Master of Crimson Flame, she’ll mock me endlessly! The whole Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect will know.

Gu Qingfeng shook his head, not understanding.

Ouyang Ye paced back and forth, then stared at Gu Qingfeng and asked, “Hey, Mr. Gu, could you keep pretending to be the Young Master of Crimson Flame for a bit?”

“Why?” Gu Qingfeng, feeling buzzed from the wine, drank glass after glass, increasingly spirited, but Ouyang Ye’s words puzzled him: “Why bother? Just invite the real Young Master of Crimson Flame.”

“There’s no Young Master of Crimson Flame at all!”

“No Young Master of Crimson Flame?” Gu Qingfeng was even more confused and asked, “Earlier outside, I heard Li Sen say that you fell in love with the Young Master of Crimson Flame at first sight. Now you’re saying he doesn’t exist.”

“How can you be so dense! Let me explain. The Young Master of Crimson Flame is a fictional character I made up. He doesn’t exist!”

Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng became more perplexed, changing his position and asking with interest, “Wait, girl, are you okay in the head? Why would you make up a non-existent person?”

“Your brain is the one with a problem!” Ouyang Ye glared at him and explained, “I was forced to do it. In Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, Li Sen and a few other disciples kept pestering me. To make them give up, I had to claim I already had a beloved, so I invented the Young Master of Crimson Flame.”

“Just to make those young men give up?”

“That’s part of it, but not the main reason. The most important reason is Ye Hui, that annoying girl!”

Gu Qingfeng looked at the flamboyant young woman standing at the door and said, “If I’m not mistaken, that’s a woman, right? Is she pursuing you too?”

“What nonsense are you talking!” Ouyang Ye replied irritably, “You don’t know, ever since I joined Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, Ye Hui has always been hostile towards me, always causing trouble for me, especially after I claimed the Young Master of Crimson Flame as my Dao companion. That annoying girl has been trying to find out about the Young Master of Crimson Flame’s whereabouts and constantly doubts his existence.”

“Why would she question it for no reason?”

“This…” Ouyang Ye seemed embarrassed, hesitating before responding, “It’s partly my fault for being vain. I described the Young Master of Crimson Flame too perfectly. I said he was a dragon among men, master of the ten arts of immortality, especially in music…”

“… mysticnovel.com …”

Gu Qingfeng shook his head speechlessly.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that. You don’t know Ye Hui. She’s always showing off her relationship with Yun Hong in front of me, bragging about his musical talent. How could I stand that? So I… I made up the Young Master of Crimson Flame…”

Understanding the situation, Gu Qingfeng downed his wine and said, “Let me get this straight. You made up a Dao companion, the Young Master of Crimson Flame, partly to discourage your suitors and partly because Ye Hui found a musically talented Daoist partner. You didn’t want to lose to her, so you claimed your fictional Young Master of Crimson Flame was a dragon among men, a master of all immortal arts, especially music.”

Ouyang Ye nodded vigorously, “Ye Hui has always been skeptical about the Young Master of Crimson Flames existence. She’s pressured me several times to bring him to public events. I couldn’t, which was embarrassing, but she couldn’t prove anything. But now, after I shook off Li Sen… claiming you’re the Young Master of Crimson Flame… and now Li Sen must have told Ye Hui…”

Ouyang Ye continued, “If I say now you’re not the Young Master of Crimson Flame, that annoying girl will seize the opportunity to spread it around Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, claiming the Young Master of Crimson Flame never existed… and then I…”

“You mean you’ll be embarrassed?”

Reluctantly admitting the truth, Ouyang Ye sneaked a look at Ye Hui and Li Sen approaching, urged, “Hey, can you just help me out? Don’t forget I’m your lifesaver. If it weren’t for me, you might have starved to death at the King’s Rest Ridge.”

“Starved at the King’s Rest Ridge…”

With a shake of his head and a bitter smile, Gu Qingfeng poured another drink, took a sip, furrowed his brows, “Alright, I’ll consider you my lifesaver. Helping you out isn’t a big deal. But girl, I have no clue about your fabricated the Young Master of Crimson Flame. What if I slip up…”

“Weren’t you at the tomb worshipping the King of Crimson Heavens? You admire him, right?”

“So what?”

“Then you must have heard about King of Crimson Heavens’ youthful exploits, right?”

Getting more confused, Gu Qingfeng asked, “What does King of Crimson Heavens have to do with this?”

“I… Alright, I might as well tell you. My dream lover, ‘the Young Master of Crimson Flame’, is actually based on the King of Crimson Heavens’ youth.”

Gu Qingfeng nearly choked on his wine, staring at Ouyang Ye in astonishment.

“Hey, stop staring at me like that. Is it shameful to admire the King of Crimson Heavens? Is it wrong to adore him? Can’t my ideal lover be based on him?”

Ouyang Ye, not embarrassed or shy, seemed quite justified.

In truth, she created ‘the Young Master of Crimson Flame’ partly to deter her suitors and not to lose to Ye Hui. But more importantly, she sought comfort in the idea of King of Crimson Heavens’ possible reincarnation after playing his music, thus creating ‘the Young Master of Crimson Flame’ in his image.

What could Gu Qingfeng say? He could only smile wryly and helplessly.

“Damn it! Li Sen and Ye Hui are coming! Will you help or not?”

Spotting the approaching pair, Gu Qingfeng looked at Ouyang Ye, anxious like an ant on a hot pan, “Fine, I’ll help. It’s just pretending to be ‘the Young Master of Crimson Flame’ based on King of Crimson Heavens’ youth, right? You really picked the right person. No problem, I’ll help…”

(End of Chapter)