When those words — "The Association Master has arrived" — echoed through the air, Zhao Ruofan hurriedly withdrew the oppressive aura he had been using to suppress
Surrounded by a group of powerful Red Butterfly Association experts, Chu Feng finally got to see the illustrious face of the Red Butterfly Association's Master.
What surprised Chu Feng, however, was that this mysterious Association Master of the Red Butterfly Association was actually a woman.
She looked quite young — not strikingly beautiful, but dignified and graceful, carrying an air of refinement about her.
Her age was also lower than Chu Feng had imagined. She was not even a hundred years old. Strictly speaking, she was still a junior.
Yet her strength was far from weak. Chu Feng could sense that she was a first-grade Martial Ancestor.
It was the first time Chu Feng had ever seen someone among the younger generation reach the realm of Martial Ancestor.
But Chu Feng had the feeling that this was not all there was to her — that she was more than just a first-grade Martial Ancestor. Otherwise, she would not be fit to lead the Red Butterfly Association, and she certainly would not be able to make Zhao Ruofan — a second-grade Martial Ancestor — so afraid of her.
Afraid — yes, afraid. Though Zhao Ruofan concealed it well, Chu Feng could still see the panic and unease flickering in his eyes.
"Greetings to the Association Master!!!"
Sure enough, after composing himself, Zhao Ruofan hastily performed a grand salute toward the Association Master.
Seeing this, everyone else followed suit with their own salutes. Even
"Vice Association Master, what is the meaning of this? Why did I just see my Master and Elder Huang forced to kneel on the ground, and my honored guest not only thrown to the floor but also gravely injured?" the Red Butterfly Association's Master asked.
"Honored guest?" At these words, Zhao Ruofan's expression froze, and the fear in his eyes deepened.
"Chu Feng is the honored guest I personally sent my Master to invite," the Red Butterfly Association's Master said.
"This subordinate deserves death! This subordinate did not know that Chu Feng was a guest invited by the Association Master, and so I moved to stop him. In my carelessness, I injured Chu Feng." The Vice Association Master hastily dropped to one knee in a grand gesture of apology.
But Chu Feng noticed that despite his apparent terror and his gestures of contrition, he had not fully knelt. Anyone else in his position would have dropped to both knees — yet he merely knelt on one.
"The Vice Association Master was strictly enforcing the rules I established, so I cannot fault him for that. However, my Master is unwell. I hope that in the future, when you feel the need to throw your weight around, you will refrain from making him kneel on the ground."
"While your rank places you above my Master, in terms of seniority, he is your elder," the Red Butterfly Association's Master continued.
"Yes, the Association Master speaks truly. This subordinate will remember your words and will never show disrespect to Elder Liu again." Zhao Ruofan nodded repeatedly.
As for Zhao Xiao and his father, they stood off to the side, not daring to even raise their heads. It was plain to see that compared to Zhao Ruofan, they feared the Red Butterfly Association's Master even more.
And of all things, the very thing they feared came to pass. After issuing her warning to Zhao Ruofan, the Association Master turned her gaze toward Zhao Xiao and his father. "I hear that earlier… the two of you also tried to stop my Master and the others?"
"Association Master, we were wrong!" The moment they heard this, Zhao Xiao and his father immediately dropped to the ground. They did not merely kneel — they prostrated themselves fully, not daring to lift their heads. Zhao Xiao's body was trembling violently; he seemed to be terrified of this woman.
"The Vice Association Master holds his position within the Red Butterfly Association, and his rank grants him the authority to question my Master's actions."
"But Zhao Xuan, Zhao Xiao — need I remind you of who you are?"