"Miss Lin seems quite familiar with Lord Lu!"
Du Qianqiu narrowed his eyes. "We captured you precisely to lure him out. I was worried he wouldn't show up!"
Lin Ke's expression shifted. He hadn't expected these people to be after Lu Fan. But then again, he himself was useless; why else would they make such a fuss over him?
"Valley Master, the experts of Qingyun Sect have sealed off the banyan forest!"
A man spoke, "Should we deal with them?"
"There's no hurry for now!"
Du Qianqiu waved his hand. "Once I obtain what I desire, it won't be too late to deal with them!"
As they were conversing, a whooshing sound filled the air. Lu Fan arrived alone, his back to the assembled members of the Black Shadow Organization, and looked at them. "It really is you!"
"Xiao Fan, they captured me to lure you!"
Lin Ke shouted, "Hurry and leave!"
"Silly girl, how could I let others harm you!"
Lu Fan said, "Wait here quietly. Once I've dealt with them, you'll be fine!"
"Lord Lu isn't joking with me, is he!"
Du Qianqiu sneered. "With a snap of my fingers, he'll be dead. Do you still intend to fight?"
"The Black Shadow Organization has always acted swiftly. You wouldn't trouble a woman, would you?"
Lu Fan smiled faintly. "If you truly wish to be my enemy, you can act directly. Threatening with a woman is not the act of a man."
"Lord Lu is indeed eloquent, but all of that is useless before me!"
Du Qianqiu said coldly, "Eighteen years ago, the massacre of the Lu family was orchestrated by me from the shadows. You must already know!"
Lu Fan's expression drastically changed, filled with boundless killing intent. This matter had weighed heavily on him for a long time. Although he already knew Du Qianqiu was responsible, Du Qianqiu's direct admission still filled him with resentment.
"Eighteen years ago, why did you attack the Lu family?"
Lu Fan's expression was cold. "I have waited for eighteen years. If you can explain properly, perhaps I can leave you with your corpse intact today!"
"Your current cultivation, young man, likely has a significant connection to that item!"
Du Qianqiu said coldly, "If you hand that item over to me, I will release your beloved. Otherwise, she might meet her end at my hands!"
"What item are you referring to?"
Lu Fan frowned. If he acted forcefully now, Lin Ke would be in danger. He could only comply with the demand.
"What, you don't know?"
Du Qianqiu narrowed his eyes. "Eighteen years ago, the Lu family was massacred because of this item. If it's not in your hands, who else would have it?"
"Are you talking about my Lu family's heirloom?"
Lu Fan's voice turned icy. "Or perhaps this meteorite from the heavens?"
Lu Fan held a stone in his hand. Though it looked ordinary, it emanated a multicolored glow, subtly possessing a different aura.
"I never imagined that after searching for so many years, I would actually find it in your possession!"
Du Qianqiu was instantly overjoyed. "You truly haven't disappointed me!"
"To be honest, I still don't know what this thing is!"
Lu Fan shrugged. "You massacred my Lu family back then for this item?"
"Indeed!"
Du Qianqiu nodded. "Everything was going according to plan. The Lu family shouldn't have been wiped out, but unfortunately, your father was a playful old man who caused the death of your entire clan!"
"The one who caused the death of my entire clan was not my father, but you!"
Lu Fan's expression was cold. "Release Xiao Ke, and I will give it to you!"
"Are you sure you're not joking with me?"
Du Qianqiu narrowed his eyes. "The initiative is with me now. Your only choice is to hand over the item. You have no right to negotiate with me!"
"Since that's the case, let's perish together!"
Lu Fan's expression was cold. Internal energy surged from his hand, causing the Meteorite Stone to tremble, seemingly unable to withstand the immense power Lu Fan wielded.
Seeing this, Du Qianqiu's brow furrowed. He had searched for eighteen years and could not afford to fail now. With it so close, he was unwilling to give up.
"Wait!"
Du Qianqiu said coldly, "We exchange goods for people, hand for hand!"
"I hope you keep your word!"
Lu Fan's expression was icy. "As long as Xiao Ke is safe, this stone is nothing to me!"
"That would be best!"
Du Qianqiu nodded with satisfaction. He had come to Longdu today for the Meteorite Stone. If he could obtain it, he wouldn't care about anything else.
An elder was about to make the exchange when Du Qianqiu stopped him. "Allow me to do it myself! If this brat dares to play any tricks, I won't spare him!"
Du Qianqiu grabbed Lin Ke and walked towards Lu Fan.
Lu Fan held the Meteorite Stone and also moved forward step by step. Du Qianqiu was wicked, and Lu Fan was determined to kill him, but the immediate priority was to ensure Lin Ke's safety.
As the two approached, Lu Fan snatched Lin Ke, and Du Qianqiu took the Meteorite Stone. But at that very moment, he unleashed a surge of energy towards Lin Ke.
Lu Fan's expression changed drastically. He leaped forward to shield Lin Ke.
*Boom...*
Lu Fan was violently thrown back, and Lin Ke, along with Lu Fan, was pushed back several meters.
*Pfft...*
A mouthful of blood spurted out. Lu Fan's face turned instantly pale. Du Qianqiu's strength was extraordinary; such a palm strike was not something an ordinary person could withstand.
"Xiao Fan!"
Lin Ke cried out, his face filled with helplessness. He had never imagined Lu Fan would be injured to save him.
"It's nothing!"
Lu Fan comforted her. "I'm a tough old bird. This palm strike won't kill me!"
"You scared me to death!"
Lin Ke lay in Lu Fan's arms, tears welling up in her eyes. If Lu Fan hadn't forcefully blocked it, she would have been a corpse by now.
"Good lad, you're quite remarkable to withstand my palm strike!"
Du Qianqiu sneered. "It's a shame you're willing to give up such a precious item for a woman. You truly are generous!"
"Do you think you can leave here today?"
Lu Fan slowly stood up. Han Yunhai and others also arrived at the banyan forest, their expressions cold and their gazes filled with murderous intent.
"You don't honestly believe that these rabble from Qingyun Sect can stop me, do you?"
Du Qianqiu sneered. "If that's the case, you think too little of me!"
"In addition to Qingyun Sect, there are also elders from the Dragon Country Headquarters!"
The Fourth Elder strode forward. "I wonder if this lineup is enough to annihilate the Black Shadow Organization!"
In an instant, numerous martial arts experts from the Dragon Country joined forces with the masters of Qingyun Sect, sealing off the entire banyan forest with formidable auras.
"Fourth Elder!"
Du Qianqiu's expression turned grim. "The Black Shadow Organization and the Dragon Country have always coexisted peacefully. What is the meaning of this today?"
"If they truly coexisted peacefully, why would you trouble the guardian deity of the Dragon Country?"
The Fourth Elder said with a cold smile, "During the last battle on the outer frontiers, the three major sects of the Dragon Country, only Fenghuo Valley did not contribute. How have you been, Master of Fenghuo Valley?"
Du Qianqiu's body trembled slightly, then he finally let out a laugh. "So, the Fourth Elder already knew!"