That voice transmitted from the shadows was Zhao Daobin.
Chu Feng was shaken. He instinctively studied Zhao Daobin, only to find him still chatting and laughing heartily while drinking with Little Fisher's grandfather.
But Chu Feng could confirm — the one who had sent that voice transmission was indeed him.
Yet there were no outsiders here. In fact, from his perspective, Chu Feng and the others were the outsiders.
So who exactly was he guarding against?
"Elder, can you tell me why?" Chu Feng kept his composure on the surface while hurriedly asking through his own secret transmission.
"Young friend Chu Feng, last time when we faced the Divine Clans, you saved this old man. I owe you a debt of gratitude, and today I am repaying that debt."
"The rest I cannot say too much about. Just do as I say. In any case, this old man will absolutely not harm you."
Zhao Daobin replied through his secret transmission.
"Chu Feng, what's going on? Is this old Zhao out to get you?"
"Or is this Zhao Daobin playing some kind of trick?"
Eggy had also caught the secret transmission and couldn't help but ask.
"Either is possible," Chu Feng replied.
At the same time, Chu Feng addressed the Divine Deer: "Elder."
But before he could even finish, the Divine Deer's voice rang out: "Rest assured. If the Zhao Immortal Clan truly intends to do anything to you, they cannot stop this deity."
Hearing those words, Chu Feng felt at ease.
The Divine Deer could independently assess danger and unleash its own power when necessary.
Last time when they had faced Shen Bai, it was the Divine Deer who had taken the initiative to act, saving Chu Feng as well as Zhao Daobin and the others.
"Zhuyin, that's enough. Don't forget the important matter," Zhao Laoba suddenly said to Zhao Zhuyin.
"I know," Zhao Zhuyin replied. She then rose and walked up to Chu Feng.
"Come, drink this cup. Big sister has to leave now."
Zhao Zhuyin had drunk quite a bit, and her little face was flushed red. Though martial cultivators couldn't truly get drunk from alcohol, it would still embolden them beyond their usual restraint.
"Together." Chu Feng raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.
After draining hers as well, a satisfied smile spread across Zhao Zhuyin's rosy little face. She then looked toward Zhao Laoba: "Father, take good care of my friends."
"Don't worry. Are they only your friends? They're my friends too," Zhao Laoba said with a laugh.
After that, Zhao Zhuyin departed under the escort of the elders.
Zhao Laoba then waved his sleeve, and the other elders filed out as well.
Now only Zhao Laoba, Zhao Daobin, and Chu Feng's group remained in the hall.
Zhao Laoba rose and walked behind Zhao Daobin.
*Pa—* *Pa—* His palm struck heavily upon Zhao Daobin's shoulders twice.
"The Enforcement Elder of our Zhao Immortal Clan — still so righteous."
"Is it because last time, when facing the Divine Clans, young friend Chu Feng saved you once?"
The moment these words left Zhao Laoba's mouth, most people didn't immediately catch on.
But Chu Feng's heart clenched.
At that moment, he was nearly certain — the person Zhao Daobin had been guarding against with his secret voice transmission was none other than this Zhao Laoba.
Even though the voice transmission had been done in secret, perhaps due to some restriction on Zhao Daobin's body, or some other cause — In any case, Zhao Laoba had clearly discovered it.
Seeing that even his secret voice transmission had been detected, Zhao Daobin hurriedly turned and dropped to his knees before Zhao Laoba.
But he did not beg for mercy. Instead, he pleaded: "Clan Patriarch, young friend Chu Feng is a good person. This old man owes him a debt of gratitude as well. I implore the Clan Patriarch, for the sake of this old man's face, to let young friend Chu Feng and his companions go!"
These words struck Little Fisher's parents and grandfather like a thunderclap. They shot to their feet, first bringing over Little Fisher and the other two who were still healing, then shielding Chu Feng and Qin Xuan behind them.
Only then did they eye the Zhao Immortal Clan's patriarch warily: "Patriarch Zhao, what is the meaning of this?"
"Sigh~~"
Zhao Laoba did not answer directly. He merely let out a helpless sigh first.
*BOOM—*