"Chu Feng, I'll say it again — regarding my existence, do not speak of it to anyone. Simply pretend you never encountered me."
The moment Lord Long Xie's voice rang out, a barrier gate materialized out of thin air, landing right in front of Chu Feng.
Lord Long Xie was letting Chu Feng leave.
Yet with the exit gate plainly before his eyes, Chu Feng found himself somewhat reluctant to go.
He was simply too curious about the identity of this mysterious being.
So he wanted to ask a few more questions.
Whoosh— But before he could even open his mouth, the barrier gate released a suction force, pulling Chu Feng through it whether he liked it or not.
Passing through the gate, Chu Feng found himself back above the main plaza.
But he was far from alone in the sky above the plaza.
Figures belonging to the Wolong Martial Sect could be seen everywhere in the void — they were flying about rapidly, calling out Chu Feng's name over and over.
Everyone was frantically searching for Chu Feng, and some had already begun to despair.
Some were crying.
It was one thing for those who were close to Chu Feng.
But even people Chu Feng had never laid eyes on were in tears.
The female disciples, in particular, were weeping so hard their noses and eyes were a mess — utterly devastated.
The reason everyone was like this was that they all believed Chu Feng had perished alongside the calamity. They thought he was dead.
So when Chu Feng appeared, the first person to spot him could hardly believe his own eyes.
"Is that Chu Feng? Am I seeing things?"
"Everyone, look! Over there — that's Chu Feng!"
"Chu Feng — is it really Chu Feng?"
Amid those calls, before long, every single person present had spotted Chu Feng.
And so, countless figures shot toward him all at once.
In the blink of an eye, Chu Feng was surrounded so tightly by the vast sea of people that not even a drop of water could seep through.
But the ones who reached him first were the figures he was most familiar with.
"Brother Chu Feng, where did you go?!"
Zi Ling was the first to reach Chu Feng.
Her face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were swollen from crying — one could only imagine how worried she had been.
"Silly girl, the calamity has already been removed. Do you think anything could happen to me?"
"I just got pulled into some pocket of space while the calamity was being dealt with and was trapped inside for a bit," Chu Feng said with a grin.
He did not tell the truth, of course — he simply made up a reason on the spot.
After all, that mysterious being had specifically instructed him not to reveal any connection between himself and the calamity.
Chu Feng knew that the mysterious being's strength far surpassed that of the Wolong Martial Sect's Master, so he did not dare disobey that order.
As for Zi Ling and the others, they trusted Chu Feng completely. Besides, what they cared about most right now was his safety — seeing him unharmed, they naturally did not press further.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh— But suddenly, the countless figures that had been surrounding Chu Feng all descended to the ground.
Looking more carefully, whether they were elders or disciples, every last one of them had landed on the plaza in neat, orderly rows.
Then, elders and disciples alike bowed deeply to Chu Feng in a grand salute.
They said nothing. Yet that very gesture made Chu Feng's heart tremble.
This was… the respect of the Wolong Martial Sect's people.
And it was utterly sincere.
Think about it — from the moment he had entered the Wolong Martial Sect, Chu Feng had been subjected to constant suppression. Schemes both overt and covert had been aimed at him one after another.
Even though he had kept to himself, simply shining a little too brightly was enough to bring disaster raining down from the heavens.
So Chu Feng knew full well that the Wolong Martial Sect was no gentle place.
No matter how these people usually fought for fame and profit, schemed and schemed against one another…
But right now — at least in this moment — their respect and gratitude toward him were genuine.
No matter what, Chu Feng had earned their recognition and their respect.
And who in this world did not yearn for recognition and respect?
The recognition of others was often the truest measure of one's worth.
So naturally, Chu Feng appreciated that recognition as well.
"Since the calamity has been dealt with, everyone disperse."