"I will accompany you, sirs!" Yang Xing Tian said hurriedly. "You are all injured, and if there are any Sea Kingdom assassins, you will be in great danger."
"If there truly are Sea Kingdom experts who come, you alone are not qualified," Bei Dou said. "I suspect you also wish to see Lord Lu!"
"Lord Bei Dou is truly formidable!" Yang Xing Tian gave an embarrassed smile. "Without Lord Lu, we would all have died a violent death. Naturally, we wish to express our gratitude."
"It is indeed rare for you to have such a mindset," Han Bing nodded. "Since that is the case, then come with us! Perhaps we might even 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. If someone he called an important figure appeared, besides the nine elders who guarded the nation's destiny, there would likely be no one else.
"You need not be overly alarmed! I am merely speculating,"
Han Bing smiled faintly. "As for whether they will come, I am also unsure. But at White Cloud Peak, without Lord Lu, it would have been impossible for us to escape! The Dragon Country headquarters will undoubtedly take this matter very seriously."
"Understood!" Yang Xing Tian nodded quickly.
Although he was a city lord, he had never met the nine elders of the Dragon Country. They were the peak existence 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 residence, led by Han Bing.
Within the Gu family courtyard, there were many martial arts grandmasters, dressed in the distinctive attire of the Qing Yun Sect, exuding an incredibly powerful aura.
"It's truly unexpected that in the blink of an eye, the Qing Yun Sect has recruited so many grandmasters,"
Han Bing smiled faintly, and Jian Ying also exclaimed in surprise, "Indeed, it is astonishing!"
"It is a great honor for the Gu family to receive your esteemed presence!"
The Gu family patriarch came to greet them, his face glowing.
After the battle at White Cloud Peak, Lu Fan's fame resonated throughout the Dragon Country's martial arts world. Even the Dragon Country headquarters looked upon Lu Fan with great regard. For the Gu family to be on good terms with Lu Fan brought them countless benefits.
"Patriarch Gu, you shouldn't celebrate too early," Jian Ying shrugged. "We are not here to visit you!"
"I know, I know!" the Gu family patriarch quickly nodded. "Lord Lu is in the rear garden."
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 leisurely, fishing with the eccentric old man.
"Lord Lu truly has a refined taste for leisure."
Han Bing said with a smile, "After the battle at White Cloud Peak not long ago, the Sea Kingdom suffered many losses of their experts. They are unlikely to let this matter rest. Yet Lord Lu has the leisure to fish here!"
"When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we cover it," Lu Fan chuckled. "Moreover, with the Dragon Country here, how can the people of the Sea Kingdom easily intrude? If something were to happen to me, would that not be a disgrace to the Dragon Country?"
"Lord Lu is turning the tables on us!" Jian Ying said helplessly. "We have come to the Gu family to express our gratitude to Lord Lu!"
"There's no need for thanks!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "In that situation, if I hadn't acted, it would have been inexcusable! However, you should be thanking this old man!"
Following Lu Fan's words, the others looked towards the eccentric old man beside him. Just as Lu Fan said, if the eccentric old man hadn't intervened, they would have all been in great trouble.
"Whether you thank me or not is irrelevant, as long as you don't capture me," the eccentric old man shrugged. "I don't want to be captured for research!"
"Senior, you jest. It may have been a misunderstanding before," Han Bing said with a smile. "Senior's strength is extraordinary. Would you be willing to serve the Dragon Country?"
"Of course not!" the eccentric old man said with a pout. "I am perfectly at ease on my own. Why would I serve you? What benefits could you possibly offer me!"
"Naturally, there are benefits!" Jian Ying quickly replied. "As long as you become a citizen of the Dragon Country, you will have the power of the Dragon Country in the future, and you can also benefit the people."
"These things seem to hold no meaning for me," the eccentric old man waved his hand. "You need not say any more; you are disturbing my fishing!"
Jian Ying was somewhat helpless. The eccentric old man's strength was unfathomable. If he could join the Dragon Country, it would significantly boost the Dragon Country's combat power. It was a pity that the eccentric old man had a peculiar personality and was unwilling to do so.
"You need not be so insistent. Since he is unwilling, he has his reasons," Lu Fan said with a wry smile. "Besides, conflicts between nations are not ordinary matters. It is only natural that the eccentric old man is unwilling to join."
"Lord Lu is correct!" Han Bing nodded slightly. "Now that Lord Lu's reputation is widespread, and you have taken in so many grandmaster experts, are you perhaps planning to develop in the outer domains?"
"Outer domains?" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "I do have that intention, after all, the Black Shadow Organization is also in the outer domains. I wonder if, with my current influence, I can be considered on par with the Black Shadow Organization on the outer domain battlefield?"
"This..." Han Bing was taken aback before saying frankly, "The situation is likely not that simple. The Black Shadow Organization is powerful, how much weaker are they compared to the Dragon Country?"
"Exactly!" Jian Ying stated directly. "With that in mind, to deal with the Black Shadow Organization, you must at least reach the elder realm!"
"The elder realm?" Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Are they more formidable 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 frankly. "Do you now understand the strength of the Black Shadow Organization's leader!"
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, a faint killing intent appearing in his gaze. He did not know the strength of the Dragon Country's elders, but he was well aware that those who could become the leaders of the Dragon Country and control its national destiny were by no means ordinary individuals.
"Lord Lu, I have a suggestion," Han Bing said with a smile. "If these grandmaster experts were to gain experience on the outer domain battlefield, they would undoubtedly become the elite combat force of the Qing Yun Sect in the future. By then, dealing with the Black Shadow Organization would not be too late."
"I do have that idea!" Lu Fan nodded slightly. "However, it is not for now."
"Everything will naturally follow Lord Lu's wishes," Han Bing said frankly. "I will also never offer Lord Lu unsolicited advice."
"That would be for the best!" Lu Fan nodded slightly. "The performance of you all during the White Cloud Peak battle was concerning. It is not necessarily a good thing for the Dragon Country!"
Han Bing and the other two were startled, their faces instantly turning embarrassed. Lu Fan's words left them no room for shame.
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 had not acted forcefully, they would have all perished.
"I wasn't referring to you specifically," Lu Fan coughed a few times. "You needn't take it too much to heart!"
"Lord Lu, please 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. After all, as Lu Fan had said, their performance was indeed concerning.