Chapter 109: Saving People, Capturing Hearts

Gu Gu Hanyuan didn't care about Ning Zhongze’s hostility; he smiled at Yue Yue Lingshan, who was looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"Yue Lingshan."

"Brother Gu. You arrived so early."

"I came early to get to know some of the seniors."

The two began to chat as if no one else were around, leaving Yue Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze standing to the side.

Brother Linghu Chong wore a look of utter disgust.

The junior brothers behind Brother Linghu Chong looked at Gu Gu Hanyuan with growing hostility.

They had long assumed that Brother Linghu Chong and Yue Yue Lingshan were a couple.

If they hadn't possessed a shred of self-awareness, they might have already caused trouble for Gu Gu Hanyuan.

Yue Yue Buqun’s thoughts were somewhat subtle; he had originally planned to use Yue Yue Lingshan to scheme for Lin Lin Pingzhi’s "Evil-Warding Sword Manual," but if he could make Gu Gu Hanyuan his son-in-law, that would not be unacceptable.

Whether considering Gu Gu Hanyuan’s own martial arts or his status as the most outstanding disciple of the current generation of the Wu Dangpai, he could provide him with assistance.

At the very least, it would give him more confidence when facing Zuo Zuo Lengchan.

Ning Zhongze took in Yue Yue Lingshan’s joyful expression and sighed helplessly.

By now, there were more and more Jianghu people, so Gu Gu Hanyuan stopped bothering the Huashan Sect and bid them farewell.

Turning around, Gu Gu Hanyuan saw Huang Rong with a subtle smile on her face and Guo Fu pouting, clearly jealous.

Huang Rong seemed to have completely forgotten what happened last night, appearing flawless on the surface.

"Young lady? Miss Yue? Young Hero Gu is truly amorous, isn't he?"

Huang Rong teased Gu Gu Hanyuan with a sarcastic tone, and Guo Fu’s expression grew even more dissatisfied.

Gu Gu Hanyuan ignored Huang Rong’s teasing and reached out to smooth Guo Fu’s pouting lips.

"Sister Fu, you could hang an oil bottle on those lips."

Guo Fu was stunned by Gu Gu Hanyuan’s intimate gesture and guiltily glanced at Huang Rong, who was watching her.

A blush quickly crept up her face, and she squirmed as she denied it:

"I did not."

Huang Rong’s eyes were strange, and she sighed inwardly.

She knew that Guo Fu truly liked Gu Gu Hanyuan; otherwise, she wouldn't have been unbothered by such a near-lewd gesture, but rather blushed instead.

"Lady Guo, did you not sleep well?"

Gu Gu Hanyuan asked a question he already knew the answer to.

Huang Rong smiled flawlessly:

"Thank you for your concern, Young Hero Gu; perhaps I am just not used to this."

In her heart, she cursed: "Little bastard, you say that as if it has nothing to do with you."

The two tacitly kept their distance in public, and their forms of address returned to normal.

"The people from the Songshan Sect haven't arrived yet?"

Huang Rong asked with a solemn expression.

Gu Gu Hanyuan shook his head:

"I fear they won't appear until the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony begins."

Indeed, people from various sects arrived one after another, but the Songshan Sect remained nowhere to be seen.

When the people from the Hengshan Sect arrived, Gu Gu Hanyuan smiled and signaled to Sister Yilin.

Upon seeing this, Sister Yilin’s face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head, silently chanting "Amitabha."

At the same time, Abbess Abbess Dingyi glared at Gu Gu Hanyuan.

It seemed Abbess Abbess Dingyi must have said something to Sister Yilin, as she now didn't even dare to make eye contact.

Gu Gu Hanyuan didn't mind this; Sister Yilin’s level was practically negative, and he could take her down at any time.

Afterward, Liu Liu Zhengfeng’s Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony was held, and he even specially donated to the imperial court for a nominal military rank.

Even the persuasion of his peers from the Five Mountain Sword Sects could not change Liu Liu Zhengfeng’s stubbornness.

Just as Liu Liu Zhengfeng was about to complete the hand-washing, Ding Mian, Fei Bin, and Lu Bai held high the Five Mountain command flags and broke in with a large number of Songshan disciples.

After a verbal confrontation, Fei Bin had Liu Liu Zhengfeng’s family brought forward.

Gu Gu Hanyuan watched coldly from the sidelines; seeing that the Songshan Sect intended to harm Liu Liu Zhengfeng’s family, not a single person spoke up for them, except for Abbess Abbess Dingyi.

He looked at Fangzheng of Southern North Shaolin, Qiu Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect, and his Uncle-Master Daoist Daoist Chongxu with contempt.

Only Huang Rong, who had been watching Gu Gu Hanyuan, saw the contempt in his eyes.

She felt some worry, for she knew that Gu Gu Hanyuan was about to intervene.

Fei Bin shouted angrily:

"Liu Liu Zhengfeng, if you do not kill Qu Yang, I will kill your entire family!"

He then had Liu Liu Zhengfeng’s daughter, Liu Jing, brought forward.

Lu Bai looked at Liu Jing and threatened:

"If you wish to live, kneel and beg for mercy now, and denounce Liu Liu Zhengfeng’s wrongs, and you may be spared."

Liu Jing was delicate in appearance, and usually gentle, like a young lady of a noble family.

Although she was in a sorry state, her spirit was high; she cursed angrily: "Traitors! Your Songshan Sect is ten thousand times more evil than the Demonic Cult!"

Having said this, she closed her eyes and waited for death.

Qu Qu Feiyan, hiding in the shadows, saw her dear sister about to be killed and grew anxious, Yu Wanting to intervene, but was held back firmly by Qu Yang.

Seeing that the first one brought forward had not begged for mercy, Lu Bai was shamed into anger and shouted:

"Kill her!"

Wan Yan Daping obeyed the order, raised the sword in his hand, and was about to kill Liu Jing... .

In the arena, except for Abbess Abbess Dingyi, who showed signs of unbearable pity, the others remained indifferent.

Suddenly, a scream was heard, but it was a man’s voice—it was Wan Yan Daping, who had been about to raise his sword to kill.

He was seen clutching his wrist, retreating with a pale face, blood trickling through his fingers.

The sudden change in the arena left everyone unable to react.

Even Fei Bin and the others had not expected that someone in the arena would choose to save her.

Seeing that she was still alive, Liu Jing opened her eyes.

She saw a man shielding her behind him; he was dressed in flowing white, his face as handsome as jade, his long hair tied loosely behind his head, standing tall and upright—truly a dashing and elegant figure.

A few drops of blood still clung to the tip of the long sword in his hand.

Liu Jing felt that having been saved by such a person, she would have no regrets even if she died here today.

"It’s Brother Gu!"

Qu Qu Feiyan suppressed her excitement and whispered to Qu Yang.

Qu Yang also hadn't expected Gu Gu Hanyuan to intervene.

Except for Huang Rong, who had anticipated it, everyone else was stunned by Gu Gu Hanyuan.

Although Daoist Daoist Chongxu was also dissatisfied with the Songshan Sect’s actions, he had not intended to oppose them at such a time.

The enemy was numerous and they were few; Fei Bin and his two companions alone were more than he could handle.

On the contrary, Fangzheng of Southern North Shaolin was the most pleased, as he was the one who least wanted the Songshan Sect to establish their authority.

But he also did not hold out hope for Gu Gu Hanyuan’s outcome, as he actually wanted to face the Songshan Sect alone.

Qiu Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect showed a look of disdain and smiled at the disciples following him:

"This boy will die today."

Guo Fu didn't think so much; she was the most blindly worshipful of Gu Gu Hanyuan, and seeing him save someone only made her feel more excited.

Sheng, Yue Yue Lingshan, and Sister Yilin all showed expressions of worry; although they admired Gu Gu Hanyuan’s act of saving someone, in the current situation, they were more concerned for him.

Ning Zhongze’s eyes were complex; she suddenly felt that her judgment might not be as good as Yue Yue Lingshan’s.

She was also someone dissatisfied with the Songshan Sect’s style, and if not for her concern for the Huashan Sect, she would have chosen to intervene as well.

At this moment, her favorable impression of Gu Gu Hanyuan increased greatly.

Yue Yue Buqun was also very surprised, not expecting Gu Gu Hanyuan to do something he would absolutely never do himself.

Abbess Abbess Dingyi silently recited a Buddhist prayer; while she admired Gu Gu Hanyuan’s act, she felt that her disciples behind her, especially Sister Yilin, would likely have their cultivation shaken once again.