Chen Fan's body moved like lightning, his qi erupting as he lunged towards Duanmu Liang.
At that instant, however, his heart jolted. He abruptly halted his advance and retreated.
His qi spun, meeting the aerial assault of another qi. The two clashed, exploding with a boom.
The shattered qi swept outwards like a howling gale. The nearby holly bushes quivered, disintegrating into fragments.
The disciples of the Changbai Sect fared even worse. As the gust of energy washed over them, their skin felt a chill, a sharp sting. They hurriedly retreated further away.
A figure appeared on the small path beside Duanmu Liang.
The person wore a moon-white tunic, was tall and slender, with high cheekbones and eyes as deep as the endless night sky.
They possessed an indescribable, profound, and mysterious aura and charm.
Chen Fan stared at this person, his pupils constricting, and asked, "Wolf Emperor Xiao Kai?"
"It is I."
The person stood tall and said, "Shang Wushuang is coming down. You take her and leave."
"You expect me to leave just because you say so?"
Chen Fan's expression was indifferent, his tone chilling, "You set a trap to lure me here, thinking I'd come and go at your beck and call?"
Xiao Kai did not show anger. He looked at Chen Fan and said calmly, "Then what do you want? To fight me?"
"Why not?"
Chen Fan took a step forward, his killing intent surging, his battle spirit soaring.
It was as if countless heroic spirits followed behind him, shouting in unison.
"Great wind, great wind!"
The great wind rises, the clouds fly high!
The battle intent of the myriad heroic spirits converged, changing the color of the heavens and earth. The dim night sky itself trembled.
Xiao Kai's expression remained unchanged as he said, "This is not an act of rescue."
Chen Fan offered no reply, his indifferent gaze meeting Xiao Kai's.
The latter's expression stayed placid, as if waiting for Chen Fan's next move.
Like a lone wolf under the moon, overlooking the world from the snowy Helan Mountains, Chen Fan's battle intent was but a speck of dust in the vast expanse of heaven and earth to him, posing no threat, nor even causing him to flinch.
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, killing intent churning within him.
He genuinely intended to kill Xiao Kai and then interrogate him for details about the Brotherhood.
Xiao Kai, a seasoned martial arts Grandmaster, was not someone easily killed, but Chen Fan was seven to eight parts confident.
His invincible aura of conquering territories and sweeping across battlefields, the battle intent that could reshape the world amplified by the spirits of countless heroes, and the mysterious power of the Dragon Scale Compass were his foundations.
However, killing Xiao Kai would come at a great cost.
"Prodigy!"
Just then, a voice rang out.
Chen Fan turned his head and saw Shang Wushuang gracefully approaching.
Accompanying her was the maid from the Ghost Market at the pass.
"Next time, even a martial arts Grandmaster won't help."
He retracted his gaze and Chen Fan said indifferently, "Below the level of a martial arts Grandmaster, I will slaughter them all!"
Xiao Kai stood with his hands behind his back, offering no response.
However, Duanmu Liang, upon hearing this, flew into a rage, his eyes filled with venom as he looked at Chen Fan.
"Uncle-Master Xiao, why not keep him here?"
He spoke in a low voice.
Xiao Kai glanced at Duanmu Liang and said, "I am to fight Watanabe. It's not advisable to create further complications."
Duanmu Liang was filled with resentment.
As Shang Wushuang drew nearer, a figure stepped forward to block her path.
"Shang Wushuang, have you thought this through? Associating with someone like Chen Fan will bring disaster upon the Shang family!"
The person was none other than Shang Wushuang's uncle, Shang Minghong.
Upon hearing this, Shang Wushuang let out a cold laugh, "So, you intend to marry me off to Duanmu Liang for a political alliance?"
"This is also for the good of the Shang family."
Shang Minghong stated, "A man of marriageable age and a woman of marriageable age. Duanmu Liang is the chief disciple of the Changbai Sect, a suitable match for you, and would greatly benefit the Shang family. If you are unwilling, your uncle will not force you. Perhaps you should just return to the outside of the pass!"
Shang Wushuang coldly replied, "Uncle, I am not a child. What I should and should not do is not for you to worry about. If my actions harm the interests of the Shang family, my father will be the one to punish me!"
She dropped these words indifferently, bypassed Shang Minghong, and arrived beside Chen Fan, taking his arm.
"Prodigy, let's go."
She said gently.
Duanmu Liang watched this scene, his eyes about to burst with rage.
There was no real relationship between him and Shang Wushuang. The matter of forcing her into a marriage alliance with him was merely an understanding between Shang Minghong and himself, signifying nothing concrete.
However, witnessing Shang Wushuang's demeanor, his mood could not be good. His existing resentment towards Chen Fan intensified into deep-seated hatred.
Chen Fan did not pull away from Shang Wushuang's grip, nodding, "As long as you are unharmed, it's fine. If you had been hurt, I would have bloodied this place."
He surveyed the surroundings. Xiao Kai's expression remained placid, treating Chen Fan with utter disregard.
That day, Ye Wang stood respectfully to the side with a complex expression.
Duanmu Liang and the many elders of the Changbai Sect gritted their teeth. The ordinary disciples of the Changbai Sect, however, could not help but feel shocked and uneasy.
"Let's go!"
Arm in arm with Shang Wushuang, Chen Fan began to walk away.
Everyone watched them leave. Without Xiao Kai speaking or acting, no one dared to risk their lives to stop Chen Fan again.
The earlier exchange had already proven Chen Fan's invincibility below the level of a Grandmaster.
It could even be affirmed that he was not without a fight against a martial arts Grandmaster.
Chen Fan did not bother to consider what they were thinking. Instead, he felt a tinge of regret.
If Xiao Kai had not been here, his gains tonight would have been immense. Capturing either Ye Wang or Duanmu Liang would have allowed him to extract a great deal of hidden information about the Brotherhood.
As for Xiao Kai himself, his connection to the Brotherhood might not be significant.
Such an immensely powerful martial arts Grandmaster held a transcendent position within the Hero Alliance and would not involve himself in worldly schemes and machinations.
Upon reaching the car outside the main gate, Shang Wushuang finally released his arm and said, "Prodigy, thank you. I didn't expect you to really come and save me!"
Chen Fan pulled open the car door and replied, "What kind of talk is that? You helped me before. Am I such a cold-hearted and ruthless person? Get in the car!"
Driving the car away, Chen Fan asked, "What's going on? Your uncle can force you into a marriage alliance with the Changbai Sect?"
"My father doesn't concern himself with such worldly matters. The family's mundane affairs are managed by my uncle."
Lying in the passenger seat, Shang Wushuang relaxed and said, "The Hero Alliance has been very active lately, so he's started having some ulterior motives. However, it's just this kind of soft confinement and coercion. He wouldn't dare to do anything drastic to me!"
Chen Fan was not overly concerned with these details and asked, "Have you heard of the Northern Brotherhood?"
"No, what kind of power is that? Is it related to the Hero Alliance?"
Shang Wushuang inquired.
"I suspect the two are one and the same. Both Ye Wang and Duanmu Liang are likely important figures within it."
"Is that the organization you've been investigating?"
Shang Wushuang was startled and sat up straight, asking.
Chen Fan nodded.
Shang Wushuang fell silent, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid, and said, "If that's the case, you, give up!"
Chen Fan said plainly, "Absolutely not!"
Shang Wushuang's expression shifted, and she let out a wry smile, "Perhaps I really should go home. Chen Fan, you have no idea how deep the foundations and strength of the Hero Alliance truly are!"
"If the Hero Alliance is the other face of that Brotherhood, you stand no chance against them!"