Chapter 8: Xun'er’s Confrontation
Xun'er felt a bit unsettled as she watched the seventh-grade pill emerge from Gu Fei's hands. After some thought, she decided to temporarily set aside what had happened that day.
After all, the desire to admire the strong is something that resides in the heart of every member of the Gu Clan.
Although she didn't like Gu Fei, there was no harm in congratulating him on successfully refining a seventh-grade pill, right?
She managed to convince herself to go see Gu Fei and put the unpleasant discussions she had overheard out of her mind.
Just as Xun'er was preparing to congratulate Gu Fei and perhaps explain the previous situation, she still hoped to smooth things over with him. After all, having a genius like Gu Fei as her husband would be a source of pride for her.
At this moment, Xun'er couldn't recall why Gu Fei had proposed the separation. She still believed he was overreacting. Was it necessary to suggest a separation over such a small matter?
Xun'er continued to think that as long as she took a step back, Gu Fei would forgive her. After all, didn't Gu Fei used to like her so much that his first request to Gu Yuan was to marry her?
Gu Fei loved her, didn't he?
But in the next moment, Xun'er's steps halted. She had already reached the foot of the mountain and was about to start climbing when a servant stepped in to stop her.
"Apologies, Miss Xun'er, the master has issued an eviction order, instructing that no one is to disturb him."
The servant's tone was calm, with a noticeable courtesy, yet it was unlike the way he usually spoke to the wife of the mountain's master.
Xun'er's eyes widened in anger. These servants had never called her Miss Xun'er before, nor had they ever been so distant! In the past, even when Gu Fei was focused on cultivating and issued an eviction order, it never applied to her. She had always been free to come and go on this mountain.
This was a promise Gu Fei had made when he married her, that this mountain rich in Dou Qi would never be off-limits to Xun'er.
Seeing this, Xun'er wanted to speak, but the servant quickly shut her down.
"The master has decided to immediately start refining the next pill and cannot be disturbed by anyone."
Even a genius like Xun'er was stunned by the servant's words.
He's going to refine another one?!
And judging by how seriously Gu Fei is taking this, it's likely another high-grade pill!
Xun'er couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Is Gu Fei a monster?
Ordinary seventh-grade alchemists would be completely drained after refining just one seventh-grade pill. They would need several days or even over a week to recover. After all, refining such a pill not only requires a massive amount of Dou Qi but also drains one's mental energy. Some even injure their essence while refining seventh-grade pills, making it impossible for them to ever advance in strength again.
But here, Gu Fei was about to start refining another pill right after completing the first one? Doesn't he need to rest at all?
He's simply a freak.
With the servant's words leaving her no choice, Xun'er had to give up. She stomped her foot in frustration and walked away in anger.
All of this was observed by a person from a distance.
"Everything can only be left to fate..."
The person sighed in his heart, revealing a weathered and unremarkable face. Though his appearance seemed plain, the occasional gleam in his eyes made it impossible to ignore his presence.
This was Gu Lie, the Black Submerged King, one of the Gu Clan's top experts, watching the situation unfold from a high vantage point.
Gu Lie had been watching the conflict between the two young people for a while now, smiling helplessly as he let out a long sigh.
Gu Yuan had come to him that day to discuss this matter, bringing it up awkwardly and tactfully asking him to persuade Gu Fei.
Upon hearing this, Gu Lie naturally felt displeased at first. After Gu Yuan left, he snorted coldly.
His grandson had been cuckolded by his granddaughter-in-law, and now Gu Yuan wanted him to convince Gu Fei to forgive Xun'er?
How ridiculous!
Moreover, Gu Fei is not a common man; why should he keep retreating?
Yet, the clan leader had made such a sincere request, so Gu Lie had no choice but to agree on the surface.
But deep down, he knew there wasn't much he could do.
He knew his grandson's character well. Gu Fei was strong-willed and would not do something he didn't want to do, even if Gu Lie used his authority as a grandfather.
Besides, privately, Gu Lie didn't want his grandson, a prodigy, to suffer such humiliation.
There are plenty of women in the world; why should Gu Fei get hung up on just one?
Time passed, and people from the Gu Clan continued to visit the mountain where Gu Fei resided, gazing up in admiration.
As the emotions of admiration and respect slowly trickled into the system, finally, the second seventh-grade pill was born.
Familiar dark clouds and pill lightning gathered once more above the mountain.
Countless Gu Clan members gathered around Gu Fei's mountain again to witness the spectacle.
As the pill lightning struck down repeatedly, the terrifying pressure extended for hundreds of miles.
Many of the onlookers turned pale, unable to withstand the pressure.
Some began to worry about whether Gu Fei would be alright.
After all, he had just finished refining one seventh-grade pill, faced its lightning, and was now preparing to do it all over again.
"Why worry? Don't you know who Gu Fei is? He's not bothered by mere pill lightning!"
"Exactly! Instead of worrying about Gu Fei, why not focus on improving your own alchemy skills?"
Good-natured laughter spread among the crowd, and the person worrying blushed and scratched his head.
He secretly decided that he would ask Gu Fei for advice next time. A sixteen-year-old alchemy genius... even if he practiced diligently for a lifetime, he might never measure up.
Just then, Xun'er appeared, storming toward the mountain.
She stood at the foot of the mountain, her eyebrows raised in anger, her eyes filled with fury.
Xun'er experiences anger. Emotional value +200.
Gu Fei frowned, opening his eyes to look down the mountain.
Far below, he saw a small figure.
That figure took a deep breath, and with a voice full of anger, amplified by Dou Qi so it could be heard clearly on the mountaintop, shouted:
"Gu Fei, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person! How could you send someone to assassinate Brother Xiao Yan?"
The crowd was in an uproar.
Those who knew the situation were skeptical of Xun'er's accusation, while others began to ponder or hesitated.
Xiao Yan, the son of the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City, was also Xun'er's former love interest.
Could it be that Gu Fei, betrayed by his wife, acted out of jealousy and resentment, trying to harm Xiao Yan?
Perhaps he even wanted to kill the "adulterer."
But when someone tentatively suggested this, the idea was quickly drowned out by a wave of opposition.
"Impossible! That's Gu Fei we're talking about!"
"Right! Would he hurt a mere commoner because of Xun'er?"
"Besides, Gu Fei clearly doesn't like Xun'er anymore, and he's not the type to kill indiscriminately!"
Those who knew the situation didn't believe Xun'er's one-sided claim, and those who didn't know were even less likely to buy into it.
They all knew exactly what kind of person Gu Fei was.