The Sect Master fixed Chu Feng with an interrogating gaze.
Zi Ling, meanwhile, seemed to want to speak but held back, her eyes filled with deep worry.
Even Duan Liufeng's look toward Chu Feng carried a certain complexity.
All of these changes made it clear to Chu Feng that something must have happened.
"The other matter?"
"What does the Sect Master refer to?"
Chu Feng asked.
"Were you truly brought into the Wolong Martial Sect by Duan Liufeng?"
The Sect Master asked.
"I…"
Chu Feng could not answer, and he couldn't help but glance at Duan Liufeng.
But he found that Duan Liufeng's gaze had grown even more complicated — there was hesitation, inner struggle, and even a trace of self-doubt.
"Chu Feng, has the secret been exposed?"
Yu Sha reminded him.
In truth, he didn't need Yu Sha's reminder — Chu Feng had already realized it himself.
Chu Feng had entered the Wolong Martial Sect through the Wolong Selection Formation.
Because of the Wolong Soul Armor, his cultivation had regressed, and that mysterious existence had told him that with his level of strength, no one would believe he had passed through the Wolong Selection Formation. Worse, he might be expelled.
On top of that, the mysterious existence had no intention of revealing himself to explain the truth on Chu Feng's behalf, so he had offered Chu Feng a suggestion.
The plan was for the mysterious existence to alter an elder's memory, making that elder believe he had personally brought Chu Feng into the sect.
Chu Feng had been desperate to rescue Zi Ling, and the mysterious existence possessed power that reached the heavens. Chu Feng had no leverage to negotiate, so he had no choice but to agree.
And the elder whose memory had been altered was Duan Liufeng.
Now, being questioned like this by the Sect Master, Chu Feng did feel somewhat guilty.
He felt that the Sect Master would not ask such a question without reason — it was very likely she had discovered something, or that Duan Liufeng had noticed something amiss.
Chu Feng felt it was time to tell the truth.
"Sect Master, I was suppressed inside the formation earlier, and I did sustain some injuries. It's entirely possible my memories became muddled."
"Perhaps my memory is faulty. Chu Feng really was probably brought in by me."
Duan Liufeng cut in hastily.
"Duan Liufeng, I know about your relationship with Chu Feng. You don't need to speak right now."
"I want Chu Feng to explain this himself."
The Sect Master said.
"Sect Master, this disciple was not truly brought into the sect by Elder Duan."
Hearing Chu Feng say this, Duan Liufeng's gaze grew even more complicated.
At first he had likely only harbored a slight self-doubt, but now that doubt had deepened considerably.
And Chu Feng did not wait for the Sect Master to press further. In a single breath, he recounted the entire chain of events — the cause and every detail — to the Sect Master.
"That is the whole of it."
"I'm sorry, Brother Duan. I didn't mean to use you."
"I'm sorry, Sect Master. This disciple did not intend to conceal the truth."
Chu Feng bowed with a somewhat ashamed expression.
"So my memory really was forcibly altered…"
"Young Brother, who exactly is the senior inside the Wolong Selection Formation?"
Duan Liufeng asked curiously.
"Brother Duan, I never actually saw that senior."
"I initially assumed he was an elder of the Wolong Martial Sect, but judging by how things stand now, it seems it's not that simple."
Chu Feng said.
"Chu Feng, is what you say the truth?"
"There really is such a mysterious person hidden within the Wolong Selection Formation?"
"And your connection with him was limited to this — no other contact?" The Sect Master pressed as well.
"There's no need to press him further."
"Whatever he says, I believe it to be the truth."
"After all, there are indeed many figures within the Wolong Martial Sect whose standing is far beyond our right to inquire about."
Just then, another voice spoke from beside Zi Ling.
() But it was not Zi Ling's voice.
Space rippled, and a figure appeared beside Zi Ling.
It was the white-robed woman they had encountered before at True Origin Lonely Mountain, when Zi Ling's soul had been damaged.
"Could it be…"
"You are the senior of our Wolong Martial Sect?"
Chu Feng asked, looking at the white-robed woman.
When the white-robed woman had produced pills to help Zi Ling and himself recover, Chu Feng had already sensed that she was no ordinary person.
But at the time, he had only assumed she held a special status.
Now, however, it seemed her identity was even more extraordinary than he had previously imagined.
"Yes. I am the one you have been looking for."
"Just now, it was I who erased Duan Liufeng's memory."
"In truth, when Duan Liufeng was trapped, I already knew of the Wolong Martial Sect's plight."
"When the Sect Master returned to the Wolong Martial Sect to find you, I was already accompanying her in secret."
"It was then that I discovered this calamity was unlike those of the past — it was a calamity triggered by the Wolong Selection Formation itself."