"Man cannot be resurrected. Please accept my condolences!"
Lu Fan said softly, feeling a pang of self-reproach. If he had arrived a step earlier, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
"Grandma was my only family. Even she has left me!" Lin Xiaojia cried sadly.
"From now on, I will be your family!" Lu Fan smiled. "Poisonous Snake Grandma entrusted you to me before she died. I will never fail her!"
Lin Xiaojia was somewhat touched. Lu Fan had not had much interaction with him, yet he was willing to help him like this.
After burying Poisonous Snake Grandma, Lu Fan took Lin Xiaojia back to Jiangjing Bieyuan.
As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Lu Fan's brow furrowed slightly, as if sensing a chaotic power.
Han Yunhai and Gu Wen sat to the side, their foreheads covered in sweat, their faces pale. It was unclear what had happened.
Lu Fan examined their conditions carefully and then frowned, "I warned you not to be too hasty before I left! Now that your qi and blood have attacked your heart, do you know the pain involved?"
The two opened their eyes and nodded solemnly, "To break through to the Grandmaster realm, we are willing to pay any price."
"Since that is the case, then I shall lend you a hand!"
Lu Fan sighed helplessly and took out silver needles, seemingly preparing to unblock their qi meridians.
The two slowly closed their eyes, their expressions serious. With Lu Fan personally intervening, they were sure to break through.
Lin Xiaojia had already returned to his room. He was too exhausted today and had fallen asleep directly.
In the courtyard, three men sat. After a long while, Lu Fan stopped his acupuncture and let out a wry smile, "As expected, breaking through to the Grandmaster realm is not that easy!"
Han Yunhai also opened his eyes and smiled, "Half-step Grandmaster is already quite good. If it weren't for your guidance, I wouldn't have been able to reach this stage!"
Gu Wen also nodded slightly, his heart filled with pleasant surprise. He had now reached the half-step realm, only needing a surge of qi to reach Grandmaster. This was a great kindness to him.
Becoming a half-step Grandmaster at such a young age would undoubtedly bring him endless prestige upon returning to his family.
He would even gain great fame in the martial arts world in the future. He was very clear about what it meant to reach the half-step Grandmaster realm at such a young age.
"If you follow me, I will naturally not treat you poorly," Lu Fan nodded. "But you don't need to thank me; this is what you deserve!"
Han Yunhai smiled and looked around. "During the breakthrough, it seemed a woman accompanied you. Where has she gone now?"
"She's asleep in my room!"
Lu Fan gave him a look. "Hurry up and prepare another room for me, or I'll have to sleep on the floor!"
"You truly have a way with women, bringing one home late at night," Han Yunhai teased. "If Miss Lin finds out, it will be troublesome."
"You talk too much!" Lu Fan cast him a glance. "There are reasons for this. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have brought her back!"
"Didn't he have a grandmother?" Gu Wen asked in surprise. "Why is he following Master?"
"His grandmother was killed by tribesmen, and now he has no home," Lu Fan frowned. "I plan to keep him by my side from now on. He's quite pitiful!"
Perhaps due to having a similar predicament in the past, Lu Fan felt a resonance, which was why he took such good care of Lin Xiaojia.
"He'll be following you from now on?" Han Yunhai said awkwardly. "Won't that bring endless trouble? Especially since the tribes in the Ten Thousand Mountains are not to be trifled with."
"Tonight, on Wanbao Street, some tribesmen met their end," Lu Fan shrugged. "And one of them was a Grandmaster!"
At these words, the two trembled violently and didn't know what to say.
Lu Fan's killing of tribesmen would surely stir up endless trouble.
"You don't need to try and dissuade me!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "Since I've made my decision, I won't change it!"
Han Yunhai and Gu Wen nodded slightly, not daring to say more.
The next day, while Lu Fan was still asleep, he heard sounds from the kitchen. When he arrived in the living room, he saw Lin Xiaojia.
"Master, you're awake?" Lin Xiaojia said respectfully. "Breakfast is ready!"
Looking at the breakfast on the table, Lu Fan said warmly, "Xiaojia, you don't have to do this. I promised Poisonous Snake Grandma that I wouldn't let you suffer any grievances!"
"I don't feel wronged at all. Grandma said that I should serve Master to repay your kindness!" Lin Xiaojia said directly.
Lu Fan nodded helplessly. He knew that if he didn't let Lin Xiaojia do these things, he would likely feel uneasy.
"Alright, since you say so! Then I won't be polite!"
Lu Fan nodded and began to eat.
Han Yunhai and Gu Wen also came into the living room, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the breakfast.
Having been in Chu Zhou for so long, they had never eaten such a sumptuous breakfast.
"Come and eat together!" Lu Fan called out. "From now on, we are all family. There's no need to be so formal!"
Lin Xiaojia hesitated for a moment before finally joining them at the table.
"Han Yunhai, from now on, Xiaojia's cultivation will be your responsibility!" Lu Fan stated directly. "Within half a year, he must become a martial arts master!"
"Ahem, Master, half a year?" Han Yunhai said awkwardly. "Isn't that too short a time? It takes at least ten years of training to become a master!"
"His physique is special. Half a year is already the slowest it could be!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "Within a year, with his talent, it won't be difficult for him to break through to Grandmaster!"
Han Yunhai stood frozen, not knowing how to respond. Breaking through to Grandmaster within a year was something even a peerless prodigy might not be able to achieve.
However, since Lu Fan had spoken, he must have his reasons, and he wouldn't say anything more.
"By the way, how is Qingyun Group developing in Chu Zhou?" Lu Fan asked curiously.
"Master, you are incredibly wealthy. Qingyun Group has already become a top-tier entity in Chu Zhou!" Han Yunhai stated. "Don't worry, Master, Qingyun Group will surely be a behemoth in Chu Zhou in the future!"
"That's not what I'm concerned about!" Lu Fan waved his hand. "It's the whereabouts of my maternal clan! Uncle Fu's information is definitely correct; they are in Chu Zhou!"
"I will definitely increase our manpower!" Han Yunhai said quickly. "If we don't get any news about the Yang family within three days, you can deal with me as you see fit!"
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly.
His purpose in coming to Chu Zhou this time was to find Du Qianqiu. Unfortunately, the Golden Light Hall Master was dead, and Du Qianqiu's whereabouts were completely unknown, leaving Lu Fan somewhat helpless.
Now that he knew his maternal clan was also in Chu Zhou, he felt a little apprehensive.
After all, after so many years, with the Lu family's demise, the Yang family had gone into hiding, and their lives were likely not easy.
After breakfast, Lu Fan stayed in the courtyard for a while before heading to Qingyun Group with Han Yunhai and the others.
Looking at the tall buildings, Lu Fan did not feel much emotion.
Eighteen years ago, their Lu family was considered a prominent family in Jiangnan, yet they were still annihilated.
Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window of the company, Lu Fan looked at Gu Wen. "From now on, this Qingyun Group will be under your direct control!"
"Under my control?" Gu Wen was startled. "I'm afraid that's not appropriate!"