"I'll accompany you all!" Yang Xing Tian hurried to say, "You gentlemen are injured. If there are still Sea Kingdom assassins, you might be in grave danger."
"If a Sea Kingdom expert truly comes, you are not qualified enough," Bei Dou said. "I think you also want to see Lord Lu!"
"Lord Bei Dou is indeed formidable!" Yang Xing Tian gave an embarrassed smile. "Without Lord Lu, we would all have met an untimely end, so naturally, I wish to express my gratitude."
"It's rare for you to have such a mindset," Han Bing nodded. "Since that's the case, come with us. Perhaps we'll encounter some important figures."
"Important figures?"
Yang Xing Tian trembled violently. He was merely a city lord, while Han Bing was a member of the Dragon Group. Anyone he referred to as an important figure, besides the nine elders who governed the nation's destiny, would likely be no one else.
"You don't need to be overly alarmed! I'm merely speculating,"
Han Bing smiled faintly. "Whether they will come, I'm not sure. But at Baiyun Peak this time, without Lord Lu, we would never have escaped! The Dragon Country Headquarters will definitely take this matter very seriously."
"Understood!" Yang Xing Tian quickly nodded.
Although he was a city lord, he had never seen the nine elders of the Dragon Country. They were the peak of power, beyond his reach. Even when facing members of the Dragon Group, he still felt a sense of apprehension.
Not long after, several figures arrived at the Gu family's residence, with Han Bing leading the way.
Within the Gu family's courtyard, there were quite a few martial arts grandmasters, all wearing the distinctive attire of the Qingyun Sect, exuding an incredibly powerful aura.
"I truly never expected that in the blink of an eye, the Qingyun Sect would have recruited so many grandmasters,"
Han Bing smiled slightly. Jian Ying also expressed surprise, "Indeed, it's astonishing!"
"The Gu family is deeply honored by the visit of you esteemed lords!"
The Gu family patriarch came to greet them, his face beaming.
Following the battle at Baiyun Peak, Lu Fan's reputation had resounded throughout the Dragon Country's martial arts world. Even the Dragon Country Headquarters looked upon Lu Fan with great favor. The Gu family's close ties with Lu Fan brought nothing but benefits to their family.
"Patriarch Gu, you shouldn't be celebrating too early," Jian Ying shrugged. "We've come to the Gu family, but not to visit you!"
"I understand, I understand!" The Gu family patriarch quickly nodded. "Lord Lu is in the rear garden of the courtyard!"
Han Bing and the others nodded slightly before heading towards the rear garden, their expressions exceptionally indifferent, as if these ordinary people could not stir any ripples in their eyes.
In the Gu family's rear garden, Lu Fan was enjoying himself immensely, fishing with the strange old man.
"Lord Lu truly has a leisurely disposition."
Han Bing said with a smile, "The battle at Baiyun Peak not long ago resulted in heavy losses for the Sea Kingdom's experts. They likely won't let this matter rest. Yet, Lord Lu has the leisure to fish here!"
"When the soldiers come, we'll block them; when the water comes, we'll cover it," Lu Fan chuckled. "Moreover, with the Dragon Country present, how can the Sea Kingdom easily intrude? If something were to happen to me, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the Dragon Country?"
"Lord Lu, you're turning the tables on us!" Jian Ying said helplessly. "We've come to the Gu family this time to express our gratitude to Lord Lu!"
"No need for thanks!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "In that situation, if I didn't act, it would be difficult to justify. However, you should be thanking this old man!"
Following Lu Fan's words, the others looked towards the strange old man beside him. Just as Lu Fan had said, if it weren't for the strange old man's intervention, they would have all been in great trouble.
"Whether you thank me or not is irrelevant. Just don't arrest me," the strange old man shrugged. "I don't want to be captured and studied!"
"Senior, you jest. It might have been a misunderstanding before," Han Bing said with a smile. "Senior, your strength is extraordinary. Would you be willing to serve the Dragon Country?"
"Of course not!" The strange old man pouted. "I'm very comfortable on my own. Why should I serve you? What benefits can you offer me?"
"Naturally, there are benefits!" Jian Ying quickly replied. "As long as you become a person of the Dragon Country, you will have the authority of the Dragon Country, and you can also benefit the people."
"These seem meaningless to me," the strange old man waved his hand. "You don't need to say any more. You're disturbing my fishing!"
Jian Ying was somewhat helpless. The strange old man's strength was unfathomable. If he could join the Dragon Country, it would greatly enhance the Dragon Country's combat power. It was a pity that the strange old man had a peculiar personality and was unwilling to do so.
"You don't need to be so persistent. Since he's unwilling, he has his reasons," Lu Fan said with a wry smile. "Besides, conflicts between nations are not ordinary. It's natural for the strange old man not to want to join."
"Lord Lu is right!" Han Bing nodded slightly. "Now that Lord Lu's fame precedes him, and he has recruited so many grandmaster experts, are you perhaps planning to develop in the outer realms?"
"Outer realms?" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "I do have that intention, after all, the Black Shadow Organization is also in the outer realms. I wonder if my current influence can be compared to the Black Shadow Organization on the outer realm battlefield."
"This..." Han Bing was stunned for a moment before speaking frankly, "The situation is likely not that simple. The Black Shadow Organization is powerful, and it's not much weaker than the Dragon Country."
"That's right!" Jian Ying stated directly. "In this case, to deal with the Black Shadow Organization, you must at least reach the Elder realm!"
"The Elder realm?" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Is that more powerful than Long Aotian?"
"To be frank, within the Dragon Country, there are nine elders. The ninth elder alone can kill a captain within three moves," Bei Dou said directly. "Do you now know the strength of the Black Shadow Organization's leader!"
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, a hint of killing intent appearing in his gaze. He didn't know the strength of the Dragon Country's elders, but he was very clear that anyone who could become the leader of the Dragon Country and control its destiny was no ordinary person.
"Lord Lu, I have a suggestion," Han Bing said with a smile. "If these grandmaster experts go to the outer realm battlefield for training, they will surely become the top combat power of the Qingyun Sect in the future. By then, dealing with the Black Shadow Organization will not be too late."
"I do have that idea!" Lu Fan nodded slightly. "However, it's not for now."
"Everything will naturally follow Lord Lu's wishes," Han Bing stated directly. "I will also never offer unsolicited advice to Lord Lu."
"That would be for the best!" Lu Fan nodded slightly. "Your performance at Baiyun Peak was concerning, which is not necessarily a good thing for the Dragon Country!"
Han Bing and the other two were stunned, their faces instantly turning awkward. Lu Fan's words left them with nowhere to hide.
As members of the Dragon Group, they were supposed to protect everyone's safety. They never imagined that at a critical moment, if Lu Fan hadn't acted decisively, they would have all been destroyed.
"I wasn't referring to you specifically," Lu Fan coughed a few times. "You don't need to take it too much to heart!"
"Lord Lu, rest assured, we will definitely train diligently in the future and will never disappoint Lord Lu again!" Han Bing stated. Although he was somewhat displeased, he could only say this, as Lu Fan's words were true; their performance was indeed concerning.