"You… you know him?" Wang Qiang looked toward Chu Feng.
"Mm." Chu Feng gave a slight nod.
The moment this demonic-character Hell Envoy had spoken, Chu Feng had already recognized his identity.
He was something of an old acquaintance.
It was he who had brought Song Yun from the Nine Souls Heavenly River to the Prison Sect.
It was also he who had planted the Prison Infant inside Chu Feng's body.
And that little girl — quite possibly the soul of the Dark Demon God — had been captured by him as well.
Though this Hell Envoy had acted in an overbearing and detestable manner back then, his subsequent actions had left Chu Feng with a rather favorable impression of him.
He was obsessive, perhaps, but at heart he was not a bad person.
"Senior, it's been a long time." Chu Feng stepped forward and pulled the Hell Envoy to his feet.
"Little friend Chu Feng, you've truly become something remarkable now."
"I knew back then that you were no ordinary frog in the well, but I never imagined you were Jie Ranqing's son."
"You really hid it well — why didn't you tell me sooner?"
The Hell Envoy was visibly delighted, behaving just like a elder who had watched a junior of his flourish. His tone could barely conceal the pride and gratification he felt.
"Senior, are you all planting Prison Infants inside talented young ones again?" Chu Feng looked toward the little girl in the center of the grand formation.
She had already fallen unconscious. Though she was quite young, Chu Feng could sense through the formation that this little girl was an exceptional prodigy of martial cultivation. Judging by her appearance, she was very likely Tian Ming's younger sister.
"Yes, little friend Chu Feng. In truth, being selected by our Prison Sect is a blessing."
"I've told you before — our Prison Sect exists to bring prosperity to the people of this world. It's just that the world cannot understand us," the Hell Envoy explained.
"Sp… spare me the nonsense."
Wang Qiang cursed from the side. He, too, knew full well what the Prison Sect had done — how many families they had ruined. Wang Qiang and Chu Feng were alike in that regard: neither ever claimed to be a good person, yet both found such evil forces utterly repugnant.
"Senior, let me ask you one thing. Was she willing when you planted the Prison Infant inside this little girl?" Chu Feng asked.
"Ah… little friend Chu Feng, the people of this world may not understand our Sect's ways today, but she will certainly be grateful to us in the future." The Hell Envoy's tone grew awkward.
"If she didn't consent, then what you've done is nothing but villainy."
"Senior, stop forcing this upon others. If you don't… one day, we may end up as enemies," Chu Feng said.
"Sigh…" The Hell Envoy did not argue. He shook his head helplessly, but at the same time deactivated the formation.
He knew perfectly well that if Chu Feng hadn't recognized him, he and these unconscious Hell Envoys would all be dead today.
In truth, it was entirely out of respect for Chu Feng that they had been spared.
"Senior, there's one thing I'd like to confirm with you."
"Back then, besides Song Yun, you also took a little girl. What happened to her?" Chu Feng asked.
In fact, when he had encountered Song Yun earlier, Chu Feng had already asked about the little girl. After all, she was very likely the soul of the Dark Demon God, and also a sacred treasure of the Three Saints Demon Clan. At the time, Song Yun had told Chu Feng that the little girl had never actually been brought to the Prison Sect by the Hell Envoy.
While they were still in the Nine Souls Heavenly River, someone had intercepted and abducted her. Song Yun didn't know who, only that the Hell Envoy had mentioned it was someone incredibly powerful.
Chu Feng was asking again now because he wanted to confirm this.
"Ah~~~" Upon hearing this, the Hell Envoy let out a long sigh before speaking. "Do you remember how, right after we left the Dragon Breath Spring Pavilion, I suddenly went still, as though petrified?"
"I remember," Chu Feng nodded.
"In your eyes I wasn't moving, but in reality you had been deceived. A very powerful person appeared before us at that time."
"Not only did he take the little girl away, he was also the one who told me to release you — to bring you back to the Nine Souls Heavenly River."
"Otherwise, with your talent, how could I possibly have sent you back instead of bringing you to the Prison Sect?" the Hell Envoy said.
Actually, when the Hell Envoy had suddenly decided to send him back, Chu Feng had been puzzled. Now, he finally understood the reason.
"Who was that person?" Chu Feng asked.
"The father and son from inside the Dragon Breath Spring Pavilion. The man appeared middle-aged and carried an axe on his back."
"Though that may not have been his true face," the Hell Envoy added.
But Chu Feng had already confirmed it in his mind.
It would be one thing if it were someone else, but a middle-aged man carrying an axe — that could only be Song Changsheng, Xian Miaomiao's Master.
"While we were still in the Nine Souls Heavenly River, he told me not to reveal any of this to you. Given his strength, I didn't dare disobey."