Fang Han paused slightly with the chopsticks in his hand, then raised his eyes and looked towards the door.
"Let him in."
After a while, a young man wearing Sect Master's Hall disciple uniform walked quickly into the Side Hall, walked up to him, bowed and saluted, and his voice was a little urgent:
"Senior Brother Fang, the sect leader has summoned you to go to the Sect Master's Hall immediately to discuss important matters."
Fang Han frowned almost imperceptibly.
The sect master summoned him and used the word "immediately". It was obvious that the matter was quite urgent.
Not caring about finishing breakfast, he put down his chopsticks, stood up, and straightened his clothes.
"Let's go."
The disciple quickly turned sideways to make way, followed Fang Han, and walked out of the courtyard.
Qui Lan looked at Fang Han's leaving figure, fearing that another dangerous task was about to be assigned. A trace of worry flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say much, just silently clearing the dishes on the table.
Fang Han walked quickly along the bluestone path towards the top of the mountain.
Seeing him walking in a hurry, the disciples he met along the way stepped aside to give way and bowed in salute, with awe and admiration in their eyes.
Fang Han nodded slightly in response and kept walking.
Not long after, the outline of the Sect Master's Hall appeared in the field of vision.
The majestic palace glowed with a warm luster in the morning light. When the disciples on duty in front of the palace gate saw Fang Han approaching, they quickly bowed and saluted:
"Senior Brother Fang, the sect leader is already waiting in the hall."
Fang Han nodded slightly and stepped into the hall.
The light in the hall is bright, and Sandalwood Incense is floating.
Chen Tianyuan was sitting at the top, holding a letter in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, and his expression a bit dignified.
Hearing the footsteps, he raised his eyes and saw it was Fang Han, and nodded slightly.
"Coming."
"Disciple Fang Han, see the sect master."
Fang Han took a few steps forward and bowed in salute.
"No need to be polite, sit down."
Chen Tianyuan motioned Fang Han to sit down, put down the letter in his hand, and leaned against the back of the chair.
Fang Han sat down on the chair and his eyes fell on Chen Tianyuan's face.
Although the sect leader's expression was calm, there was clearly a trace of solemnity in those gentle eyes that could not be concealed.
His heart moved slightly, knowing that something important must be happening.
"I received an urgent report early this morning that a transportation team of the sect transporting precious supplies was attacked on its way back to the sect."
Chen Tianyuan spoke, his voice was calm but a little heavy.
Fang Han's brows raised slightly.
The transport team was attacked?
The first thing that came to his mind was Nether Pavilion.
A few days ago, he and Jin Han Elder intercepted a batch of precious materials purchased by the Nether Pavilion from East Foothills Prefecture, and killed two Elder and more than thirty Deacon disciples.
Although there are no clues left that can be traced, given the conflict between the Azure Profound Sect and Nether Pavilion, Nether Pavilion will inevitably guess that Azure Profound Sect is responsible.
With the Nether Pavilion's acting style, it is impossible to give up.
Now that the sect's transportation team is being attacked, it is most likely Nether Pavilion's revenge.
"Sect Master, was it Nether Pavilion?"
Fang Han asked about his guess.
"We can't say for sure yet."
Chen Tianyuan's warm eyes flashed with a hint of coldness.
He paused and continued.
"However, if you dare to attack my Azure Profound Sect transportation team, it is most likely Nether Pavilion's fault."
Fang Han was silent for a moment and nodded.
What the patriarch said makes sense.
Azure Profound Sect is one of Seven Sects. He is so powerful in Qingyang Prefecture that ordinary forces would never dare to provoke him easily.
Those who dare to attack the Azure Profound Sect transportation team, looking at the entire Qingyang Prefecture, are only those few forces.
Among them, the most motivated one is Nether Pavilion.
"Sect Master, what are the casualties of the transport team?"
Fang Han asked.
"There are more than thirty people in the transportation team, led by one Elder, assisted by two Deacon, and the rest are elite disciples."
Chen Tianyuan looked slightly gloomy and said slowly.
He paused and his voice became a little lower.
"The corpses found at the scene include two Deacon and more than thirty disciples. All the supplies have been looted. Only Yang Rui Elder who led the team has no one alive and no corpse."
"Missing?"
Fang Han frowned slightly.
"Yes."
Chen Tianyuan nodded, his eyes falling on Fang Han's face.
"Although there were signs of a fight at the scene, Yang Rui Elder's body was not found."
"Based on the situation at the scene, Yang Rui Elder was most likely seriously injured in the attack, broke out and escaped, and is currently being chased by the attackers."
Fang Han's heart moved slightly, and he had already guessed the sect leader's intention of calling him here.
"Sect Master, what do you mean, let the disciples go to rescue Yang Rui Elder?"
he asked.
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly.
"That's right, you practice Smell Tracking Secret Technique, and your tracking ability is among the best in the sect. It's most appropriate for you to track and rescue him."
He paused and continued.
"For this task, remember Minor Merit."
1 Minor Merit.
When these three words fell into his ears, Fang Han did not hesitate at all.
You can never have too much credit. When you need it, it will be too late to try to earn it.
For example, in the past, Body Movement was delayed for a period of time because there was not enough credit to exchange for Grandmaster Body Movement, which delayed the cultivation of Body Movement.
What's more, this kind of rescue mission is indeed very suitable for him.
"Disciple is willing to go."
Fang Han stood up and answered with his hands raised, his voice steady and firm.
"Okay."
A trace of relief flashed in Chen Tianyuan's eyes, he took a neatly folded map from the desk and handed it to Fang Han.
"This is the location where the transport team was attacked. It is about three hundred miles away from the sect. You should set off immediately."
Fang Han took the map with both hands, unfolded it, took a look at it, kept the route in mind, and then put it in his arms.
"Disciple, let's go now."
He bowed his hands to Chen Tianyuan, turned around and strode out of the hall.
Behind him, the voice of Chen Tianyuan sounded:
"Proceed with caution. If something cannot be done, put your own safety first."
Fang Han paused slightly, did not look back, and just responded softly:
"Disciple understands."
The green robe moved slightly, and the figure quickly disappeared into the morning light outside the palace door.
Returning to No. 35 Annex, Fang Han quickly walked into the house, carrying Cloudsplitter Sword behind him, took out a few bottles of Danyao, and carefully put them away close to his body.
He also took some dry food and water, wrapped it in cloth and slung it over his shoulder.
"Senior brother, are you going out again?"
Qui Lan stood at the door and saw Fang Han packing his bags. He couldn't help but ask, with worry in his eyes.
"Well, I have a mission."
Fang Han nodded without further explanation.
He checked his luggage once, made sure it was all right, and pushed out the door.
"Brother, be careful."
Qui Lan's voice sounded from behind.
Fang Han didn't look back, just raised his right hand and waved it gently.
With a flash of his body, <Wind God Step> unfolded and turned into an invisible stream of light, rushing towards the mountain gate.
After a few ups and downs, it disappeared into the morning light.
A few hours later.
The afternoon sun shines through the clouds, illuminating the mountain road brightly.
The figure of Fang Han stopped at the edge of a mountain forest, glanced around, took out the map from his arms, and checked it against the surrounding terrain.
"It's right around here."
He put away the map and looked forward.
This place is located in the north-central part of Qingyang Prefecture, with undulating terrain, rolling mountains, winding official roads, and dense forests on both sides. It is a good place for an ambush and attack.
Fang Han stepped forward, passing through a sparse forest land, and suddenly the vision opened up.
The open space next to the official road was in a mess.
The ground is criss-crossed with ravines and pits, and gravel and broken branches are scattered all over the ground.
Several broken carriages were tilted aside, with the carriage boards shattered and the wheels scattered, apparently caused by a huge bombardment.
Dark brown blood stains were scattered on the soil, gravel, and broken wood. They had dried and glowed with a dark luster in the afternoon sun.
There is still a faint smell of blood in the air.
Fang Han stopped and scanned the battlefield.
Squatting down, he picked up a piece of rag stained with dark brown blood with his fingertips and rubbed it gently.
The texture of the fabric is good and it is the material of the Azure Profound Sect disciple uniform.
"<Thousand-Mile Soul Lock>."
Fang Han took a deep breath and used all his strength to stimulate the High Grade scent Tracking Secret Technique that had reached the Proficiency Realm level.
In an instant, the surrounding world turned into a sea of extremely complex yet distinctly layered smells.
The smell of blood, the fishy smell of earth, the smell of juice after broken vegetation, the fresh smell of wood after broken carriages--
Countless smells flooded into his perception.
He abandoned these useless distractions, concentrated his mind, and tried his best to capture the human breath.
The attackers apparently used some kind of drug to remove the remaining odor from the scene before evacuating.
The aura belonging to the attacker was so thin that it was almost non-existent, as if it would dissipate at any time.
But under the perception of the Proficiency Realm level <Thousand-Mile Soul Lock>, those auras are still like fireflies in the dark night. Although they are weak, they are not impossible to capture.
Fang Han's nose twitched slightly, carefully distinguishing the faint traces in the sea of complex aura.
One way.
Two lanes.
Three ways.
He discerned that there had been many auras here.
Three of them are the most powerful.
Among these three powerful auras, there is one aura that carries a sense of familiarity.
It should be the smell of the Azure Profound Sect Yang Rui Elder.
He had met this person several times on certain occasions. Although he was not familiar with him, he remembered the characteristics of his aura.
At this moment, this breath was mixed with a faint smell of blood.
Injured.
And the injuries were not serious.
This breath extended to the south, intermittently, and was obviously running away.
After it, a powerful aura followed, one after the other, extending to the south and gradually going away.
This was also confirmed.
Among the three powerful auras, the last powerful aura was accompanied by dozens of warrior auras and headed north, probably evacuating with the looted supplies.
If he pursued, he might be able to recover this batch of looted materials, but his most important priority now was not to recover this batch of materials.
But to save people.
"The master's judgment is correct. This Elder may still be alive and is being hunted."
Fang Han stood up and looked towards the south.
He didn't waste any more time, and with a flash of his body, he used <Wind God Step> with all his strength, and rushed southward along the scent of blood.
His speed was astonishingly fast, and his figure almost blended into the wind. There was no Break the Wind sound when he moved, and there was no sound of his clothes fluttering. It was like an invisible wisp of wind, passing through the mountains and forests and crossing the streams.