Seeing Lu Fan remain silent, Lin Ke dared not speak more, then closed the room door and stayed by the entrance. He knew Lu Fan's medical skills meant there would be a method of healing, and he only needed to wait outside.
“Little Ke, is Master Lu any better?” Jiang Meili arrived. “Why are you standing outside the door!”
“Little Fan’s injuries are too severe, and I would disturb him if I went in!” Lin Ke stated frankly. “If I guard outside, nothing will happen!”
Jiang Meili’s face showed worry, unsure what to do. Being injured by the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley would hardly be a minor injury; he understood this very well.
“You two go rest!”
Elder Han spoke, “I will wait here. Although Master Lu is heavily injured, it should not be a major problem!”
“Elder Han, will it really be alright?” Lin Ke worried. “Master Little Fan’s complexion doesn’t look good.”
“Being injured and having a pale complexion is also normal,” Elder Han waved his hand. “Miss Lin need not worry excessively.”
Lin Ke wanted to say something more but stopped herself, not knowing why. She felt a pang of self-reproach in her heart.
Lu Fan had experienced many things on his journey, yet she couldn't assist him. As his wife, she felt somewhat remiss.
“Little Ke, you don’t need to worry too much!” Jiang Meili comforted her. “Master Lu is extraordinarily gifted, so he likely won’t have any trouble!”
Lin Ke nodded slightly and then returned to her room. Elder Han guarded the entrance, his gaze also growing heavy.
In truth, he knew very well that Lu Fan’s injuries this time must have been quite severe. Otherwise, with Lu Fan’s temperament, he would never have forcefully gone into seclusion.
It wasn't until midnight that Lu Fan opened his door. Upon seeing Elder Han, he smiled and said, “It’s so late, Elder Han, why haven’t you gone to sleep yet!”
“Sir was heavily injured, so I naturally must guard by your side,” Elder Han said, cupping his fists. “Looking at your complexion, Sir seems much better.”
“It’s just a minor injury, not worth mentioning!” Lu Fan waved his hand. “Besides, this is within the territory of Long Du. Even if experts from Medicine King Valley wanted to assassinate me, they wouldn't dare to do so openly!”
“What you say is indeed true!” Elder Han quickly cupped his fists. “Shall I go fetch some herbs for Sir to recuperate?”
“No need, my injuries are mostly healed. Why bother!” Lu Fan waved his hand. “With Medicine King Valley’s actions, I don’t dare to leave Long Du easily!”
“Sir is worried about Miss Lin?” Elder Han cupped his fists.
“She has endured much hardship following me all this way. I don’t want her to worry any further!” Lu Fan said in a deep voice. “But the Outer Domain battlefield is fraught with danger, and the Qing Yun Sect is without leadership. I am also quite worried!”
“This…”
Elder Han was slightly taken aback. Both the Qing Yun Sect and Lin Ke were extremely important to Lu Fan. “Sir, rest assured, the many experts of the Qing Yun Sect will surely be able to hold their own in the Outer Domain battlefield!”
“You don’t understand!” Lu Fan shook his head. “The Outer Domain battlefield is exceptionally perilous, with countless enemy powerhouses, especially the Hai Kingdom lurking, and the Black Shadow organization!”
Facing this, Elder Han didn’t know how to reply. He truly was not privy to the strategic layout of the Outer Domain battlefield, nor did he know the immense dangers present there, where even Grandmaster level cultivators were like mere ants.
As they conversed, Lu Fan gazed towards the courtyard, as if a guest had arrived.
“Master Lu!”
Han Bing cupped his fists and said, “The Fourth Elder requests your presence!”
“Visiting so late at night, what is the matter?” Lu Fan narrowed his eyes.
He was on good terms with the elders of Long Guo but was unwilling to enter the Long Guo headquarters to avoid gossip. However, Han Bing coming alone tonight seemed to indicate something special.
“Even I don’t know the specifics!” Han Bing said with a wry smile. “But since the Fourth Elder requests it, Master Lu likely won’t refuse, right?”
“Naturally!” Lu Fan nodded. The Fourth Elder wanting to see him now probably meant there was something important.
Seeing Lu Fan about to leave, Elder Han frowned. “Sir, please be careful!”
“Elder Han, rest assured. If the Fourth Elder wishes to see me, nothing untoward will happen!” Lu Fan waved his hand.
After Lu Fan departed, Elder Han was quite worried. Although Lu Fan was on good terms with the elders of Long Guo, Lu Fan had clearly offended Medicine King Valley.
If Long Guo couldn’t withstand the pressure and handed Lu Fan over, it would likely be troublesome.
However, all of this was mere speculation; he did not know the actual situation.
Leaving Jiang Jing Long Ting, Lu Fan then looked at Han Bing. “Where is the Fourth Elder now?”
“At the Long Du Headquarters!”
Han Bing’s expression was serious. “Please follow me, Master Lu!”
“Long Du Headquarters?” Lu Fan’s expression shifted slightly.
He hadn’t intended to enter the headquarters easily, but with Han Bing personally coming and the Fourth Elder requesting his presence, it would be inappropriate to refuse.
After some travel, the two arrived at the outskirts of Long Du. Han Bing then smiled and said, “We will soon reach the headquarters. Please cover your eyes, Sir!”
Lu Fan glanced around and, following protocol, covered his eyes with the black veil.
The Long Du Headquarters was a core area, and ordinary people could not easily enter. Even members of the Long Guo team might not know the headquarters’ location.
Even Han Bing had to cover his eyes, which indicated how highly Long Guo valued its headquarters.
“You two, follow me!”
An aged voice sounded. Lu Fan and Han Bing walked forward based on their senses, following the old man.
As they walked, Lu Fan and Han Bing felt a chilling wind and heard intermittent strange sounds that disturbed their hearing, seemingly to mask something.
“You need not worry, just follow me calmly!”
The old man spoke, his tone remarkably calm.
“Who is he? Why can’t I sense his aura’s strength?” Lu Fan asked in surprise.
“He is the Headquarters’ Usher, and his strength might not be weaker than any of the elders!” Han Bing said repeatedly. “Even I have never seen an Usher; I only know that whenever we come to the headquarters, it is the Usher who guides the way!”
“He is truly that mysterious!” Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. “If there is an opportunity, I would like to have a sparring session!”
Han Bing stood to the side, his face instantly showing embarrassment. He hadn’t expected Lu Fan to speak like that.
Within Long Guo territory, perhaps only Lu Fan would dare to say such a thing. Ushers throughout the years had been exceptionally powerful beings, and even the elders dared not easily offend them.
After some walking, the Usher suddenly stopped. “The headquarters have arrived. You may remove your veils!”
Lu Fan removed his veil and looked around but saw no one.
Han Bing saw this and gave a wry smile. “Sir, you may not know, but Ushers are elusive and do not easily reveal their true appearances. This is also to protect the Long Guo Headquarters!”
“I truly did not expect Long Guo to have so many hidden experts!”
Lu Fan exclaimed, “It seems Long Guo is not as simple as I imagined!”
“As a nation, there are things that outsiders naturally cannot see,” Han Bing nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face.
Not long after, Lu Fan followed Han Bing’s movements and arrived beside a palace. The Fourth Elder had been waiting for a considerable time.