"Junior Brother Chu Feng, congratulations are truly in order."
Zhang Tianyi walked up to meet him, beaming with delight for Chu Feng's sake, his smile so wide it looked like his face might split.
"You already know?" Chu Feng asked.
"Everyone knows. You're truly incredible. I always knew you were impressive, but I never imagined you'd be this impressive." Zhang Tianyi threw an arm around Chu Feng's shoulders, practically overflowing with joy.
"Chu Feng, I originally intended to punish you, but it seems you've turned misfortune into blessing."
"Know that the ancient bamboo scroll was the most precious treasure ever obtained by our ancestor in his time." Zhang Tianyi's father spoke up.
"Thank you, Senior." Chu Feng cupped his fists in gratitude. Regardless of what had happened, the treasure belonged to the Zhang family. But judging by the attitudes of both Zhang Tianyi and his father, it was clear they intended to give it to him and let the matter drop.
Though he had suffered terribly inside the gourd, obtaining such an extraordinary treasure was undoubtedly a net gain no matter how you looked at it. Chu Feng naturally felt grateful.
"No need for thanks. This was earned by your own ability."
"You no longer need to accept punishment, but you are still barred from competing in tomorrow's tournament." Zhang Tianyi's father said.
"Senior, you're not sending me away?" Chu Feng was surprised.
"Stay one more day." Zhang Tianyi's father replied.
"Senior, thank you." Chu Feng cupped his fists once more.
Not having to participate in the tournament was exactly what Chu Feng wanted. After all, for Zhang Tianyi's sake, even if he could compete, he would have had to throw the match. And rather than deliberately lose, it was better to simply forfeit outright.
The reason Chu Feng expressed his gratitude was that he knew the people from the four clans were all camped outside, keeping watch. If Zhang Tianyi's father had thrown him out right now, he would have had no way to escape.
But if he waited until the tournament ended and left together with everyone else, he could slip away in the confusion.
Chu Feng understood this reasoning, and naturally Zhang Tianyi's father understood it too. So Chu Feng knew that Zhang Tianyi's father was looking out for him.
"Leng Yue was quite badly affected by the formation. I'll take her back first. You two can chat at your leisure." Zhang Tianyi shook his head as he glanced at Leng Yue.
He had originally believed that with Leng Yue's talent, even if she couldn't comprehend the contents of the ancient bamboo scroll, she should at least have been able to endure the torment of that formation. But the result before him had to be said—he was quite disappointed.
However, at that moment, Leng Yue cast a meaningful glance at Chu Feng. She alone knew that her current state was not caused by the formation inside the gourd, but by Chu Feng himself.
It was Chu Feng who had used that terrifying thunder beast to reduce her to this condition. Although the Heavenly Bestowed Divine Power within her body had not been affected, her mental state had nearly collapsed entirely.
"Junior Brother Chu Feng, thank you." After Leng Yue was taken away by her father, Zhang Tianyi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Chu Feng.
"If you were in my shoes, you would have done the same." Chu Feng said with a smile, not bothering to hide his motivation for helping Zhang Tianyi.
At that, Zhang Tianyi said nothing more, simply offering a faint smile. As the saying goes, great kindness needs no words of thanks—but this debt of gratitude, he would keep firmly locked in his heart.
When Chu Feng returned to the tower, it was already deep into the night. Everyone else had gone to sleep, but Yan Xie, Big Chili Pepper, and the others were still awake, all of them restless and on edge.
"Chu Feng, how did it go? Did you win?" Seeing Chu Feng return safely, Yan Xie and the others were overjoyed, but they still pressed him anxiously, desperate to confirm the outcome.
"Mm." Chu Feng nodded.
"Ha ha, that's wonderful! Even Leng Yue was no match for you, so Zhang Tianyi surely wouldn't be either."
"The title of the Martial Continent's strongest young generation belongs to you and you alone. Truly worthy of being my idol—this is amazing!" Chili Pepper was so excited she was practically dancing.
Both Big Radish and Little Radish were just as thrilled, and even the perpetually composed Yan Xie wore a broad smile on his face.
"I won't be participating in tomorrow's tournament. The elder discovered my match with Leng Yue." Chu Feng explained.