Chapter 33

At the Hero Banquet, wine was poured and the lamps were trimmed as the feast began once more.

At the critical moment when the Wu Lin Alliance Leader was to be elected, Gu Qing suddenly made his move, defeating the Golden Wheel Fawang and his disciple. Coupled with his background as a disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect, a clamor arose among the crowd, with many demanding that Gu Qing become the Wu Lin Alliance Leader.

Sun Bu'er and Hao Datong watched Gu Qing with delight.

"I have always taken the welfare of the common people as my own duty and do not care about my position. If you all believe that as Wu Lin Alliance Leader, I can better benefit the Wu Lin and the common people, then I shall shoulder this responsibility!"

Gu Qing said with great humility.

【Fulfilling Hao Datong's wish...】

【Fulfilling Sun Bu'er's wish...】

Gu Qing's system flashed with some merit points. Gu Qing looked at the more than one thousand Wu Lin heroes in the Lu Family Manor, then looked at the seven merit points that had appeared, and could not help but fall into deep thought.

... If I abdicate to Guo Jing now, will I be following the will of the people and gain more merit?

Gu Qing looked toward Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

Huang Rong felt indebted to Gu Qing for taking down Peng Zhanglao and had no objections to electing him. Seeing Gu Qing look over, a faint smile appeared on her face, conveying her goodwill.

"Everyone has come to Dashan Pass to establish a Wu Lin Alliance and come up with a plan to save the nation and ensure our survival."

Gu Qing spoke straightforwardly: "Speaking of which, I also have some immature ideas that I would like to exchange with everyone."

Gu Qing had come prepared for this. At this moment, he intended to organize all the Wu Lin heroes, establish various branches, promulgate various disciplines, mobilize the common people in all regions, and so on. He wanted not only to mobilize the common people of the Great Song but also those in enemy-occupied territories, establish bases behind enemy lines, propose key points for guerrilla warfare, and even use the Wu Lin Alliance to launch a 'Cold Arrow Operation,' requiring Wu Lin experts to rely on their own advantages to constantly assassinate the enemy and increase the cost of their rule.

"The Mongols are powerful and the Song court is muddled. We should not care about the gains or losses of a single piece of land. We must understand the principle that if you preserve the people and lose the land, both can be recovered; if you preserve the land and lose the people, both will be lost..."

Gu Qing explained them one by one from above.

Most of the martial artists did not actually understand such grand principles, but Gu Qing's explanation was extremely simple, allowing them to understand the steps they should take. Among them, Guo Jing listened the most attentively, feeling that this had pointed out a direction for him.

Listening to Gu Qing finish speaking, the martial heroes in the arena all cheered in unison.

"If everyone says it is good, then we must execute it."

Gu Qing solemnly invited Guo Jing, very politely asking him to become the Wu Lin Alliance Leader, expressing his willingness to abdicate, saying: "In my hands, this Wu Lin Alliance is merely a hollow shell. Only in the hands of Hero Guo can it function, because I can only offer dedication and cannot provide them with any material help, which makes it seem too empty."

The operation of an organization always requires financial support. Gu Qing currently had no stable source of funds. He did know of the City-Wall-Breaking treasure, but he had not verified it and did not know if it was true or false. Moreover, the operation of an organization required worrying about many things.

Gu Qing hoped to be someone who could grasp the main points and let things develop in the guided direction, rather than someone who labored and worried.

Guo Jing was a practical man. Hearing Gu Qing offer him the position, he declined repeatedly. However, the matter of Guo Jing becoming the Wu Lin Alliance Leader was already the desire of the people; even those who came to the Lu Family Manor to participate in the Hero Assembly had come for Guo Jing's sake.

Therefore, after declining, Guo Jing still became the Wu Lin Alliance Leader, only repeatedly asking Gu Qing to stay and serve as a Deputy Alliance Leader.

After Guo Jing accepted, Gu Qing looked at the merit points... Gu Qing himself becoming the leader had gained seven merit points, while abdicating to Guo Jing had directly gained over three hundred merit points. Coupled with the merit points from taking down Peng Zhanglao earlier, Gu Qing felt he could speed up his Elephant Prajna Qi.

This Hero Banquet lasted until late at night before the crowd dispersed.

When Gu Qing returned to his room, Sun Bu'er and Hao Datong suddenly appeared before him, inviting him to the courtyard for a chat.

Gu Qing entered Hao Datong's courtyard and suddenly looked up to one side, catching a glimpse of Yang Guo hiding in the trees. At this moment, Gu Qing felt something in his heart, knowing that Xiaolongnu was also nearby... Yang Guo had come here for Hao Datong.

Hao Datong had accidentally killed Granny Sun of the Ancient Tomb.

"Gu Qing, have you and Xiaolongnu of the Ancient Tomb developed feelings?"

Sun Bu'er looked at Gu Qing and asked solemnly.

She had seen Gu Qing's performance at the Hero Assembly and felt it was unusual.

As soon as these words were spoken, Yang Guo immediately pricked up his ears to listen; this was the topic he was most nervous about.

Gu Qing thought solemnly, then substituted for Xiaolongnu's part, saying: "The two of us have indeed developed feelings."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yang Guo's state of mind almost shattered, and the hidden Xiaolongnu felt a surge of emotion, immediately wanting to come out to stop Gu Qing and clarify their feelings.

"Absolutely not!"

Sun Bu'er stopped him first: "Do you know why Master Wang Chongyang did not stay with Heroine Lin Chaoying?"

Regarding the matter of Wang Chongyang and Lin Chaoying, Xiaolongnu and Yang Guo only knew the situation from Lin Chaoying's side. At this moment, they were both very curious and wanted to hear Wang Chongyang's thoughts.

Gu Qing shook his head, wanting to hear Sun Bu'er's profound opinion.

"Because after practicing the Primordial Qi Art, one cannot be close to women."

Sun Bu'er said: "If you have contact with women, you will lose your internal energy. Gu Qing, you are the most like Master Chongyang among the fourth-generation disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect. We also hope that you will focus your mind on martial arts and must not be bewitched by the women of the Ancient Tomb Sect!"

"How could that be..."

Gu Qing said: "The Southern Emperor..."

After the Southern Emperor learned the Primordial Qi Art, he indeed stayed away from women.

Gu Qing also thought of when Zhou Botong taught Guo Jing martial arts, he once said that because he had lost his virginity, he did not practice Wang Chongyang's techniques, otherwise he would surely have surpassed Huang Yaoshi, left Peach Blossom Island, and so on.

"Back then, Heroine Lin Chaoying liked to compete with Master Chongyang. If Master Chongyang and Heroine Lin Chaoying had been together, Master Chongyang's internal energy would have been depleted day by day, while Heroine Lin Chaoying would have become more and more advanced, and he would never have been able to hold his head high for the rest of his life."

Sun Bu'er spoke of these old matters, and Gu Qing's mind was left in a daze.

Once this Primordial Qi Art is combined with a woman, it will transfer internal energy to the woman...

"In short, you must still take care of yourself."

After Sun Bu'er's stern warning, she let Gu Qing leave.

Yang Guo had originally wanted to assassinate Hao Datong, but at this moment he couldn't help but laugh, and his murderous intent dissipated.

Gu Qing walked forward silently with his hands behind his back, pondering his own merit points, which could be used to restore internal energy. So, if he had contact with women in the future, he would have to pay dozens of merit points first...

... I also don't know if, when internal energy reaches the realm of Yin-Yang Harmony and endless life, it can be immune to this negative effect.

While pondering in his heart, Gu Qing suddenly looked up and saw Xiaolongnu in white clothes like snow, her face flushed, standing firmly before him.

This expression was clearly because she was dissatisfied with Gu Qing speaking of feelings on her behalf.

Beside her was Yang Guo, who was holding back laughter.

"Miss Long."

Gu Qing saw Xiaolongnu and said: "I have offended you much recently, so I would like to apologize to you. I am willing to entrust this entire body of internal energy to you."

Gu Qing stated solemnly.

Yang Guo stopped laughing.

You really are going all out!

(End of chapter)