Ran Min

But the world is vast and never revolves around any single person. Gu Han's disappearance, aside from disappointing those in the martial world who believed he had inherited Patriarch Bodhidharma's legacy and grasped the secret to breaking through to the Legendary Realm, left no one else particularly concerned.

Especially for the Barbarian King A Yanda and his people up north, learning that Gu Han had vanished from the martial world sent them into ecstatic joy. They assumed he had truly fallen victim to Wang Zhongyi's poisonous schemes and died at the hands of some martial artist.

Thus, in the 328th year of Great Yan, after defeating King Ming Zhu Hong in Fangnan Prefecture, Jiangnan, and seizing the entire Jiangnan region, the barbarian army—after several months of rest—once again marched north, aiming to conquer the wealthiest northern lands of Yan.

Unfortunately, the Barbarian King A Yanda ultimately underestimated the strength of the northern vassals. Whether it was due to hearing of the barbarians' brutality or being stirred by ethnic pride, unwilling to become another's slaves, the northern lords rallied.

Under the threat of the Barbarian King A Yanda, after the barbarians captured several cities in succession, the Three Kings of the north finally set aside their grudges, ignoring over a decade of mutual conflict to join forces.

Afterward, they contacted seventeen other lords, large and small, including Prince Liu, amassing over a million troops and forming a temporary alliance called the "Eighteen Vassals Anti-Barbarian Alliance." They made the northern stronghold of Qinghe City their first line of defense, blocking the barbarians' advance north. For a time, the barbarians could do nothing, and the two sides remained deadlocked.

In the blink of an eye, three years passed.

Qinghe City, Prince Liu's Estate, outside the Martial Lecture Hall.

"Pat-pat, pat-pat..."

A flurry of hurried footsteps rang out. A martial artist in a short blue outfit, his face alight with excitement, swiftly crossed path after path, ignoring the countless greetings from other martial artists. He ran, beaming, to the outside of a luxurious room and shouted loudly inside:

"Hall Master, Hall Master, great news, great news! The people you ordered us to find—your subordinate has located them now. But by the time I found them, the barbarians had already killed them, leaving only their grandson, whom I rescued.

Still, the jade pendants and everything from this family match up, and their surname and experiences are exactly as you described. Your subordinate is certain that this person is eight or nine parts likely the one you're looking for. When would you like to go confirm it?"

Outside the door, the blue-clad martial artist knelt on one knee, calling out respectfully. Thinking of the Hall Master's promise, his heart brimmed with excitement and anticipation.

"Hmm, I understand. Bring him to me now. If I confirm he is the one I seek, then pick a free day in the next few days to come to me. I will guide you in breaking through to Blood Tempering and fulfill my promise to you."

Inside the room, Gu Han—dressed in a black shirt, his mature, handsome features framed by loose black hair, holding a martial arts manual—set down the ancient thread-bound book and spoke calmly to the door.

"Yes! Thank you, Hall Master!"

Hearing the voice from within, the blue-clad martial artist's joy only deepened.

Blood Tempering in martial arts—this was the realm closest to the Internal Qi Realm giants, a minor giant in its own right. Even across the vast martial world, one could be called a First-rate Master!

Though he himself was now at Muscle Tendon Strengthening, a top-tier second-rate expert, the gap between him and a Blood Tempering martial artist was still enormous. To put it bluntly, the two were like heaven and earth. Before a Blood Tempering expert, he might not even last a move or two.

But this time, if he found the person the Hall Master needed, and then broke through to that longed-for realm under the Hall Master's guidance, even if he left the Martial Lecture Hall and walked the martial world alone, he could dominate a region with few rivals!

The blue-clad martial artist mused happily, then quickly withdrew.

As for Gu Han, he paid the matter no further mind, picking up his manual to continue studying.

Guiding a martial artist to the Blood Tempering realm—he could have done that easily even when he himself was at Blood Tempering. Now that he had broken through to Internal Qi, his understanding of the body's qi and blood had deepened even further.

If before, he could only guide those with decent talent—those who might break through to Blood Tempering even without guidance—

Then now, unless someone was truly astonishingly talentless, like the utter waste of a body he himself had once possessed, forcing them up to Blood Tempering was no challenge at all for Gu Han.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Before even half a cup of tea had passed since the blue-clad martial artist left, another knock sounded at the door, followed by a familiar voice:

"Hall Master, your subordinate has brought him."

"Hmm, come in!"

Gu Han waved a hand casually, his Internal Qi erupting to stir the air. The next moment, the door swung open on its own with a creak, revealing two figures outside.

One was the blue-clad martial artist who had reported earlier; the other was a child of about eleven or twelve.

"Mm, what's your name?"

Gu Han ignored the respectful blue-clad martial artist at the door, his eyes fixed on the child as he asked with a smile, without any further verification.

Because the moment he saw the child, Gu Han was certain he was Jingyuan's parents' grandson. Though only a nephew, he looked too much like Jingyuan as a child. Seeing him, Gu Han felt as if he were seeing Jingyuan from decades ago.

With such an identical appearance, what need was there for confirmation?

"Answering you, my lord, my childhood name is Gou Dan, and my formal name is Ran Wen. But later I gave myself a name—Ran Wu—meaning I hope to learn martial arts in the future and kill all the barbarians!"

Hearing Gu Han's question, the child showed no fear. His eyes were full of determination and hatred as he spoke, and he looked at Gu Han with a hint of longing.

He knew the blue-clad martial artist was already very strong—just days ago, he had easily killed over a dozen barbarians and saved him. And this lord, who could make even the blue-clad martial artist so respectful, must be far more powerful. Only by following someone this strong could he one day fulfill his wish.

"Oh? Kill all the barbarians? Quite the bold claim. What makes you think you can do that?"

Gu Han looked at the child with interest.

"Because I work hard enough, and because my talent is excellent! The boxing master in town said my talent is the best he's ever seen. If I meet a famous teacher, I'll definitely become the world's top expert! Then I'll lead a great army and kill all the barbarians!"

The child Ran Wu clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with killing intent.

"Heh! Little one, young as you are, your bloodlust is strong. But your talent is indeed good. From now on, train in martial arts with me. I'll make you the world's greatest expert—how about that?"

Before Gu Han finished speaking, his body moved like a legendary teleport, appearing beside the child. He lightly patted him a few times, then nodded.

"Yes! Disciple greets Master."

The child was overjoyed, immediately kneeling and kowtowing, making the blue-clad martial artist drool with envy.

Gu Han smiled and said:

"Mm, good. Since you've taken me as your master, you should obey my commands. I see your fate is heavy with killing intent, prone to breaking from being too rigid. So, drop the 'Wu' from your name and keep the original 'Wen' for balance. Then add a 'door' radical above 'Wen' to lock in your literary spirit, keeping it from dispersing and balancing the martial. From now on, you shall be called...

Ran Min. How about that?"

Gu Han's mind stirred, and the name slipped out.

"Yes! Disciple Ran Min humbly obeys Master's command!"

As Gu Han finished, the child Ran Min's body trembled as if struck by lightning. After a moment, he recovered, clasped his fists, and shouted loudly.

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