"It seems Miss Lin is quite familiar with Lord Lu!"
Du Qianqiu narrowed his eyes. "We captured you to lure him out. I was worried he wouldn't show up!"
Lin Ke's expression shifted. He hadn't expected these people were targeting Lu Fan. It made sense, though; he himself was useless, so why would they go to such lengths for him?
"Valley Master, the experts from Qingyun Sect have sealed off the banyan forest!"
A man spoke up. "Shall we eliminate them?"
"No rush for now!"
Du Qianqiu waved his hand. "It's not too late to deal with them after I get what I want!"
As they conversed, a sound of rushing wind announced Lu Fan's arrival. He came alone, his back straight, looking at the members of the Black Shadow Organization. "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 safe!"
"Lord Lu, you're not joking, are you!"
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 been swift and decisive. They wouldn't trouble a woman, would they?"
Lu Fan smiled faintly. "If you truly want to be my enemy, you can attack directly. Using a woman as a threat is not the act of a man."
"Lord Lu, you are indeed silver-tongued, but it's all useless before me!"
Du Qianqiu said coldly, "Eighteen years ago, the massacre of the Lu family was all orchestrated by me in secret. I presume you already know!"
Lu Fan's face changed drastically, his gaze filled with infinite killing intent. This matter had weighed heavily on him for a long time. Although he already knew Du Qianqiu was responsible, Du Qianqiu's confession now still filled Lu Fan with resentment.
"Eighteen years ago, why did you attack the Lu family?"
Lu Fan's expression was cold. "I've waited for eighteen years. If you can explain properly, perhaps I'll leave you with your corpse intact today!"
"Your current cultivation level, young man, likely has a great connection to that item!"
Du Qianqiu said coldly. "As long as you hand that thing over to me, I'll release your beloved. Otherwise, she might die in my hands!"
"What item are you talking about?"
Lu Fan frowned. If he attacked forcefully now, Lin Ke would be in danger. He could only meet Du Qianqiu's condition.
"What, you don't know?"
Du Qianqiu narrowed his eyes. "Eighteen years ago, the Lu family was annihilated because of this item. If it's not in your hands, whose hands would it be in?"
"Are you referring to my Lu family's heirloom?"
Lu Fan's voice was 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 and possessed a subtle, different aura.
"I never imagined that after searching for so many years, it would actually be in your hands!"
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 got your entire clan killed!"
"It wasn't my father who killed my entire clan, it was you!"
Lu Fan's expression was cold. "Release Xiao Ke, and I'll give it to you!"
"Are you sure you're not joking?"
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!"
"If that's the case, then let's perish together!"
Lu Fan's expression was cold. Internal energy surged in his hand, and the Star Meteorite he held began to shake, seemingly unable to withstand Lu Fan's immense power.
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. "An exchange of goods for a person!"
"I hope you keep your promise!"
Lu Fan's expression was icy. "As long as Xiao Ke is safe, this stone is of no consequence to me!"
"That would be for the best!"
Du Qianqiu nodded with satisfaction. He had come to Longdu today for the Star Meteorite. If he could obtain it, why would he care about anything else?
As an elder stepped forward to make the exchange, Du Qianqiu stopped him. "Let me 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 Star Meteorite and also walked 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 Star Meteorite. But in that instant, he unleashed a blast of energy towards Lin Ke.
Lu Fan's face changed drastically, and he quickly shielded Lin Ke.
Boom...
Lu Fan was violently sent flying, 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, her face filled with helplessness. She had never imagined that Lu Fan would be injured saving her.
"It's nothing!"
Lu Fan comforted her. "I'm very resilient. This palm strike won't kill me!"
"You scared me to death!"
Lin Ke lay in Lu Fan's arms, tears in her eyes. If Lu Fan hadn't forcefully blocked it, she would have been a corpse.
"Good lad, to be able to take one of my palms is indeed not simple!"
Du Qianqiu sneered. "It's a pity you gave up such a good thing for a woman. You're truly willing to sacrifice!"
"Do you think you can leave today?"
Lu Fan slowly stood up. Han Yunhai and others had also arrived at the banyan forest, their expressions cold and 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 underestimate me too much!"
"Besides Qingyun Sect, there are also elders from the Dragon Country Headquarters!"
The Fourth Elder strode forward. "I wonder if this lineup can annihilate the Black Shadow Organization!"
In an instant, many martial arts experts from the Dragon Country joined forces with the numerous experts from Qingyun Sect, sealing off the entire banyan forest with a formidable aura.
"Fourth Elder!"
Du Qianqiu's expression turned grim. "The Black Shadow Organization and the Dragon Country have always minded their own business. Why is this happening today?"
"If we truly minded our own business, why would you trouble the guardian of the Dragon Country?"
The Fourth Elder sneered. "During the last battle on the outer territories, the three major sects of the Dragon Country did not contribute. How have you been, Master of Fenglei Valley?"
Du Qianqiu's body trembled, and he finally laughed heartily. "So, Fourth Elder already knew!"