Treating Guests

Jiang Qingshan stood outside the hall, his hands clasped behind his back.

Behind him stood Jiang Jianli.

The father and daughter stood there in front of the hall, waiting for Gu Chengyin's response.

However, after waiting for a long time, there was not the slightest sound.

Jiang Qingshan frowned slightly and took the initiative to call out, "Junior Preceptor Gu?"

There was still no response.

He looked up and vaguely saw that Gu Chengyin seemed to be talking to someone.

Jiang Qingshan's heart skipped a beat.

Inside this hall, who else could it be other than Lord Jingzhe?

Lin Qingyan.

Jingzhe of the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Invincible in the Golden Core realm.

As these words surfaced in his mind, Jiang Qingshan's expression instantly grew solemn.

Although he was also in the Golden Core realm, the gap between Golden Core cultivators, especially in terms of combat strength, was massive.

It was larger than the gap between a human and a dog.

Having stayed in the Qingjian Sect for so many years, he had been stripped of power, marginalized, and treated as a mere puppet.

But it was precisely because of his experiences over these years that he knew better than anyone what a true powerhouse looked like.

Lin Qingyan was exactly that kind of powerhouse.

At merely the early stage of the Golden Core realm, she could fight three opponents at once. She was the most formidable killing force of her generation in the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Such an existence was someone he could not afford to provoke.

And must not provoke.

Therefore, when Gu Chengyin released his oppressive aura in the square...

When that bloodline suppression enveloped the entire Qingjian Sect, no one resisted.

It wasn't that they didn't want to.

It was that they didn't dare.

Because the person standing beside Gu Chengyin was Lin Qingyan.

The person who had him locked in her sights from the very beginning.

If he made even the slightest unusual move, he would face golden lightning in the very next second.

Therefore, he could only yield.

Jiang Qingshan took a deep breath, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, and patiently continued to wait.

Having endured for so many years, he still had at least this much patience.

Jiang Jianli stood behind him, her gaze fixed on the half of Gu Chengyin's head that was visible.

She did not have as many concerns as Jiang Qingshan, nor such deep apprehension.

To Jiang Jianli, she already considered Gu Chengyin as her son-in-law.

But she had an intuition.

It seemed there was something going on between Gu Chengyin and Lin Qingyan.

What exactly it was, she didn't know.

There was an indescribable atmosphere between the two of them.

Even though there was a distance between them, and they made no intimate gestures, they simply gave off a feeling of intimacy.

Jiang Jianli recalled earlier in the square, when Gu Chengyin released his aura, Lin Qingyan had stood just half a step beside him.

That distance was neither too far nor too close, yet it was the perfect position to strike.

She remembered when they were talking in the hall earlier, Lin Qingyan had sat quietly to the side from beginning to end, her gaze never leaving Gu Chengyin.

She thought of the glance Lin Qingyan gave her when she left.

That gaze was as cold and clear as usual, but deep down, something was flickering.

What was it?

Jiang Jianli couldn't figure it out.

Furthermore, she dared not believe it.

Although Gu Chengyin was outstanding and powerful.

Lin Qingyan was even more outstanding and more powerful.

The invincible Golden Core cultivator, Jingzhe of the Heavenly Master Mansion—such an existence wouldn't lower her status, would she?

Jiang Jianli thought about it. After going back, she still needed to give Shangguan Yunying a heads-up.

She needed to tell her to pay attention to it.

Having made up her mind, Jiang Jianli stopped overthinking and just waited quietly.

In contrast to the quietness outside the hall, Gu Chengyin's feelings at this moment could only be described as painful yet happy.

The happy part was that Lin Qingyan had released her inner demon, but surprisingly hadn't knocked him out with lightning.

This was simply unprecedented.

During the last few times he weakened the inner demon, he had been shocked unconscious, only waking up when it was already dawn.

But this time, he didn't know if it was because Lin Qingyan was in a particularly good mood, or for some other reason.

And the painful part was...

Although he wasn't knocked out, it didn't mean he wasn't electrocuted!

The intense, tingling sensation involved was simply beyond what could be explained to outsiders.

Gu Chengyin took a great deal of effort to focus his attention back on business.

He looked down, and the figures of Jiang Qingshan and Jiang Jianli were clearly visible.

He cleared his throat, trying hard to keep his voice normal.

"Sect Master Jiang."

The voice drifted outside the hall, as steady as usual, with no hint of anything abnormal.

Hearing the voice, Jiang Qingshan immediately looked up.

"Junior Preceptor Gu," he replied in a respectful tone.

Gu Chengyin looked at him and spoke flatly, "I heard there is a welcoming banquet tonight?"

Jiang Qingshan blinked.

A welcoming banquet.

Originally, there indeed was one.

According to custom, when the inspection team arrived at the sect, there would be a welcoming banquet that very night.

It was to host the entire inspection team, and also a good opportunity to build relationships.

The problem was, right after Gu Chengyin arrived, he had given them a show of strength.

With bloodline suppression, the entire sect bowed their heads, and even he, the Sect Master, had yielded.

Then Gu Chengyin said nothing and just left with Jiang Jianli.

This left the Qingjian Sect in an awkward position where hosting the banquet felt wrong, but canceling it felt wrong too.

Jiang Qingshan smiled bitterly in his heart, but didn't show it on his face at all.

He asked tentatively, "Yes, Junior Preceptor Gu."

"The inspection team must be exhausted from the journey. Our sect has long prepared fine wine and good food, just waiting for..."

"Well, I think this place is quite nice."

Before he could finish, Gu Chengyin interrupted him.

Jiang Qingshan was taken aback.

He followed Gu Chengyin's gaze and looked around.

Here?

At the peak of the mountains?

Did this mean... he wanted him to host the welcoming banquet here?

Jiang Qingshan was a bit confused, not understanding what Gu Chengyin was planning.

Gu Chengyin, however, said casually, "Sect Master Jiang, the scenery here at Qingjian Mountain is truly quite nice, majestic and beautiful."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to drink and chat cheerfully here?"

"In my opinion, let's host the welcoming banquet right here tonight."

Jiang Qingshan fell silent for a moment.

He certainly knew there was something wrong with Gu Chengyin's words.

Who would host a welcoming banquet at the top of a mountain?

But Jiang Qingshan also knew that the one calling the shots now was not him, but Gu Chengyin.

From the moment this young man stepped into the Qingjian Sect, he had been in control of the situation.

The bloodline suppression in the square, the special treatment toward Jiang Jianli—every step was moving to his rhythm.

Proposing to host the banquet here now definitely carried Gu Chengyin's hidden intentions.

Jiang Qingshan didn't plan to ask. Judging from the deeds about Gu Chengyin that Jiang Jianli had revealed...

Obedience was the best choice.

As long as he obeyed, he would become the true Sect Master of the Qingjian Sect.

"Everything will be as Junior Preceptor Gu wishes," he nodded and said.

A hint of satisfaction appeared in Gu Chengyin's eyes.

Although Jiang Qingshan was Shangguan Yunying's maternal grandfather and technically family in name, it was not yet the time to play the family card.

The authority that needed to be established must be established.

The posture that needed to be maintained must still be maintained.

"Then I will trouble Sect Master Jiang."

Pausing for a moment, Gu Chengyin added another sentence.

"By the way, I'm a person who doesn't like things too lively."

"So, there's no need for too many people."

This last sentence was light and airy, as if mentioned casually.

But falling upon Jiang Qingshan's ears, it made his heart skip a beat.

No need for too many people.

But they must be the key figures.

And the elders who truly managed affairs in the Qingjian Sect happened to be just those few.

If they didn't come, that would be disrespecting Gu Chengyin. Without even needing Lin Qingyan to make a move...

Chen Busha would teach those elders the true meaning of the word respect.

If they came, it would be a trap.

Jiang Qingshan suddenly understood exactly what Gu Chengyin was trying to do.

After tonight, the Qingjian Sect would probably truly change owners.

Suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, he stopped talking nonsense.

He respectfully cupped his hands in acknowledgment, then turned and departed with Jiang Jianli.

It was not until their two figures had completely disappeared from sight that Gu Chengyin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked down at Lin Qingyan, gritting his teeth as he spoke:

"I really need to teach you a lesson, Auntie."