The tiger had to be released today. Though it left a bitter taste, there was nothing anyone could do about it.
And it was precisely because Chu Feng had stripped the tiger of its fangs before letting it go that the onlookers gained a newfound respect for him.
Yet even as the great figures heaped praise upon him, Chu Feng could not bring himself to smile. He stood at the edge of the sky, gazing out in every direction.
Looking at those who had lost arms or legs, whose physical bodies had been obliterated, or whose flesh was torn and mangled, his heart bled along with them.
These people should never have been harmed. They had been injured only because of the Heavenly Dao Palace and the Human Emperor Palace.
But compared to those who had already perished, the wounded were extraordinarily fortunate.
"Even though I managed to extract compensation and strip the Heavenly Dao Palace and Human Emperor Palace of their fangs…"
"I cannot bring back the dead. I cannot ease the grief of those who lost their loved ones — that pain of bereavement in their hearts."
"If I had the choice, I would personally avenge them all, killing every last one from the Heavenly Dao Palace and the Human Emperor Palace who came to attack us today."
"But sadly… I am powerless."
After speaking those words, Chu Feng descended from the sky and began tending to the injured.
The crowd froze. That single word — powerless — made their hearts clench.
Seeing Chu Feng devote himself wholeheartedly to healing the wounded, even putting aside his status to treat something as minor as a Martial King, the others were moved.
The Weapon Refining Immortal, the Boundless Immortal, the Snow-Haired Madman, and several other experts exchanged glances before descending one after another to help tend to the wounded.
In truth, post-battle healing was not something that figures of their stature were expected to do. But after Chu Feng had taken the lead, they could not find a reason not to follow.
Afterward, Chu Feng did indeed invite everyone to a feast. The people of Greenwood Mountain, however, did not rush to celebrate.
Instead, under Chu Feng's lead, they first held a memorial for the fallen. In truth, Chu Feng was in no mood to celebrate at all.
But since they had won a great victory, they could not afford to remain drenched in gloom. To lift spirits, Greenwood Mountain not only hosted a banquet for their guests but also prepared one within their own ranks.
Together with the Underworld Manor, the Demon Dragon Royal Clan, and the experts of the Four Great Emperor Clans, they celebrated this decisive victory.
"Young Friend Chu Feng, these Emperor Armaments are far too valuable. We cannot accept them," the patriarch of the Demon Dragon Royal Clan said at the banquet, attempting to return two Emperor Armaments along with numerous half-step Emperor Armaments to Chu Feng.
"Patriarch, your willingness to come today means more to me, Chu Feng, than I can express. I do not know how to properly repay you, so this is what you have earned."
Chu Feng naturally refused to take them back. In his view, the people of Greenwood Mountain should never have had to die — but the members of the Underworld Manor, the Demon Dragon Royal Clan, and the Four Great Emperor Clans had even less reason to perish. They had died helping him.
That was why Chu Feng had given away every Emperor Armament he had claimed. Only by doing so could he find even a sliver of peace of mind.
"Come now, everyone, there is no need to insist. I have a proposal," the Manor Master of the Underworld Manor spoke up.
"Manor Master, what suggestion do you have? Please, do share," the Supreme Elder of the Eastern Emperor Clan asked.
"If we gave everything to Young Friend Chu Feng, he would naturally refuse. But each of us could contribute one Emperor Armament and twenty half-step Emperor Armaments to Greenwood Mountain."
"That way, the fruits of our victory are shared among us all."
"And Young Friend Chu Feng, please do not try to decline again. We came to help you out of loyalty and friendship — those things cannot be measured in gold or treasures."
"As for returning a portion of the Emperor Armaments, it is not because we feel embarrassed to accept them, but because we wish to share. The one who contributed the most to our great victory today was you, and the harvest of that victory should be shared with you," the Manor Master of the Underworld Manor declared.
"The Manor Master speaks truly. Young Friend Chu Feng, this time you must not refuse again," the patriarch of the Demon Dragon Royal Clan added.