Fairy, you call this repaying a debt of gratitude?

three months later.

After months of silence in the forbidden area, a slender young man slowly stepped out.

This person was none other than Gu Hanfeng.

After this period of seclusion, Gu Hanfeng successfully broke through the Golden Core stage and reached the Nascent Soul stage.

He stood up and stretched his limbs, clearly feeling that his strength had far surpassed what it used to be.

After months of arduous training, he had only one goal—to protect the person he cared about.

Now that he has emerged from seclusion, the sense of security brought by his Nascent Soul stage strength far surpasses anything else. This sense of security comes from being able to protect his loved ones.

However, Gu Hanfeng frowned because he did not see the person he had been longing to see.

The person she was thinking about was naturally Chen Qiuyu.

But that's fine too. When I appear before her with my Nascent Soul stage cultivation, she'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

He looked up and saw that the entire Weishui Zongzheng was brightly decorated and bustling with activity.

The disciples coming and going all filled the hall with laughter and chatter, their steps light and quick, creating a lively and festive atmosphere everywhere.

Seeing this magnificent scene, Gu Hanfeng felt relieved and a sense of warmth welled up in his heart.

He assumed that the sect was celebrating his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage by holding a banquet in gratitude for his many days of arduous cultivation.

At the same time, he secretly imagined that if today's ceremony was already so grand and enthusiastic, then one day he could openly and legitimately marry Chen Qiuyu, the wedding would surely be a hundred times more grand than it was now.

Filled with anticipation, Gu Hanfeng walked slowly toward the main hall of the sect, eager to see his junior sister whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

However, the disciples who had been chatting happily along the way all looked at him with a strange expression when they saw him emerge from seclusion, and hesitated to speak.

Overjoyed, Gu Hanfeng didn't notice this unusual behavior until he heard scattered whispers:

"Today is a joyous occasion for the Sect Master. Senior Sister Qiuyu and Young Master Xie are getting married. It's truly a match made in heaven..."

"Young Master Xie has an extraordinary demeanor and a promising future. It is truly a good match for Senior Sister to have found such a worthy man."

Only then did he realize that the sect's grand celebration today was not to commemorate his breakthrough after emerging from seclusion.

This grand event, with red ribbons fluttering in the sky and music resounding, was Chen Qiuyu's wedding.

Gu Hanfeng, belatedly realizing what was happening, suddenly froze in his tracks, his expression filled with confusion and astonishment. He could hardly believe his ears.

But after a brief moment of distraction, he forced himself to suppress the turmoil surging in his heart, and strode straight toward the main hall of the sect, wanting to ask about the reason in person.

The main hall was filled with guests, and melodious music filled the air.

The sect leader of the Wei River sect sat solemnly in the main seat.

Standing beside him was a man of noble bearing and refined demeanor, none other than Xie Lingran.

Xie Lingran was only twenty years old, but he had a steady aura and unfathomable cultivation. He was extraordinary from afar. Now he was dressed as a groom, and one look was enough to tell that he was the one who was going to marry Chen Qiuyu.

"Hanfeng? Why did you emerge from seclusion so early?"

The sect leader was somewhat surprised to see Gu Hanfeng striding towards him.

He had originally calculated that Gu Hanfeng would need at least another month to emerge from seclusion. Knowing that his daughter had developed feelings for Gu Hanfeng, he rushed to finalize the marriage and hold the wedding before Gu Hanfeng emerged from seclusion, wanting to completely sever their feelings for each other.

Unexpectedly, Gu Hanfeng emerged from seclusion ahead of schedule, and happened to be there on his wedding day.

Upon hearing this, Gu Hanfeng's expression froze for a moment, and he smiled bitterly to himself.

Yes, no one knows how much effort he put in to see the woman he loved as soon as possible...

Xie Lingran looked at Gu Hanfeng, who was slowly stepping into the main hall with a gloomy demeanor, with a slightly cold gaze.

Before this, he had already heard too many stories about Gu Hanfeng from various people.

He knew that Gu Hanfeng had become famous at a young age, reaching the top of the Hundred Sects Alliance at the age of fifteen. His talent was unparalleled, and his cultivation was rapid. In just a few years, he rose from a rogue cultivator to become one of the most outstanding talents in the Central Continent. His potential was limitless. However, he also knew that Gu Hanfeng was extremely ruthless and was not someone to be trifled with.

Having witnessed the young man's bearing and demeanor firsthand today, and combined with the various rumors she had heard, Xie Lingran made a decision in an instant.

Gu Hanfeng's growth rate is astonishing, and he is cold-hearted and decisive. Such a person would be a great thing if he could be used by us, but if he were an enemy, he would be a major threat and we should not keep him around for long.

Before winning Chen Qiuyu's heart, he had heard many rumors about the sects associated with him.

Gu Hanfeng stayed at the Weishui Sect only to repay Chen Qiuyu for saving his life, and the two had been together day and night, so they might have already developed feelings for each other.

With his deep mind, he figured it out almost instantly.

Now that he is about to marry Chen Qiuyu, there is absolutely no possibility that Gu Hanfeng will submit.

In the main hall, before Gu Hanfeng could even open his mouth to question, Xie Lingran spoke first. He whispered his thoughts to the sect leader beside him and finally concluded: "This boy is too sharp and his temperament is difficult to tame. If we keep him, he will become a great threat."

Upon hearing this, the sect leader of the Weishui Sect was taken aback, and then hesitated.

Gu Hanfeng is a once-in-a-century prodigy of the sect, bringing it unparalleled fame. However, the sect has now become dependent on Xie Lingran, and with the overall situation at hand, no mistakes can be tolerated.

After weighing the pros and cons, the sect leader gritted his teeth and said, "Effective immediately, Gu Hanfeng's status as a sect disciple is hereby revoked, and he is expelled from the Weishui Sect, never to return."

After the words were spoken, the room fell silent, and no one understood why such a sudden order had been given.

Why?

Xie Lingran gently shook her head, her eyes cold and deep:

"not enough."

"To cut the grass, you must remove the roots; this person must not be left alive."

In just a few words, there was absolutely no room for mercy.

The sect leader remained silent for a long time, looking at the guests in the hall and at Xie Lingran, who had an imposing aura beside him. In the end, for the sake of the sect's survival and the established situation, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.

At a command, all the sect disciples waiting outside the hall rushed in with their swords drawn, surrounding Gu Hanfeng and trapping him in the center of the main hall, ready to kill him at the next order.

Gu Hanfeng didn't utter a single word from beginning to end, except for that one question, "Why?"

He gazed quietly at the sect leader he once respected, and at the gentle yet ruthless Xie Lingran before him, and something in his heart seemed to be gradually dissipating.

The camaraderie of the past has vanished completely.

But now that Gu Hanfeng's cultivation has greatly improved, his strength has far surpassed that of the ordinary disciples of the sect.

Faced with the layers of encirclement, the pressure of her Nascent Soul stage cultivation suddenly manifested!

In an instant, sword light flashed and blood splattered everywhere.

In the blink of an eye, all the disciples who had rushed forward to attack fell to the ground, none of them escaping unscathed.

Blood stained the blue bricks beneath the main hall, making the festive red carpet appear even more vibrant, yet also more horrifying.

Upon seeing this terrifying scene, the sect leader beside him was so frightened that his legs went weak and his mouth trembled uncontrollably.

"Guards! Guards! Kill him! Kill him now!!"

At his command, more disciples rushed in with swords, one after another, to surround and kill him, but without exception, they all died at the hands of Gu Hanfeng.

The sect leader looked at the corpses of his disciples scattered all over the ground, and watched as the disciples he had personally nurtured slaughtered everyone in the sect. Extreme fear swept over him, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He even found it extremely difficult to stand up, and all that remained in his heart was lingering fear.

He tugged at Xie Lingran's sleeve, his voice trembling as he said:

"Lingran, I've done as you said, but Gu Hanfeng... he's broken through to the Nascent Soul stage. Our sect's disciples are no match for him!"

Xie Lingran's expression had already darkened.

He had long heard of Gu Hanfeng's exceptional talent, but he always thought that the other party was just a child prodigy with a shallow foundation, and that even if he broke through to a higher realm, he would definitely not amount to anything.

But now that he has witnessed the strength that the other party has shown, he has finally taken Gu Hanfeng's true strength seriously.

"Fine, I'll take care of it myself."

After a brief moment of shock, Xie Lingran's eyes flashed with killing intent, and a powerful aura emanated from his body. He would personally suppress and kill Gu Hanfeng to eliminate any future troubles.

In that life-or-death moment, a hurried figure rushed over from not far away.

"stop!"

Chen Qiuyu, dressed in a bright red phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, hurried over and stood between the two. Her face was pale, her eyes were filled with tears, but her posture was firm.

"Junior sister."

Gu Hanfeng's murderous aura lessened somewhat. He stared blankly at the stunningly beautiful woman before him. He had imagined this scene countless times, but he never expected this...

This kind of scenario will occur at this time.

Looking at the girl in front of him, the murderous intent in Gu Hanfeng's eyes completely disappeared, and at this moment, he still had a trace of lingering hope in his heart.

His voice was hoarse and dry, filled with a final hope as he spoke tremulously: "Qiuyu, tell me, you were forced by them, weren't you?"

He would forgive all injustices, be willing to be an enemy of the entire sect, and abandon everything to take her away immediately, as long as she said she had no choice in the matter.

Chen Qiuyu's hands trembled uncontrollably at his sides as he looked at the blood-soaked boy in front of him, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.

She longed to go up to him and tell him it was all a lie, to throw herself into his arms and tell him all the coercion and helplessness, to run away with him and escape this life she couldn't control.

But she can't.

The lives of tens of thousands of disciples and the survival of the entire Weishui Sect rested entirely on her shoulders. She couldn't afford to gamble, nor could she afford to lose.

Moreover, Xie Lingran's cultivation is unfathomable, and her strength is far beyond what Gu Hanfeng can currently contend with.

If she were to stand by and watch the two fight to the death, it would only result in Gu Hanfeng's demise.

Was that the ending she hoped for?

So no matter how wronged she felt, she could only suppress it all in her heart.

Chen Qiuyu gently shook her head, her voice choked and weak, but everyone could hear her clearly: "No, I did it voluntarily."

The words fell to the ground, and all hope vanished.

The last glimmer of light in Gu Hanfeng's eyes vanished completely.

It turns out that his months of secluded cultivation, his tireless efforts to improve his skills, and everything he did to become stronger and protect were nothing but a complete joke.

He stood there, utterly dejected, the pressure from the Nascent Soul stage instantly dissipating, as if all his life force had been drained from him.

After a long silence, he gave a low, self-deprecating laugh, a laugh that was desolate and forlorn.

Just like his last thought before he died that day.

Sure enough, everything ended up in the same unpleasant way as always.

He turned around and walked step by step down from the main hall.

As he reached the palace gate, he paused briefly, turned back, and gazed deeply at the figure in red—just that one glance.

Then, he left the mountain gate without looking back.