"You sure are good at arguing. Just now, you clearly weren't cursing the demon beast — you were communicating with it."
"You two are in cahoots. Otherwise, why would you be with that strange little girl?"
"That girl is very special. She clearly hasn't cultivated martial arts, yet she commands power ordinary people don't possess, and no stranger can get close to her. I long deduced she's connected to that monster."
"And she just happens to walk with you. That says everything." Ya Fei was no simple character — she didn't buy Chu Feng's excuses and pressed further.
"What are you talking about? I was cursing the beast, plain and simple. My sworn brother died at its hands. I hate it to the bone. I know I'm no match for it, but am I not even allowed to curse it?"
"As for Xiao Yu'er, she is indeed special — I'll admit that. But why she's drawn to me, I honestly don't know. We just get along well, that's all."
"If you're going to jump to conclusions based on that and insist I'm working with the monster, then I have nothing more to say."
"But as a member of the Immortal Execution Archipelago, acting so unjustly really doesn't befit the title everyone gives you — Lady Ya Fei." Chu Feng knew Ya Fei couldn't confirm any link between him and the monster, so he flatly denied everything.
"Heh." Hearing Chu Feng's words, Ya Fei didn't respond. Instead, she suddenly laughed — but it was a sinister laugh that sent a chill down Chu Feng's spine.
"That's how it is. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. Until next time." Sensing danger, Chu Feng tried to make a quick escape.
"Ugh—"
But before he could even turn around, Chu Feng heard a sharp crack as Ya Fei crushed the bone in his shoulder with her bare hand.
And that wasn't the end of it. Wave after wave of devastating force poured into his body, ravaging his internal organs and flesh, sapping his strength.
"AAAGH—"
The excruciating pain made Chu Feng scream. He shouted to attract attention, desperately hoping that monster might come to his rescue.
But the beast never appeared, no one else heard him, and Ya Fei certainly wasn't going to stop because of his screaming. If anything, her smile grew colder as she brought her alluring lips close to his ear and whispered softly: "You think being stubborn will make me let you go? I'll make you talk."
"AHHH—"
After Ya Fei spoke, Chu Feng felt unbearable pain in wave after wave crashing over his entire body. He was drenched in sweat in moments, lost all strength to hold himself up, and finally his vision went black as he passed out.
An unknown amount of time passed before Chu Feng gradually regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes once more, he found himself inside a grand hall — an opulent place that looked like some kind of underground palace.
However, at this moment, he was bound by a powerful force, restrained on a cross-shaped wooden frame.
Not far from him sat a woman — a gorgeous, seductive beauty. It was none other than Ya Fei.
"Oh no." Seeing Ya Fei and taking in his surroundings, Chu Feng cursed internally. He had a sinking feeling she was about to interrogate him through torture.
"Oh? You're awake?" Sure enough, when Ya Fei noticed Chu Feng had come to, she walked toward him slowly with that eerie smile playing on her lips.
But as she spoke, her slender, snow-white fingers curled into a fist, and a sharp little dagger forged from martial energy materialized in her palm.