"Fan Ge, something bad has happened, open the door quickly!"
Er Hu's urgent shouts reached the courtyard, and Lu Fan's heart inexplicably tightened, a sense of unease rising without warning.
He quickly pulled open the courtyard door and saw Er Hu, drenched in sweat and panting, leaning against the doorframe.
Before Lu Fan could even speak, Er Hu grabbed his arm and pulled him, running out.
"Fan Ge, Zhi Yu Meimei has been taken away, Aunt Jiang tried to stop them and was severely injured… several uncles in the village went to help and were all hurt too!"
Er Hu said anxiously as he ran.
The more Lu Fan listened, the redder his eyes became, and a fierce Killing Intent uncontrollably emanated from his body.
He no longer cared about Er Hu, activating the Swimming Dragon Movement Technique, he shot towards the village entrance like an arrow leaving a bowstring.
Upon reaching the village entrance, he saw several uncles collapsed on the ground, all bruised and swollen, their clothes torn, with visible mud and bloodstains, unable even to stand up.
Lu Fan rushed forward, his Spiritual Consciousness quickly probing into their bodies.
Broken ribs, damaged internal organs… they wouldn't recover for at least half a year.
He gritted his teeth and channeled streams of Reincarnation Power into their bodies, then urgently asked about Aunt Jiang and Zhi Yu's whereabouts.
Learning that they had both been abducted, solely to force Zhi Yu into submission, Lu Fan's eyes nearly burst, and he turned to sprint in the direction the group had left.
His heart was filled with raging anger and boiling Killing Intent.
After the Tower Spirit's guidance during these days, he was no longer the ignorant youth he once was.
He understood the rules of this world: if you're not strong enough, you can only be slaughtered; if you're not ruthless enough, you can't protect those you want to protect.
Aunt Jiang and Zhi Yu had shown him kindness; he absolutely could not stand by and watch them suffer!
The Swimming Dragon Movement Technique was pushed to its limit, and after the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Lu Fan finally caught up with the group of people at the end of the official road.
But what he saw was Aunt Jiang and Zhi Yu, their hands bound, being dragged on the ground—
"You deserve to die!!"
Lu Fan roared, his spiritual sword unsheathed, a cold glint flashed, and his figure, like lightning, plunged into the crowd.
Screams erupted, and both people and horses were startled. In a blink of an eye, only a Hua Fu Qingnian remained, kneeling and trembling, begging for mercy:
"Hero, spare my life, hero, spare…"
Before he could finish speaking, the sword fell.
Blood splattered, and a head rolled to the ground.
Lu Fan stood in place, his sword-wielding hand trembling slightly, his face somewhat pale.
This was his first time killing someone, but there was no hesitation in his heart, only a cold rage.
He quickly walked towards the unconscious Aunt Jiang and Zhi Yu, and just as he was about to lean down to check on them, a sound of rushing air suddenly came from above his head.
Lu Fan looked up alertly, but froze the moment he saw who it was, then his nose stung, and a wave of grievances welled up in his heart.
It was Master.
Lin Xiyue, who had been gone for more than two months, had returned.
She said nothing more, just sighed softly, shook her head, and leaned down to take out two Medicinal Pills, feeding them into Aunt Jiang and Zhi Yu's mouths.
In just a moment, their faces regained some color.
"They'll wake up in half an hour."
"Thank you, Master," Lu Fan said softly, feeling a little relieved but also subtly uneasy.
He had defied his Master's instructions not to act and not to leave the village.
However, Lin Xiyue did not scold him; she just gently ruffled his hair and said in a gentle tone:
"You take them back first. I'll take care of something and be back soon."
With that, a spiritual light glowed from her fingertips, and the surrounding corpses instantly ignited with spiritual flames, turning to ashes in a flash.
Then, she stepped into the air and departed, her robes fluttering gracefully.
Lu Fan silently collected several Storage Pouches, helped Aunt Jiang and Zhi Yu onto a horse, and carefully escorted them back to the village.
By the time he had settled them and returned to his own small courtyard, two hours had passed.
Master was already waiting in the courtyard.
Lu Fan stepped forward, bowing his head to admit his mistake: "Master, I was wrong."
He originally thought he would be punished, but to his surprise, Lin Xiyue merely told him to sit down and spoke softly:
"You did nothing wrong. If you hadn't acted today, I would have been disappointed."
Lu Fan suddenly looked up, a faint light shining in his eyes: "Really?"
"Mm." She smiled slightly, "Do you know what I went to do just now?"
"I went to the town and wiped out those few Families."
Lu Fan was stunned.
"Are you unclear why?" Lin Xiyue looked at him.
"If you only kill these few people but don't eliminate future troubles, their Family will surely seek revenge.
At that time, not only Zhi Yu and Aunt Jiang, but the entire Xinghua Village will suffer."
Cold sweat broke out on Lu Fan's back, and he felt a wave of lingering fear.
"I tell you these things not to make you hesitant, but to make you remember: once you act, you must never leave behind hidden dangers.
I cannot protect you forever; you must grow up on your own."
Hearing the hidden meaning in her words, Lu Fan suddenly panicked:
"Master… are you leaving again? Can I come with you this time? I'm already at Body Forging Fifth Layer, I can protect myself!"
He hurriedly activated his Cultivation, but only received Lin Xiyue's silence in return.
"This time, I'm going to a very distant place, and my return date is uncertain… The road ahead is dangerous, I cannot take you."
She took out a token and handed it to him.
"Tomorrow, you will set off for Lingyuan Sect. Give this token to the Peak Master of Yuhua Peak, and he will arrange for you.
If possible… try to enter the peak by your own ability. If it's truly impossible, then present the token."
Lu Fan took the token, clutching it tightly in his hand.
"Master… where will I find you later? Since it's dangerous, can you not go?"
Lin Xiyue shook her head, her tone gentle yet firm.
"That place, I must go. You Cultivate well at Lingyuan Sect and wait for me to return."
She knew he was reluctant and said no more, instead carefully explaining the outside world's situation and the key points of Cultivation, giving him detailed instructions and advice.
As night deepened, Lu Fan, having experienced killing and emotional turmoil during the day, finally couldn't hold on and fell into a deep sleep, sprawled on the stone table.
Lin Xiyue gently carried him back to his bed, placed a storage ring and a Jade Slip beside him, gazed at him silently for a moment, and finally turned and closed the door as she left.
The moment a faint sound of rushing air disappeared into the night sky, Lu Fan opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face.
He looked at the dark sky outside the window and murmured softly:
"Master, you must be safe… This Disciple will definitely Cultivate diligently and never let you down."
Above the clouds, Lin Xiyue stood in the air.
She looked back at the small courtyard for a long time, then finally turned and transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the vast night…
"