Lu Fan gasped in surprise. Yan Menghan seemed to have no martial arts skill, so how could she possibly contend with a powerhouse like Ma Jiu?
Teng teng teng... Seeing Ma Jiu lunging at her, Yan Menghan retreated several steps in succession.
Hoo... Ma Jiu's movements were incredibly fast. He lunged at Yan Menghan and unleashed a palm strike.
Lu Fan was greatly alarmed and wanted to jump down to help. Just then, the scruffy old Taoist and Elder Chang also arrived behind Ma Jiu. Both of them punched towards Ma Jiu simultaneously.
Whoosh... Suddenly, Ma Jiu leaped up abruptly, his toes tapping Yan Menghan's shoulder, and he flew towards the cave entrance on Lu Fan's side.
The cave entrance wasn't particularly high, just over four meters. Ordinary people, even skilled martial artists, would find it impossible to ascend. However, for powerhouses like Ma Jiu and the scruffy old Taoist, with another point of leverage, it would be easy to jump up.
Lu Fan instantly understood that Ma Jiu's target was him. However, just as Lu Fan prepared to act, Ma Jiu's body suddenly froze.
Ma Jiu was startled and looked down, only to see Yan Menghan's hand firmly gripping his ankle. Her eyes were also looking at him with a cold smile.
In that instant of Ma Jiu's shock, the scruffy old Taoist's and Elder Chang's fists also arrived.
Bang...
Bang...
Both fists landed on Ma Jiu's back.
"Ah... Ptooey..." With a scream, Ma Jiu spat out a mouthful of blood.
Thump... Ma Jiu's body fell to the ground, his eyes glaring at the scruffy old Taoist with unwillingness. "Old man! If you dare to kill me, the Shensuan Sect will never let you go!"
"I didn't say I was going to kill you! Your survival is very important!" The scruffy old Taoist took a bite of his flatbread, reached out, and grabbed one of Ma Jiu's legs, dragging him towards the other side.
"Senior! Why didn't you kill him?" Yan Menghan asked urgently from the side.
"If he dies, the powerhouses of the Shensuan Sect will undoubtedly mobilize their entire force. Who will be able to deal with them then? Hmph! Forget it, you guys leave!" The scruffy old Taoist waved his hand dismissively.
"You're letting us go?" Yan Menghan was also taken aback. The scruffy old Taoist's attitude hadn't been like this just moments ago.
"If you don't leave, I have no food to offer you!" the scruffy old Taoist said without turning his head.
Lu Fan instantly understood. Everything the scruffy old Taoist had said earlier was just to reveal Yan Menghan's identity and force her to show her skills. If Yan Menghan truly had no martial arts, she would definitely not have been able to grab Ma Jiu's ankle. More likely, she would have been crippled by that stomp.
The Yan family were descendants of the Luoyan Sect, and the scruffy old Taoist was also from the Luoyan Sect. Even if the scruffy old Taoist didn't protect Yan Menghan and the others, he certainly wouldn't attack them. Unless it truly came down to a struggle for treasures. But the person fighting for treasures wouldn't be the scruffy old Taoist. If he wanted them, he would have taken them long ago. Why would there be a struggle?
This meant... the scruffy old Taoist was telling him that besides the Shensuan Sect, he himself might also be a contender for the treasures!
"Brother Lu Fan!" At this moment, Li Jingjing suddenly emerged from her cultivation state and gently tugged Lu Fan's sleeve from behind.
"Jingjing! Are you alright?" Lu Fan quickly turned around and asked.
"I'm fine!" Li Jingjing blinked her large eyes and looked at Lu Fan. "What just happened? I thought I heard many people talking."
"It's nothing! Wait a moment, we'll be able to leave soon!" Lu Fan said, then bent down and shouted to Yan Menghan and Elder Chang below, "Brother Yan! Form a human bridge, and I'll pull you up."
Elder Chang immediately came over and lifted Yan Menghan. After a moment, both of them were pulled up by Lu Fan.
"Senior! Are you really staying here?" Lu Fan shouted to the scruffy old Taoist.
"Kid! Hurry and leave! Remember, your fate is filled with romance!" The scruffy old Taoist said, then sat cross-legged on the ground, continuing to eat his flatbread.
"Senior! Since that's the case, I'll leave these fruits for you!" Lu Fan flicked his wrist, and a bag of fruit flew towards the scruffy old Taoist.
"Hahaha! You're a filial kid!" The scruffy old Taoist waved his hand in the air, and the bag of fruit was easily caught. Then he grinned widely.
"Senior! Since Brother Yan is the bloodline left by the sect leader of the Luoyan Sect, could you tell us about the supreme treasure of the Luoyan Sect?" Lu Fan suddenly asked.
Yan Menghan and Elder Chang were stunned. They hadn't expected Lu Fan to speak up for them and ask about the Luoyan Sect's supreme treasure.
"The Yan family's fortune has run its course. It is already remarkable that they can be wealthy today. If the supreme treasure of the Luoyan Sect were handed over to them, the Yan family would likely be wiped out forever! It is better to leave them a sliver of hope!" The scruffy old Taoist said, shaking his head slightly.
Yan Menghan and Elder Chang instantly broke out in a cold sweat. If what the scruffy old Taoist said was true, then the Yan family...
"Let's go!" Lu Fan glanced around the entire space one last time, then took Li Jingjing's hand and walked towards the outside of the cave.
The barbarians said this was where their ancestors lived, but there were no traces of their ancestors here. He believed that the people of the barbarian tribe would not lie to him, and the scruffy old Taoist wouldn't be waiting here to starve to death. Therefore, there must be another path... and that path was likely where the Luoyan Sect's ultimate treasure was buried.
The four of them walked out of the cave, and the barbarian tribe members were all stunned. How could people change so drastically? Two went in, and four came out?
Yan Menghan and Elder Chang were even more shocked. There were barbarians in this mountain? And Lu Fan could actually coexist peacefully with them!? This kid was becoming more and more unfathomable.
"Lu Fan! I... I really don't know about my Yan family ancestors' affairs!" Yan Menghan said somewhat apologetically on the way down the mountain.
"Brother Yan! Whether you are a descendant of the Luoyan Sect or not, you are my brother! I am friends with you as a person, not with the Yan family!" Lu Fan immediately said.
"Good! We will always be brothers!" Yan Menghan said, patting Lu Fan's shoulder.
The four of them quickly descended the mountain, and Yan Menghan and Elder Chang drove away from Twelve Ravine Village.
"Jingjing! Don't tell anyone about this!" Looking at Yan Menghan and Elder Chang leave, Lu Fan turned and cautioned Li Jingjing.
"Don't worry! Even if my dad asks me, I won't say anything!" Li Jingjing said with a cheerful smile.
Li Mantang had been waiting at Lu Fan's house for a long time. Lu Fan had brought his daughter into the mountains again, and he hoped this scoundrel hadn't taken advantage of his daughter. Hmph! Otherwise, he wouldn't let him off!
"Dad! You came to pick me up! Let's go home!" Seeing her father Li Mantang, Li Jingjing immediately skipped over, hugged his arm, and shouted.
"Girl! Did this kid bully you?" Li Mantang quickly asked.
"Hehe! As if you could beat him! Let me tell you, Brother Fan is very powerful. Today in the mountains, he even killed a wild boar!" Li Jingjing said with a giggle.
"Ah? Let's... let's go! We're going home!" Li Mantang's back suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, and he quickly pulled Li Jingjing away.
"Hehe! I was just teasing you!" Li Jingjing immediately said with a giggle.