Zhao Shi looked at Chu Feng, her eyes brimming with emotion.
She was human too — a woman of status, no less.
In her daily life, she stood above other disciples, accustomed to their reverent gazes.
A person like her, slapped across the face in public — how could she not be angry? How could she not feel it as a humiliation?
But the one who had done it was Nangong Yuliu — a man whose status and strength far surpassed her own.
Even Li Muzhi and Lu Long hadn't dared to truly stand up for her, which was proof enough of how formidable Nangong Yuliu was.
So she could only endure it, choosing from the very start to accept everything, to accept this humiliation.
She truly hadn't expected that, even after she had already chosen to accept it all, someone would still stand up for her.
And that someone was Chu Feng.
She and Chu Feng had only just met — there was no bond to speak of. On top of that, she had even mocked him and humiliated him before.
By any reasonable measure, Chu Feng had no reason to help her.
At the thought of this, tears streamed down her face despite herself.
"Sister Zhao, why are you crying?"
"Don't cry — Junior Brother Chu Feng has already agreed to Nangong Yuliu's outrageous demand on your behalf. Why are you still crying?"
Lu Long looked at Zhao Shi with a hint of reproach.
He didn't want to blame her, but in his heart he genuinely felt that Chu Feng shouldn't have agreed to such a demand for Zhao Shi's sake.
"Sister Zhao, don't cry, and don't be afraid."
"If I win, you can choose not to strike Nangong Yuliu."
"But what he did today — hitting you — was absolutely wrong. This matter absolutely cannot be left at that."
"I will make him apologize to you in public."
Compared to Lu Long, Chu Feng sought instead to comfort Zhao Shi.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, this is all my fault."
"You shouldn't have taken on such a risk for me."
"I'll go find Nangong Yuliu — I'll talk to him and make him cancel the bet."
Zhao Shi's sobs grew worse, but not from sorrow — from being moved.
"Sister Zhao, don't go. It won't help."
"Besides, this is no longer between you and Nangong Yuliu. It's between him and me."
"Now that I, Chu Feng, have agreed, I'm prepared for whatever comes."
"Don't worry — if records exist, they can be broken."
"Stop looking so grim. At least crack a smile and have a little faith in me."
"Stop acting like I'm definitely going to lose," Chu Feng said with a grin.
"That's right, that's right! Brother Chu Feng speaks sense!"
"Sister Zhao, don't cry — it's bad luck. It'll dampen Junior Brother Chu Feng's morale," Lu Long added.
Hearing this, Zhao Shi hastily wiped her tears away, genuinely afraid that her crying might affect Chu Feng, and dared not cry anymore.
Li Muzhi patted Chu Feng on the shoulder, and at the same time, a secret voice transmission entered Chu Feng's ears.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, since you've already agreed, there's no need to worry."
"Even if you lose, you can completely ignore him."
"I, Li Muzhi, am not someone who shrinks from trouble. The only reason I gave Nangong Yuliu face today is because my grandfather has some matters to cooperate on with his grandmother."
"And doting on Nangong Yuliu as she does, she would not take kindly to any conflict — I didn't want to jeopardize my grandfather's plans."
"Once my grandfather's business is settled, I will most certainly teach Nangong Yuliu a proper lesson. Whether it's you or Sister Zhao, I won't let either of you be bullied for nothing."
Chu Feng had long suspected that Li Muzhi's restraint today might have been for a particular reason.
And Li Muzhi's words confirmed that suspicion.
Chu Feng could sense that Li Muzhi was no coward. But the fact that he was considering his grandfather's interests was something Chu Feng could fully understand.
After that, Chu Feng returned to the Northern Mystery Academy.
But who could have guessed — the moment he set foot in the Northern Mystery Academy, Elder Dao Qinian, Enforcement Elder Li Boyi, and the supervising elder in charge of the academy had already been waiting for him for quite some time.