"Hahaha…"
But looking at Chu Feng's determined expression, Lu Long suddenly burst into laughter.
"Excellent, excellent. Truly a man of mettle — different from the rest."
Lu Long gazed at Chu Feng with a smiling face, and in that expression there was no longer any hostility. It was nothing but admiration.
The oppressive force that had been binding Chu Feng was also withdrawn.
"What's this?"
Chu Feng reacted quickly. He had already realized that Lu Long hadn't truly intended to make a move against him just now.
It had been more like… a test.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, please forgive me."
"I had no ill intentions. I just wanted to see whether you were like those other people — someone who bullies the weak but fears the strong."
"No wonder even someone like Junior Brother Li admires you so much. You really are one of a kind."
After hearing Lu Long's words, Chu Feng was now certain that Lu Long had only been testing him.
He hadn't misjudged the situation. This Lu Long was not a malicious person.
"Senior Brother Lu, so was it truly Li Muzhi who asked you to come find me?"
Chu Feng asked.
"It was indeed Junior Brother Li who asked me to look for you."
"Actually, Junior Brother Li originally wanted to come find you in person."
"But he was tied up with matters and couldn't get away, so he sent me instead."
Lu Long replied.
"I wonder what he's been busy with?"
"If it's inconvenient to meet now, I can visit another day."
Chu Feng said.
"It's fine — we're already here, so just come with me."
Lu Long said. He seemed quite eager for Chu Feng to go with him.
"Then I'll trouble Senior Brother Lu."
As for Chu Feng, he very much wanted to meet with Li Muzhi.
Of course, what Chu Feng wanted even more was to learn about Yu Ting's situation from Li Muzhi's own lips.
If he could confirm that Yu Ting was safe and sound, then a great weight would be lifted from his heart.
Following Lu Long's lead, Chu Feng arrived outside a manor in the Eastern Dragon Hall.
This manor was no ordinary place.
The main gate alone was intricately carved and rose a thousand meters high.
The walls on either side of the gate stood even taller than the gate itself — a full ten thousand meters.
At a glance, it was a true fortress of copper and iron, and within the walls one could sense the power of protective formations.
Above the manor's gate hung an enormous plaque bearing just two characters — Li Manor.
Such walls and gates carried an overwhelming aura of grandeur.
Standing before the main gate, Chu Feng appeared utterly minuscule — an ant would not have been an unfair comparison.
And there were a full ten people standing before the gate, arranged in two rows, standing guard like sentries.
If they had been ordinary disciples, it would have been unremarkable, but all ten were elders of the Eastern Dragon Hall.
Though they hadn't released any aura, just their bearing alone made it clear that every one of them was no ordinary figure.
This made Chu Feng marvel at just how powerful Li Muzhi's status truly was.
Owning such a manor was one thing, but to have Eastern Dragon Hall elders standing guard at his home — that was something else entirely.
Could this be the treatment afforded to Crouching Dragon disciples?
And upon passing through the main gate, what appeared before his eyes was not green bricks, red walls, or magnificent buildings, but rather mountains, rivers, and lakes brimming with verdant life.
As far as the eye could see, the landscape stretched endlessly with no end in sight.
With such vast territory, how could this possibly be called a mere manor?
Calling it a small kingdom would not have been an exaggeration.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, now that we're inside, watch your tongue."
"It's not only Junior Brother Li Muzhi who lives here — Lord Li Fengxian resides here as well."
After entering the grounds, Lu Long offered Chu Feng a reminder.
This told Chu Feng that the Li Manor was not merely Li Muzhi's private residence. It was the estate of the entire Li family.
No wonder it commanded such a vast expanse of land.
Setting everyone else aside, Lord Li Fengxian alone was one of the Crouching Dragon elders. A person of that stature certainly had the qualifications to enjoy such special treatment.
Though they had entered the Li family's territory, as they ventured deeper, grand buildings remained scarce. Apart from the formation walls that marked the perimeter, all along the way they passed through what was largely untouched natural scenery.
Not only was there birdsong and fragrant flowers, but wild animals were plentiful. Even demon beasts and Fierce Beasts could be found in abundance.
This place… had already formed a complete ecosystem.
Before long, they passed through a dense stretch of forest and emerged into a sea.
Only, this sea was no simple matter.