Chapter 367: Doing a Favor

Gao Jinhe had managed the Gao family for over a hundred years and was a highly respected cultivator in Qinghe County. Naturally, his funeral would not be of a low standard. Basically, all the well-known immortal cultivation families in Qinghe County had come to Mount Lianhua to pay their respects, and even several Foundation Establishment families in the surrounding area of Qinghe County that had good relations with the Gao family had sent people over.

In the hall where Song Qingming entered, besides the people from the Huang family and several cultivators from the Carefree Sect like Gao Yuyao, there were also several unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivators sitting there. Song Qingming had seen one of them back when the Taiyue Lake secret realm opened; that person had joined forces with two members of the Gao family to enter the secret realm, so their relationship with the Gao family was likely extraordinary.

"Fellow Daoist Song, I heard rumors in the market previously that Fellow Daoist Qingyu had gone out to travel. I have always been unsure if this was true or false. Fortunately, I met you today, Brother. Could you clear up this doubt in my heart for me?" Just as Song Qingming was scanning the other Foundation Establishment cultivators present, a secret sound transmission from Huang Sipo suddenly reached his ears.

Hearing Huang Sipo ask this, Song Qingming immediately came to his senses and looked at him with a puzzled expression. "No wonder this guy tried to sit next to me as soon as he arrived; it turns out he wanted to probe me about this in private."

A year ago, not long after Song Qingming returned from Black Stone Valley, Song Qingyu left Mount Funiu to go out and train. Although Song Qingming had strictly ordered within the clan that this matter should not be spread, it was natural that such things would be hard to keep hidden from everyone forever as time passed.

After all, the Huang family was an immortal cultivation family that had occupied one side for nearly a thousand years. They naturally had many eyes and ears and were well-informed in Qinghe County. Plus, Song Qingyu hadn't appeared for nearly a year, so it wasn't difficult for the Huang family to deduce this.

Seeing that Huang Sipo had asked him directly, Song Qingming knew there was no need to hide it from him anymore.

"To be honest, Qingyu did indeed leave Mount Funiu half a year ago to train. Because this matter concerns the safety of the entire Song clan, we did not inform Mount Taiyuan immediately. I hope Fellow Daoist Huang can understand."

Hearing Song Qingming admit it so generously, Huang Sipo, who had been prepared, slowly revealed a smile. He raised the wine cup in his hand and continued to Song Qingming:

"What are you saying? Your concerns, Brother, are only natural. It was just that I was a bit too impatient today, and my words were a bit presumptuous. Let this cup of wine be my apology to you, Fellow Daoist."

Song Qingming also raised his cup and replied, "You are too polite, Fellow Daoist. Our two families have advanced and retreated together and supported each other for many years; we have long been inseparable allies. Otherwise, I would not have spoken so frankly to you today."

After saying this, Song Qingming drank the spirit wine in his cup first. Seeing this, Huang Sipo nodded with a smile and also drank the contents of his cup in one gulp.

"I wonder where Fellow Daoist Qingyu went this time, and if she said when she would return? When that time comes, I must visit Mount Funiu to pay a visit and ask her for advice. If there is a chance in the future, I also want to go out and see the scenery outside this world."

"When Qingyu decided to leave the mountain, she told me she was just going to walk around the area of the State of Wei and would be back in three to five years at most. Fellow Daoist Huang, rest assured, when Qingyu returns to Mount Funiu, I will definitely send someone to Mount Taiyuan to inform you immediately."

"That's good! Thank you very much, Brother."

In fact, when Song Qingyu left the mountain that day, she hadn't said when she would return. The reason Song Qingming didn't tell Huang Sipo the truth was that he didn't want to reveal all his cards to the Huang family.

Just as Song Qingming and Huang Sipo were chatting in secret, two more people walked into the hall entrance. One of them was none other than the head of the Lu family, Lu Xingde.

Like Huang Shengyue, Lu Xingde had been wholeheartedly wanting to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment for these years, but he suffered from a lack of resources to assist in breaking through the realm and could only stay on the mountain for long periods of closed-door cultivation. If it weren't for Gao Jinhe's passing, he might not have come down the mountain.

Accompanying Lu Xingde inside was Gao Yubai, the future head of the Gao family.

The Lu family and the Gao family had always been close, so it was within everyone's expectations that Gao Yubai, the new Gao family patriarch, would come out to welcome him personally.

After Lu Xingde took his seat, the important guests invited by the Gao family had basically all arrived. Soon, the mournful sound of funeral music began to play on Mount Lianhua, and the Gao family officially began Gao Jinhe's funeral.

Under Gao Yubai's personal direction, everyone first went to the spirit hall prepared by the Gao family to offer incense, and then one by one paid their final respects to Gao Jinhe's remains. As the funeral proceeded step by step, the golden silk coffin containing Gao Jinhe's remains was soon sent into the Gao family's mausoleum.

Not long after Gao Jinhe's funeral ended, Huang Sipo, who seemed not to like staying on Mount Lianhua very much, immediately stepped forward to bid farewell to Song Qingming.

"Fellow Daoist Song, I have some matters that need to be dealt with, so I will take my leave today. In a few days, when the Yellow Mist Tea on the back mountain of my home is ripe, I invite you, Brother, to do me the honor of visiting Mount Taiyuan to sit and exchange cultivation insights with me."

"Hehe! If I have nothing to do then, I will definitely arrive on time. Since you have matters to attend to, Fellow Daoist, please go ahead."

After bowing and bidding farewell to Song Qingming, Huang Sipo called the Huang family woman who was still talking to Song Xinhe not far away, and the two quickly left Mount Lianhua directly.

Watching the two Huang family members leave, Song Qingming saw that the crowd paying their respects was slowly dispersing, so he immediately took Song Xinhe down the mountain, preparing to return to the Song family.

Unexpectedly, just as they reached the foot of the mountain, Song Qingming saw a familiar figure appear before him again, looking as if she had been waiting for him specifically.

"Fellow Daoist Song! Could we speak in private?" Standing before Song Qingming and his companion was none other than Gao Yuyao, whom he had seen not long ago.

Seeing that Gao Yuyao's expression seemed a bit strange, as if she were burdened with worries, Song Qingming turned back and instructed Song Xinhe to stay where he was, then followed Gao Yuyao along the mountain path to the side.

After the two walked a distance, Song Qingming took the initiative to stop and said directly, "There is no one around here. Fairy Gao, what is the matter you are looking for me for? Please speak plainly!"

Gao Yuyao stopped, carefully looked around, and then raised her hand to cast a sound-insulation spell to cover the two of them. Only then did she feel at ease and speak softly to Song Qingming:

"My reason for looking for Fellow Daoist Song this time is actually because there is a matter I would like to ask you to help me with. I wonder if you could look at our past acquaintance and help me once."

"This! I don't know what exactly it is. Could Fairy Gao tell me first? Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to know whether I have the ability to help you." Song Qingming replied with a normal expression.