Chapter 108: Hai Bo Dong’s Surprise


    <span style="font-weight:400">Chapter 108: Hai Bo Dong''s Surprise


    <span style="font-weight:400">The ball of Dou Qi, just about to reach Hai Bo Dong, was suddenly frozen into a block of ice by a burst of chilling cold that emerged, and it subsequently dropped weakly beside the old man.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Observing the Dou Qi turning into ice, the woman in the red dress''s beautiful eyes gleamed with surprise. It was yet another instance of the old man revealing his astonishing power.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"This guy really doesn''t know any better; he dared to make a move against Master Ice. I can''t wait to see what happens to youter," the woman thought, regaining herposure and looking at Gu He with a somewhat malicious glint in her eyes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">In her view, the cold and reserved Master Ice would never let this white-d man off easily. However, her thoughts were nothing more than wishful thinking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Following Gu He''s intervention, Hai Bo Dong had indeed ceased his actions. He shifted his gaze from the map in his hand, and his withered and frosty face revealed a serious expression when he looked at the white-d man before him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Clearly, Gu He''s addressing him as "Old Man Hai" had unsettled him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"You are..."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hai Bo Dong scrutinized Gu He, and a sense of familiarity welled up within him. He was certain he had met this man before but couldn''t recollect it instantly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">It wasn''t surprising. When Gu He and Hai Bo Dong had met, Gu He had been a spirited young man. Now, over a decadeter, Gu He''s appearance had transformed significantly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Moreover, Gu He had integrated the demeanor of a Wanderer, and his overall presence was far from what it once was.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hai Bo Dong looked at the handsome and elegant man before him, full of charm and grace. He was puzzled and skeptical about the stranger''s true identity.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Who is this person? From the way he addressed me earlier, it''s clear he recognizes me."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Seeing Hai Bo Dong''s bewildered expression, Gu He couldn''t help but notice that the old man hadn''t recognized him at all.


    <span style="font-weight:400">With a bitter smile, Gu He spoke, "What''s the matter, Ice Emperor? It''s been so long, and you can''t recognize me, Gu He?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Back then, someone offered a high price for my allegiance. He provided a sixth-grade elixir recipe, remember?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong''s mind was suddenly illuminated, and he eximed, "You''re... Gu He?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">With Gu He providing such an obvious clue, there was no way Hai Bo Dong couldn''t remember.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Beside them, the woman in the red dress watched as Gu He not only didn''t attack but also engaged in conversation with Master Ice. Her expression disyed a hint of surprise. She cast a brief nce at Gu He and slightly furrowed her eyebrows.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Who was this guy, and why was Master Ice treating him so differently? Jealousy began to stir within the woman.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After all the times she had tried to deal with Master Ice on her own, he had never treated her with such kindness.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"This guy..."


    <span style="font-weight:400">In her heart, the woman in the red dress was feeling resentful and was preparing to go back and have someone investigate Gu He''s origin when suddenly the words that came out of their mouths left her stiff as if struck by lightning.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Of course, it wasn''t just her; within the shop, the three young men and several burly men, after hearing the name Gu He from Hai Bo Dong''s mouth, all became rigid, their entire bodies seemingly frozen.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Gu... Gu He..."


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Dan King Gu He!"


    <span style="font-weight:400">Inside the shop, each and every gaze was filled with astonishment and disbelief as they stared at the white-d Gu He before them. Their minds were struggling to process the situation.


    <span style="font-weight:400">In the Jia Ma Empire, the name of Dan King Gu He was widely known.


    <span style="font-weight:400">So, upon hearing the name Gu He, the woman in the red dress and the others instinctively thought of the legendary Dan King Gu He. Inside the shop, as they observed Gu He casually conversing with Hai Bo Dong, their disdainful expressions gradually softened.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Although she was arrogant, she wasn''t foolish. Seeing the mysterious old man''s attitude towards Gu He and their conversation, she was well aware that the white-d man before her had an extraordinary background.


    <span style="font-weight:400">With this in mind, the woman in the red dress wore a somewhat bitter smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After a brief hesitation, she timidly said, "Master Ice..."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Their conversation interrupted, Hai Bo Dong slightly furrowed his brows and gave the woman in the red dress a nce. He said indifferently, "You can go back now. There''s no need toe again in the future. Tell your father that his tricks are somewhat feeble."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Hearing Hai Bo Dong''s dismissive words, the woman in the red dress froze for a moment, her eyes reddening, and she bit her red lips. Her intention had been to have Hai Bo Dong ept her as a student, but his words clearly dashed her hopes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">At that moment, the woman felt wronged, her eyes misting over as her long eyshes became damp. In her current state, she no longer disyed the same arrogance she had shown towards Gu He earlier.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Seeing Hai Bo Dong''s indifferent attitude, Gu He couldn''t help but shake his head. This old man had a stubborn heart indeed. While the woman''s arrogant attitude had left a bad impression on him, she was, after all, working for Hai Bo Dong. She had been putting in a lot of effort to win Hai Bo Dong''s favor.


    <span style="font-weight:400">However, it seemed that this stubborn and indifferent old man still had no emotional connection with her. It seemed that this old man''s temperament matched his title as the Ice Emperor.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Hai Old Man, with your status, treating a woman like this really devalues you..." Gu He shook his head slightly and toyed with a map on the counter, jokingly remarking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong paused for a moment, gazing at Gu He''s smiling face. After a while, he smiled and nodded. With a light touch of his finger on a yellow storage ring on his fingertip, scroll after scroll appeared, and he flicked one towards the woman in the red dress, saying with a hint of helplessness, "This is a low-level Profound-Ranked Dou Technique. Since you''ve helped me for so long, I''ll give it to you. I know you wanted me to ept you as a student, but I really don''t have that intention. So consider this as mypensation."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Receiving the scroll dazedly, the woman in the red dress tightly bit her lips. After a while, she bent slightly, expressing gratitude to Gu He. Then, with a downcast face, she exited the shop.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Following the departure of the woman in the red dress, the others in the shop followed suit. In an instant, the shop returned to its deserted state.


    <span style="font-weight:400">"Hehe, I''ve always been a person who loves freedom and doesn''t particrly like teaching students. She followed me, but there''s not much future for her," Hai Bo Dong exined with a smile after the woman left.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Smiling gently, Gu He looked at Hai Bo Dong and said, "That''s true. The renowned Ice Emperor wouldn''t easily take on disciples."


    <span style="font-weight:400">Upon hearing this, Hai Bo Dong looked at Gu He, his gaze showing a hint of confusion. "Gu He, how did you find this ce?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">