CHAPTER 944: CHAPTER 963: THE TERRIFYING LUO HOU

"Gu...!"

Suddenly, the yellow fat man who had been by Ye Xuan’s side stepped forward, his eyes showing great surprise when looking at Gu Beichen. Just as he was about to call out Gu Beichen’s name, his eyes flickered, his steps halted, and he fell silent once again.

Evidently, the yellow fat man recognized Gu Beichen at a glance. Although Gu Beichen had changed his appearance, the two had been together for so many years, and he was extremely familiar with Gu Beichen’s aura. Besides, back when Ye Xuan placed them in various Daoist sects, the yellow fat man knew that Gu Beichen entered the Demon World, so it was normal for him to become a disciple of the Demon Ancestor now.

At this moment.

Ye Xuan’s expression was calm as he looked at Gu Beichen indifferently, as if he truly didn’t recognize him.

"No need for formalities."

Ye Xuan waved his hand, and only then did Gu Beichen rise from his bow. His eyes were slightly red upon seeing Ye Xuan, but he quickly calmed down, clearly aware that it wasn’t the time to reunite.

"My teacher wrote a letter, asking Ruochen to deliver it to the Heavenly Emperor Ye."

Gu Beichen turned his hand, and a letter appeared. Gold Star Taibai quickly took the letter and promptly presented it to Ye Xuan.

With the letter in his hands, Ye Xuan casually unfolded it, reading its contents. Yet, as he fixed his gaze on the letter, his expression froze slightly, and his brows furrowed as he slowly closed it again.

"The new Emperor’s enthronement will be decided another day. Except for the yellow fat man, all of you may leave." Ye Xuan said softly.

Ye Xuan suddenly dismissing everyone naturally aroused curiosity, yet no one dared to inquire. They began to leave, casting puzzled glances at Gu Beichen before they departed.

Soon.

The entire Heavenly Emperor Palace was empty. Even the Nine Heaven Mysterious Maiden and others had left, leaving only the three of them standing there.

"Sir!"

Once everyone had left, Gu Beichen could no longer contain his emotions, bowing deeply to Ye Xuan with a long-lost joy on his face.

"It’s been hard on you these hundreds of thousands of years."

Before Gu Beichen could finish his bow, Ye Xuan hurriedly supported him, while the yellow fat man grinned widely, continuously patting Gu Beichen on the shoulder with laughter, "Oh, Gu Beichen, who would’ve thought you’d achieve the Quasi-Saint realm, whereas under Mr. Peach Golden Pill’s pile, I’m only at Daluo."

"You lazy fatso, always indulging in food and leisure. Had you cultivated seriously, under Sir’s guidance, you would’ve become a Quasi-Saint long ago," Gu Beichen jokingly scolded.

After ten thousand years apart, the reunion was filled with immense joy. Ye Xuan felt a bit sentimental, as these two had followed him from the Human World, and it had already been nearly two hundred thousand years.

Time in cultivation passes differently, and as seas transform into mulberry fields, Ye Xuan had a deep realization of this saying.

"Alright, let’s get to the main business first."

After their banter, Gu Beichen and the yellow fat man turned serious, looking at Ye Xuan, "Sir, I have major information to report."

With that, Gu Beichen swiftly recounted the collaboration between Luo Hou and Nuwa, revealing Luo Hou’s cunning plan to seize the Power of Human Dao.

"That vile Nuwa, she still hasn’t given up her sinister intentions. Seems like she’s courting death," the yellow fat man whispered coldly after listening.

"Sir, in three hundred years, Nuwa plans to attack the Three Emperors of the Human Clan. If she succeeds in seizing the Power of Human Dao, Luo Hou will undoubtedly attack the Heavenly Court. I’m afraid..." Gu Beichen expressed his concern.

"Heh!"

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ye Xuan’s mouth, causing both Gu Beichen and the yellow fat man to be taken aback, not understanding why Ye Xuan was smiling, as they looked at him.

"Beichen, take a guess at what Luo Hou might’ve written in the letter he had you deliver?" Ye Xuan asked with a smile.

At Ye Xuan’s smiling face, Gu Beichen’s eyes were filled with confusion, yet he speculated aloud, "Luo Hou’s cultivation is unfathomable, and I’ve never been able to see through him. His mind is exceedingly deep, so the letter might contain something to befriend you, or perhaps it’s a way to test you?"

"Have a look for yourself."

Ye Xuan casually tossed the letter to Gu Beichen, who caught it and immediately began to read.

"How could this be?"

Suddenly, Gu Beichen’s expression froze, for there was not a single word on the letter, merely an ordinary blank sheet of paper.

"A letter without words?"

"What... what kind of trick is Luo Hou playing?"

When the yellow fat man saw the blank letter in Gu Beichen’s hand, he exclaimed in astonishment.

"Sir, could there be a hidden meaning within this letter?" Gu Beichen asked, puzzled, looking at Ye Xuan.

Seeing the confusion on their faces, Ye Xuan’s smile gradually faded, and his expression became somewhat indifferent, "I underestimated Luo Hou. This blank paper, devoid of anything, is telling me four words."

"Please enlighten us, Sir," Gu Beichen inquired.

"Mutual Understanding!"

Ye Xuan softly uttered the words, solving the mystery behind the letter, and explaining the meaning contained within.

The phrase "blank paper" in traditional Chinese phonetics sounds similar to "mutual understanding." Luo Hou was conveying that everything was under his control, and nothing could be concealed from him. It was Luo Hou’s way of laying his cards on the table with Ye Xuan.

Thus, this blank letter simply signifies the four words: Mutual Understanding.

"This... this...?"

Upon hearing Ye Xuan’s explanation, Gu Beichen’s face turned pale, as if he had realized something, and his eyes began to tremble intensely.

"Luo Hou knew about your identity long ago but chose not to reveal it. Instead, he took care to cultivate you into the Quasi-Saint realm, gifting me with a generous present," Ye Xuan spoke softly with a light chuckle.

Boom!

Gu Beichen felt as if a thunderbolt had struck through his mind, his entire being frozen on the spot, recalling scene after scene with Luo Hou, a shameful anger flashing through his eyes.

He understood now, he understood everything.

No wonder he always felt uneasy around Luo Hou, and at times Luo Hou’s gaze was unfathomable—because Luo Hou had known his true identity all along.

"How could this happen?" Gu Beichen mumbled in a daze.

"This isn’t your fault; I underestimated Luo Hou. Back when I sent you into the Demon World, I thought I could pull the wool over his eyes; however, I overlooked one thing."

"Luo Hou can create a small world of his own—every corner of the Demon World is under his control. At that time, my cultivation was merely that of a Daluo Golden Immortal, and with Luo Hou’s cultivation, he must have sensed something. In hindsight, my strategy was a misstep that led to your exposure."

"Oddly, instead of killing you, Luo Hou cultivated you, thus creating a small causal link between me and him through you," Ye Xuan explained in detail.

"But... but... but he knows I’m your person... so why send me to meet you... doesn’t this expose his dealings with Nuwa?" Gu Beichen asked in confusion.

"That’s why I said I underestimated Luo Hou. His mind is on par with, if not surpassing, mine," Ye Xuan’s voice was hoarse, his eyes flickering with a peculiar light, and his thoughts unknown.