Chapter Thirty-Four: A Fury Unleashed for the Sake of a Beauty

Miss Sun’s eyes, once filled with calculated schemes, now held only a profound sense of terror.

Gu Liuyun, however, remained entirely unmoved. His gaze was as frigid as millennial ice, as if capable of freezing the very air around him. The memory of Chen Jiaojiao’s previous mistreatment surfaced in his mind, causing the rage within him to burn with even greater intensity. This little wench dared to lay a hand on his woman; she was truly digging her own grave.

The surrounding cultivators observed the scene like quails, shrinking their necks in fear of inviting disaster upon themselves. They exchanged wary glances, yet not a single soul dared to step forward to intervene. After all, none of them were fools; the strength Gu Liuyun had just displayed was that of a true powerhouse. To challenge him would be nothing more than a death wish.

The entire gathering place fell into an eerie silence. Only the steady, forceful sound of Gu Liuyun’s footsteps struck the ground, echoing in everyone’s ears like a countdown to doom. The atmosphere grew taut, like a string stretched to its breaking point, ready to snap at any moment.

"Fellow daoists, this brat is so arrogant and domineering, he has no respect for anyone! As cultivators, how can we tolerate such a madman?" Elder Zhao, seeing the situation, let his eyes dart around, hoping to fan the flames and incite dissatisfaction toward Gu Liuyun among the others. He assumed his call would be met with overwhelming support, only to find the surrounding cultivators looking at him as if he were an idiot. They all played deaf and dumb, for no one wished to be the sacrificial bird. It was a joke—Gu Liuyun’s power was plain for all to see; who would go up there just to throw their life away? Elder Zhao’s petty intentions were as obvious as a villain’s heart—known to all passersby. In an instant, Elder Zhao felt like a bungling clown; his face turned the color of a pig’s liver, and his embarrassment was beyond words.

Gu Liuyun curled his lips into a cold sneer, glancing at the trembling Miss Sun, who now resembled a frightened bird. He snorted in his heart and stopped his advance, the murderous intent in his eyes deepening. "It seems some people refuse to shed tears until they see their own coffin."

With a cold laugh, Gu Liuyun flicked his finger. A flash of golden light streaked through the air, instantly trapping Miss Sun within a transparent barrier of light. She struggled desperately, but it was as futile as a caged beast; the barrier remained unshakable and indestructible. Her eyes widened in terror, and she shivered like a trapped hamster.

"Fellow daoists, this Miss Sun appears pure on the surface, but she has committed many filthy deeds in the shadows!" Gu Liuyun’s voice rang out like a tolling bell across the gathering, making everyone’s ears buzz. "Not only did she maliciously slander Miss Chen, but she also colluded in private with Cultivator Qian, intending to seize the Fragments of the Seven-Colored Stone!"

The moment Gu Liuyun spoke these words, an uproar erupted throughout the crowd.

Whispers spread like wildfire, and the gazes directed at Miss Sun were filled with scorn and disgust. They had never imagined that the woman who usually presented herself as a pristine white lotus could be so venomous and treacherous.

"I never expected Miss Sun to be this kind of person; truly, one can know a person’s face but not their heart!"
"I actually thought she was decent before—I must have been blind!"
"A person like this should be expelled from the cultivation world!"

Listening to the surrounding accusations, Miss Sun was so ashamed she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground. Her fair cheeks were now flushed a deep, ripened tomato red. She hung her head, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze, her heart heavy with regret and fear.

Watching Miss Sun’s wretched state, a faint sense of pride swelled within Gu Liuyun. He surveyed his surroundings; at this moment, his prestige at the gathering had reached its peak, and no one dared to question his strength or status.

Just then, Chen Jiaojiao recovered her composure. Seeing Gu Liuyun standing up for her, a wave of warmth surged in her heart, and her eyes grew moist. She rushed toward him without a second thought, wrapping her arms tightly around him and burying her head in his chest to feel his warmth and strength.

"Thank you, Liuyun," Chen Jiaojiao said, her voice choked with emotion and a hint of tears.

Gu Liuyun gently patted her back and said tenderly, "It’s alright now. I am here."

As they embraced, the female cultivators around them cast looks of envy. The air was thick with an ambiguous atmosphere, as if pink bubbles were drifting through it. Suddenly, Gu Liuyun sensed a killing intent...

Elder Zhao’s face was so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water. Seeing his plan fail, he was filled with fury. He quietly signaled to Guard Wu behind him with a vicious, venomous look. Guard Wu understood immediately and vanished silently into the crowd.

Gu Liuyun was busy stroking Chen Jiaojiao’s hair and speaking soft words of comfort, completely unaware that danger was creeping closer. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and a subtle, imperceptible killing intent began to permeate the space.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light erupted. Guard Wu appeared behind Gu Liuyun like a phantom, his sharp blade thrusting straight at Gu Liuyun’s heart with a speed that was truly astonishing.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Liuyun spun around, shielding Chen Jiaojiao behind him, his gaze as sharp as a blade. He grabbed the incoming sword with his bare hand, and with a crisp "snap," the blade shattered instantly.

"A petty trick, and you dare to show it off before me!" Gu Liuyun sneered, lifting his hand to strike a palm blow that landed squarely on Guard Wu’s chest.

Guard Wu flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground and vomiting blood; he could not get up for a long time.

"Is that it? Not even enough to scratch an itch!" Gu Liuyun curled his lip in disdain.

Seeing this, Elder Zhao’s face turned deathly pale. He had never imagined that his most capable guard could not even withstand a single strike from Gu Liuyun.

Gu Liuyun slowly scanned the entire assembly, his gaze like torches. His voice resonated like a bell throughout the gathering: "Who dares to touch my woman?! If you have a death wish, come and try!"

The entire place fell into a deathly hush. All the cultivators were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe loudly. Their gazes toward Gu Liuyun were filled with awe and terror, as if they were looking up at a supreme deity.

Chen Jiaojiao looked at Gu Liuyun’s broad back, her eyes full of love and admiration. She knew that from this day forward, Gu Liuyun would become a dazzling new star in the cultivation world, and no one would be able to shake his position.

Gu Liuyun smiled slightly, tightened his grip on Chen Jiaojiao’s hand, and said softly, "Let’s go."

Chen Jiaojiao nodded gently, and the two walked away together, leaving the crowd in a state of disarray.

"Who... who exactly is he?" Stall-owner Zhou muttered to himself, watching their retreating figures.

Gu Liuyun’s domineering declaration was like a giant boulder dropped into a calm lake; after stirring up monstrous waves, the waters slowly returned to stillness. The cultivators looked at one another; the tension that had been so sharp just moments ago receded like the tide. They began to disperse in small groups, their footsteps growing sparse, though from time to time, looks of awe were still cast toward Gu Liuyun’s direction like piercing thorns.