Below, as the crowd sensed the surging spiritual power of the immortal sword, a gust of wind lifted the tips of their hair and the edges of their robes.
They looked up in astonishment, only to see the frost-white immortal sword and Senior Brother Danya facing each other in the cerulean sky, man and sword locked in a tense standoff.
"Huh, Senior Uncle Danya is here too?"
"What's wrong with Senior Uncle Fusheng's immortal sword? Why is it releasing sword energy at Senior Uncle Danya?"
"Hey, hey, did you see the person behind Senior Uncle Danya?"
"Who is that? They don't look like a disciple of our sect..."
"That's a mortal. You weren't in the sect three years ago, so you wouldn't have seen her. She's Senior Uncle Fusheng's wife..."
At first, their attention was focused on Danya and the immortal sword's confrontation. It wasn't until someone inadvertently glanced at a silent, plain-faced woman in a simple skirt and hairpin that they began to whisper and discuss amongst themselves.
Since Liu Jiang Fusheng went into seclusion three years ago, Gu Junshi had lived a reclusive life, so not many had seen her, and little was known about her.
Now, upon hearing that this woman was Senior Uncle Fusheng's wife, yet had arrived on a spiritual artifact with Senior Brother Danya, a sense of strange suspicion welled up in many hearts, without understanding the reason.
Among them, the disciples of Jiuntun Mountain remained silent, their eyes flickering with guilt and embarrassment.
They were on the same mountain as Senior Uncle Danya and saw him frequently. Naturally, they had heard many rumors, and some disciples had even witnessed unspeakable scenes. However, due to Senior Uncle Danya's authority and methods, they dared not offend him and kept their tongues tied.
After all, stealing someone's partner was never a glorious affair, especially when it was his junior brother's wife. They worried that if they let slip a word, they would not only face discrimination and ostracism from the other mountains but also be silenced by Senior Uncle Danya for gossiping.
"Senior Brother Danya?" Zi Ying's eyes lit up when she saw Danya appear, but when she noticed the woman beside him... she asked the person next to her, "Who is that?"
"That's Senior Uncle Fusheng's wife."
"Wife?" Zi Ying's expression froze.
Senior Brother Fusheng was married?!
This was not a secret in the Great Yan Sect, but Zi Ying had poor relationships with others of the same sex in the sect. They didn't discuss gossip with her, so she had no idea.
Fang Rui, on the other hand, bit her red lower lip and widened her eyes in surprise.
Why was Gu Yi still in the Great Yan Sect?
After she had sent the recording stone to Liu Jiang Fusheng, she had followed his lead and gone into seclusion to cultivate, not continuing to follow up on the matter. She believed she understood Gu Yi's pride stemming from poverty and inferiority, and that she wouldn't go back on her word. She had no idea why she had returned.
Daoist Zhiyang felt a headache the moment he saw Gu Junshi appear. He was afraid his beloved disciple would have any entanglement with her.
Yet, Fusheng was stubborn and refused to divorce her. He dared not make any small moves to drive her away privately. Now that he had emerged from three years of seclusion, he was no longer the same. He could only hope that his mindset and thoughts would change.
With their own thoughts churning, everyone was eager to see Liu Jiang Fusheng's reaction, so they turned their heads to look at him.
From the moment he looked up, his gaze had ignored everything around him, focusing solely on Gu Junshi beside Danya.
Their eyes met. He seemed to be trying to control himself, not to reveal too much, but he couldn't deny his feelings. The corners of his mouth curved slightly into a gentle smile.
At that moment, like the hazy dawn breaking through the faint sun, his eyes were filled with bright joy. The coldness and distance he usually exuded seemed to soften and disappear.
The crowd suddenly felt short of breath, and all of them felt jealous and envious of the person who could make him smile.
He took a step forward, "A'yi..."
At that time, a distance separated them like a vast expanse, yet he had always remembered her firm and unwavering answer.
Today, she had also fulfilled her promise, coming to welcome him out of seclusion at the first opportunity.
Just then, another elegant and pleasant voice directly overshadowed his soft call: "A'yi, look how temperamental this immortal sword is becoming. It even shaved off a section of my hair. Aren't you going to do something about it?"
While this sounded like a complaint, it was more of a familiar tone used only between close acquaintances.
Liu Jiang Fusheng's movements stiffened. He suddenly looked at Danya, his gaze piercing through the thin morning mist and clouds, like a blade scraping his face.
How could he call Gu Junshi "A'yi"?
Not only Liu Jiang Fusheng, but the other disciples also felt uneasy upon hearing this, looking at Senior Uncle Danya and the mortal with him with surprise and uncertainty.
Gu Junshi frowned. Seeing that everyone was paying attention to this side, and in this situation, she knew she wouldn't be able to speak to Xiao Jiao. Coupled with Danya's ambiguous actions, she said, "Let's go."
Danya hadn't expected her to be so decisive. His scene had just begun, and she had already called it off.
But it didn't matter. There would be plenty of time. The purpose of publicly solidifying the gossip had been achieved.
"Alright, if A'yi doesn't want to attract attention, then we'll take our leave first."
Danya turned back, smiling elegantly at Liu Jiang Fusheng. The hidden provocation and ill intent within that smile were perhaps only understandable to Liu Jiang Fusheng.
Would it hurt to have the thing you cherished most snatched away?
How much would it hurt?
No matter how much it hurt, you would have to bear it.
"Junior Brother Fusheng, Senior Brother congratulates you on emerging from seclusion. Just keep a closer watch on your immortal sword. If it injures people indiscriminately again next time, you will also be responsible," he said as if offering good advice, his tone gentle and smiling. After speaking, he turned and took Gu Junshi with him, formed a hand seal, and flew away on their artifact.
"A'yi—"
Liu Jiang Fusheng's face turned ashen. He quickly recalled his immortal sword, his robes billowing in the wind, clearly intending to chase after them.
But he was stopped by Daoist Zhiyang: "Alright, Fusheng, we'll talk about this later. The Sect Leader is waiting for you in the Longevity Hall, and you must come with me to the hall first."
"Later..."
"Are you stupid? You dare to keep the Sect Leader waiting? You must have been so immersed in seclusion that you've lost all sense of proportion!" Daoist Zhiyang immediately berated him angrily, startling everyone.
A faint red hue suffused Liu Jiang Fusheng's eyes. He pursed his lips and remained silent.
Helpless, Liu Jiang Fusheng suppressed his inner frustration and followed Daoist Zhiyang to meet the Sect Leader, but his mind couldn't help but wander.
When did this happen...
When did they become so familiar and close?
Could it be that his tragic storyline was finally about to begin, and Danya was the destined villain, the third party who would frame him, slander him, and cause a huge misunderstanding between him and Gu Yi?
—
Liu Jiang Fusheng's emergence from seclusion followed sect protocols, and he had to report to the Sect Leader first. Thus, Daoist Zhiyang led him to the Longevity Hall to receive admonishment.
Wei Li was dressed in ostentatious red robes, with black silk threads outlining a phoenix soaring among a hundred birds. His long jade neck was adorned with a patch of creamy white jade, and his three thousand strands of dark hair were casually tied up with a jade crown. He reclined on the main seat in the hall, his pair of alluring fox-like eyes sweeping over Liu Jiang Fusheng, who had come to pay his respects, appearing lazy, graceful, and casual.
"Not bad. You've reached the middle stage of Golden Core, and there are even signs of breakthrough. I assume the experience of going to the newcomer rankings must have brought you considerable gains."