Gu Qingya Comes Calling

"You two..." Yi Huang looked at the two rather displeased people in front of her, and her anger flared up.

"How old are you? A Pavilion Master, a Grand Elder, yet you're a laughingstock all day long."

"What kind of behavior is this!"

"Get ready, we'll depart at noon," Yi Huang said, waving her hand.

Xiao Han's body trembled suddenly, then he felt somewhat helpless. For some reason, he had a feeling that he would be executed in the afternoon.

Speaking of which, Xiao Han suddenly remembered that after resolving the predicament of Sound Valley, he seemed to have never visited Sound Valley again.

Decades later, being able to revisit it would be quite nice.

However, things didn't go as planned...

"Pavilion Master!" The Elder who came to report had a strange expression. "The people from the Gu Clan have arrived."

"Gu Clan?" Xiao Han narrowed his eyes slightly. He had expected this, but to be approached on such a joyous occasion made his displeasure tangible.

"You're not going this time?" After the Elder left, Yi Huang and Ye Jianxin both looked at Xiao Han with resentment.

"Um, sorry!" Xiao Han was a little annoyed, but then he smiled and tossed a Storage Ring to Ye Jianxin, who caught it with a puzzled look.

"Tell Old Man Tianyin, this is my apology to him!" With that, he disappeared.

"This is..." Ye Jianxin glanced at the Storage Ring in confusion, then suddenly gasped.

Noticing Ye Jianxin's surprise, Yi Huang asked curiously, "What did that guy give you?"

Ye Jianxin gave a wry smile, "Even with all the good things we've Betrothal Gift, I'm worried that Sound Valley won't be able to afford the dowry!"

Yi Huang's eyes widened in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Xiao Han had already appeared in the reception room of the Langya Pavilion, openly scrutinizing the uneasy Gu Clan guest in front of him. To Xiao Han's surprise, this was actually an acquaintance.

"Elder Gu Qingya, what brings the Gu Clan here this time?" Xiao Han asked with a forced smile.

Feeling the chill in the air, Gu Qingya sighed helplessly in his heart, knowing that this trip would not go smoothly. Their Gu Clan had done a special study on this rapidly rising master of Langya Pavilion Master.

I have a clear understanding of his personality, which can be summed up in two words: tough!

A cowardly soldier is a coward, and a cowardly Langya Pavilion has such a strong-willed Pavilion Master, whether it was a first-rate force in the past or a transcendent existence now, its foreign policy has almost never shown weakness or retreat.

Almost every conflict they have had with other forces has ended with the opponent making concessions. Their enemies even include Super faction like the Soul Hall and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan.

To be fair, the Langya Pavilion Master's personality has earned the approval of many old-timers among the Gu Clan, including himself.

However, while he admired her, Gu Qingya did find it quite troublesome to face this personality.

"I must congratulate Pavilion Master Su on advancing to the Six Star level this time," Gu Qingya, suppressing the bitterness in his heart and bowing respectfully.

"Furthermore, I just discovered that Langya Pavilion seems to be celebrating a joyous occasion. I apologize for the sudden intrusion..."

"No need!" Xiao Han's attitude was extremely cold. "Please, Elder Gu Qingya, speak plainly!"

There was no way to avoid the topic with jokes, so Gu Qingya had no choice but to get straight to the point. Looking at Xiao Han, who was expressionless, he said, "According to rumors, Langya Pavilion destroyed the two hidden sects, Azure Gold Gate and Heavenly Moon Sect?"

"I don't know..." Gu Qingya was about to say something more, trying to make his words sound gentler.

However...

"Not bad!" Xiao Han interrupted Gu Qingya without giving him a chance to say more.

"Is there a problem with this?" Xiao Han's voice was as calm as still water.

"It seems unnecessary for my Langya Pavilion to explain its actions to the Gu Clan beforehand!"

Hearing Xiao Han's increasingly hostile tone, Gu Qingya quickly explained, "I had absolutely no such intention."

"Langya Pavilion has the freedom to act as it sees fit, and our Gu Clan will never interfere."

He felt a cold sweat break out on his brow. According to this Ice Saint, their Gu Clan seemed to enjoy interfering in the internal affairs of the Central Plains powers.

If this were to spread, the reputation of Ancient Races, including the Gu Clan, in the Central Plains would plummet. In more serious cases, they might face a united boycott from the forces of the Central Plains.

Such consequences are beyond what his old bones can bear.

Before Xiao Han could continue speaking, Gu Qingya blurted out all the words that had been brewing in her heart for a long time:

"I have come here only to offer my congratulations and then to introduce some of the secrets of the continent to Pavilion Master Su."

"Oh?" Xiao Han raised an eyebrow. "That's interesting."

"Congratulations on understanding, Pavilion Master. May I ask what secrets this continent holds?"

Gu Qingya steeled his resolve and said, "This secret... is simply a rule established between my Ancient Races and many Super faction in the Central Plains."

"What rules?" Xiao Han asked, feigning ignorance.

Gu Qingya gave a wry smile. "Pavilion Master Su knows perfectly well what's going on, so why should I bring it up?"

These things may be considered secret, but at a higher level, they are common knowledge that is not spoken of. Gu Qingya did not believe that a sect like Langya Pavilion, which could rival many Super faction in Central Plains, would be unaware of such a trivial matter.

Xiao Han leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest beside him, and said leisurely, "So... Elder Gu Qingya is here to warn this Pavilion Master about the rule that one cannot act without authorization above the Five Star level?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingya felt the temperature in the air drop rapidly, and the tea in his hand silently frosted over.

He had a premonition that if he couldn't satisfy this Ice Saint today, even if he wouldn't be killed because of the Gu Clan's reputation, he would definitely be dealt with.

Immediately, Gu Qingya quietly circulated his Dou Qi, dispelling the chill from within several feet of him, and said with a smile, "Pavilion Master Su has misunderstood. We are not people who cannot distinguish right from wrong."

"The recent events are nothing more than the two sects reaping what they sowed. My Gu Clan has no intention of antagonizing the Langya Pavilion."

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Qingya felt the pressure around him vanish instantly. He looked up and saw Xiao Han's handsome face with a gentle smile, "I was just being overthinking it. Please explain further, Elder Gu Qingya."

His attitude was so polite, as if nothing had happened.

"Then thank you very much, Pavilion Master Su." Gu Qingya much more relaxed; there was still one more hurdle to overcome.

"We just hope that Pavilion Master Su will not attack other forces without cause."

"Of course, it's fine if you have a grudge against Pavilion Master Su."

To Gu Qingya's surprise, the other party agreed very readily, "Please rest assured, Elder Gu Qingya, I will abide by this rule."

Xiao Han said with a smile, "My Langya Pavilion has always been kind to others and would never bully the weak."

Gu Qingya thought to himself, "That's right. Langya Pavilion may not be willing to bully the weak, but the benefits of destroying a hidden sect are much greater."

But what could he, as the representative of Ancient Races, do now that things had come to this? The other Ancient Races were unwilling to cause trouble for the Ice Saint in the first place; otherwise, it wouldn't have been a Four Star Dou Sheng like him, but the Three Immortals of Gu Dao of the Gu Clan.

In fact, although this so-called agreement was jointly established by the Ancient Races and the Super faction of the Central Plains, it was primarily aimed at the Ancient Races.

After all, almost all the powerful figures above the Five-Star Dou Sheng on the mainland come from Ancient Races, and the few powerful figures in Central Plains are all old and no longer concerned with worldly affairs.

If it weren't for the fact that the Ancient Races needed the Central Plains to provide various resources, and that they weren't wary and restrained of each other, this regulation would be nothing more than a piece of waste paper.

Everything was originally unremarkable, but then the Ice Saint appeared as an exception, so they could only hope that he would abide by the rules.

Pay close attention to the other party's movements at all times.

As for pursuing the responsibility of the Ice Saint for attacking forces everywhere, making enemies would be entirely detrimental.

He was only responsible for relaying messages; other miscellaneous matters were not his concern. "In that case, I shall take my leave."

Before leaving, Gu Qingya extended an invitation. "If Pavilion Master Su is interested, you are welcome to come to the Gu Clan and have a chat with us old folks."

"Pavilion Master Su will be an honored guest of our Gu Clan!"

"Thank you very much!" Xiao Han did not refuse.