"What of it?" Lu Fan chuckled. "You don't have to worry, I'll handle this matter myself!"
"But if you do, Brother Lu will face endless trouble in the future!" Lin Xiaojia said frankly. "This is not what I want to see!"
"Girl, you carry too much of a burden!" the old eccentric comforted her. "With his current strength, why would he fear the people of the Northern Pole Tribe!"
"That may be so, but I am still too indebted to Brother Lu!" Lin Xiaojia stated directly. "Therefore, I have decided to leave Chuzhou and find a safe place, so that Brother Lu doesn't have to worry!"
"Where can you, a weak woman, go!" Lu Fan shot her a look. "Many masters of the Northern Pole Tribe have died by my hand. Even if you weren't here, would they easily let me off?"
"But....."
Lin Xiaojia didn't know what to do and felt a touch of despair. She didn't want Lu Fan to be implicated, but things had reached this point. As Lu Fan had said, the Northern Pole Tribe would not easily let him go.
"Miss Lin, if you truly don't wish to be a burden to the master, then just practice diligently!" Han Yunhai said with a smile. "Only when you are strong can you protect yourself and those around you!"
Lin Xiaojia was touched and walked towards the room without saying another word, as if she had an unsolvable knot in her heart.
"Old man, why don't you take him as your disciple!" Lu Fan suggested. "That way, he won't have any reservations. The master protects the disciple!"
"Why don't you take a disciple yourself, you brat?" the old eccentric glared. "I'm used to being idle and don't have the habit of taking disciples!"
"As expected, not a good person!" Lu Fan shook his head. "You eat other people's food every day, but you refuse to take anyone as a disciple. I've misjudged you."
The old eccentric looked embarrassed. "Don't try to pull that on me, you brat!"
"Consider it as if I said nothing!"
Lu Fan shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave.
A few days later, Lu Fan and the others set off, heading towards Zhongzhou.
There was still a month until the Zhongzhou Martial Arts Convention. Originally, they didn't need to leave so early, but Lu Fan had specifically advanced their itinerary to find Du Qianqiu.
Zhongzhou, located in the heart of the Dragon Country, was one of the largest cities and the capital of dreams for many young people.
Compared to Jiangnan and Jiangbei, Zhongzhou was naturally a more fertile ground for development.
With the Martial Arts Convention about to commence, Zhongzhou was already teeming with martial arts experts, and undercurrents were surging.
The majority of those arriving in Zhongzhou were from the various martial arts families.
The Martial Arts Heavenly Rankings were of paramount importance to the martial arts families.
If a martial arts family's expert entered the Heavenly Rankings, it would bring prosperity to the entire clan, drawing reverence from all sides.
At the Zhongzhou High-Speed Rail Station, Lu Fan and his companions arrived in Zhongzhou. Before they could even exit the station, they saw a group of people approaching.
"I presume you are the renowned Lord Lu!"
The elder at the forefront cupped his fists. "The family head specifically sent me to welcome you!"
"Butler Chen, why are you here?" Gu Wen stepped forward. "Did Grandpa send you?"
"Young Master, the old master has ordered me to welcome Lord Lu into our manor!" Butler Chen said solemnly. "The doors of the Gu family are always open for Lord!"
"The old master is too kind!" Lu Fan chuckled.
He hadn't intended to trouble the Gu family, but given their warm welcome, it would seem pretentious for him not to accept.
"I truly didn't expect to be invited as soon as we arrived in Zhongzhou," Han Yunhai said with a smile. "I was just wondering where to go!"
"My home is in Zhongzhou, so naturally, you'll be going to my home," Gu Wen said with a smile. "It's a good opportunity for everyone to experience the medical customs of the Gu family!"
Led by Butler Chen, they headed towards the Gu family's residence. The old eccentric, however, felt a bit awkward and looked at Lu Fan. "The Gu family is a martial arts family. Wouldn't it be inconvenient for us to go there?"
" Do you have an enmity with the Gu family?" Lu Fan asked in surprise. "Otherwise, why would you be like this!"
"What are you saying? How could I have enmity with the Gu family!" the old eccentric retorted. "I just feel it's rather inconvenient."
"Since the Gu family personally sent someone to welcome us, it would be rude not to go," Lu Fan stated directly. "If you feel it's inconvenient, old man, you can find a place to stay elsewhere!"
"Never mind, I'll go with you. I'm not someone who doesn't fit in," the old eccentric shrugged. "Besides, you still need to help me with my internal injuries. My injuries have healed quite a bit these past few days, thanks to you!"
Lu Fan smiled. "Naturally, it's thanks to me. But don't forget, you still owe me three favors!"
"My word is my bond, I won't forget," the old eccentric said, glaring. "Why do you need to remind me!"
Lu Fan gave an awkward smile and said no more.
Outside a grand courtyard in Zhongzhou, an elder with white hair, dressed in a Tang suit, stood at the entrance. Beside him were several attendants, seemingly waiting for someone.
"Family head, it's windy outside. If the young master returns, he will bring Lord Lu to meet you. Why do you need to greet them personally?" a Gu family elder inquired.
"Lord Lu from Jiangnan has a considerable reputation there, and now he has taken Gu Wen as his disciple. How can I not come to welcome him?" the elder in the Tang suit chuckled. "You don't understand, Lord Lu from Jiangnan is no ordinary person!"
"I have heard some rumors," the white-haired elder nodded. "Masterful techniques, unmatched in Jiangnan!"
"If he were just an ordinary master, why would I personally come to meet him?" the Gu family head stated. "Whether it's Jiangbei, Jiangnan, or Jiangdong, there are traces of his deeds. Now that he's here for the Martial Arts Convention, he's probably here for the Heavenly Rankings!"
"Is he really that powerful?"
The white-haired elder seemed surprised. "If that's the case, wouldn't this Martial Arts Convention yield unexpected gains!"
"Fighting against four masters single-handedly is something even I cannot do," the Gu family head said directly. "I am quite pleased that Little Wen could become his disciple. Now that Lord Lu is coming to Zhongzhou, the Gu family must not be negligent."
The white-haired elder nodded, finally understanding the family head's intentions.
The head of the esteemed Gu family, not only known as the "Living Hua Tuo" but also possessing extraordinary strength, commanded the entire Gu family. Even in Zhongzhou, they were considered a prominent clan, not to be easily provoked by other families.
As time passed, the motorcade finally arrived at the Gu family courtyard. As Lu Fan and the others alighted from the car, the Gu family head stepped forward and cupped his fists to the old eccentric. "I presume you are Lord Lu? You truly have an extraordinary bearing and a far-reaching reputation!"
The old eccentric glanced at him. "You're quite good at guessing? How do I look like that brat?"
The Gu family head was taken aback, a sense of unease inexplicably settling in. The aura around the old eccentric was extraordinary, and given his age, he should have been Lord Lu.
"Grandpa, this is the Master," Gu Wen quickly said.
The Gu family head peered intently, his suspicion deepening. Lu Fan was so young, and his aura was not revealed at all. How could he be Lord Lu from Jiangnan? But if Gu Wen said so, it must be true.
"My apologies for the oversight," the Gu family head said with a smile. "I never imagined Lord Lu from Jiangnan to be so young!"