As long as Lin Yao remained within the Martial Alliance, Su Fan had no need to worry about them.
After instructing Dongfang Tingyin to deliver five Breakthrough Pills to each person participating in the operation, Su Fan returned home.
In the game, Su Fan spent considerable time accompanying Xiao Xue'er as they explored Tianlong City for several days.
What Su Fan found strange was that no one seemed to be looking for the princess after her disappearance.
"It seems this emperor truly dislikes the princess," Su Fan sighed.
Meanwhile, Su Fan's request for Xiao Yan to help him join the bandit suppression team was showing progress, and he was set to depart for the team today.
Su Fan's assigned role was that of a dispatched commander, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard.
A fourth-rank official title was indeed a significant position in a small locality.
Without even having time to bid farewell to Xiao Xue'er, Su Fan set off directly with Chen Fang.
"Why are you the one coming? Doesn't Xiao Yan need you?" Su Fan asked Chen Fang curiously.
Chen Fang was Xiao Yan's personal guard, and his strength was unquestionable. Logically, Xiao Yan would not want Chen Fang too far from him for safety reasons.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is within the palace and faces no danger. His Highness instructed me to escort you to your destination before returning," Chen Fang replied truthfully.
Su Fan nodded in understanding.
Indeed, Xiao Yan's injuries had not yet healed, and there was no danger for him in the palace. Even if assassins appeared, the palace had plenty of experts, and Chen Fang's presence wouldn't be missed.
"What is our specific destination?" Su Fan still had no idea where he was going, only that Xiao Yan had made the arrangements and he was to come.
"The Beiling border," Chen Fang stated calmly.
"What!" Su Fan exclaimed in shock.
The Beiling border was a place of conflict. He was only going to suppress bandits; why would he be sent to Beiling? Had Xiao Yan made a mistake?
"No need to be surprised. There are few bandit dens in the Tianlong Dynasty that pose a threat, making bandit suppression unnecessary. The only bandit suppression team is stationed at the Beiling border. That area is close to the war zone, and several powerful bandit groups reside there like parasites behind the front lines. If they are not eradicated, they will eventually become a menace. If you don't wish to go, I can return now," Chen Fang asked Su Fan.
Xiao Yan had granted Su Fan considerable authority. If Su Fan wished, he could still back out now, but once they reached their destination, desertion would not be an option.
A commander deserting in the face of battle would have a significant impact on morale. Even if Xiao Yan wanted to protect Su Fan, the Emperor would not agree.
"No need," Su Fan had no intention of returning. How else would he kill monsters and farm for equipment?
"It's quite a distance from here to Beiling. When can we expect to arrive?" Su Fan remembered that Beiling was very far from Tianlong City, being on the border.
"About five days," Chen Fang replied calmly.
"Alright, I'm going to sleep. Don't wake me unless it's important," Su Fan said speechlessly.
He then went into the carriage to rest, but in reality, he returned to the real world to cultivate.
After cultivating for a while in reality, Su Fan would enter the game to check. If there was nothing significant, he would return to cultivate.
Unbeknownst to him, half a day had passed.
"Let's rest here for the night," Chen Fang called Su Fan out, and they arrived in front of an inn.
It was more like a supply station than an inn, situated in the middle of nowhere. There was only this one inn, leaving no room for choice. However, here, one could not only eat and stay but also replenish the horses' fodder.
Chen Fang parked the carriage in the stable and asked the attendant to feed the horses some superior fodder. He and Su Fan then entered the inn, intending to rest there for the night.
Su Fan glanced at the surrounding deep mountains and old forests, feeling that such a place was unsafe. Didn't this look like the kind of place where black inns were found in movies and TV shows?
"Brother Chen, are you sure this place is safe? It's so isolated; it looks like a black inn to me," Su Fan said to Chen Fang with unease.
Chen Fang, however, seemed unconcerned.
"How far have we even traveled from Tianlong City? There aren't that many black inns. Besides, if it were a black inn, I'd smash the place!" Chen Fang reassured Su Fan, stating that it wasn't yet the kind of place for such establishments.
As they entered the inn, there weren't many guests. Besides them, there was only another table with four people.
"Two esteemed guests, are you here for a meal or lodging?" There weren't many staff either. Besides a waiter, only the proprietress was in the front hall, and there was a cook in the back kitchen. The inn had only these three people in total.
"Lodging, two superior rooms, and prepare us a good meal," Chen Fang placed a silver ingot on the counter before the proprietress. Neither Su Fan nor Chen Fang were short of money, and they wouldn't mistreat themselves on the journey.
The proprietress, a woman in her late twenties with lingering charm,'s eyes lit up at the sight of the silver.
"Certainly, esteemed guests, please wait a moment!" The proprietress happily picked up the silver ingot, bit it to confirm its authenticity, and then hurried to the kitchen to have the cook prepare the food and drinks.
"I didn't realize you were so generous," Su Fan teased Chen Fang.
"We still have several days of travel ahead. We can't mistreat ourselves on the way. If we don't eat or sleep well, our journey will be slower," Chen Fang smiled slightly.
While the food was being prepared, Su Fan idly observed his surroundings.
There wasn't much to see. The only thing that caught Su Fan's eye was the other group of four people.
These four individuals were all burly and robust, clearly appearing to be from the martial underworld.
The four ate quietly, seemingly paying no attention to Su Fan and Chen Fang's arrival.
"Come on, let's finish early and rest early. We have to travel again tomorrow," Chen Fang called out to Su Fan when the food arrived.
Su Fan didn't stand on ceremony; there was no need to. He began to eat heartily.
In the game, whether he ate or not made no difference to him. Not eating had no negative impact.
However, being able to satisfy his appetite without any pressure was also a good thing.
After they had eaten their fill, they went upstairs to wash up and sleep.
Although the inn was small, it was well-equipped. The superior rooms were not only spacious but also had buckets for washing. The proprietress had also instructed the kitchen to prepare hot water early.
Lying in the hot water tub, Su Fan felt truly comfortable.
As he was bathing, Su Fan sensed something and looked towards the door with a hint of confusion.
He saw a figure walk past his door.
Su Fan frowned slightly.
Coincidence? Su Fan was somewhat puzzled.
He hoped he was overthinking things, but to avoid any unnecessary trouble, Su Fan did not return to reality this time.
He stayed awake, lying on the bed.
Even if the appearance of that figure was just his imagination and the person was merely passing by, Su Fan dared not take the chance. Since sleeping or not sleeping in the game made no difference, he decided to stay awake and remain vigilant.
There were only three people in the inn, and it didn't look like a black inn. If it were, with more people, wouldn't they have smashed the place?