"May I ask Vice-Sect Leader Lu, how can Yue Ji atone for her past mistakes?" Feng Yueji already had a vague sense of foreboding in her heart, but she pretended to be clueless and asked anyway.
"Binhai's Jiang Feng, you should know him, right?" Lu Hou picked up a cup of tea, slowly took a sip, and said, "This person once killed your Junior Brother Ling, Outer Disciple Kang Li, and Elder Luo of the Law Enforcement Hall along with his two top disciples for your sake. Such an enemy of the Tianyin Sect, we naturally won't let him go. The Sect Leader has sent me down the mountain this time expressly for him!"
"What I need you to do is find a way to lure Jiang Feng to a secluded place for me, so I can have him torn apart and take his head back up the mountain to present to the Sect Leader!"
Feng Yueji's heart stirred. If Jiang Feng had not already told her he was completely prepared to deal with these people, she would have been truly frightened by Lu Hou's words!
By now, Feng Yueji thoroughly understood the reason they came looking for her in the dead of night. They were new arrivals and did not want to waste time like Luo Ying, searching all over Binhai for Jiang Feng. They wanted to take a shortcut by having her hand Jiang Feng over, so they could quickly complete their task and report back.
"Vice Sect Leader, there's no conclusion yet whether Jiang Feng was the one who actually killed Junior Brother Ling and the others. At least that night, Yue Ji was blindfolded by Junior Brother Ling, and I didn't see anything. As for Elder Luo and Junior Brothers Ma and Diao..."
"Insolent!!!" Lu Hou slammed the table before Feng Yueji could finish, the crash splitting the expensive tea table into pieces: "With me here, you still want to play tricks? You're from my Tianyin Sect and yet you dare speak for that bastard Jiang?"
Feng Yueji felt the oppressive aura Lu Hou intentionally or unintentionally emanated, making it difficult for her to breathe, but she didn't know where she got the courage to meet Lu Hou's gaze calmly and say, "Vice-Sect Leader Lu, Yue Ji is speaking the truth! Without evidence, even you are merely speculating and making assumptions! If it was indeed Mr. Jiang who saved Yue Ji that night, then he is my savior, and how can I repay kindness with enmity? Blame Junior Brother Ling's despicable means for forcibly kidnapping me; he got what he deserved!"
"Silence! Senior Sister Feng, you've really grown bolder, daring to speak to my master like this?" Gou Yunfei, who had been standing behind Lu Hou, couldn't stand it any longer. Seeing Feng Yueji dare to rebuke his master, he stepped forward and shouted angrily.
And Lu Hou, his expression was extremely dark as he glared at Feng Yueji: "Feng Yueji, you seem to forget that you are a traitor to the Tianyin Sect, left the mountain without permission, and violated the sect rules. Ling Yifeng was right to capture you and bring you back. The Sect Leader himself gave the order. How dare you have any complaints?"
"Vice-Sect Leader Lu, the reason why Yue Ji left the mountain was made very clear back then. I had my difficulties, but Master didn't show leniency and used being in seclusion as a reason to not see me, leaving me no choice. Yue Ji never fled secretly; I left the sect openly. It's just that you branded me as a traitor." Feng Yueji said coldly.
"Nonsense! You came to the mountain at six years old; who taught you all your martial arts? The Sect Leader valued and nurtured you so much, and this is how you repay him? The disciples who were in charge of guarding the mountain gate let you down the mountain because they mistakenly thought you were still their Senior Sister, but you really set a good example for your juniors!" Lu Hou said disdainfully.
"Vice-Sect Leader Lu, I will repay Master's kindness someday, but also please grant Yue Ji the right to choose. Yue Ji no longer wishes to return to the mountain, please forgive me." Feng Yueji declared with icy determination.
Lu Hou's eye twitched, his right fist clenched tightly. If he didn't still need Feng Yueji to carry out his work, he would have loved to kill her with one punch!
"Enough, let's not talk about this for now. As long as you do what I asked, if you don't want to return, I can intercede for you with the Sect Leader." Lu Hou said, against his heart.
Feng Yueji took a deep breath: "Vice-Sect Leader Lu, Yue Ji has made it clear. This matter cannot be done. Yue Ji will not assist you without evidence, nor am I someone who forgets kindness and loyalty."
"Insolent!!! Feng Yueji, you are testing my patience!" Lu Hou stood up, furious!
At the same moment, Gou Yunfei made a move against Feng Yueji!
In a flash, his figure lunged before Feng Yueji, throwing a fierce punch!
Feng Yueji was shocked and quickly raised her hands to block, barely catching the edge of his fist.
However, Gou Yunfei threw another punch, even faster, hitting Feng Yueji's shoulder and neck directly, sending her flying back!
Gou Yunfei pressed his advantage and attacked again. After a few struggling defenses, Feng Yueji couldn't hold on any longer. He feigned a move, caught her neck, and lifted her off the ground!
"Senior Sister Feng, I used to be no match for you and could only look up to you, but now you're nothing but a defeated opponent of mine. I advise you to be sensible and stop struggling, otherwise, I might accidentally crush your throat." Gou Yunfei laughed smugly, holding Feng Yueji aloft.
Feng Yueji, nearly suffocated from his grip, felt extremely uncomfortable, but the shock and humiliation in her heart were even more agonizing than the pain in her throat.
She had never expected that, besides Ling Yifeng, she was no longer a match for Gou Yunfei either. Being such a senior sister was indeed disgraceful!
"Senior Sister Feng, are you surprised? It seems you haven't made any progress in the years since you left the mountain, remaining stagnant. Meanwhile, although I, Gou Yunfei, am not talented, under Master's guidance, I've advanced to the Late Stage of the Ming Family. To me, you're nothing but a pitiful worm!" Gou Yunfei said with a mocking expression.
Feng Yueji couldn't express her grievances. Her skills had been stuck for a long time, and if it weren't for Jiang Feng tonight, she wouldn't have realized that she had gone astray when cultivating, allowing those former junior brothers to surpass her, leaving her helpless.
"Senior Sister, beg me, and I'll let you go!" Gou Yunfei taunted her like prey struggling in his grasp, laughing.
But even as her face turned pale from his grip, Feng Yueji showed no sign of pleading.
Seeing Feng Yueji about to be choked to death by Gou Yunfei, Lu Hou waved his hand: "Enough, let her go!"
"Yes, Master!" Gou Yunfei released his grip, watching Feng Yueji cough and struggle painfully in front of him, looking pitiful and helpless with satisfaction.
"Feng Yueji, I'm giving you only three days. I will return here in three days' time. I don't care what means you use, bring me that Jiang bastard here. Otherwise, the suffering you just experienced, Yunfei will let you taste it a hundredfold!"
With that disdainful remark, Lu Hou left with Zhao Chun, and a proud Gou Yunfei followed, pausing to take a final look at a Feng Yueji sitting collapsed on the ground, a strange look flashing in his eyes.