Zhou Nanfeng's expression darkened upon hearing this.
"Could this kid know something..." A bad premonition arose in his heart.
"Oh? And how is that not an issue?" Chu Huainan finally found an opportunity to interject.
Seeing Chu Huainan's interest piqued, everyone's gaze turned towards Lu Fei.
At some point, Lu Fei held a bank card, fidgeting with it. This was the medical fee Zhou Nanfeng had compensated him with.
Lu Fei lowered his head and chuckled playfully, "Chairman Zhou, since you were the one who facilitated this, shall I share the whole story with everyone?"
Zhou Nanfeng froze, an extreme sense of crisis immediately surging in his heart!
He was now certain that the other party knew why he had given him the golden ticket. If this matter were to be exposed in front of so many people, especially in front of Chu Huainan, he would likely never be able to get by in Cang Town in the future.
In his shock, Zhou Nanfeng noticed the bank card the young man was toying with and suddenly realized.
"Hahaha. Look at my memory, isn't the golden ticket in young friend Lu Fei's hand the one I gave him!" Zhou Nanfeng burst into laughter. He quickly stood up, walked to Lu Fei's side, put an arm around his shoulder, and whispered into his ear, "Everything can be discussed!"
A subtle smile curved Lu Fei's lips.
After communicating with Lu Fei, Zhou Nanfeng raised his wine glass, his expression solemn, and looked at Chu Huainan. He respectfully said, "Elder Chu, you helped remove the unknown creature from the hunting grounds, and I haven't had a chance to thank you. This junior offers you a toast."
Zhou Nanfeng raised his glass and drank it down in one go, quite heartily.
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Huainan's face turned ashen.
His intention for coming to the hunting grounds this time was to investigate whether unknown creatures from the star domain had indeed intruded here. If so, he intended to take the unknown creatures away before the Hunter Organization.
However, the actual outcome was that he not only failed to eliminate the unknown creature but also lost his Qiongqi, a contractual beast that symbolized his status, for no reason.
If he had been alone in the mist at the time, he could have simply admitted it, and no one would have suspected that his Qiongqi had been sacrificed.
But Lu Fei was present at the scene, and he had personally witnessed his Qiongqi being devoured!
Chu Huainan suddenly felt as if he were being mocked and ridiculed.
"Sucking up has backfired, Zhou Nanfeng, oh Zhou Nanfeng, you truly are a little genius..." Lu Fei looked at Zhou Nanfeng, then at Chu Huainan, with an expression of schadenfreude.
The others saw that Chu Huainan did not raise his glass, and his face was already ashen.
The atmosphere at the scene instantly became awkward.
Zhou Nanfeng realized that the situation was not right but didn't know where he had gone wrong. His face was so dark it seemed as if water could drip from it. His hand, holding the wine glass, trembled slightly. He was caught between holding it up and putting it down, frozen in place.
"Well... it's my turn to perform..." Finally, Lu Fei spoke up, his voice clear and loud, "Chairman Zhou is right. I personally saw Elder Chu commanding a contractual beast that was entirely dark green, resembled a tiger, and had a pair of wings, in battle!"
Upon hearing Lu Fei's description, a name simultaneously appeared in everyone's minds.
"Qiongqi!"
They looked at Chu Huainan with solemn expressions. They had heard about the unknown creature in the hunting grounds. Many powerful beast masters had gone, but all had returned unsuccessful. The Ten Elders were truly worthy of their reputation!
As the person involved, Chu Huainan was stunned!
He didn't react quickly enough to understand Lu Fei's intention in saying this.
Lu Fei continued, "The creature in the mist was exceptionally ferocious, but it couldn't withstand Elder Chu's fierce assault and was ultimately killed by Elder Chu's contractual beast."
After he finished, everyone understood. It turned out that Chu Huainan had indeed annihilated the unknown creature in the mist, but he disdained to mention such a trivial matter!
At the same time, Chu Huainan's brows gradually relaxed.
"Good kid, this way, you've both saved my face, concealed the fact that Qiong Si died in battle, and prevented anyone from suspecting that I was saved by a child no older than a teenager!"
Chu Huainan figured it out, and Lu Fei's impression in his mind soared! Certain plans in his heart became even more resolute!
On the other side, Lu Fei appeared calm, but he was secretly delighted. "This way, all the blame is shifted to the old man, and no one will suspect that the 'dumb snake' was subdued in the hunting grounds..."
With one matter resolved, Chu Huainan felt a sense of relief. He raised his wine glass, cleared his throat twice, and said loudly, "This trip to the hunting grounds was truly perilous, and young friend Lu Fei also made significant contributions."
"No! Please don't mention me!" Lu Fei was anxious.
At this moment, Lin Yuansheng, who had been holding back for a long time, finally couldn't help himself. He leisurely said, "Nanfeng, such a great favor cannot be covered by just a glass of wine. I think some practical reward is in order."
Zhou Nanfeng smacked his forehead as if he had just realized, "Right, right, right!" He first looked at Chu Huainan, appearing somewhat hesitant.
Chu Huainan seemed to understand his meaning and said lightly, "I won't be needing anything. You should consider what reward to give young friend Lu Fei."
Lu Fei's eyes lit up. Such a good thing!
"I wonder what young friend Lu Fei is interested in?" Zhou Nanfeng asked with a smile. For him, any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem!
Lu Fei was stumped. If he were asked to state his requirements, with his current experience, he didn't know what would be valuable to him. Perhaps some more spirit coins would be the most practical!
As he was contemplating,
Lin Yuansheng spoke again.
"Didn't you receive a bottle of Innate Spiritual Liquid last month? Next year, second-year students will undergo a mental strength test to prepare for their advancement to Junior Beast Masters. I think this item would be most suitable to gift to young friend Lu Fei!"
Upon hearing this, the smile on Zhou Nanfeng's face slowly disappeared...
He stiffly turned his neck to look at Lin Yuansheng, who was sipping his wine with a playful expression...
This Innate Spiritual Liquid was a treasure rarer than a Universal Evolution Stone!
Those who consumed the Innate Spiritual Liquid, regardless of their innate talent, would have their talent reconfigured after consumption. The greatest benefit was that their mental strength would immediately reach 100! Granting them the qualification to become Junior Beast Masters!
This bottle of Innate Spiritual Liquid was something he had specifically prepared for Zhou Shuyi. He knew very well that with Zhou Shuyi's beast-taming talent, where even her contractual beast could be snatched away by others, it would take at least a few more years to become a Junior Beast Master. Therefore, he had mobilized his connections to search for the Innate Spiritual Liquid!
After finally finding it, Zhou Nanfeng, to show off how extensive his connections were and that he could even obtain the Innate Spiritual Liquid, began to flaunt it in aristocratic circles...
Whatever his feelings were at the time, he was definitely feeling worse than if he had eaten excrement now...
"This... this..." Zhou Nanfeng stammered for a long time, unable to utter a word.
However, everyone saw Chu Huainan nod silently, "Hmm, I had also considered finding a bottle of Innate Spiritual Liquid to present to young friend Lu Fei upon my return. Since Chairman Zhou possesses such a rare treasure, it would be most fitting to gift it to young friend Lu Fei."
"No... I haven't agreed yet..." Zhou Nanfeng's expression was unsightly. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Ha... hahaha... that's wonderful. I was worried about what to give him..." As he spoke, he took out the "Innate Spiritual Liquid" from his storage ring. Zhou Nanfeng made one last desperate attempt, "I thought young friend Lu Fei might dislike this thing..."
"Chairman Zhou's generosity, how could I dare to dislike it!" Lu Fei reached out and took it, or rather, snatched it! httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
This thing was too important to him!
He had no confidence that he could reach 100 mental strength on his own! But with this, he was immediately at ease...
This meal was truly satisfying!
After several rounds of drinks, the hall was filled with the clinking of glasses.
The atmosphere grew increasingly lively, mainly because everyone's mood had improved.
Chu Huainan's worries were temporarily resolved. It seemed no one would know that his Qiong Si had died in battle.
And the others had finally managed to toast Chu Huainan and make an appearance.
Lu Fei was thoroughly enjoying himself and decided to stop being low-key for the moment. He walked to the song selection area, picked up the microphone, and sang a cappella.
"Keep it simple... simple ways of speaking..."
The others also became excited, keeping the rhythm for him.
In a dark corner, Zhou Nanfeng, with a heavy heart, still had to force smiles and was lost in his own melancholy, like an actor...
At the end of the banquet, Chu Huainan stood up, holding his wine glass.
He announced loudly, "Everyone, I'll toast you all. And I have some good news to announce."