"Cultivation has come to an end, let's take a rest and relax."
Fang Han straightened his robe, hung Silver-Gray Longsword around his waist, and pushed open Quiet Room's door.
The autumn sun is just right, the chrysanthemums in the corner of the courtyard are in full bloom, and a few golden osmanthus plants are sending a faint fragrance in the wind.
After leaving his residence, he walked along the bluestone path towards Zi Courtyard, preparing to meet Yun Qianyue.
When the disciples he met along the way saw him, they all stopped to salute, and the awe in their eyes was even more intense than before.
The news that Grandmaster Banquet crushed Ling Wuyuan as a non-grandmaster has already spread throughout the Azure Profound Sect.
Now in the eyes of all the disciples of the Azure Profound Sect, Fang Han is no longer as simple as the genius True Disciple, but has become the pillar of the sect second only to Supreme Elder.
Arriving at the place where Zi Courtyard Yun Qianyue usually practices, Fang Han saw Yun Qianyue from a distance.
"Shuashuashua--"
Yun Qianyue is practicing Sword Technique in the open space. The long sword in her hand is as continuous as water, as if there is really invisible water flowing around the long sword.
After taking Three-Leaf Sword Grass, her already high Sword Art Talent became even higher.
Sword Technique, which was already quite fast, increased its speed and became even faster.
"It shouldn't take long to become True Disciple!"
Fang Han makes a judgment in his mind.
Although Yun Qianyue's talent cannot be compared with that of "cheating" him, it is still enough to rank among the top among the Azure Profound Sect's disciples.
Beginner stage It's not so strange that he has grown to this point in four years.
"You're here!"
After a round of Sword Technique's training, Yun Qianyue noticed Fang Han.
She stopped Sword Technique practicing and walked towards Fang Han.
"Well, come and see you."
Fang Han said.
Yun Qianyue doesn't talk much, and Fang Han is not a talkative person, but there is a tacit understanding between the two that needs no words.
Occasionally, when their eyes meet, there will be a warmth in those cold eyes that is difficult for others to detect.
Yun Qianyue still wanted to practice, but Fang Han didn't stay too long. He only stayed for half an hour and then left.
After leaving Zi Courtyard, he did not return to his residence, but left the sect and went to Azure Profound City.
In the Hundred Treasures Pavilion branch, Lan Yuexin was wearing a long aqua dress today, with three thousand blue silk threads untied, and only a silver-blue hairband loosely gathered a strand behind her neck. All her remaining hair was scattered on her shoulders, and a few strands were blown to her chest by the wind.
On each ear, there is a blue gemstone earring, which is the gift Fang Han originally bought for Lan Yuexin from Imperial Capital.
Seeing Fang Han, Lan Yuexin's bright eyes revealed a trace of uncontrollable joy.
"Why do you have time to see me today?"
She came forward with a smile on her lips and her voice was as gentle as water.
"My practice has come to an end, so I thought I would come over and take a look."
Fang Han's eyes stayed on Lan Yuexin's face for a moment.
Lan Yuexin turned his face slightly when he looked at her, and a faint blush appeared at the base of his ears.
She led Fang Han into the pavilion and sat down in the private room facing the window on the second floor.
Maid presented him with fragrant tea and several plates of exquisite Pastry, then quietly left.
Lan Yuexin pushed a plate of sweet-scented osmanthus cake in front of Fang Han, pursed his lips and said with a smile:
"Try it, this is made by the new master Pastry in our shop."
Fang Han Pick up a piece and put it in your mouth. The sweet-scented osmanthus cake is soft and sweet and melts in your mouth.
The two sat in the private room for more than an hour. Lan Yuexin talked about the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's recent business dealings. Fang Han occasionally answered a few words, mostly listening to what Lan Yuexin said.
Fang Han stood up to say goodbye, Lan Yuexin sent him to the door, watched Fang Han go away, and then turned back to the pavilion.
East Foothills Prefecture, Thunderlight Pavilion.
The autumn rain pattered on the green tiles outside the temple, and the sky was as gloomy as a lead sheet, shrouding the entire mountain gate in gloom.
Lei Qianting sat alone in the hall, the tea in his hand had already cooled down, but he didn't even notice.
The candlelight in the hall danced, making his originally rather solemn face appear dim and bright.
His eyes fell on the secret letter that had just been delivered to him on the desk. The paper was already wrinkled by his grip.
"Fang Han... defeated Grandmaster Ling Wuyuan?"
Lei Qianting repeated this sentence in a low voice, his voice hoarse and dry, like two pieces of rough sand rubbing against each other.
The secret message was sent back urgently by the spy stationed at Qingyang Prefecture. The few words it said were like a heavy hammer hitting his heart--
Nether Pavilion Master Ling Wuyuan became a master and held Grandmaster Banquet.
Azure Profound Sect True Disciple Fang Han challenged Ling Wuyuan in public. In just a dozen moves, Ling Wuyuan was defeated.
Ling Wuyuan, is the new grandmaster.
And Fang Han is not a master.
Not a grandmaster, but defeated the grandmaster.
It was not an ordinary defeat, but a crushing defeat. In just a dozen moves, a true master was beaten to the point of being injured and bloody.
"This little beast..."
Lei Qianting's fingers trembled slightly, and his deep eyes were filled with disbelief and fear.
In his early twenties, he already has the combat power to crush ordinary masters.
Such people have never been heard of in Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, let alone ordinary counties.
It would be fine if Fang Han didn't know that it was Thunderlight Pavilion who issued the assassination commission.
But what if he finds out?
With Fang Han's growth rate, if given another year or two years, how strong would he be?
By then, can Thunderlight Pavilion still exist?
"Huh--"
The autumn wind poured in through the cracks in the window lattice, rustling the secret letters spread out on the table, and also made the chill in Lei Qianting's heart a little deeper.
Although extreme care was taken at the time, mobilizing in batches and covering up layer by layer, thirty million taels of gold was not a small amount after all. No matter how well the concealment was done, it would inevitably leave clues.
If Azure Profound Sect follows the clues, it is not impossible to trace Thunderlight Pavilion.
Lei Qianting dare not think about it any more.
He stood up suddenly and walked back and forth in the palace for a few steps. Finally, unable to suppress the growing uneasiness in his heart, he turned around and strode out of the palace door.
The autumn rain hit his shoulder, but he blocked it with his Internal Qi shield. He quickened his pace and rushed towards the Thunderlight Pavilion forbidden area behind the mountain.
Deep in the forbidden area, there is a secret room dug into the heart of the mountain, and two disciples are on duty.
"Qian Ting asks to see Supreme Elder."
Lei Qianting's voice sounded a little rushed in the rain.
After a moment, the thick stone door of the secret room slowly opened with a rumbling sound, and an old but powerful figure slowly walked out from behind the door.
Fan Yuan is wearing a dark purple robe, with gray beard and hair, a pale face, and deep-set eyes that reveal the light of the world.
He stood in front of the stone door with his hands folded, his eyes fell on Lei Qianting under the rain curtain, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"Qian Ting, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Supreme Elder, something big happened."
Lei Qianting took a deep breath and said.
"Come in and talk."
The candlelight danced in the secret room, and Fan Yuan sat down on the stone chair, signaling Lei Qianting to sit down as well.
"Supreme Elder, Thunderlight Pavilion There is a big crisis..."
Fan Yuan raised his eyes and landed on his face.
Lei Qianting took a deep breath and recounted from beginning to end the assassination commission he issued to Fang Han at Dark Abyss.
From the disappearance of the three Lei Zheng, to the two failed assassinations of Dark Abyss, to him increasing the reward to 30 million taels of gold to hire a master-level assassin.
From Dark Abyss, the master killer was defeated by Fang Han, Dark Abyss canceled the commission, and then Fang Han defeated Ling Wuyuan, the new grand master.
Fan Yuan's face gradually became serious.
"Supreme Elder..."
Lei Qianting bowed his head and said.
"It would be fine if Fang Han didn't know that it was Thunderlight Pavilion who issued the assassination commission. But if Fang Han knew about it, with the growth rate of a monster like him, in a few years, I, Thunderlight Pavilion, might... I might be in danger of being destroyed."
"Do you think Fang Han already knows?"
Fan Yuan asked with a frown.
"Qian Ting doesn't know."
Lei Qianting shook his head and said.
Fan Yuan was silent for a long time.
He slowly stood up from the stone chair, walked to an old map on the wall of the secret room with his hands behind his hands, and his eyes slowly swept over the mountains and rivers between East Foothills Prefecture and Qingyang Prefecture.
The candlelight cast his shadow on the stone wall, making it long, thin and deep.
"Always plan for the worst, Fang Han, although I have never met him, but I can tell from what you said."
Fan Yuan's voice was not high-pitched, but it carried a decisive calmness.
"In his early twenties, he has the combat power to crush ordinary masters. Such a monster has never been heard of by Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, let alone ordinary counties."
"With its growth rate, it will take at most one or two years, or even less, to have the strength to compete with me head-on."
He turned around and looked at Lei Qianting with his deep-set eyes, his eyes as cold as the abyss.
"By then, Thunderlight Pavilion will be in danger."
Lei Qianting felt a slight chill running down his spine. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Fan Yuan raising his hand.
"Fang Han This child cannot be kept."
These five words came out of Fan Yuan's mouth in a low tone, but they made the candlelight in the secret room seem to jump.
"Supreme Elder means...?"
Lei Qianting felt a chill in his heart.
"Be the first to strike first, and find an opportunity to get rid of this child before it has fully grown up."
Fan Yuan's voice was as calm as water, as if he was saying something extremely ordinary.
Lei Qianting's pupils shrank slightly, he was silent for a moment and lowered his voice:
"Supreme Elder, if you do this, I'm afraid you will be discovered by the Azure Profound Sect..."
He paused, his voice a little more worried:
"Gu Changqing and you are both veteran masters who have been in the realm of masters for decades. If he knows that it was me, Thunderlight Pavilion, he will definitely take revenge crazily. By then, both sides may lose."
Fan Yuan slowly shook his head:
"Both sides will suffer, at least there is a possibility for the Thunderlight Pavilion to survive, but if Fang Han is allowed to continue to grow, by the time he can crush me, Thunderlight Pavilion will not even have the qualifications to suffer both sides, and the only way out is destruction."
He turned around and stared at Lei Qianting with his deep-set eyes, his voice carrying an unquestionable determination:
"Rather than just waiting for death, it is better to strike first. Even if Azure Profound Sect detects it, even if it attracts crazy revenge from Gu Changqing, we must get rid of Fang Han before it grows up."
"For this, no matter how high the price is, I will not hesitate."
Lei Qianting was silent.
He looked at Fan Yuan's clear and resolute face, and thought of Fang Han's terrifying growth rate, and finally nodded slowly.
"Qian Ting understands."
Fan Yuan nodded slightly, without saying another word, turned around and sat down on the stone chair again, closed his eyes, as if he had fallen into concentration.
Lei Qianting stood up, bowed deeply to Fan Yuan, turned around and exited the secret room.
Outside the stone gate, the autumn rain was still pouring down, shrouding the mountains, rocks and trees around the forbidden area in a hazy curtain of rain.
Lei Qianting stood in front of the stone door with his hands behind his hands, looking at the gray sky, his deep eyes filled with cold murderous intent and determination.
Fang Han, must die!