The First Venerable of the Prosperous Age

Fen Laoshan helped him up, and Gu Fanghua looked at him tenderly and said, "Senior brother, would you like to come with me?"

Fen Laoshan looked bewildered. "Accompany you...?"

Gu Fanghua frowned, and with a wave of his slender hand, the pink waves rose again.

Then a pink crane appeared outside the viewing platform, spreading its wings and circling around it.

Fen Laoshan was surprised and said, "This crane... Junior Brother... you conjured it yourself?"

Gu Fanghua turned around, her expression solemn. "That's right, I will ride it to become an immortal."

Old Man Fen shook his head and sighed, "Junior Brother, don't be so stubborn. You and I both know that you can't become an immortal this way..."

Gu Fanghua's eyes were firm. "What is an immortal? Is it what people say: one must ride a yellow crane to the heavenly realm? But where exactly is the heavenly realm? No one in this world can give an accurate answer. Only by going there yourself can you know where the heavenly realm in your heart is."

"Since no cranes come here, I will create one myself, go to find that so-called celestial realm, and become my own immortal!"

Fen Guangshan was speechless. Seeing this, Gu Fanghua stretched out a hand to Fen Guangshan and smiled, "How about it, senior brother? Come with me, in the last part of my life."

Fen Laoshan hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended his hand, only to lower it halfway. He said with great difficulty, "No... if I go with you like this... what will happen to the others? What will happen to my brothers who have been captured?"

Gu Fanghua was somewhat angry, but she still forced a smile and said, "Senior brother, you can rest assured. Two top-tier experts have already arrived here and rescued your brother."

"Junior brother, how...how did you know?"

"Unless deliberately concealed, those of Rank A can sense the energy waves emanating from each other..."

“I see…then…I…” Gu Fanghua extended an olive branch again, and said softly with a smile, “Senior brother, no matter what, I will eventually find my place. I just hope that you can be by my side during this process.”

"You could spend ten years with the eccentric Ba Dao, yet you won't accompany your junior brother on his final journey...?"

"..."

"Okay..." Fen Laoshan himself didn't know why he agreed. Perhaps he really couldn't let go of his beloved junior brother.

With tears in her eyes, Gu Fanghua took Fen Laoshan's hand and they jumped onto the back of the pink crane together.

The howling winds from all sides suddenly ceased, and Gu Fanghua threw herself into Fen Laoshan's arms, hugging him tightly and saying, "Senior brother, I knew you would come to be with me."

Fen Laoshan was filled with mixed feelings; he didn't know if it was worth giving up everything.

Perhaps, he's just like he always was, indulging him and giving in to his every whim. Now that his life is nearing its end, how could he bear to abandon him?

No matter how time changes, no matter what he becomes, in his heart he will always be that junior brother who silently follows behind him.

Fen Laoshan gently patted Gu Fanghua's back and said softly, "Your senior brother will never abandon you, not even for a lifetime."

Gu Fanghua said with a sob in her voice, "Senior brother, you're still so stupid. You can't stand seeing others do badly. Please... please don't do that again."

Fen Laoshan smiled, then suddenly hesitated, "Later?"

Just as he was wondering, he heard Gu Fanghua sigh deeply, "We had agreed to spend our lives together, but Junior Brother still...can't bear to part with me..."

"Thank you... senior brother."

"Junior brother?" Pink Mountain suddenly felt someone push him, and he fell to the ground beneath the crane.

Gu Fanghua sat on the crane with a smile of relief on her face, and the tears that fell from her face were carried by the wind into the blue sky.

Fenlaoshan was situated directly above the Yellow Crane Tower viewing platform, and could only watch helplessly as Gu Fanghua flew into the clouds.

The pink crane, carrying his unwavering resolve, slowly disappeared into the boundless sky.

Fen Laoshan slumped on the stage, staring blankly at the sky. He didn't know when the tears had welled up in his eyes. He only knew that "Junior Brother will never fly lower and lower. He will keep flying higher and higher until he can no longer hold on and the pink crane at his feet dissolves..."

"But he couldn't bear to see his senior brother die because of him, so he pushed his senior brother back to the mortal realm, leaving himself to pursue that elusive celestial realm..."

Just as he was feeling lost, Lu Xiaosan called out from behind, "Big Brother!"

When a person sees their loved ones during a time of grief and separation, it's hard to hide their overwhelming sorrow and grievances...

Fen Laoshan just stared at him blankly for a while.

“It’s me, Big Brother!” Lu Xiaosan said.

Fen Laoshan immediately hugged him, repeatedly saying, "Brother, you're alright! That's great, that's great!"

Lu Xiaosan hugged her even tighter, exclaiming happily, "Hahahaha, if you're alright, how could I be alright!"

The two faced each other again, and Lu Xiaosan said, "How is it? Is everything settled here?... Brother, why are you crying? Hahaha, even a man like you can cry."

Fen Laoshan wiped away his tears. "Let's not talk about that for now. Did you see your elder brother when you came?"

"My elder brother was slightly injured, and he is being taken care of by Doctor Wen downstairs."

Fen Laoshan nodded repeatedly, "Good, very good, let's hope nothing else happens..."

"By the way, how were you rescued, brother? Were there two top-tier experts who came?" Pink Mountain asked again.

Lu Xiaosan was skeptical. "Two? There's only one, and it's someone with some mental issues."

Recalling the scene where Gu Fanghua displayed her first-class strength, Fen Laoshan said anxiously, "No, even if she has a problem with her brain, she's still first-class. Those kids can't handle her. Let's go down and take a look!"

Upon arriving on the first floor, the two freaks didn't say much; everything was done in unspoken understanding.

The four of them went out of the building together and saw Ning Konglou and the masked monster with the broken leg standing in the center of the room.

They were gazing into the distance where Gu Fanghua had flown away, surrounded by Yellow Crane Sect disciples who had already fainted.

Upon seeing this, and still feeling the pain from his previous ordeal, Fen Laoshan cried out in shock and anger, "Why did you two harm my disciples?!"

Strange Eight-Knife nudged him and whispered, "It's okay, they just passed out. You're all brothers!"

After saying that, Guai Ba Dao, despite his injuries, stepped forward and laughed, "You two heroes saved my brother and spared the lives of my disciples. We brothers thank you in advance, hehehehe."

Ning Konglou remained gazing into the distance with his hands behind his back. Only the fisherman, limping, approached, bowed, and laughed, "Hahaha, you're too kind, brother. I just happened to be passing by."

"Was that person riding the fake crane the leader of the Yellow Crane Sect? Where is he going? Is he going to make an enemy of the Three Venerable Palace?" Ning Konglou suddenly asked three questions in a row.

"Oh? So you were sent by the Three Venerable Palace."

“That’s right. The Immortal Palace Master heard that the Yellow Crane Sect and the East Lake Underground Palace were planning a rebellion, so he sent me to investigate along the way,” Ning Konglou said.

“Ta Ye is dead, and the Yellow Crane Sect Leader is on his deathbed. Immortal Palace Master, you can rest assured,” said Pink Old Mountain calmly.

“But your disciples seem to have long harbored resentment towards the Three Venerable Palace. If they do not surrender, the Three Venerable Palace will have no choice but to kill them,” Ning Konglou said coldly.

Lu Xiaosan sneered, "Hmph, your Three Venerable Palace really has great benefits for its employees."

"To hell with it! My fellow disciples have been deceived and used for years. They only resent the Three Venerable Palaces for their indifference, not for any real intention to rebel," said Fen Laoshan angrily.

"Yes, the Yellow Crane Sect had a pretty good reputation in the martial arts world a few years ago. But in recent years, it has remained secluded within the Yellow Crane Tower, refusing any outside visitors," the fisherman sighed.

Ning Konglou turned his head, his eyes cold. "I don't care about your past. In short, if your Yellow Crane Sect doesn't want to be enemies with the Three Venerable Palace, you must establish a new sect leader and return to the Three Venerable Palace." After saying this, Ning Konglou turned and left, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Damn, so arrogant?!" Strange Eight Blades pointed angrily in the direction Ning Konglou had gone, not daring to raise his voice too high.

"It's alright, I'll tear down the outhouse for him when we get back," Lu Xiaosan said with a grin.

The fisherman then laughed and said, "If you ask me, why don't you become the new leaders of the Yellow Crane Sect? It would suit their wishes and save them from disaster."

The strange man said, "It's alright, I feel quite comfortable with you. But I haven't yet had the pleasure of asking your name?"

The fisherman laughed and said, "My name is Helai."

Pink Mountain and Strange Eight-Knife were both startled, "You fucking are that..."

"Shh, there's no need to make a fuss. If you two have made up your minds, just tell that little monk brother and have him pass on the message to Brother Ning. In that case, I'll take my leave now."

"Farewell."

He Lai dragged his crippled leg and limped quickly out.

After he left, Lu Xiaosan pointed at the Yellow Crane Sect members on the ground and asked, "So? What do you plan to do with them? Hmph, I think they all adore Brother Fen."

Guai Ba Dao was somewhat annoyed and asked, "Why are they so infatuated with Brother Shan? How can a group of hot-blooded young men be fantasizing about men all day long! What would their fathers think if they knew?"

"Give me your father's contact information!" Strange Eight Blades shouted, pointing at the disciples on the ground.

"What? Are you going to discuss the bride price with their father? Hehehe." Wen Ying laughed from the side.

But Fen Laoshan said in a serious tone, "There's nothing I can do. It's all because of my own irresistible charm, hehehehe."

Fen Laoshan suddenly sighed again, "But there is another reason. Ever since Junior Brother Gu dressed up as a woman, his actions over the years have unknowingly made them completely lose interest and hope in women."

Wen Ying was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth. She said, "Junior brother... that outfit...? So, they hate all women in the world just because of a man dressed as a woman... What... what kind of logic is this?"

"That's why they're sick! They need me to give them a good treatment!" Strange Eight-Knife shouted.

Lu Xiaosan laughed loudly from the side, "These guys have thought it over and over and realized that same-sex love is the true love. They can't let go of Brother Fen, who was such a good senior brother back then. Hahahaha."

Wen Ying pouted, snorted, and turned her head to the side.

Guai Badao thought for a moment, "No, before these guys change their minds, Brother Shan can't be their leader. Hmm...hehe, let me be the leader first and teach these brats a lesson."

"Oh, so when the time comes you'll step down and give the position to Brother Shan, are you willing to do that?" Lu Xiaosan asked.

Guai Ba Dao stretched out his hand and said with a wicked grin, "Hey, what are you talking about? There's no such thing as abdication. In the future..."

The three brothers, in perfect unison, declared, "Then the three of us will be sect leaders! Hahahaha!" They then burst into another round of strange laughter.