The First Venerable of the Prosperous Age

Lu Xiaosan and Wen Ying were hiding inside the Yellow Crane Tower when they suddenly heard a creaking sound in the distance.

The two approached at the sound and saw that Guai Badao was lying on the ground, wailing incessantly.

"Ouch, ouch!" Strange Eight-Knife's face was swollen.

"Oh my god, big brother, how are you? How come even your mask got smashed?" Lu Xiaosan hurriedly rushed over and said.

Strange Eight-Knife's eyes lit up and he sat up excitedly, saying, "Brother, you're finally here! Quick, help me upstairs to take a look."

"Okay!" Lu Xiaosan was about to help him up when Wen Ying stopped him.

She glanced at the strange man's condition and said with a worried expression, "Brother Strange is badly injured everywhere except his mouth. It's best not to fight anymore for now. Let me treat your wounds first."

After gritting his teeth and thinking for a while, Guai Badao said, "Alright, I think that kid shouldn't hurt Brother Shan for the time being."

With a cry of "Ouch!", Guai Ba Dao lay back down, eyes closed, looking completely relaxed.

"Ouch, that hurts."

After a while, Guai Ba Dao squinted one eye and saw Lu Xiao San standing there motionless, so he asked, "Big brother, are you just going to stand here and not go up and check on Brother Shan?"

Lu Xiaosan seemed to understand something, and then said, "After what I just experienced, I think protecting important people is far more important than killing a powerful enemy!"

"Compared to Brother Fen, who is currently enjoying a life of comfort, you two, doctor and patient, are more important to me."

While treating her injuries, Wen Ying smiled and said, "Yes, yes, I wholeheartedly agree."

Just as Guai Badao was about to nod in praise, he suddenly widened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise, "A gentle paradise!!"

Second floor of Yellow Crane Tower:

Fen Laoshan and Gu Fanghua were standing on the viewing platform, looking out at the open mountain scenery outside the Yellow Crane Tower, with blue sky, white clouds, trees and rivers clearly visible, and lush grass growing above Huzhou.

Moved by the scene, Gu Fanghua said softly, "Senior brother, would you be willing to come with me to see this world..."

Old Man Fen laughed, "Of course, I'll take you to the bottom of East Lake right away and show you how that man in black persecuted me..."

"Hahahaha." Gu Fanghua giggled and playfully hit him, then said coquettishly, "You're so annoying, Senior Brother, you always tease me." Her voice was extremely charming, enough to make one's bones go numb.

Seeing that Fen Laoshan was still staring blankly into the distance, Gu Fanghua withdrew her smile and explained seriously, "Senior brother, do you know why I want those three things?"

Fen Laoshan turned to look at him, "I don't know."

Gu Fanghua asked, "Senior brother, do you know why this building is called the Yellow Crane Tower?"

After pondering for a moment, Fen Laoshan said, "According to folklore, an immortal named Huang Zi'an once rode a yellow crane to rest here, hence the name. There is also a rumor that the immortal who rode the crane was Fei Yi, but no matter who it was, the reason why the Yellow Crane Tower got its name is the same."

Gu Fanghua said, "That's right. Legend has it that the immortal who rode the crane left a crane feather at the Yellow Crane Tower. And this crane feather eventually transformed into the white eagle feather symbolizing family affection, the mermaid's precious eye symbolizing friendship, and the soft fur of the green fox symbolizing love."

"And as long as they are brought back here, the yellow crane from back then can be summoned back. And the person who collects them can ascend to immortality and ride away on a crane."

Fen Laoshan was a little angry and hurriedly said, "So you did all this just to ascend to immortality? A folk legend?"

Gu Fanghua smiled and nodded, "Yes, in order to research the methods of becoming an immortal and obtain the necessary items, Junior Brother has done all sorts of evil deeds over the years, hehehe. This is also the main reason why the Yellow Crane Sect's reputation has declined in the past two years, cough cough..."

Old Man Fen shook his head and sighed, “I advise you to give up on this idea as soon as possible. That green fox is a monster that has cultivated for a thousand years, while that fish-man has only lived for a few decades. They cannot be products of the same era. So even if you successfully collect them, no Yellow Crane will come to take you to become an immortal.”

Gu Fanghua smiled slightly and happily grasped Fen Laoshan's hand. "Yes, how can you believe in such things? But that's why I brought you here, Senior Brother."

Fen Laoshan was startled and pointed at himself, saying, "Me?"

Gu Fanghua nodded repeatedly, like a young girl.

"What does it have to do with me?"

With a blush on her face, Gu Fanghua said shyly, "Because of you, Senior Brother, you are my family, my friendship, my love... my romantic love." Gu Fanghua lowered her head, her face flushed, not daring to look at him anymore.

Hearing this, Fen Laoshan was both amused and exasperated. He asked, "What... what does this mean?"

Gu Fanghua slowly raised her head, paused, and then said affectionately, "When I first entered the sect and was still an infant, it was you, Senior Brother, who took care of me and raised me. From that time on, Senior Brother has been my only family in this world."

"That is naturally the responsibility of the senior brother."

Gu Fanghua said firmly, "Back then, I had so many senior brothers, but only you were willing to treat me so well. You are different from the others!"

Gu Fanghua continued, "From as far back as I can remember, I've only ever remembered how good my senior brother was to me. He accompanied me in my studies and martial arts practice, and when I was bored or upset, he would chat with me and let me enjoy the scenery. From then on, I would only tell my senior brother about anything, and I would go wherever he went. My senior brother is my best friend."

The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with deep affection.

As she got emotional, Gu Fanghua shyly turned her head to the side and said, "Later, my senior brother was expelled from the sect because of me, and I thought about his kindness every day. Especially after I became a woman, I... I thought about my senior brother all the time and fantasized about being with him..."

"Senior brother, isn't this... my love? My one and only love in this life, and in the next!!!"

Seeing such a stunningly beautiful person pouring out their heart to him, even Fen Laoshan couldn't help but blush. He wanted to say something, "Junior brother... I...?"

Looking at Gu Fanghua's expectant gaze, Fen Laoshan couldn't help but recall the past. Back then, he often looked at him with the same expectation. But that was pure brotherly affection, not this: a distorted love separated by rouge and powder.

He gradually calmed down, and all his emotions ultimately dwindled to just a few words…

"Junior brother... do you... really expect me to summon the crane?"

Gu Fanghua's expectant gaze quickly dimmed, revealing a hint of disappointment. She gently released her hand and said seriously, "A crane? Hmph? How could that be? What will come to pick me up is... cough... a dragon!"

"dragon?"

“That’s right. I’ve been preparing for this for many years, all for the sake of getting it and making people believe in the ‘Record of the Witch Doctor.’ It should be coming soon.” After saying that, Gu Fanghua confidently looked towards the direction of East Lake.

Fen Laoshan sneered, "You're talking about the Night-Treading Palace Master of the East Lake Underground Palace, right? It seems that the top-tier expert in the book who can control a true dragon is you."

Gu Fanghua asked in doubt, "That's right, but how did you know that, senior brother?"

"I just came from East Lake yesterday. The night you were waiting for has been defeated and has now turned into golden rain at the bottom of East Lake, eternally immortal!"

Gu Fanghua was so shocked that her face turned pale; this was the first time she had been so flustered and out of control since she had seen her...

Gu Fanghua took two steps back and grabbed the railing behind her, her voice trembling as she said, "Impossible, impossible, how could a true dragon be defeated?"

"He was defeated by a mage, a mage who has the ability to subdue demons, monsters, and rare beasts." Pink Mountain couldn't help but smile.

Gu Fanghua stared wide-eyed at Fen Laoshan in disbelief. "Who is that sorcerer? Which sect or school does he belong to?"

Fen Laoshan raised his head and said in a serious tone, "He came from the Zhexian Tower in Luocheng; he's one of my brothers!"

Gu Fanghua's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed. Head bowed, she kept repeating, "Become an immortal? A banished immortal? A banished immortal! A banished immortal…"

He chuckled to himself, "Could it be... that Heaven is going to destroy me..." and slowly shrank back against the railing.

Seeing his pitiful state, Fen Laoshan was about to go up and comfort him when Gu Fanghua suddenly looked up, rolled her eyes at him, and said angrily, "Senior brother said that person is senior brother's brother!"

Fen Laoshan nodded slightly, "Not bad, sworn brothers."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fanghua burst into tears, sobbing, "Senior brother, you... you've been... seeing other brothers behind my back again!!"

"Am I not enough for you?!" Gu Fanghua roared.

Fen Laoshan stood there, bewildered, feeling strange and guilty. "Junior brother, I..."

"Pfft!! Ah!! Cough cough cough!" Gu Fanghua suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood in anger.

"Junior brother!!" Old Man Fen ran over and hugged him tightly. "What happened!!"

Seeing this, Gu Fanghua's gloomy face finally cleared up. She smiled and gently stroked Fen Laoshan's face, murmuring, "It's been so long... I haven't seen my senior brother so worried about me. It's all worth it."

Fen Laoshan held his hand and said softly, "I will again in the future!"

Gu Fanghua smiled with satisfaction and said, "Senior brother, do you know why I'm so determined to become an immortal?"

"But why?"

Gu Fanghua murmured, "Do you remember when I was a child, I was in poor health and accidentally contracted a lung disease?"

"Didn't the doctor say that taking medicine for a few days and exercising would make you better?"

"Thank goodness you still remember, senior brother. Taking medicine for a few days can only cure my cough, but the root cause of the lung disease just won't get better..." Gu Fanghua said weakly.

"How...how could this be?!"

Gu Fanghua continued, "Therefore, in order to survive, I can only devote myself to studying the art of ascending to immortality so that I can become a divine couple with my senior brother."

"But now it seems that I, like all the previous sect leaders, will fail here..."

Fen Laoshan's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes felt like they had sand in them. "It's alright, junior brother. I'll take you to the best doctor in the world right away. He'll definitely be able to cure your illness."

Gu Fanghua's lips trembled as she forced a smile, "It's no use. I only have a few days left, and besides..." Gu Fanghua's eyes hardened, "Junior brother, I haven't lost yet!"