"The taste is indeed good!" Lu Fan took a bite and looked at Xuanwu, "Why aren't you eating?"
"My heart is filled with worry. The Ba Dao Sect will never let this go," Xuanwu said. "Their sect leader is in Zhongzhou. Why don't we leave first to avoid encountering them!"
"With Lord Lu here, even if we meet them, he can keep you safe," Han Yunhai chuckled. "Eat and drink with peace of mind."
Xuanwu stood frozen for a moment, then nodded solemnly. With Lu Fan present, he didn't need to worry too much. This statement was quite reasonable.
"I see you wander around with no home. Why don't you join my Qingyun Sect," Lu Fan said, looking at Xuanwu. "Your foundation is good, and you are now at the half-step Grandmaster realm. If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to break through to the Grandmaster realm soon."
"If you don't mind, sir, I will follow you to the death," Xuanwu quickly stood up, his eyes firm.
Last time it was Niutou Mountain, and this time it was Zhongzhou. Lu Fan had saved him twice, so he was naturally grateful.
"I'm not forcing you, I just want to ask for your opinion," Lu Fan said with a smile. "If you are willing, I will welcome you. If you are not, I will respect your wishes!"
"I've been an orphan since childhood, and I've been searching for my fellow disciples. Unfortunately, they went out to train and I don't know if they are alive or dead," Xuanwu said. "Now that you've taken me in, it's my good fortune."
"That's for the best!" Han Yunhai chuckled. "In the future, as we follow behind the lord, we will surely have a bright future."
Xuanwu also nodded solemnly, a smile appearing on his face as the worry gradually faded.
However, at this moment, uninvited guests arrived at the barbecue stall. The leader of the Ba Dao Sect, radiating an imposing aura, looked towards Lu Fan and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you are Lord Lu from Jiangnan, aren't you? Meeting you today is indeed extraordinary."
Lu Fan ignored him, continuing to eat his skewers as if the Ba Dao Sect leader's words were air, receiving no response.
Shen Shan stood beside them, his face etched with embarrassment. He had held onto a sliver of hope that it wasn't Lu Fan, but upon seeing Lu Fan in person, he was already terrified.
"What audacity! You dare to ignore our sect leader when he speaks to you!" the leading elder said coldly. "You attacked us earlier, and now you are disregarding our sect leader. You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
"A person's actions are their own responsibility. This matter started with me," Xuanwu stepped forward. "Whatever you want, come at me!"
"Such backbone!" the Ba Dao Sect leader said coldly. "When has my Ba Dao Sect ever suffered such humiliation? If you kneel and beg for mercy now, perhaps I can spare your life."
"What a joke!" Han Yunhai said coldly. "He is now a member of my Qingyun Sect. What is your Ba Dao Sect? How dare you speak so arrogantly here?"
"A half-step Grandmaster has the qualification to speak with me?" the Ba Dao Sect leader said coldly, looking at Lu Fan. "I know you are Lord Lu of Jiangnan and possess considerable strength, but I will never allow you to bully the Ba Dao Sect!"
Lu Fan stood up, his aura instantly spreading. "Since you know my identity, do you still dare to be so disrespectful?"
The Ba Dao Sect leader frowned. Although Lu Fan appeared ordinary, his overall strength was not weak, and he naturally did not wish for conflict.
"Lord Lu, there must be some misunderstanding!" Shen Shan stepped forward with a smile. "This person has a feud with the Ba Dao Sect, and it should have nothing to do with your Qingyun Sect, right?"
"I just took him into the Qingyun Sect!" Lu Fan glanced at him. "Is there a problem?"
Shen Shan's expression changed. Lu Fan's statement showed he didn't regard the Ba Dao Sect as anything important. Otherwise, given Lu Fan's character, he wouldn't have said this.
"Lord Lu, we are both Grandmasters, and I assume we are both here to participate in the Martial Arts Competition! Don't ruin the harmony for irrelevant people!" the Ba Dao Sect leader said directly.
"I'll say it again!" Lu Fan's expression was indifferent. "He is from my Qingyun Sect. If anyone dares to touch him, the Qingyun Sect will never agree!"
"Lord Lu, you are insisting on a complete falling out!" the Ba Dao Sect leader drew his large saber, dissatisfaction in his eyes.
The other members of the Ba Dao Sect were equally aggressive. Lu Fan was so young, even as a Grandmaster, his strength likely wouldn't be very high. The Ba Dao Sect had no reason to fear him.
Seeing the tense situation, many people looked on, including numerous martial artists.
These people were all here to observe the Martial Arts Competition, and now that there was a good show to watch, they wouldn't easily miss it.
"Isn't that the Ba Dao Sect? Who is so bold as to confront them!"
"Who knows! These few people look quite ordinary and are likely not important figures. Confronting the Ba Dao Sect is not a good thing!"
Conversations echoed on the street as people looked on with curiosity.
"Sect Leader Ba Dao, this is Zhongzhou territory. Aren't you afraid of offending the local powers by acting like this?" Gu Wen said coldly. "My Gu family is on good terms with Lord Lu. If you dare to make a move, you will be in conflict with my Gu family today!"
"The Gu family?" the Ba Dao Sect leader was slightly startled. "Are you the young master of the Gu family?"
"Indeed!" Gu Wen said directly. "It's best to let this matter end here. I'm doing this for your own good. If you truly make a move, with just a few of you, you are no match for my master!"
The Ba Dao Sect leader was unconvinced, but with the Gu family backing Lu Fan, he dared not act rashly.
"Lord Lu, this feud is settled today!" the Ba Dao Sect leader said coldly, leading his men away.
The storm thus subsided. Lu Fan looked at Gu Wen. "You used the Gu family's name to confront them. This is not good for the Gu family!"
"My master has ties with the Gu family!" Gu Wen smiled. "Now that we are in Zhongzhou, the Gu family naturally has to offer hospitality!"
"You certainly know how to speak!" Han Yunhai chuckled. "But in doing so, the Gu family and the Ba Dao Sect will likely have no further dealings."
"The Gu family is a family of medicine and martial arts, with two Grandmasters in one generation!" Gu Wen said confidently. "It won't be long before I also step into the Grandmaster realm. The mere Ba Dao Sect is not worth mentioning!"
"You are so confident, could it be that you have found an opportunity?"
Lu Fan was surprised. "Otherwise, why would you be so confident?"
"Perhaps!" Gu Wen smiled. "I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to the Grandmaster realm, perhaps just needing a little fortune!" Su Dan Novel Network
"I have the same feeling!" Han Yunhai nodded. "It's just that controlling this little bit of fortune is extremely difficult!"
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Ba Dao Sect leader had a grim expression. He had intended to regain face, but now it seemed impossible.
Lu Fan was protected by the Gu family, and the Ba Dao Sect could not afford to offend him.
"Sect Leader, we came to Zhongzhou this time to participate in the Martial Arts Competition. Why make enemies with others!" Shen Shan advised.
"Elder Shen, have you been scared witless by the one named Lu!" an old man with white hair said directly. "The Sect Leader is a Grandmaster, how can he suffer insults from others!"