"Man cannot be resurrected, please accept my condolences!"
Lu Fan said softly, feeling a hint of self-reproach. If he had arrived a moment sooner, the outcome might have been different.
"Grandma was my only relative, and even she has left me!" Lin Xiaojia cried sadly.
"From now on, I will be your relative!" Lu Fan smiled. "Viper Grandma entrusted you to me before she died, and I will never fail her!"
Lin Xiaojia was touched. Lu Fan had no significant connection with him, yet he was willing to help him in this way.
After burying Viper Grandma, Lu Fan took Lin Xiaojia back to Jiangjing Bieyuan.
As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Lu Fan's brow furrowed slightly, as if sensing a chaotic force.
Han Yunhai and Gu Wen sat to the side, their foreheads covered in sweat and their faces pale. No one knew what had happened.
Lu Fan carefully examined their condition and then frowned, "I warned you before I left not to be too hasty! Now that your qi and blood have gone against the flow, do you know the pain involved?"
The two opened their eyes and nodded solemnly. "To break through to Grandmaster, we are willing to pay any price."
"Since that is the case, then I will lend you a hand!"
Lu Fan sighed helplessly and took out his silver needles, preparing to help them unblock their Qi meridians.
The two slowly closed their eyes, their expressions serious. With Lu Fan personally intervening, they were sure to break through.
Lin Xiaojia had already returned to his room. He was too exhausted for the day and had fallen asleep directly.
In the courtyard, three men sat. After a long while, Lu Fan stopped the acupuncture and let out a wry smile. "As expected, breaking through to Grandmaster is not that easy!"
Han Yunhai also opened his eyes and smiled. "Half-step Grandmaster is already quite good. If it weren't for your guidance, I wouldn't have been able to reach this realm!"
Gu Wen also nodded slightly, a sense of pleasant surprise within him. He had now reached the half-step realm, only lacking a touch of qi to become a Grandmaster. This was a great favor to him.
Becoming a half-step Grandmaster at such a young age would surely bring him boundless prestige upon returning to his family.
Even in the future of martial arts, he would gain great renown. He knew very well what it meant to reach the half-step Grandmaster realm at such a young age.
"If you follow me, I will naturally not mistreat you," Lu Fan nodded. "But you don't need to thank me; this is what you deserve!"
Han Yunhai smiled and looked around. "During my breakthrough, it seemed a woman accompanied you. Where has she gone now?"
"She's asleep in my room!"
Lu Fan shot him a glance. "Hurry up and prepare another room for me, otherwise I'll have to sleep on the floor!"
"You certainly have a way with things, bringing a woman home in the middle of the night," Han Yunhai teased. "If Miss Lin were to find out, it would be troublesome..."
"You talk too much!" Lu Fan shot him a look. "There's a reason for this. If not for that, I wouldn't have brought her back!"
"Doesn't she have a grandmother?" Gu Wen asked in surprise. "Why is she following Master?"
"Her grandmother was killed by tribesmen, and now she has nowhere to go," Lu Fan frowned. "I plan to keep her by my side from now on; she's quite pitiful!"
Perhaps because he had experienced a similar situation in the past, Lu Fan felt a resonance, otherwise he wouldn't have taken such care of Lin Xiaojia.
"Following you in the future?" Han Yunhai said awkwardly. "Won't that bring endless trouble? Especially the tribes in the Ten Thousand Mountains, they are not to be trifled with."
"Tonight, in Wanbao Street, tribesmen died violently," Lu Fan shrugged. "And one of them was a Grandmaster!"
At these words, the two trembled violently, unsure of how to respond.
Lu Fan's killing of tribesmen was bound to cause endless turmoil.
"You don't need to persuade me!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "Since I've made my decision, I won't change it!"
Han Yunhai and Gu Wen nodded slightly, not daring to say more.
The next day, while Lu Fan was still asleep, he heard sounds from the kitchen. When he came to the living room, he saw Lin Xiaojia.
"Master, you're awake?" Lin Xiaojia said respectfully. "Breakfast is ready!"
Looking at the breakfast on the table, Lu Fan said kindly, "Xiaojia, you don't need to do this. I promised Viper Grandma that I wouldn't let you suffer."
"I don't feel wronged at all. Grandma said that I should serve Master to repay your kindness!" Lin Xiaojia stated directly.
Lu Fan nodded helplessly. He knew that if he didn't let Lin Xiaojia do these things, he would likely feel a sense of distance.
"Alright, since you say so! Then I won't be polite with you!"
Lu Fan nodded and began to eat.
Han Yunhai and Gu Wen also came to the living room, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the breakfast.
Having been in Chu Zhou for so long, they had never eaten such a sumptuous breakfast.
"Come and eat together!" Lu Fan called out. "From now on, we are all family, no need to be so polite!"
Lin Xiaojia hesitated for a moment, then finally came to the table.
"Han Yunhai, from now on, Xiaojia's cultivation will be your responsibility!" Lu Fan said directly. "Within half a year, he must become a martial arts expert!"
"Cough, cough, Master, half a year?" Han Yunhai said awkwardly. "Isn't that too short a time? To become an expert, it takes at least ten years of training!"
"His physique is special, half a year is already the slowest," Lu Fan waved his hand. "Within a year, with his talent, it won't be difficult for him to break through to Grandmaster!"
Han Yunhai stood there stunned, unsure how to respond. Breaking through to Grandmaster within a year, even a peerless prodigy would not possess such strength.
However, since Lu Fan had spoken, he must have his reasons, and Han Yunhai would not argue.
"By the way, how is Qingyun Group developing in Chu Zhou?" Lu Fan asked curiously.
"Master is wealthy and influential, and Qingyun Group has become a top-tier entity in Chu Zhou!" Han Yunhai stated. "Master, rest assured, Qingyun Group will definitely become a behemoth in Chu Zhou!"
"That's not what I care about," Lu Fan waved his hand. "It's the whereabouts of my maternal clan! Uncle Fu's information can't be wrong; they are in Chu Zhou!"
"I will definitely increase the manpower!" Han Yunhai said quickly. "Within three days, if there is no news from the Yang family, you can deal with me as you see fit!"
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes and then nodded slightly.
His purpose in coming to Chu Zhou this time was to find Du Qianqiu. Unfortunately, the Golden Light Hall Master had died, and Du Qianqiu's whereabouts were unknown, leaving Lu Fan feeling somewhat helpless.
Now that he knew his maternal clan was also in Chu Zhou, he felt a slight apprehension.
After all, after so many years, with the demise of the Lu family, the Yang family had lived in anonymity, and their lives were likely not easy.
After breakfast, Lu Fan remained in the courtyard for a while before heading to Qingyun Group with Han Yunhai and the others.
Looking at the tall buildings, Lu Fan didn't feel much emotion.
Eighteen years ago, their Lu family was considered a prominent family in Jiangnan, yet they were still annihilated.
Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window of the company, Lu Fan looked at Gu Wen. "From now on, you will be in complete control of Qingyun Group!"
"Me in control?" Gu Wen was startled. "This might not be appropriate!"