Xiao Yan approached Gu Fei, and his abrupt words left those around him puzzled.
"This guy still has the guts to ask Brother Gu Fei for help? He's really fearless!"
"Back then, Brother Gu Fei separated from Miss Xun'er because she cared too much for this guy…"
"Who does Xiao Yan want to save? Could it be that mysterious master of his?"
Xun'er was also confused at this moment. Why did his master's situation require Gu Fei's help? Couldn't anyone else help?
"Save someone?"
Gu Fei, who had been pondering the matters of the Hun Clan, stopped in his tracks and glanced at Xiao Yan.
Gu Fei was slightly surprised by Xiao Yan's presence in the Gu Clan's territory but didn't think much of it. This matter didn't concern him.
"Husband, do you know him?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.
"We've crossed paths before. During that trip to the Misty Cloud Sect, he was watching from the sidelines, accompanied by a remnant soul…" Gu Fei replied, turning to Xiao Yi Xian.
"Young Master Gu Fei, I came to the Gu Clan this time specifically to ask for your help. I beg you to save my master!" Xiao Yan, feeling ignored, quickly rephrased his request, his tone sincere.
"Is that how you ask someone for help?" Gu Fei glanced at Xiao Yan again and spoke calmly.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes showed a trace of struggle. He thought Gu Fei was making things difficult because of what happened between him and Xun'er in the past, trying to vent his anger. For the sake of his master Yao Lao, Xiao Yan was willing to sacrifice some things, even his dignity as a man.
The next moment, Xiao Yan slightly bent his knees, showing signs of kneeling before Gu Fei.
"Brother Xiao Yan, what are you doing?" Xun'er quickly grabbed Xiao Yan's arm. "Even if you need help, there's no need to kneel!"
"Young Master Gu Fei, it's been a while. I didn't expect to see you again here," said Xuan Kong Zi, who approached alongside Venerable Feng. Being an old acquaintance of Gu Fei, Xuan Kong Zi's tone was rather relaxed.
"President Xuan Kong Zi!" Gu Fei nodded politely at the familiar face and then smiled, "Speaking of which, I must thank President Xuan Kong Zi for the Heavenly Flame you gifted back then. Now that you're a guest in the Gu Clan, I must treat you well!"
Inwardly, Xuan Kong Zi thought, "That Heavenly Flame was clearly something you seized, but you still insist on calling it a gift." Despite this, he maintained a flattering smile, "Heavenly Flames are rare treasures of the world, and those who are worthy deserve them!"
"The fact that Young Master Gu Fei could tame the Three Thousand Burning Flame shows that it was destined for you!"
With Xuan Kong Zi's intervention, Xiao Yan found himself ignored by Gu Fei once more.
"Young Master Gu Fei, what do I need to do for you to agree to save my master?" Xiao Yan, feeling anxious after being ignored again, couldn't help but speak with a hint of resentment in his voice.
His attitude suggested that Gu Fei was deliberately making things difficult for him.
"What do you need to do?" Gu Fei frowned in displeasure upon hearing Xiao Yan's words.
"Heh!"
After a brief chuckle, Gu Fei responded, "Do you think we have a good relationship? That just because you ask, I'm obligated to help?"
Gu Fei's words left Xiao Yan standing there, his expression awkward.
In terms of relationship, Xiao Yan and Gu Fei were not close, and this was their first formal meeting. Reasonably, Gu Fei had no obligation to help him.
"I already told you," Gu Fei continued, "if you're asking for help, you need to show the right attitude! Moreover, the person you want to save is here but doesn't even want to meet me personally. Where is your sincerity?"
Every word Gu Fei spoke was reasonable, without any hint of condescension.
"This Xiao Yan really doesn't know how to deal with people. How could he not understand such a simple concept?"
"When we ask an alchemist for help, we have to bring a good gift, prepare the ingredients ourselves, and even bring a second set of ingredients!"
"Asking for help without even explaining the situation or offering a gift, but still expecting the other person to agree, this is the first time I've seen someone so absurd!"
The onlookers all sided with Gu Fei, not just because of his status, but because he was right. Here, it wasn't about the weak being in the right.
"I almost misunderstood Brother Gu Fei again!" Xun'er also realized that Gu Fei wasn't making things difficult for Xiao Yan, just asking for a fair return for his help.
"Young Master Gu Fei, please forgive us for our rudeness!"
As Xiao Yan stood there in embarrassment, Yao Lao's soul emerged from Xiao Yan's storage ring. His ethereal, elderly figure drew gasps of surprise from those around.
"Isn't that the famous Venerable Yao from back in the day?"
"I heard he died years ago. Who would've thought his soul still remains!"
Yao Lao ignored the murmurs around him, bowing respectfully to Gu Fei, "Young Master Gu Fei, it's not that I didn't want to show myself… but in my current state as a soul, it's inconvenient for me to appear in public…"
"I'm here to ask Young Master Gu Fei to help me rebuild my body!"
Yao Lao was straightforward, wasting no time in explaining his purpose.
"Venerable Yao was once known as the best alchemist in Central Plains!"
"Now that he's personally asking for help, Young Master Gu Fei should give him this favor!"
"Yes, if Venerable Yao can be revived, the favor would surely lead to many high-level pills in the future. The Gu Clan wouldn't refuse!"
"Hah, calling someone like this a great alchemist? Central Plains' alchemists must be a joke!"
As some Central Plains experts praised Yao Lao, two mocking voices suddenly broke the silence, causing Xiao Yan's eyes to fill with rage.
"How dare you insult my master!"
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, glaring at the two who had spoken.
Yao Lao also looked furious, his cold gaze fixed on the two.
The ones who had spoken were two young men dressed in alchemist robes, clearly from the Yao Clan. They knew that Yao Chen was a former member of their clan who had been expelled.
"Brother Xiao Yan, don't be impulsive. You're no match for them yet!" Xun'er quickly urged Xiao Yan to stay calm.
The two young men from the Yao Clan were both at least at the Seven Star Dou Ancestor level. If Xiao Yan acted rashly, he would surely suffer.
"A waste of a master, teaching a waste of a disciple. What a joke!"
Facing the furious stares of Xiao Yan and Yao Lao, the two Yao Clan members remained unfazed, continuing their taunts.