The Qin family was annihilated, and the remaining four great families were filled with anxiety. They gathered in the meeting hall, their faces clouded with worry.
"Patriarch Wu, you must give us a plan. The Qin family has been destroyed. If we wait to die, we will likely follow in their footsteps," said Patriarch Li. "The five hidden families are bound by brotherhood. The Qin family was destroyed, and we are helpless!"
"A plan? You think highly of yourself," Patriarch Wu sneered. "The Qin family was destroyed, and we are all in danger. Do you still want to avenge the Qin family?"
"The five hidden families are bound by brotherhood, this is common knowledge," Patriarch Li frowned. "Are you, Patriarch Wu, intending to let this matter pass?"
"If it could be easily passed, I would be overjoyed!"
Patriarch Wu said coldly, "Anyone who can so easily destroy the Qin family is no ordinary person. They might even be legendary figures. If that is the case, then even the direct descendant of the Lu family is someone we cannot afford to offend."
"Patriarch Wu, we have someone backing us. Why are you so afraid?" Patriarch Li said, "If we report this matter, that person will surely send someone."
"I fear that before they arrive, the other four hidden families will perish," Patriarch Wu stated frankly. "The only way to save the four families now is to go and beg for forgiveness. There is no other way."
"What Patriarch Wu says is absurd. We showed no mercy when we massacred the Lu family back then. Now that the son of the Lu family has returned in force, how can he possibly let us go so easily?" Patriarch Li said coldly. "Going to apologize now is like walking into a trap."
"If we go to apologize now, we can still protect the other disciples of our families," Patriarch Wu stated. "If we do not repent, Lord Lu might annihilate the entire family."
"Since Brother Wu has said so much, let us part ways," Patriarch Li said, flicking his sleeve. "I would like to see what capabilities this person named Lu possesses."
"A martial arts grandmaster is not someone we can easily offend!"
Patriarch Wu said coldly, "If you persist in your folly, you will endanger all the descendants of the Li family."
Patriarch Li said no more and turned to leave. To surrender to Lu Fan directly was something he could not do. At this point, he could only fight Lu Fan to the end.
The other three patriarchs looked at Patriarch Wu. "Patriarch Wu, we do not wish to bring disaster upon our descendants. Do you have a solution? What happened back then was not our intention. If that person had not ordered us to act, we would not have dealt with the Lu family."
"At this point, it is impossible to shirk responsibility," Patriarch Wu said frankly. "In ancient times, people carried thorns to beg for forgiveness. If we imitate them, there might still be a sliver of hope. As for Patriarch Li's actions, they are likely courting death."
The other patriarchs nodded in agreement. If Lu Fan were just an ordinary, unknown nobody, they would not have taken it seriously. But they were very clear about who Lu Fan was.
In the blink of an eye, he defeated the many experts of the Qin family, even being able to injure people with falling leaves. This was no ordinary skill.
On the main seat of the Azure Dragon Sect, Lu Fan sat with his legs crossed, his expression even more indifferent.
Han Yunhai said repeatedly by his side, "The movements of the other five hidden families have all been reported. Except for the Li family, the other great families dare not act rashly!"
"The Li family?" Lu Fan's eyes flickered with coldness. "Since that is the case, keep a close eye on the Li family. I want the Li family to pay for what happened back then!"
"What about the other great families?" Han Yunhai asked. "They also bear an undeniable responsibility for the Lu family matter back then."
"Since they wish to carry thorns to beg for forgiveness, I want to see what tricks they can play," Lu Fan sneered.
What happened back then was a disgrace to the entire Lu family. He had no right to represent all the predecessors of the Lu family in forgiving them. Therefore, no matter what, the five great families would have to shed some blood.
"Young Master, dealing with the remnants is not the main objective,"
Uncle Fu said. "Unearthing the mastermind is what we need to do! This also concerns the souls of the Lu family's deceased."
"The Lu family members have been laid to rest, but I will not let this matter go," Lu Fan stated. "Rest assured, Uncle Fu. If they pretend to surrender, I will kill them one by one. If they truly repent, they will surely reveal the mastermind."
Uncle Fu nodded solemnly. This had been his intention all along, and it was good that Lu Fan understood it easily.
After a while, Patriarch Wu, along with many other patriarchs, arrived outside the Azure Dragon Sect, their expressions more solemn. "We are here today to beg for forgiveness, and we only wish to have an audience with Lord Lu!"
Han Yunhai came to the entrance of the Azure Dragon Sect and looked at the many figures there before saying, "If you had known this day would come, why did you do it back then?"
The faces of the many patriarchs turned ugly. If it were before, they would have been furious that a mere sect leader of the Azure Dragon Sect dared to treat them like this, but now they dared not say a word.
"Sect Leader Han, we want to meet Lord Lu!" Patriarch Wu said. "We hope you can help us convey our request. We are here to beg for forgiveness, and it is not a false surrender!"
"A few days ago, the Qin family was destroyed, and many Qin family experts died tragically," Han Yunhai said with a smile. "Do you all know about this!"
The several patriarchs exchanged glances and nodded in a rush. How could they not know? If not for this, they would not have come here to beg for forgiveness.
"Patriarch Han, it is true that we were in the wrong eighteen years ago. We are deeply ashamed and have come specifically to apologize," Patriarch Wu said repeatedly. "We hope Patriarch Han can be accommodating."
"Accommodation is not a problem!"
Han Yunhai nodded. "As per Lord Lu's instructions, you can all enter, but your accompanying followers must remain outside."
The several patriarchs exchanged glances. These followers were the top experts of their families. They knew the danger here today when they came.
"What, it seems you are unwilling!"
Han Yunhai's voice was cold. "If you are unwilling, then I never said anything!"
"Sect Leader Han, you jest. Since we are here to beg for forgiveness, we will naturally obey Lord Lu's arrangements. Today, we are here to live or die as Lord Lu commands!" Patriarch Wu said with a cupped fist.
With these words, Han Yunhai nodded slightly, quite satisfied with this.
As long as these people obeyed the rules set by Lu Fan, it meant they acknowledged Lu Fan, and there would be no further disputes.
Meanwhile, in the main seat of the Azure Dragon Sect, Lu Fan sat quietly, fiddling with an object in his hand, like a peerless overlord.
Patriarch Wu and the others were brought into the main hall, filled with trepidation. Ever since they decided to come and beg for forgiveness, they had not expected to leave alive.