After learning that Chu Fan, who had appeared from nowhere, was orchestrating things behind Si Qian Yuan.
The man had people sent to intercept Chu Fan, preparing to test the strength of this person who dared to pry into the Qin family's affairs.
Unexpectedly, the scouting party vanished without a trace.
The middle-aged man was surprised and very angry.
As the largest and most powerful family in Nanyun City, everyone had to give the Qin family some face, and were generally treated with courtesy upon learning they were Qin family members.
With Chu Fan, however, an incident occurred.
The scouting party went missing, and the middle-aged man, without much guessing, knew they had all been wiped out by Chu Fan.
This action indicated that Chu Fan showed no respect for the Qin family and did not put them in his eyes.
"Master, do we need to send more people to investigate?" the servant asked respectfully.
The loss of one Grandmaster and several Masters was difficult for an ordinary family to bear.
But for the Qin family, whose main lineage was one of the five hidden aristocratic families, it was like a drop in the ocean, even a complete non-loss.
As long as the middle-aged man wished, even a Great Grandmaster would be compelled to act.
Under the servant's gaze, the middle-aged man shook his head and said, "Let's investigate his identity information first!"
There are always greater powers beyond what one knows.
As the controller of the collateral branches of the Qin family, although the middle-aged man was arrogant and overbearing, he was not foolish.
He knew, as did everyone else, that while everyone in Nanyun City had to give the Qin family face, Chu Fan, who had suddenly appeared, did not give them any.
This implied that he either possessed extraordinary strength or was backed by a force no weaker than the Qin family.
Otherwise, would he dare to kill Qin family members?
Killing Qin family members meant going against the Qin family.
Without sufficient backing, who would dare to do such a thing?
Influenced by this line of thought, the middle-aged man suddenly thought that Chu Fan might be someone from the Five Great Sects or another of the four hidden aristocratic families, deliberately seeking trouble with the Qin family to instigate conflict between the two sides, which made him hesitate.
Although he was a collateral branch authority with considerable power, he was very clear about the distinction between collateral and main branches.
If he truly provoked an opponent that the main branch had to consider, the collateral branches would only be used as shields and scapegoats.
After painstakingly developing the collateral branches to this point and not yet enjoying the good life enough, the middle-aged man did not want to go back to square one overnight.
Time passed slowly as he studied array formations.
After spending three days, Chu Fan finished reading all the books that Cui Fu subsequently provided.
The gains were significant.
When he first encountered array formations, he thought they were a niche skill with not much practical use.
However, as his learning and research deepened, he discovered that array formations were not really a niche skill.
This thing was complex and profound; when used properly, it possessed considerable defensive and offensive power.
Chu Fan then thought that if a Grandmaster could never break through to the Great Grandmaster level in their lifetime, it would be worthwhile to spend time on the development of array formations, essentially using external means to enhance strength.
When his understanding of array formations reached a certain level, it would become a sharp blade.
This was akin to two ordinary people, one holding a knife and the other with empty hands.
Array formations were that knife.
Invisibly, they could increase combat power.
When his understanding of array formations reached a state of perfection, even if his strength was only at the Grandmaster level, he could still contend with Great Grandmaster experts, rather than being suppressed when facing them.
Although his own strength was very strong, and the help from array formations would not be significant, Chu Fan also understood that there were always greater powers beyond what one knew.
As the saying goes, having more skills never hurts.
Understanding array formations might bring unexpected results at critical moments.
After another two days of concentrated study, Chu Fan returned to the design company to find Si Qian Yuan.
"What has the Qin family been up to lately?"
Although his mind was focused on researching array formations, Chu Fan had never forgotten about the Qin family.
Having killed the people sent by the Qin family to cause trouble, the Qin family should not have had no reaction.
The Qin family's movements were crucial for his subsequent plans.
Si Qian Yuan shook his head, "There haven't been any major movements for now. They seem to have some concerns and are secretly investigating your identity information, sir!"
When had the Qin family ever needed to be so cautious?
Just the disappearance of one scouting party, and they immediately turned to investigating his identity?
Chu Fan was slightly surprised, and after a helpless smile, he said, "Keep an eye on them. Notify me if there's any new information!"
After leaving the design company, Chu Fan headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion.
Firstly, it was to return the ancient books that Cui Fu had borrowed earlier.
After reading them once, Chu Fan had completely memorized the contents of these ancient books. They were of little further use to him, especially since he had no fixed abode and might leave at any time.
Secondly, he had almost finished studying the theoretical knowledge on paper.
Next, he needed to engage in practical application, to spar with Cui Fu using array formations, setting up and breaking array formations against each other.
"Hm?"
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion, Chu Fan frowned slightly because the door of the Treasure Pavilion was locked.
It was midday, and the Treasure Pavilion should not have been closed.
Perhaps they had gone out for some business?
With suspicion, Chu Fan sat on the steps in front of the Treasure Pavilion, preparing to wait and see.
He waited for an hour, but still saw no sign of Cui Fu or Cui Yue.
Chu Fan regretted not asking Cui Fu for a contact number earlier, otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting here waiting by the door.
While waiting, he noticed a young man across the street constantly glancing in his direction.
Chu Fan recalled that this young man was one of Zhu Fei's men. He had been standing not far away when Zhu Fei had previously shown weakness towards him.
"Come here!" Chu Fan beckoned to the young man.
The young man had been arranged by Zhu Fei to guard this place, with the purpose of waiting for Chu Fan and notifying him immediately if he appeared, after which Zhu Fei would rush over.
Aware that Chu Fan was terrifying, the approaching young man was clearly very nervous.
"Don't be nervous, I called you over just to ask you something!"
The young man nodded like a pecking chick.
"You must have been watching this place for a long time, right?" Chu Fan asked.
"I've been here since dawn!"
Chu Fan grunted and continued, "While you were watching here, did this Treasure Pavilion open?"
"It was open for two hours. Around ten o'clock, the boss and his daughter, for some reason, suddenly closed the door, took a bag, and then left in a hurry!"
Recalling the scene, Chu Fan couldn't help but wonder if Cui Fu had encountered some troublesome matter.
He had left contact information with Cui Yue. If something had happened, why didn't she contact him?
After waiting a while longer, instead of Cui Fu, Zhu Fei arrived.
"Brother, is there anything I can help you with?"
Zhu Fei approached Chu Fan with a smile.
Having waited until now, Chu Fan was almost certain that Cui Fu must have encountered some urgent matter.
He was also preparing to contact Si Qian Yuan, asking him to use his intelligence network to investigate the whereabouts of Cui Fu and his daughter, why they had left, and when they might return, so as not to leave himself in a state of constant readiness to move.
Seeing that Zhu Fei was eager to make a good impression, he asked, "Yes, there is something I need, but I don't know if you can handle it!"
"I can, I'll go through mountains of blades and seas of fire to help!"
Zhu Fei patted his chest, confidently assuring him.