The arrival of Nangong Yuliu caused the hearts of the North Mystic Academy elders—which had only just settled—to lurch skyward once more.
Though Nangong Yuliu's personal strength was inferior to Xia Yan's, his background was no less extraordinary.
Xia Yan knew Chu Feng, so the crisis with Xia Yan had been resolved.
But Nangong Yuliu would absolutely not let things go.
Everyone knew full well why he had come today.
The Head of the North Mystic Academy had been quietly observing the situation around him. When he spotted Chu Feng approaching, he immediately sent a secret voice transmission, telling Chu Feng to hide.
But Chu Feng not only refused to hide—he quickened his pace, pushed through the crowd, and appeared directly in front of Nangong Yuliu.
"You got here fast."
Having revealed himself, Chu Feng was the first to speak.
"You actually dare come back? I thought you'd gone into hiding."
Seeing Chu Feng, Nangong Yuliu was momentarily surprised, but his tone quickly turned mocking. "Then again, you can dodge the first of the month but not the fifteenth. You'll have to face today's reckoning sooner or later."
"Chu Feng, your sign is ready."
As he spoke, Nangong Yuliu produced a sign from his Universe Bag.
The moment the elders saw that sign, their faces turned green. As for the spectating disciples, they erupted into heated discussion.
Previously, Chu Feng and Nangong Yuliu had made a bet. If Chu Feng could break Lord Dugu Lingtian's record inside the Blackwater Six-Finger Pool, then Nangong Yuliu would have to apologize to Zhao Shi. Not only that—Zhao Shi would also be allowed to slap him ten times across the face.
But if Chu Feng failed to break Lord Dugu Lingtian's record, then Nangong Yuliu would give Chu Feng a sign, ordering him to wear it on his body at all times, never to be removed.
Now, Chu Feng had walked out of the Blackwater Six-Finger Pool without breaking Lord Dugu Lingtian's record.
This bet—Chu Feng had lost.
And this sign was naturally prepared for him.
Leaving aside the sign itself, the chain attached to it was identical to one used for leashing a dog. The chain alone was an insult implying Chu Feng was a dog.
But the words written on it were even more deeply offensive.
Eight large characters:
—I am Nangong Yuliu's dog.
"Chu Feng, put it on."
Nangong Yuliu tossed the sign toward Chu Feng.
Chu Feng reached out, caught the sign, and examined it carefully.
Everyone stared at him unblinkingly, fully expecting him to actually hang that humiliating sign around his neck.
But Chu Feng merely gave a faint smile, swept his wide sleeve, and flung the sign toward the person standing beside Nangong Yuliu.
He said nothing, yet everyone understood his meaning.
Chu Feng was calling the person beside Nangong Yuliu a dog—Nangong Yuliu's dog.
"Chu Feng, don't you even understand the principle of honoring a bet?" Nangong Yuliu demanded.
"Nangong Yuliu, aren't you a True Disciple as well? Why didn't you go participate in the hunt inside the Fierce Beast Prison Realm?"
"I'll go if I want to and stay if I don't. What's it to you? You and I made a bet, and there are witnesses. Chu Feng—trying to deny it won't work."
"What a pity…" Chu Feng said. "If you had been inside the Fierce Beast Prison Realm too, you would never dare do something so foolish."
Nangong Yuliu had no idea what Chu Feng was talking about. Seeing that Chu Feng refused to put on the sign, he concluded Chu Feng was trying to welch on their bet, and his gaze turned ice-cold. "Chu Feng, are you going to force me to put it on you?"
"Nangong Yuliu, I, Chu Feng, am not a man who goes back on his word. However, I truly have no reason to wear this sign. I'm afraid you prepared it for nothing," Chu Feng replied.
"Chu Feng, drop the act. I've already heard—you've latched onto Xia Yan. But even if Xia Yan is backing you, you should still honor your bet. This is the rule of our Crouching Dragon Martial Sect. Since you refuse to put it on, then I'll help you."