"You understand me best, old man," Lu Fan said, narrowing his eyes. "The journey to Zhongzhou will likely be fraught with considerable danger. Why don't you accompany me?"
"That won't do!" the eccentric old man retorted with a glare. "I still have to teach this girl how to train!"
"I want to go to Zhongzhou too," Lin Xiaojia said earnestly. "I heard that the martial arts tournament, held once every three years, will take place in Zhongzhou this time. I can't possibly miss it!"
"How did you know?" Lu Fan asked, surprised. "Did you do some research?"
"My grandmother promised to take me before she passed away," Lin Xiaojia stated frankly. "It's a shame she's gone now!"
"I see!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly. "Since you want to go, then go! You should be fine traveling with us."
"Girl, aren't you supposed to be training?" the eccentric old man asked with a glare. "The martial arts tournament will surely be a gathering of experts. Why are you going to join the fun?"
"I'm a Great Accomplishment martial artist now!"
Lin Xiaojia said seriously, "You might not consider it much, but I'm still a master!"
"Alright, alright. Since you're going too, I'll accompany you then," the eccentric old man said helplessly. "After all, if you leave, won't I go hungry? Your cooking is quite to my liking!"
"Thank you, senior!" Lin Xiaojia said joyfully.
"Sir, if we all leave, who will protect Miss Lin?" Han Yunhai frowned. "Chu Zhou is not a peaceful place, and Miss Lin's safety is very important."
"I can protect myself," Lin Ke said. "You don't need to worry about me."
"I've already gone to the Zhao family and asked them to send experts to protect Xiao Ke at all times," Lu Fan stated. "This martial arts tournament is an opportunity for tempering, and we can't easily miss it."
Hearing this, Han Yunhai quickly nodded. However, he knew that another trip to Zhongzhou would undoubtedly stir up endless trouble.
After all, Zhongzhou was a convergence point, more prosperous than other cities, and even a junction of many cities. It was a colossus in terms of both economy and martial arts.
As night fell, the eccentric old man sat in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, seemingly lost in memories.
Lu Fan walked over. "What's wrong? Are you homesick?"
"I consider the world my home, so where else would I have a home?" the eccentric old man chuckled. "Why are you still awake so late, kid?"
"I naturally can't sleep!"
Lu Fan smiled lightly and sat down. "Senior, you were a master in your early years. I'd like to inquire about someone. Have you heard of them?"
"A nobody, I haven't heard of them!" the eccentric old man said frankly. "But if it's someone famous, I do know one or two!"
"Du Qianqiu! Do you know him, senior?" Lu Fan looked at the eccentric old man.
"Of course, I know him!" the eccentric old man nodded. "He won first place in the martial arts tournament thirty years ago!"
"He was that formidable thirty years ago?" Lu Fan asked, surprised. "If that's the case, wouldn't he be even stronger now?"
"Naturally!" the eccentric old man nodded. "How could someone who became number one on the Martial Arts Heavenly Ranking be an ordinary person? Why are you asking about him, kid?"
"He has a deep-seated hatred with me!"
Lu Fan stated frankly, "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any trace of him!"
"I wouldn't have guessed you had a feud with Du Qianqiu!" the eccentric old man chuckled. "I remember crossing paths with him decades ago. He was quite skilled. If you want revenge, with your current combat power, you might not be able to defeat him!"
"My hatred for him is irreconcilable!" Lu Fan said seriously. "It's a pity I can't find any trace of him!"
"He appears at the martial arts tournament every year. This time, when you go to Zhongzhou, you'll likely run into him," the eccentric old man said frankly. "But are you sure you can handle him?"
"If I can't handle him, won't I still have you?" Lu Fan chuckled.
"You little brat, you're eyeing me, aren't you?" the eccentric old man said with a stern face.
"After all, it's a deep-seated hatred. If I can manage it, I certainly won't ask you to step in," Lu Fan shrugged. "But if I'm no match for him, you can't just stand by and watch, can you!"
"Don't think it's that simple, kid!" the eccentric old man said frankly. "People who reach this level have either joined the Dragon Country or become members of ancient sects!"
"Ancient sects?" Lu Fan asked, surprised. "You mean those hidden sects?"
"That's right. Within the Dragon Country, there are quite a few hidden sects, and even the high-ranking officials of the Dragon Country are wary of them," the eccentric old man stated. "Do you know that the leader of the Dragon Country, despite being the ruler, has to be wary of the power of these sects!"
"If that's the case, why don't the experts of the Dragon Country apprehend these sects?" Lu Fan asked curiously. "The Dragon Country is filled with experts. Even members of the Dragon Group are War Spirit experts!"
"It's not that simple!" the eccentric old man waved his hand. "There are some things you don't understand yet."
After speaking, the eccentric old man returned to his room, seemingly unwilling to reveal too much about these matters.
Lu Fan didn't pay it much mind. If the eccentric old man didn't say something, he had his reasons.
Late at night, the Jiangjing Villa was silent. However, outside the Jiangjing Villa, there were more than a dozen figures.
"Elder, after extensive investigation, it has been confirmed that the Saint Blood Tribe's Saintess is here," a man reported. "However, there must be experts guarding the courtyard."
"If there weren't experts, why would the Northern Pole Tribe have lost their Grandmasters?"
An old man said coldly, "This time, we must capture them all. They offended the Northern Pole Tribe, and we'll make them regret it for the rest of their lives!"
"This matter might not be so simple. Those who can kill Grandmasters are not ordinary people," an elder stated. "Although we have three Grandmasters deployed, we still don't have a guaranteed victory."
"Elder, you are too modest. If three Grandmasters cannot take down this courtyard, wouldn't we be a laughingstock when we return to the Northern Pole Tribe?" a man chuckled. "Moreover, with the strength of the three elders, even without considering their standing in the Northern Pole Tribe, they would still have a place. Why worry so much?"
The three elders frowned. "We must not underestimate them. Release the Soul-Confusing Powder and envelop the entire courtyard." One elder instructed, "This way, even the most powerful experts will lose their combat effectiveness. We can then kill the Saint Blood Tribe's Saintess without any effort."
Everyone complied, stealthily infiltrated the Jiangjing Villa, and scattered the Soul-Confusing Powder. This was a unique poison from the Ten Thousand Mountains. Even Grandmaster-level experts would be rendered useless by this powder.
After scattering the poison, they waited outside the courtyard. Once the medicinal effect reached its peak, they could advance and capture everyone within the courtyard.
Lu Fan, in his room, sensed that something was amiss. He unleashed a surge of powerful internal energy, instantly dispersing the poisonous gas within the room. Looking at Lin Ke, who was sleeping soundly beside him, he finally felt at ease.
The eccentric old man also sensed the situation and walked out of his room, encountering Lu Fan. "Enemies are attacking. If I'm not mistaken, they should be from the Ten Thousand Mountains!"
"They've come with ill intentions!" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Using such a poison, if one is not careful, they could fall into their trap."
"The people from the Ten Thousand Mountains have always been ruthless and don't care about such things," the eccentric old man said.