Song Qian sensed the killing intent in Chu Feng's eyes and hurriedly said, "Junior Brother Chu Feng, I didn't mean it like that, it's just..."
But before Song Qian could finish, Chu Feng cut her off. "Then it's best that you didn't mean it that way. But if you did, don't think being a woman will save you. I absolutely will not let you go."
With that, Chu Feng turned his gaze to Li Muzhi and the others.
"Senior Brother Li, you all go in first."
Chu Feng hadn't entered first because he was afraid that once he did, Li Muzhi and the others would fall victim to Zuoqiu Yanliang's schemes.
Li Muzhi and the others understood his meaning and stepped through the barrier gate one after another.
"I've already given you this opportunity."
"If anyone doesn't trust me, Chu Feng, and thinks I'm trying to harm them, you're free not to enter. You can stay right here."
"Of course, if you stay, you won't get any benefits, and you'll have to wait until the formation's power completely dissipates before you can leave."
Once Chu Feng finished speaking, he turned and stepped directly through the barrier gate.
Seeing this, the others grew eager, preparing to enter the gate as well.
They didn't want to miss this chance.
"All of you, stop right there!"
But at that very moment, a furious roar suddenly exploded through the air.
At the sound of that roar, every disciple's body shuddered in fright.
Because it was the voice of Zuoqiu Yanliang.
People looked toward Zuoqiu Yanliang and found that tears still lingered on his face, yet his expression had undergone a dramatic shift.
It suddenly dawned on everyone that Zuoqiu Yanliang's earlier emotional breakdown had very likely been an act.
But that was no longer the point. What mattered now was that Zuoqiu Yanliang's attitude was hostile, and nobody knew what he was truly after.
"Rest assured, I won't stop you from entering the Crouching Dragon Illusion Palace."
"This is indeed an opportunity — a free one. Not only will I not prevent you from taking it, I, Zuoqiu Yanliang, won't miss it either."
"I'm only here to remind you of one thing. Ask yourselves — who really calls the shots in the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect?"
"If you believe that this Chu Feng can't protect you forever..."
"Then once you're out, you will say exactly what I tell you to say."
After that, Zuoqiu Yanliang laid out certain instructions.
Of course, everything he told them was fabricated from thin air.
It was a deliberate smear against Chu Feng, pinning all the blame squarely on him.
It was only then that people truly realized how prescient Chu Feng had been when he had earlier sent that light into their bodies.
A shameless person like Zuoqiu Yanliang had indeed begun forcing them to lie.
Yet they found themselves in a terrible bind. On one side, they didn't dare offend Zuoqiu Yanliang. On the other, their very lives were held in Chu Feng's grasp.
They were truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Junior Sister Song, distribute these to every junior brother and junior sister here."
Zuoqiu Yanliang produced a black bottle and handed it to Song Qian.
Song Qian opened the bottle, and immediately a plume of black mist surged out. The bottle tilted, and what poured out were colorless, odorless pills.
The moment the disciples laid eyes on the pills, their faces changed. This was poison — a kind of slow-acting toxin with a delayed onset.
Once you swallowed this poison, aside from taking the antidote within the prescribed time, there was only death.
Chu Feng had already planted the Prison King's power within their bodies, holding their lives in his hands.
Now Zuoqiu Yanliang wanted to feed them poison as well.
Did that mean they were dead either way?
"Senior Brother Zuoqiu, Junior Brother Chu Feng isn't a bad person. You really don't have to go this far."
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, a young woman spoke up through her tears.
She didn't want to swallow the poison, which was why she tried to persuade Zuoqiu Yanliang.
BOOM—
But no one expected Zuoqiu Yanliang to raise his hand and deliver a single palm strike. With a muffled bang, the female disciple was blasted to pieces.
This scene sent a tremor of horror through every disciple, and even Song Qian's brows knitted tight.