"At once!" The moment the woman heard that the head of the Nine Immortals was coming, her expression shifted immediately, her delicate body trembling slightly as she hurried off to make preparations.
After all, the head of the Nine Immortals was a truly towering figure among the Immortal Execution Archipelago. Across the entire archipelago, from top to bottom, no one—apart from the Island Master—dared show even the slightest disrespect toward that person. Even the currently ascendant Young Island Master had to be completely deferential, addressing them as "Senior Immortal." How could someone of her small standing be any different?
"Hmph, well now, Daoist Nun Qiushui—weren't you saying you didn't fear our Immortal Execution Archipelago, didn't fear my grandfather? I'd like to see whether you can still act so arrogant tonight when my grandfather appears right in front of you." At that moment, Yafei's face was adorned not only with a radiant smile but also with a rather expectant, sinister glint.
Chu Feng and the others had no idea that Yafei's grandfather, Yafei Zongyun, was on his way to the Boundless Blood Sea.
Right now, Qiushui Fuyan had already summoned Chu Feng to the palace where she rested and was speaking with him alone.
"Chu Feng, you claim to be his disciple. I cannot simply take your word for it. To prove your identity, you will need to answer a few questions." Qiushui Fuyan sat in the seat of honor in the reception hall, her voice soft yet brimming with authority.
"Please ask, Senior Qiushui." Chu Feng stood at the center of the hall, answering respectfully.
"Do you know my name? Do you know your Master's name?" Qiushui Fuyan asked.
"My Master's name is Huangfu Haoyue. Yours is Qiushui Fuyan. The two of you were lovers—the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Burning Heaven Holy Cult." Chu Feng replied.
Hearing these words, Qiushui Fuyan's slender brows furrowed instantly, a peculiar light surging in her eyes. She shot to her feet with a whoosh and strode right up to Chu Feng, pressing him urgently: "Where is he now? Is he safe?!"
"Uh..." Chu Feng was somewhat at a loss before this version of Qiushui Fuyan. He could tell that she was deeply worried about Huangfu Haoyue and that her feelings for him ran far deeper than ordinary concern. The bond between the two was clearly no simple matter.
"What's wrong? Could something be wrong with him? Where is he now? Tell me quickly!" Qiushui Fuyan seized Chu Feng by the shoulders and continued pressing.
At that moment, Chu Feng gritted his teeth. Having made up his mind, he decided to speak the truth. He removed his Hundred Transformations Mask, revealing his original youthful appearance, and said: "I'm sorry, Senior Qiushui. I deceived you."
"Deceived? What do you mean?" Seeing the change in Chu Feng, Qiushui Fuyan's brows drew together again. She took several steps back and looked him over once more.
The Chu Feng standing before her now still carried the aura of a first-rank Martial Emperor, but his appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation—he looked every bit a young teenager. To possess such strength at such an age spoke volumes: his talent was extraordinary.
However, what made Qiushui Fuyan most wary of Chu Feng was neither his cultivation nor his talent, but rather why he had lied to her. She wondered what his true motives were and how he had learned about her and Huangfu Haoyue.
"Senior Qiushui, although Senior Huangfu and I are not Master and disciple, we share a deeply intertwined connection," Chu Feng said.
"What kind of connection? You had better answer truthfully, or I can take your life at any moment." Qiushui Fuyan's voice turned sharp, her distrust of Chu Feng fully on display.
"I grew up on the Nine Provinces Continent, but I was not born there."
"I do not know who my birth parents are. All I know is that Senior Huangfu was the one who brought me to the Nine Provinces Continent," Chu Feng said.
"What? You are—?" Hearing this, the look in Qiushui Fuyan's eyes shifted again, though that peculiar flash passed in an instant before her gaze hardened once more. "Whatever your relationship with Huangfu Haoyue has nothing to do with me. What is your purpose in impersonating Huangfu Haoyue's disciple and seeking me out?"
"In reply to Senior, I wish to learn who my parents are. But I have been unable to find Senior Huangfu, so I came to you for answers. After all, Senior, you and Senior Huangfu share such a close bond—I thought it likely that you might know something of my origins," Chu Feng explained.
"Then how did you know I was here? Did Huangfu Haoyue tell you?"
"No. Someone else did."
"Who?"
"Qiu Canfeng."
"What? It was him?!" The name Qiu Canfeng drew a flash of surprise in Qiushui Fuyan's eyes. She then asked: "What is your relationship with Qiu Canfeng?"
From the very beginning, Chu Feng had been observing Qiushui Fuyan's reactions. Upon mentioning Qiu Canfeng, he noticed that while she was surprised, there was no ill will—she clearly did not dislike the man. So Chu Feng said: "In truth, it is Qiu Canfeng who is my true Master."
"You are Qiu Canfeng's disciple?"
"This is a mess, a complete mess! You were brought back by Huangfu Haoyue, so how could you possibly have become Qiu Canfeng's disciple?" Qiushui Fuyan was thoroughly bewildered.
"Senior, you truly do know something of my origins. Please, I beg you to tell me." Upon hearing this, Chu Feng quickly bowed deeply.
"I do not know your origins—I only know certain things about you. I am willing to tell you, but before that, you must answer several more of my questions honestly."
After that, Qiushui Fuyan questioned Chu Feng about many things, and Chu Feng held nothing back. He told her how Huangfu Haoyue had brought him to the Chu Family and asked them to take care of him, as well as how he had encountered Qiu Canfeng.
However, Chu Feng was careful to conceal certain truths. Although he described how he had met Qiu Canfeng and how Qiu Canfeng had taken him as a disciple, he made no mention of Qiu Canfeng being trapped.
As for Huangfu Haoyue's descent into madness, Chu Feng naturally said nothing of that either. Huangfu Haoyue had most likely gone mad because of Chu Feng's own father, and given the intimate bond between Qiushui Fuyan and Huangfu Haoyue, if she learned that Huangfu Haoyue had lost his mind on account of Chu Feng, he could not guarantee she would not seek vengeance against him.
"Alas, I always knew the Heavenly Path was no simple matter. But I repeatedly warned the Sect Master, and he would not listen. Even he did not believe me. And sure enough, they met with catastrophe within the Heavenly Path." After learning everything, Qiushui Fuyan suddenly sighed with emotion, then looked at Chu Feng and said: "I know who you are. Back then, my Burning Heaven Holy Cult relocated in its entirety to the Martial Saint Continent, but the entire sect was annihilated. Only Huangfu Haoyue escaped alive—and when he fled, he carried a child with him. That child was you."
"The entire sect was annihilated? On the Heavenly Path leading to the Martial Saint Continent? Senior Qiushui, what exactly happened? Will you tell me?!" At that moment, Chu Feng was beside himself with joy—he had already caught hints that his origins were very likely connected to the Martial Saint Continent and that Heavenly Path.
"No, I do not know your origins, nor do I know what exactly happened on the Heavenly Path. When Huangfu Haoyue came to find me, he left behind only a single sentence before departing."
"Which was: 'Under no circumstances should you enter the Heavenly Path,'" Qiushui Fuyan said.