After closing the palace doors, Chu Feng once again began attempting to decipher the Crouching Dragon Soul Armor.
"Chu Feng, are you in there?"
However, before long, a woman's voice called out from outside the doors once more.
This time, it wasn't Wang Ziyan, but rather Tu Yuanyuan.
"Why are you here at this hour?"
Chu Feng quickly opened the palace doors, and seeing Tu Yuanyuan, he was somewhat surprised.
"Let me in, and I'll explain."
Before Chu Feng could even agree, Tu Yuanyuan squeezed her way inside.
Seeing this, Chu Feng didn't stop her. Instead, he closed the palace doors.
"Wow, these pastries smell amazing!"
"Famous people really are different, huh? You've barely made a name for yourself and you're already getting such great treatment?"
Tu Yuanyuan wasted no time being polite. Spotting the pastries arranged on the table, she didn't bother asking Chu Feng — she simply picked one up and started stuffing it into her mouth. All the while, she nodded and swayed her head with satisfaction, looking thoroughly content.
"Let me guess — you were hungry, so you came here looking for a free meal?"
Chu Feng asked.
"Of course not. I heard about what happened."
"You're pretty incredible — actually triggering the legendary Divine-level talent."
Tu Yuanyuan gave Chu Feng a thumbs-up while continuing to munch on the pastry in her hand.
"Word about the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect sure travels fast."
"So you came all the way here at this hour just to congratulate me?" Chu Feng asked.
"Of course I'm here to congratulate you. I always knew you'd make a name for yourself in the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect, but I didn't expect you to make your move so quickly."
"In my opinion, it's only a matter of time before you earn the title of Crouching Dragon Disciple."
"But I didn't come here just to congratulate you. I also need to warn you about something." At this, Tu Yuanyuan set down the pastry in her hand.
A rare look of seriousness appeared in those bright, lively eyes of hers.
"What is it?" Chu Feng asked.
"You should still remember Elder Ouyang Che, right?" Tu Yuanyuan asked.
"Of course I do. I don't have amnesia."
Chu Feng chuckled.
How could he possibly forget Ouyang Che?
He was an elder of the East Dragon Court. Right after the talent assessment, Chu Feng, Tu Yuanyuan, Hua Xu, and the other new disciples had all been selected by the elders.
Elder Ouyang Che had chosen Hua Xu.
Hua Xu was an unstable character who wanted to use Elder Ouyang Che to deal with Chu Feng.
Originally, Elder Ouyang Che had been more than willing to help.
But who could have guessed that after Chu Feng revealed his cultivation, Elder Ouyang Che had a change of heart — not only wanting to take Chu Feng as his disciple, but also severing his master-disciple relationship with Hua Xu on the spot.
"Elder Ouyang Che has been punished. He's been demoted to an outer court elder," Tu Yuanyuan said.
"What happened?"
Chu Feng asked this because if Tu Yuanyuan had specifically come to tell him about this, then the matter was surely not as simple as it sounded.
"Some of his past misconduct was discovered. On the surface, the punishment seems perfectly justified."
"But… this whole thing is actually not so straightforward."
"The elder who punished him was none other than Elder Hua Shengping of the East Dragon Court."
"It turns out that Hua Shengping is of the same clan as Hua Xu — he's a senior of Hua Xu's lineage."
Tu Yuanyuan explained.
"I see. Hua Xu found Hua Shengping, and they got revenge on Ouyang Che."
Chu Feng said.
"Everyone can more or less figure that much out."
"But Ouyang Che expelled Hua Xu from his discipleship that day and even slapped him across the face. At the end of the day, that was because of you."
"Hua Xu was already petty and vindictive. Now that he has someone like Elder Hua Shengping backing him, he's definitely not going to let you off."
Tu Yuanyuan said.
"Is Hua Shengping strong?"
Chu Feng asked.
"I don't know what his exact cultivation is, but he holds some standing in the East Dragon Court. Hua Shengping's master is the Law Enforcement Elder of the East Dragon Court."
"Remember, in each of the four courts — East Dragon, West Tiger, South Phoenix, and North Black — there are only ten Law Enforcement Elders."
"These ten Law Enforcement Elders hold great authority and possess formidable strength."
"Because of that, with a master like that backing him, very few people in the East Dragon Court dare to cross Hua Shengping."
Tu Yuanyuan explained.
"I really didn't expect Hua Xu to have a senior like that."