"Metropolitan."
Fang Han slightly cupped his hands, his voice calm yet confident.
"I have returned because... the Dark Abyss should no longer send Grandmaster assassins to kill me."
Chen Tianyuan was about to say something when he heard this and paused for a moment.
He looked at Fang Han, a clear look of doubt appearing in his gentle eyes:
"How so?"
"With my current strength, I am no longer afraid of assassination attempts by ordinary grandmasters."
Fang Han paused for a moment, then spoke.
"On the way back, they repelled the Dark Abyss Grandmaster who came to assassinate them."
A brief, deathly silence fell over the hall.
Chen Tianyuan stood there, looking at Fang Han, his lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything immediately.
He raised his hand, seemingly considering his words, before slowly lowering it after a moment, with an barely suppressed tremor.
"You... repelled the Dark Abyss Grandmaster?"
"Yes."
Fang Han replied.
"During my time in the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, my strength has improved, and I can now fight ordinary grandmasters head-on."
Chen Tianyuan.
He walked back to the desk, slowly sat down in the chair, and tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the armrest, making a soft, steady sound.
He looked at Fang Han, his gentle eyes now filled with an extremely complex emotion.
There was surprise, there was admiration, but above all, there was an indescribable joy.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice much calmer than before, yet still carrying a lingering tremor:
"Just over four months ago, you could only run away from a master-level assassin; now, you can fight them head-on. This level of progress..."
He shook his head, not finishing his sentence, but instead picked up the teacup on the table and took a large gulp to calm his nerves.
Fang Han did not respond, but simply stood quietly in the hall.
Chen Tianyuan put down his teacup and looked up at Fang Han:
"Given Dark Abyss's style, if they know things are hopeless, they'll probably cancel the assassination mission. However, just to be on the safe side, you should try not to leave the sect for the time being."
Fang Han cupped his hands in greeting:
"Yes, if there is nothing else, this disciple will take his leave."
He turned around, about to step out of the Sect Master's Hall.
" Fang Han."
Chen Tianyuan's voice came from behind, carrying a different solemnity than before.
Fang Han stopped and looked back.
Chen Tianyuan slowly stood up and walked to Fang Han.
He took a thin letter from his sleeve and handed it to Fang Han:
"While you were away, I had people secretly investigate the source of the Dark Abyss's commissions. Although the flow of money was concealed layer by layer, traces were still left behind."
Fang Han took the letter, opened it, and glanced at it.
The letter contained only a few brief sentences, pointing to a single name.
"It's actually the Thunderlight Pavilion!"
Fang Han's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the letter.
The assassination commission that Dark Abyss issued to him was actually from the Thunderlight Pavilion, which is located outside Qingyang Prefecture.
He thought of Lei Zheng and the other two, and the ambush in the wilderness before the Martial Arts Tournament.
The Thunderlight Pavilion must have traced him back to him, which is why they issued an assassination order against him in the Dark Abyss.
If it weren't for his continuous breakthroughs in strength, he would probably have already turned into a skeleton by now.
A murderous intent surged from the depths of his heart like ice water, but he forcibly suppressed it.
Chen Tianyuan stood beside Fang Han, taking in the instant Fang Han's expression changed after reading the letter.
Although there was no dramatic change on the young man's face, based on his understanding of Fang Han, the stronger his killing intent became.
" Fang Han."
Chen Tianyuan spoke, his voice several degrees deeper than before.
Fang Han raised his head and met Chen Tianyuan's warm yet solemn eyes.
"Are you thinking about how to take revenge on the Thunderlight Pavilion?"
Fang Han did not deny it; it was not in his nature to not fight back when someone placed an assassination order on him.
"This disciple does indeed have this thought."
Chen Tianyuan walked to the window with his hands behind his back, looked at the sea of clouds outside the hall that was dyed pale gold by the autumn sun, and slowly said.
" The Thunderlight Pavilion has issued an assassination commission against you in the Dark Abyss. The sect will never let this go unpunished."
He turned around, his gaze falling back on Fang Han, his tone now carrying a hint of warning.
"But Thunderlight Pavilion is no ordinary force; it is a top-tier force like Azure Profound Sect. The Grandmaster-level expert who is in charge is named Fan Yuan, who has been a Grandmaster for decades and is far from being a mere beginner."
Fang Han frowned. A master who had been at the Grandmaster level for decades must have strength that was not limited to the initial stage.
Chen Tianyuan continued.
"Although you have already possessed the combat strength of a Grandmaster and repelled that Grandmaster assassin from the Dark Abyss, the Dark Abyss assassin specializes in assassination techniques; direct combat is not his forte."
"Being able to defeat him doesn't mean you can defeat those veteran masters who have been immersed in head-on combat for many years."
He paused, his voice deepening.
"Don't put yourself in danger because of a moment of impulse."
Fang Han remained silent for a moment, then raised his head and asked.
"Sect Master, if I join forces with the Supreme Elder, is it possible for us to kill Fan Yuan?"
Chen Tianyuan paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.
He looked at Fang Han, a hint of contemplation appearing in his gentle eyes.
After a long while, he slowly put down his teacup.
"There are too many variables in a clash between grandmasters. I cannot say for sure whether you and the Supreme Elder can defeat a veteran grandmaster who has been at the grandmaster level for decades."
He stood up.
"Let's go, I'll take you to see the Supreme Elder. We need to hear Supreme Elder opinion on this matter."
Fang Han bowed and accepted.
The two left the Sect Master's Hall one after the other and headed towards the back of the mountain along the secluded stone path on the mountaintop.
The forest on the back mountain is even more lush and verdant than that on the front mountain. Ancient trees reach for the sky, their branches and leaves blocking out the sun and filtering the afternoon sunlight into sparse, scattered spots that fall on the moss-covered stone steps.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Fang Lin gradually thinned out, revealing a secluded courtyard nestled at the foot of a cliff.
The courtyard wall is built of mountain stones, simple and unadorned.
Several old vines climbed the wall, their leaves already showing signs of autumn.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Chen Tianyuan forward and knocked gently three times.
" Supreme Elder, I, Tianyuan, request an audience."
A moment later, an old but powerful voice came from inside the courtyard.
"Come in."
Chen Tianyuan pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped into the courtyard with Fang Han.
The courtyard was small, and some moss grew in the cracks between the bluestone slabs.
In the corner of the courtyard stands an old pine tree with gnarled and twisted branches. Beneath the pine tree sits a stone table and two stone benches.
Gu Changqing was sitting on a stone bench, with a cup of tea on the stone table beside him, the tea smoke curling upwards.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and his gaze fell on Fang Han behind Chen Tianyuan. A hint of surprise immediately appeared in his deep eyes.
" Fang Han? When did you get back?"
Fang Han stepped forward and bowed in greeting.
"This disciple has just returned to the sect and greets the Supreme Elder."
Gu Changqing looked Fang Han, a hint of approval flashing in his cloudy yet deep eyes.
"The trip to the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures seems to have been quite fruitful."
Chen Tianyuan sat down on a stone bench and said with a somewhat solemn expression.
" Supreme Elder, Fang Han's strength has improved again during his trip to the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures. He now possesses combat power comparable to a Grandmaster, and on his return journey, he single-handedly repelled that Grandmaster assassin from the Dark Abyss."
Gu Changqing paused for a moment while holding the teacup.
He raised his eyes and looked Fang Han over again, his gaze more focused than before.
After a long pause, a hint of undisguised emotion appeared on his gaunt face.
"To have such strength and such a speed of progress in just over four months is something I have rarely seen in my entire life."
He paused, his voice filled with undisguised delight.
" The Azure Profound Sect has produced a true dragon."
" Supreme Elder."
Fang Han said modestly.
Chen Tianyuan took over the conversation.
" Supreme Elder, I brought Fang Han here today because there is something I wish to discuss."
He briefly recounted how the Thunderlight Pavilion had issued assassination commissions in the Dark Abyss, and also explained Fang Han Han's earlier plan.
" Fang Han asked if he and you, the Supreme Elder, could join forces to kill Grandmaster Fan Yuan of the Thunderlight Pavilion. I'm unsure if this is feasible, so I've come to consult you Supreme Elder."
Gu Changqing remained silent for a moment.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly spoke.
"Although I have never fought Fan Yuan, I have heard of his reputation."
"He has been a Grandmaster for decades, and no one knows the true extent of his cultivation. Even if I were to fight such a person, my chances of winning would be no more than fifty percent."
He put down his teacup and looked at Fang Han.
"Although you now possess the combat strength of a Grandmaster, it is not difficult for you to join forces with me to defeat Fan Yuan. However, it is extremely difficult to completely surround and kill him."
Fang Han frowned and asked.
" Supreme Elder, why is this?"
Gu Changqing slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked to the old pine tree.
What makes a grandmaster a grandmaster is not just their combat strength, but also their trump cards.
He turned around and looked at Fang Han.
"Everyone who can step into the realm of a grandmaster has more or less a few trump cards to save their lives."
"Take that Grandmaster assassin from the Dark Abyss, for example. You were able to defeat him, but you couldn't save his life. It's probably because he possessed a life-saving item like the Divine Speed Jade Talisman."
Fang Han recalled the azure light that had enveloped the Dark Abyss Grandmaster assassin and nodded silently.
Gu Changqing continued.
" Fan Yuan has been in charge of the Thunderlight Pavilion for decades, and he only has more trump cards up his sleeve. So if the two of us join forces to besiege him, defeating him won't be difficult, but killing him will be very difficult."
He paused, his voice becoming more serious.
"And if he escapes—"
Chen Tianyuan took over the conversation, his expression equally solemn.
"A master hidden in the shadows is ten times more threatening than one in the open. If he were to remain hidden and target Azure Profound Sect disciples and Elder who are away from the sect, Azure Profound Sect would never have peace."
Gu Changqing nodded slowly, looked at Fang Han, and spoke with a tone of admonition.
" Fang Han, I know you are angry. The debt owed to the Thunderlight Pavilion must be settled, but there's no rush."
"At your rate of growth, it will take you at most a few years, or even less, to gain the strength to crush Fan Yuan on your own. By then, it won't be too late to take revenge."
He paused, his voice softening slightly.
"Taking action now would only alert the enemy and make Thunderlight Pavilion more prepared."
"I understand. I won't act rashly until I have absolute strength."
Fang Han thought for a moment, then said seriously.
The tense expressions on Gu Changqing and Chen Tianyuan's faces relaxed. Their biggest worry was that Fang Han was young and impetuous and wouldn't listen to advice.
It now appears that although Fang Han is young, he is not arrogant.