"Chu Feng, if you want my respect, then go break that formation."
"Of course, if you're willing to attempt it, I can let that woman live."
After speaking, the white-haired man in black armor snapped his fingers.
Chu Feng then noticed that the formation began operating at a much faster speed.
Before long, painful screams echoed from within the formation.
It was Hua Hua's cries of agony.
"Senior, please let her out."
"I am willing to enter in her place."
Chu Feng did not want Hua Hua to suffer any longer. In any case, he could not simply stand by and watch her die.
He might as well save her as soon as possible.
"Very well."
As the white-haired man spoke, he snapped his fingers once more.
Shortly after, a figure drifted out from within the formation — it was Hua Hua.
Hua Hua did not appear to have any visible injuries, but her condition was extremely weak.
It seemed that she had suffered mostly from psychological torment.
"Senior."
Chu Feng quickly caught the floating Hua Hua and grasped her wrist, helping to stabilize her emotions.
"Chu Feng, I… I'm still alive?"
Seeing Chu Feng, Hua Hua had already confirmed she was safe.
She simply did not understand why she had been released from the formation.
Hadn't it been said that entering meant relying on one's own ability?
So how had she been let out?
After all, she had been completely incapable of breaking the formation.
"Thank this young man."
"He offered to break the formation in your place, which is the only reason an exception was made to grant you a path to survival."
"Remember, from now on, act within your means so you don't become a burden to others."
While Hua Hua was still confused, the white-haired man's voice rang out once more — but he had long since vanished.
The voice emanated from within the formation.
It seemed that, in his eyes, Hua Hua was not even worthy of seeing his true form.
Hua Hua looked at Chu Feng, her gaze seeking an answer.
Chu Feng smiled and nodded, confirming that what the white-haired man had said was true.
"Chu Feng, you… you must not go in."
Hua Hua suddenly grabbed Chu Feng's hand.
"Senior, please don't worry. This formation shouldn't be able to stop me."
Chu Feng smiled and gently pushed Hua Hua's hand away. He knew he had to enter, otherwise Hua Hua would certainly die.
"Chu Feng, you are not allowed to go."
But Hua Hua gripped his hand tightly, refusing to let him leave.
She had been inside that formation and knew just how terrifying it truly was.
If Chu Feng were entering of his own accord, that would be one thing.
But if he was doing it solely to save her, she could not bear it.
"Senior, if I don't go in, we will both die."
Chu Feng said through secret voice transmission.
He was trying to frighten Hua Hua. He could sense that the white-haired man would not harm him, but Hua Hua was a different matter.
If Chu Feng refused to enter the formation, Hua Hua might be in danger.
Sure enough, upon hearing those words, Hua Hua hesitated.
She could accept her own death — after all, she had been the one to cause this mess.
But she could not accept being the reason Chu Feng died.
Seeing the expression on Hua Hua's face, Chu Feng realized that her true nature was that of a woman who deeply valued loyalty and bonds.
"Senior, please trust me."
"I can break that formation."
"And I can bring you out of here safely."
Chu Feng said with a smile, and this time he successfully pushed Hua Hua's hand away, turning to walk toward the great formation.
Hua Hua struggled to sit up and watched Chu Feng's retreating figure. The calm composure she once wore was gone.
In its place was panic and shame — like a child who had done something wrong and was utterly at a loss.