"I do indeed know her."
"I also know she made some mistakes before, so I'm quite worried about her."
"Head Steward, do you know where Elder Li Fengxian has imprisoned Yu Ting?"
Chu Feng pressed further. He wanted to know exactly how Yu Ting was doing now.
"So you actually know her."
"Lord Li Fengxian detained her within his own residence. As for the exact location, I have no knowledge, nor do I have the authority to inquire."
"However, the fact that Lord Li Fengxian did not hand her over to the Punishment Hall for processing — I think that's already a mercy for Yu Ting."
"So Chu Feng, you don't need to worry too much about Yu Ting. Punishment is unavoidable, but it shouldn't be a death sentence."
The Head Steward said.
Those words — "shouldn't be a death sentence" — made Chu Feng's heart tighten.
It meant Yu Ting's situation might not be optimistic, but truthfully, there was nothing he could do about it now.
Besides, Yu Ting's punishment had likely already concluded.
"Head Steward, then do you know how Zi Ling is doing now?"
Chu Feng asked again.
After all, he had entered the Crouching Dragon Martial Academy for Zi Ling's sake, so naturally he was even more concerned about her situation.
"Zi Ling?"
"You've heard about her too?"
The Head Steward looked at Chu Feng with a meaningful smile.
"Mm."
Chu Feng nodded.
"Zi Ling is indeed a prodigy blessed by heaven. She's been in our Crouching Dragon Martial Academy for the shortest time, yet her progress has been the fastest."
"But Chu Feng, if you have designs on Zi Ling, I have to give you some advice."
"Which male disciple in the entire Crouching Dragon Martial Academy doesn't have designs on Zi Ling?"
"Let alone you — even those few names on the Dragon Disciple roster have long been itching to make a move, and some have already acted on it."
"So my advice is, if you truly have feelings for Zi Ling, don't voice them. Keep them buried in your heart for now."
"Wait until you genuinely have the ability. There'll be no rush to speak then."
"Otherwise... it will bring trouble."
The Head Steward said to Chu Feng.
Chu Feng understood what the Head Steward meant.
Zi Ling was the Crouching Dragon Martial Academy Master's only closed-door disciple. In the future, she might be groomed to become the academy's next master.
Zi Ling's talent had already been on full display within the Crouching Dragon Martial Academy, and as for her appearance — well, Chu Feng was more than confident about that.
A woman like that was naturally the object of every male disciple's desire, someone they would all fight over.
"But even if you have the ability, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll succeed."
"Ever since the Academy Master took Zi Ling as a closed-door disciple, which male disciple hasn't tried to get close to her?"
"But she's always claimed that she already has a husband."
"She's somewhat friendly with female disciples, but toward male disciples, she's utterly cold. Forget having a conversation — she won't even spare them a proper glance."
At this point, the Head Steward chuckled again, looking as though he had personally witnessed how cold Zi Ling could be to male disciples.
"Oh? Then who is Zi Ling's husband?"
Chu Feng asked with a grin.
"That, no one has ever heard her mention."
"So many people suspect she doesn't actually have a husband at all."
"The so-called husband is just an excuse she uses to turn people away."
The Head Steward had no idea what Chu Feng was thinking, and proceeded to earnestly analyze the situation for him.
"That's not necessarily true. I believe Miss Zi Ling would never lie."
Chu Feng said with absolute certainty.
Because he knew very well that the husband Zi Ling spoke of was, in fact, him.
"How can you be so sure? Don't tell me you know Zi Ling too?"
The Head Steward asked this with a laugh, clearly treating it as a jest. He simply couldn't imagine that Chu Feng would actually know Zi Ling.
As for Chu Feng, he merely smiled.
() He didn't know this Head Steward well enough to fully trust him. It was fine to ask for information, but there was no need to reveal too much about himself.
"Chu Feng, we're on the same side. I won't do anything to harm you."
"Though your talent is extraordinary, the more exceptional you are, the more of a target you become."
"Although our Northern Xuan Courtyard will protect you with everything we have, it would be best if you kept a lower profile going forward."
"To put it somewhat uncomfortably — after all, the strength of our Northern Xuan Courtyard..."
At this point, a bitter smile crept across the Head Steward's face.
"Head Steward, rest assured... I, Chu Feng, will exercise proper judgment."
"I won't go looking for trouble with others. I won't seek out conflict."
"But if someone comes after me and I simply retaliate in kind, I trust the Head Steward won't fault me for that."
Chu Feng said.
"You really are a spirited one."
The Head Steward shook his head with a smile. He already knew that keeping Chu Feng low-key would be nearly impossible.
But there was nothing more he could say about that.
"Head Steward, I've heard that... Zi Ling was confined to the Forsaken Lands by the Academy Master because she insisted on leaving the Crouching Dragon Martial Academy."